savory Saturday

in which our plucky heroine continues slow but steady improvement...

In the interest of making good use of the foodstuff on hand, have been gradually cooking up various items and turning them into either immediate meals, or into prepped meals or ingredients in the freezer. One of the larger of the mutual aid squash was baked last week, but not quite as delectable as I had imagined - turns out it only needed to be more fully cooked! I steamed the chunks for another half hour or more, until they could be mashed really well, and divided the puree into silicone freezer cubes, save my lunch portion, which I drizzled with some of the quince syrup! So yummo!!

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~ venerable stork scissors ~

I'm not sure how young I was when I was gifted these little embroidery scissors, but was still living at home with my parents... I am guessing maybe 14 or 15? In my early 20's when I was working at the leather shop in Harvard Square, I made them this small decorated case of calfskin skiver, and it has kept them safe and sound all these decades. Perhaps at some point I shall pass them on to one of my youngest friends, if they remain interested in handcrafts...

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Wednesday night placed an order online for two Bigg Grip bucket handles, and a garden kneeler from Lee Valley. Today (Saturday) there was a large box on my front porch. Cannot fault their speedy service, color me impressed!! I was already impressed with the very helpful interaction I had with online text customer service person Christopher, who did their best to answer my questions, and even emailed me afterwards with more information that might be useful. I need to remember to write to Lee Valley to commend the good help I received.

The aftermarket bucket handles seem excellent, easy to apply to the wire bail, and while robust, are not too large for my wee paws. The garden kneeler/seat is a good size, is easy to fold and unfold, and will work well for seated tasks. For kneeling tasks some additional padding for tender knees will be good.

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Currently thinking about if I want my next block print to be just black and white counterchanged, or if I want to add color

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The package from Lee Valley was packed so thoroughly padded with brown paper that I have probably more than enough for multiple paper mache projects... cardboard taped into shapes and covered with layers of brown paper and glue makes sturdy containers and shelves. I have been wishing for some small dividers/shelves to organise my kitchen storage containers, not finding something of a suitable size online, and don't have the right sort of thin but sturdy lumber to make something out of wood. But I do have cardboard, and now plenty of midweight brown paper, and glue... 

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February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	"wing it" vest	more broach handles	recycle bin
2	tiny valentines	black keyboard covers	recycle bin
3	heartfelt ornament	turtleneck collar	-
4	-	laptop drivers	-
5	-	rainbow fibulae	-
6	x	bucket handle	-
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. vanilla rose quince syrup - so red, so fragrant, so delicious drizzled over some Greek yogurt, or stirred into mashed winter squash
2. Lee Valley is an excellent business, and a source of Very Useful tools and supplies, with thoughtful customer service people to answer queries. 12 out of 10, highly recommended.
3. Lots of medium-weight brown paper

Time of Isolation - Day 1681

the lime and the coconut

in which our plucky heroine makes a warming soup...

It has been chilly enough lately that I'd been craving the pumpkin red lentil curry soup, and it occurred to me today that I could substitute some of the cooked winter squash for the called for canned pumpkin. (ofttimes canned pumpkin is actually winter squash). I've been slowly working my way through the mutual aid box, and finding another recipe that makes good use of winter squash is helpful. I did give the soup a quick blitz with the stick blender to smooth it out at the end, and it was as good as I remembered.

After making the soup, it was apparent that the jar of locally made Thai red curry paste was now almost empty, but later, when shopping, I didn't find any at the store. Looking for it online, there was the behemoth (as always), and (surprisingly) Etsy, but I also noticed a mention of a source on SE Division, which turns out to be "Kati", the restaurant of the same folks that make the curry paste! As I would much rather support local and buy direct, I forsee a transit adventure sometime in the next few weeks.

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More small fixits... The hole in the workroom ceiling has been a source of a waterfall of icy air down the back of my neck when at the sewing machine, as said hole is directly overhead! Now there is a temporary cover: a big piece of mylar bubblepack held in place with sturdy metal push pins. May not be the most elegant solution, but it does the task. Also I took one of the small bottlebrushes and consigned it to the bath sink, as for some reason the sink drain there needs to be brushed?!? out from time to time. Not sure why, I've never known a sink to do that, but it does return the plumbing to proper fast drainage. This makes three tasks to add to the "do this once a month" list.

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After chatting with K about yard design and garden tools, went to take a look at my sad wheelbarrow. Which is still useable, despite the cracked handle, though it is surely not a good sign when the wooden handles are beginning to grow tiny shelf fungus. After careful examination, at least some of the holes need drilled in a new set of handles actually are at 90° angles. I still need to turn it rightside up and check the front attachment points, and also need to find out if the current set of screws can be loosened enough to remove the old handles. I'd much prefer to refurbish what works, before buying something new.

