assorted Pelican regalia

in which our plucky heroine collects together images of some of the Pelican medallions I've made over the years...

for my non-SCA friends, these pendants and brooches are regalia (symbolic jewelry) worn by folks who have received an honor for ongoing service to the SCA organisation at a highly significant level.

one of the smallest enamels


very small Norse filigree style


large Pelican in a textured nest


Pel-Laurel pearl border


Norse style enamel Pelican


Pel-Laurel with diapered border


triple Peerage collaborative medallion


Large lozenge Pel-Laurel


Black Pelican 


basic Pelican

 
the "bad" Pelican


Birka style silver filigree


Celtic style Pelican

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Thursday thoughts

in which our plucky heroine continues forward momentum...

leaving some tasks undone to deal with long delayed commissions

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~ more than half done ~

Golden Torc and Purple Fret award enamels for Ian

3 partial days in front of the kiln, but all this enameling done before the heat wave sets in... Once the tiny pendant settings are made, this project will be complete and ready to post. While other house tasks fall by the wayside (I see you Mt Dishmore) it feels really great to be tackling and finishing the various projects that have been on hold.

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Yesterday decided to take a chunk of the afternoon to go downtown to the "Clay Commons" market. The park it is in has a fun fountain, and there were maybe a dozen different booths with a wide variety of pottery arts. There were two different artists that had tiny ceramic pieces as well as more usual sizes, so it might be necessary to return prepared to shop for the tinyworld. Since I was downtown already, also stopped at Dick Blick to get a tube of Caligo Safe Wash ink in opaque white for future printing of the 5th god blocks on a black voile scarf...

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As part of my ongoing sew as much as I can for myself, have been continuing to work out TNT patterns for everything. Underthings have particular challenges in finding a balance between stretch and comfort. I'd hoped that using cotton lycra bands to replace waist and leg elastics would work well, but waist bands were not robust enough to hold the undies up where they belong, leading to an annoying case of "droopy drawers". Have ordered elastic from WAWAK and am now committed to refurbishing the 7 pairs already made. 

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I want to find the shade cloth curtain so it can be put in place over the western window before the heat really hits us. I've moved the worm bin back into the laundry zone for now. Might find one of the extra watering buckets and prep it to keep my rhubarb happy, ditto for the backyard persimmon. Also making some extra ice cubes will help for my own comfort, and it is finally time to switch to summer bedding and put away the flannel sheets and the comforter... There was a piece of tie dyed fabric from a play day at the local art store, and it turned out to be just the right size to make two small summertime pillowcases for the buckwheat hull pillows.

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June SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Babs brooch	thinned apples	greenwaste bin
2	5th god lino block	replace elastic	recycle bin
3	5th god corner block	-	-
4	enamels for John	-	-
5	tie-dye pillowcases	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- white nectarines are the best
- finished enameling before the heat danger set in
- new T Kingfisher library hold waiting to be picked up tomorrow 
- tie-dye pillowcases

Time of Isolation - Day 2163

Third time is the charm

in which our plucky heroine makes further progress...

The curse is broken, the project that stymied my mojo has now been completed successfully. Dare I imagine that the impetus for more creative endeavors with metal and enamel may be stirring? Stay tuned... I suspect that next will be a few limoges style enameling projects, as that is the best option for Really Tiny tidbits of regalia.

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~ almost finished ~

This morning the base plate for this tiny 1" x 1½" heraldic brooch was in the pickle pot after the final soldering had been completed. The handwork that remains is all assembly. The bezel plate will be riveted to the base, the enamel will be set, the entire brooch polished a second time, and lastly the pin attached to the brooch hinge on the back, and the pearls attached to their cup settings...

~ and, finally done... ~

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Of course nothing else of note was finished today, the laundry is still on the line, and no dishes were washed or yardwork done, but given how long it has been since the beginning of the brooch project, that is a small price to pay. I did however make some really yummy chicken and bok choi stir fry for an early dinner when it got to be around 4pm and my tummy reminded me that there had been no lunch. 

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I finished carving the 5th god dancing crows and rats printing block over the weekend. It is intended as a border print, and also possibly for a scarf edging print, though for that use it will also be necessary to create a square corner block, perhaps with the sigil of the two hands and the motto "No Hands But Ours", and also for me to put a rolled hem on at least one of the squares of cotton lawn. Doing those hems may be my next bit of pickup work, being eminently suitable for not just working while in zoom meetings but also for stitching while on transit, (block carving is definitely not transit friendly).

