happy new year, ummm, over a month late...

OK, so I just realized it has been 8 months since my last post.  Aye!  I am inept with technological connectivity.  Bloody hell.  It's now my February resolution--to become technologically ept.  Anyway, much has changed since last posting.  New abode.  New state.  New kitty.  And my human baby is now a toddler.  It's craziness.

Anyway, I just found a video I had to share.  I've always been a fan of Make, but I just found Sylvia's Mini Maker Show for the first time.  What's wrong with me?  Why haven't I seen this sooner.  She's so freaking talented and cute and knowledgeable, I can't take it.  Enjoy!

consider me sheepish

Looky what I got . . .

It's wool, glorious wool!  Romney wool to be exact.  It's beautiful and buttery; pity about it's name though. Anyway, I was lucky to score 2 lbs. of this lovely fleece from my spinning teacher.  She bought the full fleece for a class that she's teaching, and she didn't need it all, so she sold me a portion.  Which is freaking awesome!  I didn't have to invest a lot of money, plus it's a much more manageable size.  It's perfect!  Seriously, where the hell would I store 7 lbs. of wool away from the cat beast?

Anyway, I get to go from raw fleece to knitted piece, and I love it!  I sense some dyeing experiments in the near future.

I also have to point out that my spinning teacher has got some serious connections, because this wool is immaculately clean.  Like, this sheep might have OCD, it's so clean.

Oooh, lanolin feet!

my booty (not literally)

Got a chance to go thrifting with Mr. today.  Didn't do too badly . . .

Found a craft bag from the 60s (definitely smells like the 60s); wooden hangers; a neato, silver tri-bowl; bee pants for Mr.; and a wooden box that seems like it will be useful for organization.  The best picks are by far the bag and the tri-bowl--even the lady at the thrift store mumbled something about how she hadn't seen the bag.  Too bad, it's mine, lady!!

Looks like the bag is a small wastepaper basket with some fabric and handles sewn to the top.  This bag has seen better days--looks like it has been smushed for a few years.  Hmm, I wonder how to bend caning back into shape.

And the bowl.  Actually, I should say bowl-bowl-bowl.  What's the fate of this fine vessel, you ask?  Fancy craft room storage, I reply.

there's more than one way to spin a yak

Last night it took me a while to fall asleep, so I flipped through the channels and landed on an interesting documentary on PBS called Summer Pasture.



It's about a nomadic family in Tibet who has to reconcile their lifestyle with the rapid modernization of the world.  It's great; you should watch it.  Anyway, there was a small part of the film that showed Yama, the matriarch, and Locho, the patriarch, spinning yak fiber into rope.  And holy guacamole, it was fascinating!  I'm not even sure how it worked, but it seemed like a two-person, sideways drop spindle.  The spindle was situated on top of a tall pole and a strap was attached to the spindle.  Locho would intermittently pull up and down on the strap to rotate the spindle, then Yama would draft and spin the fiber.  She pulled that stuff for what seemed to be yards and yards long.  And after all the fiber was spun they used their whole bodies to keep the tension as they wound up the rope.  It was really cool.  There's a pic of part of the process on the Summer Pasture photo page.

Of course, I think this is what was going on.  I'm not totally sure.  Tried to google the process and apparently you can't find the schematics to a nomadic-Tibetan, yak rope maker.  Damn it!!  Regardless, I was mesmerized.  Made me want to spin outside.  With a yak.

Until that moment comes, I've been enjoying spinning on my Ashford.  Just finished some alpaca and merino blend yarn made from North Star Alpacas fiber which my loving husband so wonderfully bought for me.  Oh softness, how I love thee!

new year, new skill

So the year is not exactly "new" any more. And the skill I'm learning--it's actually ancient. But I digress . . . I'm spinning! Not just with excitement but also with wool! For my birthday my super, kick-ass mother-in-law bestowed upon me her spinning wheel (an Ashford Traditional, which was stained and assembled by my father-in-law for those of you interested). It's awesome. What's even better is that I can use it! My wonderful and amazing hubby got me spinning lessons. And thank god, because upon first sitting I was mystified. There are bands and tensions and flyers and bobbins and maidens (love that . . .) and tons of other things that I didn't know anything about. Although much of the mystery still remains, I've been able to create yarn on it, and that's all I can ask for. It's all I've ever wanted. Hmm, when did this turn into a melodrama?

