Musings on the modern purpose of Aprons

Go check out my musings on the modern purpose of aprons here at the Flirty Apron Swap, where I was invited to be a blog author.

Head Covering Styles

I don't cover my hair all the time, for practical purposes (I feel like I need a few more scarves and kerchiefs etc to do so, though I'm trying. I also forget sometimes. But once I'm out, boy do I ever remember all day long.). I do feel that G-d wants me to cover my hair. Why He wants me to cover my hair, I have no clue, as I'm not married, and Jewish women usually only cover their hair after marriage, regardless its clear to me that He does. But this isn't meant to be an explanation about why I cover. I know why I cover, because it feels right. That's enough for me. I've had some questions about HOW I cover though and that's what I'm here to answer. I took the pics and uploaded them to my comp, but because there are so many, I want to make them into a nice little chart/graphic thing, and gimp sucks, and its 4 am. So pics will come later. (Did I mention gimp sucks and I miss photoshop. anyone have a copy of CS2 sitting around they want to give me? jk. though I really would adore if you did.... lol)

Covering 1: for those days when any more covering seems inappropriate, and a kerchief is too informal. A wide, pretty headband. I don't feel that the headband in the pic quite "does it" I'd like something cloth and a bit wider. For now, that's what I have, until I make some other headbands.

Covering 2. For everyday occasions of a less casual sort. A kerchief. I don't have a pic, my kerchiefs are in labor and the wash. maybe pics later

Covering 3. For Sabbeth. I have one other covering I wear this way, and would like to make a mantilla to wear like this but haven't figured out how to make it. any ideas? (oh, btw, this is actually a rebozo. aka babycarrying device aka midwives tool aka scarf from Mexico. gotta love it :D) Its just draped over my head. Really only good for praying or meditating. Can't do anything at all active in it.

by the way, I really have clothes on in that pic, I just couldn't get it right so they showed.

Covering 4. Simple easy scarf tie with a rectangle scarf. This is one of those things. Like making a peanut butter and jelly sand which. There are a million pics to show you how to do it. In words, it takes forever. It takes about 30 seconds or less to tie, and is super easy.

You fold the scarf over (so its long and thin). Fold it in half then in half again. Put the middle on top of your head, with the side with the edges of the cloth facing forwards. Tie it tightly behind your head, like a headband. Tighten. Take the upper, forward facing edge of the cloth, and unfold it back. Tighten the knot. Make sure it is firm. Voila! (This method of doing it originated because just tieing the scarf into that position to start with ends up with the tightness of the scarf, its "secure point" being the vertical back of your head. Which logically, isn't very secure. by tightening it and making it secure on the horizontal top of your head, it stays secure better.) This is not a very very very secure tie, but will stand up to doing dishes, walking around, light hiking. I haven't tried it with more vigorous activity. How to pics later.

Covering 5. This is the most complicated tie to tie, and the most secure, and my favorite. (If your hair is well pinned, in my experience, this covering doesn't come undone. If my hair is not well pinned, and my braids come down, the covering might or might not slide off.) there is an excellent demonstration here:http://www.tznius.com/cgi-bin/dutch.pl . I will also be giving my own:

Pinning long hair for optimal security:If your hair is not long enough to make braids, skip to the second part. If it is, make two braids, a la pippi longstockings (minus the wire coat hanger to keep them out of course). Take one braid, wrap it around your head and to the top of your head, and pin it securely. Take the other braid, wrap it the other way, and again, pin securely. You want a sort of crown thing. If your braids reach the top of your head, as mine do, be sure they are set back slightly from your forehead, as the coronet part of the scarf needs to go in front of them.

Tieing the scarf: Place the middle of the unfolded scarf over your head. It should cover the bottom of your hair (where it meets the scalp, not the length. Any short hair should be pinned or tucked up in some way. long hair should be braided up as above.), and come down about to your eyebrows in front. (It won't cover your hairline unless you want it to eventually, but to start, it does.) Take the two long ends, and grab them like you might grab two sections of hair before making pigtails, at the nape of your neck. Tie them once, snugly. Take one end, then the other, and twist them until the twist tightly fills the length of the end. Take one end and wrap it over your head like a coronet, like you did with the braids. take the other end, wrap it up, and tie them once at the top of your head, snuggly. Tuck then nice and tight to your head, up to the braids. Take one end and tuck it under and under and under, wrapping it around the tie that is close to your head (continuing to wrap in a circle, not wrapping it back on itself.). You can twist it first or not. Tuck the other end under. If you want, scoot the edge that is over your forehead over one ear, then the other, then up above your hairline, or to where it is desired. Voila. How to pics later.