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June SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Babs brooch	-	-
2	5th god lino block	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- tricksy tiny brooch is finished
- did not run out of either propane or patience
- 5th god lino block finished

Time of Isolation - Day 2152

Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine returns to the workbench...

My video chat last night with Mischa was wonderful and wide ranging, as it often is, and in response to one of the topics we talked about, my day began with setting up my workbench zone to tackle the setting for Babs' heraldic regalia brooch. Of course, before that could happen, there were other morning chores, but turning on the shop pickle pot first of all meant that later, it would be ready for dealing with soldering or annealling... 

And before returning to the workshop, there was adding fresh food and bedding to the worm habitat, and dealing with laundry. Washing the duvet cover means first taking it outside to untie it and remove the inner duvet, since there are always bits of downy feathers that come loose, which is better outdoors. That washed while breakfast happened, and as today was going to be chilly and sort of damp-ish, a quick bike ride to the laundromat (+ 75¢) spun the cover warm and dry, ready to tied back on the duvet...

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~ third time is the charm? ~

Truth be told, this project has been sitting on the workbench for more time than clearly remembered, as there were first one and then another failure. The brain weasels of Imposter Syndrome had more than one field day. The first enamel had to be redone (which happens occasionally, sometimes for unknown reasons), and then my initial attempt to fabricate the complex setting failed when about halfway done. Ugh! And it sat in a box on the workbench for months and months, sticking its tiny little tongue out at me...

Yesterday, when it turned out that there would be an unexpected porch visit today, Karen suggested that if one or both of the Olympia projects were done, they could courier it back north. Well, that suggestion combined with the "Do One Thing Different" conversation was enough torque for a restart. While it may not look like much, and being only 1" x 1½", the setting is really complicated. The upper layer has the serrated bezel to hold the enamel, and will be riveted to the lower layer through the four lugs on each point of the diamond shape. The lower layer, which is not yet completed, has four additional lugs centered on the sides of the diamond shape, which now have "pearl cups" attached. That soldering task was nerve wracking, as possible failure then was at the highest point, until all four were well placed and not melted. It still needs to have the pin findings soldered to the back, holes drilled for rivets and pearl pins, the upper and lower pieces riveted together, the setting polished, the enamel set, and the pearls attached. Fingers crossed that all goes smoothly.

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When Beth and Karen stopped by today, they dropped off some interesting potential pinafore fabric for me. Cotton herringbone in medium blue warp and light blue weft, so the overall color is sort of pale denim-ish, and the herringbone stripes are really wide, like 1⅜". While it isn't perzacktly my color, it is adjacent, and I'd been wishing for a wide stripe to play with seamline zigzags on skirt gores. I'm taking this as the universe delivering just such a thing!

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February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	plaid flannel shirt	rice bags	greenwaste bin
2	23 postcards	INTERNET!!	recycle bin
3	teal linen pinafore	hydration station	greenwaste bin
4	bedroom shelves	grey felt slipper	recycle bin
5	tiger pocket	teal turtleneck	greenwaste bin
6	teal long janes	long jane borders	recycle bin
7	lots of drawings	removed 2 ferns	greenwaste bin
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- starting the day differently yielded different results
- a porch visit from Beth and Karen
- more than halfway done with Babs brooch
- the worm bin appears to be thriving

Time of Isolation - Day 2060

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine is tuckered out...

Staying up late last night and working like a madwoman was needful, despite not having the stamina of thirty or more years ago. And my project is a success, both in itself and to remind folks that I am not gone but just isolated. And a success to remind self that I can do complicated things, which ever bears repeating.

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~ 15½ hours... ~

The Laurel medallion I finished working on last night... with a complex two-sided setting that required much cogitation to fabricate, and the disc background under the blue enamel engraved and stamped with a charge from Laeriel's heraldry. This is what I do. The whole piece is 1½" (38mm) in diameter.

Since it needs to be at JuneFaire for her elevation on Saturday, it was most propitious that Mr Dawson was coming down here today and could hand carry it north to Olympia. This meant it need not be trusted to the tender mercies of the USPS, and could be then carried the rest of the way to the event by Elanor. I love it when our impromptu SCA courier crew works out.

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Always a treat to see my friend and colleague Bill, though the days we shared a studio space are decades past. He's always a font of fascinating information, and today, among other topics, I learned about "pine bark iron", one of the materials in his most recent set of inlaid spindle whorls. The texture on the reverse of the one made from that iron was like Ponderosa bark made tiny, (those trees being what we called "ice cream trees" when I was a child, for the sweet vanilla scent). 

