Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine is still recovering...

There was a flicker, this morning, busy at the intersection of the siding, the concrete foundation, and the basement window frame of the House Next Door. It eventually also rummaged around on the ground there, before flying up to the top of the boundary fence, then up to the gutter of our carport. At first I thought it might be building a nest, but I suspect it was hunting bugs? It was close enough to see the red underside of the wings, particularly as it flew upwards...

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~ bed sitters ~

My tinyfolk were tired of only ever standing, so they have all had "hip replacements". Their leg seams were opened up next to their body, and some of the stuffing removed, leaving an unstuffed area that has been stitched across at the top and bottom, to allow their legs to hinge enough that sitting is also an option. Some cloth dolls are made this way initially, and future Tiny Rag Dolls made here at Acorn Cottage will also be...

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Broke my spex, or rather a weld snapped in the left side temple piece.... Looked everywhere for the missing part once it became obvious that it was gone, only to eventually find it tangled in the hair on that side of my head. Most peculiar! Shall have to plan an excursion to *eyewear next week when they are open.

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Still not all the way better from my fall on the 15th, sigh and alas... the older we get, the less we bounce back, and my shoulder and elbow are complaining. I am grateful that I can still walkabout, and still bike ride.

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Creativity update: made further good progress on the heraldic painting for Kateline and Dean. The golden spider and crossed axes are now filled in; painting with metallic acrylic is a bit tricksey, but it should show up really well...  Tomorrow one of several tasks I plan on working on is painting the pegasus, and drawing the maidenhair fern. Still haven't come up with a fun idea for the half dozen advent swap items to be made for April, if I can find my pom pom maker, that is an option...

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April SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue skirt Opal	shipova planted	yard waste bin
2	2 pr undies toiles	smoothed half of side gate base	recycle bin
3	model for F.L.A.G	got TDaP vaccine	yard waste bin
4	painted Dean heraldry	persimmon mulched	recycle bin
5	-	pruned figs	2 arborvitae
6	x	2024 taxes	x
7	x	hip joints for tinyfolk	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes - 
- there is a shop in the city that repairs spex
- today was cooler than yesterday, and tomorrow will be cool enough for yardwork
- line dried laundry, the treat on days that are sunny
- I have a spare pair of prescription spex! (given potential supply chain issues, would be a good idea to get a second backup pair. Pretty sure most cheap spex come from China)

Time of Isolation - Day 1741

Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine indulges in heartfelt creativity ...

Now that Wellington has gone home, I find myself looking towards the chair that he usually inhabits with a sense of loss. Companionship, however briefly found, is a sad thing to lose.

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~ tiny valentines ~

This afternoon I made three 1" sq handpainted valentines, and matching envelopes made from laminated origami paper. For the tiny folk that live with Kestrel in Olympia, from the tiny folks that live here, these will be sent out in Monday's post.

The owl says "OWL always want you for my valentine!"... The bee says "please BEE my valentine?"... The fish says "you are my o-FISH-ial valentine pal!"

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A week and a half ago, after finding this tutorial to make spun cotton hearts, I glued up their armatures from Q-tips. Tonight I mixed white glue with water and began to adhere the first layer of cotton. It really is pleasing how quickly even a thin layer of fiber turns them into heart shapes. Rather than bake them in the oven, I will just let them dry naturally overnight and see how they look.

These will, once all the layers and decoration are completed, become a set of ornaments for the Advent Swap at the end of the year. So far I have six rainbow fibulae for January, and these hearts will be for February. If steady progress happens, I will be prepared by October with enough for two complete sets of tiny gifts.

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This afternoon I started a new audiobook "Remarkably Bright Creatures"... Only on the second chapter so far; hopefully it will continue enjoyable and I will be able to add it to my list of books for this year.

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February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	"wing it" vest	more broach handles	recycle bin
2	tiny valentines	black keyboard covers	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	-
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. Clover wonder clips for sewing (instead of pins)
2. free tutorials on YouTube for all sorts of makerie
3. I enjoy doing "spun cotton" as a sort of easy inexpensive sculptural activity, and making things for the future Advent Swap is a way to tell myself I believe there will be at least that much future!

Time of Isolation - Day 1668

snippets and scraps

in which our plucky heroine takes a break...

Over the last few days, have repeatedly girded loins and spent numerous hours doing admin, and have hopefully come to a brief resting spot in the various bits of official paperwork that needs doing. Still a lot further to go, but for the weekend there is time for rest and recreation, a nice long bike ride, and some walking around the neighborhood. Trees are starting to turn color here and there, and I just noticed today that the tree full of quinces is ready to be harvested, as they are becoming fragrant. (I sniffed at them a week ago and nada, so...)

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~ pumpkin overalls ~

Today I added the finishing touches to the Spooky Season overalls for Almandine: a festive embroidered jack-o-lantern on the chest pocket! It was necessary to pay a visit yesterday to Sewlarium, as I'd no orange floss at all... Finally all four of my current tinyfolk have something special to wear for the holiday later this month, and to dress up in when I take my photos for the challenge I am sponsoring over at Tiny Rag Doll Nation on Ravelry.

