knitsburgh

MOVING....

2011-11-06T22:07:00.004-05:00

So Knitsburgh is moving! For many reasons I started a new blog and can now be found at http://reincraftnation.wordpress.com

I hope you will follow me there to continue the next chapters in my life. I know it's been some time since I've posted and not many people come here anymore, but if you somehow make it back I'd love to see you at Reincraftnation!

Please summer stay a little bit longer...

2011-09-19T13:58:00.004-04:00

...so we can test out our new porch swing cushion...
...it's blue but of course it's green too...

....pieced together from my maternity jeans! I'm thinking some pillows should be on this swing too, not sure if I will get to it right away but I will aim for the spring. Unless summer decides to stay (sigh)...this time of year makes me a bit sad...

PS Any thoughts on colors for said pillows please send my way. Not really sure which way to go but thinking prints are a must.

The Ugly Period

2011-08-01T15:42:00.000-04:00

Hello there all!

proof that not everything I make is ugly...tummy time...Wee One loves to help Wee Too

So between Tummy Time and Storey Time and Outside Time, there has been some crafting time. Not much and admittedly, it's not so pretty. I feel if a group were to look back at this segment in time at my crafting, it would be agreed this was The Ugly Period and deemed as such for all eternity. I also think it's reflective of my outside appearance most days too but am hopeful some additional sleep, makeup, and an undergarment with a very firm tummy panel would do the trick. Behold, Early Ugly:
boxy dishcloth, pattern can be found HERE
robot of my own creation for Wee One's second birthdayrobot innards...unbutton the flap and this is what you find

I made another albeit even uglier dishcloth but still need to upload those pics so it's not happening tonight. Today we worked on a Family Top Secret Paper Mache Project. Don't worry, I'll spill the deets as soon as I can. If I did so now, it could sabotage our chances of winning a grand race to come. And nobody wants that, right?

A quick show-n-tell session....

2011-06-16T15:06:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I think the months of June and early July rival the Yuletyde season for our family. Lots of celebrations: birthdays, anniversaries, Father's Day and then the Fourth of July. Needless to say Ms. Knitsburgh has been quite busy with Old Girl (aka my sewing machine).

First, a little purse for a niece turning 16 sweet years...

Button closeup

Next, a Father's Day gift for Nature Boy. It's a laptop cover. I used the ideas for the measurements from this Prudent Baby project, but decided to not use bias tape. I did steal the picture from Gnome Enterprises (please check them out and maybe they won't sue me), made it into an iron on transfer and repurposed a grey t-shirt and an old striped dress shirt into the cover.

Button and quilting closeup

Open

See? Computer fits inside all nice and snugly. Phew! Now onto the next batch of homemade silliness...

So biased!

2011-06-04T22:34:00.009-04:00

This post is for all of the millions of visitors this blog gets who have been waiting to see what I've been biased about these days. I'm so very sorry for my having kept you all up late wondering, tossing and turning about as your anxiety grows with the suspense. What could it all have been for, you asked?

For these!

Wee dresses for three wee lasses. I hope I have not ruined the surprise for anyone; the blue dresses were made for some sweet lasses who live in other parts of this grand world. They were made using a pattern from Prudent Baby, but modified to have bias tape ties for the straps as opposed to a ribbon threaded through a channel at the top to cinch it. I'm hoping the straps will help make it adjustable for some time, maybe even allowing them to be little shirts as the wee ones sprout upwards.

I also made Wee Too a blue dress but ran out of brown thread whilst sewing on the bias tape so until I acquire some more, it will sit on my sewing pile. No, you really don't want to see what my sewing pile looks like today! Damn, I was just in stupid Joanne Fabrics today too and neglected to pick up more thread!

Besides forgetting stuff, today we visited the Arts Festival downtown and had such a great day. A word of warning though; the food vendors aren't the greatest and Nature Boy shelled out $9 (yeah, that's not a typo) for ONE large French fry. It didn't even come in a plastic bucket like last year either. They were ok and we ate every one (of course we did, we spent 9 freakin' dollars on them!!!) but truth be told, would have been far better off to wait in line for some Primanti Brothers fries instead. Lesson learned!

We also had Ivan Stikman follow us home from the Kreepy Doll Factory booth as Wee Too's dolly. He is waiting to take a bath and once he is clean, will be hanging with Wee Too. If you go to the festival, check this booth out, we had a blast looking at all their names. Looks like we will be able to see him at some point in the sold dolls library!

Back to it!

2011-05-19T13:25:00.013-04:00

I can't believe it's been over a month since she came to Knitsburgh. Time really goes too fast sometimes.
Life with two wee is double everything. Love, fun, diapers. All of it. The good and the not so good. So any type of time I find in the day to make something is the biggest triumph in the whole of Knitsburgh. At first it seemed impossible. But then every once in a while I find an hour where there is simultaneous sleeping occurring. Both wee napping at the same time. This is crafting magic. Crafting goldmine. This is the stuff of crafting legend and lore. The elusive crafting Loch Ness Craftster.

Now this doesn't happen every day so one has to plan out things a bit better so when this serendipitous event occurs, one can actually craft. I have taken the advice of the wise Affectionit, who manages to knit sweaters, socks and other lovely things as well as sew quilts (yes, plural, quilts as in more than one a year), veganize French cooking on her other blog as well as fix things about her estate in very creative ways. She has talked about how she crafts in 15 minute increments. Thinking this way has greatly helped get me back to making things again. I don't say, oh I want to sit down and sew an entire something tonight. I break it down and plan to first choose the fabric, iron it and cut it out. Then it's ready to sew when I have more time.

Here are some of the little things I've made of late...

Wee socks for Wee Too...

Elvin hat for Wee Too...from Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Earrings for Kay for Mother's Day...

Wallet or makeup pouch for Kay for Mother's Day--tutorial here by Noodlehead.

They may not be the most elaborate crafts, but the fact that I could finish them has thrilled me.

Besides crafting during odd free moments, we've just been busy spending as much time outside between the raindrops, savoring the sunny moments.

Here is a sneak peak of my newest crafting in progress. A big ole bunch of homemade bias tape. What will Ms. Knitsburgh do with all of this bias tape, you might ask?
A few more of those Simultaneous Sleeps and you shall see!

New Addition Arrives at Knitsburgh!

2011-04-22T22:36:00.005-04:00

Knitsburgh proudly issues a proclamation throughout the land...

WEE TOO HAS ARRIVED! Welcome sweet little lass!

Coinciding with her arrival was the Great Computer Strike. Our 10 year old desktop is pretty wrecked and currently cannot be used. So this explains in part my absence from this blog. The other reason is far better, just being busy caring for the Wee Ones, bonding, adjusting to this new happy crazy life. Really, there just isn't much else to say except life is pretty good. Hope it's good for you out there too and...

...Happy Earth Day!

New Hatchiling?

2011-04-07T04:48:00.004-04:00

I know what you are thinking...but no, not Wee Too yet... Wee One's Nest Egg...

...turns into a bluebird! I departed a bit from the original pattern to add the orange to make it a little more like a true Eastern Bluebird. Bill and Kay have had a nesting pair of them on their property for a couple years now. When I was a wee one myself and we lived on what we call The Ridge (aka in the mountains of Western PA) there was a bit more acreage and there was always a nesting pair in the box during the spring and early summer, sometimes two nests per summer! I also made my own nest for the egg/bird, essentially making a little "hat" that is used upside down. The original pattern has a nest but the yarn I had on hand would not have been as stiff and I wanted a tighter fitting nest that could stand up with the egg well. Wee One loves to say the word "nest" of late!

Wee Too also has a new springtime friend waiting here...

...waiting is truly what we are all just doing right now....

For once, this procrastinator has the next holiday under wraps. The basket is ready, the little surprises have been knit. Only one thing left to do...

We are trying to go for walks in between the raindrops (and snow...don't ask) here. Hope you find time between rain drops too!

Upcycled Easter (Ostara, Eostre) grass!!!

2011-03-28T13:03:00.007-04:00

You know the stuff, right? The way-too-bright, crinkly-feeling, sticks-to-everything-including-your-jammies-and-hair plastic-y stuff the Easter bunny likes to line his baskets with? Plus if your cat eats it, the necessary emergency surgery to remove it from her intestines will be quite pricey. Well, that stuff has long been banished from Knitsburgh. This year, we are going with flannel. Scraps from Wee One's flannel receiving blanket collection. After making bibs from two of these blankets (squeezed three reversible bibs total from the two), there was some leftover fabric. Not enough for another bib. I had some other ideas of what I might make them into but this one won out. Maybe it was the colors in the blankets (green and white gingham; pastel colored polka dots) that sealed their fate... I grabbed the pinking shears and cut strips of fabric, just eyeballing it to the width I liked. How easy is that? Get your basket and throw it in there. It should last for years as the flannel won't fray either. It would be cute and rustic too with some leftover cotton fabric. The fun part is you can make it any color you like and use any scraps of fabric you have, from old t-shirts to sheets to sewing scraps!

Did anyone else partake in Earth Hour this past weekend? We did and I managed to finish the Owlie Hat by candlelight. I enjoyed the time with the lights off; Nature Boy even got out a book and read, I couldn't believe my eyes! He did promptly turn on the television as soon as the hour was up but we did leave the lights off. Here is Owlie Hat for Wee Too, drying with the Owlie Sleep Sack.

****For more info on Ostara, click HERE.

Vernal Aspirations...

2011-03-24T13:42:00.005-04:00

I finally finished the Owlie Sleep Sack for Wee Too. This involved ordering some additional yarn from Knit Picks as I was using up what I had left in my stash and of course, it was not enough. So two more skeins of the Organic Cotton Worsted Weight in Marshmallow arrived this week and I used about 1/2 a skein. Next up is the matching Owlie Hat (like the one I made for Compassionate Craft Week a while back). I wish you could feel how soft it is. I also wish I had enough time and knitting fortitude to fashion an adult sized sleep sack for myself...

These last few weeks have been trying at times. There was some concern due to dropping platelet count I might not be able to have Wee Too outside of the hospital but thankfully, a visit to a specialist remedied this concern and we should be fine to go forth with our current birth plan. Now I am trying to get Bill and Kay comfortable with driving to the Birth Center which means driving **gasp** in the city!!! Kay does not drive outside of a ten mile radius of her home. Bill has decided he will ignore my detailed, city dweller who knows how to get around the 'burgh directions and instead look at a map and arbitrarily choose random, out of the way possible routes through areas which:

Involve heavy construction, certain delays and a closed bridge he believes will be open as it is "right there on the map."
Sketchy neighborhoods it's best not to get lost in while you try to drive quite possibly in the middle of the night.
Are places he has never ever even been before.

Now this really isn't much of a surprise; Bill ALWAYS has a "shortcut" meaning a longer route that usually takes more time and gas but for some reason he finds more appealing. I just thought due to the urgency of the sitch, he might try a more direct route while I'm in labor and waiting on them to arrive to get to our house or for them to meet us at the Birth Center. I really don't know whether to laugh or cry; I've done both for the last day or so. Basically, they are coming to care for Wee One while Nature Boy and I bring Wee Too into this world and it would be so much easier on my mind if I knew they could make it to the Birth Center without a problem. They are coming tomorrow so I can drive them to and from and get them comfortable with it. Wish me luck!!!

I've been trying to keep busy meanwhile. Under the super moon last week, the seeds for this year's garden were blessed in a ritual outside, then Nature Boy and I sowed them inside. Today, the marigolds and lettuce were sprouting already.

I am trying a radical new approach to gardening this year. Equal parts from the biointensive techniques of Jeavons and the knowledge of the indigenous people of this land, the Native Americans. I planned out the garden on paper...
...then Nature Boy was kind enough to accompany me outside, till the land a bit and help me set out the walkways separating the garden into three smaller plots. These plots will be (hopefully) jam packed full of veggies and herbs. I'm most excited about companion planting methods/knowledge and the Three Sisters plot, which will have corn, beans and squash planted together, which are are mutually beneficial to the others when planted thusly.
Wow, I've said a lot today! Lastly, I brought some forsythia in a few days ago and today they are brightening up this place something fierce! It's cold again here but not for long!

What up?

2011-03-22T20:19:00.009-04:00

Just a few things to share from Knitsburgh of late...

Walk in the woods this past weekend.

From the front I look like normal...

Egad! From the side, you can see Wee Too is still on board. Sadly, no trillium were spotted yet.

New larger bibs sewn for Wee One. I used two different prints on each side so they are reversible. I also used different colored thread in the bobbin so each side has a contrasting thread for top stitching detail. Made fourteen bibs total.

These three are my favorites, made from two of Wee One's flannel receiving blankets. Love to upcycle! Each bib has one side of polka dots, one side of green gingham. Used brown thread for top stitching.

Knit up a Mikey Hat for Wee One. Modified THIS PATTERN which is for an adult head. The fit was good but...

...it really needed a good blocking! I finished it the eve before the annual St. Pat's parade so I did not want to chance it still being wet. So it was worn with wonkiness, the stamp of handmade upon it! When it was worn that is, it came off several times. The plastic inside the brim is cut from an old plastic coffee can. We have a stockpile of these as Nature Boy's father cannot bear to throw them away or recycle them as they seem so useful so he saves them and gives them to us. We have also made a "drum kit" out of several of these in different sizes duct taped together; one is poised under the leaky sink in the bathroom; and several hold odds and ends like nails, screws, etc. If you need any coffee cans, you know who to call...

Hey Pittsburgh....

2011-03-03T12:32:00.003-05:00

...the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History are FREE on Thursdays in March, from 3:30PM to 8PM. You can click HERE if you don't believe me. Parking is $5 after 5PM.

If you have never been to one or both, this is a fantastic opportunity to see what you have been missing. I have only been on the Natural History side myself so I can't wait to check out some art (after checking out the dinosaurs and mummies, of course). I can vouch for the Natural History side as being fantastic (and when I was there the dinosaurs exhibit was closed). We went to see the Bog People exhibit which was there at the time and I really enjoyed the rest of the museum as much if not more. Here is a list of the permanent exhibits at the Natural History Museum; seriously, there is something here for everyone! Happy Museuming, Pittsburgh!

Totally Random Baby Legs Pattern

2011-03-01T16:09:00.008-05:00

What is cuter than a baby wearing a diaper and some baby legwarmers? These knit up quickly and are a good use for leftover yarns. Striped is my favorite, but solid, Fair Isle, argyle, intarsia or even lace inserts would work. Here is the basic recipe; feel free to spice it up as you like it!

Size: 0-6 months (3 inches wide x 9 inches long).
Needles: 5 and 7 circulars or straight (you could also easily knit these in the round and use double points here too--bonus, no seaming at the end!).
Fibre: Blue-green is Blue Skies Alpaca Skinny Dyed Organic in Mallard; cream is Blue Skies Alpaca Skinny Dyed Organic in Leaf; and brown is Aslan Trends Glacier Del Cielo in Espresso. The blue-green and cream are classified by the yarn manufacturer as DK weight; the brown is classified as sport weight. I would use anything you have leftover that is either of these weights with the number of stitches cast on. Of course if using a thicker fibre, you would need less cast on stitches, thinner fibre more.
Gauge: 5 stitches per inch; 8 rows per inch in stockinette.

*How-To:
With size 5 needles, CO 36.
K2, P2 rib for 10 rows.
Change to size 7 needles and K in stockinette until piece measures approximately 8 inches long.
Change back to size 5 needles, work 10 rows of K2, P2 rib.
Bind off in pattern.
Weave in ends and seam using mattress stitch to form a tube.
Make second legwarmer as first.
Find a baby to put them on and take some pictures and send them to all your friends (and to me too!).

*these directions are just the very basic instructions; for random stripes like mine, just use more than one color yarn and change it up as you please. My random stripes were dictated by the amounts of each color of yarn I had. If I were making a stripe of the same size, I would calculate the rows using the length and row gauge (7 inches not including the cuffs, multiplied by 8 rows per inch equals 56 rows; divide by four equals 14 stripes four rows wide; divide by two equals 7 stripes of four rows in two colors, etc etc). I would just plan ahead for whatever pattern or color I wanted to use. Unless I wanted solid, then I would just dive right on in!

This Day

2011-02-17T19:27:00.006-05:00

Stood in the light of a big, round full moon at 3:14 AM.
Played outside with a Wee One for hours!

Saw some sprouting bulbs poking up out of the earth.
Felt the sun and wind on our faces.
Knit a bit.
Danced around and sang to this:

C the C (Live) from Colonizing the Cosmos on Vimeo.

Heard, then caught sight of a cheeky robin poking around in the lilacs.
Dreamed of Wee Too.

I don't want to say it aloud, but I'm feeling like it's almost here. Spring that is. I've probably just broken the spell.

But seriously, the SPRING issue of Interweave Knits popped up in the mail today too. I love the spring issues because they normally feature more vegan-friendly fibres; however, this one still seems heavily wool based. Nonetheless, I still found a pattern or two that caught my eye...not that I will knit them anytime soon! I've got some baby leggings on the needles to keep me busy, just a free form experiment using up some tiny bits of yarns from projects' past. Will they fit Wee Too? Will I ever weave in all the ends? All part of the experiment...

Happy Hearts!

2011-02-14T14:40:00.006-05:00

A Valentine pictorial...

A "green" bouquet! I made these fabric flowers out of two old shirts and a stolen wedding napkin (don't ask!) that were in my Reuse Me basket of textiles. Plus some sticks from the neighborhood and a hot glue gun. I used the tutorial found HERE. Best part is, they will last and grace our table long into the spring. Sorry the pics are so dark; we are having an overcast, gloomy looking day.

