Knitting and Stuffed Animals

This is one of the skeins that I dyed first with avocado skins then overdyed with some acid dyes.

Yesterday evening, I decided I could take some photos for the blog of what I dyed with the avocado skins and over dyed with some acid dye.  It was too late in the day for photos.  The light was terrible and I photographed them anyway.  These photos aren't great and I apologise.

I finished the tan and handspun sweater.  Now I need to weave in the ends. I would like to make some mittens with the leftover yarn.  I had a great weekend.  I decided to try to rest up a bit in getting ready for the busy times ahead of me.  I can't wait to get back working with my sewing machine!  I miss my weekend sewing.

 Lexi is still behaving with the stuffed animals.  Maybe because she is a mature lady of 2, she is not shredding them and is just playing with them.  It is great because Lexi gets so excited anytime she sees a stuffed animal.

This is Lexi playing with Molly's toys when she was a pup.  This is almost two years ago.

Lexi, in our kitchen, a month or so after we got her.  This photo was taken December 2012.  These photos crack me up.

Halcyon Days

The sun glass case was what I sewed for my mother a few weekends back.  I only got to do some sewing yesterday.  I made 2 cushion covers, a bag and a mini pencil case for my hand bag and another little coin purse using up scraps.  I appreciate that this all may seem repetitive but I am determined to use up some of the fabric I have been harbouring for years.  The cushions are making my couch even more comfortable and smart looking.  I love to organise my life with zippered bags.  So bear with me!  I am going to sew one more cushion cover today and then put away my sewing gear till next weekend.

Lexi is growing impatient and wants to go for a walk.

Whatever Happens

I am doing quotes that I like as a personal project.  I don't want to over think the project.  I just want to do it.  I want to basically mess around with quotes and words that I like.  Some quotes mean more to me than others but I really don't want to discuss it all.  I just want to share the quotes without an explanation.

I sewed this pencil case last weekend.  Made one for my brother as well.  Don't expect him to use it but I just wanted to sew him something for part of his birthday present.  I tie dyed the fabric probably last year and still have a bit more to use.  I love dyeing fabric and yarn.  I found these pens when going through some old boxes belonging to me at my parents'.  Knew they needed a new home so I made a pencil case specially for them.

I am going to try to sew something today.  I'm a bit wrecked, it was a long week, but a good one.

P.S. Mustard turned out grand.  I am going to try messing around with the recipe and other recipes.

Made the courgette loaf by Nigel Slater again.  This time I skipped adding the apple and raisins.  Didn't have either.  I probably added more courgette because I had it and wanted to use it.  I didn't have just raisins.  I had a bag of mixed fruit for Christmas cake making.  I felt citrus peel would have spoiled the party so I skipped it and didn't feel like going to the shop.  I like using up what I have the most in cooking and baking.  I also like adding more of what I like, so I added more cinnamon.  I put in almost a teaspoon.  Happy enough with it.

Eleanor

I don't know what kind of mind discusses cake because that is probably what I will be doing today.  I am baking my brother his 'real' birthday cake.  I am going to make another chocolate jam cake - glutenfree for myself to eat whilst everyone eats birthday cake.  August is a time of many cakes.  I used to make cupcakes and cakes with icing.  One year, I'd say we went through a serious amount of sugar and icing sugar.  I'm not going to lie.  I was buying the big 5kg bags of sugar.  My family and I had problems sleeping at night due to the crazy amounts of sugar.  Molly, the dog was given a teeny amount of cake and even she was up at night howling.  The icing recipe was too hard core.  I should look for another one.  I have just been making chocolate icing and cake since.

Can't wait to blend the mustard and see how that turned out.  I'll see if I can cut the mustard or not.

This bag above I sewed the weekend August 9-10, 2014.  I also made few other items.  I have a busy weekend this weekend.  Hopefully, I will get some sewing done on Sunday.  Might make some cushion covers if I have the right zippers in my stash.

Better start baking the 'real' cake.

Let There Be Cake

Tomorrow is my brother's birthday and today, I am baking him a teacake - Chocolate jam gluten free cake.  It's actually Nigella Lawson's Store Cupboard Chocolate - Orange cake.  Don't think calling it chocolate jam gluten free cake would sell many slices.  I really like making it and using raspberry or strawberry jam instead of marmalade.  Never was that big into marmalade.  At the weekend, I am going to bake him a proper birthday cake.

Also we have a lot of courgette/zucchini on the go so, I would like to make some courgette loaf (zucchini bread).  I am going to use this recipe.

Must get a move on!  Hope your Monday treats you well.

Jumpstart

Sometimes, it seems that there is always so much to do.  I know someone who is near and dear to me and she says when she walks in a room she only sees what needs to be cleaned and tidied.  I will not compare myself to Marie Curie but I always feel that there is a lot that remains to be done.

I am going to start a hand spun, top down raglan sweater with this hand spun yarn, I dyed.  I think the wool is Falkland.  I'll have to check.  I love knitting simple sweaters.  Not smart to start new sweater, when I have so much to finish but I like to have a simple sweater on the go when I want some auto pilot knitting, especially when I am so tired.  I always like having a seamless, top down sweater on the go because when you don't feel like trying things on and figuring out when to stop decreasing for sleeves, it's great to knit these great big seas of stockinette stitch without worry.  I was so wrecked last night, I only managed to get a few lines of a swatch done before falling asleep.  My big feather cushion, that I sewed the cover for, was my accomplice.

I'm going to tidy up a bit then maybe do a little bit of sewing and then I am going to swatch for my new raglan sweater.  I will restart that scarf.  I'll work on the scarf in the mornings instead of socks until I get the scarf finished.  

Enjoy your Sunday.  I think I might need another cup of coffee to jumpstart me.

