May 2008

Around five years ago I ran across a soap/lotion booth at Alpenfest in Joseph, Oregon. The products were amazing.

Fast-forward to three years ago, when we moved to Spokane. The soap-maker lives here, and sells her products locally. Could anything be better?

Well, yes, she could teach a class. For the last two nights, I have been at that class. And yes, I do feel rather fortunate.

To be fair, the soap above was not technically made by me (one of our instructors did the mixing, we did our own stirring and chose the scent…mine is orange almond).

I suspect soap-making is another situation where the process and the product are both rather lovely (like baking, sewing, gardening).

Today I feel that mixture of giddiness and trepidation that happens at the start of any new experiment. First, though, I have to find-and-purchase a kitchen scale. Wish me luck.

(And while you’re thinking about hand-made soap, click over to Amisha’s Etsy shop. She has some swoon-worthy scents going on.)

I see Log Cabin a lot and I’m still charmed by it.

This little bag is the product of a bunch of scraps from a larger project. The scraps were too small to be re-used in the project, but just too good to toss out or use as filler.

The lining is made of Joann-brand fabric. (It looks so clean right now! Soon it will be “christened” by leaking pens and other bag foibles.)

To make the bag, I used the technique for a lined zippered pouch, but I gave the bottom a bit of depth. I used the technique seen in various patterns (if you’ve followed an Amy Butler or Lotta Jansdotter pattern this will be familiar to you).

Cut out squares from the bottom(s). Sew the side seams. Sew the bottom seam.

Then flatten one side seam and the bottom seam and sew across both (you’ll do this on each side). My apologies: I don’t have a photo. If there is interest/confusion, I will figure out a photo or drawing. It really is easier to see than to read.

We went to the Spokane Garden Expo, where we saw this sign. I got a very nice brochure about composting from this group.

B made calzones (using boule dough from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day).

I made cream-cheese blondies (from Martha Stewart’s Cookies).

I initially got both of these books from our library (I test recipes before buying). I am thankful for the selection at our library, and I like to think that all our taxes go there (and Manito Park).

These are tomato plants (with nasturtium) from last summer, nothing illegal.

This Garden Rant post about marijuana made me chuckle.

As did this article from Australia about a cannabis hedge.

It also reminded me of two things:
1) I live in an apartment and have no access to soil. My garden is made up of plants in containers (pots). This prompted a family member to refer to me as a “pot gardener.”
2) Last summer I had three rather healthy and hearty tomato plants. These plants are at the back of the apartment, on a balcony. You could see them from the street, but just barely.

We noticed a police car across the street for a few days, and assumed that he was visiting someone (or had moved in). This was great news: The normally-very-fast drivers slowed way down when they saw his car.

It was about day three that I noticed that the police car was inhabited. The officer was sitting in his car…and his car was positioned precisely so that he was directly in view of our balcony. I figured this was random coincidence (it likely was).

Then the tomato plants started to bear little green fruit. And the officer disappeared.

I do realize that he was probably positioned where he was for some unrelated reason. But I did laugh a bit about my possibly-suspicious-looking plants.

These little loaves come from the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. I saw a post by All Buttoned Up Melissa, was intrigued, and got the book from our library. I have been happily surprised by the results.

The authors have set up a site (make sure to check out the errors page).

Here’s the first-try loaf (B’s hand showing scale)

Here’s the second loaf

So far, so good.

I love art for art’s sake. And I find a scarf on Mr. Lincoln amusing. (And appropriate…we had hail [hail!] a few days ago.)

This statue garners a fair amount of attention. Last year it was covered with black plastic and yellow tape for a few hours: The tape said “imagine a life without art.” I don’t want to.