Handmade card using some embroidery floss, card stock and a pen, all of which were just lying about the estate. I traced a piece of heart shaped chocolate, then cut it out on the front part of the card. I then traced that negative space with my pencil to make a heart shape on the inner part. I used 6 strands of floss and did a very rustic looking satin stitch along the outline on the inner part. On the front, I did a rustic back stitch around the opening, leaving the ends long to tie in a bow. Write something cheesy and sappy, and there you have it!

Wee Too's baby booties.

Vegan sugar cookies with strawberry icing. The berries eliminate the need for any food colorings or dyes and make the hearts the sweetest shade of pink.

Vegan Strawberry Icing

4 medium strawberries
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Pulse the berries in a food processor until smooth. Pour into large bowl. Add in the vanilla and two cups of powdered sugar; with electric mixer beat. Add in additional sugar to make a stiff icing. If it gets too thick, you can add a teaspoon of soy milk.

Hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day too!

Procrastinator on Fire!

2011-02-06T10:05:00.003-05:00

My so-called lazy, stay inside all day Saturday proved to be not so lazy after all. Not only did I make a vegan cake from scratch with two types of frosting and make dinner, I also managed to sew...

...a baby sling! With Wee One, we just used the baby Bjorn or I used the wrap seen here. The wrap is just a piece of jersey knit fabric, which works well, but the tying it in place takes time. Fine for just one wee...but I think things may be a tad bit different this time around. I need something to throw on quickly at a moment's notice before Wee One takes off into the sunset. Four hands would be optimal but so far, I've only got two. Hopefully the sling will come in handy!

I used the tutorial found here; thanks, Sarah! I kind of guessed at the hip to shoulder ratio as my belly is a bit expansive these days. I hope once I have Wee Too, the sling hangs a bit lower, closer to my hip. I followed the tutorial pretty much the same, except I opted to forgo the pacifier holder. I liked how simple it was and how it did not have upholstery foam padding inside like some other designs out there. Here is the link Sarah also provides for tips and ways to carry your wee inside a sling.

It seems I am finally starting to cross things off my massive list before Wee Too arrives. This is where the adrenaline kicks in and a procrastinator thrives; hopefully the extra energy will last a few more weeks!

Here We Go...

2011-02-06T09:49:00.004-05:00

...Steelers, here we go!
Pittsburgh's goin' to the Superbowl,
Here we go!

Made a vegan cake to celebrate the day with! GO STEELERS!!!

A Wee Guernsey...

2011-02-04T14:51:00.005-05:00

Ta-dah! It fits after reworking the pattern to fit the gauge of my yarn (Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Organic, 100% cotton). This is the second pattern from Fawn Pea I have knit for Wee One and have loved them both--thanks Fawn Pea!!!

Let me just say it is getting more and more difficult to get a decent picture of Wee One, as he is in constant motion. Here is the guernsey at rest...sans Wee One:

Onto the next project!

Clockwork

2011-02-03T03:06:00.007-05:00

I am thirsty, hungry and Wee Too is kicking like a champ. I toss and turn, my legs are restless. I sigh and get up to use the bathroom for the second time. Yes, it's 3AM again. And I'm awake. Some nights I'm not up long, other nights I can't get back to sleep and get up for an hour or so. This is one of those.

I've been trying to finish up some projects and cross things off the list before Wee Too gets to Knitsburgh. One of the projects was a new nursing cover. You may remember the nursing cover and nursing wrap I made for Wee One. The nursing cover I used all the time but it seemed a bit skimpy at the sides due to the triangular shape and could use some improvement. The nursing wrap was never really used for nursing in public. Wee One was a babe who liked to pull the nursing covers/wraps/blankets away and unless something was fastened securely around my neck, was a bit risky out there on the streets.

Behold the new nursing cover. I used the tutorial from Diary of a Quilter and pretty much followed it exactly. The only thing I would advise is to check the size of your boning before inserting it. I did not and the top seemed a bit loose. I removed it (before sewing it in, thankfully) and measured it; the woman at the fabric store had been generous and gave me 15" instead of 12" which was either a mistake or nice of her. Either way, it fit much better at 12". It was really an easy project; Wee One refused his nap on the Project Day and I pretty much made it while keeping him occupied (i.e. not playing with the ironing board, iron or sewing machine).

In the background you can see an easel Nature Boy designed and constructed for Wee One. He told me he wanted to leave it in it's natural wood state and have Wee One's paint splashes and errant crayonings as the "finish" and you can see Wee One is complying like a champ.

Wee One's Organic Guernsey is finished now, save for sewing on three buttons. As soon as the buttons are one, I will try and arrange a photo shoot. I'm also excited to see if it fits...

I hope all had a lovely Imbolc/Groundhog's Day. I did here and was reflecting on being a vegan pagan. Imbolc, named for "ewe's milk", is at first glance not so very vegan. Dairy products figure prominently in the Irish and Scottish lore of celebrating and traditional feasting. However, this year I focused on the care and love Bride had for animals, particularly cattle, and this really seemed to help me forge a deeper spiritual connection.

Seems now I am looking for all the signs of spring. We had a strange two days' weather; cold and snow-covered, then warm, rainy and melting, then windy with more snow and cold. The warm, rainy, melty part gives me hope it won't be long now.

Sewing Reveal....

2011-01-23T15:00:00.005-05:00

Here are the Secret Sewing Projects I finished a couple weeks ago but had to hold back on discussing as they were birthday presents for my two lovely sisters, who yes, are twins!

What are they, you ask? Why little makeup brush/tool rolls.

Front of one...

Back of one...

Front of another...

Back of the other!

I used the lovely tutorial from Susan at Freshly Picked. The only mods I made were I made mine out of three 10" x 10" sqaures and opted not to use interfacing so they would be more flexible. Now you should really check out her picture and post of Christmas morning at her house. Just trust me!!! Thanks Susan for your tutes and your awesome sense of humor!!!

Hit the Motherload!!!

2011-01-23T14:33:00.004-05:00

We went to spend Russian Christmas with Nature Boy's family in the Icebox of PA last weekend. Much fun and excitement was had, but for me one of the most exciting things was receiving this fantastic assortment of knitting and crochet tools!!!

They were given to me by one of Nature Boy's aunts who used to pursue all sorts of handicrafts (not pictured are a mostly completed needlepoint project and a half completed patchwork pillow cover). Part of the large bag of fun were these fantastic pattern booklets!

While I would love to show you each and every one, my life does not allow it (and yours should not either, at that) so here a just a sampling of faves.

This is a dress I LOVE!!! Maybe one day...

This is a MEN'S KNITTED LEISURE SUIT! Just let that sink in...

Finally, this one was featured in the Gypsy Knits pattern booklet. A two-piece knitted ensemble. Oh, if I only had the time...

The Homeland...at home!

2011-01-13T13:30:00.009-05:00

I finished up some sewing last night, but alas, as it is a surprise, I really can't discuss it currently. What else can I say right now?

The Wee Guernsey is coming along now, after reconfiguring the pattern to fit the skinny yarn I'm working with. I hope to get some more time this coming weekend to finish it, or else Wee One may just outgrow it before he has the chance to wear it.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday (yeah, I know, that was a while ago...) I got the chance to see my favorite aunt and uncle and they gave me the most stupendous gift! Some of my ancestors on my mother's side of the family emigrated to America from Scotland in the 1800's. My aunt went to Scotland and brought me back....a rock! I have a little piece of the Homeland here at Knitsburgh now. She also gave me photos of where it came from (Palace of Scone) and twenty pence. I love to feel the stone in my hand and wonder about it; have others touched it before? What has it seen or overheard? Maybe one day I'll get to Scotland myself but if not, I have come close.

Hiding out...

2011-01-06T20:27:00.004-05:00

After weeks of celebrations and reconnections and house-guests, I am ready to hunker down. The last guests departed on Monday; the holiday decor was put away for another year. The Estate was put back to order and scrubbed clean again. The routines are starting to return to normal again.

I feel like I don't want to leave Knitsburgh for a while. Ready to hibernate. Made some lentil soup today (the French Lentil soup from Veganomica, again...I love it so). Don't have to go anywhere for anything...

Except...we are stone-cold out of chocolate. No chocolate chips, chocolate bars, chocolate soy milk or chocolate anything. Damn!!!

Guess who's arse is going to the store tomorrow? In the snow? Did I mention it's a preggo arse too? Yeah, it's that bad, the need. That bad.

WHEW!!!!

2010-12-27T14:09:00.008-05:00

As it's been some time, I might as well try to explain myself (aka make excuses) for my neglectful posting. I was preparing for the holidays which always seems to get me all flustered. Cleaning, shopping, mailing cards and making foods and gifts sure does take time!

First, there was the baking of cookies and the business of making candies. The cookies this year were scaled back a bit. I made some vegan sugar cookies, vegan chocolate chippers and these Vegan Caramel Pecan Bars which were very good and very sweet. One of these is enough to satisfy the biggest sweet tooth! They were also the easiest to make.

I tried my hand at some candies. First I made some yummy Rock Candy or Glass Candy.

It seems to go by both names. I used vegan granulated sugar and the only other ingredients are water, corn syrup, food coloring and flavoring oil. I made red cinnamon flavor and green spearmint flavor. I remember this candy fondly from my childhood; my grandmother always had it during the holidays. I thought she made it herself but my mom thinks she bought it from someone every year. Either way, it was relatively easy to make and yummy and I now have some very fresh breath.

The vegan gumdrops...not so happy an ending here. There was a recipe for gumdrops in a recent Better Homes and Gardens mag that seemed pretty close to vegan. I tried to make the coconut flavored gumdrops but my vegan fruit pectin I bought at Whole Foods came packaged a bit differently from the pectin the recipe was intended for and alas, I don't think I used enough pectin. It turned out like coconut flavored jam which really is sort of a weird thing. I ended up throwing it away but have lots of toasted coconut sugar on hand (which is what you roll the gumdrops in after they firm up and you cut them into little squares). I will let you know what I use it for...unless anyone out there has some suggestions? Seriously, I would love some.

There was some knitting. Three Interchangeable Hats (aka Poppy) for three lovely nieces.
Last year, I made one for one niece as I had her name in the big gift exchange we do for all the children in Nature Boy's family. Apparently, her sister has been stealing said hat and stretching it out. Since Nature Boy and I had the other two remaining nieces for the exchange, I went ahead and made three to cover all the nieces. Don't worry, they don't just get a knitted hat for the gift exchange, they get some cool presents too, these are just in addition to...

I also managed to knit up a sweater for a certain wee one who will be arriving in Hawaii close to the time Wee Too shows up here!
The pattern is the same as the sweater I made for Wee Too recently. I also knit up a Greenleaf hat to match.
After the baby shower, as I was driving home, it struck me a babe in Hawaii may not require sweaters and hats. I guess it's the thought, right?

Finally I made up some earrings and a ring out of some vintage buttons for my mom and one of my sisters. I also began another project but alas, it was not finished in time. I will detail more on this one another day.

Lastly, on my recent birthday, I think I got a strong message from the universe I am still trying to sort out. I was given a card with owls on it from Nature Boy in the morning. A package arrived from my sister with a birthday gift that was wrapped in owl paper she had made. At the night's end, as we were sitting on el coucho, Nature Boy tapped my hand and spoke softly to me that there was an owl outside on the pole. As I looked, I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a small Eastern Screech Owl sitting ON OUR PORCH!!! IN THE MIDDLE OF PITTSBURGH!!! Looking right in the window at us!
We watched the owl for an hour at least, then finally had to head to bed. The owl did not leave but when I awoke at 3AM as usual, I came down and looked and the owl was gone. I have heard owls outside as a girl but have never seen one outside in the wild. It was truly an amazing birthday, one I will never forget!

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday (whatever you choose to call it or however you celebrate it). Peace, love and joy to everyone out there!

Holiday Cheer

2010-12-02T22:58:00.011-05:00

So I finally finished my holiday project--

These were the rules (self-imposed, of course):

It had to be el cheapo. They turned out free, my favorite price.
It had to be something to hang in the dining room windows which are normally quite barren.
It had to be quick. Something one could finish during naptime.

So under those parameters, I think they turned out fairly well. I was looking for wreath ideas when I stumbled across this little cutie by Laurie Cinotto and decided I could use the idea to make some window hangings. I collected the larger branches for the frame, pine cones and pine needles while we were walking in the park; the smaller sticks were found around the estate grounds and on walks in the neighborhood (aka city streets and alleys). I used some scrap fabric to make the deer and birds and stuffed them with some stuffing I had on hand. I used some surplus ribbon from holidays past for the hangers, along with some thin wire. Thick floral wire was used to tie the larger pieces together for the frame, as in the inspiration piece.

I hand-sewed the deer and birds together using a blanket stitch and this took the longest of all. I'm thinking it would look just as cute to use deer and birds or other animlas cut out of pretty paper or even out of a photo (kind of like THIS, another source of inspiration). Now I almost wish I would have made a sasquatch for one of the hangings, how fantastically fun would that have been?

Maybe they aren't the most modern, most neat, most sparkly holiday decorations out there but I really do like their simplicity. It fits our home, our lives, our year.

I also made some trees from this tutorial from The Small Object with scrap fabrics and although they look a bit wind-blown (ahem, crooked) they were fun and easy to make. I'm not sure where they will end up in the estate, maybe the kitchen and bathroom which seem to feel a bit neglected right now.

So maybe now I will get back to knitting...

December already?

2010-12-01T16:26:00.004-05:00

Wow these last few months have really been going by quickly! With the first snow of the season today, it is really beginning to feel like the holidays are on their way. I've been working on a project to decorate the estate this week and will post some pics and information when they are finished. I need to let some sticks (that's right, sticks!) we found today on our walk dry out before adding them on to the project.

I started and frogged a sweater for Wee One, then refigured the pattern using my actual gauge as I did not use the same yarn as the pattern was written for and my fibre is much thinner. Keep your fingers crossed here! I've only cast on and knit about three rows. I've been slacking in this arena. How surprising, right?

I am still trying to figure out some gift ideas. One great resource has been the November blog entries over at Sew Mama Sew. Great links to tutorials for all sorts of gifts! Sewn gifts, that is. Go check it out if you need some inspiration.

Happy start of Hanukkah to those out there who celebrate this holiday!

Mama's Got a Brand New...

2010-11-18T20:46:00.006-05:00

...BAG!
That's right, I was able to sew up this little number in a few days' time (which for me is quite the feat). I used some fabric I found on deep discount this summer at Ikea and at the time, thought I would make a purse or apron with it. If any of you out there know me, you know there really isn't much point in my wearing an apron when I cook or bake. This is due to two things:

My clothes are already quite nicely stained, in general.
I am very klutzy and this also accounts for point number 1. I imagine an apron would not fully prevent stains, unless it was made of some sort of silicone-treated fabric that formed a tent over my entire body.

So, purse it was. My current homemade bag had taken a beating of late, enough so that I finally managed to drag out the sewing machine, take a big gulp, and jump in (yeah, that's right, I am still a little afraid of my sewing machine. But don't tell her that). I used THIS TUTORIAL for most of the construction, but strayed in a few areas. First, I decided if this was to be my giant bag for everyday use, it would need pockets. I made a pocket for each side of the bag and instead of pleating the lining of the bag as the tute author had done, made the lining plain. I pleated the outer pieces first, then traced around them to cut the lining pieces. I also did not use interfacing. Lastly, I changed the straps. The author used leather straps which for me as a vegan was not something I was interested in doing. I thought about finding an old bag in my closet with fake leather straps or finding one at a thrift store to use but then I realized it would not do. I need a bag I can sling over my body, like a messenger bag. This gives me two free hands with which to knit or more likely these days, wrangle a feisty toddler away from certain mayhem. The straps would need to be much longer than regular purse straps I might find out there. So I made two uber-long straps for my bag with the outer and lining fabrics, which also meant no further cash was spent.

I finished it today and really liked it, until I put it on and realized...it looks just like a diaper bag. Oh my. Which I guess it will be, in part, anyhow. Most of the things that go in my bag are toddler-related sundries and soon, there will be baby-related sundries in there too. I also realized I don't like how most of my coats look with it, so now I really really want to find an nice thrift store non-wool gray coat to work it. Preferably one that can accomodate a rather large belly as well. Sounds like a nice challenge, eh?

I will say this; the tutorial was really easy to follow and well-written. This is the most well-constructed sewing project I have completed to date and it gives me hope that I am in fact improving in this area. Hooray for progress!

Real Life

2010-11-15T12:35:00.006-05:00

Time is just flying by here for us all. I can't believe it's already mid-November. I suppose I should catch you up a bit...

Halloween was spent out of town with family but of course, Trick or Treating still carried on! Wee One was quite the little trooper and we made it to five homes before he simply needed to be freed from the pierogie costume.

The first sweater for Wee Two was started and finished. Well, almost finished. I'm still considering making and sewing on a toadstool applique on the side; we'll see.

I also began to sew a new handbag for myself and will show the results if and when it is completed. I have more sewing projects in line after this too and hope I can stay on track with it all.

That is some of what is going on. Today is sort of a restful break, we are all feeling a bit under the weather and just need some down time. We had a lovely week of beautiful warm fall weather, meaning lots of walks and trips to the park and time to explore the city outdoors. Perhaps we overextended ourselves but I would venture it was worth it.

Today we also got our first peek at Wee Two (ultrasound). Not sure how to put it into words, except to say how real things are. Life is very real today.