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Found the missing edge binding fabric for the raincoat project, which was the final part needed to move forward. For some unknown reason it was on the soldering bench, underneath a pile of papers to be recycled?! Since the autumnal weather is here with enthusiasm, getting the raincoat finally put together is an excellent plan.

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Being tired of being annoyed by the kitchen oil dispenser every time it was used, which was pretty much every day (it somehow oozed oil (from the cap?) so that the top was always slightly greasy, as was the saucer it lived atop on the kitchen shelf), it was the last straw when the counterbalanced cap decided to stop working and remain stuck in the open position. I decided that the OXO 5oz precision dispenser might be a better option. It is a bit smaller than my current container, but it is eversomuch better configured. Not only does the spout not drip at all, but the innards of the cap are removable, so that the entire thing can be periodically scrubbed clean. I am sorely tempted to get a second one for the tamari, which is also being stored in a sub par container. (I keep the large "back-stock" of those in the pantry, but like having small dispensers handy...

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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	recycle bin
6	pumpkin overalls	black winter slip	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. I ordered a DVD of "Over The Garden Wall" as my October treat, and it should be delivered next week.
2. The new cooking oil dispenser works better than any I have had in the past, which makes me very happy indeed. Just as poor design drives me bonkers, good design is a delight
3. I picked up an assortment of acorn caps in various sizes, some of which should work well as a base for miniature vintage style Halloween candy buckets.

Time of Isolation - Day 1559

a weekend assortment

in which our plucky heroine reaches for various bootstraps...

I have a small packet of senior discount coupons for the farmers market, but had yet to manage to get to one this year. Yes, I know it is already the middle of October. So I set out on Saturday morning, there being no Sewing Nomads meeting this past week. While I got there rather late and didn't find much that immediately called to me (although there were many varieties of peppers and a fair amount of tomatoes I was hoping for Asian eggplants),  I did find a local organic farm that had part of a box of very ripe white peaches, and splurged on two! They have been such a special dessert treat, peeled, cut into chunks, and topped with Greek yogurt.

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~ so bright ~

My online pal Roxanne, who quilts, sent me a whole box full of Kaffe Fasset scraps to use for tinyfolk treats, and the first thing I made was this bright pieced and embroidered skirt for Kenya. Since we have still had a few sunny days in the last week with the afternoon temperature around 80F, a bit of tree climbing was on her agenda. I had no purple embroidery floss, so I stopped by The Sewlarium to have a look through their selections, and was able to find a nice deep hue.

The pattern I used was the same one for the bias cut striped Halloween skirts, and I really need to get on with turning that into a PDF; in this case, since I wasn't going for diagonal stripes I didn't cut the gores on the bias, which is much more economical of fabric. Inspired by the aesthetic of Kate from The Last Homely House, I'm rather tempted to create another 1:12 scale patchwork quilt, using the Kaffe Fasset fabrics to make a bright colorwash design. Tiny bedding is eversomuch faster than full size!

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Today was my first attempt to start lactofermented vegetables, using the tools that Acantha sent to me. I have one jar of beet "kvass" and one jar of carrot sticks (with ginger and garlic) sitting on the kitchen counter. As suggested in many online sources, I scrubbed the veggies well before cutting them up, but didn't peel them. The beets went in cut into ½" cubes, and the carrots in sticks. I'm using widemouth pint jars, (though I will probably move the dry goods I have stored in my precious two 24oz Ball jars and convert them to fermenting as well). Each pint got 1½ tablespoons of live yogurt whey, and I made a light brine from 2c water and 1 teaspoon of salt. I hope this works! It will be a week or two at least before I know...

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I had started reading "Floating Hotel" by Grace Curtis, as it was recommended to me as being "cozy" similar to Becky Chambers Wayfarers book series. Though it started out quite pleasantly, and I was enjoying the world and the characters, partway into the book there was a chapter that contained content I found so disturbing that I immediately stopped reading the book and returned it to the library. I would have appreciated knowing that was there prior to checking out the book, as I would never have started reading it in the first place.

When I posted my concern to the Fantasy-Faction FB group, I got several good suggestions, (other than "Does The Dog Die" which is more robust for film than for books). One person suggested doing an online search with the book title/author and "content warning" or "CW", and another referred me to a site called "Storygraph". I think I shall use these techniques prophylactically before reading books by unknown-to-me authors...

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Today I began carving the title page block for Textile Livestock. I have the paper strips prepped for printing, and then remembered I still needed the title page! This project is one that I hope to have completed by the end of this coming week, as I am still 11 pieces short of my own contribution to the Advent Swap... I figure tiny books, and maybe some tiny single prints or paintings will fill in my box of goodies!

