tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29437617106491874872024-03-13T00:55:28.512-06:00Something I Made EarlierSuzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-24910491999661688112013-04-30T16:09:00.000-06:002013-04-30T16:10:30.333-06:00I got Pinned!So yes, it has been a long, long time since I was here. In my defence, mini-Something arrived almost a year ago and it seems like she has only just stopped crying. Now that things are a wee bit calmer around here I once again have time to tool about aimlessly online in the afternoons and what do I find?<br />
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I got <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/236368680412541985/">pinned</a>! Right there onto Pinterest!<br />
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I am very excited.<br />
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This may be the push I need to start this whole thing going again.<br />
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I bet you can't wait. <br />
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<br />Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-14040032834124803262012-03-07T10:37:00.001-06:002012-03-07T10:50:50.616-06:00Hello? Anybody There?Oh my goodness it has been the longest time, hasn't it? Over a year. I hang my head in Blog Shame. In my (weak) defence I have been quite busy with a new job, a new horse and a new baby on the way! Little Something (LS) is due to make her appearance in a couple of months and I have been very busty crafting away to make a nursery even <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/">Apartment Therapy</a> would be proud of. Maybe. So I'm hoping that over the next few weeks I'll be able to show you what I have done, and how I have done it. That's right blogosphere- tutorials! Yay! <br />
First, let me remind you how the soon-to-be-nursery used to look....wasn't it hideous? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl_wQ7y6b0UkirKM4L78q4TKYy6gKaDprI6jY9na9ymn1V9GO3QD-ArTsemk9-p_-vFPEo-HLfCupYLF_w9EjiPpb3LW0P2pL2dFE4gphaOSy2Qm3mPxF1kFXgpZUcO4SWESwgkxTjFzx/s1600/IMG_1552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl_wQ7y6b0UkirKM4L78q4TKYy6gKaDprI6jY9na9ymn1V9GO3QD-ArTsemk9-p_-vFPEo-HLfCupYLF_w9EjiPpb3LW0P2pL2dFE4gphaOSy2Qm3mPxF1kFXgpZUcO4SWESwgkxTjFzx/s400/IMG_1552.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Next let me show you some quick snapshots now we are half-way through...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know grey is not the most obvious choice for a nursery, but I think the softness of this shade works well. Check out the Moses basket and quilt - details next time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Change table and the rocking horse I got for free - happy days!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssCwvyXYf0ih-MtPRDcE8UjbCGSWB_DG7J2OXxhZUD9pQY6MuozGhrnjrFWXXfhoxtcBMdjj4jryS35pKcqsd-6LqdO9P5tAEg9OXKE0I2QEwUZp3X1m2WxYyZNqfEUiu6lCtlXenZOvx/s1600/IMG_2273_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssCwvyXYf0ih-MtPRDcE8UjbCGSWB_DG7J2OXxhZUD9pQY6MuozGhrnjrFWXXfhoxtcBMdjj4jryS35pKcqsd-6LqdO9P5tAEg9OXKE0I2QEwUZp3X1m2WxYyZNqfEUiu6lCtlXenZOvx/s400/IMG_2273_2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After weeks of searching for a nice dresser at a reasonable price I gave up and created a shelving system, from the Dollar Store. Cheap? Me?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uPe6qUl_q6GDbznku8cJ42DuK-fcDXjb_evoEf8UUNoEFkVGUvquAJXzs5X7FHWJI7HZuL8010REiq9lWCQlmirqnq-YHnUDrDbE5jfcwYEHhVUlXIjoz7vjAN8kNZrtq-KA5gAKbQha/s1600/IMG_2270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uPe6qUl_q6GDbznku8cJ42DuK-fcDXjb_evoEf8UUNoEFkVGUvquAJXzs5X7FHWJI7HZuL8010REiq9lWCQlmirqnq-YHnUDrDbE5jfcwYEHhVUlXIjoz7vjAN8kNZrtq-KA5gAKbQha/s400/IMG_2270.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knitted teddy from a pattern by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/teddy-bear-24">Erika Knight</a></td></tr>
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<span id="goog_159909016"></span><span id="goog_159909017"></span>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-82777514343177319822011-02-18T11:00:00.001-06:002011-02-18T11:02:56.201-06:00Lund Sweater Lust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A quick search on Ravelry shows that I am not the only one suffering from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/search#query=Sarah%20Lund">Lund Sweater Lust</a>, I think anyone who is lucky enough to be watching <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00y4z22">The Killing</a> will be experiencing a strong urge for soft Nordic knits. For those who aren't watching, it's a great slow-burn and complex crime drama from Denmark which makes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallander_%28British_TV_series%29">Wallander</a> look like a sunny day at the beach. Yesterday I found myself saying 'I am so glad The Killing is going to last another six weeks' which just sounds wrong. The double bill on the BBC has become a weekly treat in our house, and I am convinced the slightly creepy Vagn is the killer, but I have no idea what the politician has to do with anything. What is mainly getting in the way of minor plot details for me is Sarah Lund's rather magnificent sweater:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEq18YwOeFkTdOFtyCnozXx_LoyPzgAJZYyGr-EMTsiY2yUC7EVAVcoJBICchSXzX4eSk5lcEpm8YxXPh2TktKsVineY8a_XoQJ7kJPE9wRAB1WmT3f2tBn00Ytd7YFTXi9Rn0OL8ydj0i/s1600/6a01347ff3e05f970c014e5f42cbbe970c-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEq18YwOeFkTdOFtyCnozXx_LoyPzgAJZYyGr-EMTsiY2yUC7EVAVcoJBICchSXzX4eSk5lcEpm8YxXPh2TktKsVineY8a_XoQJ7kJPE9wRAB1WmT3f2tBn00Ytd7YFTXi9Rn0OL8ydj0i/s320/6a01347ff3e05f970c014e5f42cbbe970c-800wi.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>When I should be concentrating on political deals, how the killer got the car keys, and exactly how dodgy the teacher is, I find myself drifting off into thoughts of yarn thickness, tension and yokes. The sweater is available to buy from <a href="http://shop.gudrungudrun.com/sweater-traditional.aspx">Gudrun & Gudrun</a>, for an eye-watering CAD$376, so clearly the only way forward is to knit the thing. It doesn't look that tricky to do, I'm guessing a soft bulky yarn with needles a size larger than recommended. I found <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/114-28-jumper-in-eskimo-with-raglan-sleeves-and-norwegian-pattern">this pattern</a> by Drops which I think could be used as a base pattern, increasing the Nordic design repeat, excluding the dots and border and changing the neckline. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXxptYWODYVJdciMu9S33N61mFbNc9qmPKNvlDmfly4wnNgkjLPWc7tZexpBZp2DURyQaxQAtsF-IJnXVXqYpx7QVIx5RHi59uzGA8rxiQAIPqlzbyn0RXCYMY4cTv34PPXHfYbuhfSTI/s1600/28-2_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXxptYWODYVJdciMu9S33N61mFbNc9qmPKNvlDmfly4wnNgkjLPWc7tZexpBZp2DURyQaxQAtsF-IJnXVXqYpx7QVIx5RHi59uzGA8rxiQAIPqlzbyn0RXCYMY4cTv34PPXHfYbuhfSTI/s320/28-2_medium2.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-20553631581104513422011-02-04T16:13:00.001-06:002011-02-04T16:13:33.480-06:00UnpickingIs'nt unpicking just the most dispiriting thing? Yesterday I finally got around to making my <a href="http://somethingimadeearlier.blogspot.com/2010/12/happy-new-year.html">bustle skirt</a>, but apparently I made it for someone who is a) much taller and b) much wider than me.<br />
Sigh. Out comes the stitch ripper.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNG9oSJSfY1daYQ5x2XNz4JTljWmBLj7SHzYaAXsUZPHuCsRQunj7tCGddmSz-OwQ-ApvVI4qq-dYG_BzInscRU_O13AbbPQq82qbyfjt8dpqTQrm5zK45-Vj75EpG8eiBfSt4vWdGk4a/s1600/IMG_1567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNG9oSJSfY1daYQ5x2XNz4JTljWmBLj7SHzYaAXsUZPHuCsRQunj7tCGddmSz-OwQ-ApvVI4qq-dYG_BzInscRU_O13AbbPQq82qbyfjt8dpqTQrm5zK45-Vj75EpG8eiBfSt4vWdGk4a/s320/IMG_1567.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took me ages to get that zip right, too. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table> This lack of ability does not fill me with confidence for my next project. The pattern <i>assures</i> me its for novices but it does look a bit scary to me, who has difficulty putting in a zip correctly. I'm sure all this would be easier if I had a <a href="http://somethingimadeearlier.blogspot.com/2011/02/sewing-room-blues.html">sewing room</a>....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ozux7pID1yjuaEoBY690wLQsUBNuCOiL9ylXgc8QqXKMJDJPasRM8afQ7Fkc6CPpKiJLjAJs-ec_EypljBtXJbfMRXQZOLtWddt7i4g_ywYevgBHJdAfwYnCtl7tAW7E8ej66nJPzv6A/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ozux7pID1yjuaEoBY690wLQsUBNuCOiL9ylXgc8QqXKMJDJPasRM8afQ7Fkc6CPpKiJLjAJs-ec_EypljBtXJbfMRXQZOLtWddt7i4g_ywYevgBHJdAfwYnCtl7tAW7E8ej66nJPzv6A/s320/IMG_1522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
