Announcing CraftStylish.com

You may be wondering where my creative energies have run off to lately, and  I’m pleased to finally announce part of the answer. Craft Stylish, a new website launched by the lovely people at Taunton Press. I’ve been posting over there, all about crochet, my other crafty love. Sometimes I wonder if anyone who reads this blog knows that I love to crochet, since I rarely post about it, but that’s just because it can be hard to make crochet exciting in a quick post.  I’ve actually found lots to post about at CS, and new cool crochet stuff continues to crop up the more I look for it. So far I’ve been writing lots of how-tos, tips, book reviews and roundups on cool crochet sites , projects, and designers. If you happen to know of anything that might be good for a future post, please feel free to drop me a line any time!

Here’s one of the photos from my Granny Square tutorial– my goal is to take close-up shots and clearly show my hands so you know what’s actually going on. Imagine me with my self timer, gorilla pod, akwardly dangling camera cord and yarn ends everywhere, doing everything half-bent over till my back starts to yell at me. What, you couldn’t tell from the photo? That’s good! I need a staff, I tell you!

Head on over and check out the site– there are lots of original posts on all things crafty, including beading, sewing, and embroidery. You can register and comment, too, and I’m told there’s more to come! What a nice way to pass the Friday.

Happy Spring!

This morning I woke up with a hankering for just a little something special to celebrate Easter, (more like spring time, for us. Although, look here….still snowing). We ran to the store so I could get some vinegar and I picked up a loaf of just baked french bread, too. We almost ate the whole thing instead of making bread pudding but I really do love bread pudding. I served it in my girly cups with whipped cream and it was super.

 

“Now, you can’t have any till I photograph it. Oh screw it, let’s eat!”
(Edited to add: the recipe for this pudding is in the comments on my flickr photo. I add a little heavy cream to top it off.)

After that Paul went to the studio and I stayed home dyeing eggs. I only dyed 7 since I’m really the only one who likes hard-boiled eggs. And actually, that left plenty of room for experimenting. I decided to use wine glasses to hold the dyes and they turned out to be the perfect size.  Here are the tablets dissolving in vinegar:

 

This year I wanted to try wrapping the eggs in lace, which I saw in Martha Stewart Living. On top of that, I wrapped them up tight in hosiery to hold the lace in place (seal the hosiery with a twist tie). I wasn’t sure it would work but figured I would try some other things while I was at it, too- so I also tried metallic mesh, rick rack and paper flowers. Here’s one of them about to go into the dye bath.

 

The added benefit of the hosiery is that you can run a skewer through it and then hang just part of the egg in the dye bath. As a girl I used to sit there with my wire egg dipper, ever so patiently. I once tried to make a plaid egg using all of the different dyes– I don’t recommend it.

Here’s the finished lace batch. I don’t quite understand why the lace works at resisting the dye but the pantyhose don’t affect it.  Easter magic, I say. I love the seeping in quality of it, too. On the red/yellow one, I first dyed the lace-wrapped egg in yellow, then moved it, hanging skewer style, into the red bath. The dye creeped up the hosiery and gave it a weird marbled effect, which I like.

And here are the eggs I made with the other materials. The paper flowers worked quite well- almost better than the stickers (which made the hearts). The heart egg was also wrapped in metallic mesh which gave it a cool faded grid effect. To get the yellow flowers on the blue egg, I dyed the whole egg in yellow first, let it dry, then added the flowers/hosiery combo and let it sit in the blue dye.

 

I also made one with rickrack at the far right of this photo (see me removing it here). You can see more pics of the process over at flickr. Hope you’re all having fun, wherever you are.

Weekend Recycling

This was the weekend where we tackled the scary closet/pantry. It holds six trash bins for plastic, glass, aluminum cans, magazines, cardboard and newspaper. I set it up when I got here because after recycling for five years, it’s in my blood! Unfortunately there’s no curbside recycling here, so we save it up and take it to the huge bins, and then I walk my white paper recycling to work– because the college is the only place that recycles white paper. In fact, I’m not sure the glass even has a place to be recycled yet, but they are saving it just in case.

Anyway, after sorting a couple months worth of refuse, I got to thinking about the bag of clothes I had stashed in the corner to give away. In some ways, it’s hard to part with them because they’re just a tad too small now. Instead, I decided to combine them with the scraps I save from each project and start my own rag rug. Specifically, it’s going to be a bathmat, to replace our icky brown one. It is using up a lot of fabric– when I took this photo I’d used two or three good sized balls of scrap strips (I save them when I square off my quilt blocks or have extra bias tape, etc), a jersey dress (the orange), and the remainders from my refashioned tees. I found one more old shirt hiding in the bin and a couple pieces of fabric I’m not enamored with, and proceeded to tear them up.

 

Once I crochet those things in, the rug should be a pretty good size. And now I know I have a use for all of the scraps I hoard like crazy, which makes me feel better about keeping them. I think I’m going to cruise my closet again, too…. and be honest about what I’m really wearing, and what’s just taking up space.
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In other news, tonight I am (hopefully, assuming my machine has arrived) going to my first class at the Bernina store. Eeeee.