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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	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. the most delicious organic white peaches from the farmers market
2. started lactofermented carrots, and beet kvass, using the new tools from Acantha...
3. I asked for helpful suggestions in a FB group, and received several

Time of Isolation - Day 1553

Wednesday whatnots

in which our plucky heroine tries not to worry...

The major Florida hurricane "Milton" made landfall just about on top of where my elderly auntie lives. I have been somewhat obsessively checking the weather, despite that there is nothing at all I can do at this far remove. I did call her yesterday, and let her know I was thinking about her and that I love her.

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~ embroidered edging ~

Since we are well into October, and I am sponsoring a "spooky season" challenge for Tiny Rag Doll Nation, I wanted to get started making a few prizes for the random drawing winner... The bias gored skirt is such a fun way to use striped fabric, and this time I decided to give it an embroidered border using chained feather stitch. I love how elaborate that embroidery stitch looks, and how easy it is to do! (description and tutorial)

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As part of my attempt to improve my health, and to increase resilience, I will be experimenting with making some brine-fermented veggies... With this intent, I went ahead and ordered some of the glass weight discs, as I'm pretty sure my previous effort(s) were foiled by not being able to keep the contents properly submerged. I want to try ginger garlic carrots, and also beet kvass, as both of those have been recommended to me as good to start with.

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Checking on the remaining tree fruit here... the quinces are not quite ripe, but getting close. The persimmons are nowhere near ripe yet, being mostly green. And the second crop figs are still quite hard; they almost never ripen. I really need to rewatch the Useful Video and make notes about how to prune figs for a better first crop. Indeed, I really ought to start a notebook about the various tree fruits here and how best to care for them!

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It occurred to me to try to remove the layers of frost from the upper sides of my chest freezer by sort of chiseling it off with a large screwdriver and a hammer. Carefully of course. It was possible to place the screwdriver "chisel" just past the actual edge of the freezer, and a few strong taps with the hammer had a surprisingly large "iceberg" break loose, without have any adverse effect on the freezer itself. It took eversomuch less time to work my way around the circumference than it would have to defrost the whole thing in the usual way!

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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	-	-
3	shibori scarf	-	-
4	robin and holly acorn cap ornaments	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. My aged Florida aunties residence home facility is not in an evacuation zone, and is a designated "shelter in place" location, so I can only hope that she is okay...
2. I made a delicious vaguely red Thai curry inspired meal tonight with chicken, greens, and a mixture of carrot and sweet potato, and thought to put half of it in the fridge for tomorrow before actually eating dinner. Future Me will be happy
3. I defrosted the chest freezer by carefully using a very large screwdriver as a "chisel" and hitting it with a hammer
4. Did I mention how much I enjoy my Wednesday evening game time with Stef and Mischa?

Time of Isolation - Day 1549

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine hopes for healing...

And in the meantime, makes progress on various current projects, and begins a long list of future projects large and small, indoors and out.

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~ acorn cap ornaments ~

When I found these large acorn caps, they needed to become frames for tiny ⅞" artwork ornaments... Image search helps to find inspiration, and after sketching out various possibilities, I pencil the chosen design onto art paper that already has circles marked out. (I use templates for circles and ovals). The pencil sketch is outlined with .005 Pigma Micron pen, the pencil erased, and then they are painted with gouache and watercolor paint...

When the round paintings are dry, they are cut out and glued into the acorn caps. Once they dry overnight, I coated the painted discs with two coats of clear nail polish. The last step is to drill a 21ga hole in the top of the acorn cap, and epoxy in a wire loop to hold a hang cord... I thought about maybe turning these into magnets instead, but they are somewhat delicate...

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Had a good chat with Acantha today... mutual aid is going to send some apples my way (yay, applesauce!), as well as some assorted garden harvest bounty. We also talked about brine fermenting veggies for probiotics, preservation, and flavor. I want to try carrots, which are supposedly fairly easy. Then when I chatted with Karen in the afternoon, she was telling me about beet kvass, which is her most favorite for a happier tummy, as well as being a quick ferment. I may end up doing some home fermentation experiments this winter, and may also get back to making kombucha again... (I really do hope that this antibiotic helps my body take down the E coli infection; whenever I am done with the medication train there will be great need to refurbish my internal biome)

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~ Almandine has no pants ~

Now that it is October, it is time to put together festive garb for my tinyfolks... Some of their holiday clothing is from years past, like the witchy hats, the tiger striped knit dress, and the black linen and orange felt pinafores. Opal has a whole new set of clothing this year including the wonderful crocheted vest from Dawn, and Kenya has a new black checked dress made from fabric that Roxanne sent me. Apparently the least prepared at the moment is Alamadine; I am thinking that she could use a pair of black overalls, maybe with a jack-o-lantern embroidered on the pocket? (I'm going to rummage through the garment tin for something temporary, as it just doesn't seem right to leave her with "naikey-nethers") I also want to make Nandina a tiger head hat to go with her stripey dress, similar to the deer head hat I made back in 2020

