I picked up an early present from my husband, as he ordered his early present for delivery. We’ve been married awhile. The wood turning book I’m reading recommends getting high quality hardened stainless steel tools, so I figure I will start collecting. Pictured below are a roughing gouge, a square edge scraper, and a bowl gouge. Let the wood chips fly!
I learned that Dinosaur Valley State Park was looking for scarf section donations to bedeck Bronto the brontosaurus sculpture at the park. This was done in conjunction with a toy drive! So I went through my stash and found some yarn that I was using to experiment with making crocheted leaves. I didn’t really have a plan for the leaves or the yarn, so it seemed like a great thing to turn it into a scarf section! I crocheted a 10” wide strip using the double crochet stitch (American notation), then used some metallic gold and silver yarn to attach the leaf motifs.
The scarf made it in time to be stitched in with the other submissions. This was such a popular drive that they had enough sections to give their T Rex a scarf too! My section shows up about six wraps down from the top of Bronto’s neck.
My neighbor has a beautiful cat that likes to wander our woods. He (?) is a striking long-haired flame point with blue eyes. He also sticks out like a sore thumb.
One of his siblings is black, and that doesn’t do much better for hiding during the day, watching chickens.
Now scroll back up to the first photo. Did you see her? There is a calico in the background. Did you miss her the first time? Don’t worry, I accidentally half cropped her out on the first go. Calicos have the best camouflage; the black base isn’t as good as a gray-based calico for this area, but it is still pretty darn good.
Specifically, there is a squirrel at the end of my rope. She has shredded it and is trying to tug it apart. Here is a fuzzy video. All of the alpaca fleece I left out before is gone, so I put a new batch out. She is going to have some warm and cozy babies.
A neighbor had her baby and I wanted to make a couple hats. I only had natural fibers in my stash, and wanted to make something warm but washable (no way would I give something hand-wash or drip-dry to a mom!) So I wandered through the yarn section at a local big box supply store (I know, but I actually needed acrylic). I found a short repeat, super soft, very bright skein of rainbow yarn. I use a double crochet pattern to make beanies, and these I made newborn size with a diameter of 14” and height of 6” (if they don’t fit, I’ll make her new ones, they don’t take long). I think the way the color pooled is interesting; one spiral striped, and one spotted!
Critters and Craft 