Dyeing from a Picture

I joined a challenge one of the podcasters I listen to (Dyer's Notebook) had for dyeing yarn from a picture assigned to you.

Here is the picture I was given for my challenge:


I chose to use the flowers and not the grass/leaves with it. First I tied off my yarn:


I soaked the yarn in vinegar and water.  Then added purples and slowly turned the yarn so it would add unevenly.


After I was done with the purple, I took off the ties and painted on the orange where the ties were.  Then soaked the skein in hot water to set the color.


Semi wound back up.



I know this sounds horrible, but ugh, I love it! I have already cast on sock in it for myself. I hope I take the time to do this again in the future.

Sunday Inspirations

Bath and Body Inspirations:

Not necessarily going to try, but interesting info on Tallow Lotions Bars.



Paleo Recipes:

Spring is doing it's best to arrive, but I am impatient, we did have snow last weekend so I think I am justified in my impatience. Fruit is a craving right now and this Lemon Mousse sounds like a wonderful sweet treat.


This Green Curry sounds yummy, as I am a fan of cilantro.


I've done this type of thing with mash potatoes, so I wonder how this Cauliflower Shepherds Pie would taste.


Gluten-Free Recipes:

This is most definitely not Paleo, but can I share with you how much I miss licorice? It's all wheat filled and drives me bonkers, so yes, some day in the hopeful near future, I will try to make this Gluten-Free Cherry Licorice.


Not sure how these Gluten-Free Biscuits, Cinnamon Bun Style sound and look very interesting.


Mmm, still want soup. This Cheddar Potato Soup sounds yummy.


Creamy Tomato Bisque sounds yummy also.



Recipes:

Most definitely an indulgence and could also be made with Gluten-Free cake dough, but these Easter Egg Cake Balls could be used for any occasion.


Another indulgence that could be made Gluten-Free and just looks beyond yummy is this Lemon Angel Food Cake.

Sunday Inspirations

Bath and Body Inspirations:

Soothing Citrus Body Wash sounds nice.


Craft Inspirations:

I know this is super late, but it looks so awesome. . . Natural Dyed Easter Eggs.



Paleo Recipes:

These Green Apple and Coconut Treats sound odd, but I would like to try these.


Chicken Artichoke Soup with Basil sounds delicious.


I have never had duck before, but as with everything, I assume it tastes similar to chicken. This Roasted Duck Breast with Orange Ginger Dipping Sauce looks and sounds good.


I tried to make leeks a while ago and failed horribly because I didn't know enough about how to clean and cook them. This Leeks Vinaigrette sounds good and gives tips on how to clean and cook them, so I'm ready to try them again.


My husband loves lamb and loves cherries, so I am thinking about making these Kofta Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Cherry Sauce . . . maybe it'll even make me like lamb.


Simple, but sounds good Marinated Flank Steak.



Gluten-Free Recipes:

I love the principal of these Lebanese Roasted Stuffed Onions. I would most likely make these paleo, but oddly enough I never thought of stuffed onions. Going to have to make these soon.



Recipes:

Mmm, Balsamic Roast Beef sounds super delicious. Would make at least a gluten-free version, if not Paleo version.

Sunday Inspirations

Paleo Inspirations:

Paleo Peeps


Curried Egg Salad


Recipe Inspirations:

Potato Dill Frittata with White Cheddar Hollandaise

Test Booties

Yarn: Red Heart Soft Baby Steps
Color: Purple
Content: 100% Acrylic
Care: Machine Wash and Dry
Needles: US 4
Pattern: Florence Booties (pattern not released yet)

Loved these little booties and I plan on making another pair in pink so I will have two pairs, for a former co-worker who had twins in January.

Socks for Vera

Wordless Wednesday - Aprons to be

Sunday Inspirations

Crafty Inspirations:

I like the idea of these Shadow Wraps as a way of doing short rows in knitting.



Paleo Recipe Inspirations:

These Dark Chocolate Cups have many uses!

Making paleo is more about making simple and variety is more about seasoning, which I like because it's making me learn more about cooking, this Smokey Aioli sounds like it would be a nice addition to most any meat dish.

How to Boil Eggs is worth a try.

Another recipe for Homemade Mayo this one includes a video though.


Gluten Free Recipe Inspirations:

Ah this Chocolate Chocolate Blackout Cake looks so sinfully delicious.

Ah, pudding, definitely a comfort food and weakness. This Layered PB and Chocolate Puddings sound quite yummy!


Recipe Inspirations:

This recipe is for regular Spanish Rice, I just want to use the base of the recipe to try Spanish Cauliflower.

Redbuds Test Knit Socks

I chose to make these socks, because of some of the techniques I would learn. The heel/gusset area is different from what I have usually done, as is the sole of the foot. So I learned some interesting things. I also love the back of the leg of this design . . . otherwise, I just felt like I was trudging through it. The gauge makes the sock too small, so they will be going to my niece, Justice. Also there were too many parts in the sock that made the unacceptable for bus knitting, which meant I had to find other times, which isn't easy.

Overall, they are pretty, but I wouldn't knit them again . . . honestly, there were a couple of times I felt like withdrawing from the testknit and just not finishing these at all.

It was hard to photograph these due to their color, it is more of a deeper red.








The interesting sole is knit so the stretch is diagonal.  I wish these would have fit me so I would know how well this type of sole works.


Love all the small cables on the back of the cuff here.



Yarn: Organi Filati Merino Mix Fine
Color: 1208 -- or as I call it, dark cherry
Content: 50% Merino / 50% Acrylic
Care: Machine wash, lay flat to dry
Needles: US 0 / 2mm
Pattern: KY Redbuds
Mods: Yes, I did make mods, since the cuff was so much smaller than the pattern said it should be, I loosened my gauge and did a gauge of 8sts per inch, instead of 9sts per inch.

