So long between postings

And so many projects completed. The topsy-turvy doll is still being completed - the noble half is done, but the peasant half needs her dress still. So, no pics of that yet. And I finished two simple shearling blankets. I'd have pictures, but because it's gotten cold here they are under several layers of bedding.


However... the projects I have completed and have pictures of are here.



This is a fabric basket, made off of a pattern I found online. I am going to try to make a larger version at some point now that I have figured out how to do it. I am also toying with the idea of turning it into a hat - again, slightly larger, but still should be relatively simple. Not that I need another hat, but it would be something else to put on the ever-growing project list. This one was made with silks from Japanese kimonos.




And... wreaths... I need to take better pics and get them posted, but here is the green and gold wreath I made for our door at home. It's a simple project, really - just requires a LOT of ribbon. About 150 yards grand total (could probably get away with 120 yards, but nevertheless, it's a lot of ribbon). The one on the right is the burgundy and gold wreath I made for my Grandmother. She gets a new (or mostly re-made) wreath every year, so I thought I would just make her a new one entirely. I found the inspiration for this online as well, but they used fabric from a ready made roll of matching fabrics (all from one line). I went with wired ribbon instead. Made the cutting go so much faster.





And finally... little Emma. She is a doll of my current faire character. Next season I will have an outfit that more closely matches this one, as I found brown silk at a garage sale for a dollar a yard. Fifteen dollars later, I am happy as I can be!






The TRF day trip was LONG but enjoyable. We are planning all sorts of mayhem for next year, and I am looking forward to it immensely. And Dust is done - the first draft, anyway, and being edited by several people. I am 50k into a novel that should be only 75k - so may have the first draft done by the end of the month, if I am good. Mind you, that means writing over 4k words every day, but we shall see.... It's called Two Corbies. Fantasy, but not my usual.

Phoenixes in flight

Phoenix plush number one. I am almost done with number two, and have the pattern hashed out for baby phoenix. Only a slight obsession.

Still stitching the cat stuffie. So far it looks good. Maybe by Monday I will have it completed and have pics up.

Good news... job interview tomorrow. That's a good thing. And maybe another one early next week. Yay! And this weekend one of the local wolesale fabric places is having a sale - and faux fur is on sale. And since they also do free trim samples, life is good.

A while back a friend gave me a necklace with a phoenix pendant. I love it, but the chain kept turning my neck green. I finally got a new cord for it, and can wear it all the time now. I feel much better - my own personal symbol of things in flux and getting better. Let's hope it's a sign of better days ahead. I could use a few.

Pushing 122k on DotP, about to start Chapter 19. I am pleased with the way it's going so far, and hope the rest of it works as well as the bits I've completed.

It's rainy today, and the Vine Street bunnies were still out this morning. Several were sitting out in the middle of people's yards looking sad and pathetic in a wet-bunny kind of way. I guess when you're a bunny, if you're hungry, you have to go out to eat no matter what the weather.

After the Weekend

Spent a nice quiet weekend doing crafty-type things. And hanging out with the cat on Sunday. So, Saturday's list of progress involves: the hapi-coat style jacket - lining is done. Don't have the material for the shell yet. So, it will sit and wait. But, like a dork, I forgot to grab the pics, so that will have to wait until tomorrow. I like it, even if it's not exactly what I intended. Or expected. Still have scads of kimono fabric left, and want to find something to do with them that will show them off. Maybe another piece of clothing. Dunno. Also got almost finished with two kimono fabric bags. I have a clasp/closure for one of them - will try to get it stitched on tonight. The other... not so sure. It came out wider than deep, which is not a big deal, but not what I expected. And both bags still need straps.


Also finished six stuffed rats. Sounds like a line from the 12 Days of XMas. They are all cute. Like almost all the stuffed rats. I have to stop making these until I figure out what to do with them all!


Grand total of 26 bookmarks completed. Can finish about 5 more before I run out of ribbon/beads/etc. I like them, and so do several other people who've seen them.



THINK I've figured out the cat pattern. Will handstitch one today to make sure it doesn't come out looking wonky, and make sure it DOES look like a cat. Starting with black fleece, since it doesn't ravel and so forth, and not at all because it looks like my own personal hellion, Belanna. Honest. Never name a cat after a Klingon.


Didn't get much writing done, but that's okay. Hopefully will today, in between looking for new job.

Saturday was invited to friends' house for dinner. Wound up doing my crafting over there - it was nice to craft with other people for a change. I am a social animal, and like having people around when I feel like doing stuff. Writing is good on my own, but crafting... that seems to be a social effort to me. Always has, and maybe that's why. Anyway... dinner was excellent! And I got leftovers. BOY, did I get leftovers. Steak, risotto, salad, roasted garlic, corn on the cob. The whole bit! It was lovely, and the social part was great fun. I don't get to see both of them at the same time very often, so this was a nice evening.

Next!

Today I should finish at least the lining of my hapi coat. Brought everything with me to the lovely locale I call 'home' for job-hunting (thank you to the Rhodes!) and will have time to cut and stitch today. Also brought more bookmarks. I have plenty of them to do - 8 or 9 sitting ready for a little handstitching and a little plier work. Still need to get pics, naturally.

Broke 113k on DotP last night - technically 113,113 words. Yes, me being clever. Puts me over 540 pages. Think I am about 2/3 done, at this point. Maybe more. We shall see.

On the way over here today I saw the Vine St. bunny again. He/she is all over that street - or maybe there's lots of them, which is FAR more likely. This time I bunny-spotted under a truck. There it was, lounging under the truck like a cat or a dog, ears standing tall.

This weekend - with a little luck and concentration - I should be able to finish the kimono silks bag and maybe even knock out a few more dinosaurs. And a few more bookmarks, if I can get some blue beads and some wine colored beads. Must do so soon. Maybe find some old beat-up necklaces at garage sales. There are always garage sales in my area. Always.