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Aging Chickens
When I took my City Chickens 101 class back in 2007, to prepare for the flock I would be getting that year, they didn’t really cover what happens when your chickens get old. The average life span of a chicken is seven years, so when my four Buff Orpingtons turned five, it was something I started to think about. That was four years ago and at nine years old, we just lost our first chicken. Matt and I have been so lucky with these ladies. Aside from some rodent problems, some pecking issues early on (that were fixed by making their coop bigger), one egg bound situation (that was fixed by a warm…
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Completed: Plaid Wool Oslo Cardigan
When I was in NY last fall, I got to visit Mood Fabrics. I made sure to walk up and down every aisle of all three floors so that I at least saw the whole place, but I was so overwhelmed that I only bought one thing. I did pay the wool section a second visit, because I love plaid and was totally enthralled with their selection of plaid wool. They even have a whole section devoted to wool boucle, which at the time I’d never even heard of. One touch and I knew it would be great fabric for an Oslo Cardigan. I didn’t end up with any of the wool that day (the one thing…
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Completed: Owl Sweater
I finally finished the Owl Sweater by Kate Davies Design! In fact, I actually finished this about a month ago. I’m liking that I’ve been blogging about things after I have had a chance to wear them a bit, because then I can talk about how they feel to wear. Pattern- Owls by Katie Davies Design Yarn- Berocco Ultra Alpaca Chunky from Seattle Yarn Alterations and fit- I don’t know if this is the term knitters use, but since I come from a sewing background and I don’t know what the knitting equivalent is or if there is one, I’m going to stick with “alterations”. Unlike my Miette Cardigan, which was knit from the top…
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Striped Boat Neck Lark Tee
I’m a huge fan of the Sewaholic Renfrew Top (and have made a couple of those), but as my quest for the all handmade wardrobe continues and the realization that I mostly wear jeans and t-shirts, I figured it would be nice if all my t-shirts didn’t look exactly the same. The Renfrew can be a bit snug, which I like about the cowl version I made, but I wanted the option of a looser fitting basic t-shirt pattern. I also like the look of t-shirts with no neckband or cuffs and it makes it quicker to put together, so the Grainline Studio Lark Tee was just what I had been looking for. Pattern- Grainline Studios Lark Tee A…
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Skull Dot Carolyn Pajamas
Pattern- Closet Case Files Carolyn Pajamas Fabric- Skull Dot Metallic Black by Sarah Watts from the Cotton and Steel Spellbound Collection from Pacific Fabrics I’m used to buying a maximum of 3 yards of fabric (to make a dress) and 5 yards were required for this pattern, so I was a tad nervous about buying this much fabric. This fabric felt so good in my hands at the store and I loved that the “polka dots” were made up of skulls and moons, so I went for it. This is not the first Cotton and Steel Fabric I have purchased, so I already knew I loved their designs. However, it was the first time I had actually sewn with it and worn it. Since its…
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2016 Goals
Last year, I wanted a better sense of balance in my life. I feel like I achieved that by making some big changes, such as getting a new job and being more choosy about what I do with my free time. I’ve been purposely trying to move towards quality over quantity, so this year “intention” feels like it should be the word of the year. From the ads I place for work to the garments I sew, I want everything to be well-thought out and intentional. I believe it will lead to a better end product and a greater sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. GARDENING With that said, I’m going to take it easy on the gardening goals…
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2015 Year in Review
Even though this blog can feel like a chore at times (I admit it), I’m always glad I took the time to document the important stuff. I’m especially thankful at the end of a year and the beginning of a new one, because it feels good to look back at previous year’s goals and review. In 2015, I didn’t totally stick to the list, which is fine, goals can morph and change, but I still feel like I accomplished a lot. Here’s how I did in 2015. GARDENING 2015 Gardening Goals- Grow my usual crops and preserve some of it– Check. 5 1/2 pints of tomato basil jam (canned) 6 1/2 pints of jalapeño…
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Holiday Gift Idea- Quilted Potholders!
Every year, I post something holiday gift related. This year, I have another fun and easy handmade gift idea for you: quilted potholders! I have made quite a few of these for friends, family, craft sales and myself. I have a very well-loved (i.e. a little food stained) potholder in my kitchen that I use everyday, so these potholders are pretty and functional! These potholders are quilted, have a pocket and loop and are finished with binding. Since the way I do the binding is best explained visually, I’ve included a couple of videos for this tutorial. Part 1 shows how I do the quilting and has tips for marking lines, using a walker foot…
