Colourful soap

I tried my hand a coloured soap again and this time it worked. We all remember the ill fatedgreen soap. Started out pretty green as per the post, faded to a barely there sickly colour. Most disappointing.

This time I have made 2 coloured soaps. I've had 2 jars of oil infusing for months. One with turmeric and one with paprika. The turmeric turns the soap a golden ochre colour. The paprika? Well have a look.



Yup, orange. Bright almost neon orange. I am so very pleased. The paprika was strained out of the oil before making the soap (stingy on the membranes me thinks!) while the turmeric was left in. You can see a little smear of turmeric if you look closely.

Next up is another attempt at nettle green and a surprise bar. What's that, you want to look at the orange again? Can't say I blame you :o)

Momma's Dress

A while ago my Momma asked me if I would make her a Regency dress and jacket if she decided to go in costume to a themed wedding. I said yes and heard no more of it because she couldn't make her mind up. 9 weeks before the wedding she decided yes, she did want to dress up. Eep says I but I also said yes.

At least 2 weeks were spent waiting for the pattern. Then there was a couple of weeks of fitting. Then the sewing. In all fairness it wasn't that hard a pattern it was just time consuming. I think that maybe there could have been more fittings but in the end it did fit. So I present to you the Regency dress and Jacket (and my Momma)

The Nerd Wars catch up post

Hey all. So I've been missing for a while again. I know, I know. But I spend all day in front of a computer and just haven't been able to muster up the desire to sit at one when I get home. Forgive me?

I've decided to d a bit of a Nerd Wars catch up. I don't think I posted a single thing from the last round.

Challenge (Technical): POLYTECHS

For this one we had to combine another craft skill with our 4 sanctioned crafts (knitting/spinning/crocheting/weaving). I went with sewing and made a little bag, a handkerchief which I embroidered and then knitted a doll. I only got half points for this as it is unfinished.

Challenge (Scientific): CAPILLARY ACTION

Make something demonstrating capillary action. the example give was frost flowers so I knitted what is hopefully a baby hat using a lace pattern called frost flower. I say hopefully because it came out smaller than I would like. If not I have a cunning plan to turn it into a present for his Mama (yes Lisa this is you).

Challenge (Giving Geeks): WIP HELP

To help someone with a work in progress that they are unable to finish due to illness, age, it has been passed to you due to them passing away etc. I asked if I could do something slightly different by helping my friend knit many squares for a blanket. She is fairly new to knitting, the blanket was for a production she is running with a group she works with for adults with learning disabilities and the blanket will probably be donated to a homeless charity afterwards. This was accepted. I think the furious knitting of these squares was most likely responsible for my strained wrist.

Challenge (Nerd Culture): DON’T HIDE YOUR LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL!

Knit in public time. Show the non knitters what fun they are missing out on. In one evening I knitted in the Victorian tiled cafe at the library and at the bar where I was meeting friends before going out. I nearly knit at the ballet in the interval but the pattern was too complicated to just whip out.

Challenge (Team Spirit): IN LIKE A LION, OUT LIKE A LAMB

Make something inspired by an animal. I got on with making Spadgersdottier's birthday present thus avoiding the horror that is finishing it the night before like at Christmas. He is now hiding in a drawer :o)

Challenge (Intellectual): WARRIOR'S FRIEND

Craft a shield or something that shields. I made the 2nd sock to go with the one I made for the last round. Now you may remember that these socks were for me and I said it was a bit big. Turns out that a "bit" translates as not fitting my size 5 feet but fitting Spadger's size 10 feet. Ooops. The reason? My smallest needles were actually 2 sizes too big for the pattern. I thought the gauge was loose. Should've checked really. Ah well, he likes his new socks.


And that's about it. The 3rd and final round for this tournament has begun but I haven't entered anything yet due to resting my wrist. I have a few submissions ready now but the lack of computer love has meant me not posting them yet. I will do soon tough so keep posted for more yarn based goodies.

I knit so I don't kill people

I saw this on a t-shirt not long ago. I thought it was amusing. A week of enforced none knitting due to whatever the heck is wrong with my wrist has proven that knitting does, in fact, equal calm. Busy busy workplace and nice weather should mean relaxing knitting outside in the sunshine. Nope. None of that.

Ok so no knitting. Maybe some spinning? No go either. How about carding? Nope,also a bust. I can just about sew which is good for the outfit I'm making my Momma but that is about the limit of my crafting. Watching me try to thread the needle on my machine should be a specator sport it's that funny.

So how am I typing? Slowly is the answer :o(

Yesterday was busy (written on the 6th)

I'm really wowing you with the imaginative titles huh? Must try harder.

Yesterday was indeed busy though. I'm working on a mammoth project at work and it is killing me. So very busy indeed. Add into that the dress and jacket I'm making for my Momma. A small sprinkling of not sleeping tops it all off. So very tired.

On the plus side the dress is all ready for fitting. There are 3 lines of sewing and the fastenings to do. I then have the jacket to sew. Momma has volunteered to help with that. She's getting jumpy about how little time there is left to finish it. We've got until the 14th. I don't think she realises how much I have sewn in less time before. But the quicker it is done the sooner I can relax.

This is not going well

OK so I've missed another day. This is not going well. But again I have a good reason. Yesterday was in from work, make tea, head out to see Derren Brown. No blogging time at all. Also uber busy at work so no time there. This is a sneaky one.

I'll try to be back later today.

So I'll post everyday in April......huh

Ok so I fell off the blogging wagon on say 2 but there is a good reason. Yesterday was manic busy.

We got up early to go to the farm. I'm afraid we had some unpleasant business to attend to with the last chicken from our first batch, Pius. I'm not going to go into the details, if you're interested read Spadger's account here. Needless to say Pius is no longer with us in flapping form. A sad day indeed.

We spent a long day at the farm. Me and my Momma cleared a whole bed of the nettle infestation that was living there. I love pulling up nettles. They fight back and you get a real sense of accomplishment when it's all gone.

It was then home for a very quick shower and into town where we grabbed a bite to eat, a couple of pints and then off to a gig. We actually went to see the support act, Admiral Fallow. You can find out more about them here. We've been to see them twice before. First time they were supporting Frightened Rabbit, then it was a gig of their own. Walking out after the support act was fun. We had to explain to 3 members of staff that yes ewe were indeed leaving not popping out for a smoke. Their faces were priceless.

Since that finished quite early it was home for a rum, some date and walnut flapjack and 2 episodes of Buffy.

See what I mean? Am I forgiven for not blogging?