Divinely Crafty

I just can’t seem to get enough of these little cuties. Without question, I am addicted to making baby hats. I think its a case of “can’t make babies so I make hats”. As my work picks up and I am going to more births my baby lust is getting stronger and stronger. Putting that into cute little knit stuff seems like a good way to placate my urge to gestate. (Not that I could, even if I truly wanted to as I am lacking the vital organs for such a task.) Knitting is also a wonderful way to pass time during a labor when I am not needed to anything active and need to simply ‘hold the space’. Keeps me busy and mum doesn’t feel like she is being observed and hovered over. And we both get to make something super cute!
Luckily I have found that those who do have babies also love my hats and they are more than willing to relieve me of them.

With winter rapidly approaching I am on a run of wool earflap hats. My own pattern (just a basic cap with ear flaps and i-cord ties added on) which has been really well received. I have had several requests for customs of these as a matter of fact. I love it when others love what I make. Its all well and good that I am happy with it, but there is something really uplifting to get positive feedback from folks.

First up is a tiny newborn/premie hat made of Blue Faced Leicester aran in my own handpainted ‘totally hippy’ colorway of lucious jewel tones.

Another earflap hat in lovely dusty deep lavender tones. The yarn was received in a ‘hand dyed yarn swap’ with some of my knitting mama friends over in Mothers of Purl at sewingmamas

And a quickie that I made in a manic knitting session last night. For my current client who is at 40weeks + 17 days and was subjected to a rather stressful visit to hospital where she was given the major induction pressure (bordering on abusive in my not so humble opinion). I channeled my frustration and anger at how she was treated into making this little cutie. Made with Rowan All Seasons Cotton. Winged the hat pattern and lame-o attempt at my own pseudo Fair Isle. Simple but sweet.

Tags: knitting

I got tested today on my culinary skill~z.  I passed.

Actually, I think I did brilliantly if I do say so myself. (and i do.  say so myself, that is.) I was told 20-25. 30 showed up hungry.  There was *just* enough.  Some people got second helpings, so no one went without.  But more would have been better.  What can ya’ do? eh!

They asked me back to cook next week two days for someone going on holiday.  That is a good sign.  Axel said that the word on the farm was very favorable.  Hooray!  I love to cook.   And it is cooking with really great food.  I used veggies grown in the college market garden and meat raised right there.  That is pretty cool if you think about it.  It isn’t fancy, but it is good.  My forte’ is seasoning so I can usually make something special out of odd bits.  I learned today as more people kept coming in past blessing the meal these few key tactics in cooking on the farm:   Think quick, keep it simple. Dazzle them with a splash of flavor.

I am really happy to be able to do this.  One of my wishes is to be cook for ‘our vineyard’.  Wherever, whenever….if….thats why its called a wish. So this feels like a glimpse into a wish.  cool.

Yesterday Axel made me a skirting/drying frame. Made from salvaged wood and chickenwire that was being discarded at the farm. It fits perfectly on the table top outside, which is where I will use it until he builds supports for it.

With the weather as unpredictable as it can be around here (English summer is a real mixed bag…) I need to be able to have an indoor spot to work. I have grand plans for the garage, where I am slowly but surely establishing my spot (it started as just needing space to hang herbs to dry) among the bikes,books and other rapidly accumulating stuff. Hopefully I can get this arranged into a nice little workshop. For now its kind of a frightening mess. A work in progess, if you will.

I sewed something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!We have been here for nearly a year (17 July is our anniversary) and this is the first piece of clothing I have sewn in all that time. I have made pillow cases and costumes, but no clothing. Anyone who is familiar with me knows that is a serious blip. I don’t know what it was that kept me from my machines, but hopefully I have my sewing mojo back and this will be the start of something good.

So what did I make for my re-debut? A dress for ME! Yippy! My shopping trip to Brighton this past weekend inspired me to get busy. As I browsed the shops and choked on price tags, I made mental notes of elements I liked. I tried things on and decided which ones were good on me and then came home to attack my stash. (Which has been faithfully waiting for my attention nicely packed away in a cupboard.) I winged the pattern design, sketched out on a few select pages of the Sunday paper. A few try-ons and adjustments had me wishing I had a dress makers form, but eventually I got it right. Well, as right as I need it to be anyway.

Lightweight cotton print knit, mock wrap, empire waist bodice with a line skirt.

Close up of the print.