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After I finished my daily drawing on the 4 1/2 x 5″ paper, I wanted to draw more. I cracked open my new sketch book and drew molly. She was doing that really cute thing where she curls up and tucks her head upside down under her paw. I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out. After over a week of drawing every day, like doing actual studies and focusing (most days), I feel like my hands and eyes are finally remembering what it’s all about.

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Craft Cat in action.

This, this right there, right above this text, right below this text, it makes me happy. I’ve been waiting for this for awhile now. Since I started weaving really. But more intensely since I received the loom in February.

I have been really busy lately and for once, little miss crafty feline, craftily got me to give my weaving some loving. I’ve been working to dress the loom since last week. Slow going at best, no progress at all since my last post really. Well on Sunday, I decided to take a “quick” break and thread some more heddles. Miss CC decided to play with the warps, they were dangling down in little bundles from the heddles tantlizing her so *smack* *swat* *claw* she went. I saw where this was going. I saw a huge mess of warp hanging from my loom as soon as I stepped away from it. So I kept at it. I kept at it for 4 hours. It was the most beautiful, healing, wonderful, meditative experience I have had in such a long time. So even though most of the time Molly completely interferes in studio process around here, this time she did her job. She helped me to finish dressing my loom. And guess what? By Tuesday early afternoon I had woven through all my warp.

Well crap. What now? I don’t have a warping board. I guess it’s time to make one! I looked around a bit and found this amazing tutorial for how to make one if I had a great woodworking shop. But I don’t so I won’t make it that way. But I think it’s good reference. I think I am going to try this from The Joy of Handweaving (google books you rock!), basically what I was thinking of before I started googling around. I don’t think I’ll make it just like that, but really similar. I’ll take some pictures while I’m making it and post those. If I do anything really different from they way the Joy of Handweaving explains it I’ll write that up too.

Thanks Craft Cat!

+++++++++++++++++++

In other news, today sucked. I try to keep things positive most of the time, but wow, today sucked. No two ways about it.

So first off, I had to work at 8:15, which means getting up at 6:30 and being out the door at 7:20. Which doesn’t happen on any sort of regular basis so I didn’t go to bed until well after midnight.

#1 :: Lack of sleep

Then I wake up, drag myself out of bed, open the bedroom door and get hit with an arctic blast. I look at the thermostat – 52 degrees! I turn on the heater, so cold. Go back for a blanket and wrap it around myself. Stumble to the kitchen to get some tea going — the front door is wide open! “WHERE IS MOLLY!?” I run to the door, comforter in tow, she’s right there on the patio under a chair watching the storm. I pull her inside, shut the door. Open up the ferret cage and stumble to the bathroom.

#2 :: It’s before 7am, pitch black, the front door is open, the indoor craft cat is outdoors, it’s 52 degrees in our apartment. (that’s a whole lot for #2)

I am ready to leave and go to collect the ferrets, WHERE IS SLOANE? was she even in the cage when I opened it. Did she escape outside? Crap crap crap! Where is my ferret baby! Run outside. Look around. No where to be seen. Check all her spots. Nowhere. Crap! I’m going to miss the bus. Run Run Run. Anxiety!

#3 :: Missing ferret, maybe outside. Running late, might miss the bus.

I get to the bus stop, check it. Okay, the bus I need is coming to this stop. I go to get on the bus. My dollar won’t go in the slot. I ask if the bus is transferring to the downtown red line. “Step aside, you are taking too long, just move, I’ll tell you in a second, you are holding every one up!” Ohhhh, crabby bus lady. I felt so awkward being scolded by her. It does, I get my dollar in. Then at the next stop “just get off the bus and get on the other one now, rah, grrrr, crabbiness.” So I grabbed up all my stuff, and ran to the next bus. This lady was much nicer.

#4 :: Crabby bus lady, cold, rain. Bah.

Then work. Work was good, but I had like 5 voids! I just kept messing up ringing chocolates up. Oh well. Then one of my co-workers calls and I say yes to staying an extra 3 hours. Which is fine, I need the money. But a 9 hour shift, even at a chocolate shop, on your feet the whole time in Keds, is tiring.

#5 :: Lots of mistakes; staying later than I thought at work.

Then I get home. We saw some serious signs of ferret activity so, thankfully, Sloane was inside. We found her and she’s just fine and I felt like crying I was so relieved. All day I was imagining her running around outside, scared and wet and hungry and cold, so yeah, relief. Then I settle into answering emails and ect and I got a really snarky comment on craft leftovers. So I tried to email this so and so back and they had entered a fake email. You know, if you don’t have something nice to say, that’s fine, I’m down with the critical criticism. I’m used to it from art school. Just be sure enough in the rightness of what you are saying to provide me with the chance to defend myself. I sure am glad I do comment moderation so no one saw it. It was a pretty serious false accusation that I think was fired off without checking facts. I don’t think people realize that what they say, good and bad, I take to heart. I put a lot into Craft Leftovers. If you say something nice, it makes my day, if you say something mean, it really truly makes me sad. I’m not walmart, I’m not Lion Brand. I’m just me. Kristin Roach. When you comment on Craft Leftovers, you are sending a message directly to me. The sole provider of content. I do everything for Craft Leftovers myself, from projects to graphic design. It’s just me. Sometimes I wish I had a staff of even just 2 people, but I don’t even have enough money to pay myself a living wage (hence the part time job I just picked up).

#6 :: Snarky Comment brought me down.