Big Reveal

2010-10-24T20:17:00.011-04:00

Yes, it is finished...
...but not everyone is happy about it!

If you aren't sure what Wee One is, he is a pierogi! I had to make a few modifications to the costume today. First, this morning when we tried it on after breakfast, the bottom was too tight and would not quite fit over his shoulders. I ripped out the seam on the left side from below the arm to the leg, then hand-sewed some snaps (or pressers) on so it could be opened to ease over his body, then could be snapped shut. Alas, the snaps did not stay closed when we tried it on (he really, really is not happy about it). This afternoon, I removed the snaps with my trusty seam ripper and hand-sewed some very plain, thin off-white ribbon inside the pierogi layers to tie the front and back shut on the open left side. So far, these have held!

Designing it and making the pattern was the most difficult part; the assembly (aside from all the modifications today) went very well and did not take as long as I had thought it might. It also cost me nothing as I simply used the ton of leftover felt I had from making the little stuffed pierogi magnets this summer. I had to also restrain myself from hand embroidering "Lil' Dumplin'" across the butt.

I figure if we can get him in and keep him in the costume long enough to visit a few neighbors and snap a few pics, we will have been sucessful. I would like to walk in a festive Halloween parade with him but I don't know if he will have the strength. Nor I!

A Proclamation Throughout the Land...

2010-10-23T22:08:00.008-04:00

IT'S FINISHED!!!

I finished Wee One's Halloween costume an hour or so ago but have to wait until the morrow to try it on him as alas, he is dreaming away at present. I just wanted to say I finished it! I also really, really hope it fits! I will surely let you know the verdict...

Also today, I:
-cut my hair myself (which I do at the full moon to keep it growing well)
-picked up my free 8 x 10 photo collage from Walgreen's
-went out to lunch with the Wee and Nature Boy, then grocery shopping
-found these super-cute Halloween ideas!

cute Halloween luminaries from Project Naptime (using used tissue paper, old jars, old lights you have lying about)

these skeleton cupcakes are so creeptacular, I might have to veganize them...

seriously, why have I NOT made these leaf garlands out of newspaper yet?!?!

So much inspiration out there, so little time!

Free!

2010-10-22T13:43:00.005-04:00

Wanted to let you know about a free deal at Walgreens. Good until 10/24, you can get an 8x10 photo collage free!

How you ask? Enter the coupon code 8x10TREAT and make sure to select you will pick up the collage at a store (you can pick from locations)--otherwise you'll get stuck with shipping.

So far, I've gotten two free collages and a free photo magnet and we love them all! It's really easy, you upload photos from your computer and select from the options. They usually do this around holidays or change in seasons (summer, Mother's and Father's Day, Halloween). I can usually order them in the morning and they are ready in the afternoon, very fast!

CLICK HERE for more details and the link (thanks, Be Centsable!).

While you are in there, check out these other things you can score for free (provided you have the coupons).

Speaking of deals, I scored this cute little dress for $9.95 at Anthropologie.com last night!
I can't wait for it to get here so I can try it on. I think the bodice, being shirred, will work during pregnancy and nursing, then afterward when things, um, shrink back to normal size again. I'm tempted to try dyeing it so I can wear it spring, summer and fall. Any ideas on colors, methods, dyes to use? It is 100% cotton.

Say CHEEZE!!!

2010-10-19T16:50:00.009-04:00

Finally, finally, I finished the Garter Stitch Kimono Sweater from Compassionate Craft Week!

I was doing well but some health issues sidelined me on the last two days of the week. Wee One and I both got some colds and there was a lot of discomfort at nighttime, meaning lots of sleep intertuptus. Once I missed the deadline I sort of got lazy about it and then just knit when I could between everything else, rather than put things on the back burner so I could knit.

All in all, it was a great experience and I will do it again next year. I hope to package up the sweater, booties and hat and mail them out to One Heart, One Mind tomorrow.

A new recipe was also tried! My Vegan Cookbook has some intriguing stuff on there but nothing made me as curious (and hungry) as the Smokey Cheddar Cheeze Ball. Made with firm tofu, cashews, almonds and spices, I was curious as to how it would compare to the memory of the dairy-heavy original. I also thought it might be the perfect fall snack in the evening with friends around the table, or even an appetizer for Thanksgiving or the holidays. So I finally whipped it up this past Sunday, during the triumphant return of Big Ben Roethlisberger to his Pittsburgh Steelers in a lovely grudge match with our neighbors, the Cleveland Browns. Ok, I mixed up everything that morning but you have to refrigerate it for at least 5 hours before it's firm enough to make it into a ball. At halftime, I managed to first run upstairs for a bathroom break, then we hit the "concession area" (aka kitchen) where I formed the cheeze ball and rolled it in the paprika and almonds. I admit, I was in a bit of a rush as to not miss any of the game so I did not have much luck getting the almonds to coat the cheeze ball as fully as you might like.

I then snapped a pic for you and posterity, and dug in. I am just going to say it: MAKE THIS. Make it now. You will not be disappointed, it is delicious! Nature Boy, a strict carnivore, tried it, then ate three more crackers spread with this stuff! Unheard of! Oh and the spread, the spread. It is so velvety and glides over your cracker, I was amazed. I did use hickory-flavored liquid smoke but that was the only substitution I made on this one. It does make a lot, which in my case was welcome, but I think the next time I make it will be when company calls. It will most likely grace whatever table I'm at for Thanksgiving.

We have been having so much fun, from RAD Days at the Pittsburgh Zoo...
...to hitting the Punkin' Patch!
Now to get working on a Wee Halloween Costume...oh my...

Progress Post

2010-10-07T08:28:00.005-04:00

Another quick update on my Compassionate Craft Week Progress...

Monday: Booties finished and sewn up, sweater cast on and started!

Tuesday: Sweater continues to before buttonholes.

Wednesday: Sweater continues to before neckline decreases.

The sweater is this pattern here that I made for Wee One, the Garter Stitch Kimono sweater. It seems to take forever because it's garter stitch and you knit it in one piece from the bottom up so you are knitting back and front pieces at once. Plus, since it wraps around the Wee you are sweatering, you are knitting much more area for the right and left fronts than a normal sweater would require. I loved the end result of the one I made Wee, but this probably isn't the best choice for a sweater I now have only two days to finish. I am hopeful though and will be faithfully working on it until Friday at 12AM (or until I collapse into bed, whichever comes first).

So tune in folks to see how this one finishes up!!!

Weekend Update

2010-10-04T10:56:00.008-04:00

So I know you are all out there wondering, how is Ms. Knitsburgh doing amidst Compassionate Craft Week? Is she triumphing over time and yarn? Is she sinking amongst a sea of unfinished chores and projects?

Here is my daily progress:

Day One (Friday): Owlie Hat knit to decrease rounds.

Day Two (Saturday): Owlie hat finished, bootie knit to double needle bind-off.

Day Three (Sunday): Baby Bootie #1 sewn together and some ends woven in; Baby Bootie #2 knit up to the decrease rounds for the sole; Owlie Hat ends woven in.

The Estate is not looking its best, but every night after Wee One goes to sleep I knit and knit and knit until I can take it no longer and go to bed. I am feeling good about what I've completed so far and am excited to start my next project later this evening, a sweater. I have to say I almost feel guilty if I have a moment to do something and I'm not knitting, so even blogging is making me feel bad right now. I took some time yesterday morning to update my Coupon Notebook and my coupon organizer and then felt guilty about that "wasted" hour or so. Making things for someone who needs them seems to really motivate you, which is fantastic.

I hope to finish a sweater and matching hat by week's end. If I finish before the 8th, I will try to make something else, maybe some more hats.

I am very sad to report we have run out of ink for the printer at the estate, which is making me lean towards a baby sweater pattern I already have on hand versus a new exciting pattern I've not yet knit. The likelihood of me securing more printer ink before this evening is not looking good, so once the "second string" pattern is selected, I'll let everyone know.

Last week before Compassionate Craft Week started I made two apple pies. I froze one before baking it so we have one ready for company; we ate the other with lots of vegan vanilla So Delicious ice cream on it, it was really yummy.

We also took in the RAD sponsored Hay Day this weekend (yes, another awesome free event) at a local park and had a blast!

Hope your weekend was fun too!

RADical!

2010-09-29T23:34:00.004-04:00

Dahlia Field

Orchid
Green Man
Up late baking some yummy autumnal goodness so I thought I'd quickly post about our day. The Wee One and I went to Phipp's Conservatory for FREE!!! That's right, for FREE.

We had a great time and I wanted to let everyone in the Pittsburgh area know how many great things are scheduled to take place and they are all free! Go HERE for the calendar and information on the RAD program. One of the best things about living here, at least in my humble oppinion, is all of the great cultural, artistic and historic opportunities we have within our reach (oh, and also the Penguins and Steelers of course). This is a way to check out some really great things--the Carnegie museums, the National Aviary, Pittsburgh Filmmakers screenings, dance troupes, opera, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Andy Warhol Museum, to name just a few offerings. These totally free events run through October 24th so there is probably an event and date that would work for anyone. I'll see you out there in the city!!

Out of the Woods...

2010-09-28T14:24:00.005-04:00

We are fresh back from camping in our favorite place for Nature Boy's Annual Birthday Camptacular. What fun we had! A full orange giant harvest moon. A roaring campfire with vegan s'mores. A tiny Wee camper who roamed the camp site and even hiked a bit in the forest on his own two little legs.

I will now reveal, with much fanfare, the Worthy Cause my Compassionate Craft Week efforts will be going to....

Pathways to Spirit's One Heart One Mind Program! You can read about this project HERE.

I had originally looked at a local domestic violence shelter for my Worthy Cause but upon reading their information online, it appears they really prefer new clothing items and I was not sure how happy a woman or child would be to receive a handmade sweater, nor did I feel I could finish one quickly. I decided maybe I should look at other programs but still felt strongly I wanted to do something to somehow empower women.

I scoured the net looking for projects and One Heart One Mind just called to me. I used to live in Colorado and this program operates from there. I feel these young girls who live on a reservation need to know that someone cares and feels sorry for what our ancestors did to their ancestors. I emailed Pathways to Spirit about my interest and got a response right away, letting me know they appreciate any items for the mothers and children but they really are in need of items for the newborns. They thanked me for my interest and also said I could feel free to spread the word about this program, so I'm giving them a bit of a plug here.

I'm really excited to plan out my little projects and see how many of them I can accomplish in a week! Friday, October 1st is the official start date so I will post here and on Ravelry to update on my progress. Wish me luck!

Is anyone out there participating in Compassionate Craft Week? What items have you made for charity in the past? What groups have you made things for?

Merry Belated

2010-09-24T07:22:00.004-04:00

I had been planning to wish everyone a Merry Mabon on Thursday, however, a quick moving storm came to Knitsburgh Wednesday afternoon and knocked out our power. We did get the power back yesterday but we had much to do to get caught up on our chores.

It was kind of nice to have no power for a bit...just some hurricane lamps and candles and a radio. I will say I did miss it soon though, especially my clothes washer!

Hope everyone is enjoying the start of autumn and has a fantastic weekend!

PS--I am now quite sure on my Compassionate Craft Week cause--will update you next week!

To Catch You Up

2010-09-20T14:04:00.006-04:00

Wow, it's been a crazy few weeks! Where do I start?

Here! We went to our old stomping ground and had such a great time. Wee One met the ocean and seemed quite excited to be doing so. He played in the sand, swam in the ocean and splashed in the surf. He picked up shells and enjoyed finding sea water inside upside down clam shells. A yellow bucket and gray shovel were sadly lost at sea; we only hope wherever they washed up, they were found and used by another. I connected with some old friends too although it was brief (hi Felicia, hope you are enjoying lunch today!). We really do miss it there!

We also announced to family and friends another Wee One is going to be making his or her way to Knitsburgh. We are quite excited but at times I find myself tired and nauseous so I've been trying to rest more than usual.

The above two statements might explain why I have not been the most regular blogger of late. Secrecy (I didn't want to lead every burglar to the Estate door by blabbing how I was going out of town or posting while I was away, nor did I want to blow our cover until we told the fam about our new Wee) certainly played a role as well. I admit, I also have had little to no interest in knitting or crafting but I am hopeful once the nausea departs, I will be back to my usual crafty self.

So I leave you much where you had known me to be; in the midst of a damn near unending Every Way Wrap. There is only one way I want it and that is finished. I've been reading like some mad woman too and that definitely cuts into the knit. Three historical fiction novels by Sally Gunning (in reverse order of course, how like me...)and a fiction novel on Charlotte Bronte's life. We visited the library today and now I have three more books to divert my attention. At least I knit a bit on the wrap last night.

I do hope to get a fire under me soon as Compassionate Craft Week is coming up. I need to get my final project idea down (I have some vague thoughts on this already but need to shore them up a bit). I will try and keep you posted on this and hey, it you are crafting for this week too, I'll see you on Ravelry!

Real wins!

2010-08-31T13:41:00.006-04:00

I can't believe it's the end of August already! It's been a while since my last post; I'm fine, just enjoying real life as opposed to virtual life, I guess. Real life has been healing and surprising and exciting and out-of-doors and tasty. I wish I could say more here; maybe in time.

I will say a little bit on the virtual slice. A while back I started detailing all sorts of crafty pursuits and putting them on a "link party" site which I think overloaded me. I would check out all these brilliant things others were making and then look at my stuff and feel it wasn't as cute or cool or useful or unique. It seemed lots of people from this site would come to look at what I made but the only people who ever left comments were those I had already left comments for. Maybe I don't get it but for me, I would like someone to comment if they think something is truly lovely, not because they figure they owe it to me. I commented on those projects I thought were amazing or unique or green in nature, not because I wanted these folks to come and leave a comment on my blog. I had started linking to this site thinking I would connect with more like-minded souls out there and came away with a bad taste in my mouth.

I think for me I need to stay on my former path and if that means I don't connect with many other people, so be it. I need to get back to craftiness with regularity. I need to enjoy my own process and results and not compare them to one hundred other people who might just have more time, more financial freedom, more innate color coordination than I possess.

I may still connect to the Upcycled Awesome site when I have a project that fits in with this ideal. Plus I like to see what Upcycled Awesomeness I can be further inspired by.

I do want to get back in the saddle and catch up on all the blogs I read but it may take me some time.

Now to catch you up on my knitting!!!
1. I went to the fabulous Blooming Yarns, scored three skeins of Debbie Bliss Eco Cotton in Pumpkin, Dye Lot 7071, and have enough to finish my wrap. I also walked out with 7 skeins of Blue Sky Organic Skinny Dyed Cotton in two colorways (3 of one, 4 of another) which was also on sale at 30% off. The shop personnel as well as the customers were very friendly and welcoming (it may have helped my cause to have Wee One there as well, who was greeted with great cheer) and even invited me to an evening knitting group. Which due to Life I will not be able to attend for some time, but Life is the best reason, I suppose.

2. I am knitting the wrap again! Not with high velocity, or even total accuracy as I have had to rip back a few times and drop some stitches to re-cable them correctly. I am however making steady progress and yesterday I reached the official half-way mark! I must update her Ravelry status...

3. I know what I will knit next and I will be using yarn already in the stash as well as a pattern I already possess.

I think this says enough for today; now off to catch up on some blogs before Life calls (er, Wee One awakens)!

Complaining and Compassion; Does One Make Up for the Other?

2010-08-08T21:06:00.005-04:00

Why do I do this to myself?

Of course, my knitting is going at a snail's pace so this isn't a huge deal quite yet, but I will need another two, if not three to be super-safe, balls of Debbie Bliss Eco Cotton in Pumpkin, dye lot 7071. I bought the eight balls I have at The Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival, of all places as part of a kit and decided to try a different pattern (this one HERE) instead of a boring all-stockinette wrap pattern included with the yarn. I really liked the color and vegan/enviro friendly yarn and it was difficult at best to find any non-animal, much less green, fiber there. No, don't think I will waste my time and money there this year...

So here I am, trying tonight to sit down and find more yarn in this dye lot. No online stores seem to list dye lots; I can't be the only one out there who has not purchased enough yarn for something before, right? Does anyone know how I would go about finding this yarn? I did try Ravelry already and would prefer not to call every shop I find to ask about the dye lot. I will however do this if necessary.

Enough complaining about my silly knitting troubles. Wanted to mention a sweet idea here and also **gulp** publically commit myself to this project.

The idea is from Christabel and you can read about it RIGHT HERE. The first week of October will be Compassionate Craft Week 2010. I'm thinking most of you who look at this blog might already know of it and might be thinking of doing it anyway. If anyone out there knows of someone who might be crafty, please pass the word along. Thanks for your help (and compassion)!

Resting Per Decree?

2010-08-04T15:14:00.009-04:00

It's been a while; what has Ms. Knitsburgh been up to, you ask?

First, there was a large batch (37!!!) of pierogies!

Magnets, to be exact here. Both Nature Boy and Kay also assisted with some of the eyes and mouths.

The pierogies were part of a gift bag Nature Boy and I put together for the participants of the the First Annual Anything that Floats Boat Race, held during Old Home Day in Lopez, PA. Of course, this meant three boats had to be built, one for Nature Boy, one for me and one for Wee One.

Nature Boy made all three and I sewed a sail for my catamaran. Which by the way came in first place for the High Stakes Boat Race winning me $18! It was really a fun weekend and we had a great time.

I also made nine bibs for Wee One for a total of 12 reversible flannel bibs that do not stain or come off.

