While Tangerine Dreams

Oh Frankie You're So Fine...

What a long shot! I deemed this the Frankie Hoody because I had to Frankenstein some pink and green fabric together due to lack of yardage of one to complete it (oooo...deeeeep). I'm not sure what to make of it but I do know is I hosted our weekly knit circle last night and my dear friend Harmony freaked out when she saw it and screamed "OH MY GAWD THAT'S SO TACKY! In an awesome way." I think I know what she means. I feel very Mindy from Mork and Mindy in it. Or Natalie from Facts of Life. Kind of how I longed to be Kimberly from Different Strokes so long ago (look how little Edie's hair is there!).

And instead of a cord I used the shoelace idea from Intertwined for the hood. The yarn is felted Creative Spaced yarn from last month. (I have a new idea to once a month spin up all the excess from all my different projects. Last month turned out gorgeous (I should take a picture)! This month is a little scary fresh off the drum carder but that's what a love about this process; I'm usually pleasantly surprised!)

Being Etsy Friday; not to direct traffic to my shop or anything but if you check out this and this item, guess what? Edie was the photographer for both! She has a good eye though she begs to be in the shot the whole time.

Who's mama's little ham? Oink, oink!

Don't Have A Cow

I went to this farm to get a good cow shot but they saw me whip out my camera and booked. Our little family joined a newly formed Farmer Coalition in the area. Man, I love our world here. Where else would a farmer's meeting begin with an "OM" chant? Our intention is to grow as much of our own food as our time and energy can muster. We're talking veggies, fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, chickens, lambs, goat milk; hmmm.... so much to take on but the time can add up. Start small is the sage advice given to us from some of these long time farmers.

Edie and I went yesterday to visit this farm which has been established for generations. The husband was actually born and raised in this little cabin! Can you say air conditioned? Their operation here is really inspiring. Pretty much completely self-sustainable. They claim to only spend around 100 bucks on grocery a months. Imagine how much fibre that budgetary freedom can buy! Although, plans are still in place for Horniman Sheep.

Spring is just around the corner in these parts and we're getting really stoked on seeing our green dreams fruitate (did I just make up a word?). Aligning with these kind, enlightened people is really a huge blessing. Lots of talk during the breakfast meeting was on sharing (and committees) of knowledge, tools, machinery, bounty, ideas.  Even a cow share program. Ooooo! And another thing brought up was a Farmer's Market in town on Sundays! I'm going to get cranking and pump out more wares and see if I can trick the tourists into buying some of my creations. The local seed exchange is happening this Sunday and Craig and I are registered to take the Permaculture course together this year. It's a two week intensive in May (I'm already bracing myself for separation anxiety from my monkey). Like Edie sez  "I'm so excited!!" (in case you can't tell from my hyper-blabbering)!

Moody for a Hoody

I had one of those days (the moody part). I think I need a balance to all of this setting up shop business with some fun sewing (the hoody part). As you know, I LOVE the Built by You series from Simplicity. Wendy Mullen the designer is so cool and I love the "hey, girlfriend!" feel of the instructions (kinda ala Stitch n Bitch) - I'm such a sucker for that.

My mom gave me a bunch of fabric from her monster-sized stash and so I dug in there to fish out some comfy fleece like substance for view C I was eyeballing. Just a reminder; I'm still on that self-inflicted prohibition from buying new clothes. I have to either buy second hand, make or be gifted articles of clothing (not a hint). My outfit selection is getting rather sad these days. So I thought, ooooo pink. I love pink. But not enough yardage. There is some pink and green of the same type of fabric so I'm going to Frankenstein a pink and green the short version hoody but I have a bad feeling about the outcome. Might look "thrift store" as I shared this plan with the girl at the fabric store.

And then I remembered about the local Hemp Shop and found this: hemp fleece. Half hemp, half cotton, equals happy Kathy. Now I can make View C (view C what I mean?). Can't wait to snuggle into this dress but first I have to Dr Frankenstein the cut up pieces together. There will probably be another "ugg" shot to share at end of the week. Stayed tuned.

Lunar Lemonade

Checked out that spectacle Wednesday night? Gorgeous, but was with that unnaturally sparkly star to the right (not pictured but we were looking at it through binoculars - really kaleidoscope-y and unnatural looking)? Hmmm... that's a little disturbing.

Speaking of unnatural, this week's Fiber Friday challenge was Citrus so I came up with this kiss of Kool-aid-dyed goodness. My first time playing with coils and it was too much fun. I wish there was a spin cam so you could have seen the orgasmic expression on my face when I pulled off one of those little beehives. It was pretty satisfying seeing something so cute materialize from out of nowhere. Love the new Lexi Boeger book!

And speaking of art yarns, this one's a good idea; wedding dress yarn. Why not?
A sweet little bunny for some bunny's bedroom.
I like to collect these.
Learn something new everyday, hey Craig?

Petticoat Munchkin

So I'm on this petticoat kick. The first one I put for sale on my etsy shop sold and needs to be replaced (was really popular looking at the views and heart counts). But first I had to make Edie one because the one I sold I originally made for her when she was an even munchier munchkin but turned out too small. So I made her this one but, alas, again, too petite of a petticoat.

