I made lotion today...

It was the first time I had made lotion in ages.  I kept buying different types, figuring something would work the way I wanted.  I've not had much luck with most of the commercial stuff.

I forgot the proportions, (Note to self: Look it up next time! You have an amazing recipe!) so it's a good thing I used a large bowl.

It made a bit more than I expected.

Happily, my kids were in need of lotion as well and like what I make! 

Proof of Progress

My Friday the 13th went surprisingly badly this year, not the least of which was my sewing machine deciding it was going to stop working properly! With my sewing machine in need of repair, a stack of sewing projects unfinished and a looming deadline; I gave in and purchased a basic model as a temporary fix.  It is the only reason I have any sewing progress to show at all.

Those are three of the six pencil skirts (it was going to be four, but there was extra fabric) that were waiting to be made.
I turned the heel of my first Mirkwood sock.  I plan on finishing the gusset on the first, turning the heel on the second and then barreling through the foot portion of both.

The pattern calls for an Eye of Partridge heel which was outstandingly fun to knit!  Part of the reason I have routinely avoided cuff down socks was the tediousness of knitting the heel flap.  This sock has convinced me that maybe they aren't so bad. ;-)
I am on the final embroidery motif for my craft bag. Sadly, I have to keep spacing it out as I unconsciously hunch up over the work which causes great pain.  I love the result though!

More knitting and embroidery are on the docket for this evening...maybe I will eventually finish something.

There are so many tops I need to knit....

Which might explain why I am currently obsessed with socks.

These socks are the ones in active progress:

Two are cuff down, unusual for me. The Capitola sock which hasn't gotten a lot of love in it's startling yellow-green shade of cashmere laced goodness.  The Mirkwood socks are for a knit along I found by sheer accident (with outstanding timing), when looking for a project for an old skein of hand dyed Valley Yarns Franklin in the Mountain Spring colorway.  The third sock is a toe up child's tube sock in Rose City, KnitPicks Hawthorne line (which I may be totally besotted with).
 I may have at least four more pairs of socks in potentia, three of which are from the Hawthorne line.

The other colors from the Hawthorne line are: Sunnyside, Happy Valley, and Alberta Arts. The yarn front and center is Plum Black, Crock-o-dye, from Knit One, Crochet too.  The Plum Black I bought at my local yarn shop with the pattern for the socks already forming in my head.
 At some point, I may get to knit them up, along with a few other pattern ideas for socks that have started bouncing around in my brain.
I suppose I should go back to knitting on those tops I mentioned, at least for a little bit, then I can go back to working on my socks!

It's really quite a fabulous tinfoil hat

Modeled by a minion, designed by CJane knit.  I hope to get a proper daylight picture soon, to show off it's true sparkly goodness.

First sewing project of the year

I have let myself be daunted by my sewing long enough. It is time to end the worry that I will mess it up and just go for it!   I decided to get back into the swing of things with this Butterick pattern.  The version with pockets of course.  An apron seemed the logical choice.  I wouldn't mind so much if I messed it up, it's destined to get mucked up anyway, as I intend it for practical wear (gotta protect all those nice clothes I'm going to make).  Surprisingly, it's turned out quite well so far.  Tomorrow it will be hemmed and the fastening put on the waistband in the back. 
I adore my knitting, but sewing is so much faster!

They were needed....

The whole household agreed. We've been eating really healthy for the better part of a month(minus the store run Boy did for ice cream)...cupcakes were needed.

Just plain vanilla cupcakes with whipped chocolate buttercream frosting ( I don't use a recipe for the frosting). From scratch, of course.

Busy

It's the time of year when I rearrange furniture, clean shelves and find out what is hiding in the boxes in the back of the closet. All the organizing tends to put a crimp in my crafting time. I think I've made a little progress though.
The Hitofude is done and blocking:

I had to fudge the pattern a wee bit as I was running out of yarn.   Luckily, I am short-ish, so didn't need the sweater to be quite as long as called for.
This weekend I cast on a 7-10 Split and am to the seaming portion of the bag:

Yes, that is a crochet hook.  Yes, I can use it...just not as well as my knitting needles.
I also slapped  few embroidery designs on a canvas shopping bag I had, because of course I needed a personalized project bag.

Most of the designs are courtesy of Urban Threads.  The adorable knitting Moomin is courtesy of Sublime Stitching.
I got an apron cut out, but ended up cleaning more than sewing.   There are two more aprons, about a half dozen skirts and at least one dress demanding attention.

Did I mention this is just part of the list of crafting things I want done by Easter?

Keeping Busy

I started the new year by rearranging my bedroom furniture. This was a great idea! Doing all the moving mostly by myself...not such a great idea. I spent the first few days of this week nursing various bruises and a sore back.  It did mean I stayed put and finished some knitting.
A large, snuggly blanket out of acrylic I bought on sale that washed up beautifully:

Yes, it's folded in half.  The pen is for scale.
I also finished the first of three Date Night tops by Nikol Lohr

I've tried it on, it fits perfectly!
I started the second one in emerald:

I finished a Dragon Leaf hat for myself, downloaded while it was temporarily free:

It's in Plymouth Encore Worsted in Meadows Heather.  Son saw my hat, tried on said hat, and then asked if I could make him one too.  He picked a lovely dark teal in the same yarn. It's barely cast on.
I'm also about three-quarters of the way through my Hitofude cardigan in Charlemont kettle-dye:

And last but not least! I cast on a sock that has been hiding in my stash, all kitted up and waiting to be knit. The Capitola socks! I have a skein of Sunshine Yarns Luxury Sport Superwash in Citrus Peel.

I am in love with the pattern and the yarn!  Which is bad in a way because it means I am not finishing shirts and things with a deadline. Happily, socks in sport weight yarn work up fast, so I shouldn't get too far behind my timetable.

Happy New Year!

I will be knitting and watching movies! (These are affectionately deemed "chick flicks" in our house.)

May your year start as pleasantly and continue with joy till next new year!

Joyous Everything!

We have a tradition of baking gingerbread cookies in our house this time of year.  My sister unknowingly encouraged it the year she gave me a gargoyle cookie cutter. Now, gingerbread gargoyles are a thing we do.  We made them again this year, though they had slightly more interesting company as I left my teenagers to finish the forming of the cookies while I rotated cookie sheets.

Darling Daughter kept it clean with a lollipop and a sea turtle (though she contemplated making far more vulgar).  Darling Son decided a sword was a great idea...along with what we keep calling "a ginger poo", to continuous giggles.   Older kids are entertaining in unexpected ways!
May the laughter that found our home find yours as well!  Blessings and joy to all!

Happy Winter Solstice!

Around here the solstice is the kick off to the winter feasting that lasts till January. I made eggnog cake again, not as pretty as last year, but still amazingly tasty!

I found adorable winter hedgehog ribbon while picking up last minute craft supplies:

There was also Hobbit themed beer at World Market while we were picking up stocking stuffers:

There are still more cookies to bake and truffles to make, plus a few projects that need to be finished and the boxes that I've determined will be mailed out after Christmas (as I will still want to give people presents without the deadline looming over-head).  Just need to clean my house for company and I will be all set!