I'm trying to get things back to the usual but something out there is working against me here; maybe the universe is telling me to rest up? We have no water today so no laundry or cleaning will be done. Maybe tomorrow we will be back in the saddle again...

Despite my earlier setback, a small success...

2010-07-21T19:54:00.007-04:00

Even though this little project didn't work out as I first envisioned, I was able to pull off the accessory for it.

A headband! From a shirt collar. From a men's shirt that cost $1 in a consignment shop.

If you find yourself refashioning/upcycling a shirt with a collar, it's really easy to make one of these babies. Plus instead of throwing out the collar, you can eek out one more usable item and prevent even more fabric from getting into a landfill. The result is a nice, sturdy, thick band that really works for crazy out of control hair (those thin tiny headbands simply laugh at me when I try to wear them).

Just cut the collar from the shirt, then cut the part of the collar that would rest against your neck away from the pointy-end piece. The pointy-end piece can be reserved for something else creative you might make. I haven't decided what mine will be yet but you can bet I will save it 'til I come up with that something else. When I cut the pieces apart, I made sure I did not cut through any of the outer stitches so I didn't even have to finish the edges, they were quite secure on their own. You could take off the button on one side, or leave it like I did for charm (or as an emergency secret button for some day when you find a button has escaped from some sort of clothing).

Next, grab a little scrap of elastic you have swimming around in your sewing box from some other project (baby yoga pants, represent). Sew it to the inside of one end. I sewed mine by hand but you could also do it with your machine.

Pin the elastic to the inside of the other end, try on your headband and adjust the pin as needed to ensure a snug but not headache-inducing fit. Stitch this end in place too.

Voila! Wear it like the awesome green crafty one you are! Show it off to your cat who witnessed said transformation and looks really impressed! And good luck on your shirt repurposing....

Added to Upcycled Awesome--go see what other people have made this week!!!

Added to Tea Rose--other crafty fun here too!

Yet another obituary...

2010-07-20T23:12:00.007-04:00

PINK DRESS-SHIRT DRESS, born July 19, 2010, died on July 20, 2010 after a surgical procedure to install a zipper. Pink Dress-Shirt Dress was the child of Ms. Knitsburgh's imagination and a men's Van Heusen dress shirt bought at the Avalon Exchange for $1.00. Such a short life; you will forever be missed and revered.

So the above ran in the Knitsburgh Times today. I so wanted to be showing you pics of me and this dress, happy together. Alas, it was not meant to be, another fate awaits her. That's right, I'm talking reincarnation here!

I used a lovely little frock that I quite like and is linen as my pattern. Problem was I did not take into consideration there is a zipper in my pattern-frock to help with the fitting of the waist over one's bosom when putting it on. Without the zipper I could get it over but I swear, it felt like a mammogram and I knew I would not wear the evil torture device as it were. I cut and installed a zipper no less than twice (I admit to you and only you I installed the zipper on the bodice portion only first and then when I went to try it on, same problem, waist strangling my chest). The second time I tried it on and --damn!!! Having to hem the seam allowances for the zipper made it too tight across the heiney and stomach, two areas I definitely want some flowing fabric to cover. A bummer for sure but I will live.

Wee One even offered to help fix it and got out his tools...so helpful, my Wee One!

In other events today, we got rear-ended on our way to dinner at Moe's! No one was injured but this sort of thing makes me feel really weird. I'm kind of glad I was driving and drove us to Ikea and then home too, one of those get-right-back-in-the-saddle things.

I also want to say this; I love to go to Ikea but we never buy any furniture there because our house is really not the "Ikea style." Meaning, our home is not very modern or Swedish or whatever you call that style. I do wish we could call our furniture things like "Skoog" and "Bjork" and "Flurgan."

Before you feel all bad for me because I don't have interesting names for my furniture or because we got rear-ended, know this: I still found some things to buy! Knitsburgh now has even more animal shaped cookie cutters; even more Wee One cups; even more fabric and yes, a glass jar to make some sun tea in along with a set of funnels for funneling. How did we ever get by before today?

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Bias Tape?

2010-07-15T18:23:00.008-04:00

Upcycled Clothespin Bag!

I admit it; when I started this little project I was starting to take the wimpy safe road. You see, I have been keeping my clothespins in the plastic bag they came in originally which was really not working out well for many reasons. For months I have been including a clothespin bag on my list of things I should sew soon.

I found this pattern here and sat down to do it yesterday. I made the pattern out of newspaper in the afternoon, then cut out the fabric and sewed in the evening, both when Wee One was sleeping. It was getting late and I was saying things like this:

"I don't HAVE to make bias tape; I'm making it out of denim which is cool when it frays so I will just sew around the opening and let the edges fray."

Then I grew a sewing spine. I had bought a bias tape thingy you use with your iron months ago and still had to try it. If I messed up sewing the bias tape on, I thought, who cares, it's a silly clothespin bag. I really needed to step up and do it and this was the perfect trial run situation.

Can I just say it took a lot longer than it probably should but it was awesome! First, the tool, way easier than folding your own tape and burning your fingers. I pinned it onto the bag like crazy so the sewing was very slow but honestly, I feel it was all in all a success.

SO BIASED!!!

The body of the bag is made from a pair of maternity jean overalls. I bought them in a thrift store but they were really really big so I never wore them, prego or otherwise. I don't think I could alter them well to fit so they have been in my "to be transformed" pile of stuff. The bias tape is made from a striped button down shirt that I don't think or hope to ever wear again (and certainly won't be now) which was also a thrift store find when I was working outside the home.

I also made another origami wrap from a maternity dress from Old Navy. I cut off the bottom and cut up one side to make the fabric piece for the wrap. The remaining piece might just become a little something to sleep (ahem!) in. Or maybe if I can figure out a way to reduce the cleavage factor, a shirt...

Any ideas on how to make it wearable?

TA-DAAAHHH: Housecoat to....

2010-07-13T13:53:00.012-04:00

So onward I forge on the journey to clear out my closet and upcycle anything I do not/cannot wear these days.

I give you this mu mu housecoat in plaid:

She was purchased in May of last year as a "birthing outfit." Back when I wanted something discreet and easy to get on or off and nurse the baby with. I bought not one but TWO of these beauties (one in plain purple, thank you). Let's just say they were not worn in any way during the birth of Wee One. Let's just say even though everyone says modesty goes flying out the window when you are in labor and you believe you will of course be the exception to this rule, you were way wrong.

While we are here, smack on the topic of "Birthing Outfits," let me tell you this one. We had a little class through the birthing center where Wee One was born which prepared us for natural childbirth. It was not Lamaze, it was not all breathing-centered, it was awesome. It was also awesome because one of the expectant mamas, on the first day of this weekly class, stated she already had her "Birthing Outfit" picked out and she described it as "rhinestone encrusted."

Let me also say this; if one plans to have a baby, don't worry about a "Birthing Outfit." Go get a giant t-shirt if you must but no more. You won't want to wear anything nice for about two weeks after you have your baby anyways due to the lochia.

So I have two birthing mu mus I bought in Kmart while I was uber-prego to wear and never really did. Surely there must be something they could become...

JAMMIES!

Some decent modest jammies to wear when you have company in the house and don't want to wear your ratty sweat-shorts and t-shirt.

First I cut the top and bottom apart after trying it one and pinning where I wanted the bottom of the top to fall. I then cut one inch below this line to allow for hemming under.

Next, I used some jammy pants as a template and cut out four pieces of fabric from the bottom, two for the front of the shorts and two for the back. It was tricky because I wanted to keep the pockets as they were and have them be usable. I also had to make sure I had some extra fabric at the top to make the drawstring channel (extra 1.5 inches).

I pinned the shorts right sides together and sewed. I sewed the outer seams first, then the crotch, then the inseam. I folded down the top of the shorts to sew a channel for a drawstring.

Finally, I took the top in about 1.5 inches on each side, then hemmed. Super-easy and perfect for warm weather sleeping.

The shorts came out a bit longer than I intended due to wanting to keep the bottom ruffle and also include the pockets. If I make another pair from the remaining purple mu mu I might try and make them a little shorter. I would also try and make the top a bit longer and forget about the pockets; I mean, what would I need pockets for while I'm sleeping anyway?

EDIT: ADDED THIS POST TO THE LINK PARTY AT TEA ROSE--go there now to check out all the sweet stuff everyone else made recently!

ALSO added here-thanks Robin!

Knitsburgh is an Amusement Park?!?! What the...

2010-07-11T23:41:00.005-04:00

This week has had some ups and some downs. Quite roller-coastery. As evidence, I give you...

LIST OF HIGHS AND LOWS
1. Dropped pint of blueberries in the driveway and half of them rolled down the steep grade while I stood there helpless and watched; made some yummy vegan blueberry muffins with the 1 and 1/2 remaining pints plus some neighborhood birds are quite full!

2. Departed for a hike to a waterfall only to find the directions were wrong (thanks so much Fall 2009 issue of Pennsylvania Pursuits) and the waterfall was not really what it was made out to be; on the way home stopped at a state park with a lake and had a lovely swim with Wee One!

3. Weeded, hoed, and watered the garden and everyone who lives there looks much happier; discovered someone got some new mulch and decided to throw their old mulch behind our garage in the alleyway and probably killed the transplanted daylillies not to mention poisoned our yard and garden with pesticides and lawn chemical-ly runoff.

4. Sat on my butt hardly moving for four afternoons and still sweated like crazy cause it was pretty hot; made some jammies out of a housecoat one afternoon because it was too hot to clean!

5. Went grocery shopping, ran errands, did laundry and cleaned the house top to bottom on Friday; went grocery shopping, ran errands, did laundry and cleaned the house top to bottom on Friday! Plus I sweated but it was because I DID SOMETHING! Hooray!

6. Saturday we went car shopping; Saturday we went car shopping. You can decide which is high and which is low...

7. We got a new digital camera from Best Buy that appeared to meet our criteria; we came home and discovered the girl who helped us and told us the underwater housing case from Sony for the camera runs about $20-$30 was full of it or lied or is maybe not too bright and has trouble with decimal placement because it is actually $229.99 which is somehow more than our new camera even cost. Still waiting for an email back from customer service...

I'm kind of excited for tomorrow I think. Another week to start fresh and hopefully have things tip more towards the high side. Hope your week goes up and up too!

ONE

2010-07-10T20:50:00.006-04:00

Wee One just had his first birthday a bit ago and I am just getting around to sharing some fun now. We didn't have a big shindig like some folks do; we had a fun BBQ with both sets of grandparents.

I made a Big Cake for the adults and a Little Cake for the Wee. Here is a shot of the Wee Cake (both vegan of course) before-

And after!

He pulled the top layer off the bottom layer and onto his chest and took giant bites from it.

I also made him a little pennant out of newspapers and hemp twine to hang out back. The comics were used for the letters. I don't like to share his name online so the section with his name is not shown.

I didn't get all Martha-Stewart-y on it. No theme, no elaborate invites, just kept it pretty simple. I was kind of sad as the cakes didn't look as pretty as I wanted them to; I messed up on the icing the day before as I was talking to Nature Boy's folks while making it and forgot to add the soymilk. I then added it to the icing which was already whipped, whipped it up some more and it never recovered. I had planned to pipe some simple decorations on but there was no way that icing could be piped! So it was spread and was quite gooey but somehow it did not run off the cakes completely. It tasted fine, thank goodness! The adult cake did not reach it's 4 layer potential so I have another layer in the freezer for another day. With the runny icing, the 4th layer was just sliding off the top, oh my!

How did this year go so very fast? Such a great ride already and this journey is only beginning; I only hope I am able to truly live in each moment and appreciate all the sweet things there are.

Happy Birthday to my big boy!

Easy Wee One Baby Bib Tutorial

2010-06-29T21:11:00.010-04:00

I thought bibs were hard to make and had to be edged in dreadful bias tape. Well, turns out they do not have to be either of those things. Made from two pieces of flannel, these bibs are reversible as well as super cute. Here's the specs:

INGREDIENTS and SUPPLIES:
Fabric (I used some flannel, but you could use cotton with some terry towels as the back piece -- or I'm even thinking old soft t-shirts for the back piece).
Dinner plate and drinking glass (to make a pattern).
Pen or pencil
Paper
Sewing machine
Thread
Scissors
Pressers (or Velcro but seriously, my Wee One yanks those Velcro-close bibbies off in two seconds flat...)

HOW-TO:
1. MAKE PATTERN--take a dinner plate and trace around it on paper. Take a glass and position it closer to top of circle than bottom. See picture. Cut out around larger circle and inside the smaller circle. I used an 8.5" plate at first but went up to a 9" plate for my next two bibs. If you are making the bib for a smaller baby, the 8.5" would be fine but for a baby over 6 months I would go with the 9" plate or larger.

2. TRACE AND CUT OUT FABRIC--take your pattern, trace it onto the back of two pieces of fabric and cut them out. I used two different fabrics (both flannel leftover from another project) but again, feel free to use whatever you might have lying around.

3. POSITION AND PIN--take your two bib pieces and place them right sides together; pin around both outer and inner circle edges.

4. CUT FOR NECK OPENING--cut one side through both fabric pieces to make the neck opening. Pin these edges as well.

5. SEW UP--Leaving room to turn the bib right side out, sew along the outer, then around the inner circle in one continuous sew-fest. Remember to back stitch at the beginning and end. You can see where I left my opening to turn along the right side of the bib.

6. TRIM, CLIP CURVES AND TURN--Trim the edges, clip into the curves and turn the bib right side out. I used my pencil (eraser side, please) to help get the part that goes around the back of the neck turned.

7. TOP STITCH--fold the opening left for turning into the bib (if you are super fancy you can press this as well as the entire bib, but obviously I am not as you can see mad wrinkles abound); top stitch along the edge of the entire bib (start around outer circle, then keep stitching along inner circle until you get back to your starting stitches). I tried to place my start and stop position where the presser might hide it.

8. INSTALL PRESSER--Follow the instructions on your presser package to add a presser to the opening of the bib. Or your Velcro if you have a well-behaved baby.

9. BIB YOUR BABY--put on your baby and admire the extreme cuteness. Of both, of course! Or put it on someone else's baby you happen to love.

front

back

*ADDED TO TEA ROSE LINK PARTY--GO SEE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS MADE RECENTLY!!!

Craftfest!

2010-06-29T20:39:00.011-04:00

With a very big birthday coming up for a very Wee One, I've made a few things for his special day. This guy here and this little ball (although it looks like a lemon shape more than a round shape if you ask me...I'm hoping he won't really notice). I upcycled some of his baby receiving blankets--the best part is they still smell like him when he was so so little.

I made him some bibs too:

I made my own pattern and sewed them up last night. They are reversible as well. I actually did take some pictures during the process and might try and write out a tutorial next.

There are other birthdays to make things for now too. Kay has a birthday the day after Wee One. I made her some earrings (the stone is Unakite):

She is also going to be getting...you guessed it...an Origami Wrap.

In her version, the sleeves and body are a little shorter and I hope she can use it on chilly summer evenings. Maybe at the beach for our big trip later in the summer.

I also made another pair of earrings (amethyst)...

...and a second wrap for someone else. I feel good, sitting down, making stuff, getting it done. Sometimes I get stuck and don't make much but these times buoy me up and keep me going. I raise my glass and toast to you, "Until the next Craftfest...may your crafting be fun and your finished crafts usable!"

New Friend

2010-06-22T22:45:00.004-04:00

A new friend is visiting Knitsburgh...

...just in time for a Wee Birthday coming up soon! He is from a knitted gnome pattern from Plain and Joyful Living, with a few tweaks. He has a striped stockinette sweater and eyes, mouth and beard.

Here was the first harvest last week from the estate garden:

Along with some cherry tomatoes growing from the bottom of pots rigged into hanging baskets with some hemp twine. Basic instructions were here; I used whatever materials I happened to have on hand to make them. Basil tops off this one...

Oregano here...along with a couple of resting flies.

After a weekend away visiting family, we are settling back in the daily routine again. Everyone but Blue Molly, my trusty steed, my loyal vehicle. She is in the shop as she is not feeling well. We hope to have her back tomorrow as we miss her but honestly, I would not have used her yet this week. Luckily we pass many local shops on our daily walks, the Wee One and I, so we do most of our errands by foot. Now if the stroller were to break down, we would really be in a panic!

For Solstice this year, I really only harvested some green beans and peas from the garden and spent time out of doors in the sun with the Wee One under a fountain, walking, swinging, playing. We had our home grown veggies for dinner with seitan (me and Wee) and chicken (Nature Boy). In the evening before the sun went down, I worked in the garden, then relaxed on the porch with Nature Boy and a Blue Moon as the sun set. It was a lovely, lovely day. I hope you had the chance to enjoy the sun yesterday too!

An Anniversary of Sorts...

2010-06-17T13:48:00.005-04:00

One year ago today was Wee One's due date. Of course, he was late so it is not his birthday but it's still special to me. Such an exciting day it was! And such an exciting 11 1/2 months!

Reconstruction Junction

2010-06-15T13:43:00.008-04:00

When I was pregnant, I bought some things super cheap at Old Navy. Like this dress for $3 that has been lounging around in my closet for over a year.

Now it doesn't look so bad lying on the table but trust me it was a mess. First, the size. I bought an XL because there were no other sizes and I thought I could make it work. Maybe had I been brave about alterations I could have; but if you look closely you will see what my meager attempt was to alter it--tie the straps in a knot to make them not so long. Thankfully, the bodice just didn't work, it was to the point of obscene. Which makes me wonder--why oh why, garment designers, do you think small thin straps will ever hold up a dress for someone who needs a bodice so large? Obviously they will be wearing a substantial undergarment underneath, especially if we are talking maternity wear. Hmm unless there are implants involved, then they will stay up by themselves I suppose...

