tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-241693632024-03-13T03:28:35.193-05:00Skein BrainSporadic commentary on my crafty obsessions. Here you will find dreams of creams, suds and skeins, paper and bread, textiles and beads, die cutting machines, & MTC.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-64531343007656370722010-12-03T10:31:00.005-06:002010-12-03T11:53:08.273-06:00Christmas Tags 2010, Time Holtz InspiredHow do we love thee T!m, let me show you the ways.....<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5229378946/" title="Christmas Tags 2010 A by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5229378946_70d3f1f404.jpg" width="400" height="297" alt="Christmas Tags 2010 A" /></a><br /><br />Top tag was inked with Faded Jeans and Peeled Paint Distress Inks, decoupaged with a vintage clip art which in turn was treated with a good coat of Rock Candy Distress Paint, stamped with snowflakes and those embossed with ZING! blue glitter finish embossing powder, edges roughed up and inked heavily, Picket Fence Distress Stickles run in a dripping line on top for icicles, ribbon attached and a little plastic clip adhered.<br /><br />Bottom tag was well inked with Peeled Paint Distress Ink and then splattered with water droplets, edges distressed and well inked, double stick tape put down top and bottom and Suze Weinberg's Mini Mosaics in Rasberry adhered to tape, 7gypsies red Sommes Gaffer Tape run along center, silver metallic alpha stickers treated with alcohol inks placed on gaffers' tape, and red mosaic stickers run along top and bottom of gaffers' tape.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5228786481/" title="Christmas Tags 2010 B by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5228786481_e86e1831a9.jpg" width="400" height="398" alt="Christmas Tags 2010 B" /></a><br /><br />First tag was inked sprayed with Starfish Glimmer Mist, edges distressed and inked directly with Pine Needles Distress Ink, words stamped out on an AroundTheBlock Tapewriter (this thing is a piece of crap, doesn't advance the tape half the time and you have to do it manually, but I bought into a bunch of cool tapes before I knew this, so I use it from time to time lol), and layered with Grungeboard pieces. I painted the oval with Adirondack's Acrylic Paint Dabber in Bottle and then heavily painted it all over when dry with Distress Paint in Rock Candy. The numbers were inked heavily with Faded Brick Distress Ink and also covered with Rock Candy Distress Paint. The flourish shape was just painted with Adirondack's Acrylic Paint Dabber in Gold.<br /><br />Second tag was painted all over with Plaid FolkArt High Definition Acrylic Paint in Berry Wine. This stuff is truly amazing, a great dimensional paint, you must get some and try it! I used a foam brush (it is a waterbased paint) and after getting a nice thick coating on my tag, just sort of tapped and lifted to get the most dimension from the paint. Make sure it dries thoroughly before continuing, though! This texture is rather bold and can stand on its own, so I kept it simple from here on out. Just added a bejeweled star brad from Karen Foster and some metal alpha embellies attached with star brads.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5228787635/" title="Christmas Tags 2010 C by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5228787635_525b8b3067.jpg" width="435" height="500" alt="Christmas Tags 2010 C" /></a><br /><br />Left tag was first masked with a Tim Holtz Borderline mask and then sprayed with Glimmer Mist. After dry and mask was removed, tag was irregularly inked with Old Paper Distress Ink. Tim Holtz' symphony Tissue Tape was roughly torn and adhered, as was star brad and metal phrase embellie. Lastly, I stamped and embossed Tim's reindeer stamp on Grungboard, inked with Fired Brick Distress Ink, and cut out and attached to tag with dimensional glue dots.<br /><br />Right tag was first stamped with Santa using Staz-On in black, then inked using various colors of Distress Inks. The snowflakes were stamped using white pigment ink and embossed using a very fine glitter powder. Edges were distressed and inked, bronze star stickers and vintage Christmas rosette sticker adhered, BELIEVE stamped in Fired Brick Distress Ink, and finally Distress Stickles in Peeled Paint and Fired Brick used to embellish Santa's hat.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5228788669/" title="Christmas Tags 2010 D by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5124/5228788669_0a9f80d9fb.jpg" width="435" height="500" alt="Christmas Tags 2010 D" /></a><br /><br />First tag was sprayed with Wheatfields Glimmer Mist and edged heavily inked with Tea Dye Distress Ink. Bingo card edges were heavily distressed - even lost a corner there but that works here! - and inked with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink before being glued to tag. Metal alphas were also glued on, as was metal key. Stamp clip art was distressed and attached with foam square for dimension. At the end I thought something wasn't right, so I took the Antique Linen Distress Ink and randomly blotched the bingo card to age it. Much better! <br /><br />Ah, my final masterpiece. I don't even remember which colors of Distress Ink I used, but there were many! First I crumpled up the tag, inked it heavily with Fired Brick Distress Ink, then sprayed with water and let the water move a bit by tipping the tag around. It actually didn't look the way I had anticipated at this point, the red seemed way too dark for what I was thinking. So I went to town and experimented. I ironed it flat when it was dry, then inked up in various colors. I think I used Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, and Faded Jeans. Yeah, lots of color LOL!! I distressed the edges slightly and inked. Attached a vintage clip art piece with the Symphony Tissue Tape, and secured it further with a snowflake brad. Added another clip art piece, attached with two nailhead brads this time. Added a Greetings clip on the side and topped it all off with an elegant crushed velvet ribbon. Oooh la la, la fa la la!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">All these tags were made for the 2010 MJF Christmas Tag Swap. I have three partners so I had to make a bunch!