O’ Christmas Tree, O’ Christmas Tree December 9, 2009

I put our Christmas tree up this evening. I didn’t put many ornaments this year due to the for legged family members curiosity and chewing habits. My ornaments have to be fabric or some other material that wouldn’t hurt my pup if she were to chew it or break into a million sharp pieces when the kitties knock them off. All of my ornaments are hand made though. There are fabric bunny ornaments that a very sweet person gave me about six years ago, a felt hear that Beverly gave me, and four tiny books that I made. I’m hoping that I can come up with a few more handmade ornaments before Christmas, either ones made by me or others (others preferably because they are so much more special.)

My tree topper this year is a very well taken care of Heavenly Angel from the 60’s. I purchased it last year at a yard sale and it is in excellent condition and in the original box. I suspect that she was never taken out of the box.

I also made a super tasty dinner tonight. Tilapia with asparagus and baby bellas. So veryyummy!

Alterations December 1, 2009

During my break from blogging, I also took some breaks from other things. I took several weekends off from the shop, I took the last of my vacation days at the office, and I took a break from knitting for others. I actually became bored at times and a bit stir crazy. However, I definitely needed it. I needed this time to rest and reenergize. I took time to visit my family. I took time to realign my goals and rethink some things. I took time to listen to what my body and spirit were telling me.

I had to think about what in my craft life I want to pursue as a hobby and what I want to pursue as a business and what kinds of things I want to produce. I needed to define boundaries for myself so that I know how to appropriately use my time. Though I have a fiber related job, knitting, crocheting, and spinning are my hobbies with the exception of my plans for toys, which may or may not become a reality. Sewing is also a hobby. These are all things I enjoy, but I do not intend to attempt to make money from them anymore. Not to say that I will not use these skills in my business but I will not be focusing on them in a business way.

When I did my apprenticeship in bookbinding in 2006, my original intention was to create book sculpture pieces or collectible pieces not pretty journals and sketchbooks. Somewhere along my path, I just settled into making pretty things and not expressing what I feel or think. I somehow forgot what I wanted to do. I was caught up in making and forgot to think. I just popped out tons of books and kept right on making. I had some great ideas along the way, I would jot them down in my ideas book, and there they would sit, while I went and made another pretty book. That combined with trying to make every craft I do profitable and, well, I sabotaged myself. There will be sketchbooks and journals in my shop but you will be seeing less of them as time goes on. I have a bunch stocked up now and hope to have them in the shop soon.

My life became very “GO, GO, GO!” “DO, DO, DO!” and “MAKE, MAKE, MAKE!” I lost sight of what is important in life; my health and my family. Sometimes I think I can take on the world and be superwoman to everyone who asks. Sometimes I forget to say “No.” I am a chronic people pleaser and I need to stop. My constant on the go lifestyle has made me miss out on things like seeing my nieces and visiting my grandmother, helping my mom finish that last 6 inches of quilt binding, dinner parties and board games with friends, and spending time with my husband.

Between the stress (mostly the stress I put on myself) and being on the wrong type of medicine for a while, my health was not in tiptop shape. I am on a new medicine now and I am feeling much better. I have had to rethink the types of foods that I eat. For several months, I was running on mostly caffeine and bad food. The bad eating habits combined with a hormone imbalance caused by my old meds made me gain weight quickly. I have cut out fast food and caffeine sodas. Earlier this year, I cut out coffee and I am now trying to quit the non-caffeine sodas. I am also doing much better with keeping up with my vitamins and protein shakes.

I am taking much better care of myself now and I am feeling much better. I am ready to get back in the game but this time I am playing by the rules I have set.

So, what exactly did I do during all that time off other than watch entirely too much TV? Well, I knit of course! I started the Sylvi coat from Twist Collective. I have finished the back. Hurray!! I had some gauge issues so there was plenty of math to do. I ended up knitting the large size and adding in about 50 rows which meant repeating sections of the cable chart. I have started on one side of the front panels but I am only a little bit into it.

I finished a pair of socks in Koigu which are the most comfortable pair of socks I have knit so far. I have also picked the Hat Heel sock back up so I can finish the pair and stop feeling guilty about the Malabrigo sock yarn sitting there staring at me. I just need to finish the cuff and weave in all those ends.

I have also been working on the Whisper Cardigan. I am about one and a half inches from starting the second sleeve. I am working on it slowly because it is my go to mindless knitting for now. With all the cabling I did in the Sylvi coat, I need some mindless stockinette knitting for a while.

I have decided that I am only knitting/crocheting a very small handful of gifts for Christmas this year, four things to be exact. I am making three dishcloths to go in a bath set for the three tween girls in the family. Two are finished and I will have the third in no time. The fourth thing is a pair of leg warmers for my husband. He actually requested them, which made me happy The first one is on the needles right now and is coming along pretty quickly.

