well, maybe not

So the failure in process for the making knife scales ended up with a couple of very pretty bolsters.  The boyos were pretty excited.  They also felt the material I made from fiberglass resin polished up nicer then some of the resin scales they get from other companies. 

It will be interesting to see how everything moves forward.  I actually started another loaf of this material with different colors.  The biggest problem is the fumes that come off of it!

I also worked on a chefs roll this week.  It is a custom order.  It took almost a whole cow hide and felt like a body work out to maneuver the leather while I was sewing it.  The boyos want one for stock and maybe one for knife transport.

It turned out really well.  It has room for eight knives.  All with fairly large handles.  It can fit a knife that is a about 17 inches long.  I also put in a pocket for storage and four pen holders.  The pen holders can hold a sharpie which is used a lot in a professional kitchen.

It closes with straps and D rings.  It also has a shoulder strap.  I was worried about the measurements for that strap but I thought it fit me well.

It was nice to make something other then face masks.  But I kind of would like to make something even more creative.  As I told my Dad today, I may not work full time but I work every day. 

I would like to take some time to play with plant dyes.  It has been on the back burner since face mask production started.  I am also trying to spin more and dye fiber.  All the autumn fiber fairs I am insterested in are virtual.  Which I just cannot do.  It is part of my normal autumn so I have to figure out how to do autumn without them.  And have it feel right.  Maybe I will read the book Tam Lin.  That book has an autumnal feel to me.

catastrophic failure

I have been playing with resin to make knife scales.  That is what the bits are called before they are put on a knife to become a  handle.  It has been interesting.  I do get to play with color.  I get a chance to make a contribution to the business.  But the first pass was a catastrophic failure.  The containers I was mixing resin in lost their bottoms and there was resin all over the counter.  But one bolster set was had.  

I started another batch of resin this last week.  It did not fail in the form of eating the containers so I got the resin into the silicone mold.  It is fiberglass resin so I do not need to put it into a vacuum pot or a pressure pot.  Just wait.  It is very smelly though so it is in the Tea House setting.  I will see how it comes out later this week.  I have a feeling once the smell dissipates, it will be close to hard.  I will see what that one looks like.  I am going to change the resin I am working with but that requires a vacuum.  It is on its way.

Contributing is good.  But I admit that when I am looking at colors, I am really looking at plants more.  On my walks in the morning, I am looking at seed pods and wondering what they would do on fabric.  My thoughts are I might of Koda Bear experiment with me.  I may also take some fabric to my Dad's with me next week and see what could happen. 

I am also waiting for plums to ripen so I can make jam.  The plum jam is a toast favorite but it is also an ingredient I have started to use in savory dishes.  I need to see how much I can make.  I have started to see how many bushes I can find on my walk.

My weeks have been such that I am wondering what this one will bring.

sharpening

I am still learning sharpening.  There is always a new tool to learn what to do with.  I am just glad that when I am being the most frustrated, I normally get told now that someone with more experience did not do any better.  

Axes are something I have just added to my repetoire.  The surge of throwing axes as a support has meant more axes need care.  I do not do all the care yet but I do sharpen them.  My Beloved actually joined a league.  Koda Bear wants to but is not old enough so he practices in the backyard and scorekeeps on Sundays.  I just laugh.  I usually drive over with them and walk home.  It is part of why my life keeps getting busier.  I am not going to turn my nose up at business!

One of the next things I am going to learn to sharpen are clipper blades.  I actually need to do that out of town but I will schedule that after the next trip to my Dad's.  Small steps.

chef rolls

My life seems to be revolving around what the boyos need for the shop.  I have been making chef rolls.  Different sizes.  Different upscaled fabrics.  I having been using a lot of coats.

Some of the coats are easier to work with then others.  This autumn leafed one was horrible!  The leather was appliquéd to fabric to get the texture and to sew through it again was difficult.  But it turned out well.  Now, whether it will sells or not is always the question.

This one has been my favorite so far.  It is waxed cotton and wool.  I have to admit that I really like working in waxed cotton and have started to go down that road of how do I make it myself.  I have a bunch of canvas around that I could play with.  Or, I could go to the thrift store and find pants that would work.  

The chef rolls are both in inventory at my Etsy shop and Serenity Knives, if anyone is interested.

The sharpening truck idea may have gotten turned on its head.  Which is okay.  I just have to figure out what is next.  It means I may need to take apart what I have already done.  And I have been asked to build a new display table since new knives have come into the shop.  I am hoping to get lumber for that so I can build on Thursday.  I am still practicing sharpening for them too.  Next year may mean more hours sharpening.

Yes, I know Thursday is Thanksgiving but it is going to be untraditional.  We are having salmon pie with salad and pumpkin pie.  I like turkey but there is no reason to go through all that trouble for two.  I have also been playing with bread recipes.  Because I can.  But that does not mean I am making rolls for Thanksgiving dinner!

waxed cotton and leather

Life has been crazier since I added in helping the boyos with Serenity Knives.  Yesterday,  I drove for eight hours to deliver knives, four hours each way.  The quiet was nice.  Being alone was nice.  Going someplace different was nice.  Being anemic did not make it easy.  I am taking my iron but still!  I just feel like there is little slowing down time.  There will be later in the week just because I will be on a jet plane.  I am off to a wedding and a fiber fair.  Yeah!

I did take a break on the way home and get food.  At a resturaunt I like in Austin.  I walked around a neighborhood to stretch my legs.  I took pictures of garden ideas I like.  As much as I like the wildness, having a decayed granite front yard also appeals to me.  I did go into a few shops just because.  Because I did not feel like I was dragging anyone with me and I could.

But busy is the norm.  For example, I have three different types of bread in process in my kitchen currently.  There is laundry in the machine.  I have been working on the computer.  There is a small beast who is taking a nap and I am listening for.  Blue has started to consistently roll over so listening must be more deliberate.  

Over a year ago, I was asked to start making chef's rolls by the boyos.  I did make a few.  In fabric, they are a lot of work.  They took a bit to sell so it was hard to be motivated to make them.  But then I made my traveling bag.

I have two waxed cotton dusters in the closet.  Leather scraps.  I put together a chef's roll.  It is a bit wonky because I was cutting a coat apart.  But it can hold seven knives and a spoon.  It has one of the original pockets from the coast as well as a leg band.  The boyos will have it in stock and I put it in my Etsy store as well to see what happens.  Who knows!  

I keep thinking I should put my quilts on Ebay to see what people will really spend.  If you are interested, make me an offer.  The meditation piece of those alone are worth it.

I will not be around this space later this week and next.  Family, traveling, and fiber.  I keep thinking I need to travel more this year.  It is possible but we will see.  I have a kitchen nook and a sharpening truck to build.  I may end up building myself a traveling truck!