Bliss Beyond Naptime

Groovy Changes Part 2

My big news is that Hempress of Clean (pictured above) is retiring. I sold Do Be Clean to my friend Leona. I have been the Hempress now for six years and it was time to either shut things down or pass it along to someone with the energy and enthusiasm to keep the momentum rolling. I can't think of a nicer girl to carry on the Hempressing duties. She'll be keeping the same website if you're suffering from Do Be withdrawals.

Changes to the house that yet have to happen #32: See that ugly yellow paint inside the window sills? That's on all of them. Blech. I bought some copper-coloured mica (no typepad, that is not a spelling error, eh?) and I plan on repainting them all white with some of the mica flecks to capture the sunlight and make it look all fairy dusty; not just dusty, dusty. To veer off topic for a second (the topic by the way is that I sewed up the above "good-from-far-but-far-from good" outfit (happy bday Brenda by the way)), the reason the house is so dusty is we built these beautiful new stairs ("we" meaning our friend Dan the carpenter and his hot assistant named Craigy) that I'll have some flattering shots of once it gets sunny in here again.

The pants, as you can plainly see, are humongoid. Again (this is my second attempt at a Built by Wendy pair though a different pattern - Simplicity 4110). And it's not because I didn't go with the appropriate waist size. I'm an apple shaped girl, really, so I went with a size 12. It just went all wrong. The waist dips down dramatically for some reason. One more try; size 10. I'm going to make myself a pair of slacks that fit if it kills me.

The shirt I'm much more pleased with. It's the Plain and Fitted Simple Tee from Hotpatterns. I cut up the fabric while Edie slept in and by the end of her afternoon nap it was VOila! (Please note that her sleeping in and her afternoon nap were two separate events). The fabric is a hemp/cotton blend. I bought two yards as indicated by the pattern and turned out I had almost half of it left. Enough for another Olivia underdress for Edie. Yay! A fifteen dollar hemp shirt and a fifteen dollar hemp Edie dress. See, Craig? Look how home economical Mama's getting!

Summer's Been Rad(ish)

It's been way too busy to post. Summer's glorious here as usual but both Craig and I are overwhelmed with work and stressed with what are next move is going to be. That's why it's been rad -ish. Ha, ha. I keep saying to myself, quit the blog, what a time waster but this excercise, again, I find so helpful in seeing what I have been prioritizing, capturing on camera the simple beauty I find around me and recording the mundane around what seems like chaos.

The beauty of summer here captured at a farmer's market, little girl's birthday party and our new kayak!

The ugh-ing it bits include the mosquitoes, deciding where we're going to live, busy with work in form of training a couple of soapmakers right now and Craig's usual job-related stress. We decided we're keeping the Horniman, that's for certain, kind of as a weekend/holiday retreat, but we're leaning now a move to the town of Nelson so that Edie could attend the Waldorf school and to lower our environmental footprint indentation by avoiding all the driving around we find ourselves doing in this rural set-up. Plus, the mosquitoes are driving me insane! My strawberries are popping but I can't bask in their juiciness because the critters are finding me just as appetizing. So, those are my big motivators but it's a tough decision. We're still flip-flopping up to this point.

Soap Shack

Do Be Clean is now back in production! This Sunday morning we moved my supplies and equipment into the community kitchen of this little strawbale city of sorts. Craig and I spent part of our honeymoon on this natural building complex after he took a strawbale building course here about five years ago. He brought me back to see the place and then we helped build a sauna structure and hung out for about a week.

I made my first batch here yesterday. It was nice. I haven't made soap since December which feels like a long time for me. The process and the smells trigger so many memories. That's always a novelty the first five or six times after a lull. Then the novelty wears out and I think about hiring a soapmaker again so I can focus on Marketing (or sewing, or spinning, or knitting).

