tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22532416352308136942012-02-03T08:37:17.670-06:00Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.comBlogger1921100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-88965959156955911982012-02-01T22:01:00.000-06:002012-02-01T22:49:00.950-06:00

When Mr. Crafty and I met eight years ago neither of us owned a television. We didn't have Internet in our respective homes. We catalogued our life with his and hers all manual Nikon cameras and cheap expired Fuji film. He didn't even have a cell phone. He did, however, have one (yes, one) pair of jeans. I mended those jeans a lot. He met both my mother and my grandparents in them; I'd had to

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-37297547760790291852011-11-22T21:11:00.001-06:002011-11-23T11:35:50.290-06:00

I am a lover of the good cafe. I have my favorites all over,  from L.A. to London. It took me a couple of years to find a good cafe in Chicago. This is a city of wonderful book shops, restaurants, and bars - it's not a cafe kind of city. It's a little too busy, has a little too much emphasis on work. Cafes are for lounging. Chicagoans aren't much for that. They're more for working all day,

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-82881502798037413022011-11-20T19:46:00.003-06:002011-11-21T11:53:43.725-06:00

When I first started making these I had very few kitchen toys. I used naught but a fork to mix my ingredients, an old wine bottle to roll my dough, and an old pasta jar as a biscuit cutter. These days I have a gorgeous pistachio green Kitchen Aid mixer, a handmade wooden rolling pin, and a brilliantly made vintage steel biscuit cutter. The thing about food, though, is that the tools used to

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-48577674396776266042011-11-14T23:07:00.000-06:002011-11-14T23:07:52.163-06:00

I love lighthouses. Especially at nighttime in cold weather - it's when they seem at their most essential. I've always had a daydream of living on a rocky coast in a home with a widow's walk. Maybe in a past life I was a sailor's wife. That red light is a beacon from the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, put in place in 1831 to mark the location of  dangerous sandbar. It's astounding that a bit of

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-6351461622111895372011-11-08T21:47:00.001-06:002011-11-12T20:29:13.493-06:00

Autumn light: there's less of it, what with the change of season, but what light remains is always paler and softer than summer light. My test knitter is in England, clicking her away with her needles. Every time I get one of her carefully packed boxes (she packs hers so much more thoughtfully than I pack mine...) with a finished object I've designed I freak a bit. It feels like magic. The

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-39161760210060375772011-08-23T20:21:00.001-05:002011-08-23T20:22:15.185-05:00

I've got two patterns all finished, edited, and done up by my wonderful test knitter, and two more on the way (one is the Leo Bear!). I've been working more slowly than I'd wanted. Sorry for having so little to report, but for the time being, here's a drawing of six things within ten feet of me:

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-52100447198468475732011-08-05T11:00:00.001-05:002011-08-05T11:03:44.377-05:00

I've recently returned from a trip to Canada's Yukon Territory. What will likely most interest readers of this blog is the amazing yarn I got. It's currently being used in a secret project, so I'll give you a photo of the amazing creatures whose fur was spun into the aforementioned amazing yarn. May I present the muskox: Photo courtesy of Oil on Ice, a website that discusses the complications

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-17283998477626451142011-07-14T11:14:00.000-05:002011-07-14T11:14:22.611-05:00

The McQueen exhibit at the Met is leaving August 7. If you haven't already gone, you simply must. Simply. Must. You can't take photos in the gallery, but I'll give you a peek from the exhibit book. This exhibit is crazy busy. If you can, buy a ticket for a Monday. The Met is closed on Mondays, but they are opening especially for those who have bought tickets for the McQueen exhibit. If you can't

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-10942453873298840712011-07-09T18:54:00.001-05:002011-07-09T18:57:24.087-05:00

The thing is, I'm always forgetting my hat. I always make the disappointing realization I'm missing an opportunity to wear one of my cute summer hats about an hour into a sunny summer walk. I'm reminded of that fact again when inspecting my sunburned nose in the bathroom mirror later that evening. And do any of you have long hair like me? What do you do with it while wearing the hat? Low bun?

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-4009874908256225172011-07-05T10:21:00.001-05:002011-07-05T10:23:38.927-05:00

Christien Meinder has been knitting with huge needles for a while now. She's also been continually creating work that provides meaningful commentary on how our consumption and the environment are profoundly intertwined. My favorites are her One Sheep Cardigan series and Pig 05049 Her current buzz is coming from her knitted Urchin Poufs. Flocks' Urchin Pouf I really love her Aran Rug best of

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-70215324196956577362011-07-02T18:53:00.004-05:002011-07-03T22:29:38.127-05:00

I spent a bit of April below the Mason Dixon, visiting some dear friends. I came back with loads of honey. This is just two thirds of my spoils. The remainder has already been consumed. That jar to the left is Tupelo honey, the most special and magical of all honeys. It can only be harvested during the few weeks when the Ogeechee Tupelo tree is blooming. The Ogeechee Tupelo grows only in the

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-26641249843765850552011-06-21T23:30:00.000-05:002011-06-21T23:30:35.279-05:00

I'm getting to finishing stages on the book and am in need of some test knitters. There's a shawlette, a muffler, fingerless mitts, a sweater, a hat, and a stuffed creature on the docket. I'd like to begin test-knitter usage with a revamp of my first pattern, the Beatrice Hat (see sidebar). I had no idea when I wrote the pattern two years ago that Princess Beatrice would wow the world with her

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-79632988842927329712011-06-11T10:48:00.000-05:002011-06-11T10:48:52.842-05:00