The small child size shovel, while it might not fit K, is just right for me, and not a toy, but rather designed like a normal (adult big man) size shovel. I took it into the front yard and tried cutting through the lawn around where I want to plant the pear tree. Much to my surprise, it cut right in all the way, probably 'cos the ground is well watered and not frozen! I could cut away a hole and put the pear tree in the ground, thereby keeping it safer should we actually get a chunk of time with a hard freeze, and also incidentally fulfilling my obligation to the Department of Urban Forestry. It would be a start, too, on my idea of filling in the front yard with more planting and less lawn.

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blood orange marmalade	bike headlamp	yard waste bin
2	heraldic enamel	passport photo	recycle bin
3	crayon roll	crystal necklace	-
4	xp2 undies	pattern longjanes	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. In the winter, wool is our friend, particularly layers of wool.
2. a surprisingly pleasant "appointment confirmation" call from the passport acceptance office, that ended with him wishing me a "Happy Tuesday!"
3. successful XP2 version of undies, now can renew my lingerie and move the peculiar striped and floral cotton lycra fabric (purchased for $2/yd when Girl Charlee closed their online store) off the resource shelves and into the clothing drawer.

Time of Isolation - Day 1643

two sticks and other tidbits

in which our plucky heroine cherishes tools...

and no, I am not currently knitting, but still looping and cutting tiny rainbow tassels

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~ no good idea is wasted ~

I'd not realised that six years ago was that I made the grey linen gauze cowl, with the multicolored tiny tassels inspired by the colorful varied pom poms on this designer scarf And even longer ago that I made my basic black pom pom cowl back in 2012, when that concept was making the rounds of the sewing/crafty blogosphere.

"Whilst out and about ... I had cleverly packed up this project (the grey cowl tassels) as transit handwork, but somehow forgot to include the 5mm knitting needles that are the suggested spacers. A handy fallen twig, and a bit of whittling made shorter spacers which are actually easier to use than the long double pointed knitting needles."

...in fact the little sticks proved so handy that I tucked them safely away in the drawer full of knitting notions, where they patiently waited until I needed them, worthy once again!

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A girl came up to me in the drug store while I was waiting on line and told me that she had seen me out riding my bike, and hoped that someday she would be able to dress as delightfully as I do! gesturing at my frilled plaid flannel petticoat and denim pinafore...

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~ F is for fungi ~

In the center of the hollow tree stump I noticed these small and delicate mushrooms growing. Very different than the ones that grow in the lawn.

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I need to figure out how to clean out the lint from my tumble dryer. I suspect it is going to be a Most Unpleasant Project, but I also suspect it is long (years) overdue. And it would be a good idea to do so prior to the rainy season requiring all laundry to be dried indoors instead of on the line outside.

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today's gratitudes -
1. It was a sunny day, and I walked over five miles.
2. I found someone outside the local houseless shelter who was painting on the new mural, and was able to hand off the gifted bar of scented soap to somewhere that can use it. (It probably had cedar in it, or some other woodsy scent, which was setting off my allergies something fierce, like I had to put it outside)
3. Vesta gave me the most amusing handbag, it is a large wicker acorn! If I make it a fabric lining, I can use it as a sort of traveling sewing basket, and it would be a perfect accessory for a Brambly Hedge tea party

Time of Isolation - Day 1601

Monday media and miscellany...

in which our plucky heroine has a mildly productive day...
doing various housey chores, and completing a few of the smaller projects that have been on my to-do list...

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Here is a short interview with the artist Shirley Hughes:
and here is a longer interview with her part 1, and part 2
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~ week 7: reversible camisole top ~

Week seven - a reversible camisole. The camisole needed decoration, rather than being the two plain solid colors that were all I had in the fabrics that suited Kenya's wardrobe. The blue "denim" color side, now embroidered with the same motif as the hemline of the bell bottoms, makes them look rather like a jumpsuit when worn together, or maybe one of those 60's sportswear/playsuits made of separates...

I suspect that making this garment would be easier at a somewhat larger than Tiny Rag Doll scale... I used the camisole from the basic TRD pattern booklet, modified to make it reversible, fastening in the back, and changing the criss-cross shoulder straps to plain. (I don't know why I find fixed crossing straps so difficult to use when dressing dolls, but I always switch them out to be fastened with snaps or hook-and-eye instead, or as in this case, to just be plain shoulder straps)

I used cotton twill tape for the straps, which I "dyed" with Sharpie marker; running a Q-tip dipped in denatured alcohol over the markered tape evened out the color really well, and once dried, it is reasonably washfast. I have used Sharpie markers from time to time to get effects on fabric for dolly clothing, such as the specialty motifs for Kenya's dashiki.

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Today I decided that one of my speedy projects would be to make some pressing tools useful for making dolly clothing. I cut a chopstick in half and covered most of it with a layer of wool felt, for pressing sleeves. Then I cut out two vaguely carrot shaped pieces of linen herringbone, stitched and turned them leaving a gap big enough to then very tightly fill the form with wool fleece. This creates a sort of extended sewing ham for pressing skirts and bodices. I expect that these will be in pretty much constant use when I am sewing tiny garments, as their larger cousins are when I am sewing for myself.