One of the things that I had committed to before my break was a Ravelry swap. It was Crime Show/Mystery themed. I had so much fun putting the package for my partner together. I made her the Allison Dubois spa set, which included a handmade sleep mask, a bath cloth with a skull pattern, and a handmade blood spatter journal all inside of a handmade project bag. I also sent her a skein of Malabrigo lace in the most beautiful blue and two balls of Brown Sheep Nature Spun in Storm, a new crochet hook, a copy of Mary Kruger’s Died in the Wool, a pattern from her favorites list, carmex, flavor-aid for dying, a clear zipper project bag, cedar balls to keep her stash fresh, coil less safety pins, cashews, wasabi peas, and Darjeeling tea. I packaged everything to look as if they were evidence in a case by putting different things into envelopes and labeling them with things like “Exhibit A”. I also included a case file (the pattern) and two envelopes for my spoilee’s girls that were for her “Detectives In-Training” which included a Tinkerbell notepad and pencil so they can take witness statements.

I will give a plant update since I did not get to blog completely through their growing season. The killer tomatoes that we mowed over, after they were broken down by the weight of their own fruits, came back! The plant started growing again and started producing tomatoes again. I left them on the vine until the end of the second week of November because they had not begun to turn red yet, even though they were huge, but an unexpected frost did them in. My pepper plant did not give me anything edible. I picked the pumpkins the week of Halloween but didn’t get to carve them because we had company that evening. The pumpkins ended up being just as big as the ones you can pick up at the grocery store only healthier. When I did carve them open so I could get the seeds back outside, the meat was nearly three inches thick and probably thicker on the largest one. I did as I always do and released the seeds back into the wild. With the number of seeds that we had, my pumpkins may very well take over the town next year.

My birthday was on the 20th, I usually complain that my birthday is so horrible because it usually falls in the same week of Thanksgiving and everyone is caught up on eating turkey and making dinner so they forget. This year it fell in the week before so it ended up being wonderful. My dad threw me a joint birthday party/dinner with my grandma, whose birthday is the 16th. It was so wonderful that he put effort into my birthday this year. My hubby and I went to the Mexican restaurant, we lucked up, and were the only people there, so it was as if the whole place was just for us. My mom had a pizza party for me and I was able to spend time with my brother and his family. I then spent Saturday morning at the shop and then went shopping with Pam. With Thanksgiving the next week, I again was able to spend time with my entire immediate family and my aunt & uncle were able to come to dinner too.

November and my break was wonderful.

Rest October 11, 2009

I will be taking a break from blogging for awhile. My personal life has become a bit overwhelming recently and, as comedian Katt Williams put it, I’ve got to get in tune with my star player. I’m going to uphold the things I’ve signed on to do this month and the daily responsibilities that I have but I have to cut a few things out and turn some offers down. I tend to forget that I cannot be everything to everyone and the importance of the word No. I’m very burned out and exhausted physically, mentally, and spiritually. I need some time to recoup and regroup. I also need some time to focus on things I want to do creatively as opposed to the things I think I’m expected to do. I somehow got off track artistically and began producing for quantity as opposed to trying to express something. My brain has been churning out some excellent ideas lately but I need time to explore and plan. I hope resume posting in November and that I’ll be refreshed and back on track.

10/16 EDIT: I have decided to extend my blogging vacation through the beginning of December. If you should need to reach me, send me an email: paperkittyblog[at]gmail[dot]com

Friday FO’s October 9, 2009

I have a lot of in progress projects but not many finished ones. Remember the Absinthe socks? Well, I decided to frog them and reknit them into a sock that actually fits. The yarn is Pagewood Farms Yukon in Maple Leaf.

I joined Craft’s crochet along last month and although I crocheted the thing in one day, I didn’t stuff it until this past week.

Wednesday WIP October 7, 2009

I must be crazy. I just ordered the yarn to make the Sylvi coat from Twist Collective and I decided to cast on TWO sweaters this week.

The first is the Whisper Cardigan from Interweave Knits Spring 2009. I’m making it in Malabrigo Lace in Black Forest.

The second is the Corona sweater. I’m making it in Cascade 220 which was given to me by a very kind friend.

My travel project is a simple pair of toe up socks in Great Adirondack Silky Socks.

I also have the first Hat-Heel (knitty.com fall 09) finished and need to cast on for the second. I’ll do that as soon as I free up the needles the silky socks are on. I like the pattern it is a very interesting construction and isn’t at all difficult. I’m making them in Malabrigo Sock in Archangel.

My last project is something I wouldn’t have ever imagined I would make. It’s a crochet CAMO afghan. Yes, I said CAMO. When a sweet little boy with big blue eyes tells you how much he loves Army stuff you just can’t resist. You know you have to make him an Army blankie for his birthday.

Monday’s How Does Your Garden Grow? October 5, 2009

Aahhhhhh!! Attack of the Killer Tomatoes that just won’t die!! Ok, it isn’t that dramatic but the tomato plants that I had my husband mow down, came back, and started growing even more tomatoes. Technically, he only mowed over the parts that were haning out into the yard but it was the majority of the plant. Both tomato plants have sprung back and even though they gave me 50+ tomatoes between the two of them, they both have even more tomatoes growing; probably in the double digits too.