Robin Richman is one of my favorite shops in Chicago. The website doesn't do it any justice. It's simply a place you have to go to, stand in, smell, touch. It's one of the best curated boutiques I've ever been in, and though most items are crazy-expensive, they're also crazy-awesome. Once, after having just moved to the city, I almost spent $1,200 on the most beautiful leather jacket I'd ever

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-34511724218339143552011-05-31T21:26:00.000-05:002011-05-31T21:26:07.567-05:00

Bourbon butterscotch tarts from the Baked cookbook. Only I forgot the bourbon. And some of the sugar. And a bit of the butter. And they're not all that pretty to look at. And this photo shows the cold tarts sweating in the heat of our unairconditioned urban crib. But man, are they tasty. Like everything from Baked, really. If you haven't been to one of their shops or looked at one of their

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-69821610812860132622011-05-20T08:55:00.000-05:002011-05-20T08:55:02.167-05:00

In combination, they make a lovely morning.

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-17516904555588136552011-05-15T21:52:00.000-05:002011-05-15T21:52:11.322-05:00

This is the longest I've been away from Hadley Gets Crafty since its inception way back when. Since my last missive I've been traveling, working hard on my collection of patterns, tech editing some secret projects from here and there, and trolling the fashion lines that came out this season. My sweaters of the current collection are best suited for structured, kind of 40s-era looks. For the most

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-83739032286776916622011-03-26T19:59:00.002-05:002011-03-26T20:01:57.775-05:00

I should be grading essays and tests. I should be cleaning my closet. I should be working on the patterns for the new knitting collection. I should be doing any number of things, but instead I keep obsessively searching for vintage Gunne Sax dresses and skirts online. I blame the Bronte sisters (anyone know how to make that damn umlaut?). First I went to see the new Jane Eyre (oh man, so well

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-29534244214961610342011-03-13T18:32:00.003-05:002011-03-18T11:24:38.283-05:00

Living in the city, I don't have much need for the suburbs. Any visit to them requires an arduous drive with two toll gates and about fifteen solid miles of traffic. But there is one thing the suburbs have that Chicago does not: Mitsuwa. I love Mitsuwa. Hell, Anthony Bourdain loves Mitsuwa. If you've ever been, no doubt you, too, love Mitsuwa. There is simply nothing not to love about the place.

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-58758445168605094062011-03-07T21:02:00.000-06:002011-03-07T21:02:18.047-06:00

Pretty, no?

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-9929997166326910982011-02-23T16:55:00.001-06:002011-02-24T15:50:36.241-06:00

The lovely Melissa, of Tiny Happy fame, is donating the proceeds from her Etsy store to help with rescue efforts in New Zealand. Go buy something. I can't think of anything better than combining gorgeous handmade items with do-gooding. Photo courtesy of Tiny Happy For those not in the know, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the town of Christchurch on Monday, killing 63 and injuring hundreds.

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-81060636891247919062011-02-21T17:54:00.000-06:002011-02-21T17:54:51.940-06:00

I've got two hat patterns all ready to go mathematically, but they're missing names! Got any ideas? Leave a message with any suggestions. Those with winning suggestions will be noted in the pattern. #1) Here's the first, all soft and snow flake-like. A nice, bright white for winter... With some pop in the back. #2) The second hat is all slouchy with some touches of color. Part of the pattern

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-76387879050193153382011-02-06T18:41:00.000-06:002011-02-06T18:41:20.151-06:00

Rainbowscuba! Love the moniker. Ms. Scuba, I'll send you a Rav-mail asking for your address. Congratulations! The winning post number was chosen by this random number generator, should anyone have a need for one. The year of the rabbit has dawned since the last post (unless you're Vietnamese, in which case it's the year of the cat). We survived Chicago's recent snowpocalypse, which occurred on

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-76681521775176358762011-01-29T20:12:00.003-06:002011-01-29T20:27:07.268-06:00

I don't know if any of you are familiar with Freddie's Blanket yet. It's the second book by Joanna and Eric Johnson. Slate Falls Press is offering a copy of it to one of my readers. Freddie's Blanket is a follow up to Phoebe's Sweater, which was met with rave reviews last year. I feel especially close to both projects, as I was a tech editor for each. I first saw the patterns for Phoebe, Freddie

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-22142985197215272872011-01-21T08:51:00.001-06:002011-01-21T10:56:45.766-06:00

Eugene de Blaas is most well known for his women in colorful clothing, but I like his paintings of women knitting and sewing best. The Knitting Lesson This one is my favorite. Not only is there someone embroidering, but there's also a cat. A Helping Hand Two knitters (actually, they're hooking a fishing net - does this make them crocheters?), an embroiderer, and a mustachioed man with a

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-58606448095484619102011-01-19T22:28:00.000-06:002011-01-19T22:28:02.036-06:00

Chimallo loves playing with knit pattern swatches. She bunny kicks them and rubs them on her head. And a good avocado really is a beautiful thing: Although I'll admit a weakness for vegetarian ramen noodle soup, a favorite on a cold day: My grandmother makes these tea towels for me and my mother every Christmas. Aren't they beautiful? The details! I love the stitching in this flower,

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-85108796763461620052011-01-10T21:09:00.007-06:002011-01-12T16:31:37.252-06:00