On the upside, the <a href="http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/16622.php">rugby</a> starts tonight and there will be beers and cheese straws to enjoy while we watch Wales thrash England. Which they will, obviously. Hopefully.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZsgktEjUZOqwHRksSoGVghP0eS-T-crDo3092Mbwt9dQGSh9Ed3kOjgZ5jgqXisll-_cOw1cUvqEk7hBRUAunX9u7jT_4I5J_Od_-v2hTp4IUQzpl_g7guBg2cfZwUCrR6BXdpGMkpUr/s1600/IMG_1570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZsgktEjUZOqwHRksSoGVghP0eS-T-crDo3092Mbwt9dQGSh9Ed3kOjgZ5jgqXisll-_cOw1cUvqEk7hBRUAunX9u7jT_4I5J_Od_-v2hTp4IUQzpl_g7guBg2cfZwUCrR6BXdpGMkpUr/s320/IMG_1570.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmm, cheese straws</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Oh, and I'm not <a href="http://www.victorianweb.org/history/ashley.html">Patience Kershaw</a>. Always something to be thankful for. Great song, though.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wmhACB1ZPQM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-70452396191320393022011-02-03T10:21:00.000-06:002011-02-03T10:21:14.690-06:00Spring has Sprung...kind ofRight now I am in the depths of a prairie winter. Three months down, three more to go. Its very cold, mostly dark and when it is daylight, mostly white. <br />
Which is why I am so excited by these:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1c0P267RTV7AKzLaynxwigd_H3xnhzs5OSxmIRr0VcB4skxMO9z2cG0p_2I1ktL5k5SI9kMdZ8j_Yi5Do52LooMZY6lS0dtRjhvZixNiBzVI0oCuGZxGC4KJfQDwmySw2PHEYGEY9H8-/s1600/IMG_1559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1c0P267RTV7AKzLaynxwigd_H3xnhzs5OSxmIRr0VcB4skxMO9z2cG0p_2I1ktL5k5SI9kMdZ8j_Yi5Do52LooMZY6lS0dtRjhvZixNiBzVI0oCuGZxGC4KJfQDwmySw2PHEYGEY9H8-/s320/IMG_1559.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daffodils!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Back in September I cunningly thought ahead and decided to force a few of the bulbs I bought to plant out in the front yard. I love Daffodils, they remind me of home (Wales) and springtime walks in the hills. I noticed last year they don't seem to be as common out here in Canada so I decided it was up to me to grow some. After a few months <a href="http://www.savvygardener.com/Features/forcing_bulbs.html">cold treatment in the garage and basement </a>I think these have bloomed beautifully, and they have cheered me up immensely.<br />
Especially when outside looks like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEeYyaMimiWHDD32n7Bo2yVXt1cuIXzYjTP7BbW-Wjoju5gVXv7AsSbMZtHdix7_D7_FZaYYnA2nj2s_KsBvPZ3R3ue4oq9WhN9Y52W_aM5VPkT5ZQyeqqVKoU_TfjmMj1sfAOghyphenhyphenbOGL/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEeYyaMimiWHDD32n7Bo2yVXt1cuIXzYjTP7BbW-Wjoju5gVXv7AsSbMZtHdix7_D7_FZaYYnA2nj2s_KsBvPZ3R3ue4oq9WhN9Y52W_aM5VPkT5ZQyeqqVKoU_TfjmMj1sfAOghyphenhyphenbOGL/s320/IMG_1566.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stupid winter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I think this afternoon I will take the dogs for a nice long walk in these green hills, followed by a pint by the fire in an old pub and a good dinner. Oh no, wait....I forgot what continent I lived on for a second. Sigh. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsRfZs6JmjMXnCgWg-SUMgsz2mkxKiHnBJyh9aKviiBMdNC-NIDZU_Xb_lDcJZrYrknh5QlTjJyN1Xrw5NaQcfLBDeqFr_oa5U8WujmN7WESBB41AL-UDIqEcEKZeE6F_zuT-VTkSuz-9/s1600/P4183593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsRfZs6JmjMXnCgWg-SUMgsz2mkxKiHnBJyh9aKviiBMdNC-NIDZU_Xb_lDcJZrYrknh5QlTjJyN1Xrw5NaQcfLBDeqFr_oa5U8WujmN7WESBB41AL-UDIqEcEKZeE6F_zuT-VTkSuz-9/s1600/P4183593.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild daffodils in <a href="http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/northern/norspage45.htm"> North Yorkshire</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-63669927270628576422011-02-01T15:23:00.002-06:002011-02-01T15:43:38.434-06:00Sewing Room BluesWhen The Husband and I moved into this house last summer, I planned to turn the smallest bedroom into a sewing, knitting and reading space. A little sanctuary, where I could knit along to audio books in a comfy chair, put up my <a href="http://www.worldgallery.co.uk/art-print/Zittende-Vrouw,-op-the-Rug-Gezien-83226.html">Egon Schiele</a> print (which TH can't stand) and so I would be able to lay the dinner table without moving a sewing machine first.<br />
Bliss.<br />
<br />
This is the kind of thing I had in mind - <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ25OCCQhdJ5ya0JTFeVTp_a-JU9moZWinAwaFs4mTs3rWdX-TbrR1R1I_HaCq2q41VgrNoi9IqwLxtONkS5yXv1usnXrlNRmA_80SguixSKNBXPU_K7eCfMCmRTlJeWcfK7mgsK70DoXQ/s1600/2007-09-26-ambercraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ25OCCQhdJ5ya0JTFeVTp_a-JU9moZWinAwaFs4mTs3rWdX-TbrR1R1I_HaCq2q41VgrNoi9IqwLxtONkS5yXv1usnXrlNRmA_80SguixSKNBXPU_K7eCfMCmRTlJeWcfK7mgsK70DoXQ/s320/2007-09-26-ambercraft.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amber's super-organized craft room, via <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/organizing/slinks-ambers-super-organized-craft-room-n-slingks-surreptitious-web-links-to-other-good-sites-032748">Apartment Therapy</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLb6O_oY9Is0m0Mx07Bk9W2HgaHPqfborJvOxHkPjGJy66_dJAd6moTZzxmK_vMN4IfuhnDWHJ8fZRm5fnZe2frI20OnkVPiO6ZWdAF9peiYYc6NO6C3oxxpbjeXbIY0Q5F2H5-PpL7Iz/s1600/superziper+apt+therapy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLb6O_oY9Is0m0Mx07Bk9W2HgaHPqfborJvOxHkPjGJy66_dJAd6moTZzxmK_vMN4IfuhnDWHJ8fZRm5fnZe2frI20OnkVPiO6ZWdAF9peiYYc6NO6C3oxxpbjeXbIY0Q5F2H5-PpL7Iz/s320/superziper+apt+therapy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tofu Studio sewing room as seen on <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/organizing/tofu-studios-sewing-room-037106">Apartment Therapy</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Colourful, organized and practical. Rooms where you would want to spend time.<br />
<br />
This is what I have:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL64sJWJ48s1qoWCRFEksWOrUgNGNBtAq3xaoYX6B1rTXc6QkCU4DA97F7f2IkeOKgbeSxwhhdKqpEyApH8sJrvAzYpKjTex8qnA10PeDYFJUzGZ_VQN0Lt0XP1LvygTdEuIBr2VjGz7s/s1600/IMG_1553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL64sJWJ48s1qoWCRFEksWOrUgNGNBtAq3xaoYX6B1rTXc6QkCU4DA97F7f2IkeOKgbeSxwhhdKqpEyApH8sJrvAzYpKjTex8qnA10PeDYFJUzGZ_VQN0Lt0XP1LvygTdEuIBr2VjGz7s/s320/IMG_1553.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea what this room is for.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Right now it is home to TH's orchid collection, the laundry basket and possibly the ugliest chair in the world:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYk9Pu7HXj6uGuzvB4jL2sruYAj5zchU8UdN5gKQpetHJxIravQduep8eG8-JTy0bkhm6VYNmYt2WcWuUYgiR2dIn3dk5ueecqKDKj7ZD3mHyTx5LieeSyrBu3T817eXSHF82P3lqgV1K/s1600/IMG_1555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYk9Pu7HXj6uGuzvB4jL2sruYAj5zchU8UdN5gKQpetHJxIravQduep8eG8-JTy0bkhm6VYNmYt2WcWuUYgiR2dIn3dk5ueecqKDKj7ZD3mHyTx5LieeSyrBu3T817eXSHF82P3lqgV1K/s320/IMG_1555.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaaaaarrrggghhh! Why would you do that?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Clearly, urgent action is called for. Ideally I would<br />
<ul><li>Paint the walls. Green gloss is no-one's idea of a good time. I'm thinking bright white or pale turquoise. </li>
<li>Install a <a href="http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=920906&Ntt=920906&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber">white cube bookcase</a> along one wall - good for storage and display of fabric, books and yarn.</li>
<li>Set up a <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Arrow-Olivia-2-Position-Cabinet-With-Gingerbread-Pistachio/14237584">sturdy craft table</a>. </li>
<li>Install a shelf under the window for the orchids.</li>
<li>Hang a mood board and pictures.</li>
<li>Cover the damn chair. </li>
<li>Post pictures and be smug.</li>
</ul>None of that is unachievable, except I am working with a budget of a little less than $0. I even found myself looking in the basement just to see if a spare bookcase or table had materialized. They hadn't. <br />
Maybe if I close my eyes really, really tight and wish really, really hard the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Llewelyn-Bowen">DIY Fairy</a> will come and make it all better.Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-53445658160820879432011-01-27T12:07:00.000-06:002011-01-27T12:07:00.321-06:00Labrador 1; Wardrobe 0The Labrador loves fabric. Loves it. Loves to bite it, chew it, shake it, tear it. Like I said, she loves it. Understandably this makes me nervous. She has yet to get into my stash but has does manage daily recce trips into our bedroom for whatever she can get her little paws on.Yesterday she hit the jackpot.<br />
A brand new, sleeveless cotton short with silk-lined ruffles. Man, she enjoyed that. Quickly followed by my sleep t-shirt and most audaciously, an attempt on a pair of jeans. I caught her dragging them down the hall way behind her with a definite air of <i>joie de vivre</i>. <br />
