marmalade Monday

in which our plucky heroine feels wistful...

Today I woke up early. I assembled a few more panels of the raised bed for the backyard, and took them outside. I think I need to put out a few more pieces of cardboard, now that I am looking at the actual size. I spent about two hours (mostly on hold) sorting out some bill payment foo that should not have happened in the first place. I dropped off one of the miniature bedroom stoves for the neighbor girl, who has her own miniature world.

I then went for a walk around the neighborhood in the middle of the day, and then I was so tired that I took a nap. The nap was too long, and I slept til past dinnertime. So I had salad for dinner, because vegetables. I am still sort of stumbling in the darkness, the uncertainty of this ongoing isolation is difficult to navigate. There are the ongoing issues of Aged Parents, the sense of being on a downhill slide, and missing my friends and family terribly much.

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~ creativity challenge: goodbye ~

This has been a wonderful month long challenge to start off 2022, and I will miss spending part of each day thinking about how to interpret the prompt. Almandine is a bit sad to see all the fun ending, but I have reassured her that there will still be photos, albeit not quite as often...

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Last night I put up eight large jars and four small jars of organic blood orange marmalade. I've an organic pomelo sitting on top of the fridge that will be turned into candied peel (once I eat the fruit inside), and that will likely be it for citrus season preserving for 2022.

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	recycle bin
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	tansu drawer glued	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	tiny picnic table painted	x
9	tiny wood stove	foamcore dividers	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - so many people have told me that they enjoyed what I posted for the last month, the photos of the tinyworld where Almandine and Nandina live. It may only be a little bit of brightness to bring to the hurting world, but every fragment helps.

lost in the sea of holes

in which our plucky heroine has an exercise in frustration..

some holes are helpful, others are not.

The good part is that I have started a new Alabama Chanin style kerchief, in dark and light grey, and it will be a pleasant handwork project, once the ink has stabilised. (that happens more quickly in the summer, as warm air helps the process) Right now the oil based ink is still too sticky for me to really handle the fabric.

OTOH, I have begun putting the VEGO raised bed pieces together, which requires lining up dozens of sets of holes. I so wish I had longer arms, or tentacles, or a helper. I am taking it really slowly, in the interest of not causing Grouchy Knees, and not losing the nuts/bolts/washers. I think, given how often I drop the dang bits, that my decision to do at least part of the assembly in the house is a good choice. Hardware dropped on the ground outdoors is gone forever. Assembly is taking a good deal longer than the hour or two mentioned in the reviews. Once it is done and in place, it will be quite splendid and useful, but this process is very challenging

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The discarded freezer paper stencil has great visual interest, though I know I will also enjoy having another decorative headscarf once that betwixt-time sewing project is finished in a week or two...

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~ creativity challenge: weather ~

"weather" - today has turned rather blustery, so Almandine borrowed Nandina's coat and Coriander's hat, and is looking out past the front porch trying to decide if it is wise to attempt a walk...

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	recycle bin
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	tansu drawer glued	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	tiny picnic table painted	x
9	tiny wood stove	foamcore dividers	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - I have very vivid memories of the first time I saw Yellow Submarine when it was initially released in theaters... I have, of course, seen it several times since then...

"A" my name is Almandine...

in which our plucky heroine overdid it...

To go from my usual 1½ to 2+ miles to almost 6 was probably not wise. I was talking on the phone, and the miles flew by without my noticing. Until I was back home and the conversation ended. Now I am painfully sore, and wish it was bedtime already!

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Blood oranges simmered yesterday, cooled down all night, today they are being chopped, the peel minced, the whole mixed with sugar and turned into a bright marmalade for the rest of the year... first of the seasonal preserves and a signal it is time to think about some pantry clearing and "declutter" (not that pantry contents are usually clutter, but there are things that one forgets to use in a timely way)

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~ creativity challenge: items that start with the first letter of your doll’s name~

"A" is for: Almandine, wearing an apron. Also for apples, and artichokes, and Akita. And in addition, an awl, and acorns large and small, and antelope and agouti...