He's going to be a pattern in the book, but he's also a Christmas present for my Grandfather (who at first thought he was a kitty, something to consider before the final pattern rolls out). As such, he is named after my Grandfather, who loves teddy bears more than anyone else I know.He's an old fashioned fellow, Leo Bear is, with buttons and hand stitched details.He's also got a nifty red scarf,

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-50799045056670775592011-01-02T14:12:00.004-06:002011-01-02T14:37:20.204-06:00

Happy New Year! I hope 2011 is treating you well already. I spent my holidays moving slowly, visiting family and friends, going to weddings, and enjoying the snow. Christmas cards are one of my favorite elements of the season. I still send them and display them every year:Some rural Kentucky politics I encountered while visiting family there:Sleeping late is one of the greatest gifts of the

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-40089329710249741012010-12-20T20:30:00.012-06:002010-12-20T22:24:15.184-06:00

I should be knitting the ears on a bear that's going to be in my upcoming book of patterns. Somehow, despite the gorgeous falling snow, I just can't compel myself to do it. I'm going to take you on a little trip to the Art Institute instead.The lions guard the gate, and they often get dressed up for holidays and sports events:I'm lucky enough to get into the AI for free, as I'm a Chicago Public

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-80136246976764847432010-12-13T22:19:00.007-06:002010-12-18T07:08:40.552-06:00

I grew up on a farm in Kentucky, and lived in rural Arizona for most of my adult life. There are times, living in Chicago, when I marvel at man's power to create: opera stages, sky scrapers, train tracks, museum after museum. In rural life it's all about nature's creations: trees, rivers, rocks, sky. I'm still unaccustomed to city life, though I love it, in many ways prefer it. There are still

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-75870625485812167392010-12-06T20:36:00.002-06:002010-12-06T20:41:25.603-06:00

The last eight days, in no particular order.

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-79989018905750316602010-12-05T07:37:00.004-06:002010-12-05T08:00:19.933-06:00

It's hard to keep up with the blogging while writing the book (and all that goes with it: knitting the prototypes, swatching, shopping for yarns, designing), especially since the contents of the book are, at least for now, secret. I'm giving myself a year do to this project. I want to be finished by the end of summer 2011, and release around September of 2011. We'll see.In the meantime, here's a

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-31658547414306655082010-11-18T21:20:00.006-06:002010-11-19T10:59:16.603-06:00

Wouldn't this make an interesting intarsia knit? This was taken from the bridge to Canada just north of Detroit, and I know it's not much; I just really love the colors and funny little lines. I'm L.A.-bound for Thanksgiving. 2010 has taken me from Chicago to KY, London, Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, NYC (2x), Seattle, and now L.A. Safe travels to all of you if you're heading out to visit family

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-54458605142389284762010-10-24T20:05:00.005-05:002010-10-24T20:20:29.922-05:00

I've been purposefully looking for interesting textures of late, as texture is 1/3 of the spell involved a piece of fiber art becoming magic, in my opinion. The other 2/3s are evenly distributed amongst color and shape.These two are from designs for my in-progress knitwear pattern collection (the reason for my many prolonged blog silences of late, and the inspiration for this texture project):

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-80542415989843234192010-10-03T19:13:00.005-05:002010-10-03T19:49:13.352-05:00

#1. Acorns. Some with their hats still, and others who took theirs off (but did not lose them). Mr. Crafty picked these up at work (he works outdoors) to grow into bonsai. #2. Moccasin weather. I'm a big fan of the moccasin. Especially beaded and painted moccasins. These are House of Harlow 1960, headed up by Nicole Richie (sp?). I know she's hard to take seriously, but her shoes are friggin

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-31194127411183989122010-09-28T21:50:00.003-05:002010-09-28T22:05:23.603-05:00

It was a slow and lazy weekend in the Crafty household. Mr. Crafty made pancakes:I worked on my current tech editing projects and made some lectures for my history classes.On Sunday we took a walk through Chicago's loop to go to Loopy Yarns so Mr. Crafty could choose some yarn for his new sweater vest. Poor thing, though, he's going to have to wait about a month before I can get started. So much

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-84976791599514282702010-09-19T19:20:00.007-05:002010-09-19T20:15:29.278-05:00

Mr. Crafty and I are fond of old things. He, for instance, still wears the gym shorts he used in Middle School, and I have been known to patch my jeans until they are more patch than jean. Our dishes are either beautiful and antique or Goodwill randomness. Our towels were once our parents', and many of our clothes were, too. Our books were library-owned or second hand, and our furniture is

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-34613245916779971502010-09-12T12:02:00.004-05:002010-09-12T12:26:38.999-05:00

I've been hard at work on a secret knitting project, but I keep getting distracted by the possibilities of these lovely cross stitch pattern books from Bibliotheque (there should be an accent on that first "e") D.M.C.. You can read more about them here.They are hard to find in the U.S.. Purl Soho sells a few of them, but you can also buy them from their French publisher, Sajou.Sajou makes me want

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-24332179897749871092010-08-10T17:23:00.005-05:002010-08-10T21:03:16.841-05:00

This summer has involved a lot of to-ing and fro-ing: New York twice, a road trip through Canada, and a trip to London.I've been taking on several projects during this busy and wonderfully social time, but none are quite ready for their big reveal.I have, it seems, been inadvertently doing a study on red. Case in point #1:And #2 (that Liberty fabric even looks lovely on the wrong side, doesn't it

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-65483910748089131652010-07-27T13:46:00.005-05:002010-07-27T13:58:25.150-05:00

