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
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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.