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Long ago, there was soup made, but spell check translated "avgolemono" as "demonology" (which says something about common vocabulary?!?) and so it has been renamed in my lexicon. Nonetheless, it is a favorite simple meal. As I also wanted to bake a lemon cookie, which requires 1 egg yolk, the extra white was added to a second egg, and along with a cube of rice from the freezer and a heaping spoonful of "better than bouillon", dinner was ready in a trice. The cookie(s) baked while I was eating my soup, and now the kitchen is filled with a toasty lemony fragrance.

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June SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 amanita softies	planted sprouty taters	yard waste bin
2	Laeriel enamel	dyed yarn brown	recycle bin
3	Laeriel setting	replace clothesline	danger bug
4	-	new smoke alarm battery	yard waste bin
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- demonology soup (avgolemono, according to spell check)
- gifts from Jen: Totoro origami, and a recipe from Kestrel
- a visit from Mr Dawson, with conversation and a hug
- many positive comments on social media (re my handiwork)

Time of Isolation - Day 1792

weekend wonderments

in which our plucky heroine pays attention...

Whilst riding my bike early this morning, saw Coyote being chased by a pair of crows across the park near Acorn Cottage. Felt like I'd fallen into a Charles DeLint tale...

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~ halfway there ~

The heraldic enamel Laurel cloisonné work is done, (after grinding away the four tiny air bubbles not visible last night, and re-firing this morning). Everything always takes longer than estimated or expected. Now to build the complex hexafoil setting, hope to have it completed tonight...

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The titanium soldering strips really made a difference in placing the bail and anchor loop, letting me angle the shaped setting and space the finding parts appropriately and easily. They are a good simple bit of technology that I've had for a while, but am still figuring out how best to use.

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~ time it was and what a time it was... ~

Dad was young, and I was even younger... I will never not miss you.

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June SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 amanita softies	planted sprouty taters	yard waste bin
2	Laeriel enamel	dyed yarn brown	recycle bin
3	Laeriel setting	replace clothesline	danger bug
4	-	new smoke alarm battery	yard waste bin
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- seeing Coyote
- enamel turned out well
- titanium soldering strips

Time of Isolation - Day 1791

werk werk werk

in which our plucky heroine enjoys a reprieve...

This morning has my favorite weather pattern - "June Gloom", where the morning sky is grey and the air gentle and cool, which made my morning constitutional very pleasant indeed. Today will possibly stay that way all day, so my plan is to turn on Mr Hot, my venerable enameling kiln, and spend the day in the workroom Getting Stuff Done!

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~ and it's blueberries all the way down ~
>

not sure what went right that hasn't ever in the past, but there's more than a handful of unripe berries... Might need netting for protection later, 'cos our plucky heroine isn't the only one who likes blueberries!

A quick check of the backyard plantings, and there are more sugar snap peas coming on, and the smallest signs of tomato formation on Juliet's lowest blossoms. The potato greens keep growing, and I'll try to fill just a bit more mulch atop them before the pot is too full.  

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I'd pretty much given up on finding any more, but I found someone on Ebay selling three tubes of my best beloved hand cream, the one that keeps the skin on my paws from cracking, and doesn't smell horrible. Soon it will be in the post headed my way. This bit of slightly spendy self-indulgence will push back a little further in time the necessity of settling for a less functional bit of everyday body care. 

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~ just the start ~

Custom SCA Laurel regalia project. This is about 6+ hours into it so far (not including design prep time; am trying to do a better job of keeping track of how many hours each part of the process takes). Hoping to get the cloisonné enameling finished tonight (that may be a bit optimistic) so I can start building the complex setting tomorrow.

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June SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 amanita softies	planted sprouty taters	yard waste bin
2	-	dyed yarn brown	recycle bin
3	-	replace clothesline	danger bug
4	-	new smoke alarm battery	yard waste bin
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- June Gloom is my favorite weather
- Sharpies are so useful! 
- denatured alcohol to remove sharpie ink
- finding my favorite discontinued hand cream on Ebay

Time of Isolation - Day 1789

Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine blinks ...

"everything can change in the blink of an eye, so let the good times roll before we say goodbye..."*

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~ weighted branchlet ~

It is apparent to me that pears just want to grow straight up. The pear tree behind Rosehaven, when I lived on a hillside in Seattle, was tall enough to support a pulley clothesline out the second floor upstairs window. The pear tree in my next door neighbor's yard here is so tall that they have no access to the fruit.  Not only is our plucky heroine a devoted disciple of the "Grow A Little Fruit Tree" creed, but have been learning ways to modify the growth of young trees in various ways, not just by pruning.