Old Navy, I don't have to take it! I'm an all-natural girl and I will wear this dress and it will work and I won't even be pregnant when I do it.

Gathering up my courage (thanks again Marisa for the inspiration, you are amazing), I cut the entire bodice off.
The bodice pieces (lucky me the striped fabric was lined underneath with olive fabric) would become the new wider straps and the belt. The elasticized underbust would now become the top of the dress, worn over the bust and shortening the dress to a more flattering length for me.

Of course, I needed to bring the waist in and opted for a drawstring waistband. From the wrong side I folded down the fabric to create a little tube and sewed it all the way around.
It made a cute little casing for the drawstring.
The drawstring was cut in one continuous piece from the bodice lining, then pulled tight to create a rolled belt. Some of my cutting was not very even so some of the drawstring is a bit ragged; I would improve on this aspect if doing it over.

I then cut long pieces for straps from the bodice fabric, pinned the front in place and sewed, then had Nature Boy pin the back straps and sewed them.

And here you have it...a dress I will actually wear!

EDIT: JUST ADDED THIS POST TO TEA ROSE'S LINK PARTY--GO THERE NOW TO CHECK OUT ALL THE OTHER COOL THINGS PEOPLE HAVE MADE RECENTLY!

Vignolis

2010-06-13T21:53:00.005-04:00

I just finished reading a book today and thought I would share. Why? Because it moved me deeply. The stories, the people, the gardens. Anthropology, sociology, biology, psychology, history.

The Earth Knows My Name : Food, Culture and Sustainability in the Gardens of Ethnic Americans by Patricia Klindeinst.

Maybe it's because of Bill. Ever since I can remember, he had a garden. He grew things and taught us how to grow things. Bill is not an easy man to converse with or sometimes understand but in the garden, there was a connection, something to talk about and look at together. I remember getting the soil ready and following behind him as he manned the rototiller, picking out rocks by hand and taking them to the Rock Pile in the corner of the garden. I remember the planting, how he would show me how far apart to place the tiny seeds, then cover them and water them. I remember checking it every day to see what was new or who needed some love or to find evidence of any visitors who wanted to munch something too. And the harvesting, the best part! Eating tomatoes right there in the garden with a salt shaker and smiles.

Tomato seeds are a big deal to him and now to me. He got them originally from an Italian friend with the last name Vignoli and that's what we call them, Vignolis. Each tomato I harvest and slice that is a prime specimen has the seeds separated from the flesh. I rinse them and they dry on a paper plate in the kitchen, then are placed in a paper envelope for next year. Every spring I look at the calendar and pick the day they will be planted. I always plant on the full moon. This year Bill's seedlings did not fare well and we were quite proud to give him some of ours.

I've learned over the years not everyone cares about them like we do. I have offered the seeds to others and given plants to others to nourish but no one seems to understand their importance. They don't save the seeds and plant them again. They are heirloom seeds; they are not Early Girls you buy at the store already sprouted who will ripen quickly and have had pesticides poured on them. They have been saved with love and with hope year after year and it still seems impossible to get a whole plant out of such a tiny little thing, that seed. We alone seem to care about them.

Now I know other gardeners out there feel this way and more. They have come from far-away lands and brought tiny pieces of their lives and childhood to a place that worked to make them feel ashamed of where they are from, worked to make them forget it. Or for some, they were here first but had everything taken from them by strangers to their land, were marched west and given inhospitable desert lands to live on and have still managed to scratch the dusty earth and bring forth life. I don't have any seeds to plant from my own ancestors but plant some from an Italian man I've never met. Now I want to seek out other seeds, other ways of growing and planting. I am so inspired by this book I have to slow my mind down as I am already dreaming of next year's garden while this year's garden is still out there growing!

Anyone who would like some Vignoli seeds, please give me your email address and I will contact you for your mailing address and send them out to you this October after the harvest. They appear to us to be similar or the same as Oxheart tomatoes. The fruit is pink rather than red at harvest and they are heart-shaped. The plants themselves get really tall, you'll definitely need a large stake for them. They are a very late tomato, usually being harvested in September but I promise, worth the wait!

Leftovers!

2010-06-08T20:27:00.011-04:00

Ah, leftovers. Sometimes a good thing (like when you work really really hard all day outside on the estate grounds and would rather not have to cook); sometimes not so good (when you've eaten the same thing for three days in a row...)

Remember the grahams I made for our camping trip? There were some stragglers who were quite frankly, overstaying their welcome. Need I mention they were also getting somewhat stale? I took them, crushed them up good with the ole' rolling pin, and mixed in some melted Earth Balance. I pressed them into some muffin tins I had also lined with these little gems, then baked for 20 minutes at 350 degrees, until they were nice and browned.

Once cooled, I made some mini coconut cream pies with Vegan Lunch Box Around the World as my inspiration. Here's the recipe for the filling:

1/3 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 can coconut milk (I used full fat, not light--make sure to shake the can before you open.)
1/3 cup sugar
5 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup soy, almond or rice milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Toast the coconut in a 350 degree oven (or in your toaster oven, like me) until brown--watch it closely, I almost burnt mine! In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch, then add your coconut milk and other milk. Whisk on medium heat, being careful not to let the pudding stick on the pan bottom. Once it gets thick, I mean really thick, remove from heat, stir in the toasted coconut and vanilla, fill your graham cracker crusts and chill.

This made eight mini coconut pies and one nice warm bowl of pudding for me to sample. Does anyone else like their pudding best warm?

I also melted some vegan dark chocolate and drizzled it over the top. It didn't NEED it, but sometimes you have to go big. Whilst eating one I commented to Nature Boy I think I was meant to live in the tropics; I would eat coconut and mango every day and swim in the ocean for hours. It was a mini-vacay, that tasty little treat was.

Ok--more on leftovers. I save all the odd bits of veggies, like the onion ends and broccoli stems and green pepper caps and mushroom stems, etc., etc., and freeze them. When I have a good amount, I throw it in a big pot, cover it with water, add some spices or not, and let it simmer for anywhere between 1-2 hours. I strain it when it's done and I have veggie broth.

So some of the veggie broth was used in the Mujaddara recipe from Vegan Lunch Box Around the World. Really, it's lentils and rice. This recipe features lots of fried onions which I opted out of. I threw in a small amount of chopped onion with the rice and lentils to saute, then added my veggie broth in lieu of the water she recommends. To be honest, it was ok. Not great, not horrible, just ok. I have a ton of it in the fridge which is now the "I'm tired of eating it" sort of leftover, so it may be frozen for a quick meal down the road. I served it with some chipotle-flavored tostada chips from our local Mexican grocer down the street and they gave it some pizazz.

Onward to leftover fabric. I bought a bunch of some Asian-inspired cheap stuff at Walmart some time ago. It has moved with me a least once, I think, maybe twice. It has been used to make a knitting bag and that is it. It's cousin was used for some pillows and later the backdrop for my jewelry holder thing. But I digress...

Threadbare in spots...

You see, the Vegas Vacation Bag, now two years old, is in very poor shape. I use her every day so I'm psyched she's had such a good life but sad to see her go. She went with me on my last holiday (to Vegas) before we began to hope for a Wee. Then a Wee was on the way and she held prescriptions for sonograms and snacks (I was hungry every three minutes it seemed). Finally with the Wee One, she holds Wee snacks and toys. She's come full circle with me and I will miss her.

Front

Lining with pockets...

Back

Here is the new bag. I will call her the Five Bag as she has five pleats, five topstitched rows on the strap piece and consists of five cut fabric panels. I saw a bag on Prudent Baby with pleats but it's construction and look wasn't for me. I am the need-a-big-roomy-boho-bag-to-sling-across-my-body-so-it-doesn't-fall-off-when-doin'-stuff kinda gal. I need a large strap to hold the heft of all that is crammed in said bag. I did like the pleats but wanted them to be on the back and on the top piece that flaps over the front. She is made pretty much the same as the Vegas Vacation Bag except she is much deeper. Now I can carry all my crap and maybe the wipes and diapers at the same time. I haven't tried her out yet so we shall see...

Now to figure out what to do with the leftover hours until bed...don't worry, I'll come up with something...

EDIT: I entered The Five Bag in Tea Rose's Link Party. Go check out the cool stuff other crafty folks have made!

Wrapped!

2010-06-04T09:01:00.004-04:00

I made an Origami Wrap last week-

Really my speed as far as sewing-three seams, no finishing. How 'bout that?!?! To be honest though, the folding was difficult to figure out. It seemed to me it helped to look more at the schematic than the written directions, which for some reason threw me off. Nature Boy lended support and without his eyes and opinions it may not have happened. If you try and make one and get stuck, get in touch with me and I'll walk you through it.

I used the knit fabric I bought and was using as a Wee One wrap, back in the day when he was itty bitty and liked to be held. Now he's heavy and very very wriggly!!!

The Origami only took up half the fabric (and one baby wrap). I still have a second piece but I'm not sure what to make with it. Maybe a skirt? Maybe another wrap? The folks I have in mind for a wrap don't love this color green like I do, so I'm thinking I'll need to get some fabric in another color for gifts.

The Every Way Wrap is coming along. I only knit three rows whilst camping. Pathetic, huh? Hopefully I can kick it into high gear and finish it up. Then I'll be able to wrap myself in wraps upon wraps, every day a new wrap. What's up with me and wraps?!?!

Camping Fuel

2010-06-03T20:50:00.007-04:00

We have been busy at Knitsburgh. Well, maybe busy away from Knitsburgh, I guess we should say.

There was camping. It was wonderful and quite delicious too. For us, the forest is the best part, then the food. We always have an easy meal of dogs or burgers (meat for Nature Boy, meatless for me) for dinner the night we set up camp. The next morning, we make what we call "hash." We cook some chopped taters, onions, green peppers and a jalapeno pepper in some oil over the fire in our big campfire pot. We flavor it will generous amounts of dill, salt and pepper. This trip we also had sausages (again, meat for Nature Boy and meatless for me), roasted over the fire in our mountain pie makers. Breakfast was quite tasty.

Lunch is usually a granola bar and an apple on the trail. I made some homemade vegan bars using this recipe with a few substitutions. I used oats (ground into a flour in my food processor) instead of the almond and rice flours. I also covered the pan with vegan chocolate chips which melted and when I took it out of the oven, spread them with a knife evenly over the bars to make a chocolate icing. Then I put on some shredded coconut and some almonds and baked another 5 minutes or so. They were divine!

My favorite camp meal is our dinner on the 2nd night. We always make mountain pie pizzas. I use a local bread called Italian Peasant Bread, spread the outsides with some Earth Balance, lay down some pizza sauce, chopped onions, green peppers, olives, shrooms and even some fake pepperoni, top it off with some vegan chreese (used Daiya this trip, the mozz flavor and it was so melty and cheesy-like) and cook it over the fire until I can't take it and need to eat it right away. I usually burn my tongue. I usually don't care a bit. It's that good, hands down the best damn pizza I have even eaten in my life. I don't know if it's the fire that does it or the magic of the woods and the stars and the bullfrogs croaking or if it's how it actually tastes, but it's my favorite thing to eat. Until I've eaten two and then...

...s'mores!!! Vegan marshmallows, vegan chocolate and homemade vegan grahams (recipe featured here.)
So melty and sweet and crispy and smoky and messy and fun. I love roasting the marshmallow, not letting it get too burnt, not letting it be too undone. I love squishing it off the stick onto the cracker atop the chocolate, then holding it over the fire to help the chocolate get really gooey. So good.

After that, there's not much more. The last day we eat a breakfast of granola bars as we take down the tent and say goodbye to our chipmunk friend who is at our same site, year after year, with his little den under the stump. The feasting is over; on the ride home we much on the leftover chips and pretzels and plan the next trip. We can't wait to do it all over again!

Going green...to the extreme...

2010-05-18T15:23:00.006-04:00

OK so I have to admit, this is going to be a very uncomfortable post. For me and you both. It will require me to discuss intimate personal habits. I am still going to do it and if you are sort of squeamish about it, then quit reading now and go onwards across the 'net. If you are very very brave, then continue.

What on earth could this be about, you wonder?

I will start where it started for me. Cloth diapers. As I change Wee One's nappies many times a day and wash them faithfully every other day all in an effort to prevent another disposable from getting dumped into a landfill to never decompose, I started to wonder about other things I could do. One thing I didn't realize before breast feeding was your menstrual cycle (mine is affectionately called Judy) does not return until the breastfeeding slows or stops. For me it came back about the time Wee One was really starting to eat his solids, around 6 or 7 months of age.

Let me also say Judy had changed. Judy used to be very punctual. She is now more painful than before and very unreliable, showing up all willy-nilly like. A woman needs to be prepared at all times with a friend like Judy.

So I was thinking about ways to make Judy's visit much more green. Instead of clogging up Mother Earth with all kinds of yuckiness (you know, the disposable products that also cost a fortune every month), why not go reusable?

So I went to Whole Foods and got me a Diva Cup. Here is some propaganda from their site that worked on me. The statistic about the amount of waste created yearly from disposable tampons and pads is incredibly shocking. I won't lie, it took some getting used to as it is inserted a little bit differently than a tampon. I have to say now it is awesome! I was able to go swimming with Wee One and shopping afterwards without a hitch. The best part is, you don't have to empty it but once every 12 hours, that's only twice a day! (I even read online about a woman who empties the contents in a watering can half filled with water and waters her houseplants and flowers with this super-nutrient rich water. I have been contemplating this one...) However, I do like to wear a little backup with the cup to protect the clothing and for peace of mind.

And so I give you...the cutest little "backup" in the history of Knitsburgh.

I found THIS TUTORIAL at Sew Green and it was very easy to make them. I did splurge and bought some flannel for the outside part. We didn't have any flannel shirts or sheets that were ready to be re-used and I felt weird about using Wee One's flannel baby receiving blankets for this purpose (and I have some other things in mind for them). So I got the fabric with flowers you see here and some with mushrooms which I haven't quite made yet. I made eight to start off with and test, then will make more if all goes well. I also need to make the lining pads which go into the outer pockets I sewed. I have some old towels which I will reuse for this purpose. I like how the linings or inner pads will all be customizable too--as thick or thin as you like and need them to be. And did I mention how cute they are?

Funny thing is Nature Boy said the sewing on these was very professional- looking...of course it's on something no one else will really ever see! I think I am slowly getting better at sewing.

I would just say, to all the brave folks that read this far, to consider these options and maybe try one of them out. You are rather brave, after all. You can buy the pockets and pads online (try Etsy) and if you can't find the Diva near you, it can be purchased online too. Or you can make your own pockets and pads. Or if it's not for you, maybe green up something else in your life. Now go forth and love thy earth-mother!

Proof!

2010-05-13T13:10:00.005-04:00

We had a visitor! Tracks down the driveway

Closeup of footprints

He or she must have came by while we were sleeping. If you are reading this City Deer, you can come upon the grounds to see us anytime you like but we would love to see you and hope you will visit us before our bedtime. We also have some questions:

What were you doing, running down the driveway?
Where do you sleep, in this city?
Why are your footprints so very cute?

There has also been some slow progress on the Every Way Wrap. After getting this far with one ball of yarn, it's safe to say I will most likely require...wait for it...more yarn. Of course, as that is my way. Wish me luck trying to find more in the same dye lot! The moss stitch and cabling were just begun this week as I was perched on the couch watching The Hills and The City. I know, very educational. Hey, we've been watching America: The Story of Us on the History Channel on Sundays so I think it cancels it out and my brain cells stay the same in the end.

Mother's Day was fabulous indeed, Kay seemed to like all her presents and even wore her flower corsage out to dinner. Dinner was delicious, time with family was priceless. Oh and I didn't even tell you what Nature Boy did! He gave me a rather substantial gift certificate to a local spa that is VEGAN! I have never had a pedicure or massage in my life so I think I will go for those treats. It's hard to pick, but I figure with all the cleaning and diapering a manicure would not last two seconds and a facial wouldn't have the restorative healthy power I envision a massage would.

One last thing. Who has a neighbor that steals a yucca plant then pretends he found it lying in the alley? Even after you tell him you just walked through the alley 30 minutes before and it was not lying in the middle of the alley? Granted we put it behind our garage on the side of the alley but come on, lots of our neighbors put little shrubs and flowers on the side of the road and no one decides they are free to take. I swear, I might go and get that massage today. It is happily back where it should be and I told him if he needs something to just ask first. If he really needed a yucca he could so have it but he was gathering up materials to put through his wood chipper so I think that's where he intended it to go. Maybe that's his hobby, chipping?

A shout out to the mamas...

2010-05-08T20:16:00.006-04:00

With proper Knitsburgh pomp and fanfare, I present to you the (da da da DAH!)...

All-Handmade Mother's Day Giftage!

A brag book (details here), earrings and flower corsage pin.

Earring close-up.

Flower corsage (tutorial here).

Back pocket...

...with surprise!
Herbed wheat bread from scratch.

The best part for me was I was able to make everything from things I had around the house, except for one purchase. I bought some pin backs at the local national crafty chain store and used a 40% off coupon, so the big pack of them only came to $1.92. I now am the proud owner of 59 pin backs so if you need any, let me know...

