feyac blurk

it was

2012-02-14T21:11:00.003-05:00

a gray day today.  

so added color to dinner with an apple in the salad.  

hope your valentine's was wonderful.  

when the sun was out

2012-01-23T13:03:00.000-05:00

the winter light was beautiful. these were taken by the youngster.

end of 11

2011-12-30T19:45:00.001-05:00

it has been a busy year.

we have been working to finish up loose ends, to-does and general tidying up.

i have been absent from this space and mean to make more frequent updates in 2012.

hope everyone has made a wonderful year of 2011.

wishing you all the best in 2012.

Eek

2011-11-22T11:02:00.000-05:00

. I know it has been forever. It has been busy. I hope you are all well!Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thought I would share some cuteness, oh my goodness.

craving color

2011-03-02T20:44:00.000-05:00

what are you up to today?

2011-02-25T08:23:00.000-05:00

it is rainy here. i will be futzing all day, making my best attempt at being productive.

collecting

2011-02-23T21:38:00.000-05:00

micro burst

2011-02-22T18:26:00.000-05:00

of cleaning...the man has been collecting fortunes.

this was preceded by two days of cleaning up around here and an increased work load, which i have to say we are thankful for.

preparing for spring

2011-02-06T14:04:00.000-05:00

by starting seeds and cleaning.
it is a wonderfully warm day here, we have opened some windows and are getting things moving. Yippee!

udon noodle soup with breaded shrimp

2011-01-25T19:22:00.001-05:00

pretty darn yummy and simple. the noodles cook quick, quick, quick, made a miso base with spinach and breaded the shrimp with some pistachios in the mix (i fried the buggers, mmm).

p.s. thanks for sticking with me, i appreciate it.

wordy? not so much,

2011-01-20T16:41:00.000-05:00

and that's unusual. sorry for the disappearing act... trying to get my general, everyday act together. yoga teacher training has been amazing and time consuming. for the time being i will ease back into this with weekly posts.
i hope you are doing wonderfully.

2011

2011-01-03T13:24:00.000-05:00

happy new year to everyone. i hope the holiday was good to you.
the stomach bug swept through which made for a very quiet time around here.
we made it down to the icy bank of the rockfish river which was a welcome breath of fresh air.

all hands

2010-12-15T19:14:00.000-05:00

making pizza and watching a surfing tourney while we wait for a snow storm. i feel like we just finished with winter and yet here we are again. head spinning fast this life.

before and after

2010-12-13T18:35:00.001-05:00

coat rack with magnetic strip for the kiddos

picture this

2010-12-10T20:05:00.000-05:00

reflection of scottsville

2010-12-09T16:20:00.000-05:00

the world in the woods

2010-12-07T10:51:00.000-05:00

huh? what's that in the distance...

ahh. funny, kids.

picture this

2010-12-03T08:51:00.000-05:00

more hankie storage and

2010-12-01T16:59:00.000-05:00

i am going to take a minute away from the blog to regroup (the festival brought a lot of perspective and opportunities, i need to digest, plus i have some group crafting/xmas gift making scheduled).

for your hankies

2010-11-30T20:01:00.000-05:00

a new and improved model. (this idea came from soule mama).

Thank you

2010-11-29T18:47:00.000-05:00

this holiday was full. the highlights for me were family (near and far) and friends (old and new), hiking in the mountains, eating delicious food and participating in an arts and crafts festival. it was wonderful and i am so grateful for such a wonderful experience.

for some reason this is the only photo that will upload (!?)

picture this

2010-11-26T08:31:00.000-05:00

be still

2010-11-25T09:12:00.000-05:00

Jacque or Pierre?

2010-11-24T12:04:00.000-05:00

naming the newest member of our clan.
i am so grateful for my new model, the loop scarf looks much better from this angle.

wool and silk also

2010-11-23T08:42:00.000-05:00

fingerless gloves

wool and silk

2010-11-22T19:21:00.000-05:00

loop scarf

picture this

2010-11-19T06:25:00.000-05:00

what the days are looking like...