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Yum yum... I made corn pancakes for breakfast, and put enough in the freezer for several more meals:

Sister Gigi's Sweet Corn Cakes

4 ears sweet corn (or 2 c frozen) ½ c cornmeal or masa ½ c flour 1 t salt 1 t sugar ½ t baking powder ¼ t cayenne 1 large egg ¾ c buttermilk 3 T butter, melted and cooled 2 green onions, chopped small

If using fresh corn, cut the kernels from cobs, (you should have about 2 c) Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl, combine all wet ingredients in a bowl, mix together and add the corn and the green onions. Let rest in the refrigerator for at least a half hour or more (cornmeal will hydrate, texture will be nicer; if you use masa, might need more liquid than called for) Fry like pancakes 'till both sides are golden. serve with green salsa and sour cream

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October SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	ScribeTober 1	-	yard waste bin
2	blue wolf enamel	-	-
3	shibori scarf	-	-
4	robin and holly acorn cap ornaments	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. somewhat better sleep last night
2. my good friends Acantha, and Karen
3. I was mostly pain free for several hours this morning, before it came back

Time of Isolation - Day 1547

Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine wants more hours in the day...

Before the kitchen became inundated with fruit flies, I started making a batch of plum ketchup tonight, substituting the somewhat overripe plums for tomato... I am thinking that a second batch could be made specifically for my no nightshade friends, as the color of this variation, being just barely more of a purple-red than tomato ketchup is more appetizing than pale orange condiment made from persimmons.

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~ acorn cap mushroom ~

since it is currently acorn cap season, here is another seasonal thing you can make to share... I found a whole drawer full of these little acorn mushroom ornaments I'd made following this tutorial back in the golden age of blogging, and will be including some as part of the tiny treats for the upcoming swap...

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this is going to be fun... I decided to sponsor a spooky season shenanigans challenge over at Tiny Rag Doll Nation, and there are already four more folks signing on! And, sometime after when I checked in early this morning, Dawn did another drawing for the second place winner in the 13 week wardrobe challenge, and it turned out to be yours truly, or rather, one of the tinyfolk wardrobes I put together... since my dolls are so much smaller than the rest of the crew there, she will create something special that will be just the right TRD size!

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If there are still some not too overripe plums on the tree, I will pick another basket full; enough to make a batch of faux hoisin sauce, and a small batch of totally no-nightshade ketchup.

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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	a dozen tetras	porch valance	plum logs
2	tiny doll shorts	mask elastics	oldest pinafore
3	Almandine clothing	origami boxes	recycle bin
4	skirt for Opal	-	yard waste bin
5	cardigan for Opal	-	recycle bin
6	black top for Opal	x	x
7	Pokemon patches	x	x
8	4 jars strawberry rhubarb	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. Heather's homemade sourdough bread is delicious!
2. I won the second of the prize drawings for the 13 week wardrobe challenge, which means that Dawn will make my tinyfolk something beautiful and bespoke; I am hoping for a hat decorated with a hatband of tiny crocheted flowers.
3. started making a batch of plum ketchup, substituting plums for tomato... the color is great!

Time of Isolation - Day 1538

Wednesday whatnots

in which our plucky heroine navigates the upson downs...

At 4am I ended up posting this online, which in some ways was not the best idea, as reality always looks the most bleak in those wee small hours of o'dark thirty...

"So lonesome waking up in the middle of the night from an adventure dream with friends and allies, in a challenging but not alone dreamland, and now I can't go back to sleep... Sometimes I hate how small my world is now. The metaphorical spaceship voyage of the last four plus years is wearing me down".

It did do my heart good to read the various messages of love and solidarity, when I went back online later in the morning, after finally managing to get back to sleep. I am most certainly not the only one struggling in this new and less delightful world, and together we can find ways to maintain connection and find what is still worthwhile...

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~ ¾" squares ~

Kestrel's three favorite Pokemon characters, drawn small to be stitched on the front of three little tops for her dollhouse folks... Everything is wrapped up and packed and in transit to arrive for the birthday celebration

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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	a dozen tetras	porch valance	plum logs
2	tiny doll shorts	mask elastics	oldest pinafore
3	Almandine clothing	origami boxes	recycle bin
4	skirt for Opal	-	yard waste bin
5	cardigan for Opal	-	recycle bin
6	black top for Opal	x	x
7	Pokemon patches	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. I cannot find words for how much I am enjoying meeting every Wednesday evening to play Golden Sky Stories with Mischa and Stef...
2. The temperature dropped 30 degrees between yesterday and today. Also, it rained almost all day. I am a much happier camper
3. I managed to get the laundry out on the line yesterday in the awful heat and sun to dry, and I managed to get it inside this morning before the rain started

Time of Isolation - Day 1535

Monday malaise

in which our plucky heroine is feeling rather puny...

