Craft Monkey

adolescent poultry

The chickens are little punk-rock teenagers these days. They're still in there makeshift brooder closet at a neighbors house, but they should be coming to live with us in a couple of weeks.

They do not like the flash of the camera. Hence the huddling.

Aren't their little mohawks cute? We got a random assortment, so we had no clue what breeds we were going to end up with. now that they've lost their down and their feathers have started to come in, it's pretty clear that at least eight of them are some sort of crested variety. There are a couple of feather-footed birds too.

I can't believe this is what they used to look like. Or that they once fit in that little box.

second spring

While we were in California, a second spring was happening in our valley. We had a killing frost back over Easter weekend, and spent most of April with a brown, depressing landscape. I left for 2 weeks, and everything has turned green again and leafed out! It's awesome.

I have no idea what kind of flower that is, but it's right in front of the house, and is the only thing blooming remotely near the house. I'm going to flip through the wildflower guide tonight.

I got a rose bush for mother's day, and it's forming it's first bud. It's in a pot for now, until I figure out what to do with it, where to plant it, etc. I don't know aything about roses, and have heard that they're picky.

I cast on for an EZ tomten jacket for Logan this morning. Everything else I'm working on involves learning something new about technique, and its been really frustrating. I may be learning, but it doesn't feel like I'm making any progress on completing something. So I'm starting a new project, and have 80 rows of mindless garter stitch before I'll have to think again for this particular project. Perfect.

Does anyone know of a good slipstitch tutorial?

recap

highlights of the last few weeks, in no particular order:

~scarab killed 8 of the chickens when they were only three days old. double. ick. boo.

~bradley found a vintage apron pattern in the dumpster behind goodwill... this made me extremely giddy, and i'm going to try it soon

~i finished the never-ending baby blanket, and gave it to the in-laws at their baby shower last weekend

~i got a sewing machine! it is a singer simple. we still don't have electricity, but my neighbor let me set it up in her garage, half of which is now a makeshift sewing room... the downside is that their dryer vents into that same garage, so dryer lint is getting in the machine! i'm going to try putting pantyhose over the vent when i get back tomorrow

~i'm stuck on the handles for my handbag idea. i was trying to make them out of cotton and fusible interfacing, but i can't seem to get them turned right side out? suggestions? anyone made a bag before, especially a simple tote?

~i have to leave for the airport in 8 hours

~i didn't sell anything at the fair oaks street fair

~i can't wait to get home tomorrow

~i'm coveting fat quarter packs of katie jump rope, chocolate lollipop, and freshcut

~i'm already thinking about clothes for logan for the fall/winter. it somehow seems more attainable/ achievable to make more of his clothes if i'm shooting for several months from now. so far, i have 4 skeins of wool for a tomten jacket

so much

I lost the habit of writing these past few weeks, but I want to redevelop it. So many random things have happened, and I don't know where to begin a recap; I think I'm going to try bullet points. Tomorrow. Because I need to procrastinate more.

I'm setting up a table at the Fair Oaks Street Fair Saturday. I think it's going to be more garage sale than craft fair, but I'm going to make business cards anyway with the Etsy shop on them. Also, I'm going to finish adding things to the shop. Tomorrow. Because I need to procrastinate more.

Tonight, I'm going to watch Marie Antoinette and eat ice cream. Because I don't have any cake.

WIP friday

Slow progress on the handbag line idea.... I'm in California visiting family for a couple of weeks, which means I have access to a Bernina; it's so much cooler than my little Singer Simple....

I can'tbelieve I actually remembered WIP Friday!