Saturday, April 20, 2013

Aromatherapy Shower Discs

You may have heard, there has recently been some stressful activities in Boston, MA, USA. I work in a public high school which was extremely impacted by these events. To offer some support for our care takers, I threw together a craft project inspired by a pin I saw on Pinterest.


The pin I started from didn't offer much in the way of measurements. I used about two boxes of baking soda, and about a cup of water. I then added lavender and chamomile oils liberally.
 Close for a view of the consistency.

 This was the outcome.






Finally, the card I'll put in front of the individually wrapped discs.  (I plan to wrap them in cellophane and leave them in a bowl.)
One of my mentors in graduate school recently fell ill. In an effort to alleviate her discomfort, I put together this care package: 100% alpaca blanket, and aromatherapy hot/cold packs. Directions for hot/cold packs here. I used whole flaxseed, chamomile and lavender essential oils. 








Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Breaking it on Down!


I am really bad at finishing knitting projects that I start unless I have a clear deadline; not coincidentally, I generally get very little time to sleep the last couple of days before something needs to be finished. I am making an effort to change this habit.

Several months ago I started knitting a shawl, and then got to a point where wedding plans were a much higher priority. This has left me with a shawl that is less than half way done. Now that I am married and have more time to spare, I am trying to finish this shawl. Instead of just giving myself a final deadline, which really doesn’t work when I am knitting for myself, I have given myself a daily goal.

I have decided that in order to finish by the time the weather turns cool, I need to finish 10 rows a day. This may seem like a ridiculously small goal until you realize that my rows are somewhere close to 200 stitches. 10 rows takes me pretty much the length of a Red Sox game to complete (yea, multitasking!)

I am excited to see how well my daily goals work for me. I know by the time my rows are almost 300 stitches across I may have to revise my initial daily row requirements. Check back for updates soon!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Back to knitting!

After a way too long hiatus, I am back to knitting (planning a wedding and knitting just didn't mesh). I have yet to produce much, but I am working on finishing my prairie shawl and making a few gifts. I will update with photos and progress sometime this week.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Store Review: Stitch House in Dorchester

Today I made my second trip ever to Stitch House.  It is a cozy little shop located in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston.  Part of my visit was to pick up a crochet hook for my class that is starting this week (I admit it; I got a major case of hook envy and signed up for a class!); the other part of my visit was to pick up some yarn for my newest project.  I am starting to knit a triangular shawl.  

The shop is incredibly cute and the customer service is very good.  The women who work there take the time to help those of us who need/want help, and they leave those who are peacefully searching for inspiration to just soak in the sight of many beautiful yarns.  

 If you are looking for inexpensive acrylics, you may not be in luck at this venue, but there is no shortage of beautiful yarns to choose from at this lys.  Over all I had a wonderful experience at Stitch House, and to top it off, I got a wonderful free reusable tote in which to carry my purchases.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Store Review

After almost 15 years of crocheting I've decided to try and teach myself to knit. On my way to volunteering last night I decided if I saw a parking spot near Woolcott and Co. a local yarn store (lys) in Cambridge, MA, I'd stop in and get the knitting accouterments I needed to begin. I passed the store and thought it was not my night, only to find a spot right next to my stop light!

So out I pop in this freezing cold New England weather, into the warmth of Woolcott and Co. (As an aside -lys always seem warmer, perhaps its the natural insulations of the walls of yarn!) I walk in an instantly the cashier asks if I need any help. I tell her that I'm making a transition, and she offers plenty of suggestions, but doesnt push any particular item.

Over all, I would recommend Woolcott's customer service, but be aware the yarns are pricey. Its where I got the lunar blanket yarn. They have some absolutely beautiful yarns, but be cautious if you are watching your pennies so your dimes and dollars will watch themselves.