Who actually finishes things?

Not me, I tell you. I had to throw in the towel on the chair makeover since despite the new fabric being exactly the same shape as the old, it would not go on the chair nicely. It is now sitting next to my computer desk, tempting my rabbit to eat it and me to hide it somewhere until I give up my original idea (a painted woods scene with windows to little dioramas inside the chair) and just get the thing recovered so I can sit in it.

In the meantime, I started yet another knitting project I may never finish, and bought 3 antique sewing machines. A mystery 50's? Home Mark, a Minnisota Model A and a Singer Model 27. The Minnisota will hopefully be going to a friend of mine, once it's decrusted and if I can find shuttles for it and figure out how it's supposed to come out of its cabinet. The Home Mark may become a jig saw, and the Model 27 will be left as a treadle and be used for things my fancy new Kenmore can't handle. All of them need a serious clean and major wood repair, but I'm looking forward to that.

Craftster Challenge #28, Days 1 and 2

This month's challenge is to recraft an old chair. Now, one thing I am not lacking is old chairs, especially since standard precedure in my area is to leave things by the curb, and someone will take them home. The only thing that keeps me from bringing everything I see home is that I drive a small sedan, though I did comtemplate strapping a glorious bright orange 70's recliner to my roof. Sadly, I did not have anything to strap it with.

To the point, my chosen chair for this project was found by one of my former roommates about a year ago, and she let me have it when we all moved out.

It was a little dirty, missing part of leg, and had a few small tears, but otherwise wasn't in bad shape, which is good news. The bones are great, and I don't have to redo the padding.

After about 5 hours of work, I had the back off. Someone was liberal with the staples.

I'm also happy to report, there was only one minor injury (screwdriver and staple to the thumb), which is healing nicely and I didn't bleed on the chair.

On Day 2, after 4 more hours of work, the whole chair was naked.

Excessive stapling? No...

Some of the staples and the evil metal teeth that amazining, I did not injur myself on.

I'm not dead.

Really. A lot of stressful things happened over the last few months, but craftiness continues.

Picking up where I left off, I nixed the Baby Surprise (to be completed at some point for a stuffed animal to wear) in favor of Baby It's Cold Outside from CrochetMe. This pattern is lovely. It was quick, easy, and the one-piece construction made it easy to carry around and finish. Instead of buttons (choking!) I used short pieces of ribbon for the closure.

Then, this

did this.

Yes, that was a sweater. I eventually salvaged the yarn (made easier with the ball winder Brandon got me!) and got nearly to the shoulders, but it's very unflattering. I'm thinking of frogging back and adding a couple more inches to the ribbing. This of course, to be done at some undefined point in the future.

Just in time for finals, the Great Ice Storm of 07 arrived, and I managed to take a good picture in the one moment of sun.

Over winter break I got Estelle all cleaned and oiled and after a bit of a rough start, she stopped throwing her drive band and I spun my first real skein. It's about 40 yards, bulky, mill end wool.

Singles

Plied on a very fully bobbin

Modeled by Estelle

Detail

I also made this shadow box as a gift for one of my roommates who loves peacocks.

Dogmar seemed to like staying toasty in a sweater, so I made her a coat, complete with sleeves I drafted myself.

Then, I got a bunny for my birthday! His name is Bigwig, and he certainly lives up to his namesake, hopping right up to Dogmar like "Yeah, eat me. I dare you." He is a Dutch/Lionhead cross, and I'm hoping to collect his long fur over time.

You can just make it out in this picture, but his eyes are marbled brown and blue. Red eye is from the flash though.

I made a foray into the world of pet treats and made my fur babies presents for Valentine's Day. Chicken-flavored for Dogmar, and banana & cilantro for Bigwig. These took ages and ages to cut out, which is why I have to post a picture.

In May, Brandon and I moved in together and I made a flowerbed in our little backyard. Now I just have to keep it from being taken over by the violets, which are running wild.

I get my own craft room at our place, and I've got to say, now that my yarn stash is all in one place, it seems so small. Clearly I need more.

The other day I finished my dinosaur dress. It still needs a final press, but here it is on Heidi anyway. I think it turned out rather well, especially since I took out about 4 inches in the waistband and the blue knit was much heavier than the dinosaur knit.