So that’s my sucky day. It’s now 10:14. There is still an hour to make it better. I’ve started to feel better by getting the post up on Craft Leftovers. A little How To for sewing diy fabric covered buttons onto what they need to be sewn on. And by writing about it hereAnd I had some tea. And I’ve been listing to Bad At Sports, which actually has given me some serious home sickness for Chicago. But I’m more relaxed and motivated to submit some more proposals to Chicago art spaces. And so now, I’m going to weave. I finished my scarf, but I have 8 inches of warp left, so I’m going to play with some twill structures. Oh and Miss CC is on my lap, purring like mad and nuzzling my sweater, very soothing indeed. I think, honestly, I’m just tired. 6 hours of sleep is just not enough for me.

I’ll be back sooner than later. I’ll show off my awesome warping board that I’m making tomorrow. And I’ll show you my plans for my next painting.

Have a good night! I wish you all the best of days for all of times!

Kristin

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This is the drawing I did today, it’s pretty small, the whole piece of museum board is just 2 X 3 1/2 inches. Think business card, but a little longer. It’s of my trusty nikon camera, which I turned around on it and snapped this photo with. Sorry about the quality, but it’s late, it’s dark in here, and I did the best I could and as cool as my camera is, it can only do so much inside at night, haha.

Black calligraphy ink and a calligraphy nib.

I’m finally getting around to replying to the mail I have received from contests over on Craft Leftovers. I’m making all the post cards, so it takes me a little bit to get back to everyone. I hope they like them!

It’s actually the block print that I used for the summer issue of clm. (you can see it as that incarnation in the clm flickr set).

I am pretty excited about my new mail box for, umm, cough, “fan mail” – aka me having a contest and then receiving submissions. Even though I silicate them, I love the mail I get all the same.

Do you want to send me a letter?

Mail to:
Kristin Roach
217 Welch Ave., Suite #101
Ames, IA 50014

This one is my favorite so far:

And just for kicks, look what I found yesterday:

Oh and I posted a How To :: on Potato Stamps over on Craft Leftovers today. I think you would all really like it, so you should go give it a look.

Here is the end result:

She is so cute. A worthless studio assistant, but good for studio moral, so I suppose that’s good enough. She is such a lazy crafter. Haha.

Have a good night!
Kristin

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This was, I think the culprit:

I learned three things making this dish.

1. Broccoli, even if it is the last veggie in the frig, should never be used in a curry.

2. If your coconut milk is separated in the can, and it’s been in the cupboard for you don’t know how long, and it’s past the expiration date, DO NOT USE IT! I’m pretty sure that was what did me in.

3. If you don’t have peanut oil, use some peanut butter and a little olive oil instead. That was the best tofu I’ve made in awhile. Also, I told my friend about it and she said she uses peanut butter and soy sauce, that sounds delicious too!

No going back a clip, here are some pictures of the finished shawl for my mom. I’m posting the pictures up on Ravelry finally too.

I am happy to report that my mom liked it so much I think she just about cried. It was really sweet. The perfect response to a handmade gift! She will be getting more again for sure!

Also, going back to Christmas time, here are the two kitties enjoy their handmade gifts too. They will also be getting more handmade giftage.

The one on the left is Bailey (Jason’s parent’s cat) and the one on the right is Molly (Jason and I’s little bundle of furry joy, she is living with him right now, I miss her). Believe it or not, she used to be a lot smaller than Bailey. We are thinking she is a Maine Coon Cat, or, I can’t remember the name of the other breed we are thinking she might be. She is so furry! I think it’s because of her winter coat, it is so thick!

Skipping ahead, here is my latest obsession:

I found this pattern for a Medieval Cross Stitch Sampler at Stitch Alley. It’s a great site that has really well priced patterns.

I think after I finish the Medieval Sampler, I’ll give this one a shot that has some color variation in it.

I am so digging the cross stitch lately. I got a bug in my bonnet last Friday night and couldn’t stop looking around online until I found a good cross stitch site that was outside of the Subversive Cross Stitch (which I love too) realm. I wanted something a bit more traditional, but not too country crafty. I really like the Christmas one and the Beeotch with the little bees, haha.

I just got a phone call from TCF Organics and set up an account (I had called and left a message earlier today). This place is so cool and if you haven’t heard of them and you live in 100 miles of Chicago, you have to check it out! It’s organic food, delivered to your door! And it’s way cheaper than I could have imagined.

My first order:
One dozen organic eggs that are from a farm in Indiana (i think, in the chicago area by 100 miles I believe) $1.99
A half gallon organic milk in a glass jar from a Wisconsin farm $2.59
Organic Valley Feta Cheese (a staple in my house) 8oz block $4.49
And my favorite part: A Box for Only Me $26.20

This box is really great. The produce changes every time, but this is an example of how much they put in it:
1 Pink Lady Apple
1 Avocado
1 Oro Blanco Grapefruit
1 Lemon
1 Red Pear
1 Mango
1 Eating Orange
½# Cut-Up Broccoli Florets
1 Red Tomato
1 Red Pepper
½# Cut-Up Zucchini Coins
1 Cameo Apple
1 Coral Apple

I have, like most people, a lot of issue with getting all my fruits and veggies in. And I always end up getting the same ones. No good. I think this will help force it on me a bit.

Another neat thing, is that you don’t have to order every week. I set up a repeating order for every other week for the milk, eggs, and produce box (the feta is a one time deal). I’ll probably switch out for a different dairy product each time. The total (even with the feta) is only $36, including shipping! That is about my budget for one week’s worth of groceries. I was thinking that the following week, I would buy things like bagels, coffee, tea, junk food, etc.

Speaking of all this food I need to make dinner (since I don’t trust the curry I made the other night I’m just going to have to pitch it) and head to Joann’s to return an impulse buy, Borders to get my free drink, and to school for an opening and some studio time.

See ya!

++Kristin Roach++

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