While Tangerine Dreams

Scarf Face

It's Christmas shopping incentive time. As in if I had money in my paypal that'll be inccentive for me to start thinking about Christmas shopping. Or at least incentive to buy more supplies to keep it a handmade holiday - ironic isn't it?

With each purchase of $20 or more from my Tangerine or Jupiter shop I'll toss into the package a nuno felted scarflette. It can look like the one above or something more old school like the one below. This will happen until December 31.

 

Awwww... Tina. Hi Tina, lovely girl. It'll be a surprise which colour you get too but all scarflettes will be made up of pure silk chiffon and hand dyed merino and fastened with one of those famous vintage 1940's buttons. So when you purchase you get a present for someone you dig, a little stocking stuffer for yourself, or vice versa, or any combination there of, or decide the morning after spooning with your scores all night.

All Rosey Around Here

Our new story: Briar Rose (aka Sleeping Beauty). Not sure how seasonally appropriate it is but it's appropriately Princess-y for this household. Oi, she loves me telling this story. It's amazing how things we share during our 'homeschooling' times are carried over to other parts of the day and well into our days off.

Days off are slowly growing in numbers by the way. First I informed her we're taking Fridays off from homeschool so Mama could get some work done while Kale naps (which is when all the fun stuff happens) and I just got reminded about the suggestion of only having Kindergarten three times a week and by the time Grade One rolls around (a couple of years from now) keeping it to four times a week (Fridays off has always been a favoured tradition around here).

So I got a few things done on my Etsy shop to-do list lately. Check it out ~ a new design: the Sheesh skirt. Actually got a local professional pattern maker to help me out with this one. Named after my best bud, this is made from stretch denim so one could easily bust out in superwoman stance.

So instead of a wholesome wholistic homeschooling experience on Mondays and Fridays, I'm getting Edie street smart ala Project Runway style complete with photoshoots, drama with at-times difficult photographers and uncooperative photo props/divas:

Summer Spun Away

Oh where, oh where did the time go? My mom's right, once you have kids time seems to accelerate. Or else, my girlfriend's right. The Earth's axel spin is picking up momentum and the world is literally spinning faster and time is accelerating. Whoa. Trippy. Smoke another one sister-girlfriend. Regardless of which conspiracy theory camp you're a member of, the mornings around here are getting mistier too. I love that. It's like frost but not cold. So thick I can't even see the mountains surrounding our home. But when I look straight up - blue sky.  Though I always wish for just one more beach day the fall is so beautiful here it totally makes up for it. Not to mention, the beach isn't exactly the most relaxing place in the world with naked yoga guy (and I'm not talking about Craig) and a baby in tow putting grub in his mouth then crying about it. Exactly what dosage of Benadryl does Soulemama feed her kid to get him sleeping on  the gorgeous handmade quilts in all the beach shots?

 

My little man officially turned ten months old yesterday. Double digits! This has been all a blur the last ten months. Damn earth spinning. Now he's creeping around, not slamming his fingers in drawers over and over again , not trying to scrunch into a little scrunchie then pull certain body parts off his person anymore. Sigh - they grow so fast. Stop with the spinning already!

Speaking of spinning - I spun this up to participate in a spin then knit along. I spun all the Isabella (the happy sheep mixed in with some splashes of subtle surprises) I had left to spin and then the tunic I was working on only came up to my belly button. Yeah, my belly button's not ready for a return debut quite yet after he, up there, happened to it. So I frogged the project and I'm going to put the rest of Isabella up in my shop sometime today. Going to be a sweet sheep deal so check it out!

She's Picky!

Welcome to another edition of Etsy Friday -celebrating all things Etsy! While Tangerine Dreams is partaking in Etsy's free world wide shipping extravaganza until Sunday. Plug in the code "weekend deals" at note to seller prompt at check out to get your shipping refunded via paypal (Tangerine Batts are exempt from this special).

Have another exciting and talented artist to feature: Elsje Boer of Picky fame. Elly's not only one of my fave artistas ever but also a good friend, knitting buddy and neighbour of mine. Here's Elly in all her woolly glory.

Who are you, what is your stripper name and what do you sell on etsy?

I am elly boer aka elsje boer, or as my mother lovingly referred to me elcabong.  I was named after my dutch grandmother, "oma," who coincidentally first taught me to sew!  Reconstructed, felted wool soakers, vests, coats and skirts  predominate picky's fall/winter Etsy shop, , while picnicky pinafores,  and button cuffed shirt pants created from papa's old button up shirts and mama's embroidered vintage linens  and pillowcases arise in  spring and summer. My stripper name is Snoopy Liikkaaleg.

Whoa, that's like a gangsta stripper name. Coo. Walk me, Snoop, through your typical creative day.