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	recycle bin
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	tansu drawer glued	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	tiny picnic table painted	x
9	tiny wood stove	foamcore dividers	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - I managed to walk almost six miles today. Might have been was too big a jump from my usual, but hey, while I am tired and sore, and want to have an early bedtime, I am not yet incapable. I imagine that with continued effort I can get to where my body improves in ability.

a few Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine languishes towards February...

Today's photo prompt (in/with a hand) was difficult to come up with a good image for, but I appreciate the daily challenge for getting my brain turning over. Have been wondering where to find some other daily challenge for February.

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well that was good... the grocery had organic blood oranges available, so there will be some marmalade making in my future, and the pantry will be replenished.

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Figured out today that the cardboard box(es) that the raised bed planter pieces were shipped in, will, when cut in half the long ways, make layers of cardboard that will be just the right amount to put underneath the assembled planter. This pleases me.

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Am making slow progress on my calendar drawings, finally at the halfway point. Six down and six more to complete, then it will be on to layout and pasting up the master pages so I can take it to the copy store to print it out...

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~ creativity challenge: in/with a hand ~

a bird "in a/(the) hand" - the raven from my Viking Playmobil people, who usually stays with the wee felt frost sprites, was very curious about this larger visitor...

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	recycle bin
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	tansu drawer glued	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	tiny picnic table painted	x
9	tiny wood stove	foamcore dividers	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - fingers crossed it all goes well, but I should receive a new replacement saucepan for my new-but-flawed 3 qt birthday gift pan. I phoned Cuisinart customer service this morning, and after about a 45 minute hold (extra gratitude for hands free "speaker phone" capability) I talked with a clerk and it seemed straightforward to arrange. It was only the second time I used the pan, when some kind of foamy watery stuff began oozing out from the seam between the base and the pan as soon as I heated it up; I suspect a flawed weld is allowing water from when the pan is washed to collect inside! Stay tuned for future developments!!

Thursday thoughts

in which our plucky heroine cogitates...

I've had some discussions with folks about Disney, and other various ubiquitous media of childhood. Mostly because friends were telling me that they thought I would enjoy the new film "Encanto", despite my long-held stance that I dislike most of what the mouse produces and sells. So I watched it, and did in fact enjoy the music, found some but minimal meta-content to disagree with, and was surprised that there was a sprinkling of realistic darkness included.

That said, I stand by my intense dislike of older "classic" Disney content. That there was no popular positive paragdim for single/solitary women when I was a child is a pain that echoes down the years/decades/aeons. Our commonly known western "fairy tales" (that were mined by Disney) are no better. Anyway the discussions were interesting, though I would love to know what other non-partnered women think.

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~ creativity challenge: wearing someone else’s clothes or shoes.~

Well, earlier today while I was listening to some tunes from 1968, Almandine is echoing my rather vintage mood, in this case wearing the dashiki and leather vest that Nandina's mother Kenya wore back in the the day. Almandine also took Nandina's own boots, perhaps as a hint I might think about making her a pair of her own...

I've also been considering if I need to actually make Kenya so she can come and visit. I just found some nice dark brown fabric when searching the resource shelves.

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	recycle bin
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	tansu drawer glued	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	tiny picnic table painted	x
9	tiny wood stove	foamcore dividers	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - This afternoon K was willing to be my body double while I worked on my calendar drawings.  Alas they won't be done by Feb 1... I had hoped at least to have the calendars in peoples mailboxes by the start of Year of the Tiger. But, I am grateful that my friends like me for who I am, for what I do, and not for my exacting promptness. Besides, who wouldn't love a surprise calendar in February! It can be a valentine, instead!!

thimble toggle

in which our plucky heroine appreciates good luck ...

as previously metioned more than once, I keep losing my thimbles, but fortunately I can easily make new ones. Over the last week, I've somehow found most of the ones that have gone missing over the previous year, and now I have five! I also realised that I can store them with a smaller version of how I store canning jar rings, or TP - a cord and toggle is a handy way to store anything that is toroidal. So one of today's tasks is to create just that!

