Now that my commute gives me a full 40 minute ride with 10 minutes of walk and transfer, I started working on knitting and crochet projects for gifts and items for my etsy shop [yes, one day I'll open it up].
Sorry about the photos on this, they aren't that great. Been shooting them right when I finish them, on the train, on my lap. That is my 30 year old leather bag as the backdrop. It a gift that WG gave me when we first started to go out. Both my mom and WG think I should get rid of it. But I love the shape and size and can't get rid of it. Anyway, sorry for the crap photos will take better ones when I'm done with the finishing work.
Project 1: Linoleum dishcloth by Kay Gardiner
100% and in fun colors, this dishcloth make me smile. I think I've made at least 3 so far. I love the color combination and the pattern is pretty easy to remember. This one is a gift for a friend.
Project 2: Seed Stitch Pouch
100% Wool in moss green with flecks of blue and red. Pattern by me. Lots of finishing work on this-- weaving in ends, hand stitching the bottom, sewing in the zipper, adding the lining and finally the cute zipper pull. I have a purple and red pouch waiting for a zipper, lining and pull. Once I get these done, I hope to open my shop.
Project 3: Crochet Buttons
100% Merino Wool in brunt orange. Found this pattern in Happy Hookers and made a set for my sister for her Christmas present. This is nice project to do on the train. I can get a button done in each direction, a set of six in a week. Great way to get rid of my scraps. I've started a second set of six out of some koigu greens/pink/orange scraps. Now I have to figure out how package them up.
My project goal is to finish one project a month or 12 projects by the end of the year. I'm also adding to my commuting goals to finish reading 3 books. Sounds pretty low but I'm not a fast reader. I usually read right before bed and I fall asleep and lose my place and end up rereading the same place. Hopefully it isn't too low and I blow past that number [any suggestion for books to read].
I'm currently reading Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I'm really enjoying it. It keeps me wanting to go back and read more. I may not knit or crochet on next week's commute so I can finish the book.
this fall into winter, just been in the mood. I guess I picked patterns that have kept my interest and can withstand my constant stopping and starting due to my crazy schedule. I wanted to show off what I've gotten done. Still need finishing and block [blah!] but I'm still pretty happy of my accomplishments.
Romney Wool Hat
Got this wool from the NJ sheep and fiber festival this fall. It was from a local farm-Black Walnut Farms, that hand spun and naturally dyed yarn and it passed the itchy test. I figure it would make a great winter hat to keep WG head warm. This is the Big Rib Thank You hat from purlbee.
And I just didn't like it and I have gone back to the simple template minus all the orange. I guess I have to come up with my own design. I've thinking about for a while. And since I've trying to get better at html and css, I guess this is my chance. Stay tune for more rounds of changes [ha ha, just like work].
Since I have your attention I wanted share what I've up to. Nothing earth-shattering, just my normal stuff I've been fitting in between work and the restaurant. The hardest part is to remember to take the pictures [and figuring out the new camera. not liking how the images look].
Knitting
I've trying to make a few things for me [haven't finished anything yet this summer]. Love colors of Koigu PPPM and bought some this earlier this summer in green/orange/pink combination, kind of neon. Making a shawlette, in a kind of simple lace pattern. Thought it was complicated enough to keep my interest and easier enough that I would be lost if [always] put down for a while. I already ripped the whole thing apart once. Second try, I'm using stitch marker to keep track better [yes, I'm using paper clips as markers--at least they're the color ones]. I hope it works.
Cooking
Jam! Been making it all summer for the restaurant, family, friends and a little bit for me. I've been using it in my breakfast yogurt. Luckily I still enjoy doing it. Although this last batch of peach jam, was a bit labor intensive [no more non-freestone peaches for me]. Got 5 half pints and 3 minis. It was really good. I think the combination of the slight tartness of the non-freestone peaches from my friend's tree and the super sweetness of the yellow peaches from the farmers market is what made it so delicious. Just finished a batch of strawberry--customers favorite. And will make another batch of plum this weekend. The last batch of plum I made was so sweet and good. The plums were at the perfect moment to make the jam. I just got some italian plums, I hope this batch turns our just a good or better.
This is a picture of the special dessert we been serving at the restaurant. Strawberry sorbet and Orange "Guri Guri" with fresh fruit. One of the many things that I've been using my ice cream maker for this summer: Ice cream, sorbets and "Guri Guri" [hawaiian-style sherbet]. I think this hot and humid summer had a lot of influence for that. Most of it has been for the restaurant, but I made raspberry ice cream for home with some farmers market raspberries. Been trying to find the time again to make some ice cream for home. Yummmm!
Not to much baking since my family left in the beginning of the summer. Just the staples for the restaurant. I been dying to try out some recipes. Since the weather is getting cooler, it probably a good time to try it. On my list, a chocolate chip cookie that's been calling me, a cinnamon cake with gooey chocolate frosting [which I made this weekend and is sooo delicious] and blueberry cake that I hope taste as good as it looks [I know off season but just found the recipe and it looks so good].
Watching
With all this food making there is a lot of time spent waiting for thing to be done and I've been using that time knitting and catching up on movies and TV that I've missed out on [late joiners to netflix--streaming]. Currently watching Breaking Bad. Once I catch up with that, I'm going to start Downton Abbey.
Monday is a early night, no dinner [yah!] and that's movie night for us. Don't remember what was the last thing we saw in a theater [I think it was Avatar]. So far we've seen: Drive, Mao's Last Ballet Dancer, Captain America, and Super 8. I know they're so old movies but remember what I last movie we saw.
Reading
Like my knitting, I have many books and magazine articles going at the same time. This is the reason why it takes me so long to finish reading a book. But this is what been keeping my interest these days. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, to inspire me to get moving. Just started Mrs. Robinson's Disgrace by Kate Summerscale, thought it would be fun summer reading but been slow out the gate. Hope I it gets going soon. And sitting on my night table next to the bed is Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern [End of night reading in bed is bad for me. Always fall asleep and need to re-read the same paragraph over and over].
What I've been really reading is my collection of NYT magazines. Brought a bunch with me on vacation and I'm almost caught up--just 2 more left in the house. Then all them get sent off to my Mom who really enjoys them. The Sunday NYT goes to the restaurant and there must be a fan of the magazine there because for the past several weeks there is no magazine to be found. :(
Well that's it for now. Not bad for a post I started about the design of my blog. One day, I'll tackle that but for now, why fix something that's not broke--sort of.