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well gosh, my left great toe looks mighty ugly today. The whole area where the chunk of 4x4 hit is an ugly purple bruise. Fortunately it is not very painful, and does not impede my ability to walk or to ride my bike. Wellington would be very annoyed to miss out on his multiple daily walkies!

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It isn't my imagination that it seems like so many more of the folks I know have caught COVID this summer...

Graphic from "Map shows states where COVID levels are "high" or "very high" as summer wave spreads" from CBS Healthwatch...

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pillowcases	nut chopper handle	-
2	yak print	-	-
3	tiny bell-bottoms	-	-
4	tiny camisole	-	-
5	small pressing tools	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. my late friend Larissa gifted me with a blueberry bush when I moved into Acorn Cottage twenty years ago. This year it has been really prolific (compared to prior years), and I've been enjoying picking berries in the morning, and thinking of her...
2. Interlibrary Loan - I was able to get a copy of "A Life Drawing" (the illustrator Shirley Hughes' autobiography)
3. YouTube, where I can listen to and see all sorts of wonderful interviews with people...

Time of Isolation - Day 1486

Thursday thoughts

in which our plucky heroine toddles along...

Spent time the last several early mornings doing various and assorted pruning, cutting back the fig which is starting to overgrow into the good neighbors yard, trimming the flower heads off the nandina, and cutting back the shoots of Wanda plum. Incremental progress is still progress!

After a few days of not-watering, the large potted Oregon Spring tomato was just enough lighter that I could lift it down to the porch floor. I am going to use the luggage cart to roll it into the side yard, next to the clothesline, so I can still check on it frequently, but it can get a bit more sunshine than the shady front porch allows.

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~ do not eat ~
.

Back in 2009 I bought a set of gel paste food coloring, to make a rainbow cake for a "hippie food" theme tween's birthday party. (while I always find the taste of artificial coloring quite abhorrent, no one else seemed to mind?!) Since then, however, rather than for cookery I have used the colors several times to dye wool yarn, when I need small quantities of colors I don't have. In the past I have dyed wool a cheerful orange, to make a Laurel headband for my pal Marya, for example...

I decided that I really wanted some purple yarn to knit a tiny poncho for Kenya, so I got out my little jars of coloring, some white vinegar, the cone of white fingering wt wool, and a saucepan. Before my evening zoom, I measured out 4 yard lengths of yarn, made some mini-skeins, and set them soaking in warm water vinegar bath. Later, after playing alchemist for a bit before bedtime with more simmering water, toothpicks dipped in dye/gel paste, damp yarn skeins, and spoonfuls of white vinegar, I had three different purple bundles of yarn hanging up to dry.

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It is Thursday, which means that the garment for week 6 of the tiny doll wardrobe challenge has been posted -  pants! After checking my dolly clothing tin, all four of mine already have a pair of pants, of various styles. This greatly reduces the number of pairs I will want to make (only a few to send to Kestrel) but gives me a number of examples to share ways to vary the two basic patterns I have used. And maybe an impetus, should I feel inspired, to move forward on making a new denizen of Tansu Terrace, Nandina's father and Kenya's partner Raúl... (I recently found the brown chambray I used making Nandina, which may be a hint that Raúl needs to turn up soon)

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• food for hope: "Trial Results for Longer-Lasting Covid Vaccines and More (Next Generation Update 17)"
• a dangerously wrong turn: "What Went Wrong with a Highly Publicized COVID Mask Analysis?"
• food for thought: "Some Thoughts On The Society For Creative Anachronism" by zzambrosius
• currently reading for fun: "Reaper Man"
• currently listening to: "A Closed and Common Orbit"

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July SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 tiny knit vests	cleaned keyboard	recycle bin
2	tiny cargo pants	pruned grapevine	yard waste bin
3	very smol Birks	horses blouse	recycle bin
4	silkworm print	some more pruning	yard waste bin
5	4 reversible skirts	even more pruning	-
6	Peach tinyprint	x	x
7	8 tiny tops	x	x
8	2 tiny cardigans	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. I picked more blueberries - thinking about pancakes
2. scientists continue to strive for better ways to keep folks healthy in this (and future) pandammits.
3. Sewlarium had packages of 0.9mm white marking leads. I brought some home to use in one of my several Sumogrip mechanical pencils; they fit perfectly. It leaves a very narrow line, less bright and blurry than my chalk marker, but will be most useful for tiny stitchery. I wrapped the barrel of that particular pencil with some washi tape, to better identify it in the pencil jar.

Time of Isolation - Day 1475

faster than a speeding paintbrush

in which our plucky heroine sets a new land speed record...

