I 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?

I got pinned! Right there onto Pinterest!

I am very excited.

This may be the push I need to start this whole thing going again.

I bet you can't wait.

Hello? 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 Apartment Therapy 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!
First, let me remind you how the soon-to-be-nursery used to look....wasn't it hideous?

Next let me show you some quick snapshots now we are half-way through...

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!

Change table and the rocking horse I got for free - happy days!

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?

Knitted teddy from a pattern by Erika Knight

Lund Sweater Lust

A quick search on Ravelry shows that I am not the only one suffering from Lund Sweater Lust, I think anyone who is lucky enough to be watching The Killing 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 Wallander 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:

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 Gudrun & Gudrun, 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 this pattern 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.

Unpicking

Is'nt unpicking just the most dispiriting thing? Yesterday I finally got around to making my bustle skirt, but apparently I made it for someone who is a) much taller and b) much wider than me.
Sigh. Out comes the stitch ripper.

Took me ages to get that zip right, too. 

 This lack of ability does not fill me with confidence for my next project. The pattern assures 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 sewing room....

On the upside, the rugby starts tonight and there will be beers and cheese straws to enjoy while we watch Wales thrash England.  Which they will, obviously. Hopefully.

Mmmmm, cheese straws

Oh, and I'm not Patience Kershaw. Always something to be thankful for. Great song, though.

Spring has Sprung...kind of

Right 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.
Which is why I am so excited by these:

Daffodils!

 

 

 

 

 

 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 cold treatment in the garage and basement I think these have bloomed beautifully, and they have cheered me up immensely.
Especially when outside looks like this:

Stupid winter.

 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.

Wild daffodils in  North Yorkshire

Sewing Room Blues

When 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 Egon Schiele print (which TH can't stand) and so I would be able to lay the dinner table without moving a sewing machine first.
Bliss.

This is the kind of thing I had in mind -

Amber's super-organized craft room, via Apartment Therapy

The Tofu Studio sewing room as seen on Apartment Therapy

Colourful, organized and practical. Rooms where you would want to spend time.

This is what I have:

I have no idea what this room is for.

 Right now it  is home to TH's orchid collection, the laundry basket and possibly the ugliest chair in the world:

Aaaaaarrrggghhh! Why would you do that?!

Clearly, urgent action is called for. Ideally I would

• Paint the walls. Green gloss is no-one's idea of a good time. I'm thinking bright white or pale turquoise.
• Install a white cube bookcase along one wall - good for storage and display of fabric, books and yarn.
• Set up a sturdy craft table. 
• Install a shelf under the window for the orchids.
• Hang a mood board and pictures.
• Cover the damn chair. 
• Post pictures and be smug.

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. 
Maybe if I close my eyes really, really tight and wish really, really hard the DIY Fairy will come and make it all better.

Labrador 1; Wardrobe 0

The 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.
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 joie de vivre.

I guess I could just start putting my clothes away....

The Face of Destruction

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 promise.

Selfish Knitting and Hob Nobs

First 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.

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 slouchy beanie for which I am finally using up some stashed  Vanna's Choice. 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.

I have also, rather fabulously, discovered how to make Hob Nobs! 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.

Hob Nobs (makes 24)

150g butter
150g light brown sugar
150g plain brown flour
1 tbs milk
1tsp bicarb
1 tsp golden syrup

1. Heat the oven to 150 Celsius / 300 Fahrenheit.
2. Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy.
3. Add milk, soda and syrup.
4. Stir in the flour and oats and mix well.
5. Roll into small balls and space evenly on lightly greased baking sheets. Flatten slightly with a fork. 
6. Bake for 20 - 25 min until golden.
7. Cool on wire racks, and enjoy with a nice cup of tea and a sit down. Possibly while watching Marple. Fight feelings that you are in fact, 65 years old.

Knitting 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.

1. I will knit my ravelry queue, in order and with the right yarn
2. I will no longer subject myself to the frustration that is buying yarn at Michaels.
3. I will accept that to make truly nice garments I should probably spend more than $6 a skein.

