Feeling rather accomplished today. I think I'm getting better at all this domestic stuff! At least I'm knocking out projects.

I finished a curtain commission and Aidan's costume. Started alterations on Dan's dress pants and hemming the last 2 curtains for our patio. Which, with the cold weather finally making itself known, I should probably hurry.

That was all yesterday mind you. Today we walked to Krogers for some cream and came home to bake like crazy! Poor Aidan didn't make it home before the sandman got to him. Most of the way, but not quite. So I carried him up to his room, put away the groceries, nooked my coffee then pinned them hems I could.

With no more to do without my machine I cleaned the kitchen and began to mess it back up!

Biscotti made with my hickory nuts! Yah, those that I beat the squirrels to and then took forever digging out of their shells!

Pumpkin oat cookies! All vegan and gluten free goodness!

Banana cider bread! Definitely a recipe for Iron Shot Cafe! Seasonal but damn is it good! A bit pricy though.....

Tomorrow will be to finish up the curtains. If I get more done then yay! Recleaning the kitchen from our dinner of deep fried stake tacos doesn't count. Shoot! I gotta make biscuits for dinner tomorrow too...hmmm.

A little back tracking is in order.

I pulled out the bouncaroo for Aidan. He's been holding his head up rather well and has been standing with some assistance so I figured it was time. Sadly, on the lowest tab it's still too tall for my 2 foot boy. That doesn't stop him from having fun in it!!! He kicks his little legs and makes the music start then coos to it!

Poor guy has a cold though. I'm impressed with his attitude considering he has trouble breathing through a stuffy nose. Said stuffiness makes it hard to eat and sleep. I got a new boogie sucker coming. Hopefully it helps.

Georgia is a bit jelly that Aidan gets all the fun toys. Ones that she could tare apart in a few hours or less!

While he was napping I managed to finish Michael's Tabby Timbuck. Hopefully in time for the convention he has [or possibly had] this month. He's going to take commissions for me and let me keep all the profit so I figured I'd at least try to get him some sells on his books. Posted to Instagram on both my personal [just created] and Iron Shot Cafe's is an offer of a discount on the plushie if you buy his book. I was thinking $10 off. & I need to perfect that sweater so it looks much better!!!!! If interested shoot him an email at FehskensComics@gmail.com. I'll be making his William Purburger OC once I finish a few other WIP.

While that was going on we had JSB beginning their work on our patio. So all that decking was taken away by a lovely young man who was going to build picnic benches and animal shelters to donate. I was super happy to know they were getting reused rather than filling a land fill. What was left JSB relocated to the corners of the house and started digging.

I messed up a bit by procrastinating on relocating all those damn rocks....now they are buried and likely will be hard to find. I might get lucky but I'm not gonna hold my breath.

JSB made a hell'a mess though. In stead of locating the dirt into the center were the patio is going [where they need to raise the ground quite a bit] they covered my grass and some of the rocks that were going to stay pretty.....Clearly not any more. There will be lots of beautifying and landscaping going on in the back yard this spring!

Georgia isn't thrilled by their work. She stands at the back door, did some growling at them and the hole since. Even outside she glowers at the mess. It's adorable!

Ok so then last night once Dan got home and frowned at the mess he decided he needed a drink. I made dinner [bbq chicken, with a delicious potatoe, mushroom soup] and got him that drink. Toasted marshmallow mead in a hot coco! Warm, tingly goodness!

Aidan's new toy

Commission/Trade

The mess

The work begins

Dinner

Mizer's Coco

Georgia being silly at dinner

Typed while sipping a peppermint mocha and eating a pumpkin/mushroom/cheese omelet!

Over the weekend I had a lot going on. Starting with finishing my taxidermy commission, and ending with today's dr apt.

So this commission took me a while to make. Likely because I had to design it then knit it. Sand the plaque then paint and consecutive sandings since the wood was that dry. Came out kinda looking like a rhino.

Narwhal trophy

 Cleaning up afterwards was fun. I learned that Georgia is more cat than dog!!!

Then Sunday was my birthday! Yay I'm .... old! I woke up early and too the puppy out. I decided to plant my peach tree since it was supposed to storm all day. I thought I did a good job....my mate not so much. So he sent me to the hardware store for potting mix and mulch while he quadrupled the size of my hole!! It will have plenty of room to grow now before it has to contend with our clay-ish earth.

Finished with enough time to have lunch and book it to work. I stopped for my birthday latte! Starbucks now only gives you 3 days to redeem your free drink.

Birthday latte and Iron Shot Café Biscotti!

Peach Seedling

 Monday I did some sewing and front porch sitting. I just had to bring my guard dog with me. She only got tangled in the plants once. Kept trying to get at the mail box where the bunnies have been tearing up the daisies. Gotta find something new to plant here that they won't like.

Front porch guarding!

Saturday night pizza!