<br />
I guess I could just start putting my clothes away....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMsR_K2BaF5nFTIwoke1QNs_FNh5dqaMReRkjuufN391mMSGGHaQhHG7UOUyH46TF36d8HLf4CThFfWxQBc8mfLDUNk_GsX7JTGudd9XQiq57d-tuduSB78ay2gNQMqukVJNBMz1Kcp5i/s1600/IMG_1541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMsR_K2BaF5nFTIwoke1QNs_FNh5dqaMReRkjuufN391mMSGGHaQhHG7UOUyH46TF36d8HLf4CThFfWxQBc8mfLDUNk_GsX7JTGudd9XQiq57d-tuduSB78ay2gNQMqukVJNBMz1Kcp5i/s320/IMG_1541.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIklXp_V63XROVGpkY72aJeiYN-51q-PA0IAVLrBFbOmRLCQ6YUHD6Iqb2Pc01WRuNEjefodPpBUjRfX6Ytcw5z_SVN4NCPYLvh1kWlxA26yH_wv97w1Wu9kqu3SaaHLKO-xn6se7pzod/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIklXp_V63XROVGpkY72aJeiYN-51q-PA0IAVLrBFbOmRLCQ6YUHD6Iqb2Pc01WRuNEjefodPpBUjRfX6Ytcw5z_SVN4NCPYLvh1kWlxA26yH_wv97w1Wu9kqu3SaaHLKO-xn6se7pzod/s320/IMG_1539.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Face of Destruction</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And oh my goodness have you noticed how it is almost the end of the month and I have yet to make my skirt? I am ashamed. I shall start forthwith. Honest. Once I've just finished my cup of tea, and my novel, and baked some cookies, hung out with friends....any day now I <i>promise</i>.Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-84474267652632461262011-01-23T11:13:00.001-06:002011-01-23T11:17:04.309-06:00Selfish Knitting and Hob NobsFirst off, apologies that there has not been much going on around here lately. My motivation seems to be lowering along with the temperature, as it gets colder and whiter outside (down to -41 this week) my only desire seems to be to retreat to bed with a good book and some Hob Nobs (see below). However, I have manged to pull myself upright and some knitting in front of the tele so all is not lost. And only 4 months to go til spring. <br />
<br />
I like to knit. I like to give gifts. Ergo, the vast majority of my knitting is gifted. I think I can count on one hand the things I have made for myself. As as addendum to my Knitting Resolutions, I am only knitting things for myself for a while. Its so much less stressful - no deadlines, no pressure to make it perfect. Right now I am working on this<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rosalie-5"> slouchy beanie </a>for which I am finally using up some stashed <a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/yarns/vannasChoice.html">Vanna's Choice</a>. I've not got on well with this yarn in the past, its acrylic, scratchy and splitty. But weirdly it seems to be behaving itself this time around and trying into a really snug and cute hat. I hope. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipw8HD03j4GPyuOnkoW9qU0jgBdvGqAuoJ3K9LBMmhzGR_xzjRKPTUUFaZO82HjlL3LN8UIsfIX8IX4n7swUDW4r2-uFU6LvjNZGDGHhWRK8yaFABk1zIkXwjlceKWoLbUw8ePBiNuKeI/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipw8HD03j4GPyuOnkoW9qU0jgBdvGqAuoJ3K9LBMmhzGR_xzjRKPTUUFaZO82HjlL3LN8UIsfIX8IX4n7swUDW4r2-uFU6LvjNZGDGHhWRK8yaFABk1zIkXwjlceKWoLbUw8ePBiNuKeI/s320/IMG_1515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I have also, rather fabulously, discovered how to make <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HobNob">Hob Nobs</a>! Yay! The recipe calls them Abbey Biscuits but I know, I know. They're Hob Nobs. Delicious, crunchy, oaty Hob Nobs.And with all the brown flour and oats they are practically a health food.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpXRUEDhF1jJpRZfJKfChIe0qZOspxjn6-PIlyD6IfyoT6wrP48p90LGsFqLqvF5NveQRxTAKhJriUTgxHz2t9YplOB5B38ysurn-6KsTj6N0kOwzHgNtFBMtvSBoQUx_7DKWZbccZTFP/s1600/7071207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpXRUEDhF1jJpRZfJKfChIe0qZOspxjn6-PIlyD6IfyoT6wrP48p90LGsFqLqvF5NveQRxTAKhJriUTgxHz2t9YplOB5B38ysurn-6KsTj6N0kOwzHgNtFBMtvSBoQUx_7DKWZbccZTFP/s1600/7071207.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Hob Nobs (makes 24)</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>150g butter<br />
150g light brown sugar<br />
150g plain brown flour<br />
1 tbs milk<br />
1tsp bicarb<br />
1 tsp golden syrup<u></u><br />
<u><br />
</u><br />
<ol><li>Heat the oven to 150 Celsius / 300 Fahrenheit.</li>
<li>Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy.</li>
<li>Add milk, soda and syrup.</li>
<li>Stir in the flour and oats and mix well.</li>
<li>Roll into small balls and space evenly on lightly greased baking sheets. Flatten slightly with a fork. </li>
<li>Bake for 20 - 25 min until golden.</li>
<li>Cool on wire racks, and enjoy with a nice cup of tea and a sit down. Possibly while watching <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marple_%28TV_series%29">Marple</a>. Fight feelings that you are in fact, 65 years old. </li>
</ol><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-68328106249383844212011-01-10T10:03:00.000-06:002011-01-10T10:03:00.983-06:00Knitting Resolutions My knitting has reached a bit of an impasse. This has been a few reasons but mainly I have'nt seen anything I want to make lately and sewing is just so much more instant gratification...harder to do while watching TV, though. So, in addition to my sewing resolution, I think I need a few for my bamboo needles. <br />
<ol><li>I will knit my ravelry queue, in order and with the right yarn </li>
<li> I will no longer subject myself to the frustration that is buying yarn at <a href="http://www.michaels.com/">Michaels</a>.</li>
<li>I will accept that to make truly nice garments I should probably spend more than $6 a skein. </li>
</ol> I made a good start with these over the weekend when I made my first purchase from <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/knitting.cfm">Knit Picks</a> to make the first item in my queue, the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/carnaby-skirt">Carnaby Skirt</a>. Living in The Frozen North as I do, skirts don't figure much in my wardrobe for 6 months of the year. But the reviews if this pattern all assure me that this skirt is toasty warm, especially when knit up with <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Wool_of_the_Andes_Worsted_Yarn__D5420103.html">Wool of the Andes</a>. Here's hoping. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs-d_nFdQ3_nB5nlfnv6DAIjpXgOrsy8Fe3yE4r6KxUwnFMScyBGQwNoQk8iV5hL9U742ih116BoaOho8f5LV2_RVuA-VOVxTW9o51IAyXHGeN6oDdxUbexK6RnFTxW3suT4dZrspxZ51/s1600/5041207338_9a4c2e5a58_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJs-d_nFdQ3_nB5nlfnv6DAIjpXgOrsy8Fe3yE4r6KxUwnFMScyBGQwNoQk8iV5hL9U742ih116BoaOho8f5LV2_RVuA-VOVxTW9o51IAyXHGeN6oDdxUbexK6RnFTxW3suT4dZrspxZ51/s320/5041207338_9a4c2e5a58_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Carnaby Skirt (Photo by Knitty.com)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-84878289783011482902011-01-06T11:05:00.003-06:002011-01-06T12:10:24.494-06:00The Haberdashery of Dreams or: Why I Hate FabriclandSome of my earliest memories are of buying fabric with my mum. She shopped at the local draper, a tiny little shop in the back streets of our town where there seemed to be cloth of a hundred different colours, patterns and textures up to the ceiling (I was very small). I was fascinated by the button display and the long wooden counter with the brass rule set into it. Buying fabric there was magical.<br />
Buying fabric <a href="http://www.fabriclandwest.com/">here</a> is not. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqISswyJThT1hpPIZht9R_WVIvauBKfKQPlq1aBP86TXRXpJ4N5Y0ITF7Pnz0PabaXOyT9Hy5CvST6VB_zY4udPqNY3tqId1OqSX9wKQnSFHR2F17cIjdcFISQd1TZBPxCuNjziTCRz7_/s1600/fabricland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqISswyJThT1hpPIZht9R_WVIvauBKfKQPlq1aBP86TXRXpJ4N5Y0ITF7Pnz0PabaXOyT9Hy5CvST6VB_zY4udPqNY3tqId1OqSX9wKQnSFHR2F17cIjdcFISQd1TZBPxCuNjziTCRz7_/s320/fabricland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabricland: Not Magical</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Doesn't it make you depressed just looking at it? Until I discovered Etsy all my fabric purchases were made here, and they were all dreadful. Dreadful. Not only is the selection poor, the lighting is horrible and the staff grumpy. Well, wouldn't you be? Oh, and did I mention how pricey they are?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.liberty.co.uk/">Here,</a> on the other hand, is where fabric goes when it has been very, very good indeed.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixH0eTj-KH3j7sPQQCWJ6JFw3jM8aicYpcuWCv2Y7NgddjAUyunBvF0fyyO59lQfhFWPbNqqDSA5lyFuTWu4LkRFFjuHrCjh9LgdPfIV9ffbc7F3laVq5e7TqvWxeb-OfsYXVEvh3GuBq8/s1600/liberty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixH0eTj-KH3j7sPQQCWJ6JFw3jM8aicYpcuWCv2Y7NgddjAUyunBvF0fyyO59lQfhFWPbNqqDSA5lyFuTWu4LkRFFjuHrCjh9LgdPfIV9ffbc7F3laVq5e7TqvWxeb-OfsYXVEvh3GuBq8/s320/liberty.