2010-11-18T11:51:00.000-05:00

yarn filled.

this prototype (a type of scarf) was a suggestion from a friend, the idea is awesome, i need to perfect it.

another preview

2010-11-16T10:07:00.000-05:00

of a project in the works.

packaging

2010-11-15T10:03:00.000-05:00

again

regularity

2010-11-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

i need some in my blogiverse. hmm...something like variations on themes...hmm...think i'll just start. so, in order to impose order...i declare friday to be "picture this" day. in this feat i will attempt to take multiple photos throughout the week and choose one to share here.

love to you.

p.s. bonus picture, because i feel like i cheated with the matrix glitch.

a preview

2010-11-11T07:01:00.000-05:00

of another project in the works.
there are lots of ideas rolling around here, which is exciting and daunting.

preparing for the festival

2010-11-10T08:36:00.000-05:00

finishing, wrapping, evaluating and re-evaluating, panicking, calming.

reassuring progress.

a gift of buttons

2010-11-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

love them.

crisp fall days

2010-11-01T12:58:00.000-04:00

are lovely.

corn tortillas

2010-10-28T10:11:00.000-04:00

finally.

what you will need: masa (corn mix), bowl, water, press (or rolling pin), skillet

combined the masa and water. it's all about the consistency here, you want it well mixed and able to form a ball

place the ball of masa mix into the press (we use the plastic so it will not stick to the press). if you are using a rolling pin you may want to do something similar as adding more masa will only change your consistency.

press or roll away

and cook it on the skillet, it's a bit of a trick to get just the right temperature, be patient and experiment.

Have fun!

Genius

2010-10-27T15:19:00.000-04:00

elizabeth zimmerman was brilliant. i just finished this blanket (designed by mrs. z) and love the rounded corners. i used a camel, silk and wool blend yarn from http://www.araucaniayarns.com/ and it is wonderful. It's about 4' square.

bag it

2010-10-25T19:10:00.000-04:00

in a new grocery bag.

rumaging/admiring

2010-10-21T20:05:00.000-04:00

the red speck is my rocket boy, aka the young one. learn to ride a bike, check.


this is a perspective thing, isn't everything, the moon over the boat looked huge and then i took a picture

finally...

2010-10-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

mr. b has expression. he is happy.

and experimenting/preparing for winter with wrist warmers.

too hot to handle?

2010-10-08T12:13:00.000-04:00

not any more.

have been meaning to make these (out of wool felt) for a while, one more check mark on my to do list. now back to other work.
hope everyone has a fabulous weekend. the corn tortillas post is coming.

...

2010-10-04T20:42:00.000-04:00

That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west;
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire,
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the deathbed whereon it must expire,
Consumed with that which it was nourished by.
   This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
   To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

                               by William Shakespeare

just off the needles

2010-10-01T10:42:00.000-04:00

a little something for my uncle

and trying a new pattern, this is the front

and this is the back

...

2010-09-29T21:03:00.000-04:00

back

2010-09-28T15:02:00.002-04:00

wool felt baby booties-size 6 month

linen bear and merino super wash baby blanket

so, i survived my first yoga teacher training intensive. now on to finishing old projects and starting new ones. booties-done, bear and blanket-in progress (mr. b has been patiently awaiting eyes for some time now, i figure if i share him with you undone, i will be forced to show him completed-imposed accountability).

squash ravioli

2010-09-23T14:07:00.000-04:00

this beautiful squash was delicious.
i cubed it, into about half inch pieces.
rolled the cubes in olive oil, salt and a little pepper and then baked (450 degrees) until they were tender.
while i mashed the squash i sauteed some onions and garlic and then put the squash in with them. mix squash, onions and garlic together and then turn the heat off and let it cool down.

for the pasta i used the recipe from this wonderful book that has been passed down to me.
here are the easy instructions.

