Work, Life and Fashion
The last four months have been interesting. I didn’t really know what to expect when going from the world of a struggling not-for-profit into the world of fashion and small business, but what I’m learning is better than anticipated. Beyond fashion and creativity, I’m learning things about living. The daily lessons in slowing down, taking time and being kind to myself have been more than welcome.
I used to keep a pace that was unhealthy. I fretted over things I couldn’t help and tried to fix an organization that I was just better off leaving. Now I get to create with my hands each day, listen to NPR as I work and have lunchtime conversations that truly mean something — and even better than lunchtime conversations, I get to eat a healthy lunch followed by a cappuccino. This beats the buffet of mini-candy bars that used to get me through a day. My time at the computer usually maxes out at half an hour a day. I rarely sit down. All parts of me are engaged. And when I come home, I’m home. Work doesn’t linger with me unless I want it to, and that work is never bad.
My sewing room seems fresh again and all my fabric seems new. I dream of putting things together in new ways and have fallen in love with colors and textures again. Cutting out patterns doesn’t seem so scary anymore and getting started isn’t as daunting because suddenly I’ve realized there aren’t too many mistakes that aren’t easily fixed, and sometimes those mistakes help create something even better than first imagined. It’s good stuff, this new life.
Currently I’m following the fashion trade shows in NY and am thinking all good things for the show I’ve been helping to build these past four months. After months of preparation, it’s taking place right now. t h e n t i c a u is a collective of primarily American designers who are established and creative, known for individuality in what they do and for excellence in crafting a product with integrity and authenticity. I like that I got to work with some really talented designers on pulling this show together. It’s pretty nice to take pride in my work again and have projects that align with my beliefs. The fact that authenticity and integrity are at the heart of the philosophy that permeates my day-to-day has given me a peace I’d been lacking for several years.
DIY Deodorant
If 14-year-old Claire knew I was now making my own deodorant she’d be appalled. There was a day when I couldn’t get enough of the aluminum-based stuff. I’d reapply at least six times a day, worried that there wasn’t enough I could possibly do to cover up the smell of being human. I was definitely the girl who walked around with powdered deodorant balls falling out of her t-shirt and onto the floor. I was tragic.
I’m still wickedly hypersensitive to smells, but my fear of chemicals in products has started to outweigh the stink factor. For the last few years I’ve been using natural deodorants and have tried many different brands — Tom’s, Burt’s Bees, Weleda and others — but always with unimpressive results. I’ve been wanting to try making my own for a while, but never quite got around to it until recently when I opened the bathroom cabinet and realized I was completely out.
And so I returned to my search for the perfect DIY recipe with renewed focus and ultimately used Angry Chicken’s recipe as my jumping point, modifying it to the products I had on hand. Instead of a cream deodorant, like Angry Chicken’s, I conveniently wound up with a glide deodorant. It’s pretty easy and pretty fun. I’m loving the scent of the gentle, warm citrus blend below, but you could absolutely experiment with other essential oils.
DIY Deodorant
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons Shea Butter
- 3 Tablespoons Baking Soda (I use Bob’s Red Mill aluminum free)
- 2 Tablespoons Arrowroot Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Butter
- 10 drops Jojoba Oil
- 15 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
- 4 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
Process
1. In a double boiler mix Shea Butter, Baking Soda, Arrowroot Powder and Cocoa Butter until well mixed.
2. Remove from heat and let cool just a bit.
3. Once slightly cooled, add Jojoba, Sweet Orange and Tea Tree oils, mixing thoroughly.
4. Pour contents into a an old deodorant tube. I cleaned an old Tom’s deodorant tube and filled that. If you don’t have a tube on hand, you can easily use a small, 4 – 6 oz. glass container but will have to apply with your fingers instead.
5. Once poured into the appropriate container, place in refrigerator to set. Once solid, store at room temperature.
To apply: If using as a glide deodorant, you know the drill. You may have to loosen the stick of deodorant from the sides of the container for your first application by warming the plastic in your hands and gently pressing the plastic all the way around before turning the dial. Otherwise, you should be set.
