Yarnia

No, that is not a picture of spaghetti night at my house, it is something far more yummy! Freshly spun yarn washed and soaking to be dyed. Yesterday was color day in my house, and the sweet smell of vinigar and wet wool heralds the coming of new yarns.

I did two simple colorways, the whole thing submerged in a light dyebath, and slowly pulled out as more color is added. Blues were the tone for the day since it's the color of winter, not that it's been very winter-y around here...


It was warm and sunny in fact, so I was able to hang the yarns outside to dry. The colors really pop in the sun! Wish my lawn was that green in the summer (>.<)







These two colorways, and some recently carded fiber blends will be popping up in my Etsy shop this week, for all your knitting pleasure. I hope many of you made a new year's resolution to be crafty!

Enjoy the Yule Everyone!

Turtle Time

After selling out of Turtle Pincushions at Holiday Handmade I decided it might be worthwhile to restock. I recently got a pile of cute fabric scraps that are mainly in long skinny strips which just happen to be perfect for the various turtle parts! The first one is done... meet Marta!

I have a pile of turtle parts, and I brought them to craft night at Fancy Tiger so I could work on the hand sewn parts. A perfect way to take my work around, as most of my sewing is done on machine this about the only portable thing I have!

The stuffing of each part is fabric scraps. As I cut pieces for my bags and pull apart junked clothing I put all the scraps, even the itty-bitty bits, in to a large newspaper bag. Back in November it was full to overflowing, I've made enough stuffed things to go through half of it, and these turtles will hopefully get it almost empty again.

The tops are machine quilted, and the body is machine shaped, but everything else is hand sewn, including putting all the parts together! A good time to sit in the sun, grab a cup of tea, and stitch away...

Po-tay-toe Po-tah-toe

With the sun sitting low and the days short, it's the time of year for hearty warm foods. But even I have a limit on soups, and other seasonal temptations arise. It's a little past time for Latkes, but in our non-Jewish household my mother made delicious potato pancakes all winter long. I looked to make use of all the seasons root veggies tho, and made them a little more colorful then my mother's old-fashioned cooking.
I shredded purple potatoes and turnips for a little something different, and added very thinly sliced onions. Beaten eggs and a bit of flour hold the whole mess together, and some simple salt and pepper season it. Fry the little patties on a hot skillet and eat 'em while they're hot! We have always had ours served with apple sauce, tho a fruit compote would dress them up a little. A great treat made from seasonal veggies just perfect for getting through the yule time!

From One Grindstone to Another

*pant pant* I finished up the semester this week, and wrapped up several weeks of frantic study and paper writing. Now I get a break so I can go pack to sewing! My shop's been a little empty since Holiday Handmade so it's time to crank out some new wares. I'm hoping to have lots of new pieces in the next few weeks so be sure to keep checking my Etsy shop! First one to be listed is this awesome Green Tree Tote...

Go Firefly!

Yesterday I made the pilgrimage to Boulder for some crafty times. A swing by the LYS Gypsy Wools and Shuttles Spindles and Skeins. And I stopped by to check out the Firefly market. They had a sweet space on Pearl street with more than 60 vendors and lots of cool stuff. There were many familiar faces (who were working hard all week to make more stuff after the Holiday Handmade Fair) and lots of new folks with some truly great stuff. If you're in that area go check it out, it continues to 3pm today in the location at 1904 Pearl St. There are more fairs planned for the rest of the year, and I'm hoping to get involved!

Finds - In Flight

As the Winter solstice approaches the sun sits low in the sky and the clear blue seems always tinged with a haze near the horizon. Now is the time of year I wish I could fly above the barren trees...
The lines of migrating birds are evoked in this fiber art piece by aptly named WhiteNest. The delicate and simple outlines capture a flock in flight, an uplifting image and a fine piece to be displayed. Bring these fine feathered friends into your home to be a sleek artwork on your walls.


This unusual piece of art, a collage by LivingFeral, evokes both memories and hope, the nostolgic colors of old photos and the careful placement of elements create a piece of art that would be comfortable on any wall.


And my steampunk heart is enamored by these necklaces - A Flight to the Past by EdmDesigns. The colors and style make it just as suitable for a costume as for everyday wear. This flight may well be by airship but I'm ready to board!