In the photo above you can see how the weighted branchlet is not quite horizontal, while if you look closely in the background there are two unweighted branchlets growing vertically. By adding a weight to a new branch it stabilises closer to horizontal, which will encourage the eventual formation of fruiting buds rather than just vegetal growth. The new growth on the Bosc pear is still very tender, but attaching a soft rubber band to a hardware store nut makes a weight that can be looped over the branch without damage. It looks a bit odd, but once the branch growth sets, it can then be removed easily.

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I keep wanting to take a nap for a few hours in the middle of the afternoon, somewhere between 2:30 to around 4pm... is this normal? is this a sign of aging? of stress? or?? Once it gets to be actual summer, instead of sunny over 80°F (27°C) ostensibly "springtime", I will definitely turn crepuscular and nap away the hottest sunniest part of the days.

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Much productive communication back and forth with Laeriel and we have settled on a plan for her medallion. There is a voided quatrefoil stamp in my collection of tools, just about ⅛" wide, and by placing that in the center of the cross hatched background, we can reference her motif without all the faffing about with a green central enamel with gold outlines, and just use a clear transparent blue overall for the background. Her husband Wolfegar will be creating an etched backing plate for the setting, so this will be a collaborative piece of regalia. I am much relieved at the design change, as it will be much simpler to fabricate, and better show the diapered pattern.

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Internet Archive has an assortment of Grateful Dead concert recordings, and listening to Providence Civic Center/1974 while out for an evening bike ride was a real treat, if not as much of a treat as actually being there. (I don't actually remember which concert and what year Charlotte and I drove down from Boston to see them there, back in our younger days...)

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May SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	heraldic fern painted	added pea trellis	greenwaste bin
2	XP2 sun protection	planted Seckel pear tree	recycle bin
3	-	Juliet tomato planted	recycle bin
4	-	marigolds planted	-
5	-	pear branchlets weighted	-
6	-	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- nuts and bands: figured out a simply way to modify branchlet growth
- Internet Archive's collection of Grateful Dead concert recordings
- today's gratitudes - - nuts and bands: figured out a simply way to modify branchlet growth - Internet Archive's collection of Grateful Dead concert recordings - Past me got to hear a lot of great live music back in the 20th century...

Time of Isolation - Day 1754

* from: "The Bug", Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler

making and mending

in which our plucky heroine eats the frog...

well not literally, of course, but I did spend too many hours today doing admin tasks, which is one of my least favorite thing ever. (I'd even rather clean the bathroom fixtures than make phone calls) Got partway through one set of confustication, and made appointments to deal with two more. Will return to the fray tomorrow. Incremental progress is still progress.

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~ so tiny and blue ~
.

On October 6th I mentioned the heraldic blue wolf enamel I had been commissioned to make, to embellish an SCA coronet, and today Cathyn sent me a photo of the completed project that it was made to decorate:

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More mending: one of my wintertime underdress/slips was becoming worn out around the seamline between the skirt and the bodice, and was also too longwaisted. Why you may ask... because I rather cobble together these underlayers from various bits and bobs on hand; this one had originally been made from a thrifted and wonderfully embroidered black jersey skirt and a thrifted black rib-knit tank top. When the tank top wore out, I tried to copy it with a different fabric, which mostly worked but had a different stretch factor. The only part of this that anyone sees is the decorative hemline extending below my everyday pinafores, the rest merely provides wintertime insulation. Folding the slip at the bodice/skirt seam let me use the serger to clean finish the new seam as I cut away the worn parts and incidentally and insignificantly shortened the whole thing by about an inch

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The two big spider plants in the south facing window have been direly in need of repotting, as for some reason they seem to push themselves up and out of the soil? (either that or they somehow consume the soil leaving themselves high and dry in midair, only tenuously connected to their roots?) Anyhow, after dinner it was time to tackle the largest of the three, and a long messy task that was, though satisfying. Now it needs to settle back and hopefully add new roots from the nodes that now are in contact into the fresh damp dirt.

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October SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	ScribeTober 1	removed frost	yard waste bin
2	blue wolf enamel	prune persimmon	old light crap
3	shibori scarf	tidy walking onions	recycle bin
4	robin and holly acorn cap ornaments	string trim parking strip	yard waste bin
5	Kenya skirt	long jane waistband	-
6	x	black winter slip	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. made significant progress on the admin tasks, despite frustration
2. repotted the largest of the spider plants, and it will be able to return to its living room window home soon
3. my second round of testing (post antibiotic) came back clear of any bacteria...huzzah... buh-bye E.coli!

