Exciting enamelware!

Posted on October 2, 2013 by

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enamelware
Six lovely pieces, and yes – that is a bedpan (never used, in pristine condition), hospital issue from between the wars.

In a follow-up to yesterday’s outhouse post, I am plotting a small project for the winter workshop which will see the creation of a wash-basin stand. For the stand I intend to simply cut a hole in a piece of wood to rest a basin in, sand, stain and varnish – and then later in the summer attach it to some legs cut from trees on our property.

When I first envisioned this, I determined that for the basin I would like to find a piece of vintage-looking *or* actual antique enamelware. It didn’t have to be in great shape since its sole purpose will be to hold water, so I figured I could find something pretty cheap. But looking in local antique shops here and in the interior had turned up nothing.

Enter Craigslist! Last week, upon our return from Link Lake, I found a posting for the above collection – being sold out of Burnaby for only $30 – and so I promptly drove out to take a look. It’s the real deal – 1930s-era – with just a very few nicks and rust marks. Perfect for my intended use (the coffee kettle will make a nice water jug companion to the wash basin). The rest of the vessels will find an eventual home in our cabin or bunkie I’m sure 🙂

Outhouse pictures and update.

Posted on October 1, 2013 by

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Back at work after ten days of vacation and so forth. Sadly I haven’t got all the photoset uploaded from our week at Link Lake, but I offer the following woodshed and outhouse update for your viewing pleasure:

This is our woodshed, framed last time – on this trip we put stucco wire around two sides of it, and got the roof on. It’s a tad crooked and the seams don’t overlap quite right, but it does mostly keep the weather out!
We got the outhouse seat hammered together, lined with metal flashing, and a hole cut out. Nicest seat on the land right now!
Leung and Brian hammering on the ranchwall siding after getting the roof up.
Here’s where we left it. Next trip up we will finish putting wire around the bottom to keep animals out, put on a door, finish the seat and get some stairs going on. Also, foliage around the base to hide the hole! We’re 80% finished the sweetest outhouse and wash station ever!

One finished shirt……

Posted on September 17, 2013 by

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First finished article of clothing, Fall 2013In the last two weeks I bought a ton of fabric for making new fall and winter shirts. I’m tired of what’s in the wardrobe, but I can’t stand the idea of shopping for ready-made clothing right now which means….. somehow eking out the time to make myself some new things.

Yesterday I made this blouse from start to finish (almost finished, I have a sleeve facing that needs to be re-sewn and then the sleeves need turning up). It took longer than a blouse of this type might normally because 1) there are darts, and pleats, 2) the front is made up of six pieces of fabric which gives it a bit of flutter, and 3) it’s all french seams. (Pattern here).

A simple pull-over, this belongs with a plain skirt or jeans. I’ve got two denim skirts I plan to make this fall as well which would pair with this nicely.

I’m hoping to finish one more blouse/jacket this week before heading out to Link Lake (and away from my sewing machine) for a few days – and then to redouble my efforts in October/November to churn out several more garments for my autumn and winter wardrobe. (Fortunately in Vancouver we have mild winters which means from late fall until late spring one can really wear the same cloths with varying degrees of layering).

Mostly I’m just happy to have a single garment finished – since I have been struggling with a couple others started earlier this month – I needed to tackle something more straightforward but still fabulous to prove that I still have my sewing chops!

Magpie…. magpie.

Posted on September 11, 2013 by

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In a little rush this morning because it’s a day full of meetings, I’ve got class tonight, and I’m off to Campbell River in the morning  — which leaves me with little time for posting.

So I will share this shawlette that I took off the blocking last night – crocheted from Sweet Georgia sock yarn in one of their new fall colourways: Magpie!

A true beauty, in low-light Magpie looks pretty much like a navy, but in the light it reveals a true depth of colour and slight variegation that gives it the “oooh, ahhh” effect it had on me when I got my skein in the mail.

This shawlette is another gift, for who I will not say — I love this ability to give beautiful and handmade to awesome people!

 

What are we eating? Three weeks of meal plans

Posted on September 10, 2013 by

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A frequent dinner in our house – tapas!

It’s fall and time for new things – and what better way to herald a new season than by trying out some new recipes?

So I’ve made a meal plan for the next three weeks that relies heavily on Mark Bittman and also incorporates some of the food blogs I read. Meal-planning makes shopping easier, ensures we use ingredients already on hand, and makes it a breeze for anyone in the household to prep dinner depending on schedules. The themes for this menu are:

  • very-little processed food
  • balanced
  • gluten-free options – which means most meals are gf, but those which aren’t can be eaten without the wheat-component (like a bun) or have an acceptable gf substitute (gf pasta or rice)

I am so looking forward to each of these recipes!

Week: September 9

Week: September 16

Week: September 30

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