</span></span>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-45250160757739510192010-12-03T10:15:00.004-06:002010-12-03T10:32:43.429-06:00MJF Christmas Apron SwapMade this cutie for Patricia, who collects snowmen and has a red and white kitchen. I searched hgh and low for red and white snowman fabric at my local store, but to no avail. I think that's OK, as this will give that kitchen some festive contrast. Besides, this is one of those nice vintage calicos that are much sturdier than the ones made these days, yet still has a nice drape and isn't too stiff like the lighter home dec fabrics often used for aprons:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5228722473/" title="XmasApronSwap2010 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5228722473_968e8f0b3c.jpg" width="368" height="427" alt="XmasApronSwap2010" /></a><br /><br />And here's a close-up of the pocket corner so you can see those cutie patootie snowmen better:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5229316168/" title="SnowmanCLoseup by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5229316168_585e7f282d.jpg" width="236" height="300" alt="SnowmanCLoseup" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">And yes, ahem, I AM aware that I am making a boat load of posts today. I do not seem to be able to get on regularly with my schedule and all, so I am doing what I can do. I rather do group postings, blocking each topic into another post, than not post at all. I also find that sometimes I am ready to post, pics are all ready and everything, but I am waiting to make sure a recipient has received their giftie before I make it public. By the time I know it has been received, I forget to post!! So bear with me and my feast or famine postings.</span></span>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-39082886882904502532010-12-03T09:43:00.002-06:002010-12-03T10:14:14.577-06:00Duck Tape AdventuresI know everyone else has been riding the duck tape train for years, but I have only recently taken a ride and I must say that I love the rails! Cheap tickets, meandering routes, and scenic views. Happy happy joy joy!!<br /><br />First I started with some woven Christmas stockings:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5199362838/" title="ducktapestocking by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5199362838_8bb29982e0.jpg" width="219" height="400" alt="ducktapestocking" /></a><br /><br />These were real easy and didn't take too terribly long to make, though some time was involved. I actually saw one pictured in the 2010 Joann Fabrics Christmas catalog, and they said instructions were available online, but there were no instructions available so I just made it up as I went (after a nasty note to corporate for their false advertising! they said they would get around to fixing the issue but whatever, I wasn't about to be thwarted by duck tape). I just made non-sticky tape "ribbons" by folding lengths of tape, stick side to sticky side, then weaving those ribbons to create the stocking front. It helps to use strips of blue painters' tape to keep the top and bottom tape strips in place while weaving. For the back, I made a red tape fabric and cut both front and back out in a stocking pattern. Again I used painters' tape, making a large X through the front weaving, to hold it all together while I cut (this was easy to carefully remove from the inside of the stocking when I was all done). I attached front and back using red tape as a seam binding of sorts, then made a white tape fabric cuff and just taped that to the top inside of the stocking. Decorations of holly leaves and berries (highlighted with a silver metallic sharpie!) completed my beauty. These were very well received at both work and within the family - my dear aunt even tried to claim a couple for her own! I didn't let her get away with it, as I used those first two for MJF Christmas swaps, but I did let her abscond with my very first duck tape Christmas ornament. I got the idea for this from the roses folk make from duck tape - they sort of start with a square that's folded into a triangle and a small sticky side is left to adhere the petal to the rose. I just overlapped those triangles, sticking them to a styrofoam ball instead of to each other. The result is smoother than the roses, and I think the result resembles a pinecone. My first was a rather elegant inspired silver and white. Take a look-see:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5229315936/" title="DSCN2111 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5229315936_f1d70ea787.jpg" width="370" height="400" alt="DSCN2111" /></a><br /><br />Isn't that pretty? My aunt has rather old-world elegant decor tastes, so it suites her just fine. And she feeds me real good food a lot, so she can get away with a lot of crafty absconding LOL!<br /><br /><br />I have made quite a few of these since then, trying out different color themes and such. Been using a lot of coupons at the craft store on duck tape! Here's my second, though. I love how it looks, very Christmas-y. Though the unevenly striped candy cane tape is not duck tape per se, it IS made by Duck brand, and it is rather cute, so I used it anyway. Worked fine, too. It's a sort of seasonal packaging tape:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5229316056/" title="DSCN2114 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5229316056_edf13b46a4.jpg" width="315" height="400" alt="DSCN2114" /></a><br /><br />I have moved on for the time being, from stockings and ornaments to table decor and purses, but that will have to wait till later. Their are Christmas recipients out there who I want to surprise!!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-1974235228725040912010-12-03T09:40:00.002-06:002010-12-03T09:43:46.874-06:00Brown Button Reindeer SwapThis MJF swap was my nemesis, my own personal albatross! For some reason, I just couldn't get my creative mojo in order. Talk about block!! I had ideas that I just couldn't bring to fruition, so I finally gave in and did one of these guys the exact same way everyone else did them. Sigh. Conformity just isn't my thing. This pagan soul has never walked the way of the masses, baby....<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5228702255/" title="Button Reindeer by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5228702255_5a048bc1dd.jpg" width="246" height="250" alt="Button Reindeer" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-18734396791710376692010-12-03T09:35:00.001-06:002010-12-03T09:37:11.606-06:00First Christmas Card for 2010I threw this one together rather quickly, as it was just a little note to put in a stuffed stocking swap over at MJF. I adore reindeer and think this cutie came out nice:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5199363314/" title="xmas card 2010 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5199363314_e46384eb6c.jpg" width="408" height="450" alt="xmas card 2010" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-86603729822687357532010-12-03T09:26:00.002-06:002010-12-03T09:34:50.708-06:00November MailartOK, so this is rather old at this point but I was waiting to hear that the recipient got it. This was my first attempt at a never-ending card and I love this technique, there are more of these in my future! Here it it, as each unfolding reveals the next layer:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5198766991/" title="NovMailart1 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5198766991_7a5dc6b1eb.jpg" width="392" height="400" alt="NovMailart1" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5199362300/" title="NovMailart2 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5199362300_e81cf3ef4e.jpg" width="395" height="400" alt="NovMailart2" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5199362538/" title="NovMailart3 