To make a pair of thumb-less mittens for Finn, I separated a skein of Patons (cheap) Classic Merino Wool into skeins and dyed them different colors. It's very economical for a tiny project like this one, since it requires so little yarn to complete and the perspective of having to buy a lot of different colors didn't appeal to me.
Here are the completed mittens, so fast and easy:
I rarely talk about things here, stuff to buy or covet. But today I am in the mood and I thought I might as well share with you a few of the items and ideas that have caught my eyes and crossed my mind. I do like it in magazines when they have holiday gift lists or 100 favorite things to burn money on. Even though most prices are so stratospheric they are rather hilarious, such as let's say $500 sandals.
The first is actually free. It's a pattern I tried out for origami fabric flowers from Primerose Corner. I made my own out of vintage kimono silk. The piece was probably the size of a fat eighth and still had the tag attached after years of sitting on a shelf. I needed every last piece of it, that must prove it was meant to be: a fabric flower.
It's very relaxing hand work, but the silk really makes it tricky.
The second item I stumbled upon by chance, On the Macy's web page. I can't post any picture but I urge you to check them out for yourself. I have bought a similar basket from Ten Thousand Villages and it's been very durable and useful.
The next item is likely to be on the 100-great-useless-stuff-you-really-need list. A Tiffany Key pendant:
or two... A girl can dream!
I also want to recommend a book, a very dear book. I started listening to it on cds again and wonder why I waited so long to enjoy it again. It's called Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I just found out that Keira Knightley will star in a movie adaptation they filmed this year. This book is not light reading and at the same time it's easy to read. It's a keeper.
The last idea is something to eat. I tried to make goat cheese croquettes last night, in France you buy them already prepared in the Deli section. They were delicious so here is the recipe:
A log of goat cheese, sectioned in 8 pieces and rolled into balls.
Panko bread crumbs.
one egg, beaten and seasonned with salt and pepper.
Flatten the balls slighly and dip them in egg batter before rolling them in the bread crumbs. Place the croquettes in a few tablespoons of hot oil and saute until golden on each sides.
Serve warm, on top of lettuce leaves, with a vinaigrettes and maybe a with pomegranate kernels.
I am not too sentimental when it comes to keeping things for posterity, my happiest days seem to be spent chucking things. But a few of Finn's outfits I can't let go of, usually Petit Bateau pajamas. Still, they take valuable dresser space and we can't have that.
Yesterday I took action and transformed the tiniest pj into a t-shirt :
All it took was cutting the fabric as low as I could and hemming it up first with a strait stitch and then with a zigzag. I really hope it will fit him at the shoulders, it would please me enormously to see him wearing these stripes again. Even if his dad calls him his little prisoner when Finn wears them.
It's been a long time since I felt the urge to sew, as knitting seemed to have taken over. But I knew it would be back again, the ideas nudging me when I least expect it. It did happen today, while rummaging through my bloated fabric stash. I know I need to deal with it and I am trying to figure out a way to do so. I am set on making kits that can be used with my students, I might even get a little of the money I spent back, although that is beside the point when I contemplate the overflow. I just can't see what I have when it's buried in all that stuff. Picking up a yard of blue bamboo sweater knit, I started something for The Sewing Republic. Here is a sneak peek!
Birthing Quilt 
Baby Blanket Set
Infant Bibs 
Diaper Burp Cloths
Crochet Basket 
Crumb Catcher
Key Wristlets
narrow hem
Fabric Pinwheels
placemats
pocket bag
Roller Coaster
Tree Skirt
So Gill, write me an email if you please, with your address and I will send you the book pronto!
To everyone else that participated I want to give a big thank you, your response to the Crumb Catcher was amazing, Thank you!