Ever since I was a child, stress gives me the collywobbles, and my tummy takes a turn for the worse, and since there are some new challenges currently on the table, I ended up with part of the day discommoded, as it were. Some tea and broth, rice and maybe some applesauce shall hopefully set me to rights, but today was not as productive as I had hoped for. Still, I've made some lists of the what to do next items, and will be gentle with self for the rest of the evening.

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Bit by bit, various additions to the tinyfolk wardrobe tin come together into holiday outfits. I hope to have festive clothing for all four of them this year. The witchy hats I knit last October will be perfect spooky season accessories… I made Opal a black silk top and the gored skirt this year, and the crocheted camisole from Dawn makes an excellent vest. Now all she needs is some sort of autumnal footgear… I’m thinking about sponsoring a Tiny Rag Doll Nation spooky season challenge next month, if folks would be interested…

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My friend Eva shared the recipe for this Creamy Pumpkin and Red Lentil Soup, and it is so delicious and so easy that I have added it to my notebook of "make this again"... Most of the ingredients are (or can be) shelf stable pantry staples, or refrigerator condiments. I normally have Thai red chili paste, and Better Than Bouillon on hand, which is also a plus. I usually have some coconut milk, but up to now hadn't kept canned pumpkin on the storage shelf. That will change, and this time of year it sometimes is on sale, so a good time to stock up... I did pre-soak the red lentils, not that they need it, but it makes the on the stove cooking time even shorter.

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Another box suitable for wrapping tiny gifts for the Advent Swap is the masu box. If you start with a 3½" square of paper, your finished box will measure 1¼" across. The tutorial also has directions for folding a second box just larger enough to make a lid that slides over the first box:

How to fold a Masu Box
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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	a dozen tetras	porch valance	plum logs
2	tiny doll shorts	mask elastics	oldest pinafore
3	Almandine clothing	origami boxes	recycle bin
4	skirt for Opal	-	yard waste bin
5	cardigan for Opal	-	recycle bin
6	black top for Opal	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. I am still in my right mind, and however troublesome the decisions and things I need to cope with, at least I can do so according to my own ethics and preferences.
2. Naps, naps are good  
3. Drawing... I have been able to do so since before I have conscious memory. I remember being shown a recognisable "horse" I painted in nursery school. We each come in with gifts, I very much enjoy mine...

Time of Isolation - Day 1533

Box of boxes

in which our plucky heroine plays with folded paper...

I remember the first time I tried origami, I couldn't have been more than 6 years old, as we were still living in Connecticut. There was a gift of what seemed like a big book, with colorful diagrams and lots of paper. Ever since, on occasion, I have enjoyed turning something flat into something dimensional.

For the Advent of A Better Year in 2025 swap, one of the rules is that all the tiny gifts need to be pre-wrapped, as it would drive me bonkers to have to wrap everyone's contributions. Still, I figure that sharing tutorials in case anyone else enjoys origami might be helpful, as it is an easy way to create pretty wrappings for gifts. Also, I can test out the instructions and figure out the correct size of paper to start with, to get a finished piece that is 1¼" square...

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~ a box with an integral lid ~

This box is folded to become a cube with an attached lid. If you start with a 5¼" square, the finished box is just the right size (1¼" square), here you can see I have stuffed it with a half dozen of the flower-top boxes... This shape turns out a little too flimsy when made in ordinary origami paper; so something just a little heavier works better...

Tutorial: Origami Box with Integral Lid
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~ a flower-top box ~

This box is very flat - suitable for holding a more 2D gift, such as a small painting or print, or even a surprise fortune? I'd been wanting to try folding this design for a while, as I've been fascinated by Zhen Xian Bao for years now, but never tried making any of the several styles of components that they require.  If you start with a rectangle that is 2½" x 5" you will get a finished box that is 1¼" square...

Tutorial: Origami Flower Top Boxes
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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	a dozen tetras	porch valance	plum logs
2	tiny doll shorts	mask elastics	oldest pinafore
3	Almandine clothing	-	recycle bin
4	skirt for Opal	-	yard waste bin
5	cardigan for Opal	-	recycle bin
6	black top for Opal	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. Roxanne, who I met online as part of the extended family of Tiny Rag Doll enthusiasts, kindly offered to send me some small scraps of Kaffe Fassett fabric for tinyworld doll clothing and decoration. What arrived here was an entire mailer box absolutely packed with scraps of colorful quilting cotton! I shall have plenty for future dolly garment sewing, and am even considering a bright colorwash miniature patchwork quilt this winter, as an homage to the style of Kate at The Last Homely House... I'm so not a quilter, have only ever made three full size ones, but miniature quilts are much faster to make...
2. I found my missing TriMet Hop Card (transit pass). For some reason tucked into the scanner/printer?? Was a relief, since I had just reloaded the card last week.
3. The scraps of black silk made a wonderful spooky season top for Opal to wear with her pumpkin colored camisole and skirt

Time of Isolation - Day 1532

Wednesday whatnots

in which our plucky heroine has much on her mind...