I also found my missing computer glasses, which I had apparently set down for some reason atop a pile of dark grey and black fabric on the shelf. Whew! life will be easier if I can see the screen clearly.

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Still cogitating about how to fine tune the pattern for my jacket/raincoat... It wants, I think, to be a bit less of a swing coat in the front, but to have some more ease in the back. Sleeve pattern is too long by about 3". Front armscye needs to come forward at least another inch or two, ditto on the top of the shoulder, but not in the back armsceye at all. Wondering about adding in more width at the center back, which would require adding width as well to the shawl collar center seam. I am very tempted to do some pattern alteration and then cut out a new wearable muslin, rather than try to do all of this to the current one... I mean, why not get it really the way I want it, rather than only pretty close. It already fits better than RTW, but that is a low hurdle.

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~ creativity challenge - tiny ~

My first thought for "tiny" was that the very most wee of Felt Wee Folk I've made would be my choice. "Spring Rhubarb" is a tiny sprite doll I made for Coriander (my Obitsu doll), back in 2009. I used the inspiring book by Sally Mavor as my guide, but scaled everything down. Spring Rhubarb is only 3" tall from her toes to the point on the end of her hat.

Then my attention was drawn to my only collection, the group of (20 so far, all different) Very small Maneki-Neko cats... All of them are less than an inch tall, and the smallest one of all, here sitting on the picnic table, is only 12mm (about ½") I've thought about creating a set of shelves to hold my collection, and putting it in one of the houses when they are completed.

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	recycle bin
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	tansu drawer glued	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	tiny picnic table painted	x
9	tiny wood stove	foamcore dividers	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - when I returned to my bicycle after a bit of grocery shopping, the store guard told me that he managed to chase down the person who tried to steal my bicycle seat! Usually I try and lock the bike in front of the store, but there were no ready spots, and there are always lots of empty spaces on the far side of the building... I had been confused why the seat was so loose when I attempted to move the bike; I never realised that the bike seat also had a quick release just like the wheels (I lock the wheels whenever I lock the bike). What use would my very raggedy and worn out 20+ year old bike seat be to a thief; I cannot imagine it would be pawnable? Still, I was most grateful to the guard for his effort, it would have been very annoying to have to walk my bike home, and to have to replace the seat...

tiny Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine wonders if you are getting tired of seeing pictures of my tiny friends... I've been really enjoying the daily photo prompts this month from Tiny Rag Doll Nation, and I am not sure what activity I will replace this with when January is done.

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BIG little porringers: A box addressed to Almandine and Nandi(na) was on my front porch. I have no idea who sent them this impressive matched set of pewter porringers (further research shows that these are salt cellars) and spoons... The bowls are about the size of kitchen sinks (not 1:12 scale, not 1:6 scale... I think these are sized for 18" play dolls) so perhaps the tiny folks need to plan on cooking for a crowd!

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just got a phone call from the shelter that the dog I submitted an application for is on hold to be adopted... they got lots of inquiries so unless that adoption fails, he will be going to a different home. The shelter worker spoke with me and what she had to say about his potential home sounds really positive. Person has Akita experience, has another female Akita who she has trained as a therapy dog, and the meet and greet went really well. What matters most is that he goes to a good home, whether or not that is with me...

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~ creativity challenge : desk ~

Currently, Almandine is using the brand new picnic table as a desk. I found an inexpensive unfinished rough wood picnic table at the local art store, and since it was the right scale, decided to kitbash it into a more pleasing state. I carefully cut popsicle sticks to the right size and shape to overlay the horizontal tabletop and bench supports, so as to give a more 3D effect. Once those were glued in place, and the excess curved wood cut away, the little table was much improved. A coat of green paint did the rest, and now my tiny friends have someplace to sit and eat, or write, or whatever needs done at a table rather than sitting on the couch...

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	recycle bin
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	tansu drawer glued	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	tiny picnic table painted	x
9	tiny wood stove	foamcore dividers	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - I have some Gruyere cheese in the fridge, and two pounds of onions in my produce box today... can you say French Onion Soup for supper?