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5199362538_ac7ddd5cff.jpg" width="400" height="393" alt="NovMailart3" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5198767481/" title="NovMailart4 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5198767481_7e813a1437.jpg" width="400" height="400" alt="NovMailart4" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-45749808542469487712010-10-30T21:11:00.003-05:002010-10-30T21:36:34.226-05:00Halloween FunI have made a few Halloween papercrafted treats this year. First, my October mail art was a Hello Kitty witch I cut using MTC on my Cricut. I mounted her on a transparency sheet that I had inked up with alcohol inks, and framed it all with a great gothic frame complete with spiders (from the Happy Hauntings cartridge). The final size was big and wonderfully weird:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5130598254/" title="Oct Mailart 2010 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/5130598254_3a500af447.jpg" width="432" height="450" alt="Oct Mailart 2010" /></a><br /><br />Then, I made vampire cards for another MJF swap. these are a slight variation on one I received last year in a Yahoo group swap, I think done by a gal named Valerie. The count's hair is embossed on the Cuttlebug using the twig/branch folder, it makes great hair on die cuts! Unfortunately I couldn't get that embossing to show on my pics:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5129910003/" title="halloweenswapcard2010 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5129910003_f174060376.jpg" width="191" height="250" alt="halloweenswapcard2010" /></a><br /><br />After that I made a bookmark which I LOVED. I am very upset as it seems to have been lost by the postal service, but I was lucky to find the same paper so I will most likely make another just like it for my swap partner. While I am at it, I probably will make myself one too LOL!! The paper elements are off a tag sheet from Graphic 45, and I sponged various distress inks for the background. I used modge podge on the whole shebang, then applied a sticky glitter chipboard fence on the bottom, and topped it off with a melange of fibers:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5130513040/" title="10.10BookmarkSwapMJF by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/5130513040_724c3ae272.jpg" width="297" height="375" alt="10.10BookmarkSwapMJF" /></a><br /><br />Lastly, I made a dozen ATCs for a MJF swap. A few were duplicates, but I photographed each different one. They are done on clear acrylic ATC blanks inked with alcohol inks, modge podged paper elements, and a few other things like googly eyes and bat buttons, that sort of thing:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5130512390/" title="MJF Halloween ATC Swap 2010 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/5130512390_60d573816a.jpg" width="281" height="375" alt="MJF Halloween ATC Swap 2010" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-18164276011142862482010-10-01T23:23:00.002-05:002010-10-01T23:36:52.864-05:00ApronologyI have a newly found fascination with aprons. I cannot possibly ever have a need for all the aprons I seem to crave, so I have been making aprons to give away. The following apron was made for a MJF swap using the pattern found <a href="http://tipnut.com/ripply-apron-pattern-vintage-1951/">here</a>. I made some modifications - I removed the higher row of decorative hem tape as I thought it cut the visual in half unappealingly, and I made it reversible. But I really like this pattern and will most likely use it again. I love this apple fabric so much, it was hard letting this one go!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5035350918/" title="Autumn Apron by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5035350918_14197a44af.jpg" width="400" height="366" alt="Autumn Apron" /></a><br /><br />And here is the reverse side:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5035351002/" title="Autumn Apron, Reversed by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5035351002_8bf4e41448.jpg" width="350" height="333" alt="Autumn Apron, Reversed" /></a><br /><br />And in return I received this <span style="font-style:italic;">stinkin' cute</span> apron:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5042394888/" title="Apron Received from Sue in MO by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5042394888_f8e3b2c639.jpg" width="400" height="346" alt="Apron Received from Sue in MO" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-57431403565127800162010-09-30T23:20:00.003-05:002010-09-30T23:34:36.426-05:00Felted Pumpkin and Paper TreatsI have had <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTpumpkins.html">this pattern for a knitted and felted pumpkin</a> on my to-do list for a while, and when I joined a Halloween Goodie Bag swap on MJF it seemed like the perfect addition. While the knitting went easy peasy, I had a bit of difficulty with the felting. I didn't feel like paying my landlord for several loads of wash to get it all felted, and so I thought I'd do it by hand. Mph! The stitching all stretched out the second it hit the first batch of water. I sort of had a hard time keeping the shaping as it began to felt, though the Lion brand yarn I used did felt well. But the plastic bags called for to stuff the pumpkin while felting blobbed about, misshaping the pumpkin, and the yarn that was supposed to define the sections sort of drifted. I was none too happy!! I finally just took the stuffing out and finished felting empty. Then when it was dry (several days later, sheesh!), I took a matching color thread and wrapped it around the section divisions. I think the final effect is good but I really wonder if the machine felting works better. Still, what a cute little felted joy:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5035329412/" title="Felted Pumpkin by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5035329412_93327e1866.jpg" width="300" height="271" alt="Felted Pumpkin" /></a><br /><br />Besides the banner I previously posted and the felted pumpkin, I also made a few candy containers out of cardstock using my cricut and Make The Cut. The felted pumpkin was tucked snug in a felt bag from the dollar store, and a store bought metal Halloween ornament was placed in a cute witch box I got last year on clearance. A haunted house card topped it all off:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5035329436/" title="Halloween Goodie Bag by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5035329436_c789ce7352.jpg" width="400" height="207" alt="Halloween Goodie Bag" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-5821891702198153002010-09-29T12:20:00.005-05:002010-09-29T12:45:50.978-05:00Halloween Banner<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5035329420/" title="Halloween Banner by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5035329420_c6d6c8ab18.jpg" width="400" height="126" alt="Halloween Banner" /></a><br /><br />Banners seem to be all the rage right now in the papercrafting