Doesn't she love the camera? I wonder if it's because I use to coo to her as an infant as we watched America's Next Top Model that Tyra Banks was her Auntie Ty Ty? Not very Waldorf-y, I know. So because this was a little too snug, I went gangsta-busta and made her this giant not-so-petticoat:

Awfully cute, but she finds it too big. What a shame. Now she wants to keep the purple one which is probably only going to fit her for two more days. So today's the day she goes to her once a week daycare (she loves it !) and Mama gets to work non-stop until three o'clock. What a luxury, though I get almost paralyzed by the options though. So I'll be working on the finishing touches on one of those, not sure yet, and throwing it up on my shop later. Maybe. Or perhaps Craig and I will go for a cross country ski. (OH. MY. GAWD. Have you seen Away From Her yet? Canadiana in contention for Oscar! I loved it. Craig refused to watch it. About an older couple dealing with the onset of Alzheimer's. So romantic though.)

One more shot of the cute because I took a million and just can't decide which one to share. Off to work now!

Do Get Lippy with Me

There is a Ravelry group called Fibre Friday and a couple of weeks ago the challenge was body parts. I was wanting some white yarn with some kind of red winter berries peeking out so I thought red lips would be berry similiar. I'm really slow with these challenges but they're a great way to get the creative juices juiced up. This week is citrus so I'm leaning towards some kind of Tangerine scene for some reason.

You Asked for Uggin'

EF so innocently asked what the definition of "ugging" was in the comments last post. The above would be the picture next to the word in the dictionary. Ugging (or "uggin'") is the object of which when you look at it it makes you expel a pained utterance; "ugh". This is the Weekend Chilled Out Sweatsuit pattern that not that I felt compelled to ask Craig to take this shot I might go ahead and review it on Pattern Review.

I skipped a lot of "optional" steps because I've been busy with my shop project. Some of these include the neck facing which would have been a lot cuter with the deep v-neck as on the picture, a hoodie, pockets and stuff. But, in general it just came out to big and shapeless. Ugh.

Some etsy finds this week:

A cute little something I know Edie will love.
My funniest and most talented knit buddies from Calgary's etsy shop.
I'm digging black yarn with bright parts sticking out!

Forest Floored

I'm feeling better today. Got me some flu the last few days. Drinking tea right now as oppose to my usual triple shot latte so I probably won't be as interesting (I'm just a chemical kid I guess). But look what I was up to probably just as that nasty flu critter was entering some facial orifice. I took me some of those items up there, local corridale and merino I hand dyed last week, some scraps from my sewing endeavours like some vintage flower power fabric that is now my purse and velour from a track suit I made last week that came out way too ugging to show its face on this blog, and bits of Bronwyn the Romney sheep from way back.

Lovingly shoved them into the drum carder at the local Threads Guild. Quickly turn the cranky cranky before someone shows up and says what the hell are you doing to our drum carder?

And came up with some lofty lusciousness that I spun into this:

Forest Floored. Because, you know, it looks like the forest floor. Too much fun this process. I love it. Just wish I had more time to knit now!

Joyfully A Do Be

I was featured! Well, my creative space was featured. My messy creative space mind you but I had to capture the essence of the answers to the interview questions; basically creativity before housework.

Check it out! Joyful Abode is a cute little blog, lots of food and artists, two of my favourite things... I feel like a bit of a schmuck though. I spoke of the cute little bird cage above my window sill. You can see it there above the letter "K". See? See?  And now looking I realize that the picture was taken before I hung it up. Duh! Maybe if the sun pokes out I can send Emily a last minute pic to add because it's awfully cute!

Edited to add the birdie.

Any way, enjoy the read and the rest of her blog! Love the punny title she came up with. Impressive!

They Grow Up So Fast

Shots are blurry because it's been that kind of a week. Big disclosure moment: Craig's been away all week again. So what's a new Etsy Mama to do when Dada's away and she needs a picture taken of her smelling her new clutch with two hands and is too lazy to read the camera's owner manual to figure out the doodad to take a picture of yourself with no hands? Get your three year old daughter to take the shot:

Not bad! Who's mommy little photographer? So, with Craig out of the house, and a plethora of wholesome children's dvd's at the corner store, I've been able to craft down and crank out some inventory for the shop. More to be cranked this weekend now that's the manny's home.

Speaking of my soulmate, thank God he's home safe and sound. I begged him to fly instead of drive out like he normally does. Strangely, when he called me from the airport on the way home he's was talking incessantly like he normally does (that's a super tongue in cheek inside joke for everyone who knows him in real life) and then he says "I think (insert cute girl name here) is sleeping right beside me". I said "rub her feet awake". He didn't but the reason she was there is because she crashed her car on the way home. The roads are terrible right now. I'm so glad he flew. <Cute Girl Name>'s okay by the way.

So Craig was gone then the cat went away. I lost the cat. He lasted ten hours in my care without incident. It was very scary. Long story but the cat came back. But the neighbours think I'm the crazy cat lady now though hearing me yell his name, sobbing for hours then having me call them on the phone a few times. Yikes. I lost my cool. Poor kitten. He was stuck on top of pole during the snow blizzard. Luckily Edie's babysitter found him 9:30 at night while she was walking home. She's getting a raise.

So, it's now Saturday morning and I can post my pretend it's Friday post and feature some of the finds from my Etsy Favourites list:

Camel toe  anyone?
I'm not much of a jewellry person but I can easily see myself smothering myself allover with wool.
A sign of better road conditions to come.