Finished with the Pelican scroll project! Had I worked on this straight through, it would have taken me several days, as it is, it is done in just a week! I am much happier with it, or at least with parts of it, than I was on Tuesday when I submitted it for feedback.

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~ euphorbia euphoria ~

This one is on the next block, adjacent to the sidewalk... my own euphorbia seems to have greatly died back over the winter, but there are still plenty of them in the neighborhood.

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In the "order self some treats" department, on Wednesday I ordered a .5mm carving gouge from Japan.When it arrives it will be a most useful addition to my linocut tools, for my tinyprints, and hence the hand printed art books I've been making in miniature format. While I can do most of my carving with the 1mm Flexcut gouge, sometimes there are fine lines or details that I just can't manage...

And on a much lesser but also just for fun level, I ordered from Etsy a kit to make 14 miniature Beatrix Potter books, all with printed pages as well as printed covers. The sort of easy but absorbing small projects that are a quick dopamine hit. I plan on giving at least half of them to Kestrel, for her dollies and their library.

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I enjoy a vast array of different* creative activities, all of which involve supplies, tools, and equipment. Aside from the enameling and metalwork that are my vocation, what else is in active rotation varies. What a help it would be if I returned to storing most of the various needful "stuff" in labeled containers, instead of randomly distributed around Acorn Cottage, as the effect of the last four years has been. This may seem obvious to some, but one look around my workroom and it will be apparent this is not what happens here! That had been my intention when I moved here twenty years ago, and when I built the workroom shelves, and the repeated times I reorganised things into boxes.

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April SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	tiny angora print	computer zone lamp	persimmon prunings
2	5th God bag	blog template	forsythia prunings
3	scroll calligraphy	grey turtleneck collar	yard waste bin
4	Pelican scroll	indigo bunny art	recycle bin
5	-	taxes done	-
6	x	redone bag ties	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -

1. yesterday, in the pile of free things sitting under Karla's little free library, there was a nice square metal picture frame almost exactly the size I need. Now I can reframe the print that has been sitting in a plastic frame that lost it's glass, and put it back up on the wall with its friends...

2. Glerups - going on their fifth year and still in good shape. I have vivid memories of that shopping trip I took to a shop over on Hawthorne, back in March 2020, when I thought "oh, this virus thing may have me indoors more than in the past, having some comfortable house slippers might be a treat."

(with some extra gratitude to Sidrea for her pre-pandammit information about how to not get blindsided by what was about to arrive, and to various online bloggers for mentioning Glerups. It might seem odd including bedroom slippers as a prep for pandammit, but anything that has made staying isolated a bit more bearable is invaluable.)

3. the little individual pill holders from Muji, that I'd intended as less ugly med storage but which were too small for that task, are perfect for holding individual colors of gouache paint, with their snap to seal lids keeping the paint from drying out quite as quickly...

Time of Isolation - Day 1384

* sewing, knitting, tablet weaving, book arts, block printing, leathercraft, miniatures, metalwork, vitreous enameling, scribal arts, doll and toy making,...

the sky so blue

in which our plucky heroine enjoys the day...

In dreamland last night, apparently the activity of the evening was a creme bruleé cook-off between various friends. I was just getting to taste test the Earl Grey flavored one that Marya had created when I woke up. Sadly, it was only a dream...

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~ out and about in my neighborhood ~

My neighbor Carla built this artistic sitting spot in her front yard garden a few years ago, between the sidewalk and this impressive edgeworthia. A bit behind and closer to her front door is a wonderfully fragrant daphne, and on a sunny day the scent is just delightful. The seat is embossed with the words "be the kind of person your dog things you are...", and the border between the seat and the sidewalk with the words "be the change you wish to see - practice patience - tolerance - kindness - love -  ☮ " which tells you a bit about my good neighbor Carla...

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Tomorrow I will start on the Stromgard enamels, but first I want to give my enamel workbench a really good clear out. It always astonishes me how quickly the tops of workbenches gather random frelch, detritus, and bits of former projects. Also, I found another lazy susan hidden atop the filing cabinet, and want to make space under the benchtop shelf for it; they are just the right thing when using multiple colors of enamel, as each of the little dishes can be accessed as needed.

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~ C is for creative ~

I've been making six tiny books for the Countdown to Summer Solstice miniature swap and I needed a way to press them while the glue dried (books are about 1" x 1⅛" x 3/16")

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March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	red enamel samples	bathroom undersink access	recycle bin
2	turn buttons	-	yard waste bin
3	6 tiny books	-	recycle bin
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. The light coming back on in the kitchen meant I could confirm which fusebox switch controlled that circut, so eventually I can deal with replacing the light. Once I figure out how to remove the fixture from the ceiling.

2. the paddy cake cats always lift my spirits at least a little bit. It was a rough day yesterday, like most Wednesdays are these days, and I really needed a grin and a giggle...