I've had this fabulous fabric sitting about for almost a year and decided to use it as a test run for the skirt I'm contemplating making with my Alexander Henry fabric from Purl Soho.I'm not all that pleased with how it turned out. It's a bit too bulky, I think, and I may still take it in. It's one of those super simple "do your own measurements, cut a square, sew two seams together, make a

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-7866176880037907792010-07-21T11:04:00.006-05:002010-07-22T08:52:26.875-05:00

Mr Crafty and I went on one of our epic road trips and one stop along the route was New York City, which is, as you all know, a mecca for fiber artists and clothing designers.I met up with the lovely and knowledgeable Beth Hahn, who took me to M&J Trim Shop. Let me tell you, it's a wonderland that takes up two store fronts. Buttons take up a whole wall, from floor to ceiling. There's an entire

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-81258522848421889232010-07-09T16:59:00.004-05:002010-07-10T07:49:12.140-05:00

Sorry for the silence. I've been away in London visiting friends.And hanging out with some plants and bees.I came home to a heat wave in Chicago. In a top floor apartment without air conditioning that means that it's really too hot to do much at home but lay about on the wood floor under the ceiling fan. The sweater I've been designing is just too much to think about, so I think my next Summer

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-27034273587849666522010-06-15T20:46:00.003-05:002010-06-15T21:04:15.930-05:00

The New York Times has been ripping the summer movies apart. Summer TV is a drag - something I have learned since acquiring a TV two years ago. This is, of course, because the weather is wonderful this time of year and there's really no excuse to be sitting around inside staring at screens.Unless, of course, you have a broken toe, like me. I'm pretty much relegated to sitting around these

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-4088229656370996412010-06-09T20:52:00.005-05:002010-06-09T21:22:26.302-05:00

So, I've got myself a broken pinkie toe. I didn't even break it doing anything interesting; I just took a tumble in my hallway during the middle of the night. I've considered telling folks I broke my toe roundhousing someone, but hardly think anyone would believe me. I very much wish I'd broken a finger rather than a toe, even though it would hinder my knitting and sewing. You see, we have a

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-10219995778228979742010-06-02T21:21:00.005-05:002010-06-02T21:55:36.690-05:00

My grandmother has been making corn bread in the same two cast iron pans since forever. She inherited them, even. I have no idea how old they are. All I know is that the best cornbread in the world comes out of them.I have never created the best cornbread in the world. In fact, cornbread continues to taunt me, coming out sour, soggy, dry, or just plain weird each and every time. Once Mr. Crafty

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-79479524201787952582010-05-22T12:15:00.009-05:002010-07-27T14:04:39.071-05:00

First, think about Hello Kitty as you know her. You probably come up with something like this:Simple, colorful. If you're like me, your first Hello Kitty associations are with children and items like notebooks and tote bags. Maybe a bright pink alarm clock, or something.Now think about Liberty of London. Your mind's eye pulls up something like this, right?Tiny flowers, well-matched and subdued

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-4106670144020150342010-05-09T19:08:00.004-05:002010-05-09T19:39:26.772-05:00

It's been cold here. It was in the 50s today, the 40s yesterday. Summer is digging in its heels and refusing to come to Chicago. That's fine by me. I'm a big fan of spring.Meanwhile, according to Bill Cunningham, New York has had soaring temperatures and all the gardens have bloomed prematurely, encouraging women at a garden fundraiser to turn their own hats into fabulous flower-like

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-72933212732082167112010-04-27T21:19:00.011-05:002010-04-27T22:17:08.655-05:00

Neither are you. This is something you learn quickly if ever you make your own clothes. I, for instance, have a long torso and very short legs. My hips are two inches larger than a standard size four, and my waist is one inch smaller. My left shoulder is higher than my right, and the space between the top of my ribs and my shoulders is about two inches shorter than the average person's. Still, my

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-82663630337229922222010-04-22T07:52:00.007-05:002010-04-22T16:22:08.957-05:00

There's a certain spirit knitwear designers have; I've found they're a fearless sort who enjoy obstacles and aren't terribly afraid of failure. Perhaps that's what draws them to knitting in the first place. As all knitters know, it's not uncommon to spend a month making something slowly, slowly, watching as a piece of string is transformed with the power of fingers, magic, and math, only to find,

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-30281226603840876852010-04-12T20:17:00.005-05:002010-04-12T21:22:25.907-05:00

I'm in the middle of tons o' project and collaborations, all of which aren't quite ready for their unveilings, so I hope you'll accept another list of my favorite things in place of this blog's standard fare.We live on the fourth floor (which is actually the third floor here in Chicago, as the first floor is called "the garden level"), and our trees are the first on the block to bloom. Lucky us!

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-57771326330398626822010-04-02T09:51:00.007-05:002010-04-02T12:07:58.907-05:00

1. I love fancy dinners at my grandmother's house. She makes so many dishes that they overflow off the edge of her giant sideboard, so the salads (yes, plural) and desserts (again, plural) each get their own tables. The desserts are always on the sun porch. Here's about half of what was offered:The lovely tart was my mother's contribution, made by a friend of hers who also makes amazing cookies.