Here is my first handspun yarn!



Next step: figure out a better way to hang up the skeins to set.

Also: put stuff away in the bathtub when taking pictures to post on blog.

On a completely unrelated note: I had a baby, hence my blogging hiatus.

Related to the note above: He's the sweetest, smartest, and cutest baby in the world.

a video doesn't get much cuter

Want to see something adorable? Well then, you must watch this video. Pay particular attention about a minute in.



If you're wondering who the teenage cutie is, that is my brother-in-law. No, he's not the furry one. He's the tall, skinny one feeding the furry ones. And I'm sure he just loves being described like this . . .

Hope you had fun with the alpacas, G. And by fun I mean, hope that you brought one home for me.

oh so bad, yet oh so good

Me dearest hubby forwarded me a link to a most awesome blog--Bad Postcards. What is it about, you ask? Well, I guess one might say it features bad postcards. Who'd have thought?

Seriously though, this blog is cracking me up. It's so bad that it's so freaking good. I love the post for June 27th. What I wouldn't give to be having a gay old time right now . . .

Wonder how Fred feels about that.



Should have seen that coming.

etsy find that i (and the fuzzy beast) heart

Sorry for being negligent, peeps. It has been a hectic week (+ end) to say the least. Alas, it's the curse of moving your whole life from one place to the next. But now the schlepping is over (thanks, friends o' hubby!), the internet is working, and the hubby and I are in our new--yet very old--house. We finally can start to get life back to normal. Thank Zeus!

So in honor of getting back to normal, I'm going to spend some time blogging about stuff instead of unpacking those pesky boxes that hold everything that is useful and familiar to us. Naturally . . .

Etsy is an amazing place to feed into all my house-on-the-brain obsessing. And my pet obsession. And my vintage-things obsession. And my clever-use-of-materials obsession. Well, I found a shop that combines all those obsessions into one--it's Love Nostalgic Whimsy, which specializes in recycling old awesome things into clever and new awesome things. In particular, I love the Vintage Upcycled Suitcase Pet Bed.




How freaking adorable is that?! LOVE it!

Well, I guess I better get back to the maze of boxes that awaits. And gotta find the cat and tell her about this bed . . .

bare bear butts

Mr. fuzzbot and I officially became homeowners on Monday. Woo woo! So we've been in the process of sorting through our clutter, packing it all up and schlepping it around. Gotta say I'm not a fan of moving. Blech! However I am a fan of our new house (!). And I am a fan of looking through all those bizarre mementos that I've collected over the years. Those little bits of my past represent different moments of my life, moments that I haven't thought about in a long time. Or in some cases, moments I've forgotten. But either way, it's fun.

This is paper towel doodle is one of my favorite finds . . .



On the back it says "BUTT-DANCIN' BEAR!"

Damn, I wish I could remember this one . . .

it's friday

I'm in love.



Do you think Robert Smith would hang out with me if I had a trunk full of dress-up clothes?

Sigh. I wish . . .

my favorite day

. . . is today. Because it's my hubby's birthday. And I am so glad that he was born. Happy birthday, darling! Let's go ride a dragonfly to celebrate!



Also, it's Judy Garland's birthday today, so TCM is showing her movies all day long.



I don't know if I can handle this much excitement in one day.

p.s. If you're looking for more awesome vintage images like the boy riding a dragonfly, you must visit The Graphics Fairy blog. LOVE it!

etsy shop (that i heart)--and it hasn't just developed

If you are in the market for some awesome photography, than you are in luck. ChoraScholarette has a most amazing shop on etsy. LOVE it!