3. my friend Ursel is coming for a porch visit on Friday afternoon. I am going to bake her a Very Small birthday cake first thing tomorrow. Which will be a nice way to start the day.

4. the rotary blade paper cutter I ordered online Wednesday night arrived on my doorstep this morning. Granted it only needed to travel from the next town on the other side of the West Hills, but UPS can be peculiar, so I am glad. It is indeed just about brand new, and came with some fancy cutters in addition to the basic one.

5. There was enough black cotton velour on the resource shelf for me to cut out 3 sport-style bras, and enough non-roll elastic to make up two of them. I think I bought that velour at least fifteen years ago, maybe more. Over the years it has made leggings, knit tops, and assorted lingerie. It will be hard to find fabric of an equal quality, to eventually replace it as a staple

6. I was able to get outside and do a bit of pruning and cutting back today in the yard. There are a bit less watersprouts on the apple tree, I trimmed some of the overgrowth on the japanese maple that keeps trying to invade the porch, I removed the rest of the nandina berries, and started to cut away the large fern that is far too close to the heat pump. I even managed a bit of progress on removing the moss from the driveway, which is a very very slow process with the metal push broom.

7. I am feeling somewhat less dreadful than I did yesterday. I put in specific effort to pay attention to what is good. And it was amusing to me when I was all focused on pruning the rosemary in the front yard; I heard a gentle thump and looked down to see that The Baby Down The Street had toddled onto the lawn and fallen over into the prunings in my burden cloth. The baby's granny was right behind, and picked them up and dusted them off. We both agreed that the weather today was just about perfect.

Time of Isolation - Day 1342

tinybook Tuesday

in which our plucky heroine is feeling baffled...

so, random house weirdness, this morning the overhead light in the kitchen is on again, after not working at all yesterday. I am tempted to just not turn it off.... at least until I can arrange for replacing the fixture. Which would entail figuring out just how the current fixture is attached to the ceiling. Usually I can suss out how to remove lights, in order to replace them with something more aesthetic and more functional, and have done so almost everywhere else in Acorn Cottage. Ah well, that is a task for some other time, someday in the future, as I have enamel samples to focus on today.

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~ well begun ~

about halfway done with the current tinybook project. The paper strips have been folded and glued into book pages, the end papers cut, folded and added to the blocks, and a gauze reinforcement strip has been glued to the spines. In the back is a single almost completed book, that also has the covers added, the title on the spine, and the decorative stamps on the recto side of the pages. All it needs is whatever "text" I decide to add on the verso side of the pages...

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I very much enjoyed being able to borrow the rotary paper cutter from the Aunties this last weekend. It made cutting the pages for my tiny book project eversomuch easier, compared to laying out all the strips by hand and cutting them with scissors. So... I've ordered one on the FB Market Place, "used" but actually new in box, and it should arrive here sometime next week. My "tool girl" heart is tickled!

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~ more than half done ~

The undersink access panel in the bathroom is completed. I have added two painted wooden turn buttons, to hold the panel securely in place. If access is needed, they can be loosened with a phillips head screwdriver and turned sideways. The hinged panel next to the tub surround can be folded out of the way, and then the handle near the bottom allows the whole panel assembly to be tilted and removed. With luck, I will never again need to do so, but Just In Case, it will be both simple and obvious how to access the undersink plumbing in the wall. Why houses are not built to allow this sort of access in the first place will never not baffle me.

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Month SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	red enamel samples	bathroom undersink access	-
2	turn buttons	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. Had online video chats with three different folks today. This technology is one of my favorite things about living in the future, something that I never imagined would become anything other than a scifi trope.
2. The sun was shining today, and I went out for a good long walk in the middle of the afternoon
3. I cleverly saved some of the paint when I painted the bathroom walls (back in 2012), and continue to use it when either touching up wall dings, or as was the case earlier today, when I needed to improve my original less than ideal cutting in of the paint along the baseboard trim. Assorted very minor improvements yield a surprisingly strong effect on appearance.

Time of Isolation - Day 1341

Wednesday in the workroom...

in which our plucky heroine puts everything else on hold...

The current enameling commision, which is on a timeline, needs to be completed and mailed out ASAP, so until it is done there will be little else happening here at Acorn Cottage, other than basic maintenance of self and surroundings.

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~ everso smol ~
.

This afternoon I started on the smallest enameling I have ever been asked to do. The flower, stamped in the 4 mm silver discs, is only 2½ mm across; even with my lighted magnifier it is hard to see the details. There will be many of these little enamels set as cabachons to decorate a coronet that my friend Bill is making

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Music of the Mediæval and Renaissance - just found a link to this recently, and it will be pleasing to have some new things to listen to while I am working, or cooking, or whatever...

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This morning, between my zoom meetings, I was able to take half the Advent Swap boxes to the post office, and get them mailed out with tracking numbers. The rest will be mailed out on Friday. Fortunately the nice postal clerk was on duty, and was completely unfazed by my peculiar project. He even suggested a possible helpful change for next year, for the tracking, if that option is still available.