In the late summer, I wake up  after a chilly night with wool on the brain.  I can't wait to get out  to the studio and start cutting up dozen's of merino lined, leafy  bummed soakers.  I  begin by feeling for the densely felted quality of  the wool, and pull out a few of my current favorite colors and  textures, which seem to be heathered greys and browns, rust and moss,  and perhaps a touch of cadmium for punch.  I cut gobs at a time till  the stack threatens to topple, and then I pin, serge and sew.  It may  take all week when the boy is still home from school to finish that  towering stack of wool, but, I persevere and ponder next week's  task... be it stacking wood, cleaning and storing the couple hundred  heads of garlic currently curing in the old delapidated sauna, or  starting on the Harris Tweed reconstructed kiddy coats.

What do you do, other than look so damn hot and lick leggins, to feed your soul?

When I'm not sewing, stripping, stacking wood or pulling weeds, I am enjoying the last warm rays of summer beside the slow river watching  the kids splash and swim.  I also have plans to get one last short trip up in the alpine with the family before school begins anew for  the year.

Anything new coming up in your shop to look forward to in the next little while?

New woolies and some favorites from a fashion show this summer will be arriving in the picky Etsy shop over the next week.  Then more woolly  soakers, and some coveted wool tweed coats.

Oooooo... the wooliness of it all makes me feel all soft and fuzzy and not at all itchy. Four words to describe your work.

ooak, reconstructed, children's clothing.

Thank you Elly! Elly has been kind enough to offer a draw for a $20 gift certificate to her shop. Leave a comment and will have a random draw on Wednesday morning. So go tell all your friends. No, wait, that would diminish your chances of winning. Don't tell anyone! Leave a comment and cross your fingers.

Corners of Our Home and Cornered for an Interview

Came home yesterday from a trip to town (I asked the Universe for a shelving unit to keep Edie's drawing and art paraphernalia together and out of Kale's paper-thirsty reach so I had to see if it delivered yet - not yet) and found this 'boot-kay' waiting for us. I asked Craig if he knew who they were from and he said no. So I said, 'well, they must be from my new best friend - she's classy like that' - well, I guess she's not (kidding) because apparently they're from our neighbour who dropped them off as a thank you for Craig feeding their koi while they were away. Sweet! They were so stellar to wake up to this morning. Next year we're planting more flowers!

Our chickens are loving a free range lifestyle with the over abundance of grasshoppers on our property. We're loving life with fewer grasshoppers plus some hopped-up yolks. Barney's loving the entertainment  I think even though he's playing all Mr Cool Guy about it. Here's another outdoor corner though it's our junky corner (again, cue in in the banjo). We're the type of household that needs four junk drawers in the kitchen and one whole junk wall outside.The glass door Barney's lounging by is actually a door to our bathroom which is cool for some occassions. I used it as an escape hatch the first time I cut Edie's hair. I started crying because she immediately aged a year and didn't look like a baby anymore; "mummy just has to step outside for a second...". The door sucks though for occassions like ten minutes ago when I walking on tip toes so as not to wake The Boy, go into the bathroom with a brand spanking new Mothering magazine and there's Barney staring at me from outside, meowing the whole time - on the cusp of waking the sleeping child in the room next door. Not exactly relaxing.

One last corner: before Craig's epic wipeout last week he started working on another wood shed. This one is situated right beside his office so he doesn't have to lug logs alllll the way from over here. Notice the nice detaling on the bents (is that what you call them?). Hey, he's crafty too!

And, finally, would like to share that I was featured on an amazing blog of a Vancouver-based artista - Christina of Akane Design. Thank you so much, Sweetie. That was some fun! Check it out for some reader specials.

Summertime Falls

Just like a mermaid saying goodbye to her tail, so must we start our farewell to these magical summer days. The days still have their hot flashes but my ovaries contracting toward my spine after a jump in the river reminds me that we better get our Vitamin D-rich sun injections in while we can. That's okay, fall's my season, remember? Things to get excited about:

From spirocreations. Handmade boots! What a luxury these would be. Mama needs her some boots.

Or how bout these vintage pair from whiteelephant sale? Maybe more in my budget range until my shops really take off. Need me some heels for when I need to get gussied up some. The gum boots just are cutting it anymore.

And of course, fall means knitting circle starts up again. Actually, it never stopped but have spent the summer trying to figure out when the little lad needs me around. Seems like I have a small window from 6 to 7:30 to go A-wall. Not sure how much I can knit in that meager time frame when you budget in travel time but it looks like this free pattern, the Stella Pixie hat could be whipped up pretty quick. Plus, Buddy likes to rip off anything covering his cute little noggin so perhaps the strap would be quite strappin and useful. Speaking of Buddy, he's up, must go - yeah! he slept in until 8:30 (after much prompting of the boob persuassion at 6:30). Harvest as much rays as you can!

Don't Have a Cowl - Make One!

