Started a new blog

 Oooh Shiny! is now on WordPress.  There isn't much there yet, but I will work on that.

Spring in Idaho

 There is still snow not too far from my house:

At my house it's still not been warm enough to plant my tomato seedlings outside yet.

Things are starting to show lovely pops of color against a fairly monochromatic landscape:

Happily, the salad greens on my porch have not minded the cold.  Now to try and get others things to grow.

More Fabric!

 These are for the last of my currently planned projects.

For the final pair of Otis overalls:

Yes, that is a floral/plant print on a cream background.  It will be the contrast facing for a tan/cream set of overalls.  Yes, I am the one who picked it out. ;-) I may turn leftovers into ballet flats.

The next fabric, Husband bought me for my birthday.  There is enough to make matching ballet flats!

The majority of the dragon scale fabric will become another 1910 Cycling Skirt.  Covering my backside in dragon scale sounds like a wonderful idea! 

My fabric for the Ashland Dresses I have planned came in.

They are both linen blends.  The burgundy color has gold metallic thread in the weave.  It glows in the right light.  I panicked a bit when I realized I hadn't bought extra of these fabrics for potential shoes and I had to remind myself that five pair of made just for me ballet flats should be plenty.  There will be a pair that match the Ashland dresses. 

Now for more laundry!  And then, maybe some actual sewing type stuff.   Because bespoke wardrobe y'all.

Second Pandemic Birthday

 Which sounds entirely like something a Hobbit would celebrate, so rather appropriate if I am honest.

My lovely Zoe is 18 this week.

There will be valerian and extra catnip (it seems to help her arthritic hips) for her all week.

My hellebore bloomed right on time.

I posted my annual birthday selfie to the main platforms;  then had a bit of a freak out that I posted a photo to the internet with no makeup nor any filter.  No staging.  Just me at 45 getting ready to roast lamb for Easter dinner.

I may have had a glass of prosecco after.  No joke.  Was shaking after I realized what I posted....and that people started responding/commenting so fast there was no way to take it back.  My daughter laughing at the immediate response on Instagram (before I even noticed).  As of right now, still avoiding that platform entirely.  Tomorrow is soon enough. 

My evening plans include knitting and cake (courtesy of Costco).

These are good plans.

Taking Another Run at Sewing

 I was watching AmyBeth and her joy over her new overalls the other day.  It was the idea of using contrast fabric as facings that got me. So I bought the pattern. And their Stasia and Ashland dress patterns as well.  Apparently the '90's vibe was too much for me to resist.  (I also may not have tried very hard to stop myself, they would all look smashing with my Docs)

Just the idea of using fabrics that maybe aren't entirely expected to be used for clothing?  Glow in the dark celestial patterned overalls with silver metallic facings?  Yes please!  Sensible, plain black overalls with woodland garden themed facings?  Woohoo!  Add in some colorful hedgehog fabric to make a 1910 cycling skirt, along with black satin patterned with roses and you have my latest fabric order arrival. (Though I honestly am not certain what I am going to do with the satin, but my goth heart needed it.)

I also have fabric for a cream/tan pair of overalls, but the floral print I bought for the facings hasn't gotten here yet.  As well as a black background floral jersey for an aforementioned Stasia dress.

There has been the ironing of many, many yards of muslin so I can make mock ups of the cycling skirt, a self-drafted v-neck tee shirt with 3/4 sleeves, and the ladies shirtwaist from 1917.

For a bit, I sincerely worried over clashing decades; would it limit how the pieces worked together, should I have chosen more visually or historically "appropriate" fabrics, were these articles of clothing I would actually wear?

Mostly, the pieces go together surprisingly well, all are practical, easily styled pieces that have been worn (in some variation, and store bought) repeatedly by me for many moons, as well as meshing nicely with my knitwear.  As for the fabrics, they make me happy.  They are inoffensive, albeit a bit twee, and paired with solid color pieces, they become less dramatic, but still fun.