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liberty of London: Magical </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Now, I must be honest and admit that I have never set foot in Liberty's. This is probably a good thing as I imagine I could spend an <i>awful </i>lot of money there. Small niggles like cash flow (and 6,000 miles of distance) aside, who wouldn't want to shop there? The selection is amazing, the patterns exquisite, the displays imaginative and attractive.I have no idea what their staff are like but I imagine them to be kindly and helpful ladies of a certain age who know all there is to know about dashing haber. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB82yuhoYLMwoNhhOIrXk66n4Gr6B9c-XEC6QfXOTb1ysxCzB7py2WbhHlkpp_FpFElHE8W17x3OztSiijbjSCXBMLhIA7jbTvRYPwz30fjJYTX4NEsxKhP0CNc9nvnGl8yTWzZZkfIXri/s1600/070415-Fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB82yuhoYLMwoNhhOIrXk66n4Gr6B9c-XEC6QfXOTb1ysxCzB7py2WbhHlkpp_FpFElHE8W17x3OztSiijbjSCXBMLhIA7jbTvRYPwz30fjJYTX4NEsxKhP0CNc9nvnGl8yTWzZZkfIXri/s320/070415-Fabric.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll take it all! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxX1ppbgewsK8Vg3WvrH3yoNzFiGManbsGa-nV9X8AkeBXUNRluOmsZvy01l2-A3_lA6LsBjp6qhpfbq0j1N-0DDeo9VN0L0M7owR3z59gEkhZfa14HKO_UaOJtWNSUkwAz-CAmwOUPLd9/s1600/070415-Buttons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxX1ppbgewsK8Vg3WvrH3yoNzFiGManbsGa-nV9X8AkeBXUNRluOmsZvy01l2-A3_lA6LsBjp6qhpfbq0j1N-0DDeo9VN0L0M7owR3z59gEkhZfa14HKO_UaOJtWNSUkwAz-CAmwOUPLd9/s320/070415-Buttons.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See how fascinating button displays can be? </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2IYSdMofu_BApa5jyDkPvhkAQdZWzUKvsfcbAInMlXD48zjvWgtXCCq7tmMICOwPcE090j7HVcVLwt0xun1bo_VogAeLKJ2ha_XxtCxCOklRpL9FyL29spTP89C50ZxZK6LO5sWpqZAU/s1600/070415-Organization.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2IYSdMofu_BApa5jyDkPvhkAQdZWzUKvsfcbAInMlXD48zjvWgtXCCq7tmMICOwPcE090j7HVcVLwt0xun1bo_VogAeLKJ2ha_XxtCxCOklRpL9FyL29spTP89C50ZxZK6LO5sWpqZAU/s320/070415-Organization.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know what I would do with a lot of turquoise feathers, but I'm willing to take that risk </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
And when you get bored of browsing yards and yards of tana lawn, varuna wool, vogue patterns, bias binding and tapestry kits....you can always go and buy a zebra's head.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Eomfcouj4Gsuf5EVCCuR9zddV3vOxbJwqGyM4U6T7NfViiHHzLUaMxELKgG8LluFeOvgTX6zhE_nLWvkzkJVWCu_JefIjbaXwFClhCaE2ENcmQPcE0V90kCMLzotNk-cXpRMQVIAlZ83/s1600/zebra+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Eomfcouj4Gsuf5EVCCuR9zddV3vOxbJwqGyM4U6T7NfViiHHzLUaMxELKgG8LluFeOvgTX6zhE_nLWvkzkJVWCu_JefIjbaXwFClhCaE2ENcmQPcE0V90kCMLzotNk-cXpRMQVIAlZ83/s320/zebra+head.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What every home needs: a zebra to hang your coat on</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
All this drooling over Liberty reminds me of the fantastic giveaway the lovely <a href="http://handmadejane.blogspot.com/">Handmade Jane</a> has on offer. Post a comment <a href="http://handmadejane.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-year-new-giveaway.html">here</a> and get the chance to win a copy of Sew Serendipity and/or five fat quarters of Liberty quilting cotton. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlmpxO6vyRBtrE6SwJVdU28o7F9P1TX4W9qxmUVmImW1oilsFA5nu8DzVM0Q5uWndbjiUDb1dTqAnv9nNKNisXJzzQRdQQaQgWBqfC6U0nczxlKw2FzkKmMof2kzsGKVXpYOU6HR_Wdkc/s1600/P1030097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlmpxO6vyRBtrE6SwJVdU28o7F9P1TX4W9qxmUVmImW1oilsFA5nu8DzVM0Q5uWndbjiUDb1dTqAnv9nNKNisXJzzQRdQQaQgWBqfC6U0nczxlKw2FzkKmMof2kzsGKVXpYOU6HR_Wdkc/s320/P1030097.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aren't they lovely? (and isn't she generous?)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<a href="http://handmadejane.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-year-new-giveaway.html?spref=bl"><br />
</a>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-37018994322090801602010-12-31T18:11:00.001-06:002010-12-31T23:31:39.155-06:00Happy New Year! Oh my goodness it's been a while, hasn't it? I have no real excuse, unless loafing around watching TV and eating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mince_pie">mince pies</a> is an excuse...well its has been Christmas after all. But now the New Year is almost here and it's time to pull my socks up and get back to making stuff. Normally I make a few resolutions, but this year there is only one:<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Sew stuff. Sew one wearable garment/accessory once a month at least. Build a fabric stash and make stuff with it. </li>
</ol>In fairness, the stash building I don't need much help with but the making something <i>wearable</i> I certainly do. Since I got my sewing machine last Christmas I have made one dress and one skirt, neither of which are much good and which lurk at the back of the wardrobe taunting me with my lack of effort.<br />
<br />
No more taunting!<br />
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I have been browsing Etsy all day for fabric and have found some winners, I feel. My January Project will be this <a href="http://www.clothkits.co.uk/bustle-skirt-echino-design-green-p-512.html">lovely skirt</a> by<a href="http://www.clothkits.co.uk/"> Clothkits</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sD6s7_m5sZ1Hwa9aE7XTYS7pA8tN4lE7AAXLELjCTakcafS3OmxypsQV1e8ItpI_MfLXYTE5hXcLJhDtXwWNJwvd5eElfFF2nVCkedmr5w9Q0o4zkdW2JEM0i2_LNSHNAasHZ3_MrPDO/s1600/busbustlegreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sD6s7_m5sZ1Hwa9aE7XTYS7pA8tN4lE7AAXLELjCTakcafS3OmxypsQV1e8ItpI_MfLXYTE5hXcLJhDtXwWNJwvd5eElfFF2nVCkedmr5w9Q0o4zkdW2JEM0i2_LNSHNAasHZ3_MrPDO/s320/busbustlegreen.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture brazenly lifted from clothkits.co.uk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is the skirt I made before, but madly chose gabardine as the outer layer (gabardine?! Why?!) and quilting cotton for the inner. Needless to say there was very little drape, flow, or any kind of movement at all in the final garment. No one can accuse me of not learning from my mistakes so for Bustle Skirt: The Return I'm going to use some lovely wafty gauze cotton, perfect for hot summer days. I think I remember those, just (-23 today...)<br />
<br />
Right, I am off to celebrate the evening with The Husband at a lovely little restaurant with eight courses and hopefully champagne...Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-29380900847450393282010-12-16T10:24:00.003-06:002010-12-16T10:54:39.043-06:00Dog + CakeSo my beautiful fruit-filled, brandy-laced <a href="http://somethingimadeearlier.blogspot.com/2010/11/mmmm-christmas-cake.html">Christmas cake</a> is no more. Diego, our 5-year old lurcher, managed to help himself to over half of it last night. He was<i> not</i> a well puppy, there was puke on our bed, on his bed, on the sofa, the kitchen floor, the sitting room floor, the hallway.... the poor thing could only have ice cubes every hour to rehydrate him and now he's on a fast until lunchtime to help his stomach settle.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhByxqcJ437MZRMlYxDswvVnaqJ98lWgcyPxX7cn8SKaGCwFdtVWm72MyCnkcI51Y41BilsmoP4jm0hlAtapSgLnlDGohVbeydemQ32eOtH_zON9St7nWklzvTPQJFlFde-6KxU5NS6HB/s1600/IMG_1416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhByxqcJ437MZRMlYxDswvVnaqJ98lWgcyPxX7cn8SKaGCwFdtVWm72MyCnkcI51Y41BilsmoP4jm0hlAtapSgLnlDGohVbeydemQ32eOtH_zON9St7nWklzvTPQJFlFde-6KxU5NS6HB/s320/IMG_1416.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Decimator</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I feel so guilty - I mean this is the dog whose illicit food spoils over the years has included: raw potatoes, a block of butter <i>with the foil still on, </i>a whole partridge, a dead pigeon, plastic bags...so really I should know better than to leave the house with any kind of food anywhere in reach.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2NtPD08BZlsLKzU51BqIBCHeNWWQ0hodQwqGlpv7e_kbbmnCUhbomTdCIi2fqcCyBT7G1WCflL7s6UjmqnUj54EmdNemXouALS1w_72p8cZm9fo6R5jWdrFDHMX2FjgTVdSM2kDswBiL/s1600/IMG_1419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2NtPD08BZlsLKzU51BqIBCHeNWWQ0hodQwqGlpv7e_kbbmnCUhbomTdCIi2fqcCyBT7G1WCflL7s6UjmqnUj54EmdNemXouALS1w_72p8cZm9fo6R5jWdrFDHMX2FjgTVdSM2kDswBiL/s320/IMG_1419.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Decimated</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Although the cake was decimated I did save just about half of it and it is very, very good so you can't blame him really.Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-41200773942099578062010-12-09T10:46:00.001-06:002010-12-09T12:17:09.409-06:00The Silk RoadFinally, finally finally the dupioni silk I ordered in <i>October</i> arrived this morning. It is absolutely gorgeous, I'm really happy with the colurs I picked. But unfortunately it is too late - I have already had to abandon my plans to make gifts with it to send home to the UK so now I am a bit stuck.<br />
