Winter has actually made its way to Texas. Tree leaves are down, the temperature has dropped (mostly), and we’ve seen ice. So I was surprised to see a splash of yellow in the front yard in the form of a dandelion head.
I leave the dandelions, I admit. The thistles I remove, but the common dandelion and lawn daisies get to stay.
In 2012 my youngest was hospitalized for a total of 33 days with pneumonia and complications. I was a wreck. To maintain sanity I asked my family for yarn and sat in the PICU crocheting. I learned how to make star blankets and made two (I don’t have pictures of the first).
I still find crocheting a calming activity.
I wanted a winter wreath on my front door that didn’t have red or green, so I wandered over to a craft store, and because it was after the holidays, all of what I wanted was on super clearance. I found a painted and glittered vine wreath that has a wire base, and 27 picks that are silvery gold with crystals for under $20. Before the holidays the same wreath parts would have cost $160.
The pre-painted vine wreath was heavily covered and it was difficult to get the picks wedged into the shape, so I used heavy wire cutters to snip off half the length, which helped. My eldest thought I bought it as pictured (I should have taken a before picture!)
He is such a pretty boy, and so photogenic. He sings too. I’ve never heard a cat meow and trill with a musical quality. My family says it is because he grew up with singing in the house. Hm.
He isn’t a jumper, though.
I had the chance to sew some reclaimed leather on my antique Singer 66 treadle sewing machine. This leather is thin and flexible so was easy to sew, I suspect that a modern machine would be able to handle it as well. (There are tales out there that these old machines are great for sewing leather, but the truth is much more complicated.) I did crank the machine by hand rather than risk the speed of the treadle, and I used upholstery thread (and found my purchased bobbins don’t fit, sigh.)
I wanted an envelope style pocket with the flexibility to thread on a belt, or hang from belt loops with carabiners.
The design needs work. I like the hole in the belt loop and the flexibility it gives, but the flap makes it difficult to get the phone in. I ended up clipping the edges of the flap so it still helps the phone stay put, but is easier to get the phone inside. Not ideal, but experiments will continue.
Critters and Craft 