Admittedly, any large enough left over fabric bits will likely be made into ballet flats to match.  This is a feature, not a bug.  I may have started adding a little extra to fabric totals so I have the option to make matching shoes.

I am more properly excited about sewing than I have been in ages (I am actually willing to clean out my closet to make sure there is room for all the new pieces).  Allowing  myself to mix the old and new, a bit ridiculous looking, yet entirely practical, feels amazing!  

Fashion be damned.  I'd rather have style (that I made up).

Some People

 

Husband and I were out doing some grocery shopping yesterday for the Boise State food pantry, (they've been closed since mid February due to lack of supplies).  We wear respirators when out amongst other people, especially lately, since the local mask mandate has been dropped, (larger stores still require masks).

We had finished our shopping and were walking over to grab a snack (to-go) from the food court, (this particular grocery store also has it's own pub).  I notice a pair of couples not far behind us, two masked, two not.  As soon as I was not looking, there was a fake sneeze, (from the unmasked woman) and a host of giggles.

I went back to picking my sushi.  

The group got two steps past us, another faux sneeze out of Ms. Maskless.  More giggles, faces turned round to see our response.

Apparently, our response was...less than friendly, even with the masks over our faces, and not what they expected.  We stayed quiet, we kept track of the hazard.  They seemed unnerved.

I was livid.

I had already been a bit irked after two old men wearing token face shields in line at Costco felt need to comment about how the respirators were, " a bit much" paired with eye rolling and snorts of laughter.

Husband specializes in biological and chemical hazards.  My personal interest lies in biology and genetics.  I keep a book (now two) with death tolls, daily case numbers, and news tidbits.  Yes it's a bit morbid, but this history needs to be remembered as it is.

Is it a bit paranoid?  Hells yes!  Is it unreasonable, in the current situation, to wear the best protection we can get our hands on?  Fuck no.

It's been a year...

Miss Zoe's pandemic routine appears oddly similar to her pre-pandemic one.

There was a mask burning on the Idaho State capitol steps last weekend.  They put out a list of businesses you could go to and they wouldn't make you wear a face covering or social distance.  Awful lot of people seemed to think it was a good idea, made it a family outing.

We didn't leave the house all weekend.  I still haven't.  Husband had to for the internship. (Yay, graduation requirements.)

Mostly, I've been watching the masses take up hobbies: gardening, baking, needlework of all sorts.  Welcome to the club!  Woohoo! (yelled from the top of my project stash that will keep me busy for the next decade)

I took up basic brewing. We tested my first test batch of apple cider yesterday.  The result was good, but not quite where I wanted it to be, so I futzed with it and am letting it sit again.  Obviously not in it for a quick boozy item as it's a bit of a time sink.  Really just wanted to see if I could do it.

The group complaints about burnout, cooking and otherwise, I whole-heartedly understand.  A year is a long time!

But I don't feel like I can participate. This is not the first time I've had to stay home for extended amounts of time;  either courtesy of lack of funds, location or small children.

So I retreat.  Without any sort of miraculous way to make it easier;  I make stuff.  I frequent social media even less than before, mainly to avoid other peoples keening lament for "when things go back to normal"  or discussions about day or evening pajamas.  (Put on clothes you can work in, not leaving the house does not mean sits on ass all day).  I pick up my phone when I absolutely must (frequently forgetting where the damned thing is) and vent my issues, quietly, to less than a handful of people in a tiny corner of the internet where it will mostly go unseen.

Then, I go back to drinking my tea, eating homemade trail mix and working through my personal Project Mountain, while waiting for outdoor gardening weather and a chance to get vaccinated.

Things Done in February

 

The Ripple Crop Top in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Ravencroft color.  

A pair of less than pretty, but super comfy and useful slippers.

Most of my sweatshirt (Night Owl), once again, one sleeve short of a finished sweater.

Up to most of Clue 4, (the final clue to it comes out today) for the Goddess MKAL.

