Peaches!

Just finished the first quart of canned peaches I made over the summer. Boy, they were DELICIOUS. I didn't know canned peaches could be so tasty. And I didn't get botulism! Is there a dormancy period? I checked the seal and everything. Next year- more! What a treat it was to eat some fruit in December. I'm a bit of a stickler for buying fruit and veggies only in season- this makes for long potato and cabbage filled winters.. now I've got a little bright spot in the middle of it. Only 5 quarts left- rations begin..

The above a picture proving Pidge is the ultimate ham. I swear she hears the camera turn on and she needs to be in the frame. Of course I spent 5 minutes making smootchy noises to get her to look at the camera. The rest are a blurry bunch of her butt and swishing tail. She was trying to nose behind the flannel sheet background and probably get to the warmth of the radiator.

Mustard and Raspberry

What a combination! I think my new favorite combo is mustard yellow and raspberry. They are just so punchy together.

New Seafoam and Black Scarf

Can't believe Christmas is next week. I really put a move on with the new warp- making commissions and a few for the shop. This scarf was inspired by an illustration of Jimi Hendrix I found in a Taschen Books flyer we got in the mail last week.

I've remembered to take photos this year of Santa's workshop to share with you after the holidays. I'm excited especially about the gift I made for my sister. Not sure if it tops last year's gift , but I still love it!

New Business Cards

My first letterpressing experience- thank you Amy! It was an awesome learning process- reminds me of sewing and weaving and rolling pasta.. lots of time-consuming work but totally worth it. Sorry for the short post- still exploring the new computer.. next step installing photoshop etc.

Second Storie

Here are some photos from my first craft show! Second Storie was great - can't believe how many people came both days. My table set up before the market began.

Lots of great vendors and such inspiration.. I definitely have some new goals for the new year. A few of my favorites (great people too!) : the Maple Ridge, Pearl & Marmalade, secret pocket, abby try again and the fuzzybunny ... just off the top of my head.

p.s. special thanks to the girls of second storie who made me feel less nervous and so inspired!

Here are 2 of the 3 scarves left post-show. These never got onto etsy- I made 11 scarves for the show thinking I would photograph them afterwards..


I've ordered my computer and can't wait to finally get caught up on email, blogging and internets- all from the comfort of wherever I choose (so excited for my first laptop!)

Second Storie

As the weekend comes to an end, I realize I completely forgot to update the blog with news of my very first craft show... I was so happy to see so many friends stop by! The show was a success, now I've got to get weaving, order my new computer (finally), did I mention get weaving?, and keep up with the blog for the holiday season :)

November...

No photo today- my computer has bitten the dust (bit the dust?) and all of my photos and files etc. are locked away. Soon, I'll be getting a new laptop- which will inspire many more blog posts while sitting in cozy spots in the apartment. Here's a fun link to an etsy storque article about circus inspired stuff for sale including my appliqued boston terrier juggling!

Our new boston fern

A few weeks ago, on my walk home from work, I discovered a family of big boston ferns sitting sadly by the curb. I pass by this house every day and always admire the 6 or 7 ferns lining the porch every summer. What a waste to be tossing them to the curb! I could only carry 2- and they covered my entire body while walking. Up in our apartment they seemed to have grown twice the size... The other fern is at my friend Rachel's- it's twice the size of the one above! Even if it lasts only a few weeks, it will be worth it to have such greenery in our living room.


Oops- forgot to upload this photo when I put up the Sunset scarf. This was during the planning stages. I go through my stash and make a giant mess, then wind bobbins, loading my palette with lots of color. You can see the inspiration photo (a comforter from pottery barn perhaps) at the bottom.
Pidge must be the most spoiled cat in Rochester. Albert and I want another kitten! I'm hoping Pidge will carry it around in her mouth like a momma (instead of eating it).

Today is a rainy day and I am so glad to have the day off. My goal is at least 1, maybe 2! scarves by this evening. Better get weaving...

Perfect Autumn Day

Albert has informed me that the intensity of autumn leaves is based on the amount of rain we get at the end of summer. There was so much rain this august (our veggies at the CSA drowned this season and they weren't able to plant successions of carrots, beets and other fall weather goodies)- the leaves really are extra vibrant this year. Took a few walks outside, went to the Y, listened to good radio AND finished 3 scarves this weekend!

This is the last scarf up for a little while- I'll try to post with a bit more variety (than just scarf entries) in the next few weeks..

Squirrel Bulk

This past summer at the Brighton Farmer's Market I went a little overboard. But I couldn't help it! I love stocking up and I was able to score some really great deals including... 1/2 a bushel of delicata (soooo good to roast with sage and no need to peel!), butternut and buttercup squash, 1/2 a bushel of empire apples (I have plans to make smitten kitchen's breakfast apple crisp...), 20 pounds of red and yukon gold potatoes, one green cabbage (hello colcannon!) 3 red peppers, 3 pounds of garlic, radishes, tomatoes and kale...

There are only a few weeks left of the market and I will miss it! I wish I knew the name of the man that sells the most delicious croissants I've ever had (right next to the tent my friend Brad sells Muddy Waters Coffee in). He stays up the entire night before baking and there's just that extra special something that you can't get from a bigger bakery.

