angry chicken

Rulers & Rebels

We love this book. When we decide on a new theme to study, it often starts with a biography we can look up and then grows from there. This book, Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought) is a source we return to often. We use all the books in this series, actually.

A few in here are new to me as well, which is wonderful.

Not the typical list you might expect.

The illustrations are clever because they show little bits and pieces of details in the text. And the writing is good—not just the typical facts but some dirt too, which makes them so much more interesting to read. I read these biographies out loud, usually during lunch when they are quiet (sort of) and all in one place sitting down. Captive, one might say. It works pretty darn well.

Unrelated-

Thank for you apron submissions for Tie One On—they aren't due until tomorrow and I will get the new gallery up this weekend. So you have an extra day or two anyway. They look amazing!

a knitted beret (from good to bad to good)

 

I knit this a bit back, about a month ago I think. It is a gift for a beret loving friend. And I think she will like it. Giving hats can be tricky. But that hasn't stopped me yet.

So, knitting this beret taught me a few things about gauge, and about yarn, and about my knitting (which is loose) and about salvaging a project, and about felting a knitted item on purpose, and then about knitting sadness, and then about actually cutting a pie-shaped wedge out of a finished too-big beret, and sitting down at my sewing machine and stitching it up again, thereby making it fit a human sized head instead of a beach ball sized head. 

I learned a lot.

I won't tell the recipient any of this when I give it to her because I firmly believe in not pointing out faults/mistakes in items one has handmade when giving them as gifts. She will, however, read this and then learn the full story which I think will make it mean even more to her. And she will laugh.

The pattern link and yarn details are on Ravelry.

not related to knitting-

I slept in this morning so I did a short yoga—this 10 minute (free on youtube) light yoga session and it felt so good. I had to share.

 

 

a jacket and a cowl for grammie, just 'cause.

 

I sewed the jacket for Gammie.I was knitting a cowl for her and wanted to sew her a jacket to go with it. One great thing about sewing and knitting for other people is I can use patterns and fabrics I am anxious to try, but aren't really me. I love sewing Eileen Fisher-type clothes for Grammie and am always inspired by the lines/shapes and the knitted accessories they pair with the clothes.

The pattern is Simplicity 3506 and the cowl information is on my Ravelry page. The cowl looks wildly different than the patten photo. I made it really loose. There are notes about this. I love how it turned out, but had to decide early on that it was going to be quite different than what I had intended to knit—and that was just fine by me in this case. I loved learning this stitch pattern, sort of a fake cable, and I really what to try it again and make it more sculptural, like the pattern photo.

The jacket was pretty straightforward. I did eliminate the split cuff detail. It's a nice detail but it was causing me trouble. I used a wool gabardine for this, which I know now was not 100% wool, although it was labeled as such. When I pre-washed it, it smelled like wet acetate and it would not take a press worth a dang. So that was annoying. But it drapes nicely and looks lovely on her, as you can see. The inset pockets are handy and the pleat in back gives it great movement.

I have been sewing now while thinking of matching knitting projects. Or when I knit, I think of sewing a matching garment. Trouble!

Not sewing related:

• I finished the Night Circus and while I did like it, I also found it a bit lacking when I was done and some of the themes and imagery were pretty predictable. But, I still loved visualizing this world. There is a review of it here on the blog Fat Books and Thin Women which comes down pretty hard on it, but I can understand her criticisms, plot-wise for sure. I still enjoyed reading it quite a bit. Her review of The Marriage Plot is pretty interesting, too, and comments that follow.

 

they wanted to learn about fruit

We were studying Einstein and fruit last month. For themes we tend to gravitate toward people and their historical context and then a non-human item, often unrelated, but sometimes not. There was Sacagawea and bridges a few months back and then Einstein and fruit and now we are on to Darwin and butterflies. They chose these themes and the mash-up is pretty funny. I often give a list of suggestions for the people (usually because I have a good biography stashed) and then the other topic gets announced. Or more often yelled with vigor.