If you didn’t have a tube and poured your deodorant into the glass container, simply rub your fingers briskly on the surface of the deodorant. It will melt into a cream and you will want to use about a pea-sized amount to rub into each armpit. I’ve used it both ways and both work, but the glide deodorant fits my morning routine best.
* Please note that this is a deodorant, not an antiperspirant. It’s not going to prevent any heavy sweating, but it’s at least going to combat the stink. And even though it’s not an antiperspirant, I’ve already found it keeps me drier than some of the natural, glossier deodorant brands I have used in the past. I really like the results so far and, as my husband can confirm, I’ve been walking around the house, smelling my armpits every few hours, just to make sure. Believe me, I’d let you know if I wasn’t smelling fresh.
Rye and Molasses Black Bread
Lately I’ve been doing really well with having fewer grains, but every so often I see a recipe that haunts me until I make it. Heidi Swanson’s Black Bread was one of those recipes.
She’s really said all there is to say about it. Her recipe is perfect and I hardly changed a thing, but I was short on carrots so only used one cup instead of two. I can’t take nicer pictures or sum up the pleasure of a good bread better than she so I’m not going to try. Really, I’m just posting this to say that if you are in the mood to bake up a nice loaf of bread, one that when toasted and slathered with coconut oil and paired with an orange makes a perfect breakfast, this is it.
Leather Wallet
When Christmas rolled around I decided Regan needed something as manly as he is. So naturally I made him a cowboy wallet.
This embossed leather is really terrific and I know it’s been in my employer’s stash for years, just waiting to come out again for the perfect project. She’s made her fair share of amazing bags from it and was kind enough to let me take enough for this tiny project. Her ability to source is a talent that rivals her ability to design. I feel like every day I’m in the studio I unveil something new and amazing.
This is made with unlined leather and all raw edges. For that reason it’s simple and you could make something similar with vinyl, felt or leather. It requires just six rectangles.
Materials
• Exterior rectangle, 9 x 3.25 inches inches
• Interior rectangle, 8.75 X 3.25 inches
• Back credit card rectangle, 4 x 2.25 inches (cut 2)
• Front credit card rectangle, 4 x 1 inch (cut 2)
Process
1. First you will make the interior of the wallet with the credit card holders.
2. On interior rectangle, with right side facing, place one back credit card holder and one front credit card holder at bottom left of interior rectangle. Make sure the left sides and bottom edges are all flush with each other. Stitch along the left side, bottom and right sides.
3. Repeat step 2 on the right side of the wallet’s interior so that it is a mirror image. Please refer to the first image in this post if these written directions are unclear.
4. Now that the interior of the wallet is ready to go and all credit card holders are in place, you can sew on the front of the wallet and create a place for your wads of cash.
5. Fold your exterior rectangle in half evenly and, at the very bottom, mark the center with a piece of chalk.
5. Place wrong side of exterior rectangle to wrong side of interior rectangle, lining up the left and right sides evenly. The interior rectangle is slightly smaller than the exterior rectangle so that the wallet naturally pulls shut.
6. With front exterior facing, stitch the exterior and interior rectangles together. Start at the upper left corner and stitch from top left corner to bottom left corner, turn and stitch along the bottom of the wallet towards center. Stop stitching approximately 1/8 of an inch from the center line.
7. Repeat for the right side of the wallet, starting at the upper right corner and stitching to bottom right corner, then towards center, stopping 1/8 inch from the center line.
8. Finish all loose ends. Trim uneven edges, if necessary.
Leather Laptop Portfolio
Let me just tell you how lovely it is to have access to a sewing machine that is not made entirely of plastic.
Very lovely.
For Christmas I usually stick to making gifts for the girls — knitting and sewing flimsy fabrics that don’t cause my machine to throw a tantrum (or cause me to throw a tantrum). But this year I had access to an industrial sewing machine, thanks to my employer, so I whipped out some hearty projects for some of the men in my family.