Time of Isolation - Day 1556

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine is feeling a bit swamped...

Tomorrow will be busy, I have six different tree services to phone and get risk assessment consults/estimates; asking friends to recommend helpful options was in fact quite useful. Turns out that there is also information on the city website about tree service providers, as well as information about possible replacement trees...  

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~ Order of the Grey Goose Shaft ~

This medallion, started a while back, is completed and ready to be shipped to the recipient. It feels good to be back at the workbench again...

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It occurred to me that the toile of the fingerless bike gloves could be useable, if I stitch down the serged seams to be neat and flat. The double layer improved version is better, but the toile is not that far off from the final pattern, and an extra set is always useful. A few hours of hand stitching would be a peaceful evening project

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Sewing tasks for me in progress: gores for plaid flannel slip.
Sewing tasks for client upcoming: alterations on green wool cosplay Star Wars tunic, then altering pattern and making a green linen one for summer wear.

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May SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 tiny books	half front yard mowed	yard waste bin
2	10 tiny books	more front yard mowed	recycle bin
3	tiny footstools	replace cloudlight bulb	dead rosemary
4	acorn bowls	clean large paper lantern	yard waste bin
5	angora goat lino	pocket brown pinafore	yard waste bin
6	mini cushions	reframed raindrop print	recycle bin
7	copycat sunhat	partial backyard mowed	wonky kitchen light
8	OGGS setting	front yard mowed	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. Chopped up cucumber mixed with yogurt and seasoned with Justice is really tasty, I like it better than tzatziki. My jar is almost empty, so I will need to order some more from Penzeys. I wish they still had their shop downtown near Powell's Books...
2. I started marking the kitchen ceiling in a four foot circle centered on the electric box. I think that the simplest option will be to use paint for improving the appearance. Maybe with some sponge texture...
3. I might be dog sitting later this summer, it will be fun to have Wellington as a guest again.

Time of Isolation - Day 1420

progress report

in which our plucky heroine is taking a breather...

or, one of the reasons I don't drink coffee!

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~ well done ~

The heraldic enamels for the new Stromgard coronets are now completed; last night I turned off the kiln around 11:30 after the final firing. The white enamel detailing of the "mane" on the sea-horses was some of the most challenging enamel I have done, due to the minute scale and intense focus required. Even with the lighted magnifier, this is near the limit of what I can see clearly, and more importantly what I can manipulate. Just one wobble of the brush tip shaping the lines and it is all to do over again. And after the lines are shaped, the remainder of the surface needs to be very carefully examined to be sure that no grain or haze of enamel is left anywhere else on the surface, lest it be permanently attached in the heat of the kiln.

The painting enamel (finely powdered glass, rather like talcum powder), mixed with lavender oil, is first gently dabbed more or less into place with a 3/0 brush. Then once it is slightly less liquid, a 10/0 brush dampened with water is used to manipulate the oily mixture into more precise alignment to create lines finer than would be possible with cloisonné wire. (this is not the only way that painting enamel can be used, but is the way I most commonly find it useful in my work)

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Tomorrow is Pie Day (3/14) and I've planned to make a pear tart in celebration. I made one last year in January, remember is as really tasty, managed to track down where I copied the recipe, and have several Bosc pears in the fridge...

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This is a most peculiar and Bosch-esque piece of percussion...  (scroll down the video and turn on the sound)

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This essay, by the artist Luann Udell is worth the time to read:

“NATURAL TALENT” VS. PERSEVERANCE: Which Works Best?

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March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	red enamel samples	bathroom undersink access	some driveway moss
2	turn buttons	-	recycle bin
3	6 tiny books	-	yard waste bin
4	2 velour sports bras	-	recycle bin
5	Stromgard enamels	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. I managed to complete the Stromgard enamels, and they look good to me, and hopefully to all concerned.
2. Albuterol. I very rarely need it, but when I do, having an inhaler that does the thing necessary makes a huge difference. My lungs, not my most functional body part, have never been "right" again since got sick while visiting family last year.
3. three good zoom meetings with family and friends

Time of Isolation - Day 1348

spring forward

in which our plucky heroine plans to go to bed early...

in an attempt to foil the somatic confusion that always occurrs when the clocks change.

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~ very small indeed ~

The enamel champlevé project has moved past the making samples stage and into the multiple trips in and out of the kiln stage. The two pieces now have their first layer of transparent blue. I'm very glad I decided to use a lighter blue than I first tried, as the champlevé cells intensify the color value. Next will be adding transparent green to the tiny laurel wreaths...