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-23732589625486137362010-03-21T18:49:00.006-05:002010-03-21T20:02:15.495-05:00

I must begin with an apology about the quality of the photograph in this post. Rest assured, the recipe in question produces a wonderful product; it's just hard to photograph soup at night. Mr. Crafty's response to the photo was a half-laugh-half-"eeeew!," so I can't imagine yours will be much better.On St. Patrick's Day everything around these parts was green. Even the Chicago river.Some green

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-72551535993080711332010-03-15T19:58:00.010-05:002010-03-15T23:00:54.410-05:00

Though I am an English teacher, I don't own many books. I live in a fourth story walk-up, and the memory of carrying everything up those stairs is still very much alive. I know that everything up here must someday go back down and on to elsewhere. And man, those boxes of books were the heaviest. Still, I have been trolling Chicago's many used book stores and come up with a book I couldn't leave

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-10740939818193420542010-02-28T11:39:00.006-06:002010-03-01T07:47:00.276-06:00

I am a fan of cute food and I am a fan of small food. Luckily, each lends itself to the other.Over the weekend I made these:These are banana muffins that are about 2x2x2. In retrospect, I should have put something larger next to them for perspective. Oh well. Next time.There are books out there for small batch cooking and baking, and special tools, too. but I tend to use the regular recipes from

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-53321636330923392202010-02-21T19:11:00.004-06:002010-02-21T19:22:42.882-06:00

Mr. Crafty's garter stitch scarf is coming along nicely. Of course, the only thing he has to decide is which color from the scrap bag to use next.I, on the other hand, am having a harder time. See, I made the bottom hem of this sweater I'm designing with a fold-over hem, but I wanted an over-sized cuff for the sleeves. An oversized fold-over cuff would be too clunky, but a ribbed cuff wouldn't

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-70741220299093771452010-02-17T21:41:00.006-06:002010-02-17T21:57:23.050-06:00

My family always sends the best care packages. Look at what my grandmother sent:Gingerbread men from the family's favorite bakery and a Biltmore pattern tea cup. I heart tea cups. No really.My mother sent me a fabulous Valentine's Day package, too. But I'm ashamed to say that Mr. Crafty and I... uh... ate all of it. In short order.

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-58987857723597081742010-02-13T09:45:00.003-06:002010-02-13T09:52:11.268-06:00

1. Mango pancakes. To make, cut up the flesh of one mango into small bits (.25-.5 in. cubes). Add to your favorite pancake recipe or mix. Eat with honey.2. Falling mice. They hurt lots less than falling ice.

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-83143426564919425502010-02-08T19:29:00.004-06:002010-02-08T20:04:34.626-06:00

My friend Summer and I used to make carrot soup when we were about 18, both living on our own for the first time. We've had time to perfect it since then. It's certainly a good, simple meal for the skint and skinny. It's also a speedy, hearty dish that makes a wonderful addition to a more grown-up dinner and translates well for lunch the following day. Tasty warm or cold, it's a year-round

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-86736284004650522922010-01-31T17:03:00.005-06:002010-01-31T17:18:43.768-06:00

I finally found the time to finish up this bad boy (or bad babe, as the case may be):It's the Beignet Skirt from Colette Patterns, sewn up in Echino fabric from Superbuzzy. Sorry it's a wee bit rumpled in the photos. I didn't want to wait to wash and press it, so I just trimmed the threads and put it on. The tailor's chalk lines are still visible, even. I know: tsk, tsk.I'm very pleased with the

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-88864399949497151272010-01-19T21:29:00.011-06:002010-01-21T09:14:55.277-06:00

The Annette Shawlette!The object y'all got a little taste of last week is finished, and the pattern is up on Ravelry.The yarn is Schaefer's Miss Priss; the color is "chamomile."The ribbon came from Superbuzzy. It was not my first choice - of which there wasn't enough, alas! - but I'm pleased all the same.As always, all assistance comes free from the designer (moi!). Any inquiries regarding the

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-30925265147373059442010-01-09T21:58:00.006-06:002010-01-09T22:13:37.886-06:00

After my first full week back at work after the holidays, I'm wondering how I ever did it all! Designing, editing, teaching, reading, sleeping, socializing, eating, cooking, hanging out with Mr. Crafty... Anyone else out there equally amazed with him/herself?Of late, in our spare time we've been focusing mainly on the knitting. And in the last couple of days we've managed to narrow that focus

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-40522168560159899112009-12-30T09:31:00.004-06:002009-12-30T10:10:01.438-06:00

Sorry to go all MIA. It's amazing how much time and energy the holidays consume, yes?We went into a baking frenzy early last week before heading down to Kentucky to spend the holidays with my family. The marshmallows turned out remarkably well!I do agree with Angry Chicken, though. Homemade marshmallows taste best when they've been "aged" a bit. We also made candied Buddha's hand, pumpkin loaf,

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-22727983082588583472009-12-14T20:38:00.007-06:002009-12-14T21:32:01.412-06:00

Mr. Crafty's coming home with me for Christmas, and in honor of this I had to fix his pajamas. We always spend Christmas in our most ridiculous pajamas (and I think you can agree that ain't much more ridiculous than flannel robots and monkeys in tandem) , eating yummy food and drinking mimosas whilst opening presents. It's pretty awesome. It'd be less awesome if Mr. Crafty had to spend the day

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-43027587489427926772009-12-07T19:42:00.009-06:002009-12-07T20:05:46.913-06:00

I have so many super secret projects at the moment that I'm almost at a loss as to what to share! I hope you'll be satisfied with some of my rambles through the holiday season thus far.First, I made out like a bandit at the winter Renegade fair:The little birdhouse is one of three I bought off my friend Amy, of Red Raven Studios. My gorgeous new necklace was made by the amazing Faryn Davis, of of

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-25286393274838928872009-11-29T19:15:00.009-06:002009-11-29T20:34:19.844-06:00