Monday musings and miscellany

in which our plucky heroine takes a chance ...

Yesterday I submitted an application to adopt a shelter dog, a young Japanese Akita-inu. Won't know for a while even if my application is accepted, but since the shelter is local, it would be possible to make a visit to meet the dog (which would be difficult for me to arrange for shelters say, in California). I have been thinking recently that well, this is my life, I don't get a do over, so I can choose to have a life with a companion animal again, or not... I think my life would be better and some animal would have a better life, if I chose not to be completely solitary. It might be this dog...

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~ creativity challenge - organized ~

this prompt is quite timely, as I just organised a lot of my miniature artifacts and all the tiny folks clothing, into the trays of this vintage picnic tote... I made and and added a set of some simple interior dividers from a scrap of foamcore board. This is a better storage solution that will both free up two tansu drawers and make it easier to find their outfits. Now I need to figure out how to organise and tidy the miniature food items, ideally into the lowest and largest of the storage trays...

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	recycle bin
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	tansu drawer glued	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	tiny picnic table painted	x
9	tiny wood stove	foamcore dividers	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - My raised garden bed panels arrived today. The box was so heavy that I had to walk it into the house corner by corner, and will need to bring the panels out into the backyard one at a time in order to assemble it in place.  Today I went out in the yard and paced out the spot I want it,  which will fill in nicely between the self-watering planters and the apple tree...

snippets, and a stove

in which our plucky heroine dallies in the tiny world...

The world at large continues to feel dreadfully challenging. I wonder if I will ever feel hopeful again. I read about people I know either being ill, or conversely, being what I consider recklessly careless. Today, while I was out for a walk, I petted an orange cat that came right over to the edge of a wall and obviously asked for and welcomed the attention. It has been ages since I touched another living being.

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In a crack between the sidewalk and the Green Zebra Grocery, a dandelion was blooming today. Even despite my allergy, the combination of color and determination was cheering. Yesterday I walked to the art store and went inside for about ten minutes to buy some art paper. I found a tiny picnic table in the section of "random small wood things to paint with craft paint", and it was just the right size for my tiny friends. I had to buy it, and I think with a little sanding and refurbishment, it will be just the thing. What color to paint it, though??

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Since the photo prompt for today was "cooking" and my tiny friends have pots and pans and dishes but no stove (as of yet), I decided that this Ann Wood tutorial for an antique bedroom stove would be a fun afternoon project. I had all the very simple materials (cardboard, paper egg carton, wood glue, toothpick) on hand, even some narrow polyester lace in the "random small trimmings" box. While I didn't have any matte black paint, I did have a jar of black gesso, which worked perfectly. Rather than using a toothpick piece as the stove door handle, a small coil of wire seems more reminiscent of the coiled wire stove handles I have seen on full size stoves. This small stove will likely end up in the attic of Caer Cardboard. 

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~ creativity challenge : cooking ~
>

the new stove is not (yet) installed in either house, so Almandine decided to cook dinner in the workroom!

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	recycle bin
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	tansu drawer glued	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	x	x
9	tiny wood stove	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - All the various people who share their knowledge freely in the pixel world.

assorted Laurel Medallions

in which our plucky heroine takes a look back at former work...

I've done Laurel regalia for SCA folks in a variety of styles:

working on workwear

in which our plucky heroine gathers notes for future reference...

Today was the biweekly online gathering of my Sewing Nomads group, and as always it brings me great enthusiasm and encouragement. This time Stephanie was able to join us for the first time, which was a special treat. I got some more useful feedback on my chore jacket/future raincoat project. Such as it would be useful to try the canvas toile on over a heavy cardigan, as that is a likely way it might be worn.

Sure enough, I don't need to take in the sleeves, as they fit well. I am still dissatisfied with the placement of the shoulder/armsceye, and want to shift it a bit further forward, and a bit closer together, in order to get the fit I want. In canvas, at least, the coat really needs a bi-swing back or a motorcycle gusset, as I plan on wearing it while doing various outdoor activities including riding my bicycle.