Daddy playing with the puppy dog!

 Then today has been fairly lazy. I had an early morning appointment for wee Aidan. The nurse almost gave me a shot thinking that my blood type was B-. I quickly corrected her! It's good that I know my blood type. Not sure what that shot would have done. Turned down the whooping cough shot.....cause I've been exposed to lots of wee bairns with whooping cough and I've still not gotten it. Even with how often I get sick I don't get the scary shit.

After the dr I did some returns then came home for lunch with the puppy. Cleaned the fish tank and watered the plants! Brought in the sleigh and did some sweeping. I'm waiting for the weather to cool down a bit before I go mow the lawn.

What's that yummy smell?!

Sun tea!!! I love this time of year!

Progress

So I got a commission from a friend for a gift. My friend and her sister are both big Outlander fans and she requested a green scarf. So I'm gonna do a bit of an Irish theme [even though Outlander is Scottish]

A couple of years ago we had to chop down an old maple that was about as old as our house [upwards of 200 years]. It was a sad day seeing that mighty tree fall. However, I took a large branch and sliced it into disks that I could then use in projects, adding that extra special tough.

I brought that up .... because I think buttons made from that tree would be a perfect finishing tough to this scarf. Now just to figure out the fancy stitches I'll be using to bring it all together.

The fabrics I'll be using. The green is a touch paler.

Wearing the scarf down. Can be pulled up to cover the nose and ears.

Scarf

Holiday Card Update

With two days left to finish and gather holiday cards I don't see much accomplishment. There are a few cards in the basket and I've sadly only managed to make 3. I have heard people telling me that they just haven't brought them in and our Homework Help Center at work has managed over 50 cards. Their goal however is 300. I'm sure they'll get there. Their incentive is seeing Mrs. Val dressed as an elf!

Inside the Snowman card.

Inside the Deer card.

Commissions Update:  I managed to complete most of my clients projects. I've still got 1 left to do however. I'm hoping to have it done my tomorrow so that she can give them away. She's kind of hoping this as well. It would have been much easier if I had gotten a deadline when she gave me the commission though. All well! That's just taught me to ask when they would like it by.

So First up is 'Hearts'. A lovely headband with a heart, lace pattern. It's knit in a wool/microfiber/cashmere fiber. The pattern was cutesy of Mel Clark though I did shorten it a bit.

 

A wee bit of self photography!

Hearts!

Then we have a forest green beanie. I lined it in fleece so it's uber warm!

Skull Cap

Giving Thanks

Monday, November 19th I joked with the boss man about getting lazy on my 4 day holiday. Turns out I shouldn't have jinks-ed myself so. I woke up Thanksgiving morning with a cold weight in my lungs. By the end of the day I had a migraine, insistent cough and was achy all over. Today is my first day back to work since then. I still feel tired and sickly.

However, my lovely lady from The Little Ice Cream Shoppe brought in Peppermint and Coffee flavored homemade ice cream for everyone to enjoy. So yummy! I'm enjoying some now. The peppermint is very minty. This lovely cold ice cream (not that there's another kind) has real peppermint pieces so there's a crunch if you're lucky. And the coffee ... oh my. Any coffee lover would love this ice cream.

So excited to see them open.

Decided to take some photos of my li'le lemon tree. It's shooting up pretty fast I think. From a wee little seed back in February when I planted it in the up cycled cup to this foot tall spiky sapling. It's got lovely color, in fact I worry about having it in my window for when the police do their fly by's they might mistake it for pot or something. All shinny, bright, green! With the cold coming in I moved it back and put a little cozy on it's feet. I hope it stays warm and keeps growing.

 For my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner I brought dessert. Like last year it was pumpkin. Only this time it's a cheese cake! Yup, and in a JAR! Can you believe it? It actually came out pretty darn good. I'm not happy that it rose then fell ... a lot. But the flavor and consistency are perfect. I've been getting complements from people who don't even like cheesecake. My boyfriend for instance even had a second jar. That's gotta say something. And it was so easy to make. Well, I used Daniel's muscles for the beating of the batter; at which point he broke our whisk, but otherwise easy! Clearly I need to invest in a table mixer or we're going to run out of whisks!

I was knocked out both Friday and Saturday with whatever it was I have. Both days I had a fever in the 100s but luckily Saturday it 'broke' and I began to sweat rather than just getting uncomfortably hot. Sunday, though I was drowsy and still achy I managed to get outside for some fresh air. Monday, still sick and weak but up enough to do some knitting (like 1 stitch a minute). I finished another pair of Fingerless gloves and these I was able to post to etsy for sale. I got started on another commission. This lovely blue headband for a lucky little girl.

Prior to all this sickness I knit up a lap blanket for Buckikiddies Photography that I'm sure you can guess will be a prop for her photography. My sister was all over it when she got a gander. It's very soft.