This all begins long, long ago. Not really that long ago; I just used that as a hook. Really, it began three years ago when right after graduate school I got an awesome job at a private school in Jackson, Mississippi. I rented a house in a cute art district, settled in, and got to know the neighbors' cats. Little did I know I'd moved into a neighborhood a person such as myself really shouldn't

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-10822772275546575382009-11-24T18:23:00.006-06:002009-11-24T18:36:35.399-06:00

Oh, we had the loveliest of Saturdays. The memory of it is warming a small corner somewhere as it rains and is very Tuesday-ish here in Chicago.We spent the day wandering more or less aimlessly. We left the house in search of free cupcakes that had been advertised earlier in the week. We never found them. We didn't care. We saw the last dandelion of the season:Then we ate a hearty lunch:Mr.

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-45236125590973517282009-11-17T10:30:00.003-06:002009-11-17T10:40:55.994-06:00

... and I haven't been up to much but working. I've been tech editing, teaching, and studying, which hasn't left much time for crafting. I have a half-finished skirt waiting for a hem and buttonholes, and a 1/3 of a sweater waiting for arms and the rest of its body.I have had time to do some fun things, though. Things like updating my kitchen with awesome new measuring cups:The predecessor to

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-53369190539101050662009-11-08T15:00:00.004-06:002009-11-08T17:44:41.808-06:00

This is a great, cheap autumnal treat. Mr. Crafty and I make it a few times every year. The squash is cooked in such a way that it allows you to eat the skins, if desired. The cranberry sauce is hand made. The stuff from the can could certainly be used, but this sauce is a quick make that can be doubled and used for other elements of the meal if desired.Sorry for the sad photograph. It's hard

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-42046690122222256302009-10-27T19:04:00.008-05:002009-10-27T19:35:23.865-05:00

I do quite a bit of tech editing for independent designers, and a couple companies. I am often bound to secrecy with many of these projects: the designers don't want any leaks getting out along the way!Last month, though, I came across a job that was just so cool I had to let you know about it and the brain behind it. Beth Hahn is the creator of the Miss Flitt series of knitting patterns and

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-27072593499364479912009-10-18T20:23:00.006-05:002009-10-18T20:46:12.876-05:00

I had never had French onion soup before: it has a beef stock base, not vegetarian friendly. Mr Crafty would often order it at restaurants, and I would jealously watch as he dipped his spoon through the crispy cheesy crust. I would jealously breathe in the soup's hearty scent, and look sadly at my salad.OK, maybe it wasn't as dramatic as all that. Maybe I wasn't quite that jealous, not twice in

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-87430311949572075872009-10-12T08:58:00.004-05:002009-10-12T22:07:05.733-05:00

It takes forever to knit a sweater in the round! Or, that's how it feels sometimes. You can knit for hours and hours and only get two vertical inches. Of course, you've just knit 20 horizontal inches, but that doesn't have the same motivational pull.You know what else takes forever? Knitting a foldover hem. I'm fond of them, as they are the kind of dressmaker's detail that makes a handmade

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-22468955904493004112009-10-05T20:59:00.005-05:002009-10-05T21:55:18.777-05:00

Sorry in advance for the uninspired photos...I'm in the middle of many projects at the moment, none of them terribly interesting yet. Rather than bore you with the details, I figured I'd show you some old things.(Really) old thing #1:A pair of vintage embroidered pillowcases. My wonderful mother got me these at a junk shop in Frankfort, Kentucky. I don't know how old they are. Maybe the fifties?

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-473141243454093292009-09-27T16:21:00.006-05:002009-09-27T16:37:04.873-05:00

I'm starting a new project: a sweater made out of the lovely Rowan DK below. I'll be selling the pattern eventually, and surely blogging about it a lot more as it progresses, as I always find the opinions of my readers so helpful.In fact, I'm going to ask y'all your opinions right now. Which buttons? The buttons in question would be a detail for a sleeve cuff, not for the front of the sweater.

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-71687843822734498622009-09-19T19:52:00.006-05:002009-09-19T21:00:16.791-05:00

I used to have one of those houses where everyone hung out. We never locked the back door, and folks would come over any old time for any old thing. We'd have potlucks and hang out on the kitchen floor for hours. We'd sit by the wood burning stove and drink beer, or coffee, or tea all weekend. When people were in between homes they'd sleep on my floor, when they had fights with their partners

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-40728891544821287402009-09-10T18:11:00.006-05:002009-09-11T08:07:19.276-05:00

I got a new camera. Look at what it can do!Mr. Crafty and I were going to head up to the wilds of Michigan for the Labor Day weekend, but one raging head cold and a couple of very full proverbial plates mandated that we stay closer to home.It was Mr. Crafty who had the idea and found the place. It seemed a little early in the year to me, but clearly there's already great bounty on the trees.Each

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-41820681147162013522009-09-01T18:05:00.004-05:002009-09-01T21:37:41.432-05:00

I finished this ages ago. Long time readers will remember its beginnings from sometime last March, and little micro updates from last August. Yeesh!All that time paid off, though, since I'm thrilled with the final result:The short rows at the the waist and the clever changes in needle sizes are what made this cardigan a fun knit. The end result is clean and classic; and though there are miles of

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-89117502314410656912009-08-23T20:09:00.011-05:002010-02-13T19:18:59.374-06:00