Here is my own take on creating an accordion style motorcycle gusset

Here is my Pinterest board of inspiring links and images chore jacket

There are some useful tips on the Sienna Makers jacket page from ClosetCore, if you scroll down towards the bottom of the page.

"Inside a Burberry Trench" removable RTW lining in a very clearly presented way

How to draft a lining pattern

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~ creativity challenge : from behind ~

a back view of Almandine, who is herself looking into the rear view mirror on my curio shelf, while having a chat with Flat Jack. The mirror is engraved “objects in mirror are closer than they appear”. I altered her apron dress to make it easier for me to change her clothes; I cut it open down the center back and added binding over the raw edges. The “hug snug” rayon seam binding is really thin, but with neatly woven edges. Works well for Tiny Rag Doll sewing. I added two really tiny snaps to close at the center back.

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	recycle bin
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	tansu drawer glued	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - my Sewing Nomads pals, for so very many reasons!

Friday folderol

in which our plucky heroine keeps dipping into escapism...

When the bright world feels less than bright, it is a great temptation to find ways to escape. And since there is no option for actual travel, or actual social time with friends (other than in the pixel world) I have been spending more time in the tiny world instead, apparently. And since I cannot indulge in my primary hobby of historic recreation, I have, instead, made each of my tiny friends little Viking Age outfits, with decorative underdresses, neatly made apron dresses complete with "brooches" made from sequins, and little necklaces from beads and chain. If it is ever safe to gather in person again, they will be all set to come along...

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I just found a new to me podcast series called "cut the craft" which has interviews with practitioners of a wide variety of handicrafts, a topic of great personal interest. ... am looking forward to making my way through the forty different episodes so far. After listening to the first episode, it was that moment when you realise while listening to the hosts talking, that one of them is an artisan you have been following for several years on Instagram!

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~ creativity challenge : favorite school subject~

Almandine is drawing with colored pencils

today's prompt: "favorite school subject" - That would have be ART, which we had all through school... brings back all sorts of memories of various non-standard activities (other than the usual coloring, painting and drawing), in various places (all ordinary public schools) I went to school. One time in primary school, when for some reason I did not join the others on a field trip? a small group of us spent the day learning about and doing paper marbling. In middle school, there was ceramics, in a big dusty classroom, and once we made "Egyptian paste" which involved mixing together various chemical powders and kaolin, and created beads of a gorgeous faience blue. Once, in science class, we experimented with forming glass into our own pipettes. At a community center class for children, we tried copper enameling, sprinkling glass powder and lumps onto little discs to make charms. We moved again, to the other coast, and high school art classes were less exciting varied, but by that time I also had artisanry activity away from school, that was when I first learned metalworking, and leatherwork, at the DeCordova Museum School. I've always had a deep love for where the hand and eye and mind intersect in the world of makerie.

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The righthand bottom drawer on the tansu has been difficult to slide, and when I pulled it out to reorganise my miniature artifacts I realised the actual drawer base was only partially attached to the sides. Took some time this morning to carefully reglue the side edges to the drawer bottom. Hopefully this will solve the difficulty... well actually it didn't, entirely. Checked inside the case bottom, and there are loose boards there as well... since I don't feel like overturning the entire tansu right now, I've made a note of that, and eventually will attempt a repair, but for now, will be happy the drawer is more stable. The entire tansu is somewhat rickety but as it was a gift, and given my love of Japanese artifacts a highly welcome one, I don't mind. After all, our plucky heroine is herself somewhat rickety with areas repaired!

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	recycle bin
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	tansu drawer glued	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - Two packages in the mailbox today. I ordered a new wire cooling rack to replace the decades old and never-entirely-not-rusty pair that I have been using for ages. Arrived here in less than a week (5 days), it is shiny stainless steel, with wires in a small grid pattern instead of the parallel wires of the former ones. No more dropping of candied peel onto the pan below, etc. Yay!