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	6 jars quince jelly	glove thumb re-knit	yard waste bin
2	tiny tiger stripe dress	persimmon pruning	recycle bin
3	Elphinore brooch	steamer basket	imperfect cold packs
4	candied quince	shadowbox painted	recycle bin
5	dried pears	fridge bracket gone	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. enamel project is doable... I had concerns
2. I realised that the annoying locking bracket at the base of my fridge (which has been rusting away for the last ten or fifteen years now) might be detatchable. And used my phone to look underneath the fridge. And then used the tiny offset ratcheting screwdriver to back out the screws, and now it is gone for good.
3. I have tools. I have a decent assortment of tools, (if never quite enough). In fact, I am Tool Girl.

Time of Isolation - Day 1238

glue that sticks around...

in which our plucky heroine appreciates adhesives...

The half full jar of "Yes Paste" in my box of glue is apparently at least 35 years old! The store tag on the side of the jar is from a shop in Olympia where I bought art supplies when I was in school. The adhesive is still completely useable, as it worked perfectly to adhere the fancy Japanese paper to the foam core. Color me impressed.

And yes, I do have a box with an assortment of different kinds of glue, everything from 5 minute epoxy, to multiple types of PVA, to the aforementioned jar of paste. It really helps when creating artifacts to be able to choose how to attach things, and were mechanical fastening is not appropriate, what we called "chemical bonding" might do the trick. For those who might find it useful, there is even a website "This to That" which offers advice on what adhesive to use in specific situations

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as we get closer to the deadline for the Advent swap, I've started to decorate the advent shadowbox Acantha sent me last year. The little drawers are now painted, and still need to have their numbers and details added. The outside of the box, and the inside edges of the central portion need to be painted.

I've cut and covered a piece of foam core to make a removable center panel, and will glue two ribbon handles to the bottom edge in case I want to change it out for seasonal decor. Lastly I will add hanging hardware to the back, as there is no fireplace or mantel here at Acorn Cottage... 

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Last night I baked almost all the quinces, in preparation to cutting them into pieces to make more quince jelly and quince paste. Of course, I managed to do this far too late in the evening to also start on the cookery, so the slightly softer fruit are now filling up the produce drawer in the wee fridge. And also most of the bottom shelf. Did I mention that the fridge here is only a bit bigger than a shoebox (really is about the size of two dorm fridges)...

While rummaging around online for "things to do with quinces, I ran across this recipe for panforte. A few of the quinces I currently have are going to become candied quince, which would be splendid in holiday baking. I have never had this particular confection, but given how much I love fruitcake, it sounds interesting. I would (of course) leave off the cloves, and substitute pecans for hazelnuts, and probably cut the entire recipe in half to make a smaller cake to try it out.

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Yesterday I started cutting out the pieces so I can make an embroidered felt brooch of Elphinore, the eponymous character from "Elf Dog and Owl Head". I like having an assortment of small "kits" on hand for pick up work, either embroidery, hand sewing, or knitting.

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I've begun sewing the raincoat lining, and in conversation with my pal Leslie, have figured out best a possibly workable option for dealing with where the lining meets the facing and the outer layer, and for where the lining meets the back neckline. Fingers crossed it all works out. The raincoat project is probably the most complicated thing I have done in years, and it will be in immediate frequent use once completed.

The rest of the sewing I plan for the next year is rather too lopsided to be called SWAP; filling in wardrobe gaps is what is really needed. I want some new lingerie, including several new slips and a few sports bras. I want to replace my lost dark denim hat, and might also make a brown hat and pinafore from the length of chocolate brown linen. It would be great to have a few more pairs of winter leggings, in the interest of moving some knit fabric from the resource shelves into the dresser drawers. And, after almost spilling the can of F&B paint on my lap, it occurs to me that either an apron or a smock to wear when doing messy chores might be useful

November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	6 jars quince jelly	glove thumb re-knit	-
2	tiny tiger stripe dress	persimmon pruning	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. an art store in my neighborhood, that I can walk to, where I have been there often enough that they recognise me...
2. the amazing lifespan of Yes Paste!! (35 years and counting)
3. I had no bad reactions at all to my flu vaccination

Time of Isolation - Day 1225

Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine has a textile sort of day...

This morning during the zoom meeting with my Sewing Nomads pals, the last twenty four yarn ties were added to the patchwork coverlet, and now all that is left to do is apply the bias edge binding. This video seemed to be a useful summary about how to make neat mitered corners, which is not something I often need to ask my edge bindings to do, so a helpful reminder was in order. Lastly I will turn and stitch the folded binding in place by hand, for appearance sake (and also, I will admit, to have another handwork project to do during online meetings).

