Sunday, September 27, 2009

Book -Knit One, Embellish Two

Great hats for kids!

Sent from my iPhone

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Congrats Daniel & Lindsey!

You make a beautiful couple.

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Wedding Reception

What do you do when you're at a wedding reception and you only know one person? You take photos of strangers!

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

100 Flowers to Knit - sample page

Aren't those acorns adorable!

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Attention to detail! Knit flowers.

This book is full, cover to cover, of dozens of patterns to knit and crochet flowers and leaves (and acorns!) to add that extra attention to detail you are looking for. There are also some inspirations on how to use them on projects, not just your own knit projects, but dressing up a canvas tote, for example.

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Monday, September 14, 2009

If I knit sock I would do them like this

Brilliant! Lots of full color pics of the technique of knitting two socks at once in the book, "2-at-a-time Socks."

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Saturday, September 12, 2009

Walking Strider

Park time...

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Denim Bag

One of 99 projects in the 99 Ways... Book. Again sewing know-how is required as the instructions are brief.

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99 Ways to use Blue Jeans

This is the second find at Border's during our weekly book store browse. "99 Ways to Cut, Sew & Deck Out Your Denim" has lots of ideas for what to do with that stack of worn out jeans in the closet. Love it!

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Born Again Vintage 2

Here's a sample project from the book - notice the two clothing items on the right page that were combined to make the dress.

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Born Again Vintage

This book shows you how to cut up, combine and re-sew thrift store finds into unique new outfits. You have to have general sewing sense, and it encourages individualty via vague intructions rather than precise patterns, but if you're like me and you just need to see the finished project and a few bullet point how-to's then this book is a great resource! Sweaters and skirts turn into dresses. Even an old crochet afghan is spliced onto a dress. The before-and-after photos show what the starting clothes looked like before the trnsformation. 5 stars!

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J's steampunk vest

I loosely used Simplicity 4762 to make this. I had to enlarge the pattern, and I altered the details. The brass accents I got from Dina at cloakmaker.com. They were on sale so I got lots, so you'll probably see them on other projects in the future. J complimented me as I was making this, "Mom, you are a good sewer." Awwww... Thank you son!

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Monday, September 7, 2009

Beginning of a Steampunk skirt

I like to start with details before anything, so I started this skirt with a panel of ruffles. The skirt body and ruffles are made from beige shirting. The trim is a brocade from the home decorating section of the fabric store.

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Sunday, September 6, 2009

Grape jelly step 6

Done! We will see how well it gels when it cools. It sure smells good. There are still lots of plums and grapes, time to make some fruit leather...

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Grape jelly step 5

Fully cooked jelly is ladled into jars and is now processed in a hot water bath for another 10 minutes.

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Grape jelly step 4

The handsome pink grape/plum juice is boiled again with pectin and sugar. Everything is measured accurately following the recipe in the pectin packaging.

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Grape jelly step 3

The grapes and a few plums are cooked and strained to get their juice.

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Grape jelly step 2

We picked some plums to add color to our jelly. The plum skins will make the jelly pink.

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Grape jelly step 1

The grapes are ready to harvest.

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E harvesting garlic

We got a good harvest of over 4 varieties. E is digging them up from the bone-dry soil where they've been drying for the past 2 months in our no-summer-rain California climate.

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Saturday, September 5, 2009

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Friendship Sampler Finished!

I just put in the last stitch. Not a moment too soon - E2 is on the plane to IL tomorrow. Thank you for coming on the crazy summer adventure with me! We will miss you.

 The sampler is done in French knot embroidery, cross stitch, and beadwork.

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