So, after reading books about fruit trees, pollination, and all that, we all went to our nearby Asian market and picked out fruits, most of which were new to us. I wrote these all down and have the list somewhere. I was so happy I could do a quick search on everything we bought and see how to peel, cut, and eat it, because I had no clue for much of it and some of the skins and bits are not edible and will cause hives, or something else unpleasant.

The girls loved doing this. We had a big fruit tasting event, tried everything, they cut into them, smelled them, drew pictures of them and of course tasted them (they all did, even my most reluctant new foods eater, you know, in the name of science) and then we voted on the favorites. I took every last bit left over and saved it it the freezer for smoothies. This last shot is of the $10 dragon fruit. I am tempted to do this with veggies. And then fancy cheese.

 

a long skirt made less long (some might say shorter.)

 

It's now about 8" less long. Before it dragged on the floor, which looked cool and dramatic, but was a safety hazard and it was just a matter of time before it would snag, tear, and start to look a little too ragged 1990s babydoll for me. So, I wore it once long, and then put it away. And then just recently realized I would wear it so much more if it were shorter. So, I serged it off. It was cheap (forever 21) and a bit of an impulse buy—so I am happy to have figured out how to wear it more.

I have both been sewing (and buying) more dramatic clothes and wearing them once or twice, and then altering them to make them easier for everyday wear. This has been really liberating. It takes me a bit to get there. I never think when I sew or buy something, "Oh, I will change this part later." I just realize I never wear it later, after the party or event I have made it for. Then I try to figure out why, and then usually months later, I change it. I have altered a few dresses into skirts that I sewed, and they have a whole new life now. I know this isn't revolutionary, you know, altering my existing clothes, but it's amazing how I still forget I can and what a thrill it is when I do. Especially pieces I have sewn.

Some links-

• This short video is so funny and so true, If you are from Portland you will laugh, if you aren't you will now know everything about us.

• This link, to the Scale of the Universe, is from my brother and amazing. It's hard to explain, but it's interactive, educational, and just super cool.

• We saw Pina in 3-D last week. I know documentaries go to Netflix right away, but after reading this interview with Wim Wenders about shooting in 3D, I knew I had to see it in the theater in 3D. I am so glad I did. It is outstanding. And the costumes are so lovely. I was distracted at times, studying them, and trying to draft patterns for them in my head. I didn't know much about Pina, and the movie gives very little biographical information. I found this really helpful to read later when we got home. I'm sort of glad I didn't know much going in, so I could just watch the dancing without much context or information.

 

a photobook of NYC

I put together this photobook (from Shutterfly, it's the Travel Snapshots theme) and it took forever. Not in a bad way. But it was not planned. I was all set to just upload the photos and place them on white backgrounds and be done with it. That's what I do for our family albums, which I make once a year, usually in January, so then if I lose my photos I still have the album. But then I saw this cool theme and couldn't resist. I actually kind of got weird about it and it was sort of exhausting, so I was thrilled when it was done. The cover photo was of a menu board at the Milk Bar—many of the great photos in it are taken by the insanely talented Amy Sly during my visit.

Years ago I used Blurb for an album. It was fine, but there were almost too many options. But I think I should look at Blurb again, it looks like they have a matte cover option. I have never used Pinhole Press, but I love the way the covers look. I wish Shutterfly made matte covers. What do you all use?

 

 

a new sweater made to look old

 

This cashmere sweater was on mega-sale right after christmas. It was too big, but for the price, I nabbed it anyway. I took in the sides and made it shorter—there is a great tutorial on how to do this over at Elegant Musings, including keeping that bottom ribbing. I then appliqued this lovely beaded bit I bought at Sequined Appliques. I used a little fusible interfacing on the inside of the sweater where I sewed this applique on for some stability, made some tea, got some good light, and a bit of patience. Sewing this on took a little longer than I though it would. I love how it turned out.

Along with my obsession with dickeys I have also been making attachable collars again. All different shapes and sizes. I drafted this one based off a vintage pattern, but made it less choke-y. The vintage collar are tight! I also removed the stay and didn't use interfacing. I don't mind the vintage-tight ones so much really, but it's really hard to find crewneck sweaters that aren't too deep for these collars. So, I enlarged it a bit. Adding the collar to this sweater with the applique might be gilding the lily, but that has never stopped me before. Casey also has a great tutorial for making these collars. I have been working on quite a few different shapes and closures. This one is closes with a concealed snap underneath the fabric covered button.

