Soft Tree

I've wanted to make a soft tree ever since I first saw them... they're so cute! Well, today I finally made one. I used some more of the fulled thrift store sweater, plus some embroidery wool from an abandoned embroidery project someone gave me:

It actually looks cuter in person. (Of course, I may be biased.) To see more soft trees, check out the flickr group.

So far with this sweater I've patched my slippers (haven't gotten around to taking a photo of them yet... but I also haven't finished sewing the patches securely yet either), made two cases, and this tree. I haven't got much left... I can probably squeak out another tree and a case for my nostepinne, but that's about it. I think I made a good investment with my $4. ;)

Doing Stuff

This morning I washed the shower using a cleaner we got at Organza. It seems to work okay against general dirt and the pinkish stuff I think is due to the algae in the water, but I don't think it'll do squat against mildew. However, it *doesn't* kill my lungs the way other cleaners do. (The scent is annoying, but not lung-searing.) Perhaps if I use it frequently enough, the mildew won't grow?

After my shower I used water from the rain barrel to water the tomatoes and annuals. It looks like there's something nasty growing on the surface of the rain barrel water, but it shouldn't harm the garden in any way. I used most of a barrel today, and the other barrel was already half used from the last time I watered just the tomatoes. We could use some rain to refill the barrels. If I go by Murphey's Laws, it'll rain right after I water the garden with city water.

I feel like doing something, but it's hot out again. Not as hot as it was a week ago, but hotter than I'd like for weeding the garden, especially since it's supposed to be cooler tomorrow.

Pretty pretty cases!

For my swift and niddy noddy:


(My niddy noddy disassembles into several small pieces for storage.) I made both from a fulled thrift store sweater. I love teh shade of green, and how the light green ribbon matches!

Found on Flickr

PrimaryPuzzleBall1

Cool! I must make one! Here's what the craft-artist has to say:

This is a variation on an old traditional pattern. It comes apart in three pieces, like a puzzle, hence the name. I sew these by hand, like my teddy bears. These are very soft and baby-safe and can be thrown in the washing machine when they get dirty.

She sells them on Etsy, but part of the attraction for me is making one myself. :) (I'll have to make one for my prof, too, as a graduation gift for when I eventually graduate.)

Found on Flickr

tda-stormy seas

Lime & Violet had a shop update on Friday. I only discovered it just now. I came *soooooo* close to clicking buy on this one. Someone, please buy this in case I lose my resolve!

Found on Flickr

patchwork cat front

Awwww!

Miscellany

I won a blog contest! Yay! (Too bad she wasn't able to get a definitive answer as to what the yarn was.)

Just for fun, last night I filled out the profile survey at eHarmony... I'm in the 20% they can't help. :P

I finished making a purple thread snowflake at lunch. The purple thread is crunchy, and a royal pain to work with. (Beyond the fact that it's thread.)

Last night I used some of the sweater felt to make a case for my swift, and used some more to start making a case for my niddy noddy. (I already used what I needed for my slippers, which just need a bit more securing of the patches for the current patching job to be called "done".)

I'd like to have a foot rest at work... I think I would be more comfortable with one. I figure I can make one... if I knew what height to make it. Perhaps I'll just guess at the height and slope. On a related note, my legs and feet are still bothering me.

Fluxx's Socks Uncencored

Here are the photos I couldn't show you before:









Here's what Fluxx had to say about them:

They fit perfectly and I love the pattern, the colours, the style - everything! :-)

Yay!

Crochet Socks WIP

Crochet Socks WIP

While I had the camera out anyway...

Plied Silk Handspun

I finished replying the silk handspun that was already plied, then joined the singles and plyed them too. Mmmm... lovely, soft silk handspun!



I think the silk got a wee bit matted when I wet-finished it to set the twist. I guess I should have researched how to set the twist on silk as opposed to wool. It's still nice, and I'm sure it'll bounce back. (That last photo is after I set the twist.) 113 yards = 103 meters of silky goodness. Now... what project to use it in?

(The singles were spun by loopykd, but suffered from a bad case of the tangles. I rescued it.)