While Tangerine Dreams

Shed Up Already

Me and Edie had a photo shoot inside the woodshed that Dada just built. I asked the photographer first if this was for a men's or women's magazine cuz Ty Ty (from America's Next Top Model) always sez for men's magazine you want to arch your back but for ladies' mags you want to hunch. He wouldn't answer such questions so we did one for each.

Here I am sporting the Electra vest I finished this spring. Finally cool enough to wear but see how it's so short? And I'm short-waisted to boot. I'm thinking I was starting to get impatient and just said to myself  - Enough already. Long enough. What I need me is an obi to keep my kidneys warm this winter.



Thanks to all of you with your kind words about my first "published" interview. It was too fun and I seriously typed out all my answers in five minutes as me and Edie were late for her Thursday morning dream-like dayhome. Just one, no two bones to pick however about the interview. First of all, she forgot to put a link to my blog (it's all about free publicity, you know) and they changed one of the questions on me. They asked me what are my favourite craft websites/books/magazines then they ended up on the finished interview asking me what are my favourite blogs/books/magazines. There's a big difference there. Not to be nit-picky but just wanted to let you know had they asked me blogs I would have given the proper answer. I love all you blog writers out there reading this and I probably read you everyday. Just wish I could have listed you all. Damn it! Feel like I let the team down. Anyhow, on my to-do list is to update my 'Blogs I Blove' list. So many of you inspirational sweeties out there! Thanks for sharing your light. (Look at Edie - not me. We were doing Sears catalogue).

I've been de-Robbed!

In case I've failed to mention it I didn't win the Craft: magazine craft contest like I so cock-ily said I would. Well... I didn't win. I should have shared earlier but I was confused for I had a solid premonition that I was being interviewed by the editor and having my mohair Craft-tea Tea Cozy shared with the world. First I thought, whoa - sore loser - but I was just sorely confused. Because my mind's eye was correct! I got an email from one of the editors saying they love the pun (but of course - who doesn't love a pun) and they wanted to interview me for their online magazine. Check it out! The Universe once again makes sense. I swear I'm psychic.

And speaking of cock-ily. The babe of one of my new knitting buddies out here is turning one next month and her sister (aka my next door neighbour) is organizing a quilt-y felted book for little Leif. I needle-felted the rooster (the Chinese year he was born into) and my friend Ellie made the river and fence (all in cashmere!). Now on to the next Knit Sister (we still have come up with a group name yet - open to suggestions - we/I like acronyms - we're all mums so far).

Cripes! Stripes!

A dear friend questioned my judgement on using a striped fabric for my first attempt at sewing a shirt. Are you suggesting I'm crazy? CRAZY!!?! Me? That was so sweet. But the truth is I'm going through this Kimberly Drummond wannabe stage (for the second time) and plan on sporting this shirt with puffy sleeves, perhaps ruffles and tight-assed Jordaches.

This is the Kimberly I aspire to be:

Not this one:

Here are some other fabrics that have just been prewashed and iron and waiting for their turn to be sliced and diced:

I'm always thinking up of Edie's little sister's potential names and the bottom one conjured up Paisley Rose. But I can just hear Craigy muttering (again) "sounds like a stripper". And for those of you missing shots of the top of Edie's head, here's my Busy Bee working the playdough I made her whilest I ironed. I felt so Mumsy-like!

Not Mushroom Around Here

True story! I went to town yesterday to get some sewing and crafting supplies for my shirt and some prezzies for some sweet friends and upon returning home there's this *awwwwww* -type note from Craigy saying how much he loves/worships me, blah, blah, blah and he just quickly cruised over to the Horniman to take care of some business.

So I went ahead with a fun little needle-felting project, just allowing the wool to talk to me and guide me to what it wants to become. It said it wanted to become a mushroom box. So, there.

So, anyhow, Craig gets back, I'm making dinner and he puts on this slide show on the laptop of all these cool mushroom shots he took while on the land. Weird, huh? We're definately soul mates and the mushrooms are alien lifeforms talking to us from inside our heads.

Needing feedback time from my knitting buds (Dana, Karen?). Craig's so enchanted with my felted mushroom, he wants one now on the back of the "Finally, A Sweater for Craig" sweater. Would you make an applique of a felted mushroom then stitch it on or would it be a better idea to simply intarsia one on there?