I've been reading this crazy interesting book about Betty Crocker. I'm planning a detailed paper/blog post on the subject, but let me tell you: I'm sort of falling in love. Still, I do share the sentiment of Louisette Bertholle's character in the movie, Julie and Julia. When encountering a recipe from the very book in my hand, she exclaimed, "What eez Marshmallow Fluff?!" My grandmother owned a

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-3708651791465537702009-08-15T15:35:00.013-05:002009-09-15T09:15:13.470-05:00

The last roommate Mr. Crafty and I had before deciding that roommates were more trouble than they were worth was this girl from New York who had come to rural Arizona to "find herself."This entailed, amongst other things, getting super cheap mystery boxes of discards from the local CSA. I loved watching her go through her bounty every week. Looking at a bundle of turnip greens, she'd say, "What's

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-66012831188861857712009-08-10T09:04:00.013-05:002009-08-10T10:29:11.433-05:00

I'm working on an experimental project for Mr. Crafty. It's a tad secret, but I can show you this much. Does it look somewhat top of a tree-like to you? That's the idea. I rarely use variegated yarn, and when I do it tends to be involve lots o' plain stockinette. I feel that's what best showcases the color. That, and the ever-changing colors sometimes detract from the focus on cables or lace with

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-61000408972266651062009-07-28T09:55:00.005-05:002009-07-29T18:57:05.885-05:00

I grew up in rural Kentucky. At eighteen moved to rural Arizona, where I lived for the better part of a decade. My move to Chicago marked my first time living in a city. I'm continually amazed by it: by my 13 mile train commute that doesn't even cover the city's width or breadth, by the fact that a new business opens in this place every day, by the gorgeous old buildings, and the public gardens.

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-44977704836447221932009-07-22T11:28:00.018-05:002009-07-22T18:32:48.838-05:00

I LOVE a bargain. Come shopping with me: I'll find you the Blahniks for $89 and that authentic Wedgewood platter with a dollar sticker on it in the junk shop. I've got the eye for it, as they say. I've got a red-blooded American's hunger for it, too, and I'm proud of it! I may be a vegetarian, public transportation taking, long haired, yoga trained English teacher, but my love of bargains unites

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-4634650747951108232009-07-16T10:37:00.009-05:002010-01-20T21:56:44.202-06:00

You know when it's the perfect time to publish a pattern for a winter hat? The middle of summer. Well, duh! For real, though, I just couldn't wait. I was too excited.At any rate, the Beatrice Hat is up and available to all y'all. I'm still working on getting it up as a Ravelry pattern, but that's a super complicated process. Anyone who has done it before got any tips? Edit: The pattern is now

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-79786879016889220972009-07-06T08:57:00.006-05:002009-07-06T09:59:05.473-05:00

I have another little article in Parasol. It's all about cute little things.Go take a look!

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-20165054939936161182009-06-24T09:32:00.006-05:002009-06-24T10:35:13.642-05:00

Dowries are decidedly creepy, yes? They turn marriage into something more akin to a business transaction. I've always been a fan of the trousseau, though; that set of embroidered linens a girl began working on at a very young age, waiting for the day the special objects would be used on the bed she was to share with her husband.One of my oldest friends was married over the weekend. He's a

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-44930356303169234052009-06-18T20:07:00.005-05:002009-06-19T11:07:35.380-05:00

Hi, folks!I'm working on an article for Parasol, and would love your help.Tell me, why do you, personally, like small things? Small, not entirely practical things, like what follows.So many of these tiny things are food related. Why is that?tofu plushieAnd here's a food related micro thing that you can wear.kid's bento lunch ringMustaches are in. Largish, Tom Selleck-like mustaches are in, in

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-3858514177103850732009-06-15T14:44:00.006-05:002009-06-15T15:27:58.223-05:00

Life has been exploding around the Crafty household. There have been weddings to attend (and thus, wedding gifts to make), new jobs offered and taken, new projects on the burners and old ones progressing (ever so slowly). Due to all this, I missed a week of blogging. I've missed you all!I have finished projects to show, but, alas, my camera has gone the way of the wandering sailor. Perhaps he

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-28920243483948755952009-06-02T10:11:00.008-05:002009-06-02T19:55:51.974-05:00

I should be knitting. I've got this project that's been sitting around unfinished for FOREVER. Does that ever happen to you all? Surely it does. I probably shouldn't beat myself up.But you know what I've been doing instead? Sewing. And you know what's SO satisfying about sewing? The super fast results. Buying the fabric takes longer than making the dress! Knitting a sweater takes a week at the

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-16713413161863689412009-05-27T11:57:00.005-05:002009-05-27T13:14:51.150-05:00

I've been going nuts with the Japanese fabric, lately. I've got lots to say and show with regards to that, but in this case I think I should begin at the beginning.You see, it all started with a quest for oilcloth. Mr. Crafty and I have been much better about taking our lunches to work, but have had some problems with leaking containers. I decided to experiment with oilcloth rather than turn to

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-31949653599184146392009-05-17T19:51:00.009-05:002009-05-18T12:22:51.637-05:00

Many moons ago I read about how to make your own dress form out of duct tape. You, too, can read the article. Look over here.Many moons before that, when Mr. Crafty and I were in the very early stages of misty eyed romance, a friend of a friend was finishing her senior year college art project, which involved hundreds of gold spray painted plaster casted breasts. She set up shop in the metal

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-8200308382670533122009-05-08T13:07:00.005-05:002009-05-13T11:04:00.577-05:00

