Risky Business

 

This is something you never want to see. Scissors and tweezers on a weaving project. It usually means something has gone terribly wrong. I thought I would try and squeak out a few more inches to even up the pattern on both sides of the towel but I ran out of room to do it and the last four inches were noticeably wonky so out they had to come. 

I couldn't easily un-weave it because apparently I didn't follow the pattern too well either in that wonky section so I had to snip and pull the weft out being very careful not to cut the warp until it was time. When it was finally time, it was a big relief to get it over with. Snipping never felt so good.

It may be liberated but it's going into time out. I can't even look at it right now. 

That's all the loom waste I had on the back end. Weavers, you know how foolish that was. Never again. 

And....when I do get around to trimming and hemming that monster towel, I'm going to take the scissors to this guy too. I've tried wearing it but it's just too long. I hate to lose all that pretty fringe but it's not doing anyone any good in the closet. 

Trial and Error

 

After setting up everything to sandwich the February quilt a few weeks ago I remembered I had never bought any backing so I ordered some. Something red should work I thought. Wrong. There's red and then there's tomato red so that 2 and 1/2 yards of backing didn't work. At all. 

I don't know why I didn't think of it in the first place but since it's a Valentine's Day inspired quilt, Valentine's Day fabric would have made sense and it did. I got 3 yards for a very good price at Joanne's Online. The stores might not have much of anything but the online site had just what I was looking for. The Mister is off to visit his ailing brother again tomorrow so it might just get sandwiched with the hope I can get it machine quilted before the end of the month. 

The only good thing that came of that first fabric fail was that I found this cute sheep material in the same place. It will be perfect for another knot bag. It was Connecting Threads in case you were wondering. The sheep and the coordinating grass came in red, blue and green. It was a tough decision. I wanted them all. 

And.....just look at the glory that is my Kaffe Fassett crazy quilt. I've got two more border ends to sew on the top and bottom and then I can go looking for some backing for this one too. It has to be more of his design, of course, so that should make the search a bit easier. I loved working on this top. There's just something about his wild colors and his crazy patterns that make you happy. I freaking love this thing. 

Wednesday WIPs

 

Grrrr....you see that? That's a knot. 

And here's another. In the same skein. There ought to be a law about this especially in self striping yarn that gets all out of whack when they just tie it together willy nilly.

I hate to say it but Knit Picks did it to me again with this Brava Stripe.  I really need to rewind all their yarn and check it to avoid this issue. It happens way too frequently. This is my second try at a pompom hat for the Grand. I'm making this one a bit wider and a bit taller. Until I have a head to try it on I'll have no idea if that's the right direction but I'll just keep knitting until I do. 

Bon Amie has a sleeve in progress. I've also got about 12 inches of all those ends woven in on the body. I'm finding it a ridiculously enjoyable thing to do which is a big surprise since I've been dreading it. 

And...we're still living in a winter wonderland here. We've had enough melting that getting out is not a problem but there are still a lot of places where you have to watch your step among the iced paths and the giant mounds of snow. 

Pup is getting her daily walk in again but we've had to get creative at finding her places to go. It'll still be cold for the next few days and then warm up over the weekend with......rain. Booooo. The snow may not be as fresh or white as it was but at least it's not mud. 

Tiny Needle Tuesday

 

It took me FOUR episodes of Gilmore Girls to get that yellow/brown area stitched this past week. I spent more time counting than stitching I'm afraid. I'm very close to calling this whole project a big fail but I'm waiting to see if the patterns I ordered from 123 Stitch are any better. If not, I'll have to go stash diving. I've probably got something in there that's better than this.

Dear Jane didn't fare much better. Block D9 is all covered. Now it needs to be sewn together. 

The good news for Dear Jane is that I finished all of the Patchwork of the Crosses blocks. I've got 25 blocks now which is all I need for the main body. I won't start appliqueing them down until I get the Kaffe Fassett Crazy Quilt and the February Quilt out of the sewing room. I've run out of space in there. That will give me more in front of the TV stitching time for Dear Jane. She could use the attention.

Midnight Madness

 

I finally got that shipment of winter Barbie clothes that came from the other side of the world. Movie Barbie has a new pink pants suit and a fuzzy pink bag to go with it. Taylor is wearing the outfit that she wore to the Christmas Chiefs game. 65th Anniversary Barbie has a new polka dot skirt suit and is ready for work. She has a new hat and scarf set too but the hat didn't fit. My brunette Barbie has a warm camel coat and a gold and black bag. 

Curvy Barbie is still kayaking but is out of her swimsuit and into a jogging suit that is intended for Ken. She fits in Ken's clothes very nicely. 

 

I'm still playing with my fashion kit trying to make a pink gown for movie Barbie but those dress forms that you are supposed to be able to clip things in the back of don't work very well.

I haven't cut into a single piece of that pretty fabric yet. I've been going to bed every night watching videos on how to make Barbie clothes trying to get my courage up. 

On one of those late nights I saw someone using this doll as a model for their outfits and before I knew it I had one in my cart. She's not a Barbie. She's Vanessa from The Little Mermaid. I don't have a clue who that is not having seen the live action version but she's Barbie sized so she should work just fine. She was also just $12 including shipping. 

No Strings Attached

 

 

It's that time. It's time to help me re-home some soap so I can make more. This is just a small sample of what I have on the drying racks. I'm only "dressing up" a couple of bars at a time because soap shrinks when it continues to cure and I'm forever re-doing the labels that don't fit anymore. I'm wrapping them to order from now on. 

My winter offering includes mostly old favorites like Vanilla Bean and Oatmeal, Milk and Honey.

Empress and Persephone's Kiss are floral.

Harlequin Romance and Lavender and Sage are also floral.

My "He Man" soaps are Star Showers and Mistletoe which is mildly piney. 

The new kid on the block is Red Maple. It doesn't smell like syrup. It's supposed to be a combination of balsam, patchouli, laurel and sandalwood but it just has a pleasant soapy smell. 

Lemon and Plain Ole Goat Unscented is the last of it. Lemon smells wonderful but looks rather dismal. I'm still trying to find a yellow colorant that doesn't disappear in the cure. 

Full disclosure: This is a very different formula than before. It's a softer bar with a creamy rather than a bubbly lather. It took me a while to get used to it but now I really like it. Will I stay with this formula? I don't know. It's all about experimentation with me so I doubt it. 

So....message me your mailing details over at Ravelry or to my soap email (over on the sidebar) and give me your top three choices.  I'll see that you get two. 

No strings attached. 

The White Stuff

 

The wind finally died down here so we spent most of yesterday walking Pup in any area in town that we could find that was not piled with dirty snow and then dealing with the snow we still have at home-which is a lot. I got a few slides down our hilly backyard but it's really too deep and powdery for sleds. I still enjoyed myself just being out in it minus the mess you have when you come back in.

I did finish the little snowflake mug rugs. They are sitting on The Mister's latest puzzle. 

This one. It was a Christmas gift from me in hopes of keeping him occupied during these long, cold months. 

I also finished the little Grand's pompom hat. I've got these hat tags to sew on it. I think I'm going to start another because this one might be too small according to Daughter. New Baby Brother can grow into I suppose. 

So far, so good with the buttermilk soap. It didn't burn or get that ugly ring you can get when milk soaps heat up too much. I didn't put it in my little incubator but left it on the table in a cold downstairs room for two days before I cut it. It will darken as it ages but I'm pleased with it. Milk soaps are hard to get right.