I could breath for a week!

Since Harvey, my allergies have been horrible.  Gallivanting for the last week and a half made them better.  But I woke up this morning home but my face swelling again.  Oh well.  I would not mind being camping and traveling still!

The adventures started with the Taos Fiber Fair.  I went to this about two years ago and was not impressed.  But I enjoyed Taos.  I figured why not.  This time was much better.  The first positive was that it really felt like autumn there.  It does not feel like autumn in Houston!  I was taking pictures of seed pods and dryed grassses.

Then there was the fair!  I was surprised.  There were a few sheep to look at and I found a beautiful Turkish spindle.  The wood that was used made it too hard for me to pass up.  It is a little bit larger then most of mine but I always have a use for a Turkish spindle.  I can break it down flat, put a small bag of fiber in my pack, and be able to spin anywhere.  Yes, I am that person.

I came home with four fleeces.  One is an Icelandic lamb in black.  I want a black cardigan and I want to play with Icelandic fleece.  The other three are CVM crosses.  I got told it is much cheaper to buy a fleece then it is to raise a sheep.  And I get more variety.  I will take this logic.

I also bought yarn.  The earth tones here were picked by my Beloved.  I will make him a sweater.  The blues are going to become a shawl.  A shawl that has a knitted pattern but I am going to crochet.  

I also picked up two kits for the Taos Mountain shawl.  One with a pattern and one not.  I am changing the pattern from knit to crochet.  I am also making it a bit bigger so I use more of the extra yarn.  And I like large shawls.  

I got to thinking about why I buy yarn when I am traveling.  A lot of the yarn I purchase is truly not speciality yarn but yarn you are only going to find at a local yarn store and not a large craft store.  Most of the local yarn stores that were near where I live most of the time are no longer in business for a myriad of reasons.  I travel.  I find yarn.  I buy yarn.  In Houston, I make yarn.  It is an interesting conundrum.

I really enjoyed the Taos Fiber Fair this year.  Enough to go back next year whether it is just for itself or I am traveling on to somewhere else.  If nothing else, it is a grand way for me to experience a little bit of autumn.  And this week back already looks like it is going to be quite crazy to I will take a bit of peace as I go.

it did not take me until I was 80!

I finished the cardigan I was making!  It did not take until I was 80 like my Beloved predicted because I kept ripping it out.  But I did start with a knitting pattern.  Then I combined it with a crochet pattern.  It was all about the shape and I guess you could say I did my own thing.  But if I am making it, why not?

The Yosh Little Brother yarn from Tolt Yarn and Wool was lovely to work with.  Lovely enough for me to consider it for other projects even though it is a bit expensive.  It is also soft due to the cashemere in it so I should not complain.

The hardest part for me was the decision of what edging color.  I chose by consensus.  The sage green is not in this picture but the sage green and the cranberry were the lead picks.  I went with the cranberry because I was told it was a bit more edgy, modern.

These pictures are from the day I wore it before I blocked it.  Once I block it, if I block it, I may need to reposition the buttons.  But that may not happen until the first time it needs washing.  This sweater is so soft.  My allergies have been pretty bad and being able to wrap myself in it has been nice.

It just makes me wish to crochet another sweater.  That I will rip out how many times before it is done.  It is part of my process.

We are off a fiber fair this weekend, then the mountain and my parents, and then camping with Koda Bear.  I cannot wait!  I was ready to go traveling before Harvey but I am very ready for a change right now.  As long as it does not snow.  I dreamed it snowed on the mountain last night and I just do not see that as a good thing!  I may pack my snow boots as a just in case measure.  

Oh, by the way, yes, those are my skateboards behind me in the picture.  One rides the concrete like my spoon rides the waves.  I have been feeling the need to go surfing as well but there has not been any surf until this week.  This week has been about packing and going.  Oh well.  Soon.

making do but not really feeling like I was making do

I was getting dressed one morning and realized my slip was no longer in one piece.  The lace layer at the bottom had separated from the fabric.  This slip was not perfect but it was pretty.  The lace at the bottom gave it some weight to help it lie correctly.  And I had plant dyed the fabric and ribbon on it.  I ripped off the lace edging.  Then I tried to see if I could salvage the fabric.  I just ripped in my hands every time I chose to tug it.  I take a deep breath and set it aside.

