YAY NEW HOBBY (April 11, 2011)

I made my first batch of cold-process soap!!!!!  It wasn't too bad at all.  The worst part was trying to get the SOLID palm kernel oil out of a 2 inch opening.  I ended up sitting the 7 gallon jug in a pot of hot water....and also shoving a knife in there trying to get it out.  I am going to have to look for a giant tupperware container....because that was possibly the most annoying thing I've done in the past year.  That way, I can melt it all at once, and then just scoop it out.

Working with lye was a little scary... I was scared to death that some of it would fall out and I wouldn't see it.  I pretty much sprayed the whole area in vinegar to neutralize it.  I mixed the lye into the water outside....and totally wore this:





I totally forgot to add the fragrance when the soap was still in the pot.  I tossed it in once the soap was in the mold and whisked it through.  I added only half the recommended fragrance....not because I was afraid the scent would be too strong, but because watching the fragrance oil come out drop by drop was excruciating.  It will be interesting to see if the fragrance holds.

I didn't get my color pigments yet....but I didn't want to wait any longer.  I pulled out the Hershey's baking powder, and used that to make some of the soap brown.  All of the books recommend not trying to use color in your first batch...but why would I listen to that?  My swirl was far from perfect...there is definitely an art to it.  Unfortunately, I tried to move the mold immediately, and the soap shook a little and messed up the twirls a bit.  Blah.  Whatevs.  OMG PICTURES.

Old Pantyhose Dolls. Ew! (November 26, 2010)

We went to my aunt's for thanksgiving, and she produced the creepy pantyhose dolls!  They are even worse than I remember.

Behold:





It also looks like I used a rubber band to create the nose.  It likely never occurred to me that it would eventually break.  And yes, I just used some blue marker for the eyes.  And stuffed it with cotton balls.



We've moved up to button eyes and yarn hair!  But we've lost hands.  Not sure if that's a wash.



I actually remember this one quite well.  It was a pattern that I cut out, and then cut fabric to match the pattern.  Of course I hadn't the slightest idea how to sew.  No one I knew did things like that at the time.  In fact, if a coat lost a button....we probably just got new coats.

So anyway, there are the aforementioned dolls.  BTW, I would like to confirm that is indeed a word.

Bird Dish Towel for Dot (November 25, 2010)

Dot is my mom.  Yes, we often call her Dot instead of "mom."  (Yes, I used the correct punctuation.  I am deliberate, people.)

This is a pattern from the Sublime Stitching Craft Pad.  I've modified it a touch because parts of it were irritating to me.

Owl Softie (November 25, 2010)

I like owls.  I like little dolls.  I like creepy things.  Apparently, I used to make little dolls for my aunt out of pantyhose.  It probably wasn't even clean pantyhose.  But I digress.

I saw a design for an owl and Raccoon softie in an Aimee Ray book, and I took the basic outline and then went my own way with it.  Rules hurt my heart.  I didn't plan what I was going to do...I kind of made it up as I went along.  I was initially thinking of putting a big bug on the belly, but I ultimately decided that would be too much and that I would save the bugs for another project.  I've got lots of ideas for bugs.  Don't worry.

Cabbage Patch Kid Rescue Part 3 (November 15, 2010)

Alllll done!  Don't they look nice?  I bought the Spanish CPK outfit from eBay... and the purple one from Etsy.  Somehow, they only look right in their original outfits, though.  I also bought a lot of shoes from eBay...so I'll get them on as soon as they arrive.

Getting Organized (November 11, 2010)

Do I usually do titles in "title case"?  I can't remember.  Also, I KNOW you're supposed to include the ending punctuation within the quotes if it ends the sentence, but that annoys me.  I wasn't trying to say "title case?"...I just wanted to say "title case".  See what I did there?  I defied it again.

Anyways, I finally organized all my embroidery shit.  I am exceedingly proud of myself.  Here is how I was working before:



Notice the "floss organizer" underneath the pile of floss.  I bought that as a possibly organizing technique...but when I realized that would require me to hand-wind every floss color around a stupid "bobbin" in order to fit in the case, I eschewed that plan.  I hate the word bobbin, too.

Enter this awesome (even if grossly colored) new carrying case!!!!  Plus, it was an extra bonus for being on clearance for $10.  I am all about it.  Again...so proud of myself.  (But this rarely happens, so let me milk it a little bit.)







Of course, I ran out of the floss-stretcher-thingies, but I'll go get more today after my mom comes over.  I don't mind shopping with Big G, but it's sooooo easier to make a ton of little stops without having to strap her in and out and in and out and in and out of the car seat, cart, stroller.  I'll bet you got tired just reading that.

Cabbage Patch Kid Rescue Part 2 (November 10, 2010)

The fan-drying method worked just fine!  The cat was pissed, though.  My only complaint is that the fabric and yarn does not feel as soft as I think it should...almost too dry.  On their faces, I used a combination of Magic Eraser (but I avoided the paint) and Bon Ami with a toothbrush on the painted areas.  I have such an irrational fear of Magic Erasers, because WHAT MAKES THEM SO MAGICAL?  Seriously, those things can remove any stain from ANYTHING.  HOW????  I always wash my hands after I touch them.

Anyway, here are the CPKs all clean and dry.  The preemie is already hanging out upstairs in her preemie outfit.