I may have also cast on the Indulgence Bed Jacket as well.

While I am still working, slowly, through the applied edging on my Tearmann shawl.

Yarn and patterns have been pulled out for warm weather items.  I've even swatched for three of the patterns.  Which is why I cast on the Catbells Cardigan?  In my defense, spring here is cold and wet, so a worsted weight, garter stitch lace, long cardigan with pockets sounds pretty amazing right now.

I still need to start the Deeds Not Words MKAL.  Which is probably why I am contemplating swatching for Hope Springs Eternal.

Wednesday Randomness Involving Finishuary, Knit Alongs and Apocalyptic Fashion Choices

With all the Finishuary things I've heard/seen mentioned, I started to think about what I could finish by the end of February. 

Well, hello Ripple Crop Top Worsted with one sleeve!  

It does require picking up stitches, so it may be the last thing I get to.

There's the Coven re-do I've been working on.  The cowl portion is half way done, it's bulky weight yarn and it's on big needles (U.S. 11's/8mm).

The orange stitch markers are the half way point for me.

Then there's the Tearmann shawl.  Worsted weight garter stitch on U.S. 10's/6mm needles.  There is a slightly fancy border, in a different color, using a new to me stitch, which will hopefully keep my interest in the project.

I should totally be able to finish all of those in just over two weeks...right?  Provided I don't get distracted. Or do housework.  /sighs  No bets.

I may have already joined a shawl knit along for this month.  (I'm even already through the first clue.)

I've also joined another one for March.  And one in April.

If I finish all of the things that are not shawl knit alongs, it will more than double my finished object total for the year already, putting me a quarter of the way to my goal for this year, by the end of February; making twenty projects for the year seem highly attainable.

Picking Coven back up made me realize how much I am partial to a hooded piece, (also, so wonderfully apocalyptic looking with a face mask).  The bulky weight wool cowl and hood combo is outstanding for winter weather, more of which is predicted for the end of this week.

But what to wear when the weather does not involve ice and snow?

Which got me contemplating the, eventual, warmer weather, with the summer afternoon winds that send brimmed head gear skipping across the yard, ones with straps frequently taking hair with them.  Winds will take down a hood, yes, but at least the hood would be attached to something so I wouldn't have to chase it down (or have hair ripped out), with the bonus of sleeves against strong summer sun.   Something like this, in fact would be ideal!  Luckily for me, I happen to own the book the pattern is in. :-)

Happily for my current projects, I don't have yarn for the warm weather Fennec yet, keeping me from yet another impulsive cast on.  Though I do have the yarn for this Dissension poncho, it is suitable for (slightly) warmer weather.

Nope, gotta finish something, I'm running out of things to cast on with.

At some point, I will also get to my sewing.  With my craft room now being an office where some of my craft supplies are stored, I end up using the more communal spaces for cutting, piecing, and use of sewing machine; so I can't really leave things out to be worked on when I have time.  Meaning, I tend not to bother at all because of the extra work it entails.  Instead, I daydream about the wardrobe I have the supplies for, but can't seem to find the energy to get to making.

Art and Shoes

 In all honesty, they are not actual shoes quite yet.  It's the stuff to make shoes, ballet flats specifically.  I need new ones.  After much online shopping, I was unable to find a single pair that would replace my old ones, (at least in a vaguely reasonable price range).

So I did research.  Ballet flats are supposedly easy to make.  I bought a pattern, (she has a fabric boot one too).

I bought supplies, glue and sole material.

I still need to dig out fabric.  Goodness knows I have some I could use.

But the plan is to make a test pair, see if it's a viable idea or me just thinking I need to make all the things.  *stares guilty at the stacks of sewing, mountains of knitting projects, and hoard of sparkly embroidery floss for embroidery and cross stitch*  *turns head, notices shelf full of new paints waiting quietly*

The sweater I was going to finish?  The one just missing fairly short sleeve?  Yeah, still not done.

