Pretty Pettals

In the Spring issue of Stitch Magazine I found the wonderful bag pattern. Designed by Rebeka Lambert of Artsy-Craftsy Babe and Etsy.  I have used Beki's patterns before and sold quite a few of the pleated shoulder bags.   That said, knew I could make this bag.  Her patterns are to the point with lots of great photos.

Off I went....I changed the type of applique to the turn and fuse method and added a zipper on the top rather than the fold-over snap flap. 

Oh...also a zip pocket on the inside and a beaded zipper pull on top.  

I wanted to list my new baby in my  etsy shop , but could find no license offer or permission to make and sell this bag.  Emailed Beki...and she said go ahead.  Several things are important here:  first, always ask permission to use anything that someone else made (photos, items from patterns you did not create, etc.)  This is understood.   Second, definitely give credit.   Always. 

p.s.

p.s.  why are there these large black spaces showing up at the bottom of each post.  In draft..not there.  I publish there is the big blank thing.  Anyone know?

Ack..Woot - what kind of bird call is that?

It is getting to me....having an on line shop meant you need to market online.  I am overwhelmed with it all.  I think I am anoying my facebook friendsand twitter is a mystery.  I mad an effort to look at feedburner and received: 

There has been an error of some kind. Ack!

well, I feel the same way about all of you!  People are typing 'woot' at me and then going 'ack'.....  I do not know what a 404 error is, but if I promise not to do it again maybe I won't have to try and figure out follow friday.

 

 

The Tempest

The Tempest,
originally uploaded by cherry house quilts.

This stunner from Cherry House Quilts...please click on the photo and the link to see more. 

Solitary Gourmet!

OK, so last night Garth was out of town, and I went on an experimental spree in the kitchen.  I felt like pleasing and teasing my tastebuds.   Kind of wanted a cheeseburger, but since we are a red-meat-free-zone at our house, I got creative. 

There was this HUGE melon, that I could in no way eat all by myself.  Chopped it up into pieces and put it in the blender.Whizzzzzzzzzz......taste....needs   something.  Added some honey.  Good....poured into glass...too oopy and thick...added lemon juice and a dash of ginger beer.  NOW let me tell you, boys and girls, this was to die for!!!!

Beverage situation ok...then the cheeseburger. 

Here is what I did:  found CowGirl Creamery Red Hawk cheese from our last trip to the coast.   Put that on a wheat roll and made a portabello burger with a teeeeny bit of garlic-mayo-poupon sort of aoli.  

Regular salad, but added some basil and snow peas from garden.

Set up a TV tray and watched a re-run of CSI-SVU!  It was yummmmmmo. 

 

Hemp, from hippie to hip

The issues surrounding of the plight of the hemp industry really has me upset.   Beyond the fact that I my money ends up overseas so that I might eventually obtain hemp to make  purses and bags for my Etsy shop,  there is the incredible frustration with our federal laws.  As we know it is illegal to grow industrial hemp in the United States.  Industrial hemp is NOT marijuana.  Hemp is one of the most earth-friendly crops on the planet!  Legislators simply do not want to hear it.  When evidence is presented...another excuse for the ban is produced.  The latest one is that growers will sneak marijuana in their hemp fields and cause a drain on law enforcement. Since the two plants cannot grow together due to totally differing agricultural requirements and the marijuana would contaminate the hemp crop and ruin the production of fiber I fail to see the problem.


Is there a huge cotton lobby in this country?  Or in California, for that mattter?  California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) last Friday vetoed a bill that would have allowed California farmers to grow industrial hemp. Sponsored by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), Assembly Bill 1147 would have defined industrial hemp as an agricultural crop, limited its THC content to less than 0.3%, and mandated annual testing of fields to ensure content limits are met.

Hemp, from hippie to hip - Los Angeles Times
(courtesy Independent Media Center)

In his veto message, Schwarzenegger said the measure conflicted with federal law and would have made it more difficult for law enforcement to monitor illicit marijuana crops. While he acknowledged recent successful court battles waged by the hemp industry, Schwarzenegger said "no court has specifically ruled that a live cannabis plant is a non-controlled substance or that farming these plants is not a regulated activity.

Schwarzenegger fell for the standard US police excuse that allowing hemp production would make it more difficult to stop outdoor marijuana grows: "Finally," he said, "California law enforcement has expressed concerns that implementation of this measure could place a drain on their resources and cause significant problems with drug enforcement activities. This is troubling given the needs in this state for the eradication and prevention of drug production."

Oddly enough, police in countries where hemp farming is a legal and productive part of the economy don't seem to have any problem distinguishing between industrial hemp and marijuana.  For the abstract of a paper by by David P. West, Ph.D. please follow this link. 

Soy Fibre 101....

I have a t shirt that is so soft and wrinkle free I was amazed when I looked inside and found it was made of soy!  I googled it and look what I learned: 
Soy protein fibre (SPF) is the only plant protein fibre. It is made from the soybean cake. The residue after extraction of the protein is used as stockfeed. SPF has the physical properties of synthetic fibres. Fabrics from SPF have the following features:

• Lustre. Soybean protein fibre has the lustre of silk with excellent drape.
• Comfort. The fibre is soft, smooth and lightweight.
• Absorbency. Soybean protein fibre has the same moisture absorption as cotton and better moisture transmission than cotton.
• Easy dying. The original colour of soybean protein fibre takes dye well and is colour fast.
• Strength. Soybean protein fibre has higher breaking strength than wool, cotton, and silk, but less than polyester fibre.
• Shrinkage. Soybean protein fibre will not shrink when washed in boiling water.
• Easy care. The fabric is anti-crease, easy wash and fast drying.
• Antibacterial.; Soybean protein fibre has antibacterial properties that resist colibacillus, staphylococcus aureus and candica albicans. Fabrics made from soy protein fibre and linen or other fibres are ideal for functional underwear and summer wear.

Because soybean protein fibre is sine, soft and smooth as well as absorbent it is ideal for products that are worn close to the skin such as underwear, sleepwear, sportswear and children's and infant's clothes, bed sheets, towels and blankets.

When soybean protein fibre blends well with other fibres giving more features. When mixed with cashmere it provides a smooth quality as well as increasing the easy care properties. As a wool / soy protein fibre it reduces shrinkage and increases ease of care. As a silk blend it improves the properties of silk and prevents the fabric from sticking to the skin when wet.

Now tell me, would you want anything else next to your baby soft skin? Not me...I am off to find more wonderful things to wear from this natural miracle fabric.