world, so I decided it was high time I joined the bandwagon. I made my first banner rather piecemeal, as at first I wasn't planning on a banner. Rather, I was just cutting characters from my new Mini Monsters Cricut cartridge for play. I love this one! There are cute monsters as well as a lot of Halloween themed characters. I still haven't made the 3-D haunted house - I read one blogger took 2 hours to make and assemble it! But that's coming as well. <br /><br />So, I had all these paper piecings and was thinking I would make oversized tags with them. But the tags looked too big, and then I realized they would make a cute banner! I cut the basic banner shape using the Country Life Cricut cartridge, because I have it right here and was being too lazy to make a shape myself lol. I like the scalloped edge the cart gives you. For the inside triangle, I just used my paper trimmer to cut a set of matching triangles from printed papers. Then I mounted the monster characters on top and threaded the whole shebang on cute Halloween ribbon. I really like how it came out, and will be making more of these. I am thinking I need one for every holiday, yes? <br /><br />Since I decided to send this banner as part of a Halloween Goodie Bag swap on MJF, I didn't want to tie it up to photograph it. These pics are crummy but you get the idea. At first I wanted to make flower rosettes under the characters, but couldn't figure out how to ship the resultant 3-D banner pieces safely with all the other goodie bag contents, so I stuck with flat this time. My next banner will be for either me or my cousin's boys, both local, so I think I will try rosettes with that one. <br /><br />Here are close-ups to see what the individual flags look like much better - just click on the pics to get a better look:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5035329432/" title="Banner Closeup by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5035329432_e6059bbbf2.jpg" width="400" height="222" alt="Banner Closeup" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5035329434/" title="Banner Closeup 2 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5035329434_9b55606255.jpg" width="400" height="245" alt="Banner Closeup 2" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5035329428/" title="Banner Closeup 3 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5035329428_fa36effeea.jpg" width="400" height="111" alt="Banner Closeup 3" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-27549207136718638182010-09-28T22:44:00.003-05:002010-09-29T12:53:01.707-05:00Tea TimeI have been a tea lover for decades. And what better accoutrement for tea than a lovely tea towel? These were made on huck toweling with a 14 count Aida border. The designs are done in Swedish weaving, also called huck embroidery, and are modifications of patterns I found in <a href="http://store.monksclothandmore.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MC&Product_Code=PB01&Category_Code=HTP">Huck Adventures</a>. Huck embroidery works by passing the embroidery threads under floats on the top of the fabric; the floss never travels to the back of the fabric. It can create lovely geometric designs. I love how these turned out! I made them for yes, yet another MJF swap. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/4901253359/" title="HuckTeaTowels by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4901253359_56db8f336f.jpg" width="400" height="352" alt="HuckTeaTowels" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-63527727255471467602010-09-19T20:53:00.004-05:002010-09-29T12:54:55.099-05:00Bookmarks, BabyIt's really fun to swap bookmarks. They can be as detailed or as simple as you wish. They can be made of paper, fabric, ribbon, raffia, thin plastic or acetate, you name it. A bookmark can be cut, glued, layered, stamped, sewn, woven, knit, crocheted, tatted, and probably other things I cannot even imagine at the moment. And the finished product fits into a simple envelope, no extra postage needed. Besides, we could all use a bit more reading in our lives, right? Consider doing a bookmark swap, it's fun!<br /><br />Here's a tatted bookmark I made for Angie in WA. I find needle tatting easy and restive but weaving in the ends is sheer hell, let me tell you. And this one had a LOT of ends!! Since you use a needle the same thickness as the thread, there just isn't room in there for a couple passes of thread! Despite the finishing aspect, I did enjoy making this one.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/4901839936/" title="TattedMidnightBookmark by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4901839936_4112f00870.jpg" width="500" height="104" alt="TattedMidnightBookmark" /></a><br /><br />The next one went to Mary E. The main cardstock was cut on my Cricut E using a file from <a href="http://wandascrafts.blogspot.com/">Wanda </a>. I love the folded elements and she has a few other files like that. After all the folds were made with the cuts, I backed with a high contrast paper, and finished by whip stitching two sheets of transparencies together with embroidery floss. I think it came out well:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5006847690/" title="folded tag bookmark for Anne E. by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5006847690_2374142427.jpg" width="265" height="400" alt="folded tag bookmark for Anne E." /></a><br /><br />My next bookmark was made with wishful thoughts of winter to come. Of course, by the time it actually gets here, I will be wishing for summer no doubt. I clearly live in the wrong part of the country! I want long springs and autumns, but instead I get severe summers and winters. Ah well. This one has an embossed backing, cut out teacup with a layer to highlight the cutout, distress inked paper layering, gold leafing around the inner edge, and a velvet ribbon. It was missing something so I found the perfect snowflakes: they are actually the negative fallout from a snowflake border punch but they work perfect here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5006845010/" title="winterBookmark by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5006845010_7366cf18b9.jpg" width="169" height="500" alt="winterBookmark" /></a><br /><br />Finally, I leave you with a couple real simple bookmarks. Again, these were cut on my Cricut, but I am sad to say I do not know where the file came from. Both were cut from Coredinations cardstock, embossed with the Cuttlebug, and sanded to bring out the design.