It's been a long time...

French Press Slippers 3, a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

I've neglected the blog but I'm baaacccckkkk! And I'm knitting just as much as ever! I've finished quite a few things since I last updated like....drumroll please...THE FRENCH PRESS SLIPPERS!

I used Lamb's Pride worsted on size 15 needles in Pink. (What an imaginative name!) Felted @ my besties house (she has a top loader). I love how they turned out! :)

Look Ma! No (more) Cans!!!

I spent most of the weekend and Monday morning turning this.....

into this....

wait....I didn't turn the produce into jars...lol But I did have to wash ALOT OF THEM!

Tomatoes packed in water.....and this:

Zesty salsa!

I still have a few pounds of tomatoes left, some apples (which may end up as apple butter), some peaches (I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them), bananas to make banana bread out of, and lemons and limes for curd. I think! I love canning! Here's a cool canning blog that I love to read....Food In Jars
.

Hemlock for the Easily Influenced....

Blocking the Hemlock....., a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

My bestie decided we should knit the hemlock ring, so here it is. I've been on a kick about using up stash so I really haven't bought any new yarn (except to complete certain projects like this one) in the past few months.

Specs: Size 10.5 KP Harmony Needles, Paton's Wool in Natural and mystery camel colored yarn. Knit until I ran out of yarn....it ended up being about 4-5 balls, I think.

Achoo!

VLM, a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

Still trying to catch Finish-It-Up-Itis at Casa De FM! These socks are for my hunny-bunny. I know, wool socks, just in time for summer! :) This is Berroco sock yarn in grey (can't remember the exact color name) and Red Heart Heart and Sole in Black for the cuffs, heel and toe. A basic 2X2 ribbed sock. I hope she likes them!

Adventures in Soap Making Part 2

IMAG0626, a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

Last weekend I spent quite a bit of time making soap. Lavender Vanilla soap to be exact. I picked up The Soapmakers Companion book awhile back at a thrift store and thought it would be a good idea to try. Maybe a money making venture, too? The Soapmakers Companion has a recipe in it for a basic bar using lye, water, essential oils (in this case I used lavender, vanilla and lavender buds; you can see them as the specs in the bars), coconut oil, palm oil, and olive oil. I bought the lye, and palm oil on Amazon, the other stuff could be had in any grocery store or herbal shop. I bought the oils at Chicory Hill Herbs at a very reasonable price and the saleswoman was very nice and helpful without being overbearing. I learned quite a few things and I know I can make an even better bar next time. Now that I've cut them into bar shape, they have to cure for up to a month and then they'll be ready to use!

Lavender Soap

IMAG0603, a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

Yep. I've picked up ANOTHER addictive hobby. Soapmaking!

Doing the can-can!!!

Canning pot, a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

I canNOT be trusted at any farmer's market of any kind! I bought a flat of strawberries this week for $7 and I plan on making jam in the morning. I'm going to use this recipe Food In Jars Strawberry Jam

I have my fingers crossed that it will turn out okay....wish me luck! :) Now I'm off to find all the supplies I need.

We <3 Sox!!!

IMAG0516, a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

I'm knitting my sweetie a pair of socks...on the toes/heel/cuff is basic black Red Heart sock yarn (Heart and Sole) and the body of the sock in Berroco (I think...lol) in Slate Grey on my trusty #2's!

Garden Beginnings

Garden Beginnings, a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

I'm trying my hands at gardening AGAIN this year. Wish me luck! I've got sweet basil, dill and cilantro on my window sills, jalapeno and bell peppers, radishes, and spring onions started so far. Next week will be tomatoes, squash and possibly lettuce and watermelons. OMG I'm so excited and nervous all at the same time. I also read an article about straw/hay bale gardening that I'm thinking of trying out!

I sewed a hobo bag!!!

Bella's Hat

IMAG0470, a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

EPIC. KNITTING. FAIL. :(

Bar Towels, Dish/wash cloths and YOU!!! :)

I've been trying to knit down some of my cotton stash and I'm using a pattern from an episode of Knitty Gritty by Star Athena for various bar towels. I plan on using this one as a hand towel in my bathroom b/c it's knit out of that lavender scented yarn from Sugar n' Creme.

 This one is some mystery cotton that I wasn't sure if I was going to have enough of, so I made it into a dish/wash cloth.

Queen of the small projects...

IMAG0415, a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

Needing some quick and instant gratification projects so I knit a few coffee cup cozies, dishcloths and small hats.

...and then I turned around and it BIT HER!!!

I knit my sweetpea a pair of feet eater slippers from the book Knitting MochiMochi and I think she loves them! I knit them on size 6 and 8 US with Plymouth Yarn's Encore worsted (it's an acrylic/wool blend).

Yarn Score of the Century!!!

IMAG0389, a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

My bestie and I went to see a lady from Craig's List about some yarn last week. Check out what we scored!!!

There was raw wool/fleece both processed and unprocessed (full of pee and poo!!!), antique wheels, yarn on cones, in hanks, wool from New Zealand and silk!! It was C-R-A-Z-Y!!! And this isnt all of it!

Pretty In Pink Socks

IMAG0335, a photo by Sinnomen1977 on Flickr.

I'm working on a toe-up sock again...and determined to use up ALL THE YARNZ!!! I worked the sock on my trusty size US 2's and then 3 repeats after the heel, I switched to US size 4's to go over my enormous calf. IT WORKED!!!