I had a piece of the china silk that was dyed with Western hemlock and iron that I had not made into ribbon yet.  That color is not selling currently so I thought why not?  Cut it apart and started stitching.  This time it was going to be more a-line.  I should have made it narrower at the hem then I did but that is okay.

I added the lace edging to the bottom of the slip/chemise.  To give it some weight again.  I am still clipping threads.

And now I have a new slip.  I do wish I had made it just a bit longer but it will not be longer then any of my dresses.  Which actually is a very good thing.

Because of the diameter of the lace I put on, it has a blousy feel.  It reminds me more of an Edwardian undergarment then a true chemise.  It is comfortable.  And it does not feel like I made do at all.  The only question now is how long will this last.  But then I will make something to replace it and not go buy something.  Making do out of my stash again.  Sounds like a plan.

working on my shop

I sew, crochet, and spin every day.  Items that are repetition that are going into my Etsy shop.  Repetition of shape not fabric.  I am not good about updating the shop here.  Probably because I reach my computer limit most days!  I am looking for an outside the house job to support my traveling habit.  Which means more computer time.  Suggestions are accepted.

I get to the point in the summer where I do not wish to do much anymore.  It is just heat and ready for a change of season.  There are times that summer feels like it is nine months here.  

If it were to cool down a bit and I put enough bug spray on I would be comfortable working in my garden.  Or walking the beach.  The beach needs bug spray currently.  I do wish there was surf but I will probably be traveling when that happens here.  It is the season of fiber fairs and I hope to go to a few this year.  Spinning everyday has been good for me.  Part of the yarns are going into my shop as goods.  Some of them are becoming sweaters at home.  

I feel like arm holes and sleeves take more concentration then the rest of the sweater.  I actually have a sweater I might be able to post about next week.  I will need to go for a button search because what was in my button box did not work.  But the sleeves and arm holes are done!  And the sleeves fit!  I had to rip them out a few times because I wished to be able to wear a sleeve under the sweater.  But I am pleased.  And it is soft.  I am crocheting edging right now so buttons this weekend.

Thanks for listening to the babble!

sourdough chocolate everyday cake

My experimentation with sourdough cakes did not start with the pumpkin cake.  It started with this one.  Chocolate.  Part of that was my wanting cake.  Which is not me.  I do not like cake.  I will keep saying that.  But the reality is I do not like cake that is dry or needs frosting.  Koda Bear does not get this.  Cake has to have frosting, especially birthday cake, according to him.

This chocolate cake turned out very well.  It is another cake that is very good toasted with butter spread across.  So more like a chocolate bread?  I used white whole wheat flour in it again because that is all I have in the house.  It is very good.  

I have one more cake I am experimenting with.  Vanilla.  The last one was a bust.  It all got eaten but it was not the best cake.  I will have to try that one again.

sourdough chocolate cake

Note:  The sourdough I am using here is 100% by volume.  That means I use one cup of flour and one cup water to make it.  If you use a sourdough that is 100% by weight, 100 grams flour and 100 grams water, or whatever it takes to make a cup, increase the milk to one cup.  I used Smitten Kitchen's everyday chocolate cake as a starting point

1 cup sourdough

1/2 cup olive oil

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup milk or water

1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour (you can use all purpose here)

3/4 cups cocoa, the best you can buy

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Butter and flour a loaf pan.  I bought the Vardagen loaf pan from Ikea.  Is is 5.25 inches by 3 inches by 12.75 inches.  It holds 1.9 quarts and works perfectly.

In a large bowl, put in the starter.  Mix in the olive oil, egg, and vanilla.

Sift in the flour, cocoa, and baking soda. I usually have some bran from the flour that needs to be dumped into the compost.  Add the salt.  

Mix well.

Pour into the loaf pan.  Bake for 1 hour.  

Check to make sure the cake is done by inserting a knife and it comes out clean.  The cake will also have pulled away from the edges.  let the cake cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes, if not 30.  I always have someone who cannot wait.  If you do not let this cake cool in the pan, it will collapse from its own weight.  Still very edible but there is usually a bit that gets very dense.  Obviously, I have done this in the past.

 

It is a good, not too sweet cake.  On the rich side though.

Toast, add butter.  Chocolate toast for breakfast.  True decadence.