My little sister’s fiancé recently started his first job out of college and when I asked her what he might like, Arielle suggested he’d like a case in which to carry his laptop. And so this simple portfolio with a business card holder was born.
There’s really not much to it at all. I simply cut a long rectangle, 2.5 times the length of his laptop width and 2 inches wider than the depth of his laptop in order to accommodate the 1/4 inch seam allowance and the height of his closed laptop. I added a business card holder on front, folded the leather into the shape of a large manila envelope and created an exposed seam 1/4 inch wide down either side, leaving a 1/2 inch open gusset at the bottom to give the portfolio depth. Then I evenly cut away excess leather at the seams, created a rounded front flap, using a dinner plate as my guide and created four leather buttons to use at the closure. There is one leather button on the back of the leather and one in front for reinforcement at each end of the closure, and the closure is made from braided embroidery floss.
The right machine makes all the difference.
Knit T-Shirt Rug
It’s storming outside. In January.
Even more than snow, rain makes me want to curl up with a good book or a cozy project, and so it seems appropriate today to share a knitted rug. Even though this throw rug didn’t become anything beautiful, there’s a certain charm in its imperfections. Its knottiness and uneven stitching are nice to walk over and the spring in the knit cotton is soothing.
Plus, it’s made from t-shirts. My collection of old t-shirts constantly needs to be thinned. I cut them up and use them for dusting, dishes and as mop pads. I make dog toys out of them and market bags. But still my collection seems to grow.
Because I like to give things the chance to live as many lives possible, I found a few t-shirts in my stash with colors that seemed to work together and spent a few evenings mindlessly making t-shirt yarn. Then I spent another few evenings knitting up squares and rectangles in all sizes and colors, using whatever type of stitch seemed like fun. And the good thing about using squares and rectangles is that, like a game of Tetris, this rug just kind of fell into place. And what didn’t fall perfectly in line, I stretched.
Like I said, totally imperfect, but isn’t it sometimes nice to see that something was made by hand?
Date and Nut Truffles
Yeah. I know. Date and Nut Truffles isn’t a headline that grabs me either, but I’m trying really hard to be a little healthier so this is what we have to work with.
Attempting to be healthier means I’m not baking bread as much. I’ve started saving great cookie, cake and brownie recipes to experiment with only on special occasions. At the same time I’ve readjusted my definition of a special occasion from being whenever I’m bored to those times there is actually something to celebrate (and making sure that more people than just Regan and I are around to take part in the food and festivities).
We’re upping the vegetable and nut intake a bit and taking a break from my unshakable dependence on grains (delicious, delicious grains). This altered way of eating leaves me with a feeling that I’m never satiated, along with a wicked sweet tooth. I’ve taken a grain hiatus before and I know this seeming inability to be satiated doesn’t last long, but in the meantime I’m relying on some dates, nuts and cocoa powder to get me through. I’m pretty good at fooling my belly into believing something is just what I was in the mood for if it looks the part, even if it’s not spot on in the taste department.
These little truffles are simple to make and pack a really sweet punch. While cocoa powder is a big ingredient, the Medjool dates are the overriding taste. But even though they aren’t perfect substitutes for cream and chocolate truffles, just one or two of these guys allows me calm my sweet tooth and take a break from wishing I had more friends so there would be more birthdays to celebrate and, therefore, more special treats to make and enjoy.
Date and Nut Truffles
makes approximately 15 small, bite-sized truffles
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/2 cup Medjool dates (I use Medjool for their sweetness and moisture, but I’m sure you could soak some of your drier date varieties until they are sticky)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder plus more for dusting
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut, toasted
Process
- In a food processor, grind the walnut until fine.
- Add pitted dates and 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to the walnuts and blend until well-mixed. Mixture should form balls easily.
- Break off pieces of mixture and form truffles, dusting them first lightly with cocoa powder then roll in toasted coconut.
ETA: So, after some experimenting, I’ve come up with a less date-tasting, more chocolate-tasting truffle. Here’s the recipe I’ve come to really like.