I was busy writing a post about being a guest at a wedding, when I realized that I needed to tell y'all about this:That's the Tower of Flames scarf designed by Laura Nelkin of Nelkin Designs. I test knit this baby, and can't believe how gorgeous it looks in these photos.It's a funny thing, test knitting. You create something all lovely and beautiful with your own two paws, babying it and helping

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-10207955613479109372009-05-01T11:18:00.010-05:002009-05-03T01:18:33.512-05:00

Results: Most of the votes from the previous post were for numbers 1 and 7. Y'all have good taste, you know that? I'm still undecided, but I agree with all of your comments regarding your suggestions and the reasoning behind them. I've got some time, yet, though, since I'm still knitting away at the Flutter Sleeve Cardigan. That moss stitch trim is just taking forever because I can't focus on it

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-78408356157226312912009-04-22T12:50:00.013-05:002009-04-23T22:16:04.251-05:00

You all probably don't know this, but I have many, many jobs. Not in the, like, "I'm a mom who goes to work and is an awesome wife and daughter - oh, by the way, did I mention I play tennis?" sense. Those ladies have my respect, but no, it's not like that at all. It's more like: "Crap, it's 6:45 in the morning. I need to leave the house NOW so I can get to Job #1 on time and, thus, leave by 4 in

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-15757927583454715362009-04-13T12:56:00.010-05:002009-04-15T10:54:24.742-05:00

I know, I know. I've been told many times that vegetarian pho is a contradiction in terms. Still, the fact remains that I don't eat meat, and I don't see why all the omnivores should always get all the pho fun. I mean, really.For those not in the know, pho is this amazing Korean dish that involves a tasty beef or chicken broth, rice noodles, and oodles of yummy vegetables and fresh herbs. Throw

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-42972544674253545272009-04-06T10:41:00.012-05:002009-04-06T11:20:44.175-05:00

I'm working on a lot of secret projects these days. Secret knitting (You'll get to see it soon!), secret cooking, secret sewing, secret printing. I thought that, given all this secrecy, I'd take this opportunity to share some of my favorite handmade things made by others.1.Photo from A Foothill Home Companion.This pretty object comes with a ready-made tutorial. Give it a look.2.Photo from

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-49879550264204232142009-03-30T09:02:00.006-05:002009-03-30T13:27:50.140-05:00

It is so hard to figure out what to wear in Spring, as it is more like a teenager than the other seasons, constantly changing its identity, swooping between sixty and snow in the course of an evening. On my morning commutes, I've been seeing all kinds of outfits: sweet little flats with no socks paired with a sleeping bag-like down coat, or a little beret and huge scarf worn with a t-shirt and a

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-83626867088602015812009-03-23T11:48:00.018-05:002009-03-25T10:01:34.614-05:00

You know how cherry pie almost always turns into a kind of de facto cobbler, because the middle never sets? And you know how some pies, especially fruit pies, can cost a small fortune to create? And how, in addition to all that, it takes forever to make the crust mix/grate/buy all of those ingredients? Well, I've found a solution.May I present: Lazy Lady Cherry Pie. Total cost: $7.00.No runny

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-75631498350144058552009-03-16T08:43:00.009-05:002009-03-16T09:56:37.940-05:00

Lately I've been wanting to eat nothing but Asian soups. I realize that's vague, but my tastes really have wandered from Thom Yum to Pho to Miso. Going in search of the necessary ingredients for these soups (lemongrass, Thai chilis, or soba noodles, for instance) has brought me to some fascinating discoveries.Discovery #1: Bento boxes. Man, did you ever think lunch could be this cute?If you're

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-32477765748777092712009-03-04T11:50:00.009-06:002009-03-04T12:12:18.455-06:00

Poor Mr. Crafty, his hand knitted winter accessories totally don't match. As Madame Yarn Harlot has discovered, this marks him as either a knitter, or the significant other of a knitter.He's been asking for a hat with earflaps for years, and I finally got around to making him one. See?Let me remind you what his mittens look like.Now, I've shaken off my prep school roots, and can wear navy with

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-28737825459870064842009-02-27T15:18:00.006-06:002009-03-02T14:44:10.177-06:00

... but then I remembered my promise of a post sans food. The lemon/cranberry oat scones will just have to wait. Mr. Crafty wasn't too keen on them anyway, and that's often a sign of a mediocre end product.I've been quiet because things have been busy. I had my review at the community college where I teach English, got a "here comes Spring" crud, and I've been test knitting like a madwoman. All

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-39452573845056368982009-02-18T10:31:00.013-06:002009-02-18T14:49:10.633-06:00

Thanks for all the votes, folks. Berries with Mascarpone Cheese tied with Kentucky Cream Candy in the results, but neither were made in the Hadley house. I was feeling a little too lazy for the Kentucky Cream Candy, and I couldn't find any mascarpone cheese for the life of me. Where do you all obtain such a product? I live in one of the largest cities in the U.S.; I'm sure it's here somewhere.At

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253241635230813694.post-29320638760339944132009-02-12T10:13:00.007-06:002009-02-12T11:04:35.394-06:00

I can't decide what to make Mr. Crafty for Valentine's Day. We have a tradition in the Hadley household: when there is a birthday or a holiday I make sweets. Or something akin to sweets. Last year Mr. Crafty had to get tons o' dental work done around his birthday and requested an apple pie made without sugar. That was an interesting experiment. A word to the wise: don't try to sweeten pie with

Hadley Gets Craftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11020532380856973063noreply@blogger.com7