A Little Nooky, Nooky

Things are starting to settle and I'm feeling a little more like my old self once again. Lot's of knitting therapy but nothing quite ready to post (manana, my friends). This project Do Be Cleaner has been keeping me busy! I'm waiting on some new lables and oils to arrive in Vancouver so my trusty soapmaker can get soaping. Lot's of waiting involved, phone calling, hair pulling (with the oil people).

In the meantime here are some new corners of my home to give you an idea of how things are shaping up here... sort of.

Edie's little creative nook.

Mommy's little creative nook.

On the cutting table I have the back completed of the Creeper sweater from Rowan no. 38 and have cut up some bed sheets to do a trial run of a stipey shirt (in the ziplock bag) from a Built by Wendy pattern I got a ways back. The book which I just received though is AMAZING! Highly recommended for when you're feeling sew-sew.

And finally...

Daddy's creative nook. Um Pa Pa's been a busy beaver himself building a wood shed to keep his women folk warm through the winter. He's so good with wood. That's his element, ya know.

Curious Gifts

What a surprise. Just sauntered to the post office, not expecting much more than bills and the local Pennywise, then ... Bonjour! The sweet Leya sent me a happy pack filled with goodies, and cheer me-ups! Really weird too cuz I was sporting the "going to town" skirt I bought from her. What a doll. Many cyber hugs to you, Sweetie Pie. Only sad thing was wishing she lived around the corner from me. But what joy! Also included, but refusing to be photographed, was a mini-diety, I think Shiva? So strange. Every photo was blurry. Kind of spooky after a while so I thought it best to leave him alone. Maybe the schpongy Giraffe should have been left alone too come to think of it. Another item missing from the collage is a groovy pencil case she made (check out that pin by the way! So many compliments on that one this weekend) that is tucked away in my to-market to-market box cuz this was the weekend of the popular Garlic Festival in these parts and I thought it may come in handy:

Notice my spanky new display cases. Yup, I got twenty of them now. Long story. If anyone's interested in buying a soap display case please let me know, I may have one to spare. But they do perform well that's for sure.

I was also fortunate enough to apply late to get into the festival so I was "stuck" with this view the whole day.

Me and the crew jumped into the lake afterward in our panties just cuz after staring at it all day long it would have been sinful not to. Must go now. Monkey's hungry. Feeling much better after a bout with mastitis this weekend. Life is good.

Mug Shot

My friends have a pottery gallery "downtown" (don't blink, you may totally pass it) and they're selling, besides lots of other local crafts, my soap. And it seems to be selling quite nicely! So much so, I've been able to slowly build up my handcrafted teapot and mug collection - we're bartering. Aren't these beautiful? So gorgeous I've been having troubles falling asleep at night anticipating that glorious moment in the morning when I get to decide which of my new mugs I'm going to aim my latte to land in. Especially now the weather's getting a bit nippley (I use to say this alot when Edie was a newborne when my boob was hanging out; "is it me or is it a bit nipple-y in here?") Lattes taste so much tastier when it's chilly out. So delectable these mugs, Craigy even joined me for a morning coffee this morning! Reminds me of a quote I read today from  Anatomy of the Spirit, "Miracles are natural. Something is wrong when they don't happen."

So Charmed

Finally! An FO to share. It's a purse because, you know, I need a bag that doesn't have the capacity and cuteness factor of the wagon part of a station wagon such as the diaper bag I lug around ( don't mind the car analogy, we've been car-shopping - just got a Forrester). So I made the Chinese Charm bag from SnB Nation using Louisa Harding's Sari Ribbon (sari about that!).

The lining bit is from the lining of a dress my mom made me about ten years ago (sari about that, Mumsy!). Very fun and quick project. The locals are all impressed (you should sell your stuff - really, it's super easy. I'll teach you!). On that note, I'm well on my way to begin participating in some knitting community. I was invited by a goer of the Threads Guild here to catch a lift with her to the next meeting (second Wednesday of each month )at this cute little building down the road from the Horniman:

On top of that, I'm organizing a Moms' knitting circle on Thursdays, switching it up at different homes (for the time being - until we can get a regular venue set up). Yay! I'm on the road to stitching up some sanity salvation once again!