Hey, hey, it's Etsy Friday! Yes, I know I started this intent a couple of years ago and it kind of petered out but let's breathe new life into this favourite day of the week for so many people. Fridays - Etsy and Pizza and a Movie night!

I'll be interviewing some artists I know in real life and perhaps it will morph into artists I wish I knew in real life. This week I'm unveiling my newest product idea - the Felt Cowl Kit. One gets to pick out the art fiber from my Tangerine Dream Batt collection (most of my batts have lots of sparklies)and a custom dyed silk ribbon. Kit includes instructions and tools needed to make a cozy slip over your head neck warmer. Perfect gift to someone who wants to be a little craftier and just needs a little hand holding and a paypal account.

Next week, some interesting answers to some interesting questions from some interesting people!

Garden Gnome and Banged Up Dome

Look what we found lurking among the potatoes: a little Fritter. Just want to squeeeeze him! But that would wake him up right now. We don't want that to happen quiet yet. We had a pretty action packed week. Have I mentioned how lucky we are to have an emergency room nurse living next door? Craig went to drop off Edie at Art Club his usual style - pulling her on the Chariot trailer. He came home informing me had a wicked bail on his way home. Split his helmet open! Poor love, after I started crying telling him to 'hang in there, Baby' and 'I don't know what I'd do without you-oo-oo (that's me crying after saying 'you' by the way) we called Pearl who is so getting a sweater from me I just decided seeing as how she practically lives here with all the house calls over the years.

 

Can't remember, did I share that she came over just last week to help out the little Gnome up there with a squished bee in his hand? Why yes I did - the BumbleBee post. Pearl advised we take Evil Kenievel to the hospital to get him checked out. After an x-ray to the necker regions, the doctor told us to keep an eye out for any strange behaviour. Well, that left a lot open to interpretation.

I'm not sure if there was any significant change in personality but let's say the last 48 hours I kind of feel like I'm married to a new man. He's super gimped that's for sure but I've also noticed we've been laughing together a lot more than normal. Kind of like the old days, pre-kids, when we use to bang a bong on a regular basis (to clarify - we use to inhale). Maybe it's because it hurts him all over when he gets a giggle fit and I have the LAOM sickness my buddy Brenda's been afflicted with for many years (Laugh At Others Misfortunes)and I'm subconciously being funnier than normal. Or maybe it's because everytime I ask him to take a photo of me wearing a new creation he tells me I'm a joke and then we both start laughing our heads off and yet I continue to post pictures of my projects all over the internets? Oh, I just don't know. The Universe works in mysterious ways. My Leg of Glam top is up in my shop now by the way - roflmao. Hoo, I kill me.

Brown-Eyed Susans, Black-Eyed Kathies

So cute, Edie had a boyfriend come over (a friend that's a boy - don't want this all over the Perez Hilton type sites) and he brought her flowers... awwww! His mom and I had lots of note swapping to do. She too has decided to homeschool her boy this year on a Kindergarten level. I was nursing Kale to sleep last night and realized that every single mom that I consider a friend out here is homeschooling. And there's  a lot. And not for the lack of schools around here. There's a public school smack dab in the middle of town and a real cool alternative school spearheaded by hippies in the seventies that has recently relocated downtown too. There's so many reasons to homeschool, for our family anyway, I just find it interesting that all these families discovered similar reasons on their own as well. So if anyone has experience with Live Education please let me know! That's the course we're heading toward. At least for two years of Kindergarten anyway. After that we're leaning toward Christopherus; both of these are Waldorf-based. So much to learn! Luckily, learning's fun. Or should be. Thus, homeschooling (then unschooling later on - mwah,ha, ha).

 

And finally, I hopped back on the wheel again. Must come up with a name for the spinning wheel - how do you spell Kway-lood? Quaalude apparently (just googled). It relaxes me so. I decided to come up with a line celebrating the opening of the second shop. The yarn above is part of my Jupiter Dreams space series.  And now for the Black-Eyed Kathies bit of the post title- Ay Karumba! Yesterday I sold four items in the While Jupiter Dreams shop! Things are a bit different over there in that when I sell something I have to then make it. Which is cool. I get off on the rush. But I'm hopping now, excited about the fall plans and fun challenges ahead.

Itty Bitty Obi

Shout out to Nytesong for the bright idea for creating some obi sashes for kids too! Funny that Universal consciousness phenomena; the kids and I were gearing up for our morning walk to the mailbox and Edie tied one of her scarves around her waist proclaiming it to be her obi. I remember thinking, "how sad. The kid doesn't have her own obi. Oh, well." Then I totally forgot about it. Then reading the comment I was like "What a great idea! Deja vu, man." So thanks for collaborating with me, kind of, on this one and here I whipped one up for Munchkin in pink and purple - her two most favourite things in the world other than kisses from Kale, kisses from her chickens and bobbing in her swimming donut. Going to plunk it into the shop now!