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~ spiders for spooky season ~

This is a fun option to make some spiders to holiday decor, instead of plastic, make some to save year to year from cotton, wire, glue, and paint... I have a "doorway spider" I made from an old doily and some wooden spheres and pipe cleaners quite a few years ago, but might need to make that one some little friends!

I find many of the cartoons of Nathan Pyle, like this one from earlier this month, to be very amusing indeed!

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The new 4/0 knitting needles arrived today and they are sooo tiny! I have tried them out, and they are definitely small enough to do the job of repairing/re-knitting the mangled glove, but it is like knitting with really long sewing needles! Gives new meaning to the old term "knitting pins"!

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Missed the partial eclipse this morning, as we were A. outside the zone of maximum coverage, B. having a lot of cloud cover, and C. it was right in the middle of my fortnightly Sewing Nomads zoom meeting. 

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October SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	8 jars applesauce	AC taken in for winter	my favorite hat :(
2	leather work gloves	hat toile xp3	yard waste bin
3	10 tiny books	-	some grapes
4	-	-	recycle bin
5	-	-	yard waste bin
6	x	x	recycle bin
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. sautéed mushrooms are a great addition to lamb barley broth
2. I've learned several useful cooking tips while listening to The Wok by J. Kenji López-Alt, and I am only halfway through the audiobook.
3. the little grey bird of persistence, ie repeated phone calls, finally had the tiny 4/0 knitting needles show up in my mailbox today. I think that after many decades, I am becoming somewhat more able to cope with better and more effective at making phone calls to strangers. I still have to "gird my loins" but the process is less daunting...

Time of Isolation - Day 1201

a rather sideways Saturday

in which our plucky heroine takes an angled turn...

After yesterday, I was still a bit off balance, and when I tried to stamp the oak leaf pattern on one of the discs for enameling, somehow the design was reversed on two of the square. I stopped in dismay, and put the enamelwork away for the rest of the day. Fortunately I have some additional sheet stock and can start over. Fire arts require intense concentration. I decided to spend the rest of the day on my printmaking instead...

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~ day 13/100 ~

day 13/100 - The first layer of ink (pale tan) on my first reduction linocut... while I have a LOT to learn, I'm pretty pleased with this beginning. Starting from one of my photos, I've reduced the color layers to five. I've constructed a jig to hold the block and paper in alignment.

I'm not sure the ink I'm using is a good match for the postcard paper, and the postcard paper is cold press, so intended for watercolor rather than for printmaking. But using what is on hand is worthwhile for this experiment. Also, I didn't know that the sharpie ink would transfer from the block to the print. I don't know how long that will continue. Next time I will try using India ink instead. I'm using a baren and a wooden spoon to transfer the ink to the paper.

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The Flexcut Slipstrop seems to be quite effective. I noticed that one of my small vee gouges was becoming obviously duller than when new, and some time honing it on the appropriate surfaces of the strop made a big difference. Having the correct tools to take care of my tools is good.

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day 13 - I spent several hours today over-printing this cotton lawn scarf, using the 2" square blocks I finished carving at the beginning of the month. The scarf is a bit larger than 30" square. It will need to be set aside now for a number of days while the ink cures... I've left about a three inch border on all four sides; not sure if I will print a different design along that space or just leave it plain

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I spoke to Mom today. I try and phone her at least once or twice a week. This was one of the better calls, as she responded to some of my comments...

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May SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	grey canvas hat	front yard mowed	apple tree prunings
2	tiny pomegranate	hooks on drying rack	more dead ferns
3	print drying hooks	scarf printed	recycle bin
4	layer 1/5 linoprint		-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. Flexcut Slipstrop works a charm
2. the square concrete block motifs fit nicely on my scarf
3. Mom still knows who I am

Time of Isolation - Day 1060

Monday miscellany and music

in which our plucky heroine feels rather pleased for a change...

The weekend had plenty of online activity with various meetings with friends, and the 5th 48 Hour An Tir Scribal Backlog Challenge. I'm playing catch-up today, as the kitchen looks rather disheveled and all my normal weekend chores were left in the dust of scribal enthusiasm. I've been rather successful in making progress in several of my avocations, and had a number of regalia orders show up in my email box, which hasn't happened for a while, so yay!

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~ 100 day stitch book project - day 25 ~

Day 25 - simple but hopefully effective, and not quite completed. I will put in some extra time just to finish the embroidered "ripples"...

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Unfortunately, part of Sunday included an optical migraine. Not painful, but the visual disturbance precludes any useful activity that requires my eyes. Which is pretty much all useful activity. Gone now!

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~ Sable Chime progress ~

I am such a slow scribe. My intended entry in the 48 hour An Tir Backlog Challenge did not even get completed pencil drawings for the painted portions by the closing bell, so I am not entering it there for feedback and can share my progress pictures. This Sable Chime scroll, for my friend Elanor is based on the style of the Vaux Passional, with various personal touches she suggested (notice tiny dog at her feet in the portrait). I love being able to consult with the recipient so I can give them a scroll that they will be pleased with.

