Kildare's Irish Pub

I just have to say, last night was my first time at the Kildare's Irish Pub and it was an excellent experience. We were greeted, seated and served with smiles. Our waitress reminded me of a co-worker (which I can't wait to tell her) and she had good recommendations. Between Daniel and I we had 4/5 drinks, an appetizer, and two meals and we walked out at $50.00 after tip. I'm sure she was happy with her tip too. We even brought most of our food home.

I will say though that I don't plan to get another chocolate strawberry. It was pretty sour. However the cider was great!

Before we left we asked for a manager and prattled on about how wonderful our experience was. He was pretty cool too!

Lady Admiral

I'm putting the final touches on my gold bodice. It's a really pretty cut, with princess seams, lacing up the front as well as lacing on the lower back for a tighter fit. I was thinking of adding embroidery to the peplum but I don't really know what I want so I left it blank. I could go back to it at a later date.

I'm going to go to Joann's tomorrow and pick up a few yards of muslin so I can make my chemises. I need at least two so I don't feel too grubby. The one I am embroidering but the second one shall be of a fancy printed cotton. It'll look like it's embroidered but won't be. Cheating I know! The fabric was so pretty that I just was inspired. According to my uncle it's historically accurate so I have nothing to hold me back. Also one needs to be long while the other needs to be able to be tucked into breeches but still long enough to wear with skirts so I'm thinking knee length or mid thigh. I can just imagine it tickling my legs if it's too hot to wear stockings and bloomers! It's July so it very well could be too hot!

I'm so happy that I can bring my camera. However, I have to hide it when not taking photos. What to do?! I guess the only thing to do is knit a bag! *sigh* This is turning out to be a busy couple months.

Off topic but Daniel's grandmother gave me a huge bag full of yarns. They're so pretty and soft. I can't wait to knit something with it! I've posted some of the softer yarns online for people view and possibly commission something out of it. I've put them all under photography props however I can knit other things out it them. However, if no one commissions something by the time I'm finished with my costume then I shall knit something for grandma out of it. If they have then I'll find some pretty yarns and still make her something.

If you go to the photo location:  which is Jewett's Faire Shoppe, you can skim through the rest of my yarns. If you want a commission then keep in mind that these particular yarns are only good for small projects. I can however get a very similar color for larger items. :3

Besides my costume that I have to have done by the end of this month. I have a contest I'm entering that ends July 28th. I've offered a prize to the winner but since I'm allowed to enter I'm going to. I hope many people enter this contest because I'm excited to give out a gift to the winner.

Well I'm going to go entertain my nephew so he'll stop putting stickers on me. :3

Chapstick

Over the weekend I finally made my own chapstick. I still need to print labels for them but at least I have a few done to this point. I found a basic recipe in "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Living". Very informative book that! It shall become my bible so that when I get my farm in the not to distant future I'll be able to homestead. It should make me most happy!

I definitely think beeswax has an unusual small!

If you don't add the almond oil then Recipe 1 only fills one .15oz tube. And I'm thinking it will make it a little on the firm side:  which I like so it's no big deal. Recipe 2 which I found from "A Sonoma Garden" fills 7 tubes. I did find a challenge when pouring into the tubes. Not so much making a mess as leaving what looks like an uneven consistency. Being my first time however, I'll forgive myself for the imperfections and strive to do better next time. The four I made today shall be given out to friends. Of course keeping one for myself! That was after all the whole point in making my own chapstick. I think I shall try adding the oils next time for a larger batch and a softer stick.

Recipe 1:

1tsp beeswax

1/2 tsp honey

2 tsp almond oil/ coconut oil/ olive oil/ ets.

1 vitamin E capsule

1-2 drops essential oil of your choice

Recipe 2:

1 1/2 tsp Beeswax

1 7/8 tsp coconut oil

1 1/8 tsp cocoa butter

3 tsp olive oil

3 capsules Vitamin E

Enjoy!

Smocked Cable Beanie

Well I finished the knit hat I had planned for Mallory. It was to go with the smocked dress I had given her for Christmas. However after about an inch along I realized it was too small. I kept knitting however, thinking perhaps it would stretch nicely. I mean it is ribbing after all. Now completed I find I was wrong. If I attempted to stretch it, it would look more like a fedora. My sister will be happy with it I'm sure since it's the perfect size for a newborn. What with her being a newborn photographer and all.

I'm attempting to write it all out at the moment. I probably should have done this while knitting it but I kept getting distracted by the knitting. So know I have to go in and try to find all those damn decreases:  they're hidden quite well if I do say so. So that is the point in which I find most challenging to write into pattern. Those damn decreases! Once done however I'm going to stick it up for sale. My figuring on this is that if the pattern is complex enough to charge $3.00 and thus create a competition for my selling the hats then I'll sell the pattern. If not then I'll just post the pattern for free use:  with credit on the design of course.