Much of my spare brain activity currently consists of thinking about outdoor space and garden design, and putting various options into task and resource order. I've decided that I want the sidewalk edge of the front yard to be "semi-permeable". To have a partial barrier, but not as enclosed as a solid fence. What this might consist of (plantings? panels? open fencing? sculpture??) is not yet clear to me, but I much prefer the yards that have this effect of enclosure to those that are just flat grass. I suspect that over time I may develop a clearer concept overall and in more detail for the exterior aspect of Acorn Cottage, which will allow me to gradually make decisions and choices that will bring me more comfort and delight

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~ sky koi ~

Looking westward a few days ago, the vault of the sky is speckled and spangled with reflected sunlight. I wish I was a better photographer and could catch the nuances my human eyes see in the bright world.

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...sigh, I had been feeling somewhat better the last few days in the lower righthand quarter, and then somehow, after a pleasant midafternoon bike ride, it felt like all my clunky SI connections decided to go sideways back into the land of pain with a rattley-bang, for no particular reason, while I was sitting down writing some notes. Bodies are weird. Maybe they will find their way to a better alignment while I am sleeping?

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~ week 13 : cardigan ~

I knew as soon as I made the knitted skirt way back in week 1* that I was going to want a matching cardigan, so went ahead with Dawn Smith's Raglan Sleeved Cardigan for Tiny Rag Dolls pattern. Whatever top Opal wears with it, she always looks put together; if I ever figure out a tidy way to fasten a necklace, she needs some beads or pearls to go with... and shoes! (somehow her Birkenstocks just are not quite the right thing for this outfit)

Since out of all my tinyfolk, Opal started out with the least amount of clothes, I chose to really focus on creating a complete 13 piece wardrobe for her over the course of the 13 week challenge. I also made quite a number (not sure how many total) of "extra" garments for my own tiny rag dolls as well as for Kestrel's crew. I need to put together a mosaic photo of the mix-n-match as well as the whole wardrobe as a flat lay image...

*I don't like "straight" skirts, so I went with an A-line style instead

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I won the random prize drawing back in week 10, and as my TRD tinyfolk are much smaller than the AG mini dolls, Dawn offered to custom make me a crocheted top, in the color of my choice (from the colors she had available) I picked a pumpkin orange, which turned out to be a perfect match for the striped gored skirt, and the orange buttons she chose are just right. Plus, the button loops and buttons are functional!! How cool is that!! (I have someblack silk set aside to make Opal a long sleeve top to wear under the camisole, to keep her warm.)

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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	a dozen tetras	porch valance	plum logs
2	tiny doll shorts	mask elastics	oldest pinafore
3	Almandine clothing	-	recycle bin
4	skirt for Opal	-	yard waste bin
5	cardigan for Opal	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. I just plain love the sweet crocheted top that Dawn sent me as my prize for week 10. It matches the striped gored skirt perfectly, and has functional buttons and button loops!!
2. more tinyfolk treats from friends: a bag of miniature silverware, buttons and buckles, and a big packet of colorful fabric scraps to play with for wee clothing and tiny quilts...
3. the Moody Blues bed quilt got washed and hung on the clothesline to dry, so it has that wonderful line dried scent which makes going to bed just that much nicer.
4. I figured out that I can choose to work on the neverending dots scribal project when on non-critical zoom, which has had the result of moving that scroll incrementally closer to being done.

Time of Isolation - Day 1529

detected inspected selected injected

in which our plucky heroine makes some small forward progress...

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~ spooky season plans ~

I want all of my tinyfolk to have something special to wear for Halloween, and when Ursel gave me some two-tone orange striped cotton fabric, it seemed perfect for a zigzag bias gored skirt. I adapted the flared skirt pattern to have eight gores, and marked a bias grain line in order to get the desired effect. If I make a PDF of the pattern piece, it could be shared to other fans of the Tiny Rag Doll Nation...

It was easy to sew the gore seams, and I simply backed it with my usual thin cotton lawn, following the normal directions. I didn't want to make it reversible, since there were so many internal seam allowances already making the skirt quite stiff. It then occurred to me that adding a bit of black lace edging to the hemline would make it even more appropriate for the season; it didn't take too much time to use my handy black Sharpie pen to "overdye" a bit of the same tatted lace I'd used on Opal's slip dress.

She is right pleased with her new skirt, which will coordinate with the future orange crocheted top prize when it arrives. So far I have one orange and black stripey handknit dress, one black linen pleated pinafore with an orange long sleeve top, and one orange felt pinafore decorated with an embroidered bat (that still needs a dress, probably black or grey). I have a few pointy witchy-style hats from last year. I do want to make a "tiger head" hat similar to the deer head hat I made back in September of 2020, possibly with a matching apron?

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After much effort finally managed to find a pharmacy I could get to fairly easily to get a current covid booster. Took a few hours over several days to track down somewhere that was local (ie on transit or by bicycle), accepting walk ins, and had Novavax, but now I'm up to date on my vaccinations for the time being.