33 in 33

Ah, March . . . a bit better than February, but still too much of a let down if we are going to be honest with ourselves.  Although, April looks to be a much better month.

Husband and I have decided to cut back some of the stress of saving for a house, we are going to push it forward a couple years and instead look into moving into an apartment in the suburbs.  Depending on how the next couple weeks go, work-wise, we also may start trying to have kids towards the end of this year.  Lots of positive decisions being made lately, just have to take some time to see if the universe agrees with our plans.  :)

So on the first of each month, I wanted to revisit my 33 in 33 things to see what, if any progress I was making. Not only to keep myself accountable, but also to kind of pat myself on the back . . . both I think are needed for me to succeed.


So here is my list of things to try/work on/accomplish in no specific order:

1. Spin a sweaters worth of yarn. - I purchased 12oz so far of a lovely roving that I would love to spin and knit into a sweater for myself. - No progress on this, I am still working on the roving that is currently on my wheel.

2. Start knitting a sweater with hand-spun yarn. - See #1.

3. Take 30 minutes a day to either exercise/meditate. - Nothing, what so ever.
 
4. Attend the church next door at least twice. - I am missing lately the feeling of community and the church is a Unitarian Church, so they accept people of any belief, so I want to go and see if it's somewhere I might feel like I belong. - Not yet, but oddly enough I had a dream last night that I went to church . . . so maybe I will try this in April.

5. Have an allowance, no more that $50 per month, while saving for a house. - Made some splurges, but still consider it good.

6. Try making my own triangle shawl design. - I am finding that this winter season I am really preferring shawls over scarves due to bulk issues. - I haven't made much progress on this since January.

7. Design a sweater for Eleanor based on the Bobba Hat. - Oh, am almost done with this sweater, decided to go a different route with the design theory . . . in fact I have a second one on the needles also!

8. Knit a sweater/top for Justice. - thinking about a cabled smooshy sweater - have not started yet, but have had some ideas

9. Knit a sweater/top for Vera. - thinking about a lovely summery top - Finished.

10. Knit a sweater/top for Liam. - vest or dressy/nerdy looking sweater for a classy little young man - have started an intarsia argyle vest for him - didn't make any progress on this in February.

11. Sew Rhoni and Eleanor's birthday gifts. - special request from Rhoni, have I mentioned how much I love requests. - Finished.

12. Sew Echo, Justice, and Vera a version of these also for a Mother's Day gift for Echo. - haven't started these, still plenty of time - thinking about getting the materials this coming weekend.

13. Sew myself a version of this also, as I think it would be nifty. - not started yet.

14 - 17. Knit double-knit Seahawks/Mariners cowls for Echo, Justice, Vera, and Rhoni. - I won't be starting this till about Spring or Summer

18. Knit Eleanor some nifty socks. - I have cast on for these and they will be some bus knitting

19. Knit Jacob's socks by Valentine's Day. - Finished..

20. Fix loom so I can actually use it. - Still at its 80% fixed from January.

21. I want 2013 to be the Year of Swatching for me. - I would like to knit more swatches just for the sake of swatching to create ideas, to try new stitch designs, etc. - this hasn't made any progress

22. Take the time to eat healthy. - I haven't been doing so well this end of the year and have gained some of my weight back and in general felt blah. - I am doing Whole 30/Paleo April, which basically means as close to Whole 30 as I can manage without stressing myself out too much

23. Try more variety for Wookie's homemade food and make batches big enough to freeze. - We have gone to homemade food supplemented with some kibble. - this is going well and Wookie is eating much healthier and seems to be feeling better

24. Knit Dark and Stormy sweater along with Knitting Samurai Plus 1 Group. - Another attempt to bring myself into more "community" type activities. Plus it just looks like a nifty sweater. - Frogged, didn't like knitting the sweater or how it was turning out.

25. Try more experimenting in cooking, especially Paleo cooking and Gluten-Free baking. - This will be much better in April.

26. Try dyeing the cotton/linen yarn I have so that I will actually use it. - haven't tried this, probably won't happen until Summer when it is warmer for drying purposes

27. Knit John a pair of Birthday Socks in the Alda Road Socks pattern with the Stellar colorway from Apothecary Yarns. - I have started these, I am doing the toes, heels, and cuffs a different color to make sure I have enough. I love how they are turning out, but I decided to do plan stockinette.

28. This summer try taking Wookie out with the bicycle. - I purchased last summer one of the kids buggies that go behind the bike for him, so I could ride my bike to the dog park with him, but never did it this year. - Summer time

29. Buy one of the Petite Turkish Spindles from Riley Wood and Fiber Art. - Love the look of his Petite Spindles and I don't have to have it Internationally Shipped! - not yet

30. Finish Eleanor's Blanket that I started before she was born. - Yes, it has sat 80% finished for the last almost 2 years. - have not restarted this yet

31. Finish Vera's Blanket that I started before she was born. - Yes, I started it 4 years ago . . . I would like to finish it, it's about 70% complete. I have a harder time finishing things when they are no longer travel size! - Will get back to this soon.

32. Accept that knitting or crafting does not always have to have a recipient, sometimes it's just nice to make something. - I did do some test-knits this month . . . which worked towards this theory, but have been pretty psyched about other projects.

33. Experiment with life more.- Eating out less give the husband and I more time to spend together, which is nice.  I purchased Jillian Micheal's Body Revolution and started it on the 31st.  I love Jillian's style.