The earrings were made because last week, I took Kay out to the local mall with the Wee One for some shopping and lunch. She was looking for some pale yellow earrings to match a new shirt she had acquired. We did not find them; only two stores in and something went awry. Her oxygen tank ran out! So we had to head back home with nary a pair of earrings and settled for a drive-thru window for lunch.

The corsage pin, I'm not sure she will so much love to wear but I do know the picture inside will make her happy! The changes I made from the tutorial are as follows:

-used polyester felt instead of wool (because as a vegan I don't have wool felt nor shall I ever)

-sewed everything instead of gluing everything (again, so it is more vegan-friendly)

-for the center of the flower I made a bunch of French knots instead of gluing the pinking-sheared strip of felt inside.

The bread isn't really a Mother's Day gift, just bread for eating everyday. One loaf is in the freezer and the other is almost gone, loafin' around the kitchen. (I know, I'm just too much).

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mamas. Mamas of the babies, whether they are human babies or animal babies. Or even plants. Mamas just nourish life and I bet you are doing that even if you don't think about it. Yay mamas!

Look ma, I made it all by myself!!!

2010-04-29T15:26:00.012-04:00

Here is what I came up with for Kay's first Mother's Day as a grandma. Truth be told, she owns a store-bought "brag book" a friend gave to her after Wee One's birth, but come on, this has so much more personality!

I'll show you how I made it, but feel free to make it your own.

INGREDIENTS:

-two pieces fabric cut 9"x 12"

-two pieces fabric cut 8"x 11"

-two page protectors

-thread

-Scotch tape

-pen or pencil

-sewing machine

-iron

*The version I made has room for six 4"x 6" photos. If you want to add more photos, you can add another "page" which will require two more 8"x 11" pieces of fabric and one more page protector.

**This is a good project for some leftover pieces of fabric; they can all be different prints or colors.

STEP ONE: Cut and press fabric flat. Cut two rectangles 7"x 5" throug BOTH layers of one page protector and a third from the other page protector, giving you a total of six rectangles.

STEP TWO: Place two rectangles on the right side of each of the 8"x 11" fabric pieces, one centered above center and one centered below center. Be sure to leave space at center without any plastic as you want this to be the fold or "binding" area of your book. Tape the pieces along one short end to help them stay in place; you will leave this end open to insert your photo.
STEP THREE: Sew around the three sides of each page protector rectangle without tape, allowing for a 1/4" seam. This ensures your photo will fit inside and will let more of the fabric peek through as a border. Remove the tape and trim any excess page protector to 1/4" or so.

STEP FOUR: Place the two 8"x 11" fabric sheets right sides together and pin in place. Try to line up the center of each piece where the binding will fall to ensure no plastic page protector will be caught in the binding. Sew a 1/2" seam around three sides, leaving the fourth (the one that will be the bottom) open for turning. Trim corners and turn. Fold the raw edges of the bottom edge inwards and sew as close to edge as possible. Set aside.

STEP FIVE: Place your 9"x 12" inner lining piece right side up. Take the last two 7"x 5" page protector pieces and center them on the fabric. This fabric piece is larger and you will want the extra space to occur around the outer edges and want the same distance around the center "binding" as the 8"x 11" pieces you just sewed, so when your book is closed the sheet protector pieces are all in the same general place and the center is free of any plastic, ensuring it will close flat. Tape the sheet protector pieces in place and sew a seam 1/4" along the other three sides for each sheet protector piece. Remove the tape and trim the plastic.

STEP SIX: Place the 9"x 12" outer fabric piece and 9"x 12" inner lining piece with right sides together. Pin and sew 1/2" from edge along three sides, leaving the bottom open for turning. Trim corners and turn. Fold bottom raw edges inwards about 1/2", then sew 1/4" from edge and continue this top stitching along the other three sides as well.

STEP SEVEN: Center your smaller "page" into your "cover"; I did not make sure all my photo openings went the same way so they don't; you may want to do this. Once centered together, sew the "page" onto the "cover" down the center across the width along it's "spine."

STEP EIGHT: Slip some photos in and give to someone you love!

Happy Mother's Day Crafting to ALL (and to all a good night....)

What I've Been Doing Besides Knitting...

2010-04-24T19:42:00.009-04:00

1. Cooking and baking for a surprise picnic in the park on Friday! I made vegan potato salad, fried tofu, fried chicken for Nature Boy (yuck!!!) and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies for desert, packed it up in our picnic basket, grabbed Wee and Nature Boy and headed outdoors. I have to say it was a lot of work so I don't know when I will go all-out with it again like that. Maybe some peanut butter sandwiches next time...

2. Gardening. Weeding, watering, transplanting. Blisters, poison ivy, back pain. I love every minute of it though!

3. Daily walks with the Wee.

4. Reading. This is a library book and I love it and hate it. Does anyone else have this relationship with Martha? I love the idea of it and reading it. I hate the front photo (gag me!! Who looks like that when they are sewing? Whose space looks like that as they are sewing?). I hate some of the wording (like anytime she uses the word "must"). I love the detail but hate the fussiness. I'm not sure I will make anything from it but it's fun to look at when I am in the middle of a nursing session. Wonder what you'd say about that, Martha?

I also scored this one from Half Price Books for $3! I've wanted it for years so this is particularly satisfying to me. It's on my bedside table in case I get into bed and don't fall asleep in 3 seconds flat...which is now never...

5. Sewing. Oh my where to start? The tragedy first.

Here lies the Flapper Camisole. So I sewed the shell together and then added binding from the top of one bust around the back and to the top point of the other bust. Before adding more binding around the front V section, I thought, hmm, maybe I should stop and try this one on? I did and it was skin tight. Completely unwearable. It hangs on the chair, mocking me as we speak. So Twinkle Sews went right on back to the library. I made the size 12 shirt, which normally would fit me and be a bit larger too. The next size up would be a 16. To me that would be crazy big (or at least I would hope so). I might try and sew the fabric strips onto another shirt, either one I just wing free handed or cheat and find a pre-made top at the thrift store. On top of the other 500 million billion things I aim to do and make...

I DID go up to the master bedroom of the estate, find a shirt in my closet that I never wear and transformed it into something wearable. This chick here was my inspiration; apparently she finds dresses at thrift shops and changes them into cuteness (shirts, skirts, dresses and coats, to name a few). Here is before:

The problem areas: weird "Hi I'm so corporate" tie along neckline that is not fun when trying to nurse a baby in public and sleeves that are much too tight. In fact, the button on one was missing as I must have popped it off while flexing my python arms. I mean, my arms are not the smallest but they are not so massively built that a sleeve shouldn't fit...

Here is AFTER:

So flex-able! I cut off the neck-tie deal and then cut off most of the sleeve, sewing close to the raw edge.

I think I might wear it now. I think I might try this sort of thing again with some other things I'm not wearing as it was more successful than the whole pattern thing...

Last, I also whipped up this little makeup bag. I lined the inside with clear vinyl layered over the lining fabric. My current makeup bag is really yucky inside, it's lined with a nylon you would think could be wiped clean but the spots are there to stay. I recently bought some awesomely vegan AND cheap (the two never meet this way) makeup by eyes.lips.face or e.l.f. At my local fricking drug store! I can't tell you the last time I bought makeup at the drug store...circa pre-vegan way way back...

Since I haven't shown what the new print from Strawberry Luna looked like post-framing (frame made by Nature Boy), here it is. The cuteness of it all kills me. I'm sure it won't be long before Wee One wants to paint his room black and hang up posters of bands and such so I'm glad I have this one pic. So when cute is no longer good, I can still go there.

I suppose I should now try and talk about knitting. Since this blog is named Knitsburgh and all. Well, there is not much to say here. I swatched for the Every Way Wrap but did so in stockinette instead of moss, so I swatched a second time. I'm not on gauge but close enough, especially for a wrap. I figure the most important dimension will be the length, not width, so I can make row adjustments easily enough as I go. At least with knitting, I feel like I know what I am doing. I have confidence. I can take comfort here and lick my sewing-project wounds.

With sadness....

2010-04-20T21:12:00.006-04:00

This a a hard one. I hate to admit it but I have lost some faith in someone.

Big Ben.

This photo was taken exactly one week before his famous "motorcycle crash" on the city streets. I happened to be in a bar following a friend's wedding reception for the "afterparty." Someone I know announced he was in the bar. I had my camera from the wedding.

He was playing a golf video game along the wall by the fireplace. He was with two rather large male "friends." The entire bar was filled with people looking at him but no one was going up to him.

I marched right up and asked if I could have a picture taken with him. He politely agreed. I held my friend's beer (Nature Boy was stuck at the bar getting ours), Ben wrapped his arm around me and said friend snapped the pic. I thanked him, ran away and into the adjoining bar where our friends were. I showed off my picture and everyone ran over to where he was. I was told he soon got angry at some of them and told them they ruined it for everyone and he wouldn't take any more pics...but I had mine.

Now it makes me sad. I was proud to have a picture of me with Big Ben. My parents have a copy in their home too. Nature Boy won't let me use any pics of him so I put it up here and no one ever even noticed it was Big Ben! You all probably thought it was Nature Boy.

So it comes to this. I don't want to have this picture up here any more. Instead of thinking what a nice person he was, I'm reminded of all of the bad decisions he makes in clubs, bars and hotels. As we all wait in Pittsburgh to see what the punishment will be, what the team will do if he's suspended, if any more accusations will surface, I just can't look at this anymore. So it is now being retired as my blogger pic. I hope to one day be able to look at it and see good things again; it's up to you Ben.

Lulu's Lair

2010-04-20T12:11:00.005-04:00

Sunday evening the search for the quadruplets was called off. I found an old yellow shirt with yellow buttons on it that happened to live in my "clothes to be refashioned/upcycled" pile. I cut them off and sewed three onto Violet.

Yesterday, the Wee One and I ventured out of doors for a lovely sunny walk and mailed out Violet with a few other things to the newest Wee on Nature Boy's side of the family.

Violet on the periwinkle bed with gnome overlooking...

After our walk, we came home, ate some lunch and Wee decided to take a nap. During this time, the weekly Cleaning of the Estate commenced. As I moved our bed to vacuum under it (I wouldn't normally bother but Lulu loves to line the entire floor underneath with blue-gray fur) I found them. They were being held hostage under the bed! Oh the crimes here, again they are terrible. Lulu is the top suspect and is being questioned but she is unfortunately not talking...

Maybe I will need some yellow buttons one day again as I now have lots. They are now all safely living in the button jar.

HAVE YOU SEEN ME?

2010-04-16T15:09:00.003-04:00

MISSING

Quadruplet yellow buttons only two months old. Last seen together on a small card in Knitsburgh and belonging to Ms. Violet Top-Down Baby Sweater. If found, please contact the Knitsburgh Police Department immediately.

The above ran in the Knitsburgh Times today. All the usual areas have been searched; the button jar, the sewing supplies, the "junk drawers" of which there are three in various locales. To show what a loss this truly is, even the knitting bag (gasp!) was emptied. All in vain. Contents below with yellow buttons completely gone. The Knitsburgh Detectives are completely stumped.

The knitting bag was thrown into the laundry chute for cleaning, at least.

Preoccupation

2010-04-13T06:48:00.006-04:00

Things occupying my head and time of late....
-Trying to reduce our food budget by using lots of coupons and stockpiling sale items and visiting Farmer's Markets.
-Letterboxing! Where crafting meets hiking meets sleuthing.
-Violet; of course we are stuck on some sleeves right now....

-The garden. Veggie and flower seedlings are sprouting, peas and green beans are in the ground already, beds have been cleared of leaves from the fall.

-Sewing continues to be explored. Weekend Sewing now lives here. Twinkle Sews came on leave from the library. I have to say Twinkle Sews does not make me happy when you have to print out the printable pattern and find you have to print out 18 pages just for one shirt; you really don't want to know how many pieces of paper a dress pattern takes. Such a waste. We are in the preliminary stages of the Flapper Blouse. Of course, no silkworms are being harmed for this product, I'm using fabric with no animal content.

-Thrift store follies; I visited one last week and scored some vintage Singer tracing paper for 49 cents, a copper-colored aluminum food mold in a shamrock shape, a pair of shorts for $2 and a summer shirt for $2.
-Walking outside, strolling the neighborhood, visiting parks with the Wee, he loves it so.

What are you up to?

Holidays Schmolidays!

2010-04-06T22:18:00.004-04:00

Ok so how come every time a holiday of any sort comes by, things get complicated? Back when I was a wee lass in school, I would get so anxious and excited about holiday events that I would vomit and be sent to the nurse's office to wait for Kay to pick me up. Every time, the teacher would send a student down with a Valentine mailbox, Christmas (yes, they actually only called it Christmas back then) exchange gift or Easter basket with treats. I missed the punch and snacks, the not having to sit in your assigned seat, the games and songs. I think it lasted two or three years at the most and eventually I could stomach the anxiety and even enjoy some of the fun.

As an adult, I don't vomit but I wonder if somehow, if the anxiety is still there, is it causing chaos to ensue? Karma to come and kick my butt?

If you look at some of my previous blogs around various holidays there is bound to be some drama mentioned.

This Easter or Eostre was no exception; Kay was in the hospital. She came home today after seven days and I feel I can now breathe a bit easier. It's odd but instead of getting wrapped up in crafting, sewing and knitting to take my mind off things, I often find myself doing NOTHING. It's frustrating to me on so many levels. I sit and think about all I want to do, all I should be doing. Does anyone else have this problem?

The only good part is the house is clean! It seems cleaning, organizing (somewhat...) and going on long walks in the sun are the only things I can do when I get all sorts of upset. Oh, lest you believe I am being utterly silly and have a totally organized estate, let me clarify on the organization. I will decide I can no longer handle, for instance, the Wee One's closet and clothing bins being organized the way they are. I will dismantle whatever system is currently in place and halfway begin one anew. Finishing any organization is another story; it doesn't happen when I am in this sort of mental place.

I am hopeful. Hopeful that Kay will get healthier each and every day. Hopeful my zest for the craft will return soon. Hopeful this beautiful weather will stick around at least for one more glorious day. Hopeful the next holiday will be so much better.

Lost and Found

2010-03-29T21:29:00.008-04:00

I remember in elementary school, there was a cardboard box outside the Principal's office. It held all the wayward hats, mittens, scarves, lunch boxes and toys that were found around the school hallways. You would go there after your mother told you three days in a row you must bring home the jacket you left on the playground. She might even threaten to call your teacher about it and this surely would get you to look. It was somehow painful, having to look in that box for things.

Now I wish I had that box here.

I have been thinking for about two years about some green fabric I bought and never saw again. Sure, there are many other things too that I have not seen in some time. I remembered buying it to make a green dress and then losing it.

Guess what turned up?

It was in the hall closet on the way back of the top shelf. In cleaning for spring and for the arrival of Nature Boy's folks and Wee One's Big Cousin, the closet shelf was cleared off and all hats, mittens, scarves and shawls were washed. At the bottom of it all was the fabric, plus some bonus notions. It was like I went to the store last week, but didn't have to even leave the house.

Since I have already made a green sundress, I must find another use for this plain green cotton. Maybe the Summer Shirt from Weekend Sewing? Or a skirt? Or some PJ bottoms?

The Wee One seemed to like his very first aquatics class, by the way...

Great Day!

2010-03-23T19:08:00.008-04:00

Several things which did not look as though they were working out have turned around today. Two weeks ago we were notified Wee One's aquatics class was cancelled; I scrambled to get him into another but was told it was full and there was a wait list. If enough people were interested, they would open a second class and I should be notified the end of last week. It came and went without a call and we were sad. Today we got a call and we start very soon! We are so thrilled!

Last week we spent most of our spare time looking up some vacation rentals for the beach trip we are planning. We found the perfect fit for our family and made the reservation. We looked at the house three times a day and talked incessantly of the fun we will have as we introduce Wee One to The Ocean for the very first time. I got an email yesterday explaining there was a problem and the house should rent for twice as much as it was listed due to the new pool being added. I spent yesterday on the phone and firing off emails and finally, finally they decided to honor the confirmed reservation at the price they had confirmed last week and we were assured today all is well and as it should be.

Can you believe I made a dress?

With box pleats and pockets?

I can't! It's the Trapeze Dress from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. I made the large size due mostly to the bust measurement but I fear once I have weaned the Wee One, it will be much too big. The photo shoot was completed with a timer this afternoon, which was rainy and cloudy, so I fear I have made it look not as cute as it is. I like it but it is a little larger on the sides of the skirt and bodice areas; I might try to make a summery blouse with the pattern in the medium size to see if that may work better, and if so, might make another dress in medium as well. The fabric I used here was super cheap cotton from Joann so it cost about $7.00 to make. I think it will look cute with jeans and a tank top under it until it's super hot, then it might be a cute dress to wear to the pool or beach or to just relax around the estate in. It took me about four evenings to make it so for someone who knows how to sew and is much more proficient, this would be a snap.

And did I mention it has pockets? I am so impressed with me today!

Here are two Irish flat caps I made for Wee One as well.

I made the patchwork cap first and it seemed a bit large, so I tried to wing it and made a smaller version that of course is too small. I did improve upon the design with the second so I will eventually try a third cap. I basically used a cap Nature Boy wears as a design model for them.

Here is sad, lonely Violet who has been pushed to the wayside again by sewing. Poor girl, I think I will knit upon her again tonight.

Here is what happens when the camera comes out at Knitsburgh. Miss Madison Penelope takes matters into her own hands and assaults the paparazzo's equipment. Oh the thuggery!

Today was brilliant, I must say. Oh, today, I hate to see you end!

A Wee Leprachaun says...