The tale of Kerchief

Meet Kerchief. Picture here.
Kerchief started life out as a beautiful sheer cotton green curtain. Kerchief probably enjoyed a nice long life hanging in front of someone's window, filtering their living room light a beautiful shade of green. Of course, its possible that kerchief's life as a curtain was short and excruciating, being ridiculed for his color, burned by the sun, and pulled at by his owner's son. But I like to think he had a nice long life there, with no painful fading.

Kerchief then was unceremoniously dumped in his owner's goodwill bag, and brought to the San Rafael Goodwill. He sat around in back for a few weeks, before being put on a hanger, missing a tag, a doomed fate for a goodwill curtain. Luckily for hanger, a week or so ago, I was browsing through the linens, and found Kerchief there, looking lonely and beautiful and ready for his next life as a Kerchief. I took him to the register along with a tablecloth (50/50 cotton/poly blend) fated for a new life as kitchen towels (the poly part isn't ideal, but it is exactly the weight and weave and I'd already bought it, so lets hope 50 percent cotton is enough to be absorbent, and remember to keep it from heat sources.), some tan pillow cases of unknown fate, and a blue and white paisley flat king sheet, also of unknown destiny. The cashier rung up Kerchief in all his glory for 2.49, without a price tag. ("Thank you Ganesh, remover of obstacles" says Kerchief. Which would not be suitable for most Kerchiefs bound for the heads of covering Jewish girls, but I'm not your average covering Jewish girl. well, with my 50/50 covering rate atm, I suppose I'm not really a covering girl yet either. regardless.)

Kerchief was brought home to a place with new smells ("is that a dog or a bear I smell?" I don't know, Kerchief. Its hard to tell by looking at him. The breeder swore he was a Newfoundland, but I think he's a black bear/Newfoundland mutt.), and lovingly placed in a strange white bin, with the other linens. Soap was poured on him, and he was submerged in cool water, as he worried whether his beautiful color would be tainted by these linens of unknown colorfastness. After a slightly painful experience being twisted this way and that, Kerchief was assured his color would remain, and was placed in a nice sauna, where he was bandied about light as a feather, in circles, with his new friends. Upon being freshly scrubbed, Kerchief was laid over a lamp, and his sheerness photographed, as you saw, and then folded and left in a pile on the floor.

A week later, Kerchief (still in physical incarnation as a curtain, remember), had his ties cut, and ironed, and half of his body ironed. (Yes, I was lazy, and only ironed half of him, because despite being home and with access to an ironing board, I'm still ironing with a towel on the floor. Its easier to leave in my room, where my sewing machine is (here is a new pic of my new friend, finally. He (sorry with all the masculinizations, but Kerchief is so male, he refuses to be female, and a sewing machine named brother simply can't be a girl. The English language won't allow it. Don't worry, I'll get some nice feminine aprons on here soon. I've got one in the works, but decided Kerchief was more fun to write about tonight.))))

Kerchief's drapy self and his linguine self were photographed again, and then 3 pieces of his linguine self (formerly the curtain rod ties) were pined together, and hand sewn with black poly thread into one long kerchief tie. Because Kerchief was bought so cheaply, it was less expensive to figure out Kerchief's ideal shape using kerchief rather than muslin, so we started right in with him. Birth begins.

Note: Kerchief is still in in the birth process. Once he is born, the rest of his story will be told, with lots of new-born and mommy photos. :D

Real Food for Mother and Baby ARC giveaway

So I keep hearing about Nina Planck's book, Real Food for Mother and Baby, and I have to tell you, I really want to read this book. No, this is not a secret way for me to tell you I'm pregnant. I'm not, and I'm not planning on becoming pregnant for a little while, yet. But, I think that how to eat properly, and how to eat properly during the childbearing cycle is VITAL for everyone, particularly all fertile women. Plus, I am planning on becoming a midwife. Basically, I'm interested in real, healthy food, I'm interested in the childbearing cycle, put them together, and you KNOW you have an interesting subject for me. One which I may bore your ears off about later. For now, I'm just telling you how absolutely thrilled about the fact that Kelly the Kitchen Kop is giving away 3 hear it 3! ARCs of Real Food for Mother and Baby, here. And I want one. :D Pretty pretty please mr. random number generator. So go, check it out, but let me win a copy :P

Sorry about two posts about other blogs in one day.

Latest project

I haven't found my camera yet. I don't even know where to look right now. I do hope I'll find it. Or else I'll swing it old school style for the conference and take my 35 mm SLR. Which is a wonderful camera. i just always forget to get the film developed and its expensive to do so and then scan it an well its a pain. I CANNOT believe I actually want a nice digital camera. Its also not happening. Anyways. I did find a way to take color pictures for my blog (my webcam is only b&w). Its just expensive, laborious and poor quality. did I mention laborious?

