I'm still here

It has been a loooonggg time since my last post. I guess one of the reasons is because I really hate taking photos and I feel like I can't post without pictures of my project/recipe/etc.

In any case, I have been sewing quite a bit and even managed to make a couple of things that I can wear (about 2/3 of the things I make for myself never make past the sewing room trash can).

Today, I spent about 4 hours sewing this tent for our neighbor as a gift for his 6th birthday. The tutorial is great and I think it would have taken much less time if I hadn't added the trim, window and little pocket inside. I think it is quite impressive and it cost a little over $7 in materials. Wow!



My son, test driving the tent:

Making a tiny bit of progress

I finally separated the sleeves and started the gull-wing pattern on my long forgotten February Lady Sweater. Now I'm having fun!



If I keep at it, it'll be done just in time for our 100 degree summer. Or maybe I can linger a bit longer and finish it by February 2011. That's a more likely scenario.

Picked up an old knitting work-in-progess and..

knitted 3 x 296 = 888 stitches which takes me a very, very, very long time to do. Had to then rip out over 400 of them to get back to my mistake that I luckily noticed before continuing further. I guess that's the bright side. No wonder I never finish any knitting projects....

More bread, mice, emergency repairs and scary pants.

This is my third loaf of Alicia's Oatmeal bread. I enjoyed the last loaf for breakfast each day by toasting a couple of slices and smearing on some cream cheese. It was a comforting way to start off my crack-of-dawn workday.



I had time to felt a couple of sweaters and make these mice (Betz White's mice were the inspiration). I haven't quite finished these. I tried to embroider a satin-stitch nose but failed twice. Then I sewed on the button you see here and I don't like it. So I ran to Michael's and bought some tiny pom-poms and I'm hoping those work out better.



I had to do an emergency repair on TeeTee, my 6 year old's lovey. TeeTee's satin hands are rubbed through and the stuffing from his arms has fallen out but I think that part is beyond repair. Today his left eye fell off so I had to whip out the glue gun. I hope it holds!

Finally, I took that vintage sheet I found two weeks ago and made these Don't get out of bed pants but they are so obnoxious and bright that I am embarassed to post a picture. I want to find a more feminine sheet with the lace detail like the original post because they were so easy to make and are really comfortable to wear.

Alicia's Oatmeal Bread

I didn't have honey so I used agave nectar but I'm thinking the honey will really bring out the whole wheat and oats. Also, it was way too liquidy when I had finished adding the yeast/sugar/honey mixture. I had to add about a 1/2 to 3/4 cup more flour which seemed to work perfectly. It's totally yummy - light and moist. Recipe here.

Happy Valentine's Day

The heart shape of this pizza wasn't intentional. It's just that I can't make a round pizza to save my life. I don't know what my problem is but they always turn out oblong or wonky. I used this Todd English pizza dough recipe from the Martha Stewart website. It was very easy to work with when stretching and had a good chewiness to it after it was cooked but there was no yeast flavor. I think letting it rise overnight in the fridge might help with that.



I escaped for an hour today and hit Value Village again. They have their 50% off sale on Monday but I can't handle the crowds so I went today instead and paid full price. I found 5 cashmere sweaters, 4 wool sweaters and this funky vintage(?) twin sheet. I am going to use the three green/red/beige toned wool sweaters to make pillow covers to use in our family room. The rest of the haul? I dunno. Into the stash for now!

Paper Dolls for Ellie

My friend's daughter turns three in a couple of weeks and when I saw this post with a set of magnetic paper dolls I knew I had to make Ellie some.

Instead of magnetic sheets, I just printed the doll and clothing on cardstock and then laminated them between contact paper. I then put small velco squares on her tummy and on the backs of the clothing which worked out okay except for the fact that the dresses sit up off of her body due to the thickness of the velcro. Hopefully it won't matter to a 3 year old. I made the little tote bag to hold all the pieces.

The tote is made from a thrifted toddler dress that I've had lying around for years. Of course, when I was 99.5% done (only had to box the corners) I realized I had sewn the two sides together right-side to wrong-side. Because I had also serged the raw edges of the seams, I had to use my rotary cutter to cut off the edges so that I could rectify the error. Whoops!

This is it. This is the only crafting I have done since before Christmas, I think. Oh, I finished a few more pair of fingerless gloves and sent them off to their owners. And, there are many more of those I plan to make. Plus I have had an idea brewing in my mind having to do with some felted sweaters I have lying around. But there hasn't been time. Last weekend was the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby for which I had to bake a "100 Years of Scouting Cake." Then I ran off to Roslyn, Washington, to meet up with an old, old friend and her family. I had a great time but there went the weekend.

Also to blame is the Kindle I bought myself after Christmas. I have read more in the last month than I have in years. I have read the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Moon Is Down, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Help, and The Lovely Bones. All of which were very good reads. I plan on reading The Kite Runner and possibly one or both of Greg Mortensen's books - Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools - next.

This weekend, I organized my yarn. I have to admit that I am embarassed about the amount of yarn I have and the fact that I really haven't finished any projects other than those French Press Slippers. I found, during the cleanup, that there are five projects that I started, some even years ago, and have yet to finish ANY of them. They are now sitting in a nice basket waiting for my attention. And I plan on giving it to them.



And by the way, I wanted to have my kids make Valentine's this year rather than buying cards for them to sign. But I'm gonna be honest here: I hate doing those kinds of crafts. Really hate it. I don't think it was even very enjoyable for them because I was such a grump about all of it. So next year I am buying those all-in-one Fun Dips or Nerds or SpongeBob/Spiderman/Star Wars Valentines and we'll all be happier.

To Do List

Things to do, you know, in case you have a break in your hectic life.



Make this sour cream apple pie. Really, do it. Mine is in the oven right now and my mouth was watering as I was making it.

Join a CSA or shop your local farmer's market. I signed up again this year and can't wait for May when the first drop takes place. My freezer is stocked with extra produce from the summer but I really miss the fresh onions, lettuce mix and odd items that you can't get at the local store.

Do a toy drop for the Toy Society. You don't even have to make a toy - a gently used book or stuffed animal will do. Trust me, the excitement of dropping the toy where someone will find it is the best part.

Make your own unmentionables. I attempted to make a pair by tracing a pair I already own but, whoa, too skimpy because the fabric didn't have enough stretch. That's not going to deter me from trying again.

Use up your stash of yarn/fabric/burlap/etc. (I'm putting this here for me, since I seem to head out to buy more rather than use what I have).

And, finally, enjoy this new year! I, for one, am looking forward to a great 2010.

French Press Slippers

I knitted these French Press Felted Slippers (Ravelry link) for sweet Amy for Christmas.



I have another pair knitted but not seamed or felted. I agree with all the other Ravelry folks that they are a super fast knit (even for a slooowww knitter like me) and I think the outcome is quite cute.

And check out this cowl pattern by the same designer of the slippers - I love how chunky it is and the button detail. I think I may knit one for myself!