heylucy

this and that

It might be time for a numbered list, as I have several unrelated items to post.

1. I'm still slowly going through my fabric. Here is some helpful information if you need to de-clutter your fabric stash (I imagine it would work well for yarn or other craft supplies, too). The only thing I don't agree with totally is the part about doing it all at once. It can be an overwhelming task, and I tend to subscribe to the FlyLady philosophy-you can do anything for 15 minutes at a time.
2. Miep Gies turned 100 this month. I love her story, and all those stories of people like her who helped so many people during World War II. Also, Miep is the cutest name ever.
   This is a good opportunity to once again recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It's not a true story, but still, it's so good, and just joyful, and it has to do with World War II. I think it's my favorite read of the past year.
3. I've been sick all week, so the only studio project I've managed to complete is the hanging of this sweet little clock from Decoylab.
   
4. I completely forgot to mention that the U.S. version of Softies is out (it was originally published in Australia). The new version is called Softies Only a Mother Could Love: Lovable Friends for You to Sew, Knit, or Crochet. It's such a great little book, I'm so glad even more people will get a chance to buy it.
   
   To see more of what's inside visit the Penguin Australia site, you can visit the sites of all the contributors and even upload your own creations to a gallery. I've also amended the Flickr group to include both versions of the book, so please join and show off your softies!
5. Sally came for a visit today while I was puttering in the little house. Please do not notice the dirty floor and scratched up door (you probably wouldn't have if I hadn't pointed those things out). I can't be bothered to vacuum or paint at the moment (see #3, above, for my excuse).
   
   

another check mark

Saturday I devoted my whole day to thrift shopping/antique mall-ing in search of a dresser for the studio. Mission accomplished!

If you'll recall, it was on my Complete the Studio to-do list. Also on the list is Paint the dresser. I'm tired of painting at the moment, and it's been raining for four days, so painting is not going to be a high priority for awhile. I can live with it like this for a good, long while, actually. It would be better if it was a brighter white, to match the walls, but I can deal for now. The shape is just what I wanted, and the size is perfect. I love the handles, and, while I didn't really want anything too shabby chic or distressed, the little painted swags on the drawers are kind of sweet.I also didn't think I needed a side table, but when I saw that little white one for $45 I kind of had to get it, and it turns out that it's really coming in handy.

I managed to thin out my yarn stash, and fit nearly everything in the bottom drawer. There are a few balls of sock yarn in one of the top drawers, and it's so nice that it's all safe from those pesky cats. I decided to display part of my creamer collection on a tray on top.

 

I need to find some small projects for the odd balls of yarn. What do you do when you have leftover yarn or orphan skeins?

Once the dresser was organized I was so inspired by my pretty new space, I worked on some treats for the shop. There's a couple peepers in there right now, and I hope to have some pincushion/needlebook sets by the end of the week. It's so nice to work out there now. It's a small room (barely 10'x14'), but I've got so much of my junk organized and cleaned out that it's just so easy to work. 

 

And, since you haven't seen this fuzzy face for awhile, I leave you with the one and only Winston:

 

I can't take it when he looks at me like that. I had the day off today, and spent it in the studio with the rain and then snow blowing and blustering outside, and I had to let this muddy thing in because I felt sorry for him. I hope my carpet will come clean.

bread pudding

I'm noticing a trend here at HeyLucy. Weekends seem to be full of good cooking lately. I've been stocking my freezer pretty regularly now, and since the weather really turned this weekend, it's a comforting feeling to know that now on those chilly evenings when I get home from work I can pop something really delicious in the oven and have a nice warm dinner. Saturday night Mr. Heylucy and I made albondigas soup, and doubled the amount of meatballs so we could stick a bunch in the freezer. I love soup season! Hopefully Mr. Heylucy will start chopping wood and we can sit by the fire and eat soup. That is one of my favorite things about cold weather.

I also did a little baking this morning. Since starting my healthy eating plan earlier this year, I haven't done much baking, but I thought it was time for a treat, so I made some bread pudding with a loaf of brioche. I thought I'd savor the last of the summer berries, and added fresh blueberries and strawberries. Oh my, it was so delicious and decadant.