I mean, I am not a web programmer, I am an artist, but I could envision a simple website that would allow one to find out what vaccines were available where, without having to go through multiple pages of enter-data documents before finding out that there were no appointments, or that the desired flavor of jab wasn't available at that site, and then having to do it all over again for each location of that particular drugstore or grocery store chain in the metropolitan area. (there were sites like that earlier in the pandammit,  but now those are gone) After much time wasted that way, I decided today to try phone calls instead. There is a special hell for whoever invented phone tree bots. After 2½ hours, I achieved success!

... in a while, I'll get the flu vaccine for this winter; I like to get them separately in case of side effects, though I will say that I've had practically none from any if the various COVID vaccines, the only thing that wrecked me was my first and only attempt at the pneumonia vaccine. Not allowed to get that one again, sadly... wish I could, as I've had pneumonia five times (in the Before Times), which is part of why I make such an effort to avoid covid.

This song is from back in 2020, when the hope was for a sterilising vaccine, that would allow for a safe return to the Before Times social behavior. We're still not there, but the vaccinations we currently have do provide some amelioration of the worst effects of the virus. I'd not ever want to return to the mass deaths and fear of the first year of the pandammit, but I do miss the feeling of "we are all in this together", before disinformation and polarisation divided people

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my sweet good neighbors dropped off some more homegrown tomatoes on my front porch! Nom nom nom!

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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	a dozen tetras	porch valance	plum logs
2	tiny doll shorts	mask elastics	oldest pinafore
3	Almandine clothing	-	recycle bin
4	skirt for Opal	-	yard waste bin
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. managed to find and get a walk in Novavax jab today that was close enough to ride there on my bike
2. really pleased with the new spooky season striped gores and black lace skirt for Almandine
3. replacement correct size Yaktrax showed up today

Time of Isolation - Day 1527

fragments from week 2

in which our plucky heroine notes the ups and downs...

One of the better parts of the last week was Gersvinda and her trusty truck, and being able to bring home a Bosc pear tree from the 25% off tree sale at Portland Nursery. Her work schedule makes it challenging to spend time together, so it is a treat when the stars align. And it was her suggestion, when the closer nursery had only one scraggly espalier left, that we go a little further and check out the other site... Bingo, there weren't many pears left, but Bosc was one of the three varieties I had on the list... so... it is currently in the backyard waiting for me to decide where to plant it. I am considering near the fence and adjacent to Feral Grape (who will need to be pruned back). There is a big pear tree next door, which will be good for pollination...

Acantha, during our conversation earlier this week about garden planning and flowers and such, suggested that I pay attention to what sorts of outdoor yards and gardens that I find appealling, while I am out and about on my bicycle... Well, I never thought to do that in all my years!

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~ Mx Green Jeans ~
>

The belated last of the week 11 pants project is this pair of cargo pants for Almandine. Here she is hanging out while I type this blog post; the shelf my monitor sits on is cluttered with bits and bobs, but makes it clear as well how very tiny the tinyfolk are.

This is actually the last week of the 13 week Tiny Wardrobe Challenge, and the garment of the week is a handknit cardigan. I will probably feature the one I made for Opal, back a few months ago when the challenge started. Mostly because I want to spend more time enameling and less time playing, now that the weather has cooled down. Eventually though, I do want to try making a tiny handknit cardigan with the faux cables that Dawn shared a link to a while back...

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Time to start thinking again about items and planning for the Advent Swap. Here are two different origami containers: This simple masu-style box is a classic; folded from 3½" square paper it makes a perfect 1¼" box for packaging up treats. This twist-top storage container is a bit more tricky to make, but would be great for flat treats; start with a 5" x 2½" rectangle to make a 1¼" packet...

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I've been continuing to try and rest, and stretch, and ride my bike, all in the hope that my CrankyBack/Hip/Haunch will stop being quite so cranky. There has been some improvement - it isn't waking me up at night. I don't know if stepping up onto stairs is still problematic (as I found out last week at the transit center); Acorn Cottage is thankfully all one level. I was able to put my socks on this morning, with difficulty but without tears. Getting old is not for the weak...

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This is a lovely illusion, but since Instagram won't share it here, you will have to go see for yourself...

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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	a dozen tetras	porch valance	plum logs
2	tiny doll shorts	mask elastics	oldest pinafore
3	Almandine clothing	-	recycle bin
4	-	-	yard waste bin
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. BLT made with homegrown tomato
2. Acantha is brilliant! Looking at peoples yards is a good way to figure out what I like and what I don't like, and a good way to start thinking about design of outdoor space.
3. today was cool enough that I had to put on my chore jacket in the evening.

Time of Isolation - Day 1526

a bit of mutual aid

in which our plucky heroine notices harvest season...