I did finish the knitting on the Ladyhawke shawl though!  Still need to block it.

As for the art, Daughter sent me a link to this particular piece (that was not the artists' shop).  I immediately went and found the artists' store.  

Smitten.  Absolutely smitten.  Hit me right in The Aesthetic.  

They have coloring books!   I bought a couple of prints; The Rabbat and The Raven.  I also bought a sticker.  The next one on my list to get is The Great Horned Scowl.  

There will likely be others.  

I will need things to look at while making shoes. ;-)

Definitely a Schlump

 Mid-winter blues?  2020 hangover?  Stuck at home too long?  Whatever the cause, the lethargy is quite real. Trying to push through it, while having any sort of focus, is proving rather difficult.

I do know I used it as an excuse to replace my acrylic paints (I got rid of what I had the last time we moved); that and I had this idea for a raven-themed entry sign, but I hadn't the supplies to make it, (except for a wood circle I could use as a canvas that's been kicking about in our garage).

Can you paint your way out of a corner?

While waiting for paints, I bought a bag from Fibre Space because it made me snort:

I got banners for my ever-growing enamel pin collection:

The Spells pencil bag was from Evil Supply Co.   They no longer make them. :-(

I put a sleeve on one of the Ripple Crop Top Worsted:

And got out the yarn to cast on the next one:

Progress is being made on my Ladyhawke shawl and knitted sweatshirt as well:

I've even picked up Gaia's Garden again, albeit for rather short stints of time at a go, as my focus is prone to wander, (which is why I ordered paints).

I also convinced myself, for a whole three days, that if my house was dusted and orderly it would help.  Not so much.  I do feel less guilty about just sitting and knitting, but that's about it.

Zoe it wholly behind the sit and knit plan:

And now I'm knitting a sweatshirt.

 It was a pattern I bought before remembering, that as much as I like fuzzy, fluffy yarn in socks, in a shawl, as fluffy little toys...as a sweater, not so much.  I do have one, in mohair, and it's lovely.  The singe marks on one cuff let you know why it's not in standard household rotation.  

Then, during one of my marathon podcast listening bouts when my back or neck were giving me fits (a problem a little too often this year already), I heard one knitting podcaster mention she was living in leggings and sweatshirts, sadly ignoring most of her handknits.  

My brain very helpfully wanted to know, why not knit a sweatshirt?  Something soft, nice and over sized, but an upgrade from standard, off the rack sweatshirts. 

Then I remembered that pattern.  Why not just look to see if there would be a suitable substitute yarn somewhere?  Maybe something with some plant fiber content so it wouldn't be too warm to wear while working in the house or a cool Spring afternoon in the garden?  And could be worked nicely with three-quarter sleeves.

I may have found some Berroco Vibe on clearance, in Fern, one of the few colors left in any quantity.  It is exactly what I needed.  The yarn is soft, light and easy to work with.  The pattern is uncomplicated, once you cast on the correct size.

So...now I am knitting a sweatshirt, technically it's bespoke?:

The idea is that is will gently and successfully carry me through the last of a month I was done with once Inauguration Day was concluded with joy.

Yerba Mate Flowers and New Towels

 

My little yerba mate tree has beautiful little flowers!  Honestly, I had no idea what it was going to do, so it's been highly enjoyable to see what it does.

I bought new towels!  Mainly because Daughter bought new towels, in a lovely blue, proclaiming how soft they were, while not being overly pricey.  So I promptly went to see if they had a color that would suit.

I chose a bright green they had.  Is anyone really shocked?

Turns out, it is almost the exact shade of green as the accent tiles in our bathroom.  Definitely a bonus as we were due for replacement bath linens.  The bath sheets are not as big as I hoped, but still a more than serviceable size.

I finished my cream colored Trescao (only three more to go! Which is likely why I am knitting on something else entirely):

I am making these out of Berroco Remix Light, so they are comfortable, yet slightly fancy tee shirts, that will not look odd with the cycling skirts I am making.