Here it is before baking:

And after baking (I wish I had smell-o-vision for you):

It was crispy on the top and custardy underneath, and even though I thought I was a little stingy with the berries while I was making it, there really were plenty, since they sort of melted into it everywhere. Yum.

I worked on some things for the shop too, but didn't finish as much as I would have liked. Still, there are a few things listed and more well underway. I finished my second book, but didn't have time to take pictures, so it won't be there before tomorrow night. I really hope to have a few more pincushions with matching needlebooks added by the end of the week, as well as three little chicks. Meanwhile, I tidied up a sock monkey I made ages ago and added some finishing touches to her outfit, so she is looking for a good home:

And I really like this cushion cover I made. I'd like to make more of these, with different animals and colors:

The bunny is stenciled and quilted. I love toile, but I think it might not be quite as stylish as it once was, so I think this gives it a nice little modern twist. The gardening scenes in this particular pattern made me think of Peter Rabbit. I hope I didn't give these two gardeners nightmares by superimposing a giant bunny on them. He's coming to eat their cabbages!

finishing

One of my big goals for the weekend was to finish all the laundry and put it away. I don't mind laundry, and there's only two of us, so it's not like there's even that much to do, but somehow I always get caught on that last step, you know, the actual putting away of the clean clothes. I wonder what that says about me. Nothing flattering, I think. Honestly, right now I'm pooping out and I don't think the clothes are going to be folded tonight, much less put away, but I did finish a lot of other things, so I'm not going to feel too bad about it. Actually, I mopped the kitchen floor on Saturday, so I'm not going to worry about the laundry at all. Mopping earns you a break from laundry, doesn't it?

As I mentioned before, my Spring Forward socks were easily finished on Saturday. I'm finally getting the hang of the elusive kitchener stitch. The toes on these aren't perfect, but they're the best I've done so far.

I did go up a needle size, from one to two, so they would fit my big feet. I could tell within a couple inches of knitting on the ones that they wouldn't fit, so it was simple enough to undo and start over.

I've also been working away at some items for the shop, and finally got a few done and listed. I'm having a little crisis of confidence. All week I've been thinking of all these great ideas, sketching, making lists and just planning and scheming, but when it comes down to actually adding a listing to etsy I get all nervous and doubtful of my once great ideas. This isn't a pity post, fishing for compliments sort of thing, because I think the only thing that will reassure me are actual sales with positive feedback. Blergh. Okay, I will just act brave and confident, and keep plugging away here in the Hey Lucy workshop. If nothing else, I'm really enjoying myself, going from one activity to the next. A little bookbinding here, a little sewing there, a little drawing and stenciling, and even knitting a tiny hat for a tiny chick.

He's in the shop, all by his lonesome, except for these pincushions, but now that I've worked out the pattern, I'll be making a few more. I think. Or maybe not, maybe no one will like him and I should just go back to the drawing board.

whoa dude

I haven't gotten my copy yet, but thanks to eagle-eyed Belinda, who saw a copy on Sooz's blog, it looks like Softies is coming very very soon. Do you see that? Wow, my little monster is on the cover! I did not expect that at all. Not only that, look how cute the other softies are? Now I really can't wait to get my copy. I'm really really excited now. I can't even type any more, I'm all woozy.

Monsters for Sale

I've been making some more monsters. Meet Nell and Norm. They are available here. Proceeds will of course be going into the tree removal fund. I'm not sure what it is about these little guys, but every little kid I've given one too has just loved them. I got a bunch of wool sweaters during my time off a couple months ago, and I've felted them and started making monsters out of them. I like how the sweater felt is a little softer and squishier than the wool-blend felt I've used here. Nell is actually just back from a trip to Australia, where she was photographed to be included in a book about making softies. How exotic! I've never been there, myself. I might be a little jealous of my world-traveling monster. I like how Norm has a bit of a smirk. If you want to take him home, be sure you're prepared to handle his little attitude problem.

