Gone but not forgotten

I've been gone from the blog, but it has not been forgotten. During my hiatus, I've knitted 4 pairs of Christmas wristers, two Fun Fur scarves for a co-worker, and a baby hat. I've sewn an apron. I've converted a bookcase into a coat cubby ala Pottery Barn, and I've hung the curtain dividers in my craft room. I'm also 2/3rds of the way through my Christmas shopping, have made reservations for our holiday travel, and have helped a friend explore the wonderful world of iTunes.

I also took a bunch of pictures which I think the CatMan downloaded somewhere other than on my computer.

I've been busy. You're just going to have to take my word for it.

China hutch reveal

Edited to participate in ASPtL's DIY day -

Since I had moved the pie safe to the craft room, I needed replacement storage in our kitchen. A new store opened near my home, which is where I found this girl in need of some lovin'.

The inside shelves were waterstained and dried out, the outside had some kind of shellac that had dripped and then dried. I had a vision of her rich and deep on the outside and Tiffany blue on the inside.

After several attempts at stripping (3M Safe Stripper didn't cut it, so I had to pull out the big stinky guns)and the first coat of Miniwax Dark Walnut, I had to put her makeover on hold. Seems humid mid-July weather was not conducive to drying. At. All. Over Labor Day weekend, I applied the second coat of stain and primed the inside with BIN. For the Tiffany blue, I mixed 1) Slate Blue, 1) Fairfax Green, and 1/3rd)Feather Blue Paint Pod from Ace Hardware. It was the perfect amount without a ton of paint left over.
Total cost of the project:
Hutch: $101.00 (95.00 and tax)
Stain and paint: $20.00
Stripper: $7.00
Primer and tools: already had.
The inside of the hutch is an accumulation of things from all different times and locations of my life. It's a mish-mash - but hey, isn't that a reflection of real life? Quirky, fun, and sometimes not making a whole lotta sense!

Give a girl a sewing machine

Edited to participate in ASPtL's DIY day -

And look at all the trouble she can get into! I've wanted a sewing machine for a while, and this past birthday was the time to fulfill my wish (thanks Mom!) I got a Singer Simple - nothing too fancy, but it does a few creative stitches and ...wait for it...buttonholes! The CatMan didn't quite achieve the level of awe I felt necessary when I finished my first one.

Here are a couple of 'getting to know Martha' projects. Yes, I named my machine Martha - appropriate on several levels.

Project 1: A kitty mattress. Simply a flannel baby blankie ($1.50 at Goodwill) sandwiched around a layer of cotton batting. I tried out a couple of zig-zag stitches (it doesn't look nearly as pucker-y in person). The kittehs love it.

Project 2: A 'dress' for Martha. The material is the same stuff I used on my thrifted bulletin board. I love the blowsy floral print, but must use it in moderation or the CatMan's head will explode. Cost? About $2.00 of material.

I have a few other sewing projects underway - reveals will be forthcoming. And yes, there will be buttonholes!

Speaking of birthday gifts: the CatMan surprised me with an orange iPod Nano. Which totally makes up for his lack of buttonhole adoration. Woot! It's all 80's all the time now! I love it so much and knew it needed it's own special home. Presenting the curiously strong mod-podge tin.

I mod-podged some scrapbook paper to the top and lined it with some remnant felt. Perfectly protected and easily found in my purse. Cost? Nuttin' honey.

Finally, here's a sneak peek of a big project which I'm hoping to wrap up this weekend.

Can't beat free...

Today's post is part of ASPtL's DIY day.

This is the free stool I picked up along a street near my office. Mmmm...vinyl impersonating leather. One of the legs was cracked where it joined to the base of the stool, but other than that, it was in great condition.

Here she is after a little wood glue, muslin, and grosgrain ribbon. So much happier!

Cost- Stool: free, Muslin: $3.00, Green and brown striped grosgrain ribbon: $1.29.