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/5006845912/" title="paperbookmarks by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5006845912_5b6510c240.jpg" width="226" height="400" alt="paperbookmarks" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-91894250947502930882010-09-13T19:19:00.004-05:002010-09-29T12:56:07.494-05:00MJF MailartI try not to post pics of anything I have made for swaps until after I know my partner has received their goodies, and then I forget to post! So my next few posts will be catch up. I have been very active on the MaryJane Farms Farmgirl Connection forum swaps. One of my regular swaps is a monthly mail art swap. Each month I send out a piece of mail art to a different farmgirl, and in turn received one of my own from a different farmgirl as well! Here are some of the cards I have sent out for the mail art swaps:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/4901253445/" title="AugMailArtSent by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4901253445_b3cfc500ee.jpg" width="344" height="238" alt="AugMailArtSent" /></a><br />August Mail Art sent to Laura In IL - the treadle belt is actual thread and the base of the design on the left is a partially finished pattern from a tatted bookmark, topped with felt flower buttons<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/4800271741/" title="July 2010 by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4800271741_c2019748fb.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="July 2010" /></a><br />July Mail Art sent to Debra - I just love these trifold cards!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/4800838930/" title="apron Card by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4800838930_21cc150f28.jpg" width="400" height="374" alt="apron Card" /></a><br />May Mail Art sent to Meg in ID - a nod to her mom's apron evangelism LOLCatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-78574884533931848102010-07-01T12:28:00.005-05:002010-07-17T19:13:16.990-05:00New MonthToday is all about remaking soap because my last two batches haven't really worked right. Using tried and true formulations, I have too soft of soap. I am suspecting old lye but today I will be remaking these batches to see. One was a salt bar and at a week old it is nice and hard, but I can still imprint. Usually those little guys are like metal before they even cool completely! Sad thing is, these are for a swap (yikes) that I have to mail out, like, <span style="font-style:italic;">yesterday </span>(GULP!). Trouble always appears under a deadline! And the scents came out fabu, too. OK, off to the soaping dungeon for me!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-54712237286631750592010-06-05T23:35:00.003-05:002010-06-05T23:50:52.023-05:00Three Day WeekendWhile the rest of the American world celebrated their Memorial holiday last weekend, I have mine <i>this</i> weekend. One of the joys of working in retail. So, I am relaxing and just doing what I have to do, but mostly relaxing. Made another batch of elderberry syrup, cooked some peasant caviar, scanned a few patterns and recipes out of library books so I could walk an hour in the heat and return them, mailed out yet another kombucha SCOBY to a loving home, and continued playing with both my Columbia wool fleece and my tatting. A little ADD here perhaps, but hey it's my holiday. I also managed to do the laundry, dishes, and clean the bathroom. Here's some gratuitous crafting shots: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/4673259149/" title="tatted doodles by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4673259149_67618d36b9.jpg" width="275" height="200" alt="tatted doodles" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/4673882378/" title="Columbia Wool Rolags by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4673882378_47c5223bfb.jpg" width="200" height="175" alt="Columbia Wool Rolags" /><br><br></a>From the looks of that chair corner I caught, I really should reupholster my two cane back chairs tomorrow....I even have the supplies....but I won't. I have other plans. Low pressure, no deadline crafty plans. Sleep well!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-19304394071685998342010-06-04T00:44:00.002-05:002010-06-04T00:46:37.397-05:00Seriously?!?OK, I thought blogging daily might be hard, but I thought I could DO it. I lasted only two days? On a technicality?!?!? When you work retail, you tend to define the days not by the clock but by the time between getting up and going to bed. In my world it is still Thursday but the clock says otherwise. Phooey.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-30066168969969662252010-06-02T11:55:00.004-05:002010-06-02T12:15:15.309-05:00Pillowcase SwapI have been joining a lot of swaps on the <a href="http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/snitz/default.asp">MaryJanesFarm Farmgirl Connection</a> forum. It's just a great way to make new online friends, and a way to challenge myself to actually sit down and do the things I love to do. Isn't it funny how time can slip away from us? I have been making better use of all those little minutes throughout the day, now that I have more deadlines to meet LOL. One swap I just finished was a one-on-one pillowcase swap. My partner was Mary, a fellow fermentation fanatic (mmm....say THAT ten times fast!). She has a jewel-toned quilt her mom made her, so I made coordinating pillowcases for her. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/4662071662/" title="pillowcaseSwap by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4662071662_337d450da1.jpg" width="400" height="302" alt="pillowcaseSwap" /></a>Sorry the picture is so crappy, but I had sent them out before I realized I didn't get a better shot. The ruffle and band are on the short end as you would expect, even if my pic makes it look like they are on the long end. I just adore the fabrics used here, and am happy as a clam that Mary liked them so much! <br /><br />I have been making a lot of pillowcases lately, mostly simple with a contrasting band but in happy, bold fabrics. <a href="http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/index.html">AllPeopleQuilt.com</a> is hosting a challenge to American sewers and quilters to make and donate one million pillowcases this year. So far the donations just aren't where they need to be to reach that goal, so if you have some spare fabric, won't you consider this fine cause? The website will give you more info, as well as ideas of where to donate. They even have ready to use free patterns. So come on and get your machine at the ready!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-33891061305057409832010-06-01T21:01:00.000-05:002010-06-01T21:02:42.498-05:00Tatting TasksI have always admired the look of tatting. So, a few years ago I bought several books on tatting, which somehow managed to get placed on the bookcase and I never tatted. I thought about it once in a while, but never got to it. Till recently, it was one of those things I was going to do "someday." Then my recent discovery of all things MaryJaneFarms led me to watch a short video on needle tatting. Wow. None of that silly shuttle maneuvering, needle tatting is EASY. I knew how to make the tatted stitch in less than 5 minutes. Seriously! Of course, I already crochet and knit, which might help in visualizing it, but needle tatting is ridiculously easy for the beautifully lacy effects it produces. Here's a bookmark I made as my first project:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/4662071596/" title="tattedBookmark by Skein Brain, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4662071596_ff1f8a144c.jpg" width="500" height="115" alt="tattedBookmark" /></a><br />Took all of maybe an hour and a half? I have a new hobby here LOL. This bookmark was done in the ring and thread method. I have started a medallion in the ring and chain method and will share that soon!