Meadery

Part of my craft room has now been devoted to brewing mead. It's not my project, but R's. The first batch has been bottled and is now aging. Here's a couple pictures of the next batches. Mead is made, at its simplest, from the fermentation of honey. Other things can be added to it like fruit and spices to make different kinds. The latest is blueberry.

WIPs for April

I haven't actually started much lately, since I've had so many things on the go. Here's a few of the in progress projects: Watermelon socks! I'm half done the second one. They're a bit tight though, with the way the heel is done, so I'm probably going to give them to someone with smaller feet. Okay, so this isn't anything started quite yet, but this is the next thing I'll begin. I'm not entirely sure what this ball will end up being, possibly armwarmers, possibly socks, but I love rainbows. So it'll be for me. This is part of a package I'm putting together for my new nephew. I've got some booties ready for buttons, too. Unforunately, the other grandma (not my mom) is a knitter and so they need more knitted goods like a hole in the head, but I want to contribute. I've also got most of a sweater (ugly, as usual, and patternless) done, and I've started working on a present for my brother and his wife for their wedding, but I can't show that one just yet.

What do you see?

I like drawing abstract things. I usually start with a doodle, which becomes more elaborate as I continue. Eventually it will start to look like something, and then I'll go with that. Most of the time though I just add in what I think it needs, and it ends up looking okay. Sometimes text is involved, which means it's not so abstract. It's funny though--I never liked abstract art when I was younger, but now I quite enjoy it. To me, my drawings are like a rorschach ink blot. You can look at it and see anything, and that will tell you something about your current state of mind. I also think the act of drawing them is a similar tool. Sometimes, when I'm confused about something, I'll just start doodling and in the eventual picture I'll see how I feel, and sometimes the confusion will lessen. Anyway, here is my latest. What does it look like to you?

Soooaaaaap

I made soap again a few weeks ago; this time I tried to dye it again and it sort of behaved, though is more of a yellow brown than what I was going for, which was green. Note to self: green and blue food colouring dyes do not work with lye. The scent is there though, which is a green tea and cucumber essential oil I found at Michael's. I don't think I really like it much, but it's better than the scent of the regular soap, which I'm now sick of. It's also not done reacting yet. Last night I tested the pH and it's still a wee bit basic. Though I may have had too much soap in the water. I'll have to try it again on the weekend, when it's officially done curing. Next soap flavours I'm going to try: chocolate; vanilla; lemongrass and sage; many of other things.

New Cross-stitch

Another anime-type cross-stitch. I thought this one was really cute. Again, I found it at the Pelican Market. I wonder if they have more... they're relatively cheap and a nice thing to do when watching TV or whatever, when I'm sick of knitting and crocheting. I keep wanting to make up my own cross stitch patterns. Maybe one day I will! For now I'll make these, which I will probably never do anything with.

Citron Shawl

So, I felt like making another shawl, and although I had a different pattern in mind, this one turned out to be the one I made. It's somewhat small but that's all the ball of wool allowed for. I just need to find a nice pin for it, and then I can do something with it. I don't know what yet. Made using 1 skein of Zauberball in Cafe Flair. Pattern can be found on knitty.com

Recently...

I have made stuff, I just haven't had time to take pictures and post it. Things I've made (or are in progress) recently are: -Citron shawl (knit) -More soap -Laundry detergent -Watermelon socks -Tiny pants for baby -Brown sweater object -Easter surprise I've also planted seeds in an indoor greenhouse thingy. They're growing like crazy! I love plants. R. has also been making mead (fermented honey, similar to wine and beer). Three batches so far, and the first turned out okay. He's also just finished a nice shelf for the bedroom. I think I might take pictures of these things and post them, when I get around to it. We're a crafty pair ;)