Piñata Travel Bag Project

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Deborah

2 years ago I had an ambitious idea. Weave enough fabric to make a travel bag set for myself. These bags will be for weekend trips, I certainly wouldn’t allow any baggage handler near these beauties.

But before physically starting the project I had to sit down and design on paper (following up on the computer) and do all the math calculations for how much I would need for the warp and weft. For those not familiar with weaving, the warp is the “vertical” threads that are placed on the loom from front to back and the “weft” is what … Read more...

Dyeing with Onion Skins

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Deborah

I have done this dye job once before, but didn’t document it very well so figured I would have a virtual record of it this go round.

Dyeing fibres with onion skins is amazingly simple. You don’t need any mordants (Che icals that affix the dye particles to the fibres) and you can use your regular kitchen utensils (but, if you are going to use other plant based dyes or chemical dyes, you must have a separate set of utensils so as not to contaminate and possibly make yourself very ill!) and it’s one of the few plant based dyes … Read more...

September KAL (Knit Along)

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Deborah

For those knitters and fibre enthusiasts out there, you know the feeling of completing a KAL with a great bunch of like minded folk. For those that aren’t into fibre-arts, you are missing out!

For the month of September, I signed up to knit a shawl for a KAL group on Ravelry, which by the way, if you are not a part of and you are a fibre geek, then I suggest you head over pronto to sign up (its free) and you will then have access to oodles of patterns from mitts to socks to hats to sweaters … Read more...

Fuerig The Baby Alpaca

Posted on June 18, 2017 by Deborah

I really wish I could have met Fuerig in person. With his glossy black locks and cool demeanor, I could envision him strutting around the paddock like a camelid version of Fabio, beckoning to the ladies housed in the next pasture over with a “hello gorgeous, come here often?” line.

Since the owner sold him for breeding stock before I arrived at the ranch, the next best thing was to acquire 2 of his fleeces. The first fleece being his “cria” fleece (cria is what a baby alpaca is called) with a 4 1/2″ long staple length and slight crimp, … Read more...

Duvet Cover Wrestling

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Deborah

I am sure I am not the only one that hates wrestling a duvet into its over-sized pillow case periodically. Been doing it for years and always procrastinate about washing the cover just to avoid the impending wrestling match.

As I was mentally getting psyched up for the task I had a brain wave, a storm surge, an epiphany….whatever you call it, this GREAT idea popped into my head.

CLOTHESPINS!

Why don’t I insert the duvet up to the top corners of the cover and using clothespins, pin them together to hold, then travel along the length of the top … Read more...

Spring has Sprung!

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Deborah

Thank goodness the cold and snow is now behind us and we can look forward to (in my opinion) the shortest and BEST season we have ~ SUMMER!

I have been so busy this past 6-8 weeks, not just with work (my busiest time of year) but also ramping up my gardening chores. The raised beds have had their plastic rolled down to thaw the frozen earth and 2 weeks ago I was lucky enough to get some radishes, chard, beets and lettuce seeds sown. These are cool weather veggies and have a much better appreciation of early Spring cold … Read more...

Washing Up In Style ~ Take II

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Deborah

This is a blog update for my original post back in January of 2013 to which I have modified the pattern slightly to give a symmetrical border to the washcloths as well as to account for the weight (thickness of yarn) difference from Bernat’s Handi-Crafter cotton to KnitPick’s Dishie. With KP Dishie being slightly thinner, I have added extra stitches and pattern rows to get the same size washcloth as when knitted with Bernat’s yarn.

I have actually become a cotton yarn snob, KnitPick’s Dishie has won me over and aside from the Christmas speckled washcloths I am making for … Read more...

Not So Rainy Day Blues

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Deborah

As the skies opened to overdue and highly welcomed rains on Friday morning (we have been in a drought of late) and the rain forecast for well into Saturday, the outdoor gardening tasks were wiped off the whiteboard for the weekend to be replaced by indoor ones.

Hubs had a passle of work planned for us in the crawlspace, but the deluge of rain meant the inevitable rise in water down under and within a couple hours, there was an inch of standing water in the front portion of the crawlspace. He still managed quite a bit of work down … Read more...

Meet Fert and Palladin

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Deborah

Fert & Palladin are Alpacas living on a farm just outside Niagara Falls, ON. In October 2014, my daughter and her hubby went to go visit the farm on one of their very few days of the year that they allow visitors. Unfortunately I couldn’t go with them that day (boo), but they did bring me back a piece of the farm. In the form of 2 alpaca fleeces. Not just a part of the fleece, but the-whole-fleece of 2 animals, which weighed about 3.5 lbs each.

Fert is a lovely brown fleece with highlights of red on the tips … Read more...

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Deborah

Hubby says these are NOT cookies. Cookies are super sweet and bad for you.

I beg to differ.

I found this recipe in a magazine and as usual, tweaked it to add things to my liking. These are a great option for when you have zero time in the morning for breakfast before you run out the door. Just grab and go.

I also sub them for a quick lunch and/or snack when I am on the road for several hours of the day. Quick, healthy and good for you, regardless of hubby’s opinion.

Super easy to make, start to … Read more...