WIP Wednesday

It's Wednesday and it's all about Works in Progress :) I'm hoping to make this a weekly feature. These weekly posts will not only cover my crafty endeavors, they'll also cover my schooling, exercising/health and updates on my ongoing journey to become a more grounded and happy person. So, let's get the show on the road! I have a couple of knitting projects going on. They're both smaller projects for special people in my life :) First up is the "Summer Breeze" strappy top for Adeline. I'm knitting it in Nashua Ivy. It's dreamy, drapey alpaca and sparkle yarn. I modified the amount of stitches I cast on to fit Adeline's small frame. I previously knit one for Azalea. She loves it!!! I'm planning to finish off Adeline's top with some cutesy popscicle buttons I got from the ever fantastic and whimsically wonderful Nim of Rude and Reckless.

As you can see I don't have much done. However, it is quick knit and a great take-a-long project. Next up in the knitting category is cowl I'm knitting for the aforementioned Nim. This girl is amazing, she gives me the warm and fuzzies everytime I think about her. We've only met once but I consider her a dear friend! She is thoughtful, kind, funny, witty, intelligent, super crafty and has impeccable taste in desserts. So, to show her my appreciation I'm knitting her the "Honey Cowl" in some handspun pure silk yarn called "Seafoam" that I spun a few weeks ago. I'm knitting the shorter version as I only have about 240 yards. The yarn is a lovely slightly thick and thin single ply of incredible softness. As I was knitting it, I realized that the stitch pattern resembled the scales of a mermaid tail. Nim and I are both avid fantasy enthusiasts. So, "Mermaid Scales" it is :)

That's it for knitting! On to SPINNING! I also have two projects going on. I picked up my drop spindle after months of not using it. I started to feel the itch for my trusty ol' drop spindle. I love how portable drop spindles are and the fact that they are so simple to use. Both of the fibers I'm spinning are from Storied Yarns. Jess, the owner, cleverly creates her yarns and fibers after characters it books and movies. I am an avid book reader. Needless to say, this wasn't my first nor last purchase from Jess. Up first is "The Other Mother" a lovely Coraline inspired batt of BFL, Merino, sari silk, Firestar and other wools. It is incredibly lofty and soft with just the right amount of texture. It has been a joy to spin.

Next up is "Halloween Town" a squishable Nightmare Before Christmas inspired BFL roving. I LOVE the veritable kaleidoscopic of colors in this roving. The colors are saturated but I haven't encountered any felted bits that can sometimes happen with super saturated fibers. The picture definitely doesn't do the colors justice. Unfortunately, the battery for my camera was dead. I'll try to update with a better picture. I am really proud of the spinning for this yarn. I've mostly been spinning textured yarns as of late. However, the yarn I'm producing is crazily even and thin. I'm planning to navajo ply it to preserve the pretty color transitions.

I should mention that both of these fibers were custom made for me because I bought the "Large Surprise Package full of Yarn OR Fibery Goodness" listing in her store. I got a perfectly tailored box of goodies. Last up for my crafty WIPs is a little bit of embroidery I've been working on intermittently. It's nothing special, just a sampler on a small throw pillow cover. The pattern and pillow cover are both from Sublime Stitching.

My life is my most time intensive and serious WIP. I've dedicated myself to getting healthier physically and mentally. As of late my life has been like a roller coaster. As a result my depression, anxiety and agoraphobia flared up. I also found out that I'm prediabetic and have prehypertension. Yikes!!! That is some scary stuff. My first instinct was to just curl and basically withdraw into my shell. But, I managed to pull the pieces of myself together. I've implemented daily exercise, meditation, deep breathing, journaling, positive affirmations and healthy eating. I feel so much better!!! I am slowly but surely getting my life back in order. I am able to leave the house without having a total melt down. I feel like a human again. My endurance has increased immensely and I've lost over 20 pounds. I'm still a WIP but I'm one step closer to actualizing the woman I want to be :)

My oldest and I :) I've also stretched my septum and lip holes ;) Only bit. But, a little is better than nothing. My septum is up to 10 gauge and my lip holes are 14 gauge(they weren't really a stretch at all) I'm not sure how much larger I'll go. Stretching is addictive! I'd like to get my septum to at least a 6 gauge and my upper lip piercings to at least an 8 gauge.

I'm really close to graduating. That has brought on some serious contemplation about my future. What do I want to DO?! I THINK (lol) I've narrowed it down to either a museum curator or librarian for a large academic/research library. Well, I think this post substantive enough! I've got to get the kiddos off to bed :)

Button, button, who's got the button?

