Why did I not know this before?

cathode003_edited
Originally uploaded by orangeeener

My first top-down, in the round project and I love it. Now I am working on the waist ribbing. It is Cathode by Stefanie Japel. It's a pattern on Knitty. It was really fast on the body but really slow on the ribbing. I am making it 8" long. The sleeves are short and I am very happy about that. Wool sweaters are too hot here in Texas. The ribbing is a dark rust. Striking.

Spring Break starts this week. I am taking this and Madden's sweater to the lakehouse.

I have a girl scout camp at the lake this weekend. I hope things work out. I am only worried about one girls. She has no filter on her mouth.

I think we'll brainstorm rules.

I am working on the Sweden quilt from International Mystery Quilt Tour (now defunct) at The Quilt Asylum. Sam wants it. It is all funky paisleys and polka-dots.

March Quilt Blocks

Web Sampler Block 2
Originally uploaded by orangeeener

Now that its March, I shall begin my quilt blocks for March. I have 6 online quilt blocks I've ordered over the years that I need to complete:
* HGTV Trip around the Block
* Web sampler Celebration Spring 2007
* Women of Grace and Charm
* The Fat Quarter Shop Designer Block of the Month
* Patchwork Party Spring 2007
* Patchwork Party Fall 2007
* Greenbaum's Quilted Forest Online Sampler Block I - April

This block was February from the Spring 2007 Web Sampler Celebration. It is Civil War reproduction fabric. It may be a gift for my Dad although I think he would like the colors of the Fall collection better but I have not even started those yet - next year, maybe, sigh.

Merry Christmas from the Family

Make a Smilebox postcard

Pink and Butterflies?

This is a picture of my new dining room valance.  I am not sure I like the green under-valance.  It seems to droop.  I think it's the hem but am thinking about removing it altogether.  Not sure it is necessary.  The colors look good in the dining room though.  My husband who wished they made Garanimals for adults said it looked good.  My 11-year-old daughter Samantha said, "Pink and Butterflies?  It does not get any better than that."  This is from a girl who entered our cat in an onlne baby contest and then signed her up for a Gerber life insurance policy.

Variegated and the Yarn Stash

I was looking at my projects on ravelry the other day and noticed all of them are variegated and the funny thing is I cannot stand variegated yarn. When I first started crocheting, hand-dyed yarns were just coming out and the big thing. I had a full-time job then so I built my stash with all the fascinating variegated yarns and now I am stuck. I really prefer matte solids now but I have all this stripy stuff. I'll just have to work through it.

Dining Room 95% done!

final walls 3
Originally uploaded by orangeeener

The dining room remodel is 95% done. We began 2 years ago (it could be longer) on our dining room and finally broke down and hired a painter. Boy, was it worth it. Since my flare in January, I have not had the endurance or control to do all the hand-painting required in this room. It really turned out nice, though.

I did a lot of research on period paints and paint schemes. You cannot tell from the photo but the trim is actually cream. You could not make a true white paint in the 20's because the pigment was not available so I went with a very yellow white. Also, the ceiling has a metallic glitter overglaze. A lot of Craftsman homes had pearly and metallic accents on the ceilings and in the wallpapers and I tried to stay true to that. The only place I stretched was the raspberry paint color. That color may not have been available but it was the dominant color in the original wallpaper of the room.

The doors were originally varnished in the 20's with an obscuring dark brown varnish. Then, in the 50's or 60's painted tan which has been slowly flaking and peeling off. By painting it dark brown, I am trying to restore the look the doors once had. Modern stain do not give the doors the "grain-less" look the original varnish did.

There are more pictures on my flickr site, www.flickr.com/kcladwig/ , if you are interested in the before shots and other views.

The paints I used were all Benjamin Moore and I am pleased with the sheen and coverage of the paint. The colors are: ceiling - tucson tan, wall - cinco de mayo, trim - vanilla ice cream , doors, bittersweet chocolate

My Own Liquid Laundry Detergent

I finally broke down and did it.  I made my own detergent using Recipe #1 from the frugal shopper.  After analysis of the ingredients, time, and the kicker, money saved.  I decided it was time.  The article that really swayed me was an article from The Simple Dollar.

The author broke down all the costs and what his savings would be.  He also tested his detergent against Tide with bleach alternative.  My costs were more because I purchased one bar of Fels Naptha soap @ $2.39 (but use only 1/3 of it).  Also, I had to drive to 2 store to find the materials.  If you are in McKinney, save yourself the trouble and go to the Kroger on 380.  I have only used it on one load but the kids have said it smells good to them and thought it was cool I was making a mess in Dad's kitchen.   After cooling, the mixture is glutinous and slime-like and a light chartreusy yellow.

I have decided to buy a laundry soap dispenser from The Container Store to store it in.  I may need 2.  It made more than I anticipated.

I have not tested it on my hand-washables.  I was interested to know if anyone had tested it on wool or their hand-knit items.