Knitiot Savant

This has been a semi-busy week! I've been working on a cute little sundress made out of a great batik fabric. No pics, yet. I just finished serving the edges yesterday so I should have more progress on the dress today. I've also been working frantically on some socks I need to have finished by the end of the month for my Mom. She really loves when I knit socks for her so these really are a joy to work on. I like knitting for someone who not only appreciates the work but will wear the heck out of what I've given them!!

Sheldon was neutered yesterday. He came through the surgery fine. I'm all about spaying and neutering pets but there's always that sense of dread when anyone goes under the knife. He was pretty droopy yesterday but is back to his feisty/crazy self today.

Look for project pics in the coming days! I'll have some, I promise!

Skully

I cut this bag out back in December, I think, then just sort just sort of lost my steam.  But, in a quest to finish the unfinished, I sat down, pulled this sucker out and in a relative short period of time, finished this thing off.  I have to say I'm pretty pleased with it.  I'd originally planned to put a couple of extra pockets in it for extra stuff but decided not to.  Honestly, I tend just fumble around in purses with lots of pockets...as opposed to just fumbling around in a purse filled with crap.  

The pattern is New Look 6984.  I think I originally bought it for the sundress and ended up liking the bag a little better.  

So far, I really like carrying this sucker around.  There's something really satisfying about putting all you junk in a bag you made yourself.  :-)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Fourth

Happy Fourth, y'all!  Don't blow yer fingers off!

Munchies

I like to bake.  I like to eat what I bake.  But I need to be healthier.  Really, don't we all.  Three years ago I made the commitment to be a vegetarian.  I've loved being a vegetarian.  I feel better and I think I look better, too!  Recently, I've challenged myself make most of my baked goods vegan and to make at least 40% of my my meals vegan as well.  I really enjoy the challenge of  that.  At first, figuring out the substitutions was slow and awkward, but I've gotten pretty quick at it.  And, believe it or not, there are tons and tons of vegan junk food recipes out there.  Watch that waist line kids!

You are looking at Chocolate Chip Scones.  Yes, they are vegan.  The recipe is from the book, "The Joy of Vegan Baking."  This book was a gift from a dear friend and I really like it a lot!  However I have to warn you that the recipes call for granulated sugar and granulated sugar is not vegan.  You'll have to look for the vegan version of it in your local store.  It's not too hard to find.  Florida Crystals makes a great one and, if I'm not mistaken, most organic sugars are also vegan.  (Someone correct me if I'm wrong!)  This cookbook was written in 2007 and, at that time, not many folks were aware that granulated sugar wasn't vegan.  (It's processed through animal ash.  Gross, huh?)

These scones are really, really yummy!  I want more!   I'm not sure Sheldon was as thrilled about them as I was.  :-) 

Fashion

My daughter is completely in love with American Girl dolls.  Seriously in love with them.  She got one for her birthday and, on a trip with her Girl Scout troop to the American Girl store in Atlanta, she picked up a second doll using allowance money she saved for months.  These dolls aren't cheap and neither are their clothes!  Fortunately for us I can sew.  I'm not that great at it but I can whack out doll clothes.  And sewing clothes for these guys is a lot of fun and pressure free!

The doll on the left is the doll Lili picked up in Atlanta.  Lili named her Emma, after our beloved dog we lost last July.  Emma is from the My American Girl series.  These dolls aren't historical and are open to anything.  The doll on the right is named Julie and Lili got her for her birthday.  Julie is from the historical series.  Julie is from 1974.  This tickles me to no end.  She has accesories from '74 and Lili is determined to have her clothes reflect that era.  I think that's so cool!!  Both girls are wearing a couple of simple sundresses I made them.  They look ready for a day in the sun!

Next up, a more princess-y look.  Emma is ready for a really fance day!  I had this cute cotton fabric that I'd made a table cloth with and it works well as a simple fancy dress for Emma.  Julie is wearing a little cordurory skirt I made with boots and a t-shirt we matched up from other outfits.  

I don't have the pattern numbers handy for any of these but I'll try to post them next time.  And I'm sure that Emma will be looking a bit more historical.  Lili is completely enthralled by the book "Little Women."  She listens to it as she goes to sleep every night and, as a result, has decided that Emma should go more historical.  I have a pattern for clothes from that era for Emma so I'm pretty sure you going to be seeing a very buttoned up Emma and a super funky Julie.  Should be fun!