Also the Taunton Press OOP guidebook "Easy Guide to Sewing Linings", after the kerfluffle of my first order going sideways, has arrived just in time for my return to my chore jacket/new raincoat project. Bedtime reading!!

a bird in the hand

in which our plucky heroine wakes up late, again...

Is this the new normal? I am not impressed. I seem to be in this less than useful rhythm where I dive into a project for a day or three, finish it, then the next several days are basically useless while I try and ramp myself back up into being productive.  All I managed to do today was finishing up the sewing of tiny SCA clothing for Nandina and Almandine.

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~ creativity challenge ~ "shoes"

"shoes" - having appropriate footwear makes a difference. While Almandine mostly goes barefoot (foxfoot?), Nandina is more comfortable well shod. She has tall felt boots for sturdy adventuring, some red leather clogs for parties, and some black painted-on Mary Janes for everyday...

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well that was silly! While I was out for a short afternoon walk, I saw a sign on the back of someone's chicken house that said "Peep Show : Live Chicks inside!!

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beauty in the time of isolation:

Earlier this month I began working on a regalia commission to make a Viking Age style cloisonné Pelican medallion. Finished it this last weekend and mailed it off on Tuesday. This is one of my favorite Pelican motifs, and the actual size of the pendant is about 1½" in diameter. (my hand for sense of scale of my work)

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	-
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	x	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - Today there was an unexpected belated birthday package on my front porch, from my beloved Mud Bay pals. I am excited to try out some of the mixed dried mushrooms and make a mushroom soup! There was a new dot-grid notebook for my next Bujo, and a lovely pale blue "Bread Rising Over Mud Bay" tee shirt, which I shall, in my usual way, use as a jumping off point for a new lightweight jacket (combining various denim indigo, black, and blue fabrics into a fun textile collage...)

a slow and somewhat whimsical day

in which our plucky heroine takes most of the day off...

I really need to get moving on making the raincoat project happen. Sewing Nomad meeting on Saturday morning will be a good chance to get my canvas iteration looked at, so I best stitch it up. I've been playing catch up with various other things, and also getting sidetracked with small projects of amusement. Today I decided that Almandine and Nandina needed to have their Viking Age clothing upgraded. And then I decided that they also needed bead necklaces. (photos tomorrow) It was all very amusing, which has to be good for my mental health.

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~ creativity challenge - friends ~

Not all my tiny friends, but the ones that are living here now (Almandine, Teo, and Nandina), and their tiny pets (the BunnyBabes and Sequoia).. Teo reminds me of the Wood Man in the Hilda cartoon, he only shows up once in a long while… (I’ve had Teo since I was around nine or ten, I remember buying him at FAO Schwartz toy store in Los Angeles, and I think he is a Steiff? His arms and legs and neck are all jointed and moveable.)

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I found at least two of the missing thimbles. They were wedged at the bottom of the washing machine door gasket. They must have been in one of my pinafore pockets.

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	-
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	x	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - I bought a bit of 18ga wire in the Before Time, and so was able to make three pairs of improved ear wires. (I could use a bit more, so as to refurbish more of my earring collection) The thicker wire is a bit more difficult to shape, but not overly so. Making the part that goes through the ear somewhat longer, rather than right at the bottom edge of the lobe, and centering the mass of the earring more directly under the earlobe means that the earring is better balanced and much less likely to tilt forward, slip out of the ear, and get lost. Kat was asking for a picture, so here is a compare and contrast. Improved earwire on left, and commercial earwires on the right:

Tuesdays tasks and tidbits

in which our plucky heroine takes a tiny break in the middle of her workday...

I am beginning to be certain that when/if I am ever able to return to the World As It Has Become, it will be a very different world indeed. Not just because of the intervening years that will have passed, rendering me older, not necessarily wiser, but with a changed perspective. I was talking yesterday to my friend Mr Dawson, who is in the throes of having major work done on his house, and he was lamenting that according to the contractors OSB board is the new plywood. OSB is nothing like plywood, nothing near as sturdy. But sheets of actual plywood are now around/over $100USD each. This is a literal structural change. I am reminded of the houses built in the late 60's and early 70's using aluminum wiring, because copper was going through a price spike at the time.

