Posie stuffies

 just a few more for gifts.  This guy has his shirt sewn on with felt "buttons" because for a really little baby, I figured buttons weren't a great idea.  Too bad because that fabric is reversible, but that's okay, it looks dapper.

 I did give up on making shoes, in part 'cause they are really fiddly to do, though adorable and also because they were lost almost immediately, and I hated that I kept fussing about where is the Fox's shoe?  Why does he only have one  shoe?

Buddies are better than shoes anyhow.  I got some new felt from Mill End (instead of from my stash) so that I didn't end up with a pastel colored critter, though it would be cute.  They all have the same liberty in their ears... using a small cut there is plenty for all sorts of sweet touches here and there.

Okay two more and that's it.   Here are a little pair with matching gingham outfits / knit outfits.

That is what... five total.  The first two are for the kiddos, the last three are gifties for little ones.O and G's fox also had a little pendelton-esque jacket on that is so very cute, and we have a gingham apron as well.  I have lots of Christmas making to do, but maybe we'll get some other accessories for the gifts as well.

I ought to make some notes.  These didn't take nearly as long as I thought they would, and the blanket stitching was a nice way to spend an evening.  So... if I don't crash into bed as soon as the kids go down, I typically have maybe 1-2 hours ... three if I'm pushing it in an evening to sort of watch TV and make stuff.  I would take a day to cut out the fabric, clothes included for up to two critters.  About a day and a half to sew the pieces, and the last half day to stuff ans assemble, so what three evenings keeping my hands busy while sitting on the couch.  The knitware took a little longer than I thought, but I could do it pretty easily while playing with the kids.  Hmm, sounds like a lot when I write it out like that, but it was easy, relaxing craft therapy time.

Gingerbread soap

So I sprained my ankle, and am sort of stuck around the house on a few fine fall days.  I sent the kids and bri out for a Mushroom hunt, and am trying to squeeze in a batch of soap.  After spending the bulk of the morning hunting for my favorite Shea butter recipe that only currently exists as a print out mom sent me a few years ago, I ended up trying a new recipe (and swearing that if I ever find my trusty recipe,  I will transcribe it here so as not to completely loose it again!)...

A Palm oil free (Recipe)! So that's exciting, I do like the idea of moving away from palm-oil.  I doubled it, didn't have any silk, and unsuccessfully tried for a swirl.  Mess-city by the way....will I never learn?   I had a third of the batch colored with red clay, a third with turmeric ... which looked a lot like red clay... and a third natural.  The batch was setting up too fast by the time everything was blended so really, I ended up with lumpy messes sort of dashed into the molds.  I gave them a quick stir and will hope for the best, though am worried there will be air bubbles and ugliness, and I am pretty sure just uneven odd color chunks throughout.  I got the scent with two tsp of cinnamon leaf, two of ginger, one of clove and one of vanilla, and a half spoon of lemon.  I think it was a pretty good gingerbread smell, not perfect but nice.


Trying deodorant, and with the cooler weather, that last batch ended up okay  and firm enough.This time I mixed 1 tsp each of cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut oil, a half tsp avocado oil and a half tsp of beezwax. I added 1.5 tsp each of baking soda and arrowroot powder as well as 10 drops lime, 10 drops grapefruit, 5 drops lemon ('cause it was out) and 10 drops hops.  It is more yellow, and sets soft still (more beezwax I suppose, but soft isn't too bad really).

When holed up at home, I was actually pretty productive but not in the most directed fashion.  I have put aside all sorts of practical and lovely sewing project to tackle another basil fox and now a maggie bunny!  These guys are so much fun and I sort of love them when I am done (I keep them out, admire how cute they are in their wee outfits).  I have plans for at least one more of each, and then really will tackle that dress that has scared me a bit.