Projects in Progress

::Projects on our work tables or needles

Laura's Projects:

I've just barely got a start on an airy bias scarf:

(I'm finally established as a knitter-I didn't have to buy needles to begin this project!)

Looking forward to making summer-y bracelets like this with recycled sari silk yarn:

Katie's Projects:

I'm working on the very same scarf as Laura, and I got a bit of a head start.

The color has already started to change, and that's fun motivation to keep knitting. 

Here's the finished shirt that Laura made me- 

It's cool and light, she dyed the knitted top after knitting it, and the yarn is so shiny and rich.  

Pretty nice for dime store yarn.

Speaking of dyeing, when I made Laura's bag, I discovered a tricky way to dye leather black using supplies that were under my sink. I'll share the secret tomorrow- 

Tangents

::Tangents is the collection spot for the things we're thinking about, obsessively researching, and doing at home and on the web.

Laura's Tangents

Katie and I went to the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival yesterday-so much beautiful yarn and fiber! Out of the dizzying selection, we were captivated by the color changing cotton made by Wolle's Yarn Creations:

Today is our birthday! Katie made me two perfect gifts-a canvas bag with leather straps (advertising our grandparents welding shop):

AND trim little hand stitched leather flip flops:

Cool, huh?

Between the whippoorwill and these guys nighttime in the meadow has become delightfully raucous:

Katie's Tangents

It's been a busy weekend! Today we explored a local cave and I'm so glad we did. The Great Saltpetre cave is only open to the public a few weekends a year.

I've never been to any caves in Kentucky and this was a great introduction. 

For my birthday, Laura made me a new shirt, just like her's. I love it. I'll share some photos when I get some good ones. 

I bought a cake of Wolle's Fiber Creations yarn on Saturday too, and it looks like I'll have some actual knitting to share on Wednesday's Projects in Progress, imagine that! 

I have a few new books I want to tell you about. 

I'm SO looking forward to working through Art Lab for Kids with my boys this summer. It is full of interesting techniques and I'm planning to organize the studio and our art supplies this week so things will be all ready when summer vacation begins. 

If I didn't already have spring fever this time of year, The Four Season Farm Gardener's Cookbook is making me want to convert the rest of my sunny front yard to a vegetable garden. It's like two books on one- the front half is in-depth gardening advice and the second half is recipes. 

I also just bought Deborah Madison's Vegetable Literacy. It's a beautiful book. It also contains some thoughts about gardening. It's an absorbing read, and I'm working my way through it. The recipes are organized by plant families, which is interesting and instructive. 

Projects in Progress

::Projects on our work tables or needles:

Katie's projects:

My work is certainly "in progress" today. All of a sudden my summertime clothes, shoes and purse seem "small and plain" and since I have a studio full of supplies, I'm going to make some new accessories for summer. I'm not working on the fun part of actually making stuff just yet, but instead am testing glue to see which works to glue natural rubber to leather....

And yes, there are holes poked in the side of the glue bottles. Am I the only person who does this? Hope not. So far, none of the glues work. It is nuts how the glue just peels off the rubber. I'd love any suggestions if you have a favorite adhesive that you think would work for this. I've moved on to a nontoxic contact cement and am hoping that works. If not, it's on to the big guns- super-toxic Barge cement. 

I'm also trying out some antique brass stencils- 

They're from our grandma, "Mom Mom" who made posters and signs for community and church events. 

I really like the font of these stencils, now I just have to think of something clever to say! Hopefully I'll be able to move on to the actual projects soon. 

Laura's projects:

After a couple of drafts of the knitting, I finished another summer top:

I spent this past cold & rainy Saturday doing a mountain of laundry and finally finishing Margot's baby quilt-thanks to my mom and dad who have a house with both a washer and dryer AND a giant table-things we lack in our tiny house:

I haven't washed it yet-always prefer how they look after the batting shrinks up....

Tangents

::Tangents is the collection spot for the things we're thinking about, obsessively researching, and doing at home and on the web.

Laura's Tangents

Spending more time painting nature-y letters this week:

Harvesting masses of home grown salad greens:

Finally finished the sweet bunnies I started awhile ago:

Katie's Tangents

The stairs are just about done, I'll post a photo soon, so the next part of the courtyard has commenced, we now have 24 tons of gravel to spread. Laura and Strider stopped by last week to help out a bit. And combined with Michael's shovelling intensity on Saturday, the pile is a lot smaller. (But not THAT much smaller, I'm wondering if we got too much gravel!) 

My boys are really appreciating the new feature in our driveway. Who needs a swingset when there is a giant gravel pile to play on? 

Laura and Strider gave me an early birthday gift and I have a beautiful new addition to put in the courtyard once the gravel's all spread- 

A giant fig tree! One of them is Laura's. Things are looking very promising for figs- 

It was cool enough yesterday for Margot - and Laura- to wear wooly hand-knits. I think we'd all be happy for the weather to turn and we can all switch to cotton. May is too late for wool! 

Tangents

::Tangents is the collection spot for the things we're thinking about, obsessively researching, and doing at home and on the web.

Katie's Tangents

I'm still working on my stairs. This has been a real learning process for me. Not only am I learning new skills, I'm learning to use new tools, which is great. The circular saw no longer scares me and I kinda want a hammer drill for my birthday. 

Also pictured is my trusty little drill, which I love, and my new carpenter's square, which I can't believe I've lived without. I had to buy it to make the stingers and it's so useful! 

Anyway, I did have to cut three extra "practice" stringers while I was figuring everything out, but things are still moving along.

Believe it or not, everything is pretty much level- a victory! I plan to add the risers and treads today. 

We are delighting in our garden right now. Last fall I finally bough some alliums and I'm so glad I did- you can see them in the background here- 

I know this iris is a bit over the top, but it seems so pleased with itself, I kinda like the un-planned purple theme that's going on.

I finally have a bug to submit to the super What's that Bug website. Julian spotted this huge moth clinging to a hosta.

Do you know what it is? I *think* it's some kind of sphinx moth, but I can't figure it out. I'll share what they say over at WTB when they post it.

 Laura's Tangents 

Enjoying the new album from Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. (video here of Thao responding to a harsh critic...) 

Looking forward to planting my tomatoes, basil and other tender stuff out this week-and getting my seed starting set-up taken down-it takes up a lot of space!