Thursday, January 30, 2014

Make & Listen Along

~ On Thursdays I will post what I have been making and listening to as creations grow. 
If so inclined post, on your blog or flickr, about what you have been making (on your own or with little hands by your side) and listening to while you create. It can be new music, flash backs, a song or a whole album... whatever you like. You can be stitching with needle & thread, yarn, paper crafting, painting, cooking... and beyond. Share what you are making and the tunes that are fueling your creativity. Then come back to my Thursday Make & Listen Along post and leave a link in the comments so we can be inspired right along with you! ~


Thank you for all of your nice comments and encouragement for the book news the other day. It is a long road, but we are happy to travel it together and eventually bring you along when you can have the book right in your very own hands!


I woke this morning to a kitchen filled with dishes, which I really don't like, but last night after dinner we all made our way to the living room to cozy up next to the fire and I did not have to heart, or the desire, to wrangle anyone from their chosen spot to do the dishes with me. So we played games, wrote, knitted, and I looked at this book with my girl. It was a nice, quiet evening... not to be disrupted with things such as dirty dishes.

The last week has been filled with lots of fun making. I did not make nearly as much as usual during my mom's visit (there was a whole lot of writing and sword play that week) but this week made up for that a bit.

Making: 

I have been making time to watch the moonrise this week. It has been pretty amazing and I did my best to capture it, but oh, times like these make me wish I had better gear!


I have been getting these wonderful daily email from Heather for the Hibernate Retreat and while I have not had time to read all of the comments and fully participate I have loved reading through the posts and soaking up some of the calm that always come from Heather. She gave us a pattern for a knitted dish cloth and I jumped right in. It is simple, fun, and knit with crochet thread. Good stuff. I have fished one and started another. It is just the kind of knitting I need right now.



I also made up some hand salve from the class. I have been wanting to do this for a very long time but honesty, the mess of beeswax in my little pan has been holding me back. When I saw the recommendation to put the oils and wax into a mason jar to melt it was a revelation! So excited about this!


Mine did not set up quite as much as I would have liked so I will add a little more beeswax next time, but I am loving it!


I spent some time cutting and sewing this weekend. I wanted to try a variation on the patch for the 1st aid kit. My mom suggested I sew right sides together, then turn and sew it on that way, instead of the painstaking task of trying to do this as a traditional tucked applique. I was all about trying out that idea. I think it turned out pretty good, but I am still working on getting the corners just how I want them. I am not a perfectionist by any means, but that latent part of my personality seems to pop up when sewing is involved!


There have also been some neat things going on out there in blogland in regards to Alphabet Glue! It has been great fun to see others creating with ideas that originated in our very own kitchens and on our dinning room tables. I can see why Annie has so much fun created each issue of AG! 
Here is a little rundown:
Ginny has a fun post and discount code over on her blog, Cassi is giving away 5 copies of Volume 16, and Meryl has a copy up for grabs over on her blog. Oh. My!


Oh... and just one more thing before I post this amazingly long post! 

We are hosting a fun little bird exchange over on Mud Puddles to Meteors! Lovers of birds, poetry, and pretty things to hang in the house to brighten up winter days are sure to join in!

Listening: 

We have been listening to the fire crackle and shouts of bird spotting... eagles in the hood right now! Yay! 
And the Civil Wars moody goodness also seems to be showing up a bit more on the playlist lately. 


Your turn.
Please share what you have been making and the tunes on your playlist. And don't forget to leave a link to your post if you played along so others can visit your Make and Listen posts. 

I have been trying to get around to visit your posts each week (sometimes it takes me a few days) and they are wonderful! Thanks, to all of you who are joining in and linking up!

14 comments:

  1. I am loving hibernate too! I need to go get some crochet thread for the dish cloths. I am almost at the point of felting one of the bowls. Did the washcloth take up a whole skein of the thread? I LOVE the moonrising picture. Gorgeous!

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    1. Thanks, Jen.
      I did not start with a new skein of thread and I am thinking I will probably get at least 3 dish clothes out of it, maybe even 4.
      Let me know when you felt the bowl. I want to see!

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  2. so much making in your house! love that moon shot :)

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    1. Thanks, Amanda! I loved watching that moon come up!

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  3. Oh Dawn, your images are always so beautiful, and that moon, well...you know. :)

    I love the little dish cloth pattern you are doing. It's so cute! I still have to make some of those. It's on my list. Will check out that link too. ;)

    I am getting low on my plantain salve but have some plantain and olive oil sitting in the window for months now! I just need beeswax. Love the jar idea! Brilliant!

    Joining along! http://theshards.ca/2014/01/make-and-listen-along/

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    1. Thanks, Tam!
      Yes, the jar makes making the salve soooo easy!
      Thanks for joining in!

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  4. Gorgeous moon shot Dawn. And yay for the salve and lip balm making. I melt mine in a measuring cup, super easy :)

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    1. Thanks, Kim! You are a big salve making inspiration.

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  5. So many wonderful things you've been making! I've been working in the garden and I finally thrifted some furniture which I am painting and replacing hardware for. I'll show it next time!

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    1. Your garden is blowing my mind.
      Can't wait to see the furniture!

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  6. You have been making some pretty fantastic things lately!! Love the dishcloths! I didn't get a chance to get my making/listening post up this week. I had a very cranky, teething toddler on my hands. Hoping to catch up next week.

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    1. Oh, I remember those teething days! Hang in there!

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  7. I'm late..but I posted!
    http://lifeonacanadianisland.blogspot.ca/2014/01/make-listen_31.html

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    1. Thanks, Alex! Love the sewing you have been doing!

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