(7-8 servings)
three cups of flour
four eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 and a half tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lukewarm water or milk.
i think it is better to mix this by hand.
now, i have an attachment for my mixer that will roll the pasta out, the kids love to do this.
it can be done with a rolling pin, just take a small portion on the pasta dough and begin to roll it out. roll it as thin as you like, then place the "sheet" of pasta on a flat surface and place the squash filling evenly (this is your choice, the size of your ravioli and the amount of filling you want). with your top "sheet" ready and using water as your "glue," place the top "sheet" over the filling and bottom "sheet" and then press down around the filling and seal them. now cut out your ravioli.
boil water and place cut ravioli in the pot, when they float to the surface they are done.

enjoy and if you think i missed a step let me know.
i will share the corn tortillas next week.

no one should be stinky or toxic

2010-09-22T07:50:00.000-04:00

when it's this easy to make deodorant that works.
this is not my original recipe but i tell you it works and oh, boy is it simple.

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup baking soda

5-6 tablespoons coconut oil

optional few drops of essential oil, lavender here

mash it like richard in encounters

put it in a container and use it.

i have found that the mixture's consistency changes with warm and cool temperatures but works no matter what.

from the den,

2010-09-17T10:02:00.000-04:00

the snakes have left the house. although, i am still watching were i walk.

it has been an exciting week around here (the cranes are part of my prep for an event this weekend).
next week i plan to have cooking recipes (ravioli and corn tortillas) and cleaning recipes (deodorant) for you.
i love requests, thank you!

i hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

snake identification lesson:

2010-09-14T11:42:00.001-04:00

this beauty is a juvenile agkistrodon contortrix or baby copperhead.

discovered in my living room with my trusty sidekick, aka oden, aka lazy fatso, just looking up at me with eyes that said "i don't know where that thing came from but it's been staring at me for a while and i'm beginning to feel uncomfortable, please move it." fatso is lazy but not uncomplicated. i could blather on in my adrenaline fueled after panic but i won't torture you.

just off the needles,

2010-09-13T17:55:00.000-04:00

this vest is not quite what i expected, i made some mistakes on the back while trying to figure out the pattern.

from our garden

2010-09-11T16:59:00.000-04:00

and into ravioli.

a view from this morning

2010-09-08T13:05:00.000-04:00

as i was helping a friend move into her new studio.

Happy Weekend

2010-09-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Cheers.

2010-09-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

For you

2010-08-26T21:18:00.000-04:00

end game,

2010-08-25T17:07:00.000-04:00

summer is nearly over.

chores, games and some poetic typewriting.

element of fun

2010-08-24T19:03:00.000-04:00

i know this is an ad but how great? a little mary poppins influence? adding an element of fun to every task that must be done.

recalibating everything

2010-08-18T14:47:00.000-04:00

around here, systems are not a go, we are in disarray. prepping for the kids to go back to school, a yard sale, yoga school and i thought maybe the young one's room should swap places with my studio/guestroom. so we are scuffling and side stepping at the moment. oh, yes and i signed up for an arts and crafts festival in november so here is prep for that exciting event.

7

2010-08-10T08:34:00.000-04:00

is the age of the young one today. He wants to be a chemist.

Making your own wipes

2010-08-06T11:15:00.000-04:00

A fabulous cousin shared how she makes her own baby wipes. We still use wipes around here, especially in the car, after a meal on the go, to clean up a not so serious injury or to swipe the sweat from our brows.
...
Here it is:
"I use mostly purified water, a tiny amount of Dr Bronner's soap, tea tree oil (or vitamin E or grapeseed oil), then essential oil. I have been putting it on bounty paper towels cut into squares. I store it in tupperware. It can mold if you make too much, but that hasn't happened to me yet. Now I'm putting everything in a spray bottle & spraying cut up prefolds as I change."
...
We had some old t-shirts around so I cut them up and made mine with castor oil, lavender and witch hazel. Since we don't have babies around I thought the cloth would be nice and the second container is a different shape and color for easy identification between clean and dirty. If you use cloth diapers I would image you could leave the used wipe in the diaper for washing.

first attempt

2010-08-05T09:15:00.000-04:00

at this dress. by happy mistake, otherwise known as i was so excited about all of the beautiful french patterns, i ordered the big kid sizes. oh, well, i like it, i will wear it as a tunic and a dress (it's linen).
and we had fun at the museum with two sweethearts. lucky, lucky us.

i thought

2010-08-02T20:45:00.000-04:00

maybe the young one would enjoy this when it starts to cool down. it was not a big hit with him, maybe today was not the day to ask him to try on a silk and wool vest, hmm, well it might be in the shop soon.

more bags

2010-07-29T16:54:00.002-04:00

a toothbrush and toothpaste bag, laminated on the inside, for the young one.