I finally figure out how to put a scrolling button thinga-ma-jig on my blog. Well, actually, the dh did. He is much more computer and html savvy that I am. Speaking of buttons, I really want to make myself a button. But, I have no idea how to make it or what it should look like. I really want a whole new layout for the blog, too.

Anyways, I am feeling better this week. I started eating healthier and exercising everyday. Let me tell you, it is doing me a world of better! I also registers for the fall semester this morning. Me and the dh are taking 2 classes together, Bio 11 and Poli Sci 1. Fun, fun. I am also taking Math 50 (elementary algebra. LMAO I SUCK at math!!) and Cultural Anthropology. I am going to be taking a break from swapping starting in August. I am going to have to out all my attention on the kids and school.

I also wanted to thank all of you for sharing your kinds words,thoughts and experiences in the last post. It meant A LOT to me. Thank you! It is nice to know that there are people out there that care and have been where I am and have survived :) You ladies do indeed rock!

My car is in the shop for the second time within a week. This time it is because it didn't pass smog. Ugh. I had to pass up an awesome spinning wheel so that we'd have the $ to pay for my lovely P.O.S. But, I really do love my car. She is an older model Volvo station wagon and she is awesome! Her name is Turbo Betty. I am in love with Volvos!! My first car was a super old rust-orange Volvo named Vera :)

My partner received for the punk baby swap. I'll be posting pictures of the awesome stuff I made her.

I'll also be running the giveaway later today. So, keep a look out!!

Busy, busy, busy!

I thought that with school out(for me) I would have much more free time. Not so. lol I have managed to fill up my time with reading and crafting. I'm currently reading the latest installment of the Merry Gentry series, Divine Misdemeanors, by Laurell K Hamilton. What can I say, I loves me a good smutty supernatural read! :) I also want to catch up on the all the good vampire reading out there. It has been a while since I've started a new series. And as always I am crafting away. I'm finishing up the items for the Punk baby swap. Everything is coming along great! I'm still toiling away on the Yarnie Scavenger Hunt Swap. But, I've got about two more before send outs. And I have all my recipes for the Recipe Swap. I have a bunch of secrets written down for PostSecret Swap. And for the biggest swap yet... the Litha/Personal swap with the awesome Andréann from Aux Demilunes. I am SOOOOO very, very excited for this swap. We have been talking of doing a personal swap for a while now. So, we are combining it with the Litha/Midsummer swap. She is so damn talented and nice to chat with, plus we have very similar tastes. I have a couple items started and a whole list of ideas!

Yesterday the family took a trip to the Devil's Punchbowl County Park. I thought it would be fun to get outdoors and go on a nature excursion before it becomes unbareably hot. We decided to do the mile long course because what's a mile, right? Pssshhh! A piece of friggin cake, that's what. HAHAHAHAHAHA!! In hindsight I laugh at such foolishness. What was I thinking? A mile hike with 3 kids, 2 of which are under two years old. The first half was great, pretty level if not gradually downhill. About the halfway mark the baby carrier was getting heavy and I started getting the sneaking suspicion that the rest of the leg was going to be uphill. This was also around the time Azriel started whining he was tired ans Azalea started screaming for juice and I started having a good ol' panic attack. I can look back and laugh now. But, I swear I wanted to punt the kids into the stream (except for the baby who didn't cry once!) I had to practically drag Azalea the rest of the way up the hill while she screamed bloody murder for her bear that we left in the car. But, we made it after having to crawl on hands and knees up a sandy slopes, at points. But, you know what? I had fun!! lol It felt good to be outside and using my body. Next time I'll make sure to research the trail a bit more :)

Crafty like ice is cold!

I know that is has been a while since I've posted. Finals are over and I totally aced them!! Go me! ^_^ Here's a couple of things I've been up to lately...

Carrot Cake sandwich cookies. I based them off of this one, with some slight modifications.




Pretty Sari Silk that I spun up



Some embroidery



and a little sewing...

You spin me right round, baby right round like a record, baby. Right round round round.

I've started spinning. And I must say that IT is uber fun and addicting! I love it. I started out with some beautifully lush alpaca roving.


Drafted it



Spun it


Prepared it for dyeing and setting the twist. I wrapped the mini skeins around an 18 inch ruler so I could easily calculate the yardage. One full wrap around the ruler = 1 yard.


I forgot to take pictures of the dyeing process. But I used Kool-aid, a bit of vinegar (to help the color take faster), hot water, my crock pot and some patience. Here are the mini skeins hanging in the bathroom drying.


And here are the finished mini skeins.


It was a great process.It was relaxing and addictive. I would seriously recommend everyone try it. Its easy to get started, not very expensive, relaxing, and not to mention historical. I'm actually planning on making my own bottom whorl drop spindle from a CD soon.