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-39948133990402187022010-05-31T20:32:00.002-05:002010-05-31T20:38:44.152-05:00Bloggy BusinessOK, so I realized that all those old knitting posts had links back to the long defunct Geocities for photos, so I just erased all that. If anyone ever wants to see something, let me know and I'll take a new pic LOL. But I think no one ever reads any of this as I haven't been very good about posting. SO, in that vein, I have decided to join NaBloPoMo for the month of June. The idea is to post every day for a month, to get yourself in the habit of posting. Lord knows I have been up to enough crafty, arty, creative endeavors to fill any blog!! But getting them down in type and taking pics and getting them uploaded, well, that's been a real challenge for me. So I am throwing down the gauntlet here and letting the wind take it where it will! Hope to see you all again soon.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-46876844543438307122010-05-11T11:27:00.012-05:002010-05-11T11:52:26.123-05:00What I Have Been Up To LatelyJust some random things I have been doing.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIn7YCUVAaJGPRy5d-6SRIus8VGkGfWeh0yzMIij3X1xZ5RTEO0Dzj_BazLVs40fkL4_7BqfVjQhAy_6vtFDo63cR6D93iuE-Ye09XBlmnuJ47xINrdaEO2TwGoc_Y22ltdZ19Q/s1600/CardShowerApril2010.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIn7YCUVAaJGPRy5d-6SRIus8VGkGfWeh0yzMIij3X1xZ5RTEO0Dzj_BazLVs40fkL4_7BqfVjQhAy_6vtFDo63cR6D93iuE-Ye09XBlmnuJ47xINrdaEO2TwGoc_Y22ltdZ19Q/s200/CardShowerApril2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470050830717527778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrLjfwJHMoGDVIJuF5yd69GFK0G2kDd4j-432RTsgoIIi1wpgkRxH3mCnIsJ_mEdB0GapyjV0JigbTKIm3dduIFC4UwVyUgkfLSF4mQC42Kss1Es817rNJcuksR95bw9tn9I59w/s1600/DSCN1716.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrLjfwJHMoGDVIJuF5yd69GFK0G2kDd4j-432RTsgoIIi1wpgkRxH3mCnIsJ_mEdB0GapyjV0JigbTKIm3dduIFC4UwVyUgkfLSF4mQC42Kss1Es817rNJcuksR95bw9tn9I59w/s200/DSCN1716.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470052312411308978" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulOA1RLuxStX9sXuU4T30gyOPaQEQIE2DuarwzL4iQqxcLusyxbxwQTmRi5smDIxNurhNyNi4MRZ-7ml85a_6kmOWishSkdRwqAZWQX7LGJWQaFNs34xgxy3KzgkXOZvxbmLtSQ/s1600/DSCN1809.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulOA1RLuxStX9sXuU4T30gyOPaQEQIE2DuarwzL4iQqxcLusyxbxwQTmRi5smDIxNurhNyNi4MRZ-7ml85a_6kmOWishSkdRwqAZWQX7LGJWQaFNs34xgxy3KzgkXOZvxbmLtSQ/s200/DSCN1809.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470052852908507410" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yz5uQF8pl6th-Xu72kqwlq9pUWQ87l1d5x-Oq99hZN0XXLfpfxFatyGzY8S0UtstmaCN3CoWv75CwBmBZXCxl814_cKMFMWcbaIDMshzCen5RCGLe8cQ0cSXfRggIAxdTUcwdw/s1600/DSCN1834.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yz5uQF8pl6th-Xu72kqwlq9pUWQ87l1d5x-Oq99hZN0XXLfpfxFatyGzY8S0UtstmaCN3CoWv75CwBmBZXCxl814_cKMFMWcbaIDMshzCen5RCGLe8cQ0cSXfRggIAxdTUcwdw/s200/DSCN1834.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470053372574361954" /></a><br />Nothing beats homemade bagels! Gives you lots of energy for crafting LOL. I have been making a lot of cards lately, and I just finished a set of quilt blocks for a swap. I need to work on getting much better at my accuracy on piecing, though....a lot of the patterns I would like to do in the future are even harder and I had trouble with that star. The centers started out fine and I sort of lost it as I worked out toward the edges. I pieced it using my Singer 66-1 treadle, which was cool. And lastly, after two years of training, I FINALLY got rocket speed on Virus Buster!! 3135 is now my best score WOO HOO!!!!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-1041554859762814522009-06-29T12:57:00.010-05:002009-06-29T13:49:21.579-05:00The Bread Baker's Apprentice ChallengeAbout a month and a half ago, <a href="http://pinchmysalt.com/">Pinch My Salt</a> issued <a href="http://pinchmysalt.com/2009/05/14/the-bread-bakers-apprentice-challenge-has-begun/">a challenge</a> to all bread makers to join them in a quest to bake all the breads in Peter Reinhart's <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bread-Bakers-Apprentice-Mastering-Extraordinary/dp/1580082688">The Bread Baker's Apprentice</a></span>. I was just starting to get my feel wet with sourdough breads, and really liked the idea of joining. I have gotten the book from the library before and just never got around to buying it, so this seemed like a good time. I am a big fan of Reinhart, as he really loves what he does and does it really well. So I ordered my book and began! I am a bit behind everyone else, of course, but it's not a race. Just a way to motivate us to make the best bread possible. In fact, I have already decided that after I am done with this book, I will be buying Reinhart's <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Reinharts-Whole-Grain-Breads/dp/1580087590/ref=pd_sim_b_2/191-5076601-8252947">Whole Grain Breads</a></span> and working through that book as well. Along with my occasional forays into sourdough, I think I will be baking a LOT of bread in the next year!<br /><br /><div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/3668590390/" title="Anadama Bread"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3668590390_8c77c71bb5_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"></span></div>Here's what I have done so far. The first bread in the book is Anadama, that quintessential eastern American bread. I was lucky enough to be able to procure some freshly stone ground cornmeal from the<a href="http://www.grauemill.org/"> Old Graue Mill</a> to use in the Anadama bread.<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/3668590398/" title="Crumb of Anadama Bread"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3371/3668590398_1c759f570c_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>Reinhart uses a soaker for the cornmeal and a sponge as well to get the darn best Anadama bread I have ever tasted. While the color make the crumb look denser than it is, I assure you this was light and fluffy sandwich bread. It made me look forward to the rest of the book, that's for sure!