It was just me and my soap and new ipod (thanks Craigy) listening to some podcasts I'm addicted to) feeling out the new space. All went smooth though I had to rush due to lack of babysitter (thanks again, Craigy). I'm certainly happy about the local businesses here being so supportive of my product. I just need to hunker down and pump these babies back out to share their Do Be Cleanliness to the world and keep up with demand. On that note. I made an executive decision: Free shipping to my blog readers! Just say "Tangerine Dreams of Do Be Clean" somewhere in the email and we'll hook you up.
 

Serge Ahead

This weekend, my new hairdo and I took a serging class. One nifty thing I discovered about living here is you can tell who you're going to be your buddy by how many workshops you see them at. Peggy, for instance, pictured above, is also in my NVC class, my knit club and taught a natural building class Craig and I took together last year. She's very cool and funny!

And my talented friend, Elly, who I've gone on and on about in the past, was the most amazing instructor. Small class, but good thing though due to my serger giving me grief, being slowest to learn again and my slightly ADHD self loving that one on one attention. Makes me feel important and special.

I can't remember if I shared this embarrassing story yet or not but around Christmas I broke my serger by trying coerce the sweater I made Craig into being a hat. Since getting the machine repaired I've been getting nothing but grief (I probably should name it for better cooperation). But I think I figured out what the problem was. Can't reveal. Too embarrassing. And that's saying something coming from me.

Now if the munchkin would just wake up, I have a fibre combing date at the Threads Guild with my spinning compadre, Jane, and then off to make soap at my new "studio" located just behind this gate:

Quick Boo, How are You?

Birdies are on a feeding frenzy lately. It's amazing the varieties we have hanging out here. I have to get a birdbook and place nametags on all all of them. HELLO MY NAME IS Yellow Chested Throaty Voiced Singing Garbalated Blue Finch.

I have been a busy little bee lately. Edie's at her friend's house as she is every Wednesday so I can work. The little girl's name is Maryanne but Edie calls her "Yanni". So cute, this morning she kept asking, "wear jammies to Yanni's?". Craig has graciously offered to pick her up buying me some sacred computer time to give y'all an update on my crafty adventures. This is, afterall, a blog on the crafty adventures of the Hempress of Clean.

Speaking of being the Hempress of Clean, an ad has been placed in the local paper seeking a studio space. I'm running out of soap, People! We got approved for a mortage to build our dream home, and that bank appointment was a good kick in the mula bhanda to contribute more to this family financially. After rushing Edie to the hospital at two am this winter from a wheezing episode, I have vowed not to make soap in her vicinity again. It all turned out to be the croup and could have been blamed on the cold winds endured during a sledding adventure but I vowed our home to be a soapmaking free zone

nonetheless, and the ER doctor agreed that that would be a good idea. So cross your fingers that someone  answers  with a cute but cheap little cabin!

So back to craftiness, I have been taking pictures all morning of all my finished projects so, once I pick up my laptop from the doctor again tomorrow (they couldn't fix it - it has to go for surgery in the big city) I'll be able to download some glam shots of my latest, mostly felted creations. Tonight I have a Thread Guild meeting where I will be holding hands with the wonder woman who taught our spinning and dye-ing classes as she helps me figure out what is going on with this spinning wheel I'm babysitting. After that, back on the highway to finish knitting Edie a springtime lamb at our Wednesday night knit circle (we have to come up with a cuter name!). Ha! Just realized we're having lambchops for supper. We'll be sure to give it thanks.

Edie's Birthday Sweater

How overdue is this post? Edie's been two for eons now. I actually had it finished a while back just been so busy with life as you all are probably chances good. And, with the arrival of being in her years now (plural), she's alot quicker and squirmier so it makes getting things on for photo shoots more challenging. Not to mention, she's starting to get much more selective on what she wants to adorn in general. The previously mentioned pants are going to be exchanged with something not so scary tonight. Damn it! They're so stinking cute!

This sweater is the Child's Placket Sweater pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gift. I used Fleece Artist Blue Face Leicester. Such a nice yarn. Only took one and bit hank of it. The left overs I'm going to take with me on our road trip this week to Cowtown and make Edie's babysitter a pair of Fetchings with it. God knows I need some distraction from the winter driving. Just thinking about it makes my palms sweaty. I hear some pitter patter upstairs. Now I hear "Momma?". Gots to go! If you're interested, check out  Do Be Clean's big December special  but other than that I'll see you when I get back from our trip!

