Slinky I Cord

I cords are so useful.
I recently made some for a Mdvanii sheath and came up with a method to make them a little softer and slinkier and more suitable for a 1:6 strap.

Cast on 2 stitches.
Slip first stitch, knit second stitch.
Turn work.
Slip first stitch purlwise, purl second stitch.
Turn work.
Repeat ad nauseum.

(Originally posted at Petit Tricotage.)

Three Shape Sorting Box

At Michael Olaf
Or here for less.

Scented Geraniums

Variegated Nutmeg Geranium
Pelargonium x fragrans 'Variegated'
Uses: Culinary/Aromatic Duration: Perennial (hardy in zones 10-11+)
Attractive variegated version of nutmeg geranium with the same strong nutmeg scent.

Design Sponge's article about Susa Farms
And the feature by Studio Choo/Small Stump

UPDATE: It smells soooo good. Spicy and, yes, like nutmeg.

Tentacles, Part I

So blame it on my trawling around Flickr, Etsy, and the usual haunts but I have reinvigorated my enthusiasm for cephalopods and other tentacled creatures.

Check out the work by Wunderkammer. I like that she stays true to life without getting all Disney/Cutesey/Anime. This means, essentially, that the eyes are in the right place and not necessarily in the best place for a cartoon franchise. But the name, crocheted Cuddlefish (for Cuttlefish), does make me smile. I must add the pattern to my archive.

Dooptheory has some exquisite little octopi and squids.
I am so tempted to buy one but haven't come up with a solid justification just yet. Her design is her own and very cute while not straying far from reality. I am so tempted to commission a red, red, red one.

Image by Dooptheory
Partly to blame for my renewed interest is stumbling across Tokkyu2222 Takoyama.
His Octopi are exquisite and BIG.
When I am rich(er), I would like to commission him to do one.

Image by Tokyo2222

And while not cephalopods, Ugly Gerbil's Cthulhu Babies do have tentacles galore. I find their single, glaring eye irresistable. I confess that a red one is in the mail.

Trims Stores

Mokuba for lots and lots of trims.

Trophy Wife

Image by Yellow Owl Workshop

Get it here from the designers.
You can also find it at Branch.
Or you can get it with flowers (for a great deal more) at Studio Choo.
Did I mention that I love Studio Choo?

Stockmar

Image by Stockmar
Buy them here.
Inspiration.

Machine Appliqué

Tutorial with a zipper foot at Soft Expressions
Remember ...

• Set your sewing machine at 20-25 stitches to the inch (on metric machines this is close to 0)
• 1/2 to 1 zigzag width

Gurhan

Especially when he uses coloured stones.


All images by Gurhan.

Wellies

Image by Hunter
If the garden is a huge success ...
If the rain is worse than ever this year ...
If I live in the country again ...
If I win the lottery ...
(The queen wears them apparently. The price is an indicator.)

Egg/Constellation Night Light

Image by J. Schatz
For the Baby's room.
Yeah.

Heuchera

Carmel Heuchera image by Park Seed Garden Journal

What
Here

Polyvore is Fun

B is for Balcony by Uyek featuring Liberty of London accessories

Canisters

Orla Kiely's Beautiful Pear Canisters for Target (discontinued)

... you can still pay through the nose for them here.

Or try a DIY version here.

UPDATE:

It's A Good Thing

I already have a very good sewing book. I do not need another sewing book. But this one is by Martha Stewart! And while there might not be anything in it that is not already discussed in my own very good sewing book, hers are always so pretty. They make me want to recreate the beautiful, serene, highly organized, and tidy environments pictured in her books and magazines. It is a good thing to have aspirations/delusions.

Now, what other very good sewing books do I not need?

28.iv.10 UPDATE: I was able to leaf through this at Barnes & Noble yesterday. It is definately very, very pretty. But it did not seem to be any better, contentwise, than my own sewing book. I am removing the "wish" tag.

Gardening Guidance

I so do not need another gardening book but this one has my attention. Gayla Trail's website, You Grow Girl, is such a joy to read: informative, inspirational, motivational, humorous. I will take a peek at the book before I buy it but if the website is any indication, it should be great.

DIY Duvet

Design Your Own Duvet at In Mod

Metallic Dragées

Irresistable.

Dipped Silver French Dragées Longuettes with Almonds
Dipped Gold French Dragées Longuettes Almonds
Silver/Gold Foil Jordan Almonds

From Wikipedia:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers the metallic-finish dragées to be inedible, and are sold with a notice that they are for decorative purposes only. Early in the 20th century, the silver finish may have contained mercury (it does not now). The sale of these dragées was banned for some time. Although the metallic-finish dragées can be purchased in 49 U.S. states, they are no longer sold in California due to a 2003 lawsuit against several sellers.[2] However in other countries (including the United Kingdom) they are classed as food items.

Tsk, tsk.

Container Gardening

Grow Bag

Liberty of London

So, it is all I can do to visit the fabric store and walk past the Liberty of London bolts without buying anything. Which brings me to the moral of this post. When Target partners with a wonderful design house like Liberty, I really need to pay better attention and buy something instead of waiting for them to sellout and appear on the secondary market at a huge mark-up (Orla Kiely is another example).

Case in point: these gardening gloves in what they call the Sixty Print.

There is a watering can too. It looks cute but may not be the most ergonomic.

Ergo the ergonomic watering can ...
It is a beautiful colour but maybe not the sexiest design. But it is OXO and it does collapse a bit if space is at a premium.
Until I can make up my mind, I'll keep using the tea kettle.