Well I should stop here and get back to car hunting. Daniel got the Honda fixed however the rings are too tight and it would need some break in time or for him to tear the motor back apart which he doesn't wish to do. So car shopping I go. Wish me luck!

Thai Peaches Jam

So last night I made some Peach Jalapeno Jam with Thai Chilies. Long story! Okay, no twisting my arm! I started out with 1 Jalapeno pepper. Before I added it I sampled it for both freshness (not that I doubted since it came from Debbie's garden) and heat. Sadly they only had a little heat so I busted out a Chili from the same garden and cleaned it up. Wow did that hurt! As soon as I touched a sliver to my tongue it lit my mouth on fire. That one I dropped in whole about half way through cooking it since the Jalapenos weren't heating things up any. Even after introducing the Thai chili I wasn't getting any heat. I'm not sure why either. Very disappointing that.

Anywho, I cooked it longer than I should have. It didn't mess with the flavor or burn at all but I did mess with my quantity. I was hoping on at least 4 half-pint jars but only got 3. Sigh! I blame it on attempting to get some heat in there. In the end I even kept the Thai Chili in the jam rather than pulling it out after I got it hot enough. I still possessed 2 of the jars for later consumption or as gifts and kept the 1 with the Thai Chili out for sampling at work.

I can say at least that the jam looks pretty. I left the skin on since the peaches are from Lynd's Fruit Farm only scrubbing the fuzz off. So there's bits of skin and mushy chunks of peaches. Then there's bits of green jalapeno. The red Thai Chili blends in with the jams color a bit.

I should have picked up some peaches from Reverend Larry's garden while in Virginia for my straight up peach jam!

I've also been working on knitting ... no surprise there! I've got a nice purple cable beanie I'm working on and I'm going to make a pair of matching let warmers. It's all newborn size so it'll work for photographers or people with newborns who want them.

Self photography!

I've worked out a deal with my sister on this as well. When her clients chose the prop they want she's going to offer them the prop if they wish to have it. Obviously they'll be purchasing it but it'll be cheaper then if they bought it from my website and had it shipped.

I also had a meeting for a fair coming up. The lady suggested I hit up Boho with my jewelry. She said that it would benefit us both (the boutique owner and myself). I was flattered when she told me "this is quality work." as she was browsing my jewelry collection and that if she ever needs a baby gift she knows were to go. Even if nothing else comes of this meeting I'll still be happy knowing she likes my work. However, I hope I can scrounge up some artists and get in this show!

Labor Day in Virginia

Blue Ridge

Over the Labor day weekend some of my family went to Virginia to visit with my sick uncle. He's doing better than he was during the Rendezvous but unfortunately as we were leaving Monday afternoon he was heading to the ER. It was most unsettling!

However before then my cousin and I were taking my other cousins senior photos. It was such fun that I might attempt to do other senior photos if the opportunity arises. Granted I wont have access to such wonderfully majestic sights but we do have some nice locations to work with in Columbus. There are quite a few funny photos that bring out his personality and then the typical serious portraits.

Knowing that there were horses down the road I made an effort to walk there and get some photos. Little did I know that it would rain and that there would be a family of deer waiting when I got there.

Between my cousins and I we got a lot of photos. I wish the horses didn't have fly masks on but there was nothing to be done for that.

Gorgeous black horse and deer family

 There were 2 Tobiano Paint's and 1 big black beauty. If I had to guess I'd say Morgan but I'm not sure.

Raining hard

Among my cousin's photos was this fun shot of me taking the photo above. I'm all wet! My poor camera got wet as well but it wasn't too bad since I was hiding under a tree.

Me taken by Philip

We had some excellent food while in Virginia and I finally got to go to Sweet Things to enjoy there excellent ice cream and milk shakes. I got a Chunky Irish Girl Scout Smoothie and tried their Peach Habanero which is ironic since I'll be making that flavor in jam today. All in all very good! But sadly we never did make it to Michie Tavern. They have some of the best food on Earth. My favorite is their stewed tomatoes, to which I have the recipe and home styled fried chicken. Maybe next time.

 As I was skimming through my SD card I stumbled across this photo of little miss Evelyn. Taken a while back when I first got my new lens. I was really just the spotter but I figured that since I have a zoom lens I would just take some photos from the back ground. As you can imagine since I wasn't getting in Evelyn's face that I didn't get the best shots and I have yet to get any since my sister is keeping her all to herself. Unless of course she needs a baby sitter. I guess I could just pose here when sis isn't around but as a photographer who hasn't worked with babies much I would feel more comfortable with a spotter. So I guess I'm out of luck! All well it's still a cute photo! [I played with it in Photoshop a wee bit and smoothed out her face and darkened the photo some.]