2010-03-17T15:04:00.007-04:00

A tip of my hat
On this St. Pat's-
Wishing you luck, love and cheer
To last throughout the year!
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

PS. I made the hat our Wee One is modeling...hee hee!

The view from here...

2010-03-16T15:00:00.007-04:00

A long long time ago in a Knitsburgh far away, you were promised some product reviews. I'm going to give one to you now.

The Gro Baby Diaper
We chose this for the Wee One before the Wee One was here for several reasons. We wanted a cloth diaper that might not leak a lot; we wanted one with organic cotton; we wanted them to last beyond a few months as our Wee grew. We also wanted cuteness.

We really liked how adjustable they are for fit and growth. There are three rows of snaps on the front which enable you to make it bigger or smaller. The Wee is on the 2nd row of snaps and has been for some time; it feels like they might actually work out until he is two as the product stated! Bear in mind our Wee is indeed small for his age.

The inserts are organic cotton and the outer shells are made of leak proof PUL. They are indeed cute and look good on their own with a t-shirt on a hot day if you are in a relaxed, informal mode. Especially if your Wee has on some striped socks.

Leaks have occasionally happened but normally this is an error made by myself or Nature Boy. If you are diapering a fidgety Wee and don't get the shell velcroed closed while paying attention to the leg openings, you sometimes get leaks around a gap in a leg opening but by now, we are pros at this. The other type of leak happens when you lay a Wee down for the night or an extended afternoon nap and don't add one of the organic cotton booster thingies, which is just an extra layer of organic cotton you can add or leave out at your whimsy. Oh, and then the last type of leak is just boy-related and happens if certain parts are not positioned in a downwards state before the diaper is closed...again user error, not diapers fault.

After three months, one of the shells did have a problem. The elastic around the back came detached within the diaper on one side, leaving it loose and leaky. I contacted Kelly of Kelly's Closet where we bought them; she referred me to Gro Baby who sent me a new shell that very day (received it in like two days' time). Kelly also followed up with us and sent us a coupon for $5 off our next purchase; how nice of her! We just bought a swim diaper for Wee One through her as well and once it has been swim-tested, I will review that here too. Here's a peak at it and can I just say, it is too cute and I don't want to cover it up with any of the five (that's right, five) pairs of swim trunks he has to date.

We also bought our diaper pail wet bag and travel wet bag through Kelly's Closet and love them too. The washing of the diapers is not that bad; you need to buy detergent that will not leave a residue and this is for me the toughest part. Rinsing them out is easy and the washing is not a problem. I wash them every two days and when I can I hang them outside. I use a drying rack for the shells inside which dry very quickly, about 3 hours or so. The inserts are really thick and take F-O-R-E-V-E-R to dry inside on the drying rack so I usually pop them in the dryer if the weather is not conducive for outdoor drying. The sun also helps fade out any stains too and of course, imparts a freshness beyond compare. I try and hang the shells in the shade to prevent fading; the purple shells have faded the most so far, much more than the green or yellow.

I would say the cost to purchase the Gro Baby diapers is worth it in the long run as they appear to hold up well. Since they come in gender-neutral colors, if they hold up really really well you could potentially use them for additional siblings. I really like these diapers and for anyone who wants to cloth diaper and use organic cotton and not have their Wee One outgrown them quickly, these are definitely the way to go.

Here is a pic of the setting for our little Oscar celebration...I have to confess, the champagne flutes are holding beer...

Craftapalooza! Part II

2010-03-06T20:45:00.012-05:00

Bonus craft! I turned some photo albums which were gifted to me over the holidays from this:

to this!

Do you have a journal or photo album you like but don't really love? Is the outside not worthy of what will be inside? It's time for a change, love!

QUICK STATS:

Cost=FREE

Time=4 days, about 30 minutes each day for crafting, then 23.5 hours of drying time...

Difficulty Level=So easy!!! Cut, glue, watch glue dry...

Materials:

-Paper or fabric to cover book/album outside

-Paper of fabric to line inside book/album

-Glue (appropriate for covering medium you are using)

-Water

-Paint brush

-Glue gun

-Scissors

-Pencil

-Clear coat (optional; used for my project to prevent the newsprint from bleeding onto hands)

HOW TO AND OPTIONS:

I used a seed catalogue I had saved from a bye-gone growing season; once I removed the staples in the booklet, each page was long enough to cover the outside of the albums. The albums I happened to have been gifted have some plastic pages to house photos which are fused to one single long strip of plastic along the binding and could easily be removed. If yours can't be removed, they can be left in place. Certainly, do not pull them out if you can't think of a way you can reattach them! This project can be done with them in place.

1. I tore out the inside section along the binding that housed the photo pages and set aside to glue back in later.

2. I spread thinned craft glue (water + glue) with a paintbrush all over the entire outside (front, outer binding and back, almost making it lie flat). I then centered it over the section of the paper I wanted to "showcase" on the front. I used my fingers to smooth out some wrinkles (some remained on mine due to the thin newsprint used).

3. I trimmed the paper about 1/2 inch beyond the album around all sides.

4. I folded the overhang to the inside and glued it down, mitering the corners.

5. Set aside to let dry for a day.

6. Sprayed clear coat on outside of album (I used 3 coats, 10 minutes apart as directed on the can, then let dry 24 hours as directed on can).

7. Sprayed clear coat on inside of album just around edges of paper covering (only 2 coats here, let dry 24 hours again).

8. Cut paper for inside of album to line (I just used plain white card stock but I'm sure you could be much more creative). I used a glue gun to cover the back side of the card stock, then pressed it down. I used one piece for the inner front and one for the back, leaving the binding section bare so as not to impede the folding action of the album.

9. Using glue gun, spread glue over the section you ripped out that housed the photo pages, then press in place.

10. Fill with pictures (or words, or drawings or whatever your book is for), make a label for the outer spine and show off on you mantel (or hide it from prying little siblings if you are 15 and it's your diary).

This could go so many ways! Again, the idea was what do I have lying around that I can repurpose and make these not-so-me albums more ME? Now they fit in with our living room a bit more than they previously did and reflect our Craftsman style. Hmm, I might need to make a little gardening journal from scracth with the leftover seed catalogue pages for the outside cover and maybe some inner details....oh no, here we go again...

Craftapalooza! Part I

2010-03-06T19:28:00.009-05:00

Behold-the Mystery Craft revealed!

So what is it? Let's start with the inspiration. Here is one of two jewelry boxes. Looks ok, right?

WRONG! It's a tangled mess of necklaces with many many earrings jumbled in.

This is what you do with the Mystery Craft.

It lifts and separates! Ha ha...

Now, all the details you know you want so you can make one too. I used stuff I happened to have lying around the house so it cost nothing to make. Can you make one using recycled crap too? I think you can!

QUICK STATS:

Cost=Free

Time=1-3 hours. More if you are painting your frame, less if your frame is good to go.

Difficulty level=No real skills required. Can you cut, glue, nail? You got it!

Materials:

-Picture frame (did not use glass or back piece)

-Fabric, paper or some backing material (or none!)

-Acrylic paint (if you want/need to paint your frame)

-Sewing machine (if you use fabric and want to sew it)

-Thread

-Glue gun and glue

-Nails

-Picture hanger for back (if your frame does not have one)

-Beads

-Hammer

-Scissors

-Pencil

HOW TO AND OPTIONS:

The frame is a picture frame Nature Boy bought on the cheap. He used the glass inside the cheap frame to place inside a wooden frame he made himself for a picture for the nursery. So the frame was just hanging around for a while. It was red in color which I would have left as is, except it had a big chip in the paint on one side that more than likely occurred whilst hanging around Knitsburgh. Again, the crimes, they are so frequent and alarming here.

I painted the frame with some acrylic paint I had from bye-gone projects. It took two coats after Ms. Madison Penelope's close inspection (she added a smudge and then left a metallic taupe paw print on the newspaper I had spread under it on the table--what we call evidence. Had it not been for her inspection, one coat would have been enough). If you don't have paint, maybe some decoupage work about the frame (thinned glue with smaller pieces of paper)? After painting, I got out my fabric and found a piece that I liked. You might choose to pick paint and fabric together; I did this step a bit wonky and lucked out with fabric that would match.

Once my fabric was chosen, I turned it wrong-side up, traced around the outside of the frame, then cut it out. I then ironed it, turning the raw edges under and basting the hem so it would not unravel and would look tidy on the back. You could honestly skip sewing and just iron the edges under and glue them with fabric glue if you are not into the whole sewing thing. Or if you are more of a paper person and have paper and not fabric, back it with paper. Even stamping something on a brown paper bag, then wrinkling it up would be cool and rustic-looking. Maybe for your campsite? Or make a collage for the back out of magazines, catalogues, whatever. The point is to use stuff you just happen to have around.

After I hemmed it, I got out the ole' glue gun and just glued the fabric into the frame opening from the back along the innermost edge where the glass would normally rest. I glued one side first, then stretched the fabric a bit and glued the opposite side. To be honest, my first try got it on there a bit wonky but I just pulled it off, pulled off the glue from the fabric (it came right off), then redid it a second time. With thick fabric I think a staple gun could also be employed instead of gluing. I then nailed in a picture hanger (my frame didn't have one cause someone also used the back part) at the top center of the frame. After flipping it to the front, I gathered up some beads and nails. I had some larger-holed beads that fine finishing-type nails would fit through. I put each nail through a bead, then nailed them in. I used 5 nails for the top and two sides of my frame (15 total). You could use more or less; you could also add some to the bottom edge if you like. You could also use longer nails to hold more stuff or say bigger thicker things like bangle bracelets. After the beads and nails were in, the glue gun reappeared and I simultaneously glued some greenish beads to the nail head while gluing the silvery beads to the underside of the nail head (so they sandwich the nail head and will prevent your fine jewels from sliding onto the floor). Don't have beads? Maybe buttons? Macaroni shells that you painted? Old game pieces from that Monopoly game you and your inebriated friends trashed? Pine cones (for that cabin jewelry holder again...)? Stones? Bottle caps? Again whatever you have laying about the place and speaks to you.

And that's it! Oh, except for hanging it and spending your evening untangling all your fine baubles, that is....

If someone makes one for a cabin, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me a pic!!! Or if anyone out there makes one at all, really.

Also, this was just my way of doing this; see HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE for some other ideas/inspiration.

Jinx!

2010-03-04T14:26:00.006-05:00

Here are some examples of conversations NOT to have to prevent jinxing yourself:

1. NEIGHBOR GUY: So is he (referring to Wee One) sleeping through the night?

ME: Oh, yeah, he's been sleeping through the night for months now.

2. NATURE BOY'S MOTHER: Does he (referring to Wee One) seem bothered at all by the teething?

ME: No, he's just his normal self.

HAH!!!

Since the Ravelympics ended, I've become more of the regular procrastinational-type knitting self again, some evenings nary even sending a glance towards my knitting bag. Want to see one of the things in it?

It is hopefully going to be a sweater for a Wee who is not mine. She was born last month and we shall call this sweater-to-be Violet, as that is what the colors remind me of. I am making it up as I go, a little top-down raglan cardi. In the background you can see another crafty moment in the works. I will reveal it when it is finished. I will say this: Miss Madison Penelope has some paint on her leg already from it. I guess, as the official Investigator of Knitsburgh, she must perform her job no matter the consequences. Needless to say the smudge mark on the Mystery Project is calling out for a second coat....sigh...

Oh and here is a photo of some yum, courtesy of Veganomicon. I have to say, for having this in my cookbook arsenal for hmm, over two years now, you think I would have tried more recipes. I mean, if all of them are as tasty as this....

Meet the Leek and Bean Cassoulet with Biscuits!

I did make some adjustments. No leeks, I used celery. I added some homemade beef-style seitan too. I used cannellini beans instead of red navy. I rolled (well, OK, patted it out flat on a board) and cut my biscuits instead of dropping spoonfuls of dough. Those were the major differences. It took some time to get it all together and in the oven (mostly due to making the seitan) but the end result was worth it for sure. Now I am pondering other possible dishes to top with biscuit dough before the spring hits us...the sun outside says it is coming soon!

I Finished the Race!!!!

2010-02-24T15:34:00.004-05:00

The completed Forest Footfalls, as modeled by Nature Boy.

I may even start on another smaller project; a sweater for a new baby girl born this month who is a second cousin to Wee One. I have some yarn picked out that survived the vandalism; off to Ravelry to look at pattern contenders.

Vandals Strike Knitsburgh, Leave Craftorium in Shambles

2010-02-22T20:43:00.006-05:00

This weekend was wonderful! We managed to break out of the snowdrifts and drift up to the mountains and walk in the woods. It was perfect.

As the weekend ended, things changed.

The Craftorium was vandalized! The suspects? Moths. That's right, some moths apparently have been munching away on some old skeins of wool I had stockpiled PV (pre-vegan). I was heartsick; I had not really used any of the wool out of guilt but thought I would either pass it on to someone someday or use it up to knit things for non-vegan folk. The moths got to it much faster than my needles. As I filled a large garbage bag full with damaged skeins, tears fell out of anger at myself for not giving it away; regret at not knitting faster and more often.

The stuff left is mostly cotton with some acrylics, bamboo, corn, linen, hemp and two skeins of llama that Nature Boy's mother had gifted me two holidays ago. She purchased it from a neighborhood llama farm and I still don't know what I will use if for. Maybe some diaper covers for Wee One? Or a sweater for him? One thing is certain, I won't let it get eaten first.

Anyway, I'm off to search the net for ways to ensure the moths won't come back and ways to make sure they have all been banished from the estate. I think I remember lavender is a good moth repellent and I have some for soap making, so maybe tomorrow I can make some sachets to stick in the yarn baskets. I put one basket that did not have a fabric liner and wasn't as easily cleaned on the porch in the hopes of freezing temps taking care of things, but we haven't dropped to freezing in the past two days. It's just raining and all the snow and icicles on the house are melting. Disappearing slowly. Like my yarn.

Ravelypical!

2010-02-21T11:40:00.003-05:00

So here is where the Forest Footfalls socks stand...

Will I finish before the 28th? Will the socks be presented to Nature Boy during the closing ceremonies? Will I medal?

Options are Optional

2010-02-16T19:58:00.004-05:00

We like to keep things interesting here at Knitsburgh. Consider the new "kit" for a wrap I recently scored. Once I read the wrap's directions which were enclosed in the bag with the yarn, I had some second thoughts. I like the imagined end result save for two things:
1. The whole thing is basically stockinette stitch, which may become tedious.
2. The whole thing is basically stockinette stitch, which will cause the edges to roll terribly.

I remembered storing a mental pic in my head somewhere, and did some research on Ravelry and found it: THIS WRAP which I spied in a recent Interweave Knits issue.

Hmm...was I already mentally channeling this new wrap with my choice of yarn color (they had light pink, slate blue, oatmeal and pale green options too but I went with the orange)? Or was I still just trying to match the nursery wall? We may never know.

So my new dilemma:
1. Do I knit the stockinette wrap and play it safe but risk death from boredom?
2. Do I knit the more intricate wrap and risk running out of yarn and stabbing myself multiple times with cable needles?
3. Do I make up my own pattern for a wrap and risk a mental breakdown?

I will let you know in the future what I decide. In the meantime I've got my Forest Footfalls Sock #2 (pattern by Laurie) to keep me warm at night whilst I stay up way, way too late watching ice skating and snowboard cross events. So Olympical!

Vegan Discrimination is a Crime!

2010-02-15T07:22:00.005-05:00

I have finally entered the Ravelympics 2010. The project? Sock #2 of Forest Footfalls. I really need to finish it and figure this is the perfect way to give myself a deadline and feel guilt if I am watching any Olympic event without Sock #2.

I also have this to motivate me; a new project calling out my name.

I went to the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival and again, asked myself why as I was touring the booths of fibers. Again, 95% of the fiber was of animal origin. Beautiful but with lots of imagined suffering included. Ok, I get I am in the minority when it comes to my views on animals and food. I would love for the world to say, do we need to wear fur and eat cute happy animals, but again I know I may be on the extreme and most people have made peace with the choices they make. There is still that piece of me that hopes, I guess. Even if there are relatively few knitting vegans around here, aren't there knitters who can't use wool due to allergies? Come on vendors, please bring something cool like hemp, linen, soy and bamboos! I had only about three yarns to choose from. Thank the goddess I found the Eco Cotton!

That's right, it's a "kit" for a wrap that includes 8 balls of lovely Eco Cotton 100% Organic Cotton fibre. Good for animals, the environment, and me! Such a winning situation. I snagged some buttons there too so we are ready to go, ahem, once Sock #2 is completed. I selected an orange colorway and then thought, wow I like orange. I figure I can blend into the wall of Wee One's nursery like camouflage now if I feel inspired to lurk for some reason. The kit is from a shop called Bloomin' Yarns which I believe is not too far either...

The coolest part by far was the Ravelry meet up at the show. I met some lovely people but due to Wee One's lack of mid-day nap and impending meltdown, we couldn't stay long. One thing is certain though; if you go and plan to bring a baby, especially a cute one, look out because you are in for lots of people coming up to you and talking to said bambino. Which makes it hard to buy yarn, but thankfully not impossible.

Oh and what a Valentine's Day! Nature Boy surprised me with not one but several lovely things, what a charmer. Behold the booty:

An orchid-
New tea kettle and chocolate-
Made a quick treat for us too, some chocolate covered pretzels. I melted down some vegan chocolate chips in a double boiler, coated some pretzel rods, then sprinkled them with toppings (chopped peanuts, some vegan cake sprinkles called "Let's Do Sprinkles" and some decorating sugar from India Tree). I was hoping to coat some in coconut but my coconut looked a little un-fresh so we decided to toss it instead of risking illness. These were fast and so very good.