What shall I make with five fat quarters of silk? I'm quite taken by this <a href="http://www.pinkchalkfabrics.com/pc/patterns/GatherUpPillow.pdf">cushion,</a> or maybe a scarf and some <a href="http://www.stylemepretty.com/2010/03/12/diy-project-by-posh-paperie-and-jackie-wonders-photography/">rosettes</a>. Hmmm. Decisions decisions.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbDaCgGJJUN8BB4vOD-ZR8udDtV9RWIR2Ld1iwr8Bvl7Efqm5ff8iYp3tD3pHIGLJQbni615xaUzJWiHqnTMdbWthvxqirvRT3cT9lLL3SPBU9XVN0ffJj0dv5PSwgaI7WeTffJCSmgqH/s1600/IMG_1406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbDaCgGJJUN8BB4vOD-ZR8udDtV9RWIR2Ld1iwr8Bvl7Efqm5ff8iYp3tD3pHIGLJQbni615xaUzJWiHqnTMdbWthvxqirvRT3cT9lLL3SPBU9XVN0ffJj0dv5PSwgaI7WeTffJCSmgqH/s320/IMG_1406.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its so lovely I am almost afraid to cut it...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-44629153947602806172010-12-02T16:20:00.000-06:002010-12-02T16:20:55.213-06:00Christmas Phase IYesterday I got the wreaths up on the front and back doors. We have a plain fake wreath which I dressed up with some pine-cones I collected earlier in the year and some gold berries from Michaels. I'm quite pleased with how they look.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVK_IqSpbk7QEpoGyOLPJSjfkxqaTUw5kCkdEWdvV9sbDhGFvI1qlefKLgptUJfyDlTO5UzpjgSw1o76JLLQ1HuP8nJzJTRELQBidHB2ER0RxmSrFQPnPPWjV9NrEBzn5Ppz8nOF2_Xg3/s1600/IMG_1386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVK_IqSpbk7QEpoGyOLPJSjfkxqaTUw5kCkdEWdvV9sbDhGFvI1qlefKLgptUJfyDlTO5UzpjgSw1o76JLLQ1HuP8nJzJTRELQBidHB2ER0RxmSrFQPnPPWjV9NrEBzn5Ppz8nOF2_Xg3/s320/IMG_1386.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The back door one is just some more fake berries twisted into a ring<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQzbRHenTqCvRxQ4Yo6ltwlHQbdc7P97ALCAer6VOwC45HrZp9TGX3Nu811GPgUoUKcrndc9mUqEh2zaDs-O3R6VhxVIzqDyJ-eFaEn-BBOO7RpqVFLKpDYs03rS81L2H8VbqsYxjxQYA/s1600/IMG_1388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQzbRHenTqCvRxQ4Yo6ltwlHQbdc7P97ALCAer6VOwC45HrZp9TGX3Nu811GPgUoUKcrndc9mUqEh2zaDs-O3R6VhxVIzqDyJ-eFaEn-BBOO7RpqVFLKpDYs03rS81L2H8VbqsYxjxQYA/s320/IMG_1388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So: Cake is made, cards are made and mailed, wreaths are up, gifts have been bought....I'm feeling very organized indeed!Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-42419396509262430542010-11-25T22:17:00.004-06:002010-11-26T20:03:40.201-06:00Today I Learnt:<ul><li>How to do a provisional cast-on. It took me about an hour, some tangled yarn and confusion with various guides but in the end <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/FEATfall05TT.html">Knitty</a> came to my rescue and joy was unconfined.</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6dhq71bDizLB_31WphP6Xu_w0KX89fGtEZElerpn_VgmZNBL8v5jmH9JndHeUgAD0elrtcrFf7UCS5ZcgSPH635iaiucL46LoexZpHdKeoQQSNYRemdpuShnA2Qs6SMzUlxjIWrcpagz/s1600/IMG_1370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6dhq71bDizLB_31WphP6Xu_w0KX89fGtEZElerpn_VgmZNBL8v5jmH9JndHeUgAD0elrtcrFf7UCS5ZcgSPH635iaiucL46LoexZpHdKeoQQSNYRemdpuShnA2Qs6SMzUlxjIWrcpagz/s320/IMG_1370.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! See the way I basically cast-on to waste yarn? So clever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><ul><li> How to make Kipferl. These are seriously good biscuits, I would say I was operating on a 'one for me, one for the oven' ration with the dough. I got the recipe from my <a href="http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=3687504810&searchurl=isbn%3D0900556854%26sts%3Dt%26x%3D20%26y%3D13">W.I Book of Biscuits</a> - a present from my sister years ago which I love. It is one of the great sadness's of my life (along with not being French and 2'' taller) that I will probably never get a chance to join the W.I to make Jam and sing Jerusalem. </li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UKO1Hi2HS_RP53DR3DKffqpfuYoOHSNZLJDkE9vzYYbRXso6fIQhlq2S6z7M1fvtZqqpugnFv9z0BTX_LKg0T9sYcAUP2QkONAc1eXmxrgGvshF1fIV5XK23a5txT8SF2h-00UVzPnX9/s1600/IMG_1374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UKO1Hi2HS_RP53DR3DKffqpfuYoOHSNZLJDkE9vzYYbRXso6fIQhlq2S6z7M1fvtZqqpugnFv9z0BTX_LKg0T9sYcAUP2QkONAc1eXmxrgGvshF1fIV5XK23a5txT8SF2h-00UVzPnX9/s320/IMG_1374.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The recipe makes 48. There are now considerably less.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Vanilla Kipferl</div> 225g butter<br />
225g plain flour<br />
1 tsp vanilla essence <br />
100g ground almonds<br />
100g caster sugar<br />
Pinch of salt<br />
Sifted icing sugar for coating<br />
<br />
Rub the butter into the flour and work in the remaining ingredients to make a stiff dough. Chill for 1 hour.<br />
Heat the oven to 160 Celsius / 325 Fahrenheit.<br />
Take walnut-sized pieces of dough and roll into small fat sausages, about 2cm wide and 6cm long. Form into crescent shapes.<br />
Arrange on ungreased non-stick baking sheets and bake for 20 min until golden.<br />
Leave to cool for 3 min and then dip in icing sugar. Cool completely on wire racks.<br />
Apparently they taste even better after a couple of days, if there are any left by then. <br />
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<ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-69748574465066632432010-11-23T14:22:00.002-06:002010-11-24T07:37:26.355-06:00Tutorial Tuesday: Fragrant Christmas Stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>One of the main reasons I love to read craft blogs are the tutorials. There are so many talented people out there who are generous enough to share techniques and ideas with the rest of us, I especially like the ones with <i>lots</i> of photos so its hard to go wrong. In the spirit of Christmas and general thanks, here is my little contribution to the Free Internet Tutorial Canon, as it's known (in this house, anyway). <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14_OB6zXqkqZASY8sOL5Lf3wONdFBfegnORIx3ZFZF7iefZIHPuN-MYO-K6urBaoxMmdcIWrKFjz54ojMN6y5Ot7EcXJCBu9qDt28xVXw4Xt7dz_KljAZ77kvX-teRFdgxd97r_7DCeNa/s1600/IMG_1355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14_OB6zXqkqZASY8sOL5Lf3wONdFBfegnORIx3ZFZF7iefZIHPuN-MYO-K6urBaoxMmdcIWrKFjz54ojMN6y5Ot7EcXJCBu9qDt28xVXw4Xt7dz_KljAZ77kvX-teRFdgxd97r_7DCeNa/s320/IMG_1355.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fragrant Wax Stars. They smell of vanilla, honestly. </td></tr>
</tbody></table> I love candles, but I hate chucking out the remains of expensive fragrant ones. This is my solution. Obviously this involves sharp knives and hot wax, so all the usual safety precautions apply. Take your time, <i>don't</i> get the kids to help you, you know the drill.<br />
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You will need:<br />
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<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93mbPZNl5PUOb3p4XJa1LVBLJ-VvISYKbkpxg0AFZUWQu-aQfft6Gw5t4vOiwVaaHmVlxgb-EejOaSEJiWqpThGUzFYOKvc-IphxhrFZ0DHLGeaDOVlUcUg0eiGIRVc4GwST1fDueWVrP/s1600/IMG_1313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93mbPZNl5PUOb3p4XJa1LVBLJ-VvISYKbkpxg0AFZUWQu-aQfft6Gw5t4vOiwVaaHmVlxgb-EejOaSEJiWqpThGUzFYOKvc-IphxhrFZ0DHLGeaDOVlUcUg0eiGIRVc4GwST1fDueWVrP/s200/IMG_1313.JPG" width="200" /></a>
<li>The remains of one candle</li>
<li> Baking tray lined with tin foil</li>
<li>Canola/Sunflower/Vegetable oil (anything with very little colour or scent)</li>
<li>Bain-Marie - a heat-proof mixing bowl placed over a barely simmering pan of water</li>
<li>Spatula</li>
<li>Cookie Cutter</li>
<li>Darning needle</li>