I flock to wine as these birds are flocking somewhere... PrettyMyDrink hand paints these chic glasses for uniqueness and flair that can't be matched by a mass-produced version. Brilliant for serving wine, cocktails, or simple water.


Bold and eccentric... just like me! This fabulous hand-painted purse from RomantiquePunk is an upcycled leather bag which has been given wings (and a guitar, insert deep observation about the freedom of music here) This would be a sassy accessory for any musician and it's eco-friendly!

For a more subdued look here's a sleek white vase from RedHotPottery. Hand-thrown and sculpted with this pure white gloss that screams modernity, and functional to boot! A delicate piece to match any flower you hold in it.


And of course a bike. But not just any cycle, this is an epic flying mount! This hip tee from MartyMay features my favorite mode of transportation transcending it's earthly bounds and taking flight... on comfy American apparel no less!

Sorrow Themed Treasury

Surprisingly beautiful for a downcast theme, this is a lovely treasury!

Starting Sunchokes in the Garden

In the winter we gardeners still find plenty to do, like starting perennials. I went to my Mother's and harvested the last of her Jerusalem Artichokes (AKA Sunchokes), not just for the yums but to pass on the plant to my yard. These humble asters are neither from Jerusalem, nor are they Artichokes, they are yummy tubers with tops that bloom bright yellow and look like small sunflowers. Since their arrival in our house they have been a staple part of Thanksgiving get-togethers as they are awfully tasty sauteed in a little butter.

The propagation of such plants is not by seeds, but by starts. My Mother's plot began as a pot of sad flowers rescued from a florist dumpster, but once growing they are nearly impossible to get rid of! Each season one leaves behind the smallest tubers and the nubbins growing on the base of each stalk, the next seasons crop spring from these humble origins.

Because of their longevity I picked a enclosed bed which is awkward to cultivate - perfect for perennials. I gave them some nice soil, but they are a weedy crop and ask for very little besides sunshine and space! Now we just sit back and wait for spring...

Woot Holiday Handmade!

*Flop* Still reeling from the amazing experience that was Holiday Handmade this year. The first thing was the venue, a building over 100 years old built by the El Jebel Shriners it is decked out with every wall, window, column, railing and staircase richly decorated with painted carved wood and patterned decor.

And of course there were the people... thousands of fun unique crafty people shopping for themselves and their gift lists. Lots of smiling faces and people who were thrilled to see so many artisans in one place. Huge shout out to Fancy Tiger and the Denver Handmade Alliance for a fabulous show!

Treasury Feature!

Some sweet colors, a nice cheery break from Winter neutrals! Go check out this wonderful Treasury and support the featured artist...

Sewing my Butt Off for Holiday Handmade!

Holiday Handmade is coming this weekend! It's the only craft fair I've been to where people are lined up outside waiting to come in (tho shwag bags going to the first 50 people helps) This Friday and Saturday at the Sherman Events Center in Downtown Denver. Check out the organizers Fancy Tiger to get more scoop... I will be there with my fabulous recycled tote bags, and wonderful handspun yarns!

The Final Battle!

After months of hard work our Guild's 10-man is finally facing down Arthas! Our first night of dying got us into the second phase with lots of frozen floor eating... Next week we hit it again! He's going down before the new expansion

Persimmon Season

My favorite sweet treat this time of year is not a pecan pie, it's a persimmon. The exotic flavor fits the time of year, but almost as good as eating them is seeing them! That rich rusty orange red is fitting for a season when things are getting pale. Celebrate it with a silk scarf from MuseSilkPaintings - faboo tones that will awaken any outfit!
If you can't stand the thought of seasonality, get some permanent Persimmons. Woolhaus could in fact outfit your home and/or children with a cornucopia of felt foods, tho if you try eating them you'll get that fuzzy mouth effect... like eating a persimmon that's not quite ripe! Best to let the little ones play with these and save the real ones for eating.

As for function and form meeting nicely, a little multi-purpose bowl in bright persimmon orange just waiting to hold jewelry on your dresser, or candy on your coffee table. TactileQuality has bowls that are needle and wet felted with color accents and that nice palm fitting shape. If only one could eat out of them...