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made up a new miniature book "On the Road, from some printed kit pieces sent to me last June by Dawn, one of the delightful folks that make up Tiny Rag Doll Nation. Since today's prompt is "books/reading" it seemed appropriate!I may look into various other small kits to assemble, such as flowers, or plants, or tiny furniture, or more tiny books, since a tiny project that takes just an hour or so is a fun dopamine booster.

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~ creativity challenge, books or reading~

Almandine was all cozy reading Nandina's copy of "On The Road" on the couch here at Acorn Cottage, but she seems to have succumbed to relaxation and is now napping...

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Robust ear wires have long been a desired improvement for my personal jewelery, as most manufactured earwires are rather thin and flimsy. A while ago, I bought a small length of new18 ga wire to make up into a few slightly more substantial ones, to see if I prefer that... Indeed I do, as I made one pair, and then finished assembling the turquoise pair of earrings that has been sitting in a tray on my workbench for years now. (I love those barrel shaped beads, which were part of a strand of turquoise I got at the trading circle decades ago at OCF.)

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	-
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	new earring wires	x
7	Pelican enamel	x	x
8	tiny "On The Road" book	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - being able to deal with "paperwork" issues over the phone, rather than having to sit for hours in dreary offices. At home, I can simply set the phone on "speaker" and go about various activites while on hold. The functionary I talked to today told me that she once had someone doing that but they were vacuuming and didn't hear when the phone finally picked up! I am careful to only be doing chores or tasks that are quiet while I am waiting on hold... (It was a great opportunity to put together than little book, and so rather than being aggravated by the delay, I felt productive!)

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine gets a better nights sleep...

Well that was interesting. I've been increasingly unhappy with my Old Mattress, and how lumpy/saggy it has become; it seems to affect my back being painful both at night and when I wake up. (I actually have a New and Different Mattress, but need to reconfigure my bed frame in order to use it) Last night I decided to sleep in the guest/sewing room instead, on the futon. Which I know is flat. I dragged the memory foam topper onto the futon, for a bit of extra comfort since I am not twenty years old any more.

Result, while it was harder for me to get to sleep (different room, different orientation, different bed feel) I woke up without a painful back. I intend to continue this experiment, and also to do what I can to move forward on altering my bed frame to suit my new mattress which is still in the box it arrived in back in 2019?

Hmmm... waking up in the sewing room made me think it might be a good idea to do another round of decluttering in there, and also to rearrange where the things are stored. Prime access spots ought to be for things I use often. "Backstock" supplies that are rarely used, should be less accessible. Sewing patterns, I am looking at you, you could be in a storage box, and not taking up half a shelf front and center.

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beauty in the time of isolation:

I don't know for certain what these mushrooms are, other than colorful... I suspect that they are "turkey tail" mushrooms, and will examine them a bit more carefully the next time I walk in that direction in hope of gathering more data.

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Finished the Pelican enamel last night, so this afternoon will be devoted to creating the setting for it, so it can be mailed out tomorrow morning.

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~ creativity challenge  - jewelry, from afar ~

A bit of catching up, since I spent most all of yesterday in the workroom, enameling, when I wasn't on a zoom call. Sunday's prompt was "jewelry" so Almandine decided to explore some of my beads and baubles... She is hoping that I can figure out how to create a bead necklace for her! And today's prompt was "from afar". Almandine and Sequoia are having a playdate with the Japanese Akita guardian dogs that watch the front door of Acorn Cottage

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I was getting ready for an online SCA panel discussion Sunday afternoon (so had changed from my modern clothing into my SCA garb) when the doorbell rang! I looked out the front window, and saw my friend Emily at the end of the walkway; she had just dropped off a little bag of treats for me and my tiny friends, but looked a little puzzled at my attire. I was amused at her comment that she was wondering if I had a special way of celebrating Sundays?! and I then explained the reason for my unusual clothing and headgear...

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	-
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	x	x
7	Pelican enamel	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - I have a spare room, which serves multiple functions ie guest/sewing room.