At this point, having been in a number of the "48 hour" competitions, I know before I start that I will not finish in 48 hours. So I assume that (right from the get-go), which reduces my stress, and instead use the weekend for inspiration, camaraderie, and a "kick in the pants" to get me started on a project. Now I am enthused about doing scribal things again, and look forward to finishing this scroll, and the other backlog projects I have started or promised to make for folks. Finding an exemplar I am excited about is a real bonus; I am looking forward to using more elements from the Vaux Passional in future scrolls!

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Partway through the weekend I realised I'd misplaced my T square, which was most annoying, as it is a very necessary tool to be able to use the Ames Guide for marking out calligraphy lettering. Fortunately I was able to take a walk over to the art store, and they did have a few in stock, though somewhat more spendy (and robust) than my former plastic one. And now I have a Very Nice T Square to use for future scribal projects. I've decided that I also need to make some kind of light table, as taping things to the window only works in daylight... I have ideas about what will work well and be simple and readily storable.

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February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 tiny bird books	soy sauce cruet base	recycle bin
2	semicircular bathmat	reconfigure neckline	yard waste bin
3	-	-	recycle bin
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. I found a new-to-me manuscript exemplar
2. I have an art store within walking distance
3. I am feeling well enough to ride my bike, despite both CrankyKneetm and the cold drizzle, it felt good to get out of the house and be moving around... particularly since tonight it may snow!

Time of Isolation - Day 1072

Saturday snippets and bits

in which our plucky heroine has some extra spoons for a change...

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time in the tinyworld:

wanted to share the photo of the finished miniature SCAdian Viking style camp flag... I erred in my previous measurement, it is actually 2½" wide. I am quite pleased with how I was able to embed the applique stitches within the blue melton cloth so as to be able to have my heraldic badge motif show up clearly on both sides. (flag made from wool melton cloth, wool felt, horsehair, and embroidery floss; flagpole from bamboo lashed with hemp cord)

My next projects will be a book and a painted banner as prizes, and a very small bunch of sunflowers just for fun. While I've not seen tansy growing around here (I am pretty sure it is on the noxious weed list) I did find some small dried up alley plants with centers that look suitable to attempt the same sort of assemblage that the_small_house_project created for this lovely bouquet last year. I will have to add some paint to the dried weed centers, so this afternoon will be about playing with paint and gesso and glue

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Wednesday was also wonderful, as I had a nice long porch visit with Maeva and Ariadne. I was able to send off the various sewing projects for them, in exchange as it were for a box of homegrown produce: Zucchini and beans and Thai basil oh my! (I just finished a super tasty stir fry for lunch today with the last of the beans, and some rice noodles, a handful of frozen emergency chicken, and topped the sauce seasonings at the last minute with the minced up Thai basil) I think I need to add that herb to the short list. It tastes noticeably different than the Italian type... It was so great to have time to just sit and chat. At the very last, before they were off to their next stop, I was able to give them the small double sink originally intended for the kitchen here, it is probably the right size to fit in the remodel of the Ivy room back into a kitchen. I would way rather they have it and use it, than that it sit in my side yard for another decade...

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I splurged and bought a second set of measuring spoons recently. Because the set included "½ Tablespoon" which is something I want often enough that it has become annoying. I often make fractional recipes, because most are for a family of four as a baseline. And since it was a set, and not just that one, I had a lot of extra spoons. The (whole) tablespoon measure is just right for scooping out powdered laundry detergent, and thereby removing yet another minor annoyance... for years I have been using a partial "scoopful" in the washer, since it is one of those front loading HE machines that doesn't need a whole scoop. Eversomuch easier to have a right sized scoop instead of guesstimating!

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Did a tiny bit of pruning again, until the sun came out. Next up will be cutting back Feral Grape so I can reach the grapes before it is yellowjacket season. If it remains cool in the mornings, and I continue to be able to wake up early, I may actually get some of the needful pruning done. I also want to cut back the side yard ferns that keep trying to grab my legs in a most disturbing way.

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Kestrel apron	ironing cart	yard waste bin
2	tiny armchair	shims for molding	recycle bin
3	tiny plate rack	tub trim added	ancient printer
4	four hair snoods	pruned quince + plum	yard waste bin
5	snood and pillow	added bathroom hooks	recycle bin
6	indigo tiger dress	worm bin refreshed	x
7	tiny fairy book	bathroom wall touch-up	x
8	tiny Viking flag	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - this morning was a precursor of autumn, and little Wellington had a nice long walk. Last night it cooled down early, and I was able to get the fans running for several hours before bedtime. Also, looking up whether is was possible to grow the Thai basil plants indoors, I found this blog post which makes it sound not too difficult. I think I shall check and see if the driveway plant sale a few blocks away still has a few Thai basil starts...

Time of Isolation - Day 918