A splash of fall color, rusty persimmon orange and autumn leaves folded carefully into this amazing kanzashii! The joy of these hair pieces is they can be dressy or simple, the most flashy accessory you have or just another fabulous part of a bold outfit. Petalmix makes a variety of beautiful flowers in the traditional Japanese style with a modern flair for color.

PilgrimsBreakfast captures the deep colors and shine of ripe fruits in this petite canvas. The brilliant tones could match or contrast your decor, and make your hungry at the same time! Every household after all needs a little more original art..

Or lastly, some juicy persimmon goodness, suitable for keeping long past the season. BovineBubbles created this persimmon jam, with the same luscious orange color as the fruit - pretty enough to store outside of your cabinets until you break into the jelly goodness!

Shopping?

It's Small Business Saturday. Ditch the malls and Big Box stores. Go discover that cute little boutique, that awesome coffee joint. Have dinner at a hole in the wall and try something new. Your hard earned dollars should support the local economy, no matter where you are!

Turtles all the Way Down

I'm back to stuffing little tiny legs and sewing on button eyes, it's turtle time again! Besides hoping to work thru some of my scrap bag (the stuffing material) I'm thinking these might be good sellers at the Holiday Handmade fair as the crafty folks and people who love them flock to the locally-made goodness... I'm planning on having a rainbow of them, but the amount of hand sewing to make each one is a little daunting to the impatient!

Turquoise Treasury

A lovely Treasury in a fabulous color, check it out!

Holiday Handmade is back!

Pumpkin Season

As the fall harvest comes in, and the temperatures drop, my favorite fruit is in season - the Pumpkin! So here's some celebrations of this noble food from fellow Etsy sellers...
Starting with this sweet pendant from ThePaperPeddler. Cut from a recycled can it's eco-friendly and shiny - a perfect combination...


If you're a fast knitter you can start now a create cute warm accessories for Autumn. If you're a slow knitter you can get started on such projects for next year! Either way you need some handspun goodness from PliedTogether in rich spicy tones and made from soft fuzzy fibers.


If you're looking for the country craft decor style then consider picking up some faboo little pumpkin stuffies from SimpleDream2 . So many colors and fabrics are available you could have a different one in every room of the house and some spares for the Thanksgiving table!


Or, if Amigarumi is more your style check out the bright colors and stitched stylings of 38Stitches . If you're feeling feisty you can make believe that you made them, just be sure you know the difference between knitting and crocheting if you do!

Here is the great philosophy of gardening, the patience and reward, and the reminder that great pumpkins make yummy things! This cute image is from IShootNouns and will bring a touch of Fall to any room, but the message may be good to keep up year round...


Who says pumpkins cannot be fuzzy and cute? While a fuzzy pumpkin is no good for eating, it's great to have around the house so you can cook without depleting your decorations! JaniceCordiero and her felting needles have created these adorable little things (How to get the green roving to curl? it's magic!) and they are looking for a happy place in your house!

Back to Being Crafty

*Sigh* Its been a while since my last post - school, family life, housework etc has conspired to eat away at my craft time. But I'm back into it with plenty of inspiration (and new yarns!) I've been sewing again so look for new bags in my Etsy shop! I did take some of this time to get plenty of fiber dying in before winter hit too hard so there will also be a plethora of fabulous fuzzies coming over the next month...

The fruits of my labor

The piles of fruit and veggies keep coming out of the garden, yesterday I made a batch of tomatoes up to freeze for future sauces soups and chilis. Eggplants are being breaded and fried, peppers are being flash from for future pizzas... the delicious yummies of the yard are being carefully stored away!


Today's project was plums, which have been weighing down the tree outside. The squirrels have been munching them and throwing them against the windows for several weeks, yet there are still far too many on the tree for me to even begin to process. I filled two bowls up then ran inside before anymore fell on my head, and made up a batch of plum cardamom jam! Oh how we love this time of year...

Steampunk Meet-up at Nan Desu Kan 2010

Friday evening was a trip to the con, to soak up the geekiness and for once not be the weirdest looking person in the room! There was a photo shoot for all the steampunk fanciers in the metro area, with sweet Victorian inspired outfits and funky homemade props. I had just completed my bolero, so those thread snips are more than just decorative...


Sweet stuff and new ideas, I'm just brimming with adjustments and accessories to flush out my steampunk closet now, if only days came with 26 hours in them!