Oh and back to the show--I have already voiced my need for more variety in fibres on past reviews of this show and feel I need to warn the organizers I am now considering this to be a case of Vegan Discrimination. Please be kind to the vegans, they really are people too.

Snowed In!

2010-02-10T19:50:00.004-05:00

So I think most of the eastern half of the US is getting buried under snow or rain, depending on how far north or south you live. Of course, we too have had our share here. We first got about 2 feet of snow, now we may be at 2 1/2 feet. It just keeps coming. It's beautiful and exciting. Then again we still have power and heat; not everyone in the city is so lucky right now. I've seen some great things happening too--neighbors helping one another. It's nice. Call me crazy, but I'm enjoying this.

Still working on the Hardanger curtains. Once I'm done with all the Kloster blocks and trees on the first panel, I'll take a photo, hold my breath and start cutting the threads between the blocks. If I have done things well it will be fine; if I have one little stitch on the Kloster blocks a smidge off, there will be some unraveling and I will cry or curse or both at once. You'll see the end result here either way. Once the threads get cut, the various wrapping and weaving of the threads left in place between the blocks ensues. Then I will repeat the whole thing for the second panel. I think I once again underestimated the time it will take to finish these; I told Nature Boy I hope to complete them before I die.

Sadly, I still have not sewn the pillowcase dresses for girls in Haiti yet. I have 10 cases bought at a discount store at $2 for a pack of two. So they will basically have cost $1 each to make, not counting the elastic. I have some so I didn't buy any and I think I may even have enough.

We did venture out between storms to hit the store and I picked up some organic seeds for our garden. We grabbed some cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans and snow peas. I also got some chives, a perrenial mix (which I get suckered into every year and it never grows where I put it), morning glories, sweet William and petunias because these were all 20 cents each (the organic veggies were $1.50 a packet). I want to try and start growing some indignous flowers around the estate too, we shall see.

So besides shoveling snow, playing in the snow, baking, eating, drinking hot tea, embroidering, reading, garden planning and watching the snow come down, not much is getting done here. No cleaning on a grand scale, that can wait til the snow stops. As a stay-at-home mom, I view cleaning the house as a my job so since I'm snowed in, I can't go to work and do my job, right? Right?

A start...

2010-01-28T12:56:00.005-05:00

Starting out with Kloster blocks and one lonely fly stitch tree on a curtain-to-be...

Starting over when you loose it all must be devastating. One blog I like to peruse often is Freshly Picked, and she has a great idea for the crafty folk out there: sewing pillowcase dresses for Haitian girls. She has drop off info for Utah, but I wonder if there would be a way to make some wherever I (or you) live and send them with other donations? Or maybe getting them all to Susan to drop off at the quilt shop that is organizing and helping? For me, I like this idea because as a stay-at-home-mama, I don't have much leftover cash to help, but I have a sewing machine and can whip up some pillowcase dresses (I think). Susan has a tutorial on her blog too if you don't have access to the book her dresses were featured in (thanks Susan). I like thinking good things as I make an item for the recipient, hoping it brings good stuff into their life and I hope to score some pillowcases this weekend either in the linen closet upstairs or in the discount stores around town. Oh, and since I have a boy Wee One, it gives me a chance to make a girly something for a change. So many positives I can't see not doing this!

Pity the trees with fungi...but no mercy on the bread...

2010-01-27T13:34:00.007-05:00

So part of the reason I was gone for a bit was due to a misdiagnosis on my part. I thought I had ringworm and was freaked out and applying anti-fungal cream galore to legs, arms, back and yes, butt. I felt really low. Really low and gross and disgusting and scared. Scared I would give it to Wee One and/or Nature Boy. I love taking pics of fungi in the forest, on the ground and growing on trees. Do the trees feel yucky when the fungus grows on them, I wonder? I really wasn't enjoying its presence on me! Finally after 2 1/2 weeks, I caved and called a dermatologist and begged and got a same-day appointment. So I go in and I'm still scared and desperate for a cure. The doc takes one look and declares it is not ringworm, rather, a form of eczema. No meds needed, just some good moisturizer. I was so excited to hear this!

Apparently, hot showers, switching to a cheap-o vegan moisturizer, dry winter indoor air and breastfeeding (which depletes a gal of all moisture and makes one incredibly insatiably thirsty)combined to form the Perfect Storm of Dryness on my skin. So I have my BEST FRIEND back on my shelf again (this friend also may have had a hand in keeping the stretch marks at bay when I was prego and to think, I ditched him for some cheap replacement) and we are drinking lots of water and herbal teas.

Not that you want to eat after reading the gross details above, but if by some chance you are looking for some good breakfasty fare, here's a veganized recipe for English Muffin Bread. And yes, it does taste to me like English Muffins, which I haven't had for oh, 8 or 10 years now. It's not great sliced and plain, but toast it and slather on the Earth Balance or some jam.... delish!

English Muffin Bread **makes 2 loaves 400 degree oven

2 packets yeast
6 cups flour
1 Tbs cane sugar
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 cups soy milk (rice or almond would work too)
1/2 cup water
cornmeal

Grease and flour two loaf pans, dust with cornmeal. Combine 3 cups flour,yeast, sugar, salt and baking soda in a large bowl. Heat the liquids (water and soy milk) until warm (120-130 deg. F); add to dry mixture and mix well. Still in remaining 3 cups of flour by hand, this will make a very stiff batter. Spoon into two loaf pans. Cover, let rise in warm place 45 minutes. Bake at 400 deg. F for 25 minutes. Remove immediately from pans, cool on rack. Slice and toast, then devour. No mercy.

The Boring Post

2010-01-26T14:59:00.008-05:00

The neighbors to the northwest of Knitsburgh had a baby in October, which we were so excited about as that means a friend close in age for Wee One. I haven't seen them much since the fall, as we are stuck inside when it is cold and windy. The last conversation we really had struck me as she mentioned how bored she was all day being home with the baby when the baby was sleeping.
Bored? I've never been so far from bored in my life. And I owe it all to the crafts.

From designing a project or just looking up a pattern someone else far more clever than yourself has already written; from gathering supplies and envisioning color schemes; from the actual crafting of something with your own two hands and getting to that moment when you finish it and look at it, critically. You can laugh at it or cry at it. Either way, you made it and no part of it was boring.

I'm so glad I like to make things and have those stolen moments to keep crafting. It may not always be the prettiest, coolest stuff but it was made with thought and care and not on an assembly line. I'm happy I'm not bored with my life. I'm happy I get to stay home with my Wee One.

So here are a few projects I've been working on over the last few weeks. I hate when I've been absent from the blog for so long, but at least I have some things to show you to distract you (and me) from thinking about why:

First, the Wee One Red Sweater was finished!

If you want details, check out the info on Ravelry. I'm Knitsburgher there.

Next, some sewn flip flop slippers for my sisters' birthday (yeah, they are twins):

The flip flops were from a tutorial found HERE; they called for vinyl soles but I used some denim from some old jeans instead. I also used 100% cotton batting (2 layers) inside instead of poly batting. This is a great project for little scraps of fabrics you have laying around. They live in the south and really don't need warm knitted slippers.

I made some curtains for the kitchen:
I started some prep work for curtains for the dining room. I cut the linen and basted a rough seam on my sewing machine:

hand washed it in warm water with detergent to remove any crazy fabric additive stuff, rinsed it with cold water, then dyed it in some tea water (used 6 bags with the hottest tap water):
I just used regular old black tea but may try this with other teas in my cupboard too--I think green and reddish maroonish pink would be two other colors I could try using varieties I posess. I didn't leave it in the tea too long, just wanted to make it not-white. Purely white things just don't hold up well here at Knitsburgh. I rinsed it in cold, wrang it out, and pressed it semi-dry with the iron since it is linen and after wringing was mad-wrinkled.
I'm letting the panels air dry so it will be somewhat stiff for the Hardanger embroidery I will be working on it. You can read about and see some examples of Hardanger HERE. I've made some gifts in the past with Hardanger (a pillow, some wall hangings, a needlecase) but don't really have any for myself around here. Before we purchased the estate I bought the linen and threads for some curtains, then told myself I should wait 'til we bought a place before making fitted curtains with lots of embroidery on them, only to move and have them not fit the next place. So now I am finally getting around to making them. I think we've been here 4 years now and I hope it was worth the wait in the end. We shall see...

So on the knitting needles? Forest Floor Sock #2. On the embroidery frame? Hardanger Dining Curtains. On the craft scene? A project involving glue, old paper and some photo albums. On the night table? A biography of Catherine the Great. On the TV tonight? Psychic Kids and Paranormal State. I am so not bored.

A Quickie...

2010-01-05T14:09:00.005-05:00

...while the baby is napping.

Get your mind out of the gutter--I'm talking a quick blog post here!

Wanted to show some of the wonderful gifts that made their way to me, some by post, some in person.

This one came via post from one of my sweet sisters--a pewter bracelet in my birth month flower, the narcissus. Yeah, I got older again in December, hard to believe right? You can see a better pic here if you like.

Another gift from yet another sweet sis--recycled glass earrings! I love these but have to wait to wear until the Wee One is past his pulling/chewing of all things attached to mommy stage. This includes hair and noses, in case you were wondering.

Another gift via post from Hawaii! A very handsome handmade photo album from natural materials; can't wait to fill it with some Wee One at the Beach shots this summer!

My favorite gift of them all came from Nature Boy.

A beautiful deer and fawn necklace from Figs & Ginger. He told me the artist informed if needed, another fawn could be added at a later date; was that some sort of hint? My photos don't do this necklace justice, you can see a much better pic of it here. You can also read about how recylced silver is used, making this a green-friendly gift as well.

Ok, and then the Knitting Update. Here is the Red Sweater for Wee One:

Note front and back are completed and the sleeves are on the needles. Which I hope to mean a finished pic will soon grace this blog.

Status: Baby still napping. Which means time for....KNITTING! What did you think I meant?

A Lovely Year

2009-12-31T13:55:00.004-05:00

I sat upstairs early this morning, watching the snow fall swiftly as I nursed the Wee One and reflected on this past year. Truly an amazing, life-altering time for me. I am almost sad to see it end!

The snow that fell is now melting as the day warms above freezing, sending rivulets of water coursing underneath slushy, almost-melted snow down the driveway, down the bank of ivy. You can see and hear the water. It almost feels like spring, today. Fresh. Cool. Possibility.

So this is the last day of this wonderful year. It feels like the earth is cleaning the blackboard so there will be room for tomorrow's lesson. Everything wiped clear.

And that is what tomorrow for me will entail; taking down the decor here at Knitsburgh. Packing away memories to be re-visited next year. Cleaning the house, both physically and spiritually. Starting over again as it was, before the holidays came.

I will say goodbye to this year quietly and a bit sadly and ready myself for the next.

Happy New Year to all!

WHEW!

2009-12-28T20:24:00.010-05:00

Finally able to take a breather here at Knitsburgh. A quick update on the craftiness follows:
1. Nature Boy's niece liked her interchangeable hat! Others liked it too, so much that more have been requested for other little heads...I better get knitting as we will likely see them over the Russian Christmas Extravaganza...
2. Here are some sea glass pendants I made for some special folk out there: Different view which makes the colors stand out more:

They were made with some of the stock pile of sea glass found on the North Carolina shore when we lived on the Outer Banks. I made some little sachet bags to house some of them for gifting out of some fabric scraps but sadly, the pics I took cannot be located at this time. If I stumble upon such pics I will show you sometime.
3. My vegan Yule log cake.
It was really yummy and didn't come out half bad. I did not have a jelly roll pan, so I just used my largest cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. I made my fave vegan chocolate cake recipe and baked it for about 15 minutes, let it cool about 5 minutes, then rolled it from short end to short end and left it cool completely all rolled up. I then iced it with my fave vegan chocolate icing and stuck a piece of the cake cut off the side before rolling it up on it for a branch, gluing it with icing and covering it too. I wish I had more time to make it and venture outside for some greenery to properly decorate it but I had to pick up Kay at the train station and time was short. Maybe next year I will only make the cake and not all the cookies too. We are still eating our way through a ton of sugar.
4. Some silly magnets for Wee One's auntie. I really went cheap and quick here, printing out pics on regular copy paper, then gluing them onto some magnets that come in the mail for free as fake "credit cards" trying to sucker you into getting a credit card...if they only knew what I did with mine! I then put some packing tape over it to help seal in the photo, trimmed around the edges and voila, some silly magnets for your abode or cubicle. Hopefully for your abode.
5. Some things (Wee One's Red Sweater among others) did not get completed. I was sad but I think it will be ok. I did not stay up all night on the Eve of Christmas to complete things this year. I chose sanity instead. I think my family appreciated this too.

We traveled from Knitsburgh to my parents' to Nature Boy's parents across the state on Christmas Day. We woke at 6AM that morning and did not reach Nature Boy's kin's homestead until after 9PM that night. We drove back yesterday and I am finally recovered from the unpacking and such. We had so much fun! This is one holiday season I won't soon forget, so many firsts. I only hope the Wee learns to love the madness as much as Nature Boy and I do. Happy Holidays to everyone out there!

Deadly Craft

2009-12-15T07:41:00.012-05:00

The crafts are killer around here.

So yeah I cut right though the measuring tape. Call the crime lab, another severed body. A new murder investigation begins here at Knitsburgh...

Please hold on as the next parts will move quickly from one subject to the next without much rhyme or reason. Maybe I should post smaller amounts daily instead of once-a-weekish and smattering you with all sorts of chatter? Maybe but not today; today you will be chatted up. Grab some tea and a cookie and get comfy. Away we go.

Have to first tell you about the awesome goodness at Handmade Arcade. Sadly I did not think to take photos while I was there and cannot attest to the goodness of the vegan food because I did not partake this year, but the wares, they were wonderful! This year Nature Boy and Wee One came with which was quite helpful indeed; we took his stroller in which probably wasn't our best move. As I was standing in line to buy this print from Strawberry Luna for the Wee One's room:

I overheard the following:

20-something man: "Oh god, look at that guy with the stroller!"

20-something woman: "Oh how awful! This is really not the best place for that!"

I laughed in my head. I remember being that age and saying similar stuff. I wanted to tell them, oh I said those things too, just you wait...but managed some control. Nature Boy and I laughed at it later. Oh the days...

I did throw the Baby Bjorn in the car for the next too-crowded thing we find ourselves at.

There may or may not have been other purchases there; one may just not be at liberty to discuss it yet, Mr. or Ms. Snoopy Snooperson.

Oh now on to other stuff hanging on the walls. Here is a pic of the frame that Nature Boy made for the other print we got for Wee One this summer:
Here is a pic of some free package inserts from BPAL that I framed up for our bedroom:I had those pics on my dresser mirror for years cause I liked them and finally thought, hmm, could just frame them already. I love the art that comes from BPAL almost as much as the oils!

And then we move over to...some Yuletide Cheer!

The tree:

And stockings:

So, the cookies (three kinds in two days) are now baked, the handmade holiday cards sent...things are getting crossed off the list! Let's hope there are no further fatal crafting incidents around Knitsburgh for the rest of the year and in 2010...

It's the most craftacular time...

2009-12-10T16:02:00.005-05:00

...of the year!

Here is the hat I knit for Nature Boy's niece plus the little do-dads which snap on. She can wear it plain or with one of them. Or maybe she will even make some of her own?!?!? Hopefully she will like the interchangeable stuff enough that it won't suck to get a hat for a gift. Don't worry, we got her some other non-handmade fun too.

The pattern is by Just Jussi and called "Poppy." The interchangeable idea I claim as my own. The hat is by the same gal and knit in much the same fashion as the Wee One's recent aviator helmet. You should check out her patterns if you knit, they are fun and fast and I think cute too.

Next up is the finished stacking rings toy for Wee One. After making the rings I stitched up a cloth pyramid, sewed it to a square with a hole cut out of the center, then sewed another square to it. In all, the whole thing took 2 bags of bamboo fiber fill. That alone is a testament to the gigantic-acity of it. Yes, it will definately qualify for the Festivus Feats of Strength as the Wee will surely be a mini-muscleman if he is able to heft it.

You might think with all this that Ms. Knitsburgh might be ready to sit on her laurels and relax. You would be wrong. Ms. Knitsburgh has a few other handcrafty projects on her list to go...some may not appear here until after the holidays as it would not be a surprise if someone spied their gift here, now would it?

The crafts are calling....see ya!

Craft Abandoned...

2009-12-04T12:05:00.004-05:00

Oh no! Nature Boy is slacking on his end of the ornament completion:
I'm trying not to nag him but it's been a week now since he has returned to them. Mine are finished and ready to mail to the Special Folk; once they are gone I'll post some pics.

Here is some inspiration for another gift:
I hope to knit a hat for a young niece, then craft up some interchangeable do-dads she can attach to it to give her some sass. I'm thinking buttons, fabric or knitted roses and bows will all work (plus eat up some of my leftover craft stash). "Hope" is the operative word here...

I leave you with an elvin friend. He was crocheted by Onie, or Ona, who lived next door to us when I was myself a wee. She made all sorts of beautiful cakes and this is what she made all three of us for Christmas one year; his arms and legs had rolls of lifesavers in them. I wonder where that vintage pattern could be found and what he was called? I miss you Ona and would you believe after all these years your little elf is still making me smile?