And here's a glimpse of a Christmas wrister (just in case you thought this had turned into a DIY blog) -

And then, sometimes it's not

edited to participate in -
A few weeks ago, I experienced the Essex Junction Community Yard Sale held at the Champlain Fairgrounds. Wow, what fun (of course, I went alone. Had I dragged him with me, the CatMan may have tried to put his eyes out with my knitting needles.) I picked up a sizable bag of goodies all for the grand total of $6.00. For example, this bulletin board was $0.50.

Ayep, that would be a solid wood back and frame! I needed a bulletin board for my craft room, so after some craft paint, a $2.00 JoAnn's remnant, and $0.10 velvet ribbon remnants, I now have this queen of lovely.

Stay tuned: the little flower brads in the corners of the board came from this upcoming redo...

Sometimes it's about the knitting...

Last weekend, we were off to PA for the CatMan's class reunion. In testament to how badly organized I was for the trip, I didn't pack my knitting stuff until the morning we left. Which is why I had the yarn, but not the correct needles for some Tilli Thomas/Berroco wristers I wanted to work on. However I did have the trusty #2 DPNS, so I was able to finish another pair of Breast Cancer Care Socks (#5!) and start a pair of sock yarn wristers for one of my nieces.

Project specs: my favorite sock pattern using Plymouth's Happy Feet (I love this yarn!)

But before I left, I finished Mrs Robinson - a lightweight shoulder shawl-lette.

Project specs: A simple triangle shawl (Ravelry should be able to help here) using 2 skeins of Berroco's Seduce Colors in Prophesy on #7 needles. I then single-crocheted an edging with some lightweight brown chenille to firm up the eyelet edging.

Maybe I should should start packing the Christmas trip knitting bag now...

As I have posted before, we are doing on-going work at the CattyAbode. Two years ago, I realized we had lived in the same place for 10 years and there were things I absolutely hated about my home. I was tired of 'making due' with someone else's decorating choices and living with 'one day I'll have my own place'-itis. Right now this IS my home, albeit rented, but there is no reason why I can't have things to my liking.

Here is the finished craft room:
(oops, little picture of the view into the craft room from our bedroom area. The door accesses our new storage/attic area)
Here's directly to the left of the entrance into the craft room. The pie safe is a custom piece I had made over 17 years ago. It has been in all of our kitchens until now. (Say "hi" to my Peeps.) I still have some organization to do in the pie safe.

And here is my craft desk overlooking the back 40. The vintage desk is maple with an enameled metal top (think old enameled metal camp coffee pots). I picked up the milk glass lamp for $5.00, painted the brass white, and switched out the shade with another one I had in the house. And hey, my Target chair was a whopping $14.00!

At the same store where I bought the milk glass lamp, I fell in love with this old china hutch. With the pie safe gone, I needed another storage piece in the kitchen. This is the hutch in its stripped state - this weekend I'm hoping to stain the outside and paint the inside one of those turquoise shades.

It hasn't been all about the house: meet Mrs. Robinson, a triangular scarf using Berroco's Seduce. Get it? "Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?" Ok, nevermind.

And a helmet liner for a Reservist co-worker headed out to Afghanistan.

And of course, life would not be complete without some socks on the needles.

Summertime socks

Annette is marinating in the knitting basket. I realized knitting 2 different lace patterns was the fastest way to make myself guano loco. So Annette cools her heels while I finished the Diagonal Lace Scarf.

Project specs: less than one skein of Berroco Sox Metallic in color 1350 (blues and greys) knit on #7 Inox needles. I knit, knit, and knit until I thought it was long enough. It blocked out to almost 6'! Plenty long enough to wrap and knot!

I didn't want to take Annette to Phoenix's knit night, so I threw some Cherry Tree sock yarn and #1 needles in my knitting bag. I cast on for the next pair of Breast Cancer Care Socks: I hope these anklets make someone as happy as my knitting them does!