2007: A Year of Crafts

 
Above are some of my favorite projects from 2007. This year (or is it last year now?), I dove into the big stuff- quilts, afghans, garment sewing, etc. In a sense I was waiting, and these crafts took up my time on a daily basis but also reminded me to look at the big picture if an individual square or block was feeling a bit wonky.  I felt really accomplished when I completed my bed-sized babette inspired blanket and our full sized quilt. I really love playing with patchwork, and I think there’ll be  more of it in the new year, although in smaller doses. I also crocheted a ton of hats (some of which I’m selling in a local boutique, yay) and I learned to knit.

This year I’d like to make more crafts that aren’t so purpose driven– you know, loosen up and have fun. I always worry about what I will do with said crafts, but maybe that’s okay for a while. I’m thinking that I’d like to give more handmade gifts this year as well.

Some main events of 2007:
-My sister got married January 1st! She’s expecting a baby in just a few weeks, and I am super excited to meet him.
-I went to Italy + London to visit Paul. Travelling can be hectic, but I’d like to do more of it. I don’t really fly around all that much now that I’m not in New York, and I miss the ease of being in a good location.
-I moved to Montana from NYC. Paul drove me and my stuff all the way here, with me charting a 102 fever most of the way. It’s been a real change (which I realize every time I go somewhere with massive shopping centers and huge crowds) but I like it. I do miss my independence here (I have no car), and I miss my friends, and I really miss the FOOD. But, I am a lot less tense and stressed overall, so I’d say that it’s worth it.
-I quit my job at Adorn–a necessary decision because I wanted to move. I’ve been doing a lot of freelance work for several mags, which was something I definitely wanted to try. Honestly, I prefer a full-time job, but at least I know that now. I do love that I was able to take a lot of fun road trips, and a nice 2-week xmas vacation, though– I never could do that with my 2 weeks of vacation time.

I have a feeling there will be more good things in 2008. I’m keeping my fingers crossed! Thanks to all of you who read, comment, and blog- I really do love seeing all of the inspiring things you’re making. Here’s to a happy new year!

Holiday Wrap Up (Part 1)

Paul is sleeping under many quilts right now. We made it home last night, just barely, but my luggage did not. I’m hopeful that it just went on to Alberta since we only had ten minutes to transfer (thank you airport cart man!), because I finally let myself buy some cute fabrics. And I want them! Oh, and you know, all of my jewelry and clothes and xmas presents. 

My camera cord is also in the missing bag, so I’m just going to show off some photos of presents I took before Christmas. I did not formally take the handmade pledge, because I knew that I was going to buy some books for Paul. However, I did manage to give handmade everywhere else. We aren’t big gift givers in my family, so I didn’t really have to stress myself out. (I am, however, thinking of all the cool things I can make for next year if I start tomorrow.)

 Without further ado:

2 sets of hot mitts by me with handmade (in Montana!) wooden spoons. I bought them from Harry Felton at the Holiday Bazaar, because they were so smooth and lovely and perfect to accompany the mitts.  I also had to buy one for myself, of course! (EDIT: If you want some guidance on making the mitts, check out this post.)

At the same fair, I purchased a couple of locally made teas, salve and lip balm. I used them for my gift in our white elephant swap, and my very pregnant sister picked them.  I got a pretty cool sewing notions box in the exchange (which I had to steal from my mom!)….which is also in the suitcase.  Perhaps when I get it back I can post some “Gifts in Action” shots.

That’s about it from this front. I had a nice, quiet, relaxing holiday. My phone totally died, so I couldn’t really call anyone, and I just spent time with my family and Paul’s family for the most part. I finished a lot of projects at home- a knit hat for me, three new cake hats for the shop, the beginnings of jewelry… I even sewed up a few quick gifts on my mom’s machine (I must go buy a  new one!). I also spent a lot of time wishing I was so relaxed when I was at home, with my craft room and craft supplies! Hopefully I can get cracking on some of my ideas today.

In other news, Kerry of Beaded Forest is giving away some fabric! Head over to her blog for a chance to win. She also has a lot of really fun projects posted, too– I especially love the otter she made for her father.

Moving Slowly

That’s me, above, excited to sell my wares at the Holiday Bazaar. Possibly too excited, as barely anyone came by. Due to a mix of poor advertising and who else knows what, I barely sold a thing. I’m not going to lie- it was a let down. But that just means there’s more stuff in my etsy shop for fun people like you. Have a look if you like– I’ve updated all of the hats, some sewn journals, and a few button necklaces. More will trickle in if I start feeling a little  better, but I think I caught that cold that’s been going around on the internets.

 

No silly, I know you can’t catch a cold from the internet. But I definitely have something, so I decided to try this Turkey Curry Meatball Soup. It was easy to make and also delicious– plus it helped clear up my sinuses a bit.  I’d halve the recipie if I made it again since there are only two of us. I think it’d also be good with turkey or chicken chunks if you’re not a meatball fan. All of the ingredients were done to perfection just by following the recipie, so give it a shot if you’re feeling brothy.