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Last weekend I was chatting online with my pal Acantha, who mentioned that she and Gersvinda had gone to Kachka to eat pelmeni (dumplings) and other treats. I remembered seeing the packages in the freezer case at the grocery, so decided to try them as a slightly extravagant treat. Boy howdy those are tasty! I topped them with a dab of butter, a spoonful of greek yogurt in lieu of sour cream, and a splash of vinegar (this combination suggested on the package) If I had some fresh dill, that would have been a great addition...

I wonder how difficult it would be to DIY them, as I accidentally found out that Kachka also sells the special tool to form them into the charming little hexagons. It might be worth an attempt, to be able to add a different new option to my made ahead meals... There are a number of recipes online.

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~ just the right size ~

Leah and her husband Randall like making pottery enough that they turned their attic into a pottery studio. I have a few lovely pieces that they have gifted me with over the years, and yesterday, when she came to visit with Ursel, she gave me this sweet celadon dessert bowl, much to my delight!

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Not much sewing is happening, other than I have almost finished making two new very comfy cotton velour sports bras. Such a fast and easy project to complete, they take just about an hour from start to finish...

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March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	red enamel samples	bathroom undersink access	some driveway moss
2	turn buttons	-	recycle bin
3	6 tiny books	-	yard waste bin
4	2 velour sports bras	-	recycle bin
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. the new small pottery bowl from Leah is just the right size for small treats, like yogurt with fruit...
2. the cotton velour sports bras are much nicer on my skin than the harsh synthetic fabric used for conventional bras. I keep wondering if there is a way to construct a conventionally styled bra with fabric that was nice instead of nasty.
3. I managed to get the laundry off the clothesline before it was really rained on this morning. If I had put it out earlier Friday, I wouldn't have left it out overnight. Only the second attempt to line dry the washing this year...

Time of Isolation - Day 1344

restored to wholeness

in which our plucky heroine has been running errands, doing chores, and getting some backlog work done...

two loads of laundry washed, dried, and put away, ordered and picked up prescription refills, called gas company re their compulsory meter upgrade timing (which will entail removing both rainwater barrels, sigh and alas), a trip to medical land, and suchlike, as well as time spent in the workroom enameling

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~ "all better" ~

Back in 2014 I made this SCA Laurel medallion for a dear friend, and last year the regalia (though thankfully not my friend) had an unfortunate accident and was cracked on some concrete. Enamel, being glass fused to metal, can last for centuries, but like any glass, can be damaged by impact. While I learned long ago to not attempt to repair other people's enamel work, every part of this pendant was the work of my own hands, so I knew well all the materials and techniques used, and could safely do all that was needed to make it whole again.

When I removed the cloisonne enamel cabochon from the setting, even more of the red background cracked and fell away. This often happens after stress fractures in the glass. Fortunately I still have some of the same red enamel originally used, and a day in front of the kiln and at my workbench saw the piece restored to wholeness once again.

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I was really happy with how the "what to do with the leftover salmon" option I came up with... adding some mashed potato and long cooked onion leftovers turned the salmon into something that was easy to make into patties... one on a plate with Dubliner melted over the top was Just Right, and the other went into the freezer to become future meals.

The frozen meatloaf patties I made earlier work just as I had hoped to become an easy dinner on nights I am working. Cooked slowly over the simmer burner on the stove, it gradually browned on the outside as the interior thawed and cooked. Some zucchini chunks were also cooking in the little convection oven, and so all I needed to do way to take a break from my workbench every 15 minutes or so, stir the veg, and turn the meat, and dinner was done with minimal effort on my part.

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The cardigan project is, at this point, about halfway done... Earlier this week I ordered a skein of black Lettlopi for the cardigan trim bands, which will be the last remaining part of the body before I start in on the striped sleeves. That skein of yarn will be the only one purchased specifically for this project, as all the rest are from my box of assorted Icelandic wool, much of which is leftover from previous knitting. I'd hoped to use the "black sheep heather" color wool for those edge bands, but there just wasn't enough contrast with the chocolate wool of the body. I keep looking at the original inspiration bolero photo that inspired my project for ideas, though my own cardigan has strayed substantially from that spark...

Once that yarn arrives, I will refer again to two different YouTube tutorials on applied I-cord: This one is a little clearer on where to pick up the stitches and how to turn corners, and this one is a little clearer about how to pick up more than one stitch at a time, and a particularly good way to do the decrease portion of the I-cord.

Before I knit the stripey sleeves, I'll use the suggestion of my pal Leslie, and test stripe color patterns by winding various yarns onto a piece of cardboard, taking a snapshot, and then simply unwinding it and trying several different assorted options. Much less troublesome than actually knitting samples.