<li>Letter press set, or whatever you choose to imprint a design on the wax </li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdw3XaBFWjHbhj8movYJF7qXYxHyDumfJZGdUbOY6CWICihx68PlKvoVpnTWmv6bwuEBFBlU9voPNMda8PZC2RWxXgxf6-SbB2dAdqq4_glz4LTSWB6d4CrW34fPBNXE82OJae3cEz_YA/s1600/IMG_1325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdw3XaBFWjHbhj8movYJF7qXYxHyDumfJZGdUbOY6CWICihx68PlKvoVpnTWmv6bwuEBFBlU9voPNMda8PZC2RWxXgxf6-SbB2dAdqq4_glz4LTSWB6d4CrW34fPBNXE82OJae3cEz_YA/s320/IMG_1325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEzLJ28VLS56ff8MszQU2VQatGiBpEMqqtnbDX-9jb-dGYKwa-406q9UK2J0ceE6sK9XDSmzkO-iELQvHVUnkF0ZaHeFtdK2IMS5UFVOG0JDaNuiW_tC8ocXNCoTjccHE6ZbEfVDpQpBL/s1600/IMG_1315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEzLJ28VLS56ff8MszQU2VQatGiBpEMqqtnbDX-9jb-dGYKwa-406q9UK2J0ceE6sK9XDSmzkO-iELQvHVUnkF0ZaHeFtdK2IMS5UFVOG0JDaNuiW_tC8ocXNCoTjccHE6ZbEfVDpQpBL/s320/IMG_1315.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Line the baking tray with the tin foil and brush with oil. Make sure you use a tray with sides and that the foil lines these as well, or you will have wax all over the place which is a b****r to clean up, quite honestly. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEuREFGs13lhJMp0TP-OzVGVEnRY-C-EXA9lYrM0qx6Cyl5R5nveFrkao2nw6xaYNkd8EauZfCyh484bOEitMHsHxlTvUODmRWJEH8p_MKUBKfrVh600VpXDcLubIuZMMfKJsoV7erLf5/s1600/IMG_1316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEuREFGs13lhJMp0TP-OzVGVEnRY-C-EXA9lYrM0qx6Cyl5R5nveFrkao2nw6xaYNkd8EauZfCyh484bOEitMHsHxlTvUODmRWJEH8p_MKUBKfrVh600VpXDcLubIuZMMfKJsoV7erLf5/s320/IMG_1316.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Break up the candle. Remove the wick first, you can usually just pull it out from underneath along with its little metal plate. Now this bit is tedious, but check all the pieces you are going to melt are clean and free of burnt wick and other dirt etc. A quick wipe with a clean linen tea towel is good enough. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOmLuX2NnKo5lmZ_H3dB23cJhFtL9yKTRlVl7vcD6ViXMR00PvXxQGGVId5Dnuel_ZhdEzKnME0O0kp02vys3rAoespDLU4M_kYjQlG0LOi-Aw633oE8Vkxr1JA-6afxNz8R5fL30zNv7/s1600/IMG_1319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOmLuX2NnKo5lmZ_H3dB23cJhFtL9yKTRlVl7vcD6ViXMR00PvXxQGGVId5Dnuel_ZhdEzKnME0O0kp02vys3rAoespDLU4M_kYjQlG0LOi-Aw633oE8Vkxr1JA-6afxNz8R5fL30zNv7/s320/IMG_1319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Melt the wax in the bain-marie, just like chocolate. And just like chocolate, leave it to do its thing and melt down slowly without too much poking and stirring (When cleaning up use a little rubbing alcohol to get rid of waxy residue on your bowl and wash in very hot water).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Pchl652VV3B8JbI_dNtU5xGmY9vJVmYtt1wCU4kacXjmBz60svgnsybZ3jnjJRk6nrIcHGMEhBCIZUrl860D0h72nayISCGvYvRk4IczeQzVXOQ_Sh9_aE2RHjI37HSJUGkHvTf_b-aH/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Pchl652VV3B8JbI_dNtU5xGmY9vJVmYtt1wCU4kacXjmBz60svgnsybZ3jnjJRk6nrIcHGMEhBCIZUrl860D0h72nayISCGvYvRk4IczeQzVXOQ_Sh9_aE2RHjI37HSJUGkHvTf_b-aH/s320/IMG_1346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>When the wax is liquid, pour it carefully onto the prepared baking tray, which you lined and oiled earlier. Did'nt you? It will start to solidify straight away.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcA76XxzvBqwFTYyFyY-HS_7HTEccYqG0TPp3IeI7eaEnCGw_-BqgDBYVG3FNUpn01MBxtqX9SxySPBOUczAwfg3XMDs61INmyRztaIZ-7sXIsjva7Pa314v63C6GgwV4EXWQ2E4FwLWK/s1600/IMG_1347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcA76XxzvBqwFTYyFyY-HS_7HTEccYqG0TPp3IeI7eaEnCGw_-BqgDBYVG3FNUpn01MBxtqX9SxySPBOUczAwfg3XMDs61INmyRztaIZ-7sXIsjva7Pa314v63C6GgwV4EXWQ2E4FwLWK/s320/IMG_1347.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> After about 30 seconds or so the wax should have cooled enough for you to work with it. Treat it like cookie dough - use the cutter to get as many shapes as possible and the darning needle to make holes to hang them with. I had initially planned to make a garland out of these, spelling 'Happy Christmas' If you want to use letters too make sure you imprint extra as they break easily when stringing (as I found out later, when I had no extras. Tragedy).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqBKWpQ6nvWj0enS58NGjB-SAQvBdZXgC7wzzkS-WZmcP69frMvdBIE-Lau6isVBR-r5tjGNLvW3Av9OLfxBbCH2t3dxToVKrqHYiw9eLQfeQAWAKa7eAJHwAY7bkLchCyHK6LxDqljZ5/s1600/IMG_1348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqBKWpQ6nvWj0enS58NGjB-SAQvBdZXgC7wzzkS-WZmcP69frMvdBIE-Lau6isVBR-r5tjGNLvW3Av9OLfxBbCH2t3dxToVKrqHYiw9eLQfeQAWAKa7eAJHwAY7bkLchCyHK6LxDqljZ5/s320/IMG_1348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>While the wax is still pliable use the spatula to lift away the excess - just like cookie dough! Instead of getting rolled out again, this can go back into the bain-marie to get re-melted until you have enough shapes for your design. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtxJkxd787aWBf7YZnDFEkob_JxhGy3ymMDPp2VAn4iDJvxbXEJXoMp4pYpYdGVA7LFHedd8GD1Ivu1lQkhmh2mqQAWzGRnkxcAM8TdloHmUGlnr4lL8EACqg8TVXRXTELHjH-7d-uZpt/s1600/IMG_1350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtxJkxd787aWBf7YZnDFEkob_JxhGy3ymMDPp2VAn4iDJvxbXEJXoMp4pYpYdGVA7LFHedd8GD1Ivu1lQkhmh2mqQAWzGRnkxcAM8TdloHmUGlnr4lL8EACqg8TVXRXTELHjH-7d-uZpt/s320/IMG_1350.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Ta-Da! Festive<i> and</i> fragrant, ready to be strung into a garland or used as individual decorations. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTROOPKEmHuBQMDnasCrMDeVKtW4ynRgIv2HtxKbETLKoClXmnUnEGeylQ7nPhKtGHQSogTo60CnH_dk4SMPcP6KfRPl4aRfqdsVhRQ2Pyq0sKENOfogqAMnHc2nssznaNHQ6aA6QUu1a6/s1600/IMG_1351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTROOPKEmHuBQMDnasCrMDeVKtW4ynRgIv2HtxKbETLKoClXmnUnEGeylQ7nPhKtGHQSogTo60CnH_dk4SMPcP6KfRPl4aRfqdsVhRQ2Pyq0sKENOfogqAMnHc2nssznaNHQ6aA6QUu1a6/s320/IMG_1351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span id="goog_976442458"></span><span id="goog_976442459"></span>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-65609101581247376712010-11-17T09:02:00.000-06:002010-11-17T09:02:52.963-06:00It'll be Winter, thenToday outside looks like this:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPsO8OnG1Hs5yeQ4h71GDhCE8UFyO4_f5o5g_L_FpglPLQljHMrWXF4azz0vXJNdzqx4V7km3wUO3UrMKHa13JTcmmsXM1t-ZEui9CBUTun98G1nch8gP4VHktpnQuocvjJYygJEg8bMv/s1600/IMG_1304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPsO8OnG1Hs5yeQ4h71GDhCE8UFyO4_f5o5g_L_FpglPLQljHMrWXF4azz0vXJNdzqx4V7km3wUO3UrMKHa13JTcmmsXM1t-ZEui9CBUTun98G1nch8gP4VHktpnQuocvjJYygJEg8bMv/s320/IMG_1304.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey, icy and -12. Brrr. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
What better day to stay inside in the warm with some brandy, <a href="http://somethingimadeearlier.blogspot.com/2010/11/mmmm-christmas-cake.html">cake</a> and a darning needle?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDS-rN83fQUYVnRCEzm7_giX7Gebq07uTbyJrmkM_5zfOrSq4HxFlO648h4Ui4xLeuwNuiLxDoZpoFQ0rxZoLEUPM684EeiuOdexGKX6xfEEIcGiD8v4x8nbwX-GzG-Tw_TRYDTFOd392/s1600/IMG_1301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDS-rN83fQUYVnRCEzm7_giX7Gebq07uTbyJrmkM_5zfOrSq4HxFlO648h4Ui4xLeuwNuiLxDoZpoFQ0rxZoLEUPM684EeiuOdexGKX6xfEEIcGiD8v4x8nbwX-GzG-Tw_TRYDTFOd392/s320/IMG_1301.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-46914535613791272812010-11-15T09:29:00.004-06:002010-11-15T10:31:30.337-06:00Chaos TheorySo the very lovely fabric I ordered from Etsy arrived on Friday. Much excitement all around, in which mood I decided to get going on some Christmas gifts (details <a href="http://craftychristmasclub.blogspot.com/2010/11/hit-or-miss.html">here</a>). Shortly, my work table looked like this:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7l4DNPmsmmatVxFhmkzx5aMe3ClyyzY39-fi6DReuXsjyzGf5IbfTey2n6DE1vFPqsg-cQDd4HDF3JpkJxAhnMMhP58Cumv43md5VmLB8z2A5RV9s4LFVUzpO9zGaW9Oj3wf4OVrU5SYA/s1600/IMG_1262+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7l4DNPmsmmatVxFhmkzx5aMe3ClyyzY39-fi6DReuXsjyzGf5IbfTey2n6DE1vFPqsg-cQDd4HDF3JpkJxAhnMMhP58Cumv43md5VmLB8z2A5RV9s4LFVUzpO9zGaW9Oj3wf4OVrU5SYA/s320/IMG_1262+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There has to be a better way...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
To my shame the picture above illustrates my usual working environment, with all my notions and threads in a zip-lock bag and fabric over chairs, etc. At least there is tea, I'm not a savage.<br />
After more tea and some <a href="http://www.quaintliving.com/2010/11/ginger-nut-biscuits/">Ginger Nuts</a> my brain started working again and I realised the solution to my problem was staring me in the face (or, more accurately, languishing on a shelf in the basement).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_SfjM3tsI3ZuKR3u2c9quybm1mnQaf_9fz12iEk6NuY0DVsmE5XlG2awA9bIou_h5wiNh4EuHuALXZn1IEdCGLYlepAoJT5HdDCPzU0GZhnJpXZ8LYmnjKpuDKSp7amDf5SiKsparnEY/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_SfjM3tsI3ZuKR3u2c9quybm1mnQaf_9fz12iEk6NuY0DVsmE5XlG2awA9bIou_h5wiNh4EuHuALXZn1IEdCGLYlepAoJT5HdDCPzU0GZhnJpXZ8LYmnjKpuDKSp7amDf5SiKsparnEY/s320/IMG_1265.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ginger Nut: No 6 in my Biscuit Top Ten, above the Custard Cream but below Digestives</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Ta Da! I give you, My Work Box!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNtPAKpBy6gu_h_2V9SVUUmq74ZqpUobeYvOR_cfJvAXQMA7NQcLpIM5YTqeRO8pXWbYJIO_erbIKXszKdGrePm7fIgK-mgCOhQsJHQXD1K7pnvaaDDxIDAlm8VNFJ03xHUe0oiD0TXiy/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNtPAKpBy6gu_h_2V9SVUUmq74ZqpUobeYvOR_cfJvAXQMA7NQcLpIM5YTqeRO8pXWbYJIO_erbIKXszKdGrePm7fIgK-mgCOhQsJHQXD1K7pnvaaDDxIDAlm8VNFJ03xHUe0oiD0TXiy/s320/IMG_1275.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's proper Irish mud on there, you know (and yes, I have scrubbed it)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwr3nAcbX8TaotV1qB9uIOfueTiVlS7lfA949dGEspAEEl44AQd0qhyphenhyphenjCTrRcxZhlNtIqFlpr6zXxsa99t-sXqLJ7P0SdVNDAB4ZiCAvYLlNtXRy9Jkz6DPXqO8NwpR5y2Q-qYker00Akt/s1600/IMG_1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwr3nAcbX8TaotV1qB9uIOfueTiVlS7lfA949dGEspAEEl44AQd0qhyphenhyphenjCTrRcxZhlNtIqFlpr6zXxsa99t-sXqLJ7P0SdVNDAB4ZiCAvYLlNtXRy9Jkz6DPXqO8NwpR5y2Q-qYker00Akt/s320/IMG_1279.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I bought this little work box for 5 euro seven years ago in <a href="http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index.htm">Lidl</a>, when I was working as an archaeologist in Ireland. It's spent many long, cold, windy and wet hours on various hillsides waiting for something exciting to happen, getting filled with random bits of string, rusty nails and pens jammed with mud. <br />