One tip—I do use a safety pin on one side under the collar to secure it to my sweater. It's takes an extra bit of fusing, but then I don't have to think about it again. Otherwise, it twists, continually, and I end up looking a little tipsy. Which is occasionally funny, but for this prim look, having a collar always being off-center is really irksome.

• Reading: I am done with The Marriage Plot: A Novel and about 30% into The Night Circus . I enjoyed The Marriage Plot but was pretty stressed at the end. I had to talk about it for a few days afterwards to get it out of my system. It just sort of ends, without wrapping anything up, so I was left wondering what happened to the the characters I got to know so well. All of who, at times, were maddening. The Night Circus is a completely different reading experience and I find it pays to re-read pages until I can imagine perfectly the circus and magic she describes. I am really enjoying it so far.

• I was reminded of The Scarlet Letter for book reviews. I spent some time over there in the last week.

• Thank you all for your oil orders! I am packing up like crazy and already shipped some out. I hope to get a huge batch of them mailed this weekend.

 

 

organic oils for perfume, beauty, & health now available

 I've been having so much fun getting these oils together to sell. They are over here in my etsy shop. They are available individually and as a sweet little boxed set (at a special price!) so please head on over and read about them. I've written a pretty long description.

These, like my facial oils, came about because I wasn't finding what I wanted out there, both in terms of ingredients and price. For these blends I have used only the best essential oils, all organic, which are not always easy to find. Same goes for the organic jojoba oil they are carried in. I love creating my own scents, and in reading and researching this I found that many natural perfumes use absolutes, along with essential oils, in their blends. However absolutes are not used in aromatherapy—which is a passion of mine and maintaining the therapeutic properties of these blends is my first priority. So, the key for me has been learning how to work without absolutes, while still creating sophisticated scents and then balancing the therapeutic properties within that blend. My friends and family have been getting an earful and doing a lot of testing for me. (Thank you!)

So, The Lovely Floral Perfume Oil smells divine and helps settle an anxious brain and The Tension Relief Oil helps get rid of bad headaches. That's the short version. I love them and hope you do to. And I hope to add more perfume and treatment oils soon.

 

a cowl for grammie

 

This was really fun to knit. Here are the details. It required big needles and chunky yarn and knit up really fast. I gave it to Grammie for Christmas and she has been wearing it with style almost every time I have seen her since, which is a lot—so that's been very gratifying. It's the first thing I have ever knitted her and it surely won't be the last.

• I am very excited to be putting the finishing touches on the oils I had made for the holidays to sell in my etsy shop. I will be selling them individually and also as a gift set. They are making me so happy to put together. I've had several friends report they especially love the Tension Relief Oil, which makes me both sad to know they are so stressed and headache-y, but so happy I can help. It is my own personal favorite headache cure. That and a strong cup of coffee.

• This Tilt-Shift camera sure looks cool. (via sarah small object)

• I know spring is a long ways off, but this skirt available at Francis May is making me happy and is lovely sewing inspiration. I also love this capelet dress (doesn't that name make you curious?) by Suno. I would totally rock that dress with a vintage hairstyle to agitate the modern lines. I like a style that fights itself. And how is it that I only have one pair of clogs? For someone who thinks and talks about clogs a lot, I think this is really sad. There are sadder things out there, but you know, this is sad, too. Wait. I have 3 pairs. Okay, never mind.

 

 

a new favorite—Oddfellow's Orphanage

We were so excited to buy our copy of Oddfellow's Orphanage, by our very own Miss Emily Martin last week! The girls were entranced. It's so lovely.

 The artwork is interspersed between the text in soft pencil. The book itself is so pretty, the cream paper with the brown text is understated and such a special detail.

 And the girls love the chracters and their stories—especially Ollie, the onion-headed boy. And Delia, of course. And the cheese sandwich eating sea monster. And baby bear.

 And Sadie took it up to her bunk and read it all night with her flashlight. Bravo, Emily!