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February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Jedi tabard	wall storage bathroom	recycle bin
2	5 jars marmalade	wall storage utility	recycle bin
3	tiny camel print	dark of night neckline	recycle bin
4	superb owl traybox	3 separating zippers	-
5	grey acorn brooch	bathroom access hatch	-
6	pinch pouch	wool pinafore	x
7	wooly bear brooch	Goran Laurel	x
8	teal acorn brooch	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. more partially prepped meals in the freezer: salmon patties, and meatloaf patties have made cooking dinner this week much easier. I need to do more of this kind of preparation.
2. I am not dead, mostly due to my own quick reflexes and decent situational awareness... While on my way to the bus stop after my medical appointment, I was walking across the street in a crosswalk, with the correct light and all the other drivers stopped when a delivery driver came careening through the intersection without stopping. I jumped backwards and screamed. The truck came close enough to me that I felt the wind of their passage; had I been one of those folks who look at their phones instead of their surroundings, I would have died. The adrenaline was such that I totally neglected to get their license plate number...
3. There was enough bead cable to restring the necklace that goes with the repaired Laurel regalia...

Time of Isolation - Day 1332

wheel keeps turning

in which our plucky heroine takes a box to the post office on Boxing Day...

~ Advent Swap day 26 ~

a carved stone (fluorite?) flower makes a very fancy stitch marker...

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The fruitcake cooked beautifully into a lovely tall cylinder. I trimmed off the rounded top and turned it upside down on a saucer, then basted it with a bit more booze before wrapping it up again. Of course I had to nibble the bit trimmed off and it was swoon-worthy. The combination of the tender fruit, the subtle crunch of the pecans, and the spice/almond+ flavor of the intervening cake was all I had hoped for. I don't know if I want to add the marzipan and icing to make a traditional cake, or just leave it plain and cut slices bit by bit to have with tea...

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Today's work, now completed, was to finish setting the white Pelican enamel pendant, carefully package it up for shipping, then head off on my bike to the post office... it was busy, but nothing like it was three days ago. I'm feeling pretty good that almost every day I am managing to get one or more of my chosen work tasks completed.

Now that the birthday and winter holiday gift season is mostly ended, I decided to order a rotary cutter and blades to go with my new "Sekrit Santa" cutting mat, and also to order John James yarn needle set (in a handy storage case, which may keep me from loosing them as I seem to be prone to doing).

And, after much thought, also ordered a yard of the same color grey linen as my partially worn out pinafore, to make it a new bodice... the price per yard had gone up yet again, but there was a one day discount coupon code, so seemed like the best option.

I figured that starting with new fabric would be a better use of my time than trying to patch the worn-to-a-ravelling spots with some of the less visible inner pockets, and then having to also patch the pockets afterwards. I've done that when there was no way to get similar fabric for repairs...

Fortunately there was a record of which color grey I purchased previously back in 2019. I don't expect the new dyelot to be a perfect match, but since I'm replacing the whole bodice that is less critical. And with a whole yard, there may be enough to add a stripe or two around the hemline, to coordinate.

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December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	7 jars quince	kitchen plumbing	old plumbing
2	dried pears	heat pump installed	old furnace
3	dried persimmons	return vent vanes	high pitched whine
4	linen gauze privacy curtains	bedroom register	yard waste bin
5	tiny peach charm	bike flat tire	recycle bin
6	1-wire Laurel setting	restring necklace	x
7	"merry mathoms" stamp	x	x
8	white Pelican setting	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. the package my sister was sending me for my birthday finally arrived, after taking the scenic route. It turned out to be a lovely scarf featuring a fun mermaid and sea creatures print, in a wild assortment of colors on a deep teal background. (teal, light turquoise, black, white, taupe, grey, golden yellow, burgundy, peach, and dark grey/lilac) The scarf will be a great accessory for my planned sewing projects this winter.
2. I spoke to the medical office and asked about simply getting my A1c test done there, returning when currently broken machine is repaired, instead of having to go to the main hospital lab, which trip takes at least a half day or more, and also requires much time spent in contact with possibly infectious and unmasked people... Since there is no urgency about the test, I was told it was a valid option and I will be phoned back when repairs have happened and I can simply ride over there on the bike, rather than multiple bus transfers etc...
3. when Ursel and I were window shopping, I saw a coat fastened with toggles that were only attached using bar tacks. I hadn't thought of that, which would be a very secure way to attach my raincoat fastenings. Though I will of course add a decorative leather patch over the cords, for appearance sake.