I like to think I am giving it the cushy retirement it deserves.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEK9laIDd2x8MO4aJ2ta24bCqEQX4oL1Q4bfEEQnmpLP7XiQRREUXA7VjG6MCMf8j2aaPnkoWj2PacDnGf0y9dnxUjpWjUTeIyP65n0nuUbT5Wl7XRiZozQk4gV73itkJuGh-bXkEuaAUZ/s1600/IMG_1278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEK9laIDd2x8MO4aJ2ta24bCqEQX4oL1Q4bfEEQnmpLP7XiQRREUXA7VjG6MCMf8j2aaPnkoWj2PacDnGf0y9dnxUjpWjUTeIyP65n0nuUbT5Wl7XRiZozQk4gV73itkJuGh-bXkEuaAUZ/s320/IMG_1278.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to serve once more, alongside my rather natty sewing machine cover.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-86242788956438450612010-11-10T09:47:00.001-06:002010-11-10T12:52:00.985-06:00I Heart ReadyMade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The biggest perk about working in a library is getting to see so very many books, magazines, DVD's and CD's - all of which you can take home. The joy! I am currently averaging about 20 items out, and each day I promise I will not take anything else and then I find something fab while shelving a.k.a 'browsing with a cart'. My latest find is <a href="http://www.readymade.com/">ReadyMade Magazine</a>. How did I not know about this before? It totally rocks. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd_UP71RwKbhMyuud7zZxUyQEAxuYlge03pl_1Xqc-oNQ2bv5eaCS6R88QmETaR7hKiEniVXCfcseVvNCtbvt3s3QZD3a3Ro48g0-vTJfgTS17yHBvMPlr5-dpXjtw6lJW45GzCWoXgFO/s1600/issue_49_cover__issue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd_UP71RwKbhMyuud7zZxUyQEAxuYlge03pl_1Xqc-oNQ2bv5eaCS6R88QmETaR7hKiEniVXCfcseVvNCtbvt3s3QZD3a3Ro48g0-vTJfgTS17yHBvMPlr5-dpXjtw6lJW45GzCWoXgFO/s1600/issue_49_cover__issue.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ReadyMade: It rocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I came for the $500 Etsy giveaway - how can you not love that? and stayed for the great projects and writing inside. Its New York based and assumes that most people are renting and on a budget, which is a refreshing change from a lot of magazines, whose readers think nothing of spending <a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/shopping/best/best-new-kitchen-products-1110">$1000 on a shelf</a>. <br />
<br />
After reading a whole bunch of back issues, my To Do list runs as follows:<br />
<ol><li>Bake some <a href="http://www.readymade.com/projects/edible_adventure_polenta_pear_rosemary_bread">Pear and Rosemary Polenta Bread</a></li>
<li> Attempt to make <a href="http://www.readymade.com/projects/homemade_ricotta">Ricotta</a></li>
<li>Organize my kitchen with some fancy<a href="http://www.readymade.com/projects/learn_a_lesson_in_label_making"> labeled jars</a> </li>
<li>Raid The Husband's childhood stamp collection to make <a href="http://www.readymade.com/projects/stamp_magnets">these little pieces of fabulousness</a></li>
<li>Whip up some dry martini's using nothing but a ball of string and some double-sided sticky tape...or maybe just a <a href="http://www.readymade.com/blog/food-and-entertaining/2010/10/26/honky_tonk_cocktail_shaker">mason jar</a>.</li>
</ol>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-48818393698697702172010-11-09T09:25:00.001-06:002010-11-15T10:04:23.841-06:00Crafty Christmas ClubOooo, I am super-excited, and its only 9am! While perusing <a href="http://www.tillyandthebuttons.com/">Tilly and the Buttons</a> yesterday I came across the <a href="http://craftychristmasclub.blogspot.com/">Crafty Christmas Club</a>, a brilliant idea where you can show off your Christmas projects without spoiling the surprise for the recipient (unless of course they get sneaky and have a peek). I love this idea as I've not told a lot of people about this little blog as for the next month or so its all going to focus on their presents. Problem solved!<br />
So if you are <i>not</i> going to be getting a gift from me this year, check out all my ideas and progress at the <a href="http://craftychristmasclub.blogspot.com/">club.</a>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-1362877464630669162010-11-05T11:15:00.001-06:002010-11-15T10:03:52.680-06:00Mmmm, Christmas CakeIt's that time of year again, the air is cold and smells of bonfires so it must be time to make the <a href="http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/the-classic-christmas-cake.html">Christmas Cake</a>. I'm very British and my Christmas is mainly to do with dried fruit and brandy, both of which my Canuck husband dislikes intensely. Despite this every year I make my cake and I am the only one to eat it, which means half of it goes into the freezer and I'm still eating it at Easter, running out just in time to make the <a href="http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/easter-simnel-cake.html">Simnel Cake</a> (more dried fruit, no brandy but - quel horreur - marzipan).<br />
The cake is supposed to take two days to make - but as I am pushed for time this week I am going to cut corners and only soak the fruit in brandy for 8 hours instead of twelve, hopefully get it all in the oven this evening and cooked by bedtime (it takes 4 hours in the oven!). This is a post which will run and run as the cake gets wrapped up and put away for at least a month, getting a regular brandy feed once a week (lucky cake). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbTU1WYCiAbGQ54ojV6pBfT-tKOAtKgVUz7RuvjbZacudI6KJ85ocl5O0GEqZ-lvtjSzRvIUGS6mPwyS9U9LpWelbR3_aXuJj2aPIQrOhWjzj8GavkahlsM1q8Sx4vV1lVFWto31YUxGL/s1600/IMG_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbTU1WYCiAbGQ54ojV6pBfT-tKOAtKgVUz7RuvjbZacudI6KJ85ocl5O0GEqZ-lvtjSzRvIUGS6mPwyS9U9LpWelbR3_aXuJj2aPIQrOhWjzj8GavkahlsM1q8Sx4vV1lVFWto31YUxGL/s320/IMG_1204.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sultana's, raisins, glace cherries, mixed peel and brandy....mmmmm</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-41723691052876095572010-11-02T14:32:00.001-06:002010-11-10T15:42:25.950-06:00From Meh.... to Yeah!I have been AWOL for a while due to a new job at the library (the books, so many books!), and this: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZr-80XzBrTVjhx2yZsz88ldy7Q_3LS75o95y6UNSV2SQTqRiZUQNcGNrD8EomlZIcZ4IrfRpA0_mgTC_MG0BenRqm1gZBAKs788rC8bx1W3T6km5AO7kkwiDwbfTJ_usL6z0TTNvlNsu/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZr-80XzBrTVjhx2yZsz88ldy7Q_3LS75o95y6UNSV2SQTqRiZUQNcGNrD8EomlZIcZ4IrfRpA0_mgTC_MG0BenRqm1gZBAKs788rC8bx1W3T6km5AO7kkwiDwbfTJ_usL6z0TTNvlNsu/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
who, while she is very good, is only 6 months old and a ball of wriggling chaos. <br />
<br />
<br />
But I have had time to give my nightstand a quick makeover. Indeed, I have taken it from Meh....to Yeah!<br />
We were given it by my Mother in Law ages ago when she was clearing out her basement and in a very ill-considered move I spray-painted it bright red. Not terribly relaxing for the bedroom, and a bit cheap-looking I think.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrI4diGo4MdvBFpsWHXmIzoZHv8l6Yq-MZrKXS8Fh2mi6X_omkheS6NeN8t5MBDTpCqBHqs60Xlhq5zX_oEDnGbL5B6SlRLbrDU7fU02bWlM0gdvQW-hz6U01bFeipLUjRs8hKm1RWwaf/s320/013.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meh</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrI4diGo4MdvBFpsWHXmIzoZHv8l6Yq-MZrKXS8Fh2mi6X_omkheS6NeN8t5MBDTpCqBHqs60Xlhq5zX_oEDnGbL5B6SlRLbrDU7fU02bWlM0gdvQW-hz6U01bFeipLUjRs8hKm1RWwaf/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
