I’m organized

I really am. My third grade teacher said that in all of her years of teaching she had never had a child as organized as me. I tend to be cluttered now but I’m still organized. My bookbinding kit had gotten to the point that something had to be done. So I organized everything today. Here’s the photos of my kit:

I know this part may not look organized but it is. In the bottom on the left is scrap paper that can still be used for other projects. On the right is larger tools, mock-ups, how-to’s, and instruction books and notes.

In the take out tray I keep smaller tools and useful bits.

In the top I keep my threads and other small tools.

I have a confession…. I’m a total math geek. I bought a vintage 1965 calculus book today…. so I can do calculus for fun. Yes, I said calculus and fun in the same sentence. I picked it up at the used book store in town while I was out on my scooter today.

Happy Friday!

After I posted about my new scooter last weekend….. it got a flat tire due to a fluke with the inner tube 😦 I’ve been waiting since Sunday for my new inner tube to arrive and it finally came today! I’ve been all over town today 😀 I keep finding excuses reasons that I need to go out. So far I’ve made 2 trips to the grocery store and a trip to the drive-in to get an awesome cherry Pepsi.

Today, the BESTbooks blog posted an interview with me, along with a few photos. It made my whole evening so much more awesome! You can check it out here.

I finished spinning and plying the roving that I bought from blondechicken. I’m loving this yarn. I haven’t decided what to make with it yet but I’m thinking a super chunky scarflette is the rout I’m going to go.

The yellow fabric in the background is more muslin that I’ve dyed with turmeric. I’m using it as the backdrop for most of my shop photos now.

I’m currently working on a few (few is such an understatement) books so I will have stock for an event that I’m going to be a part of in a few weeks. My town has a week long festival every year that centers around a carnival. Years ago the carnival was set up in town but then was moved to the high school. This year the carnival is returning to the middle of town so the town event coordinators are hoping to spark up the whole town with events all week.

I’m going to be set up at a local bank on Friday June 20 from 10-2:00 doing bookbinding demonstrations. I’ll also have books for sale. On Wednesday, I’ll be helping with a children’s community art project and on Saturday I’ll be helping with the AAC concession stand/fund raiser. I have high hopes for this year’s festival!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!

Monday June 2 @ 9:00 est.  In the Etsy Virtual Labs Library – BESTbooks team Trunk Show!!

Several members (including me) will be showcasing their work and telling a little bit about themselves and their items.  There will be giveaways, special discounts, and lots of fun!  Come hang out with us Monday night 😀

Dyed & Spun

This is the finished product of my carding, dying, spinning, and plying. It’s only .6 oz. BFL wool – Soy Silk blend dyed with Turmeric.

There was a bit left over so I made this tiny skeinlette.

I talked myself into it….

I was going to put this in the shop… but I’ve decided to keep it for myself. I’ve been keeping my needles in a rolled up paper towel while stocking my shop with nifty needle holders… LOL!

Spinning Day

I spent my Memorial Day spinning, watching Monty Python, making book covers, and playing with baby ducks. I finished spinning the roving that I got from Blondechicken. I have both batches of spinning on bobbins for the moment. I’m going to let them set for a day or two and then ply them together. I also spun up some of the BFL/soysilk roving that I dyed with turmeric last week.

Sunny Sunday

My behbeh duckies came back yesterday, I forgot to post the photo with all my scooter excitement. They are getting bigger.

Today, I planted an Old German tomato plant. I hope it does better than the two I planted last year. I also planted an oregano plant that my friend Jean gave me and some dusty millers around my flower box. My rose bush is in bloom and it is so beautiful. I’m hoping to collect some of the dead heads from it soon so I can use it to experiment dye with. My peonies are also in bloom.

I Love My Scooter!

I bought my first scooter today!!!

I’m so excited! I have been driving it all over town this afternoon. It is supposed to get around 96 MPG which is totally freaking awesome.

Ready to spin

This is all the rovings that I dyed yesterday. I carded each of them when I got home from work today.

Clockwise starting at the top:
Soy Silk – turmeric, vinegar, and soda
BFL wool – turmeric & vinegar
BFL wool – turmeric
BFL wool – turmeric, vinegar, and soda
Soy Silk – turmeric, vinegar, and soda

Both the soy silk batts are from the same dye batch. They are different colors because I rolled the roving tightly in the middle so some parts would only absorb some of the dye.

I really love this soy silk batt… so smooshy… so soft…

Turmeric Dye

Today is the first time that I’ve attempted dying wool and fabric. I’m really happy with my results and can’t wait until I can card this wool and spin it up.

I used BFL wool and split it up so I could try different combos of ingredients. On the left is just turmeric, middle is turmeric and vinegar, and on the right is turmeric, vinegar and soda. I really like how they all turned out but I really like the one on the right.

This is a strip of muslin that I test dyed. I really really really freaking love it. The photo doesn’t do this bright sunny yellow justice.

I also dyed some soy silk roving with turmeric, vinegar, and soda. Instead of the bright yellow I got from the wool, I got a deep orange-red. I twisted the bit of roving tightly before putting it in the pot so it wouldn’t absorb as much dye in some spots.

First Cardings and Felting

On the left and middle are carded batts of recycled random yarn bits from other projects. I save all my yarn bits (and sometimes other people’s too). On the right is a batt of BFL wool and soy silk. It is so soft you may just melt if you feel it.

This is a paper bag I made during Etsy Lab’s Craft Night in the Virtual Labs tonight. Just the right size to put all three batts into.

I attempted needle felting tonight… and yes I’ve already stabbed myself, twice, in the same spot. It’s a simple little ball but I’m amazed at how nearly perfectly round I made it on my first try. I need to find some real needle felting foam because the craft foam I bought just isn’t working that well.