Time of Isolation - Day 1272

Wednesday whinge and whatnots

in which our plucky heroine spends way too much time waiting on line

With one of the two regalia orders completed, I decided to put that one in the post today... after all, how bad could it be? Well, the answer to that was pretty bad, the line at the post office was out the door.

Earlier, I had gone to the local copy store, that handles USPS, UPS, and FedEx, and was not busy at all. But... it turns out that they don't accept the fixed rate mailer boxes, which are "proprietary" and can only be mailed from a real post office. Dang. That meant another bike ride about as far past Acorn Cottage but in the opposite direction. And then a Very Long wait with far too many people much too close to me.

I knew better, but I also needed to get the package mailed out in a timely way. Sigh. In the future, I will do better.

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~ Advent Swap day 20 ~

today's gift was a box of pins, the good ones with glass heads. These will be a useful addition to my sewing notions...

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I was getting ready to build the setting for the Pelican enamel, when on closer examination, I saw both some flaws in the white enamel, and that I had somehow forgotten to add color to the pelican's eyes! It took only a bit of work to use one of the diamond grit tools to grind away the dark dots in the wing feathers, and a bit more time to wash some black enamel and add it to the eye sockets.

Once the kiln came up to temperature, another go round in the heat and now the enamel is ready to have a setting built. That will be a task for tomorrow, as it is much too late in the evening for me to want to play with sharp objects and fire.

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Ursel suggested we get together tomorrow, as she has the day off from work. I suggested Lan Su Chinese Garden, since it is a combination of outdoors but sheltered walkways, and beautiful in whatever season you visit. We may also walk across part of downtown to the area where there are some Japanese shops with beautiful things for sale, probably only to window shop a bit. There may also be a stop at one of the remaining food cart pods, (if we are rambling long enough to get hungry we can get outdoor food and find a safe place to eat outside away from people)

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December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	7 jars quince	kitchen plumbing	old plumbing
2	dried pears	heat pump installed	old furnace
3	dried persimmons	return vent vanes	high pitched whine
4	linen gauze privacy curtains	bedroom register	-
5	tiny peach charm	bike flat tire	-
6	1-wire Laurel setting	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. Today another Amazon surprise present arrived on my doorstep, from my friend Leslie. This one had a gift tag, so I know who it was from, and I will open it tomorrow on my happy birthday!!
2. Pelican enamel re-fired... now has proper eyes not Little Orphan Annie blank sockets. I am glad I noticed it before building the setting!
3. Tomorrow I have plans to spend time with my pal Ursel, doing some outdoor stuff downtown. It will be a bit of an adventure, but hopefully a benign one. 

Time of Isolation - Day 1266

little engine that could

in which our plucky heroine finally gets moving...

I've spent a number of hours at the workbench, finished a tiny charm pendant to warm up, and begun the regalia settings that will be in the post ASAP... My mind is filled with ideas for the various aspects of life here at Acorn Cottage that want shifting

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~ souvenir ~

this is what I did to warm up before building the larger regalia setting...  Years ago Bill gave me a tiny disc stamped with the OCF peach, from when he made logo coins for Fair. Of course, I enameled it, and it then sat in my box of oddments for quite a few more years. Now it is a charm I can wear. Who knows, maybe someday in the future I may get to go to Fair again, if the world and my circumstances change...

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I finished the setting for the 1-wire Laurel medallion today, and will be putting that in the post as soon as I know the shipping address, and I will be making the setting for the companion Pelican medallion tomorrow. I rather underestimate how long it takes for the settings, though that may become a bit faster when I am less out of practice. And I really miss sharing a studio space, it was like having a body double, but for work, and made everything just that much easier...

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~ Advent Swap day 19 ~

today there were these tiny mushrooms, with sparkles on their caps, that also glow in the dark!! They will need to have their own autumnal diorama in the advent shadowbox in 2024.

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December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	7 jars quince	kitchen plumbing	old plumbing
2	dried pears	heat pump installed	old furnace
3	dried persimmons	return vent vanes	high pitched whine
4	linen gauze privacy curtains	bedroom register	-
5	tiny peach charm	bike flat tire	-
6	1-wire Laurel setting	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. muscle memory and tool use memory that remains strong
2. there were a number of years where I got to share studio space with my friend and colleague Bill. I learned so much, and it was such a good thing for my growth as an artisan
3. I've some good ideas for how to do some simple-ish transformations of the bathroom here, so it will be a nicer space, that will begin there once I finish my current work projects

Time of Isolation - Day 1265