<br /><br /><br /><div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/3668702668/" title="Artos"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3595/3668702668_55775ebcf8_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"></span></div>This is the second bread I made for the BBA challenge. It is Artos, described as a Greek Celebration Bread. Reinhart offers several different versions of this, using a base dough and altering slightly the leavening, the spicing, added various dried fruits and nuts, and altering the final shaping to recreate the traditional Greek breads of various religious holidays. It is a subtly complex flavor enriched with oil, eggs, and milk. Yummo! I chose to make it with cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cloves, and also used dried orange rind and acacia honey. Since I have two healthy sourdough starters, I chose to make this with my Russian starter instead of the commercial yeast based poolish. <div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/3668702676/" title="Crumb of Artos"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3668702676_0710bbef25_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"></span></div>I glazed it with his recipe, using acacia honey and orange extract, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. This was another great hit. I will make this again soon, using the more traditional Greek spices of mahlab and mastic, which I was only able to procure after baking this batch. I also want to try one of the more fancy shapes. I am struggling with shaping bread dough and just need more practice I guess. I overhandled this one and I think it helped contribute to a thin layer at the bottom of the loaf that didn't rise as well as the rest of the loaf. I also overproofed the bulk fermentation. Yet despite this thin layer, the bread was wonderful and I think is a great choice for housewarming gifts.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-45541844828453922242009-06-27T23:05:00.010-05:002009-06-29T12:57:37.525-05:00SCOBYISMIt's my newest thing, I am now an offical scobyist. SCOBY stands for a <span style="font-weight: bold;">S</span>ymbiotic <span style="font-weight: bold;">C</span>ulture <span style="font-weight: bold;">O</span>f <span style="font-weight: bold;">B</span>acteria and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Y</span>east. The term is most often used to describe the culture which ferments kombucha tea, but there are other SCOBYs out there. Kefir grains are SCOBYs, as are sourdough starters. There are counter top yogurt cultures and some cheeses that are cultured using SCOBYs. Each SCOBY type has a different, unique group of yeasts and bacterias. Some great foodstuffs out there are made with SCOBYs and I am trying to do my part to grow and support them!<br /><br /><div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/3668702664/" title="Russian Sourdough Starter"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2448/3668702664_11ba1544e6_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"></span></div>I have been getting rather serious about breadmaking lately, and I currently have not one but two sourdough cultures going. One is a Russian starter that a generous soul sent me. It has a mild flavor and is fast acting. The other is what I consider a more traditionally American one, with the flavor potential that I think of as typical sourdough. I got it from <a href="http://home.att.net/%7Ecarlsfriends/">Carl's Friends</a> and it is an 1847 Oregon Trail starter. Both are giving me great bread and pancakes, which you will be reading more about later. While most folk know that a sourdough starter is a yeast factory of sorts, most still seem unaware that the starters are just as importantly cultures of bacteria that have evolved to cohabit intimately with their given yeasts. The bacteria, in fact, are what give a starter its characteristic flavor and level of sourness, not the yeast. But certain yeasts work best with certain bacteria. It's as delicate a dance of nature as exists between honeybees and lilacs - each supports and protects the other. In many sourdough cultures, the bacteria and yeast eat different and opposing forms of sugars in the grains on which they grow, and some bacteria have been shown to actually produce antibiotics to kill off opposing bacteria that would inhibit not just themselves, but more importantly, their fellow yeasts. We humas can learn a lot from these "simple" lifeforms.<br /><br /><div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/3672631022/" title="Water Kefir Grains Taking on Color of Sugar Used During Fermentation"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2440/3672631022_1236e5e609_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Water Kefir Grains</strong><br /></span></div><br />Whereas sourdough SCOBYs generally will appear as thick batter or dough, kefir SCOBYs are small grains. Water kefir grains are translucent, but can absorb color from various liquids used, such as grape juice. They look somewhat like soft edged crystals. <div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/3672631034/" title="Milk Kefir Grains"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/3672631034_b1fb3c6ef3_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Milk Kefir Grains</strong></span></div>Milk kefir grains, on the other hand, are opaque. As they grow, they develop small cauliflower like surface nodules. Whereas sourdough cultures ferment grains (mostly wheat) to raise bread, kefir grains ferment liquids and the sugars in those liquids. Milk kefir is a pleasantly soured milk product made by putting grains in milk until it is fermented. Unlike in breadmaking, the kefir is not cooked, and the nutritional value of the reproducing bacteria is added. Kefir is a natural, probiotic food. It also allows milk, a highly perishable product, to go much longer without refrigeration. It can be substituted for sour cream or buttermilk in baking, and easily replaces ice cream or yogurt in fruit smoothies. I also love to just mix it with applesauce for a refreshing treat, like a thick milkshake.<br /><br />Water kefir shares many but not all the microorganisms in milk kefir grains. Water kefir grains are added to sugar water, along with dried and/or fresh fruit, to produce a tasty fermented drink. One can get a nice, gently carbonated beverage with some practice. While perhaps not as strong a probiotic as milk kefir, it does have important probiotic value. It also allows for more variety in the finished food product. I personally have been brewing my water kefir with dried apricots, fresh ginger root, fresh lime or lemon slices, and using evaporated organic cane sugar. It comes out as a tarter version of really, really tasty ginger beer and everyone who's tried it has liked it.<br /><br /><div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/3668702682/" title="Kombucha SCOBY"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3313/3668702682_00f70898a3_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinbrain/3668702682/">Day 4 of Kombucha SCOBY</a></span></div> The last SCOBY I want to talk about is kombucha. This SCOBY is a rubbery looking and feeling pancake that grows to the size and shape of the container used to ferment it. Not the whole container, mind you! Sweet tea is what it ferments, and the SCOBY floats, sinks, or otherwise hangs out in the tea for at least a week or so. A new SCOBY will grow on the surface of the tea as fermentation proceeds. So the new SCOBY will reflect the size and shape of the top surface area of the tea in your container. The yeasts can grow variously, giving the SCOBY lumps and bumps and discolorations, but sometimes the SCOBY looks very smooth, shiny and off white. The new SCOBY, at the end of fermentation, can be peeled off the original if it is attached, and both can be used to ferment a new batch of sweet tea. The resulting tea is another live, probiotic raw food. After fermentation, komucha tea can be flavored in various manners. Folk differ on how tart or sweet they prefer kombucha tea, and what flavors they prefer, but almost all will enjoy it once they fine tune it to their tastes. It generally sells for $4-6 for a single serving bottle at health stores, so brewing your own is a no brainer.