 I made a good start with these over the weekend when I made my first purchase from Knit Picks to make the first item in my queue, the Carnaby Skirt. 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 Wool of the Andes. Here's hoping.

The Carnaby Skirt (Photo by Knitty.com)

The Haberdashery of Dreams or: Why I Hate Fabricland

Some 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.
Buying fabric here is not.

Fabricland: Not Magical

 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?

Here, on the other hand, is where fabric goes when it has been very, very good indeed.

Liberty of London: Magical

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 awful 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.

I'll take it all!

See how fascinating button displays can be?

I don't know what I would do with a lot of turquoise feathers, but I'm willing to take that risk

 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.

What every home needs: a zebra to hang your coat on

All this drooling over Liberty reminds me of the fantastic giveaway the lovely Handmade Jane has on offer. Post a comment here and get the chance to win a copy of Sew Serendipity and/or five fat quarters of Liberty quilting cotton.

Aren't they lovely? (and isn't she generous?)

Happy 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 mince pies 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:

1. Sew stuff. Sew one wearable garment/accessory once a month at least. Build a fabric stash and make stuff with it. 

In fairness, the stash building I don't need much help with but the making something wearable 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.

No more taunting!

I have been browsing Etsy all day for fabric and have found some winners, I feel. My January Project will be this lovely skirt by Clothkits

Picture brazenly lifted from clothkits.co.uk

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...)

Right, I am off to celebrate the evening with The Husband at a lovely little restaurant with eight courses and hopefully champagne...

Dog + Cake

So my beautiful fruit-filled, brandy-laced Christmas cake is no more. Diego, our 5-year old lurcher, managed to help himself to over half of it last night. He was not 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.

The Decimator

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 with the foil still on, 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.

The Decimated

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.

The Silk Road

Finally, finally finally the dupioni silk I ordered in October 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.
What shall I make with five fat quarters of silk? I'm quite taken by this cushion, or maybe a scarf and some rosettes. Hmmm. Decisions decisions.

Its so lovely I am almost afraid to cut it...

Christmas Phase I

Yesterday 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.

The back door one is just some more fake berries twisted into a ring

So: Cake is made, cards are made and mailed, wreaths are up, gifts have been bought....I'm feeling very organized indeed!

Today I Learnt:

• 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 Knitty came to my rescue and joy was unconfined.

Yay! See the way I basically cast-on to waste yarn? So clever.

•  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 W.I Book of Biscuits - 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.   

The recipe makes 48. There are now considerably less.

Vanilla Kipferl

 225g butter
225g plain flour
1 tsp vanilla essence
100g ground almonds
100g caster sugar
Pinch of salt
Sifted icing sugar for coating

Rub the butter into the flour and work in the remaining ingredients to make a stiff dough. Chill for 1 hour.
Heat the oven to 160 Celsius / 325 Fahrenheit.
Take walnut-sized pieces of dough and roll into small fat sausages, about 2cm wide and 6cm long. Form into crescent shapes.
Arrange on ungreased non-stick baking sheets and bake for 20 min until golden.
Leave to cool for 3 min and then dip in icing sugar. Cool completely on wire racks.
Apparently they taste even better after a couple of days, if there are any left by then.

Tutorial Tuesday: Fragrant Christmas Stars

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 lots 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).

Fragrant Wax Stars. They smell of vanilla, honestly.

 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, don't get the kids to help you, you know the drill.

You will need:

• The remains of one candle
• Baking tray lined with tin foil
• Canola/Sunflower/Vegetable oil (anything with very little colour or scent)
• Bain-Marie - a heat-proof mixing bowl placed over a barely simmering pan of water
• Spatula
• Cookie Cutter
• Darning needle
• Letter press set, or whatever you choose to imprint a design on the wax

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.

 

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. 

 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).

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.

 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).

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.

Ta-Da! Festive and fragrant, ready to be strung into a  garland or used as individual decorations.

It'll be Winter, then

Today outside looks like this:

Grey, icy and -12. Brrr.

What better day to stay inside in the warm with some brandy, cake and a darning needle?