Fart Farm

I have been busy. This time of year is typically my busiest season with Do Be Clean plus I'm back into teaching yoga which has been such a saviour in keeping some element of balance in my life. Not to mention it gets me out of the house once in a while.

Above is the building I'm teaching out of. It's nestled in a patch of property known as the Art Farm. Because my class is running through the supper hour I called the yoga cd Craigy made me "Fart Farm". You know, you're digesting, you're twisting, you have yourself the makings of a Fart Farm.

I've been crafty too. While crafting and whipping up lots of soap I've been listening to lots of podcasts including Cast-On, Lime n Violet and Sticks n String. I'm still exploring the plethora of podcasts out there. I don't know if it's because of early onset of cabin fever but loving the sound of a human voice while I create. Of course this has got me thinking I would love to have a podcast to call my own. Craig thinks that's not the greatest idea cuz Mommy's time is stretched pretty thin these days but don't you think the world needs a podcast talking about knitting and crafting while taking breaks to do yoga once in a while? Or does that sound too tiring? I guess I'm still trying to incorporate my yoga and crafting life together somehow.

When I have a moment I'll be taking pictures of some finished objects and will be sharing them soon. Until then, might I direct you to my updated website? I have displayed my full soap collection available plus links to my new Do Be Clean blog to keep customers in the loop on specials, promotions contests and such as well as to this blog here. Just for fun.

Good Hobbits are Hard to Break

Little munchkin at the Sinixt Nation barter fair thanksgiving weekend. Beautiful time with beautiful locals. Had my backpack loaded with soap and spent all my loot on food. That's how it goes these days. Eat, eat, eat. But I did get me a beautiful necklace, do I have a picture of it yet? No. I was trying to swing a deal with this cute little Hobbit top. Both me and Craig have a similiar one so I'd thought it be cute if Edie had one but the girl wouldn't take all soap (What's wrong? Why don't you want twelve bars of soap all at the same time?). It's a little tight around the middle anyway. Apparently the little Tangerine's an apple-shape like her Old Lady. This girl will make more soon she says.

SO bad with the posting lately you guys! I have to admit my technique. I usually base my post on pictures I have available on my camera. Lately I've been luckly to leave the house... at all! Let alone with a camera. First of all littlest Monkeysita fell ill this weekend. Woke up puking (sorry for tmi (too much info)) then wicked fever THEN hallucinating!

We were in bed (we have a family bed, y'all) and she was feverish, crying non-stop then she's crying and lifting up the bed sheet going "Here, pup, pup, come'on". Those are alot of words for our little Munchkin. And she wouldn't stop saying that. And she was making the sign (oh, yes, she signs, she's pretty much perfect) for dog so it looked like she was calling over a dog from under the sheets. Freaky. Especially since she's kind of scared of dogs.

Anyhow, she's doing all better now, except with dark circles under her eyes but she's back to her cute, coherent self. So that's another reason for lack of posts. That and I'm busy with Do Be! Lots of orders. My sweet Megan's on her way over with Edie's boyfriend Noooo-aaahhhh for a play/chat date while I slap on a lot of lables on a lot of soap to keep this neck of the world smelling goo.

Willing and Labled

Yes! I finally got new lables for my babies. I'm so very pleased! The pieces making up Project Do Be Cleaner are finally beginning to neatly fall into place. Armed with my beautiful babes, I approached local stores this week who have been anxiously yet patiently waiting sinced we moved here and I scored me four new accounts plus a hot, hot lead for this big hemp store with sticky fingers all over our nation's fine hemp fringes! Don't want to be jinxing myself so I'll say no more till something more concrete happens.

Time to celebrate. First to send me a 2-legit-2-quit hemp soap-themed haiku (five-seven-five {syllables that is})will win themselves a sweet smelling package in the mail. The punnier the better. GO!

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.