Coming soon, I'm also binding a few books to add to the shop this weekend. Of course, I'll use the opportunity to write another bookbinding tutorial, so be sure to check back in a day or so.

chickie

In between scrubbing the toilet and bathtub, I made something yesterday. A chicken, of course! Although I confess it is not actually my pattern, it's from the very talented Lyn of Molly Chicken. It was a fun little thing to make, and I made it pretty small, she's about 6  inches, not including the comb and legs. I think she will make a good gift for a little chicken loving visitor arriving next week. I can't wait to give it to her!

Later today I'll be making a batch of oatmeal cranberry butterscotch cookies. I didn't mention that I took the last batch to work, and they were polished off very quickly. I heard that someone tried to steal the entire jar, and someone else offered to pay my $5 for 5 cookies. He was dead serious too. So I guess the recipe is a keeper. I thought I'd share it here, so you can be popular with your friends and co-workers too.

Oatmeal Cranberry Butterscotch Chip Cookies   
1 1/2 c. unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. unsalted butter
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3 c. oatmeal (not instant)
2 c. butterscotch chips
1 c. dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Combine butter and sugars until smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture. Stir in oatmeal, butterscotch chips and cranberries. Drop by the spoonful onto an un-greased cookie sheet and bake 13-15 minutes.

 

monster mash

I worked on some monsters yesterday. It was a good activity for the cold, blustery, rainy weather.

This one is on it's way to Pengiun Publishing in Australia, where her pattern is going to be included in a book about softies. How cool is that? I'm pretty excited. I also recently got an e-mail asking me to apply to be in a new book from Lark Publishing about beads and quilts. I better get working on that this week! You know what is the best part about participating in these sorts of projects? Free books, of course! I'm really looking forward to seeing the Softies book.

I also have a blue monster and a green monster nearly complete, and I'll be putting them in the shop, hopefully by the weekend.

Here you can see that the chickens are hoping the fuzzy pink thing is some new kind of food for them:

Poor chucks spent the day under the porch yesterday, it was raining so hard. I think we have a second layer now, though. I got two eggs yesterday, one was sort of pointy and blotchy, which makes me think someone laid their first egg! I just ordered 100 egg cartons, so they better all get to work soon.

monkey

I am having the darndest time taking a good picture of this sock monkey. Out of about 8 shots, this was the best I could do:

I'm not sure if I'm completely done yet. I have some lavender felt, and I might attempt a pair of shoes. What she needs, more than anything, however, is a name. I can't think of anything, I need some suggestions. Please share your ideas in the comments!

As I've been sewing lately, I've been trying to get my clubhouse (aka guesthouse, aka former tack shed) cleaned up a bit. Here's a tiny corner that is all cleaned up and pretty (except for the hideous paint on the walls, I'll get to that someday):

I like those little Chinese pincushions. They come in such great colors.

I got an e-mail yesterday from someone at Penguin Australia regarding a craft book to be published, and they are interested in including my monster pattern. Did anyone else out there in creative blog-land get a similar e-mail? It looks authentic, I'll definitely be checking into it further.

Having recovered from the catfish attack, my dad marched in a parade this week.

palais des poulets

I went and picked up a chicken coop this weekend. And then I ordered 25 day old baby chicks. I'm not quite sure what I'm getting myself into, but I think it should be fun! They won't be arriving until sometime the week of September 25, which is good, because I still have a lot to do. I cleaned off the coop, so I'll be able to paint it next weekend. I also need to build some nesting boxes and put in a pole for them to roost. I'm not showing any before pictures until I can show some after pictures too. It's just too ugly right now.

I packed up Lou, and she's on her way to Washington:

Her new owner's name starts with an 'M', so I added a glittery letter.

I wanted to make more monsters this weekend, but I started working on an outfit for my sock monkey, and didn't have time for anything else:

Since she's still a work in progress I'm not going to worry about the blurry picture, when she's all done I'll try a little harder to take some clear pictures. I think I will be adding her to the shop. Aren't her puffed sleeves cute? And her little handkerchief apron? I didn't get her little purple-ruffled petticoat in the picture, but it's cute too.

My dad was attacked by a Chinese catfish. Yikes! He's okay though.