New Completed Project

I just finished a gift for my friend S who just had a baby. Here's what I made her:

Hooded seed stitch baby blanket.

This is a Lion Brand pattern. I purchased two different colors from the Pound of Love line. The pattern called for one Pound of Love divided equally into two balls. Quite frankly, I think that's an impossible task so I purchased two skeins. While acrylic yarn isn't my fave by any stretch, it is easy to wash which is great with children and babies.

My next project: leg warmers for my grandmother.

I'm So Excited

that I just can't hide it! Well, that's a bit much, but I am pretty excited about my new water kefir grains. My sister-in-law/best friend L. hooked me up with some grains and showed me how to do it. She even brought up some kefir soda for us to try. It is so yummy!

Kefir water, juice, and kefir water with juice ready for 2nd fermentation.

Close up of kefir grains in water.

I just fed my grains today and decided to post some pictures.

A Gift for My Grandma

I spoke to my grandmother Mimi a few weeks ago and mentioned that I had made an apron for a friend. She was surprised that I sewed, which I thought odd (I thought she knew). Through the course of the conversation she mentioned how she is unable to find a cobbler apron and asked if I could make one. I then emailed her a few pictures of some patterns, which were close but not quite what she wanted. She is very picky (it's probably where I get it), so I am going to be making up a pattern. I'm kind of excited. I think it'll be easy to do. As I currently do not have any pattern paper- something which must be remedied- I am going to be drawing the pattern out on wrapping paper.  Pictures to follow.

Gift Basket

One of my friends is getting married, and for her bridal shower I decided to make a gift basket. I like gift baskets because they are very personal and I think a lot better than going and buying something off the registry and having them wrap it. This particular gift was geared toward pie making. It contained the following:

1. French Rolling Pin
2. Homemade apron
3. Pie beads
4. Pie plate
5. Pastry blender
6. Pie server
7. Dish towels
8. Flour sack towels
9. Apple cider vinegar (to help stock the new couple's pantry- a nice idea)
10. Icing spatula
11. Basket

Here are the pictures:

Bzzzzzzz

Well, it's been a busy week...okay...more like a few weeks. 

I am not going to do an update post just now, as I am busy sorting through my pictures folder (it's a little out of control at the moment).

The Bee Man brings his bees to the Farmer's Market.

Bees up close. So cool!

I took this picture at the Dallas Farmer's Market. I just thought it was really really cool. 

Baby Booties

I made these as part of a gift for one of Chris' coworkers. She is just as big a fan of pink as I am. She's sure to love these!

Hello World!

I have been under the weather for almost all of June. I am finally over my stomach bug and am ready to get back to reporting my girlie adventures.

Things I've been up to since last updating:

1. Lactofermenting vegetables
2. Cable knitting
3. Finishing my first knitted garment (well, just about finished it)
4. Brewing kombucha
5. Filling out an address book

Lactofermenting vegetables? What is that you are probably asking yourself.  Lactofermentation is the process of  combining vegetables with salt, whey, and other various spices. The salt and/or whey contributes enough acidity to the vegetables to prevent putrification of the produce. This allows ample time for friendly bacteria to prosper. Lactofermented veggies are a type of super food because they are not only raw (you should have a certain amount of raw in your diet), but they also contain probiotics- much like yogurt. I made gingered carrots (no picture), pickles (my new obsession), and salsa (it was amazing raw I can't wait to taste it after fermentation).

Before fermenting

After fermenting

This salsa looks beautiful.

The best part of making these is that it's so easy! The salsa was a little time consuming because of the dicing, but the pickles are a breeze to put together. I made two prior jars of pickles and kept them whole. Not for nothing, but I think these vegetables look beautiful. I love the vibrant colors. This is what food is supposed to be like.



Cable knitting has been something that I have really wanted to learn because to me it is one of the prettiest types of knitting. I made a simple cable scarf (pattern from Lion Brand Yarn). It was so easy! I am so excited. I can't wait to try something more complex. At some point I hope to create a cable knit sweater or sweater dress.  The sides of the picture are rolling slightly. After I finished the scarf I blocked it with my Rowenta Steamer and now it rolls no longer.

I have been talking about kombucha, I know. And I know that I very much need to post some pictures. I am hoping to grow a really good mother and then I'll post pictures. 
Onto the address book- I received a beautiful pink leather address book from my father and mother-in-law. It is awesome! It has a calendar, which my mother-in-law filled out with birthdays and such, and it came with replacement stickers for when individual's information changes so you don't have to replace the whole page. It's great, now I don't feel bad about using a pen to write down information.