<br /><br />The wonderful thing about SCOBYs is that, with just a little TLC, they will reproduce infinately, giving us nutritious foodstuffs along their way. And once you get your colony of yeast and bacteria happy, they will reproduce, giving you SCOBYs to share with loved ones.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-1164167143850442402006-11-21T21:32:00.001-06:002010-05-31T20:26:46.117-05:00MusingsI am coming to terms with the fact that the year is quickly drawing to an end, and I have finished very little knitting. I have started a handful of projects, swatched a lot, but haven't actually finished much of anything all year. I believe I have joined the denizens of fiber fanatics, those who covet the touch, look and smell of good yarn just as much as the process of actually knitting with it. For you see, my stash has grown exorbitantly this past year, despite the lack of actual knitting. This used to bother me, but I think I have made peace with my inner fiber addict. I will let her roam as much as my bank account will permit, and in exchange, maybe she will let me spend a bit more time knitting in 2007. This is, I believe, a fair exchange, and I am hopeful about our future together.<br /><br />My disgust at my lack of finished projects has prevented me for posting in a long time.....I was waiting for an actual FO. Then, when I finally managed to cast off on a baby blanket I made for my boyfriend's grandson, I forgot to take pictures! GRRRR!! We are joining said grandson and his family for a Thanksgiving breakfast, so I am hoping to snag a few pics of him and his new blankie at that time. It really is a wonderful blankie fabric, knitted in a ripple pattern with Sidar's Snowflake Chunky Magic, in a pale blue and white self-striping polyester chenille-like yarn that is the cushiest yarn I have ever felt that happens to be 100% machine washable. The PERFECT baby blanket yarn, especially for the mom who will not handwash anything. Say tuned for more regular updates....Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-1151113739891349002006-06-23T20:19:00.001-05:002010-05-31T20:27:56.438-05:00Color DietDespite my best laid plans to stop accumulating yarn, I have managed somehow to come into possession of several more sock yarns. All this winding of skeins into neat little center-pull balls on my nosti has become a bit awkward, so I finally invested in an umbrella swift. Gosh, I wish I had this all along! It makes things so much easier and the whole process smoother. Modeled on my lovely swift is <em>Lynette </em>sock yarn from <a href="http://www.ruby297.etsy.com">Ruby Sapphire Yarns</a>, in dark and dusty shades of purple and green. I went a little wild and bought three skeins of sock yarn from Ruby Sapphire. <em>Alex </em>is real purty shades of green, while <em>Angel </em>is a mix of golden browns. Ah, to be drenched in a mist of fine color.....<br clear="all"><br /><br />I also acquired two skeins of sock yarn from <a href="http://www.colorfullife.etsy.com">It's A Colorful Life</a>, <em>Baby Girl</em> and <em>Cool Ocean</em>. These will make such nice summer socks! For next summer, of course, as I am collecting yarns so much faster than I can knit them. But I have put myself on an official yarn diet. I have decided to partake in the festivities of Stitches Midwest this August, and I am starting to save up for it now. I am looking forward to spending too much and getting beautiful yarns. I will probably be able to make it to August without buying more yarns only by fondling my current stash frequently, letting the waves of color wash over and restore me. Food may fuel the body, but color feeds the soul!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24169363.post-1150074776143515352006-06-11T19:52:00.001-05:002010-05-31T20:29:28.707-05:00Yes, I'm finally knitting.....I am finally spending more time actually knitting rather than buying yarn and books and just reading about knitting! <br /><br />I have returned to the "Easter" Crusoe sock that did not fit, and have a couple inches of the reknitted foot done on that. It is <em><strong>so</strong> </em>painful to frog! Here's proof that I am actually back working on this, my personal albatross of spring:<br /><br clear="all"><br><br />Also, I am working on the Besotted Scarf, mostly while being driven around town, or while watching movies with my sweetie. I find that it's easy knitting and doesn't take a lot of concentration. I really do not think the yarn I'm using gives enough definition to the cables, but my guy thinks it is just fine and it's his scarf, so I'm prodding ahead. The colors are real nice and it's fairly soft, too. If anyone comments on the somewhat fuzzy Xs and Os, I will simply inform them that it's a semi-Besotted scarf - all the love, only partial public demonstration.<br /><br />Despite my troubles with Crusoe and fingering sock yarn, my passion for hand knitted socks goes unabated. I joined the Yahoo group <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/For_The_Love_Of_Socks/?yguid=186463570">For The Love Of Socks</a> and have begun one of the two chosen patterns, the <a href="http://www.knitlist.com/97gift/aransocks.htm">Aran Braid socks</a>. My first attempt was with some beautifully tweedy yarn from Garn Studio, called Silke-Tweed. It is 52% silk and 48% Lambswool, and is a dark oatmeal and cream color. I really liked the idea of doing an aran braid in this yarn, made me think of the British Isles and native knitting traditions and colonialization and all that sort of thing. But as you can see in the first photo, the tweed obliterates the visibility of the braid at this scale. Sigh. I mean, can you even <em><strong>tell </strong></em>there's a braid in there? Really, it's there, has five ribs and everything. Quite lovely in person, if you hold it up to your nose and squint rather hard...<br /> This yarn will resurface in a lace sock pattern at a later date. For now, I am sticking to the pattern but I have switched to perhaps another dubious choice - when will I ever learn? This second photo is Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece, in Putty. It's sort of splitty for socks (using size 0 dpns to get gaugue) and they will be thicker socks, but I am loving it anyhow, so there! The 80% cotton, 20% wool will breathe nicely I think, and the braid is showing lovely this time. Onward!!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01400711352397693894noreply@blogger.com0