So, using my beloved modge-podge, some Debbie Travis Antique Blue Paint and some fab Amy Butler papers from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/vidadesigns?ref=ls_profile">Vida Designs</a> I got something rather good.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSSESLBMOvGPRjQK4K8BTT2xYkr60I7AJPP3upOUorvRZQTUbGDF0oEURyAhJopqcwM2zh_f3Ac4h8JS8ogZ2MW0Ux8kbOMPvxtgIFgXvLvO_Qj-_poKs7nsJwAtchr-H-_nHVnuC3r_E/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVm9Bc4m2qPVk7qOmO9RsLTIt1aWE5AivgCSlMuuF7glob61c5HOxKj1Gr7J2T4Gk8UgqfnrbsMnYf2JzavC3_vZDiyWMzpL9VBk3E_Dg-o53VpAS6Vo7o3i9XfbzLr8YHnxbqz_Jacw3/s320/035.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVm9Bc4m2qPVk7qOmO9RsLTIt1aWE5AivgCSlMuuF7glob61c5HOxKj1Gr7J2T4Gk8UgqfnrbsMnYf2JzavC3_vZDiyWMzpL9VBk3E_Dg-o53VpAS6Vo7o3i9XfbzLr8YHnxbqz_Jacw3/s1600/035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVm9Bc4m2qPVk7qOmO9RsLTIt1aWE5AivgCSlMuuF7glob61c5HOxKj1Gr7J2T4Gk8UgqfnrbsMnYf2JzavC3_vZDiyWMzpL9VBk3E_Dg-o53VpAS6Vo7o3i9XfbzLr8YHnxbqz_Jacw3/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiD6E2BV7nNCEocKKh0-gRba7P_mxBRh5PkSVNEDSP-4SAP2Kv18C8M0ih1qczl-qjuHSo5OCi5_W-OFts3i820cbp_a3y8N7XmyIN12AU7eY3W1h7_45A8tXaBCqI4hD6_7MAl6RaLpLl/s320/036.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Yeah!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSSESLBMOvGPRjQK4K8BTT2xYkr60I7AJPP3upOUorvRZQTUbGDF0oEURyAhJopqcwM2zh_f3Ac4h8JS8ogZ2MW0Ux8kbOMPvxtgIFgXvLvO_Qj-_poKs7nsJwAtchr-H-_nHVnuC3r_E/s320/039.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just love these papers</td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiD6E2BV7nNCEocKKh0-gRba7P_mxBRh5PkSVNEDSP-4SAP2Kv18C8M0ih1qczl-qjuHSo5OCi5_W-OFts3i820cbp_a3y8N7XmyIN12AU7eY3W1h7_45A8tXaBCqI4hD6_7MAl6RaLpLl/s1600/036.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-84228688174944760952010-10-18T12:34:00.000-06:002010-11-02T14:15:06.500-06:00Mainly DogsWe rather lost our heads on Saturday and adopted a puppy from the local SPCA. She is a 9 month old black lab cross, although with what exactly is anyone's guess. She has been called Spotty - The Husband's idea. He thinks it's <i>hilarious, </i>as she is totally black.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlC4IMUKgTHMUMAFo60NWJpjNiA-GLALXQCUcb-0DaiSBgsisfQ2VQn46F2NN6WdqzKMqvoPvf39IisVc61WnnM-DpfFQxQ_8aV6xOc2ah6nzRt1cyxbuw_70inEUz50M_8blbVI_6Xev/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlC4IMUKgTHMUMAFo60NWJpjNiA-GLALXQCUcb-0DaiSBgsisfQ2VQn46F2NN6WdqzKMqvoPvf39IisVc61WnnM-DpfFQxQ_8aV6xOc2ah6nzRt1cyxbuw_70inEUz50M_8blbVI_6Xev/s320/005.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Craft-wise, I have also stared this<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDhzmZZjrqS4WnJhHUdBTLKnqLytsiIMF9fGhhsrdve6-U-7AOx6maHO8-VYWckRKHYUcQfLlUo1x81YVEdv_5KUrt2OG42kSs_r0dreFNaHs-C-Nq55xGB46Bspp1H1kBW6XgGqVTILE/s1600/Picture+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDhzmZZjrqS4WnJhHUdBTLKnqLytsiIMF9fGhhsrdve6-U-7AOx6maHO8-VYWckRKHYUcQfLlUo1x81YVEdv_5KUrt2OG42kSs_r0dreFNaHs-C-Nq55xGB46Bspp1H1kBW6XgGqVTILE/s320/Picture+030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
which hopefully will end up like <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wurm">this</a>, although this involves me mastering double-knitting, so nothing is certain.Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-18360917561293078202010-10-14T13:58:00.000-06:002010-10-14T14:00:58.170-06:00Free StuffLooky what the postman brought me today - free books! I finally got around to spending an Amazon gift certificate last weekend and I chose the latest in the <a href="http://www.rivercottage.net/shop/department/river_cottage_books/">River Cottage Handbook series</a>. I already have their guides to Bread and Preserves, and I think the books are simply lovely as objects in themselves. Very excited to get planning the veg patch for next year with the help of this little tome. Hopefully I will have lots of success to report here in Spring!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tagXqlRcIwM0WCM66AiIjRu21LOhuPqGW3g7KGhJS2nMD1ECiegR1x7XMJlrKq7Rzjd_AXBuu108XwNOJWoQCe569tLX2FrXRBUGcXTh9tBWTsE3w7dUiI2rYhxc1T1Hz38natrathpo/s1600/Picture+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tagXqlRcIwM0WCM66AiIjRu21LOhuPqGW3g7KGhJS2nMD1ECiegR1x7XMJlrKq7Rzjd_AXBuu108XwNOJWoQCe569tLX2FrXRBUGcXTh9tBWTsE3w7dUiI2rYhxc1T1Hz38natrathpo/s320/Picture+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not strictly free but near enough....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The <i>properly</i> free book was this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-9tOOTv4sdUe3bjfkaxYzrML7iu2McjVsdPHnlFLPCYTnvKXeap7OvOvRP7n6KwmGBpT96vMeEUN5geanDL4ObYoAQpgZgayyeI6X_BKuxcyhpp_sAyVN9ndsjMIBmxotJk1IRf0HF47/s1600/Picture+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-9tOOTv4sdUe3bjfkaxYzrML7iu2McjVsdPHnlFLPCYTnvKXeap7OvOvRP7n6KwmGBpT96vMeEUN5geanDL4ObYoAQpgZgayyeI6X_BKuxcyhpp_sAyVN9ndsjMIBmxotJk1IRf0HF47/s320/Picture+016.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free as a bird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I signed up to the Early Reviewers group on <a href="http://www.librarything.com/">LibraryThing</a> a while ago, hopefully chose my books each month and suddenly - I get one! I actually can't even remember picking it out but it looks like it has potential. The story follows a Castrati in 18th century Vienna, so it ticks a fair few boxes for me. Now all I have to do is get around to reading it (not easy - the books are starting to pile up on the nightstand), take notes and write a useful review for the site. Eeek! A proper review!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2943761710649187487.post-57754219702100859432010-10-13T22:19:00.002-06:002010-11-15T10:04:40.466-06:00Stashbusters!Welcome to my new blog! The other day I realised not a day goes by without me making something, be it bread, a cake or knitted scarf. I figured a record of all this frenetic creativity would be nice. So here it is.<br />
As Christmas is coming up, and as once again we have very little spare cash I'm doing a Handmade Holiday. I'm also trying to use up as much of my stash material, so am looking for knitting patterns by yarn rather than by desire. One day I will be able to buy yarn again....<br />
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Yesterday I finished and posted my sister's birthday present, a lovely soft cowl, using <a href="http://www.newyorkminknit.com/2008/03/31/fo-ithacowl/">this pattern</a> from New York Miniknit and a skein of Patons Decor I've had for ages<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">. </span>The Ithacowl is such a great pattern, once you get going its very TV-watching friendly, and the result has lots of drape even with a thicker yarn like this one. The Sister is lucky I didn't just keep it for myself...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsVYOIqUb24PhUOO7ndy-5CR9MkhsGtOeCJ3lCuzEEnf1faYJINCZ14k5AJOCtvVNEsljO7ZmOWUM_ykEy1jSIfoLEie1KaDBqr-AkAoJCy-WJoLYjw3eQX7Sz3p2CqldX10n8PfFll5V/s1600/Picture+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsVYOIqUb24PhUOO7ndy-5CR9MkhsGtOeCJ3lCuzEEnf1faYJINCZ14k5AJOCtvVNEsljO7ZmOWUM_ykEy1jSIfoLEie1KaDBqr-AkAoJCy-WJoLYjw3eQX7Sz3p2CqldX10n8PfFll5V/s320/Picture+008.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ithacowl!</td></tr>
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I woke late this morning but extremely motivated, and decided to get on with my mother-in-law's festive gift. She is doing an art degree right now and draws and draws and draws. So this is what I came up with:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZIqImWt1-qroEMCHG2r0iPXd_yAgwHgtXBReORkUwWP9a1D9d9jQiE32HSSnvCN8Z2KxCdozYCnR7ZAOBjEwpMU1cXV5FnoxzJXsbGD_JdVhZHVwgu850e-Cge8KLdU0xdvBIzmDkLJM/s1600/Picture+010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZIqImWt1-qroEMCHG2r0iPXd_yAgwHgtXBReORkUwWP9a1D9d9jQiE32HSSnvCN8Z2KxCdozYCnR7ZAOBjEwpMU1cXV5FnoxzJXsbGD_JdVhZHVwgu850e-Cge8KLdU0xdvBIzmDkLJM/s320/Picture+010.jpg" width="320" /> </a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>A pencil roll! I followed <a href="http://pynkhope.blogspot.com/2009/10/pencil-roll-tutorial.html">this great tutorial</a> and I'm pretty happy with the result. I'm especially pleased with this as I used an old dress shirt of The Husband's as the lining, and cut up an old flannel sheet as the interfacing. The outer fabric is Tweet Tweet by Keiki for Moda which I originally bought to make cushion covers, realised it wasn't quite right and promptly hid in the stash box.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCue9HXbq5uujhrywNVDlJ-R2KCgGFRR7n9fql1pvCsOALDki7MmEnMgJlxJxHv2nD5KS-eiiZvxwb3SGC35WNfCphmzZZErCASp2SqMM0lUNXLn7zovkqJd0Iz2C5yYJDfHmoYJTRH14V/s1600/Picture+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCue9HXbq5uujhrywNVDlJ-R2KCgGFRR7n9fql1pvCsOALDki7MmEnMgJlxJxHv2nD5KS-eiiZvxwb3SGC35WNfCphmzZZErCASp2SqMM0lUNXLn7zovkqJd0Iz2C5yYJDfHmoYJTRH14V/s320/Picture+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Before Christmas I will fill the roll with nice pencils and cover a hardback sketchbook with the Moda fabric.<br />
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And finally, I made some bread....mmm, bread.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVwLamKT8PML8KJ_eGGJ4DQN4b1gel6xMkV443iEhTKF0CMPCpW2jFbGbv_54jUn_85GpGBn_KE4nxgzDNfX-2M_fAtK9OLyuzVadl4NHrl_TEVgLg1rus-zhC1jm6ZeGleiLYzRLK65f/s1600/Picture+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVwLamKT8PML8KJ_eGGJ4DQN4b1gel6xMkV443iEhTKF0CMPCpW2jFbGbv_54jUn_85GpGBn_KE4nxgzDNfX-2M_fAtK9OLyuzVadl4NHrl_TEVgLg1rus-zhC1jm6ZeGleiLYzRLK65f/s320/Picture+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Suzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485709747868583145noreply@blogger.com0