Goodies

Just today before I had to get ready for work I got some goodies delivered to my door. I got all excited when the door bell rang that I was only minorly embarrassed about being back in my night clothes. The UPS man gave me a box of 5oz glass jars for my desserts this holiday and some wee little glass jars for some necklace ideas I got. Turns out another delivery guy had dropped off some photos from a new lab I'm testing.

Oh I'm so excited to get started on all those necklaces I wanna make. Of course I need to figure out how to make all the liquids without them oozing out. I don't trust those little corks.

Also in this photo:  my lucet cord and my knitted pumpkin which you can't see all that well. I'm happy with my lucet cording. It's got some uneven  bits but for the most part it's coming out well, and with the tiny doily yarn I'm using it's even harder to tell. People joke that I must go blind or cross eyed from staring at the little cord. The wee pumpkin was terribly fun to knit and came out well. Though you can't see it here. I got my coworker wanting to make one!

Breeches

            I woke up this morning; did a little straightening up, made some hot tea, fed the wee fishies and turned my computer on. It's time to make those breeches! I know it was to be part of my Military Woman costume for rendezvous but I never got around to making them. The embroidery on that skirt just took to long. Thankfully I'm not embroidering this piece. Though I did think about it. In the end I decided it would be to foppish for any dignified military persons of the 18th century.

            I got my muslin out to create a mock up. I must keep in mind my cousins words at all times while this is being make. "Don't make them too tight!" We had those issues with the boys visiting camp. >.>

            Sadly like all patterns I must make modifications. The most notable is the cuff (I'm sure it's got some special name but I don't know it so please bare with me!). The pattern is asking for bias fold tape. If I wish the cuff to match the breeches this wont' work since I can't find bias tape in this gold color. So I have to make the cuffs like they would have back then. It really works out for the best since 9 out of 10 18th century breeches I looked at have this cute little tab and a fourth button which the pattern doesn't have.

I cord

Okay, so the I cord is pretty but a wee bit challanging. I do however love youtube! It doesn't help me when I've already knit the darn blanket but I might be able to use the icord cast on and cast off methods to add the icord to my blanket.

For your conveniance I'll add the two videos that I found helpful.

Riding Boots

Costume!

     So I've been looking into people or places to get myself some boots. Not just any boot but rather something that goes with my 18th century Military woman costume. Technically I could use a pair of "Kinsington" in black but I'd really rather have the whole military look and get boots. Fun boots!

Kinsington's Via American Duchess

      I do like the green mules but sadly they seem to be a different time period than what I'm portraying and so not military. My next costume!

Silk and leather mules 1890-1920

     So the boots need to be black and I'd like them to be knee high with the ability to roll up for riding. A Jolly Roger comes to mind and the Jack boot. I'd really rather not get a box boot but it might end up coming to that.

Heritage Costumes

     This could work. It's got a good sized heel (perfect for riding) and is simple in design with convenient lacing in the back for when the boot is rolled up to keep it secure.

Pearson's Renaissance Shoppe

     Ah! The Jolly Roger! I'm not liking the toe of these boots though ... and they got rubber souls. Won't work. And they lace all the way up the back! O.o Nice! I wonder if they are supposed to do that.

Just for giggles

Pirate Queen Jolly Roger boots!

More giggles!

Pumpkin Butter

So I've done it again! I spent all afternoon Wednesday cooking. I took two of the pumpkins I got on Sunday and pureed them to make pumpkin butter and since I had a lot left over I made pumpkin muffins. I STILL have pureed pumpkin left so I separated it into portions for my up coming recipes and froze it. I swear, the recipe called for 2 four pound pumpkins so that's what I got but I ended up with 4 pints of butter and had way more pumpkin left then I was expecting. I'm thinking 6 pounds of pumpkin should work just fine.

I got burnt for all my troubles! Can you believe that. I took such care with those buggers:  struggling to cut them in half then slathering butter all over them to bake. Skinning them and mashing them. *Sigh*

Kuhlweins Farm Market

Yesterday I went to a farm market with Jennifer way out in the boonies. It was nice being virtually in the middle of no where again. I really miss it!

Anyways, we planned to take photos there expecting it to be a pick your own pumpkin patch. I had such plans. But it turned out to be a market like Yutzy's.

I get ahead of myself. We started by meeting up at this cute little cafe in Old Dublin for an afternoon cap. I planned on getting there with enough time to do some knitting but since she knew that she showed up early. I only got a few rows done and a couple sips of my latte then we were off to the country. I did pick up an application while I was there. We even got the meet the owner. It was funny because while he was outside chatting on his phone Jen's like 'he looks like Brad Pitt' and I turn to look then say 'not really'. It was a funny conversation. No really it was!

At the market we moseyed around for a bit then made our selections. I got a sharpie and marked the weight of the pumpkins I was getting so that I would know when I make my recipes which ones to use. Jen got a bunch of decorative gourds and some Indian corn. They had a nice selection as these things go.

Afterwards we visited mothers and Jen took some photos of me with Trouper. I'd say she did a nice job! I can't wait to get some printed off!

Do I prefer B&W or color?

He's so dirty. I really should have brushed him before I handed over my camera!

I had to play with the white balance on the photos ... still needs work.

Horse Kisses!

Book is all finished and garnished with a lovely gourd I found at the market!
Abesolam showed up and bought some jam and suffered through a short photoshoot. Little did I know that yesterday was Gentleman Biker Day. He was all snazzy in a suite riding around on his bike. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to get some photos.

Another thank you card I made Saturday

A lovely field of flowers.