Craft Fair Prep

 

Here it is, in all its glory, our joint project: a hat tree! Paul helped me make this from dowels, doll head knobs and a strange bun like  furniture piece that we found at home depot. It’s not the sturdiest thing ever, but it will help get my hats up off the table and hopefully attract some attention. I’ve been cranking out some new hats just in time for Saturday, and I’m excited about meeting more crafty people. If you happen to live in Bozeman, please stop by the Emerson Bazaar and say hello.  If you can’t make it, I’ll likely be placing most of the leftovers in my etsy shop, just in time to ship for the holidays.

 

I also went to a local craft fair as a shopper this weekend. The vendors were *very* traditional, but I was excited to find these hand crocheted snowflakes for $3 a pop. I know how long they take to make, and I’d much rather pay someone else to do it. Plus, they were starched so perfectly! I love that each one is different- this is kind of important to me as a shopper, because it makes me think the person at least had a little bit of fun figuring something out while making it. I scooped up six to hang in the windows, along with a gorgeous doily that I’ll have to photograph later. I also got a hand carved wooden ”Animals of Yellowstone” mobile with gorgeous pieces of oak, apricot, locust, cherry and black walnut dangling from it- in the form of moose, bears, and bison of course. I bought an ornament from the same guy last year, and I love his simple shapes.

Gearing Up

Things have been busy around here,  both in reality in my mind. I am thinking of all the lovely things I could make in time for the holidays. However, if you are on my holiday gift recipient list, you might want to stop reading the blog for now. Hah! I’m probably going to wait to post anything major till after the holidays (assuming these ideas become realities), but you’ve been forewarned. It’s been snowing a lot, and to me snow= Christmas. I already bought a small sparkly pink tree. So, according to my boss and the snow, it will be Christmas till March. The combination of snow and sun is so bright that I actually have a headache. I don’t mind though, because it’s much better than depressing gray weather. Yay for the sun in winter. Here’s a picture I took on the walk to work this morning.

This weekend I continued to make more stuff for my local craft fair. I think I may be going a little overboard, but it’s always better to have too much stuff than not enough, right? I’ve wired at least 20 button necklaces– here are some of my favorites:

 

I also made some quick journals that I’m either selling or gifting. I haven’t quite decided. The felt flowers are from American Crafts (I love them!).

 

And I worked on a fun placecard project for Thanksgiving, which I’ll post later this week. For now, enjoy this weekend vignette: me sewing labels into hats between scrabble turns. They finally came from namemaker, and I have to say, I’m pretty disappointed. For the cost (about $70 for 100), they aren’t super high quality (they weren’t even cut!), and I also had no idea they’d turn out so long. They tell you they’ll make the length as long as your type mandates, but I guess I didn’t have a good idea of the font size (my last labels were the same height and about half as long). Needless to say, once I run out of these I’ll be taking my business elsewhere. But hey, at least I am winning this scrabble game –for now!

Sewing + Cooking

Today I decided to get down to business. I cleaned. I finished my quilt top. I put the laundry away. I saw my bag of “off to goodwill” clothes and rummaged through it. I have 4 or 5 tops– the same exact top, but different colors and stripes– that are just too short from all that laundry shrinking. I’ve worn them to death and yet I was sad to put them in the bag. So I thought, what the heck, I’ll make myself a hand-me-up shirt a la Betz White.

 

I added a section of one to the bottom of another. I repeated with a second two shirts (above). It was much easier the second time. I don’t always take the time to do something twice, but lately I have been, and it’s working out for me. All I did was turn the main shirt inside out, match the raw/cut edge of the wrong side to the main shirt  wrong-side hem, sew, flip inside out, and resew the  right side bottom hem of the main shirt (encasing the raw edge). Super easy. And now I don’t have to buy new shirts, nor worry about my unintentional midriff shirts. Seriously, what’s wrong with clothing manufacturers?

 

After that, I made some chicken tikka masala.  Did you know there are no Indian food restaurants in Bozeman? And no Thai places.  And just so-so Mexican food.  So when I saw Nancy’s post, I was inpsired. But even more inspiring was finding the already made sauce in the ethnic aisle of the grocery store. It was pretty good for not having been made from scratch. Thank goodness for shortcuts.

Friday I will be posting my patchwork swap makings (I just can’t wait any more!) and also giving away a second batch of scraps, and possibly something else.  Stay tuned!

Friday Decompression + Shop Update

This week has left me feeling tired, tired, tired. Working in the afternoons does this weird thing where I’m constantly thinking of how I have to go to work, and therefore don’t get a lot done. There has been lots of knitting torn out to be crocheted, and vice versa. But, I think some fun things have been created. I’m going to try to take them to the boutique next week once I’m done with some freelance work etc.

 

I also added some brooches to the shop. I really loved making these at one time in my life, and think I would like to start making them again. I just love wearing them on my coats and sweaters, and now I have an even better selection of fabric, buttons and yarns. I also put a few things on sale- the cake hats, scarf/muffler, etc.  It’s getting colder!

Hope everyone is having a lovely friday, and happy weekend for that matter.

And Erin, your swap package was sent yesterday (so, fingers crossed, it might get there tomorrow according to the post lady).