I am about to get ready to start sewing the pieces for my Evie outfit (at least the first one).  The reading glasses and locket I already owned, (the locket does not have any pictures in it, but it does have art of the hemlock plant on the front).

I also bought a new tarot deck illustrated by a favorite artist of mine:

I haven't had the time yet to play with the deck much, but the artwork is stunning and makes me incredibly happy.

Really I have had everything bouncing around in my brain: from "yay! I have found the perfect deodorant!" to "what is wrong with being an anti-fascist exactly?" then rounding to "what color would Out of Cheese (redo from start) be?" 

 It's definitely been quite a start to the year.

Goji sprouts, knitting and a little fabric

 

Teeny, tiny, almost not there sprouts!  I soaked them in warm water before planting, like the instructions said, dropped them in dirt (couldn't really see where they ended up, those seeds are small), left the pot next to a big window and a heat vent.  Goji berry sprouts, in Idaho, in January.  I feel quite absurdly accomplished.

Managed to finish the first of the keep those joints warm fingerless mitts, winter gardening is a bit rough around here.  I pulled a couple of light fingering weight yarns out of the stash, one is alpaca, the other is wool, found a random free pattern that had sort of the right look/gauge and ran with it.

They are tightly knit and super warm!  The second one is already on the needles.

I've also made progress on the first Nott cowl:

Also knit at a super tight gauge, but with heavier yarn, so I can only manage about five rounds before my hands start to hurt.  Only three more to go, once this one is done.

I finished the body and front of one of four Ripple Crop Top Worsteds I have planned.  It's not really crop length.  The yarn is from Blue Moon Fiber Arts in their Ravenscroft colorway.

I've got one sleeve left on my second ( of five) Trescao tops.

Which I probably would have finished if I hadn't felt the need to cast on The Jumble Sale cardigan.  It is just the perfect thing to go with my Evelyn Carnahan  (scroll to the bottom)  inspired outfit(s).

The decision to put together said outfit is why there is now stripey fabric waiting to be washed:

The green will be a rather simple, self-drafted henley style top.  The striped stuff will be the ladies shirtwaist pattern.  As I already had this skirt pattern cut out (I'm adding pockets of course), appropriate shoes in my closet and accidently perfect eye glasses at hand, figured I may as well run with it, (I do absolutely adore the character).

I'm hoping the shirt pattern won't be too fussy to put together, as I would love lots of them.  Guess I will find out once the pattern actually gets here!  Not sure what buttons to put on the top yet either.  More pondering to do yet I suppose.

Of course this is the year I decide it's ideal to dress like an early 1920's adventuresome librarian.  Makes as much sense as anything thing else right now.

Happy First Tuesday in January?

 I lost the first few days of the new year to a rather unpleasant headache (my neck muscles have finally unclenched, mostly), which is entirely unfair as I stuck to water for New Year's to avoid that kind of start. 

My official number of completed knitting projects goal for this year is twenty ( I managed twenty five last year); the list I actually wrote out has thirty-eight items on it.  The list does not have any Dolores related items.  The fourteen Dolores kits I plan to complete this year are, apparently, an entirely separate list/goal/time stream in my head.  We shall see how things work out.

There are at least four patterns waiting for me to make muslins, that I might make garments that actually fit, about a dozen pieces (likely more than that) when the sewing is all done.  Once I get to them.  A couple of the patterns do need to be drafted from scratch, which does slow down the process a bit.

Which is likely why I checked the weather, went digging through my ever growing seed collection, picked out a lettuce, a kale and a tomato variety known for their cold tolerance, and plopped them in the surprisingly soft dirt in the pots on my sheltered porch.  

I may not see progress on the craft front as fast as I would like, but I may manage kale in February.

I mean, I've got vanilla and yerba mate in the dining room:

That is a pot of alpine strawberries I started from seed last spring in the background.

And yarn for another sweater will be here by the end of the week.  It's purple.