The trees here are getting closer, and the plums are ripe and ready for me to start putting them in the freezer. Earlier today Gersvinda texted me and asked if she could borrow my fruit picker, as the pears at her mom's house are ready. Of course I said yes! I am glad I have a Useful Tool that will help access more homegrown fruit, and I've much enjoyed the pears she has shared with me in past years. Time to clear the sideboard and make room for the dehydrator. Mmmm dried pears are like candy, and I bet they would be good in this pear tart, too.

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~ week 12 - reversible top ~

I've been using the Tiny Doll Wardrobe Challenge as a way to fill in various gaps in the garments of my four tinyfolk, and this week I decided that Almandine needed a new top. With one side from a scrap of Kaffe Fassett (I think "Millefiori", in brown) and the other a soft green silk with pale red stripes, it coordinates with all the rest of her clothing. And now that I have sussed out how to make Almandine-tail-friendly pants, she is will soon have a pair made from that green/red shot linen that was used for one of the pairs of shorts for Kestrel's dollies...

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SIL Barb phoned me today, and we had a good talk. I wish she and my brother didn't live all the way across the continent!

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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	a dozen tetras	porch valance	plum logs
2	tiny doll shorts	mask elastics	oldest pinafore
3	Almandine clothing	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. There will be another indigo workshop in October at the art store! I have enough notice to maybe prep shibori!!
2. Today I picked the 2¼ pounds of ripe plums from the Wanda prune plum outside the bedroom window. I love that tree, seeing the flowers in the spring, and watching the fruit gradually ripen over the summer.
3. Gersvinda will borrow my fruit picker for pears, and likely bring some over when she returns it!

Time of Isolation - Day 1519

throwback Thursday - "dramatis personae"

in which our plucky heroine reintroduces the cast and tidies up some loose ends...

Back in May 2019, I first experimented with Ann Wood's Tiny Rag Doll pattern, which has brought me so much delight and the company of assorted tinyfolk in the years that followed. I am always amazed and amused at how such scraps of fabric and fluff become little personalities with definite likes and dislikes, with strong preferences for what their names will be, and with stories I am surprised to learn

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~ Nandina ~
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Nandina was the third of the tinyfolk here, after her older sister Zinnia and pal Hazel left for parts north. In June of 2020, I wanted even imaginary company in the still raw isolation of that year.

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~ Hazel and Zinnia ~

These two were the very first of the tinyfolk, and brought me a renewed pleasure in the miniature world, which had been my hobby as a girl. I'd been following the blog of the artist Ann Wood for some time, the source of all these small things and how to make them. After being drawn to make the clothespin doll bed for Rafny, I then had to make some of the tiny rag dolls, though these two soon told me that they really needed to go live with Young Kestrel instead of here at Acorn Cottage.

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~ Xanthy ~

By October, Nandina was eager for a friend her own size, and as part of the 100 day creativity challenge, Xanthy arrived at Acorn Cottage. From the start, that one had a very definite persona, and while we enjoyed her company, before too long they decided that life would be more fun up at Mud Bay, and trekked off for life with Hazel and Zinnia...

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~ Almandine ~

In the summer of 2021, after some interesting experimenting with the spun cotton technique, a fox head gradually became the fox-girl Almandine...

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~ Opal ~

Opal got her start in life as part of a diorama of Viking grave goods! For a long time after that, she sort of drifted around Tansu Terrace like, well, a nameless ghost... without clothing of her own, or even much of a facial expression. Finally, inspired by the 13 week Mini Doll Wardrobe challenge, I embroidered her face, and have been having a good time making a coordinated wardrobe mostly in shades of bluegrey, with a few bright accents such as this tiedye top

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~ Kenya ~

Kenya Ogidni former Berkeley radical (and mother to Zinnia and Nandina) now manages a cooperative gallery space at one end of Tansu Terrace. Raúl (not seen here) is the father of both her children and remains a deeply committed intersectional justice activist. They met on the picket lines for the NFAW strikes and have been together ever since.

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I will often joke about sunspots when zoom or other media connections work poorly or freeze up... but there really are sunspot storms a-happening...

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Last week I finally sorted out the elastic straps on my P100 mask... ever since I started using it, the adjustable straps were much too long, so I wrapped the ends around the adjusters to keep them from loosening, which left the ends waving out from my face like oversize cat whiskers! An additional goofy addition to the already peculiar looking though very excellent mask.

Last month when Mikki was here, I noticed that her mask had the ends of the straps neatly stitched down. Why I never before thought to do that I will never know, but I finally took needle and some button and carpet thread in hand and now the mask more tidy and easier to wear!

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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	a dozen tetras	porch valance	plum logs
2	tiny doll shorts	mask elastics	oldest pinafore
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. elastic mask straps are now stitched in place
2. so far, my imagination has never failed me
3. The electricity has held steady so far today, with only one very short wobble. This means that I can stay indoors, safe from heat sickness. It is over 100F on my front porch right now, but the heat should begin to moderate tomorrow...

Time of Isolation - Day 1516