Just see for yourself.

Is it weird that I want to smell this? (If I had a nickel for every time I've said that . . .)




Love this perspective . . .




And my personal favorite--a photograph taken outside the Tate in London:



Makes me giggle.

a pack o' alpaca

Does anyone else want to steal them and start an alpaca farm? Or is it just me?

I had the pleasure of going to a local alpaca farm called Abenaki Acres last week, and it was freakin awesome. And educational. And beautiful. And did I mention awesome? I got to see an adorable little cria who was just born a few days before--to an alpaca mama that only has 3 legs. Well, she has 4 legs if you count the prosthetic. Either way, I hope she got something nice for Mother's Day. I mean, something freakin' amazing . . .

Anyway, here's a pic of a few other lovely ladies. Those faces!



If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend taking the farm tour. It's a great way to spend a couple of hours. But be forewarned--the alpacas won't follow you home no matter how hard you try to lure them away.

the latest weekend find

I've been having some damn good weekend finds. It's uncanny. This time a book tops the list.



Found it for a dollar at a used book sale for our public library. What a deal! Why anyone would donate it is beyond me. This book is freaking hilarious. I give you, an excerpt from the publisher's website . . .



HA! I think I just peed a little . . .

The author, Ms. Stitchy McYarnpants, has a blog with even more kitschy, yarny fun; and she has an etsy shop too, which is awesome.

Next time you see me, I'll be wearing one of these:



I wish . . .

(amazing!) find of last weekend

Looky what I picked up at a garage sale last weekend. Isn't it a beaut?







And guess how much it cost. Just guess. $35! Isn't that amazing?! Gotta vacuum out all the dead bugs and dust and whatnot. But still, it's in splendid shape. This steamer has got to be one of my best finds ever. I'm still excited about it!

And thanks, Kyle and G (you dear sweet men, you) for carrying up the stairs! I'm a lucky lady. That thing is freaking heavy . . .

find of the weekend

Looky what I got...





It's a sewing basket. And it was only $6 at a antique shop sale. Woo woo! I'd show you a pic of it in all it's functional glory except that it's currently dysfunctional. The fabric is worn and stained and funky. The strings on the side that hold it open have disintegrated to the sands of time. And there are some mysterious bits of debris floating around the bottom of the basket. But isn't it great?

I got some awesome fabric to make it brand new and beautiful.



So there you have it--that's my next project. Well, in addition to all those other ones I'm currently working on. Damn, I'm a project junky (and I ♥ it).

etsy find (that i ♥) - i need wine, stat!

Most people that know me know that I love the Golden Girls. Hmm, "love" might be the wrong word. Perhaps "infatuated," "obsessed," "powerless-against-the-greatness-of-those-sassy-ladies-of-Miami" would be better choices.

But I digress . . .

My friend (hi Noa!) sent me a link to Flavorwire.com's guide to all things GG, and it got me thinking--why haven't I been searching on etsy for GG paraphernalia? What kind of fan am I? Anyway, I found these wine charms made by Whimsy at Handmade (different than the ones linked in the article), and I just absolutely ♥♥♥ them.



Anyone else thinking of the episode where the ladies vow to Rose that they'll freeze their heads when they die?

You didn't tip the guy?

sigh.

Judy, I could listen to you all day.



Oh wait, I have been . . .

etsy find (that i ♥) . . . literally

I loved this poster by Roll & Tumble Press so much that I had to buy it for Mr. fuzzbot.



Who knew internal organs could be so damn cool? I just want to eat it; it's so awesome! Ummm, and no, I'm not a zombie . . .

etsy find (that i ♥)

Holy crap I found the most amazing amigurumi creature ever on etsy--the Siamese Cat Twins made by Lazymuse.



Oh, yep, the drooling has begun.

I can't imagine if my evil cat had twice the cunning power. She'd be an evil super power. On the plus side, she doesn't like when things get in her face, so maybe she would attack her twin; and that would really slow her down.

Did I just go to a weird place?