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tomorrow it will be june. and that is absolutely crazy. i have just under 10 days to get all things in order for kai's birthday. starting with this::
a special request that really should be far past this starting point by now. oh well. a little coffee and some late night speed crafting and i'll be all set.
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i know, it was a while ago. but the stomach plague that swept through the house set me back knitting-wise. just before the weekend i tied in the last loose end and finished two sets of cotton facecloths. the patterns are free on the lion brand website. just search "washcloths" and you'll be on your way::
i used lion brand cotton-ease, which is super soft and perfect for these. and what better to accompany, than some of my favorite soap::
the packaging alone is reason enough to invest in leap organics. its gorgeous and green at the same time. the product inside is even better. this has been my soap of choice for a while now. specifically the lemongrass, which smells amazing. i also love the fact that the concept for this company was dreamt up on a cape cod beach. and as it turns out, the artwork for leap was done by moxie sozo, a design company in boulder, colorado. boulder! you know how i feel about boulder. did i ever tell you kai was born there? leap organics: its love. sold on all counts!
so, all together, a proper little package to promote pampering::
happy belated mothers day mom p. and mom a. now go soak in the tub!
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this is one piece of the special order i've been working on. i finished this up friday morning. it's the red riding hood cape from the oliver + s book. i'm so glad this was part of the order. i've had it dog-eared since buying the book and don't know when i would have ever gotten to it::
after the final press, i tested it out on ellie. now she wants one of her own::
my friend liz ordered this cape, along with a reversible sundress, to use in an upcoming shoot. she picked out the fabric and shipped it up to me. the polka dot lining is genius! i love the combination.
this was the first oliver + s pattern i've tried and it was very easy to read and follow. it really is a pretty simple sewing pattern. and with some time and patience, and loads of pins, and the machine set to its lowest speed, and only mild cursing, there were no puckers after attaching the hood (sigh of relief)!
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steadily working on a special order::
can't wait for it to hit the machine! if i don't make it here tomorrow, have a lovely weekend and i'll see you tuesday. long weekend, here i come!!
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i purchased this pattern from the lovely maya a while back and finally stitched one up. such a simple, straightforward pattern. and such a quick and satisfying project! i used a nice heavy weight fabric so it would be sturdy::
this was the largest size bucket, but i can feel a whole nesting set coming on. i purchased this pattern and the bunny bag pattern around the same time and for a specific purpose. there is a project i've been wanting to start that calls for a large receptacle and a small carrying case. more on that soon i hope. with both made, i have no excuse!
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another great weekend. i'm liking this pattern of rain during the week and straight sun on the weekends. it works out well. this weekend::
unicorn pancakes with our sweet raw honey, just for the heck of it::
music in the kitchen again, not sure how i made it so long without it::
first load on the line::
knitting bag, sunbathing chair, bird watching supplies, books, pillows, blanket. all the necessities::
and i let the boys watch fantastic mr fox. in my defense; big b was away, may 25th is getting closer, and i had to make up for the unicorn pancakes::
mildly inappropriate, yes. but they ate it up and we've been quoting it ever since!
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thank you to the stylish phiona, owner of nido in burlington vermont, for facebooking about these very cool and very lovely patterns for the little beans. i had to pass them on::
i mean, c'mon. i want to make all of them.
these patterns are by figgy's. there is also a figgy's blog which looks like it has some really great sewing tips and tutorials. i'm in love. i've got some special orders to tackle over the next few days, but after that i'll have to try out at least one of these designs. someone remind me!
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yesterday i finally got around to rendering the beeswax from our cappings. with the honey harvesting complete, it was the last thing to do before finally closing up shop and mopping the floor, thoroughly wiping the countertops, washing my hair, and cleaning every other sticky surface (which is just about every surface at this point)::
i let the cappings and some water come up to a very slight simmer, then reduced the heat and waited for everything to melt. then it was just a little straining. i used some nylon stockings over a separate bowl as a filter. whats left behind is called slumgum. isn't that a great word?::
now just wait::
and in the end? close to four and a half ounces of beautiful beeswax::
just in time to make a new pot of anti bug rub before the mosquitos hit. and more than enough for some additional potions!
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i told you i saw more in my future. i love this bag pattern. a half yard of each fabric (main and lining) will make two bags. this one is another gift but i think i'll make one for myself with the leftovers::
here are the ones i made for the girls::
because i made them identical, it was important that i differentiated them somehow. i could already hear the arguing over who's is which when one goes missing. so i machine embroidered their names onto the ties. i didn't stop to use anything for stabilizing therefore, not the best results, but it will do the trick. and, in documenting the results, the remaining secret identities are revealed::
introducing, indy bella as "bella"::
and ellie luna as "little lu"::
now you know.
now, who else can i make one of these for?
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maybe someday i'll remember to keep the smoothies whirling into and throughout the winter. but i guess the fact that i tend to retire them is what makes them seem so special in the spring and summer::
strawberry-banana-mango goodness. yum! a perfect treat for anytime of day.
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