What's left to stock up on? I still have a yen to go apple picking, want 10 lbs of leeks to freeze (although I am out of freezer space), maybe more carrots (got a new juicer at a church sale last month that makes the best apple carrot juice ever!), onions and potatoes?

Back from Japan

Pico the cat has traveled farther than I have.. these sweet mini embroideries are home from the LeLe Junie Moon Gallery in Japan and back into my etsy shop. Thank you Rachel for the vintage metal embroidery hoop!

New Sunset Scarf

Morning and happy Saturday! I'm playing hooky from the day job today (well really my friend Amy offered to cover for me) so that I can spend the day weaving! Just as soon as I'm finished putting new cozies up on etsy, finishing an enormous bowl of pudding, internet-ing, daydreaming about a new kitten, sitting by the window breathing in the autumn air (glad to get some fresh air into this apartment- oh winter with your plastic wrapped windows and never-warmer-than-freezing-in-our-apartmentness-... where was I going with this sentence?

So- here are some pics that didn't make the cut for etsy. Enjoy! What are you doing this weekend?

Summer in a mason jar

I was given a pressure cooker for my birthday and have really been enjoying the adventures in canning. It feels like a science experiment- specific proportions of ingredients all bubbling together in this giant contraption ( that takes up 3 burners on my apartment sized stove). Now I have cases of tomato juice, hot pepper jelly, chunky tomatoes, strawberry jam and peaches sitting in our attic- oh boy! I've already made 3 batches of lentil soup this fall and only could bear to break into the tomato stash once!

I've got plans for applesauce soon and perhaps vegetable broth!

New Orla Scarf Revisited

The latest scarf up in the shop was an experiment. I took an image that had inspired me before and drew from it again with a refreshed palette of yarns. Pretty neat to look back on the other scarf (one of my favorites sold a few months ago) and see how I had interpreted it differently.



My day off : Delicious banana walnut pancakes this morning, a mini embroidery online, loom finished dressing and ready to go, a cool autumn morning, leaves raining down and lots of emails (hopefully).

Dusty Blue Scarf

This scarf was inspired by a magazine clipping of a leaf shaped dish holding pairs of earrings held together in buttons. I love buttons and actually borrowed this idea from Martha Stewart to store my earrings a while back. I recommend it!

Raspberry Scarf and kitten memories

Good morning Sunday! The sun is shining, Pidge is swishing her tail and running in crazed laps through the apartment like a greyhound, I just finished another bowl of apple granola crisp with yogurt for breakfast and I've just put the next scarf in the series up on etsy.

I love weaving with dark yarn on a white warp; the patterns show up so well and really give depth to the design. The scarf features a lot of the awesome finds I purchased over the summer at that giant yarn sale- such a treat to have so many options!


My friend Erin might be getting a kitten today and I'm so happy to be going with her! Here are 2 Pidge-as-kitten pics I found buried on my hard drive. Wonder if she could handle a kitten friend?

New Autumn Striped Scarf

I just want to snuggle up today with hot apple cider, donuts and a great book (I just started reading the new Audrey Niffennegger book- thank you Amy!). First, I have to finish my goals for the day- getting the other 5 scarves ready to go to etsy and tying on my new warp for the next set. Then I have to find some donuts.

Even though this morning definitely felt like winter (did I really need to buy another 10 pound bag of potatoes, onions and tomatoes at the market this morning?), I prefer to hope that the correct season re-arrives. This scarf has some of my favorite combinations of autumn-y colors. I just love blues, browns and oranges together. The above photo shows a stripe of variegated greens and blue-green-- maybe the softest yarn I own- kettle dyed merino and silk yarn made by an artisan named Fernando in Uruguay.

Coming soon!

It has been a busy time.. where did the summer go? Where did autumn go? I've been huddled in front of the computer all morning (after a delicious breakfast of banana walnut buttermilk pancakes) in my winter coat, fleece blanket (with Pidge napping beneath- she makes my arm go numb resting her chin on the crook of my elbow but she's too cute to shove off of my lap...), wrist warmers and "sleeping bag" down slippers (my mom made them with a kit from the 70's) determined to edit and prepare photos for a whole slew of new scarves and blog posts (and compose the world's longest run-on sentence!).


The photo above was taken last week- 10 yards of scarf cut from the loom. It is so exciting at this stage to unroll one scarf at a time and rediscover the color combinations.

Perhaps you've notice the etsy shop looking a little sparse? Six scarves have traveled to Wisconsin for this gift show I am super pumped about! I've been working hard and have just finished 6 new scarves to replace them. Stay tuned for more regular updates to the store and the blog!

Busy July

It has been a busy but fun July so far- lots of cooking, lots of veggies. The above photo was last week's crop share; below a tasty sour cherry pie I made for our knitting night. Hopefully I will be starting the next warp for scarves soon.. and keeping the blog more up to date!

New Summer Scarf

Here is the last in the series of summer scarves this week! (sorry such a non-post- Albert and I spent the day working on another costume for the Beast Pageant which has left the carpet full of fake fur..)