Baby Evelyn

Old Northwest Primitive Rendezvous

People are always telling me that my drawings tend to look like me. Well this time it was intentional. This is a quick attempt at a fashion painting for a riding habit I'm making for the Old Northwest Primitive Rendezvous this summer. The coat will of course be a last step creation since it isn't really a necessity for the costume. All that is required of me is to look somewhat accurate to the 1750-60s pioneer woman. I'm going a little over board on this costume, however, in my opinion it's better then undershooting it. For example last year (as a spectator) I noticed a young girl walking around in her chemise. Really! That's like her walking around in her panties this day and age. The rendezvous really would like everything to be as accurate as possible so why do they allow such things as indecent exposure (we are judging by their times not ours) and tractors didn't exist just yet so I really feel that they should have horse drawn wagons picking up trash and what nots. A horse and wagon would be no bigger then the tractor.

Rant finished!

So what we have here in order from first thing put on to last is:

Ø  Stockings - I have them white here, knitted of course ... just not by me! I've yet to knit socks. >.>

Ø  Breeches - I've fashioned after the Dutch, really taking after the 1780s but they looked very similar. They are done in a goldish/yellow linen or cotton. I'm not sure which.

Ø  Skirt - ankle length done in a red cotton. Granted dyes were not as fast as our dyes today and very expensive, so this skirt would more than likely have faded.

Ø  Weskit/waistcoat/bodice - I call it so many things because I'm not 100% sure which one fits the most. This will be done in the same fabric as the breeches (whichever I choose) and the same color. A nice lace up or rather down the front with a lining of some kind.

Ø  Habit a la française - styled after either the Italian or French 1735-50s or a military coat of similar time. Done in either a blue, heavy linen (which I'm leaning heavily towards) or wool. Gold trim and embroidery as well as some shiny buttons and red facings. Facing def. a lining or trimming sewn on the edge of a dress, coat, etc.

I'm modeling this costume after a Virginia military fashion of the time. The Virginia military had a blue uniform with red facings and small clothes and gold/yellow trim. Smallclothes def. breeches and weskit.

In order to insure my colors matched as I planned for the costume I decided to draw and paint it. It's not the most accurate paint job but then I'm not too proficient at painting. All in all I don't this it's terrible but perhaps a few fabric swatches will help things considerable. So my next stop will be to a fabric store to get those swatches. Once I'm finished making the skirt and weskit for myself and the costumes the rest of my great party will be needing then I'll order the pattern for the habit a la francaise and start on it. Worst case I'm hand stitching it while at the rendezvous. Talk about advertisement!

I still need to figure out shoes and sleeping arrangements. One of my coworkers might be coming with:  lucky me she's making her own costume, and since this is to be as accurate to the time as possible we will need a tent. Like waterproofed 1750's tent of white linen! >.> Crazy! Crazy expensive! Anything we bring must be disguised as historical. My glasses not withstanding. Did I say that right? I CAN ware my spectacles however I'm going to attempt to find some old frames and get my prescription put in them. Or just use contacts though this site doesn't have bathing facilities. Thus running water! My poor eyes! Lucky us my pa and uncle are getting a hotel room so we can all bathe and they have somewhere soft to sleep. I'd like a tricorn hat but we'll start with everything else first! :3

I'd really like to get my wood working boyfriend to begin making me a few wooden needles and hair sticks but that doesn't seem to be happening. *sigh* Not fair! I hope they don't say anything about aluminum knitting needles. Speaking of I'm also knitting a snood!

As for my painting:  it's sketched out then painted with watercolor. I took it into PS and did the background digitally.

Besides all that I've got another commission for a digivice which I'm going all out for. Carry along crochet body, with foam interior for stability and lack of pooching. Then going back with black embroidery floss to accent and crochet the face with a nice little lip for a screen (taken from an old cell phone) to be fit snugly inside and still see the screen shot of his favorite digimon. I also plan to embroider some of the symbols seen on the face of the digivice around the screen. Should come out nice.

OMG my business cards just came yesterday. They sent a sour punch twist candy with it! How cute! They were supposed to be here Tuesday, which I guess UPS did come but after 5:30 when I left for work already. *pout* Eek! They look so good! Now to get a medal tin to hold them in. Like one of those old cigarette tins gents would have in their pockets!

Le Chat Noir

I've finally started the black cat cross stitch! It's taken me months to start after asking copyright permission:  now let's see how long it takes to complete! I've started by selecting the colors I wish to use then determined how best to stitch it:  darks to lights. Then a quick sketch on the Adai fabric for general placement and begin. However, I don't have all the colors with me so I'm doing what I can with what little I have. I need to make a trip to a craft store and get some more floss.

Thanks goes to Croaky for allowing me to use his artwork for this piece.
On a side note I just finished my bottle cap earrings. They're so cute and light weight! I can't wait to make more. If I can ever find some Dr. Pepper bottle tops I'd be so very happy:  it is after all my favorite drink!