...

2010-07-28T19:49:00.000-04:00

completed

2010-07-27T14:38:00.001-04:00

a new bag

Oh my gosh....

2010-07-26T14:11:00.001-04:00

last week was very productive and I am starting this one out the same way.
Take a look at this cute apron and all the label making going on.

Reversible

2010-07-23T17:25:00.000-04:00

pants for toddlers.

Another Cleaning Post

2010-07-23T12:17:00.004-04:00

Thanks for all of comments and questions. I would like to make sure I clarify about the use of purified water in your cleaning solutions. It is recommended because of the minerals found in tap water. Especially when cleaning glass, purified water can make a noticeable difference.
***
The Toilet

I usually clean with baking soda or borax and a vinegar/water mixture.

Other solutions:

Hollywood Bowl from Clean House, Clean Planet
Mix about half a cup of liquid soap and two cups of backing soda together. Dilute with 1/4 cup water and 2tsp. vinegar (will foam), add about 50 drops of tea tree oil.

Borax is a natural detergent and can be sprinkled in the toilet and left to sit overnight, this leaves the scrubbing the next day that much easier.

For stubborn stains, hard water or copper pipes, pumice stone can do wonders (sold at most hardware stores)

variations

2010-07-22T15:55:00.000-04:00

sewing update

2010-07-21T20:40:00.000-04:00

I made this dress/shirt for myself a little bit ago.
Working on different sizes for the kimonos, bibs and toddler backpacks.
A new cleaning post is on its way.

seeking

2010-07-21T12:31:00.000-04:00

perspective

start and finish

2010-07-13T15:17:00.000-04:00

new version of the kimono and finally a button for a gift

The Letter of the Day

2010-07-07T18:26:00.000-04:00

is A. For appreciation and adding.
Check out this super sweet necklace I got from islamoon.

Now these are in my etsy shop.

Non-Toxic Cleaning Solutions First Post

2010-07-05T10:02:00.002-04:00

I have been making my own cleaning solutions for while now. I have done some reading on the subject and have found many different solutions that are very simple and can be modified to suit most every job. Two books I have found very helpful; Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan and Organic Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck.
***
Most Basic Essentials:

Distilled White Vinegar
Liquid Soap (Dr. Bonner's and Murphy's OIl are great)
Purified Water
Essential Oil of your choose (Tea Tree oil has antibacterial and fungicide properties)
Baking Soda

***
The Bathtub

I usually clean by sprinkling baking soda around the tub

then spray with a water, vinegar and essential oil mix,
(one third vinegar to two thirds purified water and about 30 drops of tea tree oil)

sometimes I will combine this with castile soap, scrub,

and you are done.

***
Other Solutions for bathtubs:

Earth Scrub from Clean House, Clean Planet
Mix about 2 cups baking soda with half a cup of liquid soap in a bowl. Dilute with half a cup of water. Add 2 tbsp. vinegar last. Stir until lumps are gone.

Earth Paste from Clean House, Clean Planet
Mix about 2 cups of baking soda with half a cup liquid soap in a bowl. Add 2 tbsp. water. Mix with a fork until smooth. Stir in 2 tbsp. vinegar last.

Murphy's Oil Soap and warm water can do wonders.

Lemon and salt are also wonderful cleaning agents.

Wishing you

2010-07-03T10:35:00.000-04:00

a Happy 4th of July weekend.
An Update: I am working on the natural cleaning solutions page, which I think will be called Non-Toxic Cleaning. The first post will be about different options for cleaning your bathtub. Once again I have not been able to reply to your comments, I find it frustrating and am looking into how to solve that issue.
On to the sewing portion of this post and my love of Liberty of London fabrics. Reversible pants, oh my gosh.

And sweet gifts for a sweet baby girl. We sent these to our new niece.

Cooking up

2010-06-28T09:45:00.000-04:00

yummies in the kitchen (the young one was feeling culinarily creative) and a new page for the blog.