Roman Holiday

New prints will be coming into the shop shortly.  The above print is from a series of prints that are called Roman Holiday.

I made the sun glass cases this weekend along with one tote bag, a cushion cover, another sun glass case for my mother, 2 zipper bags and a dog collar for Lexi.  It was a good weekend's work.  I'm a bit tired.  Was very happy with the cushion cover.  We need a few more around the house.

In knitting news, me thinks I will have to rip back the scarf.  Think I will leave things and have a think and take serious action tomorrow.  Nothing like a night's sleep and a fresh morning to help make the right decision.  I leave most decisions for the morning.  Think I'm going to call it quits soon. 

Happy Birthday Lexi

                   She was so tiny.  This is one of the first pictures we took of her when we got her.

                                                         Our first Christmas with Lexi

                                                                        Carrot love

Regal Part Beagle

Happy Birthday Lexi!  She is two today!  I am even going to whisper Happy Birthday to her sister Milo on the other side of our hedge.

I have Lexi 2 years in November and our life has only improved since then.  Her mother was a beagle/basset hound (unfortunately the mother got hit by a car) and her father is a terrier sort from the neighbourhood. 

Lexi was a bit of an escape artist and used to climb through the hedge and come visit our backgarden.  I adored her the first time I saw her.  I used to take her home to the house she was born in and they would laugh she would be back in my backgarden as I would have the key in my door. My lovely neighbours gave Lexi to me.  Lexi sometimes bumps into her sister and they are hilarious together.  Sisterly hurricane or tornado as they play.

I better get a move on and get my sewing done because the birthday girl will most definitely want to go for a good walk.  Also we need to buy some carrots, one of her favourite foods.  I think both of my siblings would cry if I offered them a carrot on their birthday or any other day.  Lexi even got Molly Moo (my parents' dog and my partner in crime) hooked on carrots.  I love the picture of Molly and Lexi.  

The August birthday season has begun.

Sketchbook Page and Soup

It's lashing rain here.

I woke up at half 6 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep.  Went downstairs, made scrambled eggs with onions and spinach with some Cajun spice.  Had the scrambled eggs and a cup of coffee and watched some episodes of Cheers on the couch with Lexi.  Haven't had scrambled eggs in ages.  I am not really doing the Auto Immune Protocol Disease Diet at the moment.  We'll see what happens....



I spent the afternoon sewing a tote bag.  I used fabric that I bought in NYC a long, long time a go.  I am hoping to have enough to make a shirt for myself.  I'll have to take some photos.  I took it out for a test run - on a walk with Lexi and then to the shop.  It's now hanging up to dry.  We got drenched!  Poor Lexi didn't look impressed with rain but she is now almost dry and cozy after her dinner.  I need to make mine.  (I wonder did I write about all my other meals today because I was thinking of my own dinner!)

The above picture is an image from an old sketchbook.  I love line drawings the most.

New Strawberry Tote Bag At the Trim Vintage Car Show

I made another tote bag with an recessed zipper.  The pattern on the fabric is really cute, it's yellow with strawberries.  I am also wearing a strawberry t shirt.  I'm feeling summery and coordinated despite the grey skies.  I also knitted the bright, emerald green sweater.

I feel that this bag came out better than last weekend's attempts.  I didn't bother adding any pockets on the inside but am hoping that future bags will have all the bells and whistles.  I am happy with the length of the bag strap.  I am actually thinking of sewing maybe a back pack or a bag that can go across from me.  I'm not mad on backpacks but I'm thinking it might be good for my back.

It feels good to use up the fabric stash.  I would have sewn more this weekend but the lack of interfacing held me back.   Wish I had an endless supply!  I sewed a little zipper pouch using an old printed sample I did in NCAD.  It turned out alright.  I hope to photograph it this week to share.

The Trim Vintage Car Show was great.  I love the festivals in Trim.  The Haymaking Festival is my favourite.  I love the little goats the best.  I love the different colours of the vintage cars.  I love the teals and the mint colours especially.  It makes me think that each decade have their own set of colours.  So many things, that we don't think about are driven by trends.  We can even glance at a car and guess its age due to the paint colour.

I have a bit of good news.  I now have printed cards in the shop.  This notecard was the first of many to come.  Just getting the cards photographed and then they will be available.  I am delighted to now be able to supply my drawings on notecards.

Happy Belated New Year

Happy New Year!  I know it is a bit belated.  Hope that all had a great Christmas.  I enjoyed mine.

Good food, good company and a load of yarn to knit and I don't need much more.

I was great at keeping the old New Year's Resolutions at the beginning of the month but need to get more disciplined again.  I guess New Year's Resolutions are not just for January.  I have mixed feelings about January- There is a great feeling of renewal but it is also a tough month.  It is really grey, dark and cold.  I will try to make peace with it.

I have been sticking to some resolutions- I have been doing a bit of sewing at the weekends and have been enjoying it.  I said I would sew on a Saturday, getting fabric ready on a Friday night so I can just sew on Saturday.  I have been just making things for myself to organise things.  I will photograph other items that I made the week before.

I have been dreaming of a giant boxbag for so long.  I wanted to make a bigger project bag that would hold a sweater.  This one will definitely hold a 4 ply sweater project.  I got the fabric in Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland in a 2nd handshop.  It is a bed sheet.  I had the same print growing up.  I thought I would just use it to practice.

The small zip bag is made with hand dyed fabric, fabric that I dyed myself.  I don't know what I will use it for. At the moment, I have some pens and a notebook in it.

My mother made me a lovely bag that I must photograph.

The knitting is the mon-petit-gilet-raye .  I have been enjoying knitting it and am going to cast on another one right after I finish this one.