krafts are sew kool

i am pleased to announce that whatever neurological problems are going on, so far they are not interfering with my ability to sew or knit (my energy level and thus my will to do so....'nother story)...i've taken back up my abandoned handwarmers for myself that got tossed into the knitting drawer and forgotten and i've been sewing halloween costumes like mad. a wood elf dress for vesta, which involved a lot of leaves and actually SEWING A DRESS!!!--albeit a very simple jumper type bodice, but still. hazel changed her mind three different times--first, she was going to be lee scoresby (the aeronaut from the golden compass--played in the film by our dear friend, sam elliot), then a witch, then at the very last minute (a.k.a. right before i bought the dress material), she decided to be ginny weasly (ron's younger sister in the harry potter phenomenon)...my least favorite choice, but which did result in hazel needing a robe/cloak thingy, which i made up and turned out great, if i do say so myself. more kudos to gramma judy because when she gave me a big stash of sewing materials, there was a giant piece of black polyester, which worked great for the cloak. it turned out so well, in fact, that i think i might save my pennies for some nice wool and sew myself a cloak. mmmm yummy softness and warm.

i was doing some random internet craft-blog and search engine perusing yesterday and finally came upon the name of the product that bottle cap artists use to finish the insides of the bottle caps, giving them a shiny, glossy depth. a probably horribly toxic two-part resin epoxy thing called envirotex...although i actually think i came across some info that said it doesn't off gas...could that be right? more research is needed, i suppose. anyways--i can not wait to try this stuff out! the realm of art has always been my environmental albatross...the place where i just can't help making compromises in the name of being in the moment of creation. i ordered some along with some magnets and am going to play around with it until i'm comfortable, then i think hold a workshop at blue mountain school for the kids.

last night and this morning i worked on making a bag out of that orange and black day of the dead-themed oilcloth i bought several months ago. i put rivets in the top to string the handles through and i really like it. i'm interested to see what kind of weight it can hold. just how strong is that oilcloth, anyways? i definitely had some trouble sewing with that oilcloth and really want to get a teflon foot and figure out just what is the best needle for sewing plasticy things, as i also have some vinyl sheeting i got out of a remnant pile that i want to sew into a pouch. anyone have tips?

today i am grateful for:

1) it's not my day to wash the dishes
2) jubal is so happy and joyful and delicious
3) how supportive my family is during this not-ideal-health crap
4) the other volunteers at BMS for spreading the work around
5) hebrew national hotdogs (when you're so freaking sick and tired that you can never think of foods to prepare, they are right there for you--quick to prepare, savory, and kosher. ah yeah)