As suggested by a brilliant and fabulous woman I will be adding a housekeeping/cleaning/d.i.y. page to this site. For quite a few years I have been making my own cleaning solutions and would be so happy to make a space to share. I thought I would start with questions or suggestions, if you have any, and then build from there. What would you like to know? An all purpose cleaner first? What do you think the page should be called; Housekeeping? Zen Cleaning?

i spy

2010-06-25T09:08:00.000-04:00

summer in full swing.

waiting for the young lady's camp to end, we find crazy bugs (hard to see, i know, the young one was on the move).

painting in the heat of the day.

exploring after a storm breaks said heat. this is what we call a ballerina mushroom,

and then admiring how things glow and grow. (can't do the sunsets justice, but i keep trying)

to the post

2010-06-21T12:17:00.000-04:00

i go. to send out a sweet special order.

Happy Day

2010-06-18T07:57:00.000-04:00

Today is our young lady's 13th Birthday. Amazing.
I have been working on some special orders, here are two examples:

It was a gorgeous day

2010-06-07T21:47:00.000-04:00

Thank you.

gone to the bees

2010-06-05T09:15:00.000-04:00

the young one studying one of our bee condos

and other woodsy images

good eggs and more

2010-06-04T14:47:00.000-04:00

lots of hand made wash clothes for the young lady's guides for end of year thank you gifts.

lettuce

2010-05-26T20:24:00.000-04:00

take a hint from maya*made and use our loads of lettuce in a wrap.

p.s. i try to comment back to all comments, i really do appreciate them, but for some reason they will not post all the time.

hunting again

2010-05-22T12:21:00.000-04:00

this time for luck...

and in other news, preventative gardening...

small

2010-05-19T18:23:00.000-04:00

steps. put pencil to paper and started a little series.

magic

2010-05-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

a doozy

2010-05-15T16:07:00.000-04:00

of a storm came our way last night, splitting trees in half

and leaving mr. and mrs. looking for a nice quiet space

a newbie,

2010-05-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

this cicada just crawled right out of its skin.
"The name is a direct derivation of the Latin cicada, meaning "buzzer". In classical Greek, it was called a tettix, and in modern Greek tzitzikas—both names being onomatopoeic."

Running Man

2010-05-13T08:24:00.000-04:00

Beautiful Days

2010-05-10T08:56:00.000-04:00

here

So Far

2010-05-07T08:26:00.000-04:00

it is has been a beautiful May. I am just appreciating.

chugging along

2010-04-27T19:17:00.000-04:00

checking out the scenery as I go

Found by the young one

2010-04-26T21:37:00.000-04:00

Red-spotted Eastern Newt

Brewing

2010-04-21T18:07:00.000-04:00

...

refining

2010-04-17T10:47:00.000-04:00

and mixing up the pattern...it just needs two cute buttons and then will go in the shop.

and here is my good (fortune cookie) fortune:
life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.

Have you looked up lately?

2010-04-16T18:30:00.000-04:00

because you should:

and in other randomness... from this to that...

Laundry Day

2010-04-15T11:44:00.000-04:00

is pretty much everyday around here. I have been perfecting my line drying and had considered making a bag to hang the clothes pins in, then we bought rice. Weird, I know, but I have always loved rice bags. After putting the rice in our big glass jar (an old pickle jar) this bag went into the studio until it found a home on my clothes line.
A re-purpose and dedication to Earth Day (which is very day, for goodness sake) all in one post. Yippee!

This was my view

2010-04-13T15:03:00.000-04:00

for a good part of today. bad gas in the tractor, haha, bad gas. o.k., a bit punchy. it takes time on the side of the road to drain bad gas.

this is our beautiful eastern skunk cabbage.

still

2010-04-12T09:46:00.000-04:00

testing patterns and fabrics. this is one of anna maria horner's voile's, which is really lovely i think. the pattern is old, a mexican baby shirt and i think i can do a lot with this.

Holiday week

2010-04-08T08:37:00.000-04:00

filled with dinners outside, here and there, fabulous company, friends to the rescue and hard work during the day. (I had more pictures to share but I have not been able to upload them all week-crash the system or stall every time-oh well, enjoy the chicks and the man's handy work)