Ms. Ellaneous crafts a life

Spring (?) knitting

Our neglected Lacrosse goal is being covered in snow but I'm thinking of Spring and new babies!

I started one project, that shall remain a secret (the Mama to be reads this blog, ahem), and realized that it would never be finished for the baby shower on Saturday.  Okay, I knew I wouldn't be able to finish it before I cast on.  I am really quite gifted at being delusional, I just couldn't wait!  So, yesterday I cast on for the "real" shower present, which will take no time at all!  I will give her the first project when the baby is born.  I'm sure to be finished by then.

Have I ever told you how much I love, love, love to knit for babies and mother's to be?  Even the one's I don't know.  All I can think of while I'm knitting is their warm little bodies, the sweet baby smell and all the magic that is a new little human.  My first baby is soon to be 16 and my little baby turns 7 next week!  It's been a long time since there was a new baby in this house, but I capture a little of the magic every time I knit for one.  Any babies out there that need a little sweater?

The bag that did my "good" machine in.

This is the bag, the bag that finally defeated my Bernina.  (The bag before the doomed zipper bag) I have done some more diagnostics and I'm pretty sure it's the dented plate under the needle, nothing else seems out of sorts, and hopefully, it's fixable.  I really think I am going to have to invest in an industrial machine if I'm going to keep this kind of sewing up and judging from the stack of jeans, khakis, and G's work shirts, I am.  Any suggestions from the sewers out there?

This bag is my "new", go to, smallish knitting project bag.  I made the handles sturdier and prettier which gives me no end of pleasure when I'm toting it around.  It was also a great use of the material left over from lining A1's up-cycled school bag.  I bear this new bag no ill will despite it's sordid history with my beloved sewing machine.  (Again, I'm pretty sure it was user error, but obviously I'm not ready to take responsibility quite yet)

"Ms. Ellaneous, please put the scissors down...

and step away from the sewing machine.  We know you didn't mean to kill another one, you just need some help." 

I have "damaged" two sewing machines in the last two days.  Yep, one per day.  If I had another one around I could probably do that one in tomorrow.  I certainly have time, it didn't take too long.  I clearly have a problem, well, more than one, but I'm just going to stick to the sewing issue.  I think all my up-cycling sewing damaged the plate on my machine. (Do you see how I blamed up-cycled materials instead of the fact that when things get dicey I just try and force things through?  What a clever girl I am.)  Anyway, the thread keeps breaking so I went to the basement and brought up the cheap Singer and screwed that one up too!  No more sewing machines until I can get the good one fixed.  I'm afraid it's going to cost more to fix the cheap one than it's worth, but I'm going to try and fix that one too.

I do need help and maybe an industrial machine.  I have all these ideas, no machine, and frankly no skill, but I'm trying.  Well, I guess I'll chalk this day up to "sew and learn" or "kill machine and learn".  I think I like the first one.  Hope everyone else is having better luck in their endeavors today!

(I can't even take a picture of my half done/screwed up zipper bag.  It's too depressing.)

A washcloth a day keeps the stress away.

Isn't that how the saying goes? 

I have been away from this space for a good long while, my apologies.  Things have been a little stressful around the Ms. Ellaneous household over the last couple of months, changes in G's job, but things are settling out now.  I'm ready to be back in this space,  if my loyal readers will have me.

So, let's catch up.  I have been knitting washcloths and running.  Knitting washcloths, not too surprising, but running?  Yes, a confirmed non-runner has laced up the shoes and am in week seven of the couch 2 5k running program.  I promise not to turn this into a running blog but there may be little mentions here and there amongst the crafting. 

I have also been making soap, lots of soap, and as of today have applied for the spring TWIST craft fair.  I have never done anything like it before but in the spirit of trying new things that are outside of my very comfortable zone (my studio), I decided to give it a try.  I won't know until late March whether I'm in or not.  Fingers are crossed. 

Recently, I was commissioned by a wonderfully supportive friend, Not that W, to make take-aways for a baby shower with a heart theme.

These soaps are aptly named "I hold your heart in mine".  It took me a bit to get the color right so the extras are doubling as Valentine's gifts.  We also made Valentine cookies yesterday, with raspberry sugar, yum.

Thanks for checking back!