The pumpkins are growing nicely. I’ll probably pick these in a week to two and carve them up for jack-o-lanterns. I hope the two green ones will have turned orange by then.

Even though the weather is certainly fall weather, the bees are still hanging around. The oregano plant is still doing wonderfully too. I’ll be picking some to dry soon.

Oh, the little pepper that could. If you’ve been following my How Does Your Garden Grow? posts you’ll remember that I’ve posted photos about the little pepper plant that just didn’t want to give up. For a long time, I was certain that it would die just like the other plants around it, especially after the pumpkin plant sprouted up. I’m happy to say that the little pepper that could, grew a pepper. It even has blooms on it still.

The other pepper plant must be sprouting peppers of steel because every one that has grown, has broken it’s own limb off. I’m really hoping that this one will hang on long enough to start to turn. The last one that turned had a worm hole in it so I couldn’t eat it.

Bookbinding Etsy Street Team Blog Post October 4, 2009

I was included in a post on the Bookbinding Etsy Street Team’s blog today. Click Here to see the post!

Etsy Sunday – Dolls & Plushies October 4, 2009

Since I’ve been unable to post my regular posts lately, I’m bringing you 10 awesome Etsy items instead of the regular 5. I hope that I’ll be back on the regularly scheduled posts for now.

You’re Not The Boss Of Her – pocomedio

Jud – Zerumpees

Sarah – thelittlefox

Miki – tiddlywinks

Ecofriendly Frida Kahlo Softie – sewsewsuckurtoe

Belchick – The Mischievous Squirrel – sleepyking

Hand Sewn Wool Felt Plush Aqua Felt Decorative Wren – bubbletime

Milu – knittingdreams

Nouma doll – bouji

Bright fawn – TheHandworkGroup

Virtual Studio Tour – Studios Magazine October 3, 2009

Cloth Paper Scissors Studios Magazine Open Studio Virtual Tour

My studio is what is formerly known as a dinning room. It’s actually an addition that was built onto our house long before we ever moved in. Originally it was a porch that was closed in and another porch built on that was then closed in to make the closet. This means that in the winter it is very cold in the room. I have a large double door cabinet that I keep most of my supplies in (along with some kitchen equipment). I also have an awesome easel that doubles as a drafting table, a few small bookshelves under a built in counter top, and a large wooden box where I keep my yarn and fabric.

This is my main worktable. It was given to me by two very dear friends when they were moving into a new home and no longer wanted this table. The glass top makes a perfect work surface since I can clean anything off of it easily.

Here, I’m making book cloth, which has to be pasted down to a glass surface to dry. I used the top and bottom of the glass. When I removed the book cloth, it was super easy to clean.

My bookshelf makes my life easier. I needed one for along time and finally bought one this summer.  On top, I keep my ribbons and post card collection.   The top shelf is where I keep my inspiration and favorite things.  Next shelf down is things in progress, then a shelf of buttons and easy to reach towels.  The next to last shelf is my knitting books and art books.  On the bottom I keep my dye pot and my hand spun yarns.

Shelf of my favorite things:

In Progress Shelf:

I like to work assembly line style when I’m producing blank journals.

Breaking down paper for text blocks:

Text Blocks:

Covers In Progress:

Books waiting to be bound:

All bound up:

I don’t own a book press so I have a makeshift one. I have lots of heavy books, Masonite boards, and a large can of pineapple juice.

This is a glimpse of my very large bookbinding tool box. This is just the top tray.

My studio extends outside this one room and on into the rest of the house when I need more space. I do most of my knitting, crocheting & spinning in the den so I can use my computer & watch TV. I use the living room as a sewing room since it has our dinning table in it. I use my kitchen to dye wool and make felt and my porch doubles as a drying rack on sunny warm days (on rainy days, the shower rod in the bathroom is used for drying).

I have some furry help in all this mess too. Zoe, my black kitty, is the reason that my shop is called “The Crafty Kitten”. He loves to sit beside me no matter what I’m doing and just watch.

Piggy usually sneaks in when I’m not looking to check my work.

Snuggies has been known to fall asleep on my feet if I stand in one place too long (usually when I’m breaking down paper for text blocks).

Then there is Raisin, who isn’t allowed in the studio alone because she will eat all the kitty’s food. She likes to sleep by my feet or in my lap too.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the little virtual tour of my studio. Feel free to check out my online shop (which is a little empty at the moment) The Crafty Kitten.

Open Studio Tour – Studios Magazine September 30, 2009

Studios Magazine has put a call out for artists willing to do a virtual tour of their studios on October 3rd. Since I’ve just joined a local tourism route for artists’ studios, I thought I would join in with the virtual tour too. Saturday I’ll be posting photos of my humble little studio so be sure to check it out along with all the other artists participating.

For more info, go to the In the Studio with Cate blog. There you can find more info about the Studios Magazine virtual tour, who’s participating, and how you can join in too. Also check out Cloth Paper Scissors Studios Magazine Fall 2009 which is available in the Interweave Store.