Out Like a Lamb

When I was cleaning up the fiber stash last week I found these orphan nests of roving. They are leftovers from some long ago sock making.

Daddio had helped me dye the fleece and card it out on my deck. That seems like ages ago from where we are now. Sigh.

Since I had an empty wheel I decided to spin them willy-nilly which is always my favorite way.

It's fun watching the colors change. I am going to chain ply it and then put it away until next winter to be made into something warm and woolly.

The Ladybug is still working its way through the Loop Bullseye Bump. That was one big hunk of fiber. I've been spinning it forever. I am happy to say I am getting ready to head into the last of the terribly loooong color changes and I can't say I'm even a tiny bit sorry. I'm so ready to move on.

Even More Soap

 The Mister came home last Thursday after a hard day wrangling his 95 year old mother to find the kitchen in total disarray. I had received another shipment of soap goodies and had crawled out of my sickbed to give it a go.

 Since I am always broke, I've been trolling the internet for places with low shipping costs and/or coupons.

These new goodies came from Wholesale Supplies Plus.

 They have lots of sampler bags which is perfect for my small scale experiments.

I found this cosmetic grade glitter at Micheal's.

I did some layering, swirling and embedding with the pink mica and some pink grapefruit essential oil.

 It looked and smelled good enough to eat.

 I was nervous about cutting the bars but I took my time and it wasn't too terrible this time around.

 They are happy little bars, aren't they? The sparkle is so pretty.

I could make soap all day. This is just too much fun. I'd need a warehouse of soap base, though. It goes quick.

I also made another sample bar of coffee soap adjusting the essential oil for a stronger scent and playing with some coffee and cream type swirls. All this soap is making me hungry. I wish I had a brownie.

Half Time

 The Seychelles shawl that I need done by the first of May is sailing along even though I have lost all my mojo for it.

I was cranking out one of these diamond edging sections a day but in order to keep my sanity, I'm only doing half a diamond a day now. Slow but steady wins the race.

I have no idea why I grew so bored with this project. It looks great, it's a terribly simple knit and it really flies off the needles. It could be the big cool down we have been experiencing. It's hard to get excited with something that is light and lacy when you're freezing to death.

More Soap

 A few days ago, before I got sidelined with this nasty bug, The Mister had gone off to hit some golf balls leaving me alone to have some quiet time in the kitchen with my soap toys. I tried to replicate some of the tricks I saw on You Tube but melt and pour doesn't react to poking and prodding like cold process. My attempts at swirling were not so good.

 It all cooled quickly on the chilly deck. I didn't have long to wait to see how things turned out.

 My second heart turned out as good as the first. That's one amazing mold.

 I used some scraps to make bars that turned out looking like something you'd want to eat. I wish I'd had some apple cinnamon fragrance because this looks like apple pie to me. Now I want some.

My latest loaf creation combined activated charcoal and olive leaf powder for some so-so swirls. I sprinkled in a dash of poppy seeds for some serious exfoliation. The scent was a blend of chamomile, cedarwood, sage, lavender and geranium essential oils bottled together from Eden's Garden. It smells good but it smells like a guy's soap. Of course I botched the cutting again. I really need to get a box type cutter. I stink at straight cuts.

Dumpy Debbie to the Rescue

I was trying to figure out the fit of this thing by laying it out flat when it dawned on me that I had a better option down in in the sewing room.

 The issue is the shoulders and arm holes. They looked a little small but Dumpy says they should be fine.

I've put a lot of work into this thing. I certainly hope it ends up looking better on me than it does on her.

Under the Weather

 I've got "it". When I was teaching I always started out spring break with what I called the Vague Virus. I'm sick but not too sick. Everything just feels off. I don't want to eat. My tummy feels yucky and so does my head. All I want to do is to sleep and lay on the couch.

 That's not a terrible way to spend the day and since I don't have to use up my sick leave to do it, I don't feel a bit guilty. I'm spending the day listening to audiobooks and making great gains on the Galliano vest.

The only thing that tempts me when I feel like this is either yogurt-which I NEVER eat when I am well as it makes me sick-or something with some octane.

Then there is matzo ball soup. It will certainly cure what ails you. Doctor's orders.

The Ides of March Plus Ten

 The Shetland I need to finish my Galliano vest is finally off the wheel.

 It's not a big whoop but it has been a long time since anything got finished around here.

 It's still a bit chilly outside but it dried pretty quickly in the late afternoon sun.

 It's a wispy bundle of fluff. I love this particular Shetland. I hope I have more in the shed.

It even made me giddy with joy to see the salad spinner out in the sun to dry. It won't be long now until I can get some serious fiber production underway once again.

Now I've got another 3 ounces to work with.

 That should be more than enough to finish the back.

This is the TdF project that has gone on forever and I am more than happy that an end is finally is sight. I want to challenge myself to have it done before the end of the month but that's just crazy talk. What I should say is that I am going to have it finished by this year's Tour. That makes a lot more sense.

ISO: Something to Hook

I was doing some much needed spring cleaning down in the sewing room when I gave the rug hooking wool a good going over looking for any unwanted critters that might have moved in over the winter.

 None was found but it made me sad to see my unused frame. I need a project. Something with some spring in it.

I've got lots of pretty vermin free wool scraps in sweet colors.

I've got a big piece of burlap waiting to go. What I need now is a pattern. Decisions, decisions.

A Little Fun in the Sun

 Well look at that. I'm outside with my knitting. It's the first time this year I've made it out in the sun to relax for a minute or two with the needles. Even though I had to rush off soon after, it was heaven.

 The first of my giant man socks are done so I got to cast on the second.

I've been very worried about matching up those rather random stripes. Men don't seem to be as fond of sibling socks as I am. It doesn't look too bad so far but it's too early to really tell. Fingers crossed.

Next Up

 It's taken a long time to decide on my next weaving adventure.

 The kit I chose has spring like colors.

 There are some interesting textures involved also.

There is a fuzzy yarn for an accent stripe and a very thin yarn for hemming.

This is definitely something new. Every step is going to be a challenge. I've read the directions a million times, I've made notes and even made diagrams. I think I'm ready. We'll see.