Date Sweetened Chocolate Truffles
makes approximately 8 bite sized truffles
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup almond meal
- 3 Medjool dates, pits removed
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Process
- In a food processor mix all ingredients until well incorporated and the mixture has a sticky consistency that rolls into balls easily.
- One at a time, roll mixture into bit-sized truffles and place on small platter. Refrigerate until solid. Enjoy.
Carroll County Bike Poster
My dad has always cycled. My memories of him in summer are of him suiting up, hopping on his Fuji and biking through the country side for miles. In winter the steady hum of his bike on the rollers of his stationary set up was as comforting as hot chocolate to me. I find it pretty remarkable that for as long as I’ve known my dad he’s kept at it, never giving up cycling for something else. He’s the guy who always told me to pick a sport I could do for life. I like that he’s not just all talk.
For Christmas I wanted to find a poster that summed up his love of the ride. When out West a few years ago Regan and I came across some gilcee prints of mountain bikes set before rocky landscapes. These vintage-style posters are stamped with Park City or Breckenridge — places where outdoors and adventure go hand in hand.
I asked Regan to make a poster in this same vein for my dad for Christmas, but to replace the mountain bike with a road bike and the mountains with the midwestern plains. At first it seemed like it could be a tongue-in-cheek reference to the monotony of landscape that surrounds us. But as I watched Regan pull it all together I realized the beauty of the landscape. Indiana may be flat and rolling for miles, but there is also a certain peace about knowing that you can just put your head down and press onward, rolling past field after field until you reach your destination.
Thanks to Regan for creating such a perfect homage to the scenery Dad has explored for so many years.
Chunky Seed Stitch Cowl
This Christmas my little sister asked if I would make her a chunky winter wrap. My search for patterns didn’t yield what I was looking for. They all seemed a little stiff and used such thick yarn that each stitch seemed to be bursting. I like any type of knitted wrap to have a good drape and these patterns were coming up short. And so instead of looking for a pattern I decided to buy the yarn I wanted first, then make it up as I went along. Making things up as you go is the joy of knitting scarves and cowls — you can’t really mess up a long rectangle. The pattern and yarn worked together so nicely for my sister’s gift that I ended up making a second cowl for myself.
If you’d like one too, the pattern is below. It will only take a few evenings curled up on the couch with a cup of tea and your favorite show on the TV or radio to keep you company as you work away mindlessly, stitch after soft stitch.
Seed Stitch Cowl
Materials
• 1 set 12 mm (US Size 17) straight knitting needles
• 3 skeins (3 oz, 180 m) worsted weight yarn (I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Natural Heather)
• 4 – 6 large buttons (I used 4 buttons 1.25 inches in diameter)
Process
• Using three strands of yarn, one from each skein, loosely cast on 20 stitches.
• Knit in seed stitch for full length of scarf, approximately 136 rows. As you knit, be sure to treat all three strands as a single strand.
• Seed stitch is executed as follows:
Row 1: *K1,P1; repeat from * to end of row
Row 2: *P1,K1; repeat from * to end of row
Repeat rows 1 and 2 for entirety of scarf.
• Knit until you have enough just enough yarn left in each skein to cast off loosely. After casting off, weave in loose ends.
• Sew buttons evenly along the cast-off end of the scarf. Use natural openings in the stitches of the cast-on end of the scarf as button holes and you have
your cowl.
With buttons on the end there are plenty of ways to wrap and wear this chunky scarf.
Fresh and New
Welcome to the new Cottage Revolution. Regan, champion husband and friend, helped me set up a new place to share all my projects, recipes and pictures. It’s a lot of what you are already used to, but now there are categories for Knitting, Sewing & Crafting, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Home & Hearth, Gardening, and DIY. Hopefully these categories will make it a lot easier to find exactly what you are looking for.
I know I’ve been quiet since Thanksgiving, but it’s because I have been hunkered down, readjusting to my new work routine and whipping up Christmas gifts for the ones I love. Look for regular posts to resume this week. I’m excited to get back to it all and to share it with you.
Here’s wishing you all a 2012 that is fresh & new.