So, here is my latest project. Latest as in I took it out from under the sewing machine's foot to take a picture for you, my dear reader. Any guesses as to what this strange thing sitting on my knee could be? I think I'll leave it a mystery for a while. no peeking at the name of the photo.

Here's a hint. Its for the Midwifery Today conference next week, and I'm planning on making several.
There is a second hint located in the picture, if you look very closely.
Of course, you could also cheat and look at the name of the photo. But who wants to be a cheater.

Sunday Laundry Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY!!!!

Who besides me is totally thrilled that the wonderful talented mama of Grosgrain Fabulous is now making women's clothes for giveaways?! I'm sure that there were other folks who just adored her stuff, but all of it was for little girls. Hopefully, G-d willing, someday, I'll have a little girl, and I don't right now. So all those cute clothes had to stay in my dreams. And now, she's making clothes for women. Anyways, I had this oh but I don't want to clutter up my blog with posts about other blogs, and its cute but would I wear it and and and. Until today. I saw herSunday Laundry Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY!!!! Well, I just had to enter. Its so amazingly adorable and retroy and just wow. I'm floored. I want it! lol. Maybe I really should try making myself some clothes.....

Barefoot with Persian Cucumbers!

Ok, so this post has very little to do with crafts. I'm starting to think that's better, a mixed subject blog. anyways, I had a pretty good day today.

I went for a hike in Tennessee Valley which was beautiful. Since I only have flip flops, and the muddiness of the trail meant my feet would get muddy anyways, I decided to keep my shoes clean and my feet muddy and go barefoot. It was so much fun. I went on the rhubarb trail, up to the bay area ridge trail, but not all of the ridge trail only a little portion.

I love the rhubarb trail, its a really lovely quite place, and yet close enough that you can sort of hear the rare passing car (but not see it) which is my excuse to comfort my mom who freaks at the idea of me hiking alone. The sound is quiet (and there aren't that many cars), and does not, overpower the loud creek, and the bird calls. And the snake who I heard slithering away from me. There are all kinds of fascinating plants along the trail (including a lot of poison oak, I'm not afraid of it.) I don't recognize most of them, but I wish I did. I keep trying to figure out the best way to learn them. I particularly want to learn which plants are edible and which are medicinal, just because its interesting knowledge.

I was thinking today, if I couldn't eat bought food, and I couldn't grow my own food, I'd be plum out of luck in the wrong season. It would take me a damn long time to learn how to hunt, and if it weren't berry season... well lets just say the only plants I recognized as very edible was dandelions. I believe that planting is edible, and I'd do so in an emergency, but I don't think its highly digestible. Now, I did see several plants and are useful medicinally, but I don't think they make great eating. I think I saw nettles, but I don't know. (those are also edible). Anyways, I'm not recommending finding dinner in your nearest National Park (since that's illegal), but its interesting to know. If you do decide to find dinner on a patch of private wilderness, remember, don't take more than 1/3 of any given plant (unless your trying to get to the roots) in which case, take less than 1/3 of the plants in a given area.

I have to say, I loved hiking barefoot. I highly recommend it. Particularly in the mud :D. Of course, if you have extreme sensitivity to poison oak, don't do it on the rhubarb trail. Because we won't know for a few days if I'm actually not super sensitive. (though I've walked it many times and been exposed to it a lot.) I'm not worried.

I was debating referencing the rhubarb trail, or leaving it as an unnamed trail, but I decided that sharing knowledge is a good thing. Just don't rush out and ruin my favorite track of a trail ok? Its funny the only google result that really refers to the trail for itself, is the one of a biker who broke his spine on the rhubarb trail. Now, anyone breaking their spine is not in the least funny, and I feel very sorry for the poor bloke. But, the funny part is, bikers aren't allowed on the rhubarb trail. so if he or she had followed the signs and not left big rut marks on the narrow little track, they'd be fine. sometimes, following the rules pays off people. From the looks of the trail, people still do bike on it, but I wouldn't advise it. there are plenty of good trails out there to bike ride on that are less narrow, have less things to get caught in your tires (aka branches), are less rutted, and don't put you on your wobbly bike on a very uneven trail at the top of a big drop off into a river. Really, not the greatest idea.


On to the Persian Cucumbers. After I went for a barefoot hike, I went to Jo-Ann's, and bought some muslin. It was like 5 dollars a yard! (for 90 in) but they didn't have 60 in and I didn't feel like piecing it to make it 60 in from 48 or something. I'll use the muslin for other things too, but first, I'm going to use it to test out my pattern (which is still only in my head) for the wool cloak and skirt. (since I'm making a skirt, since I bought too much of the expensive wool). Actually, I have a pattern I might use for the skirt, but I suppose I should test it out too.

One of the midwives I called to ask if I could talk to them and ask them some questions suggested that I look into doula training before midwifery. So since I had already considered looking into it, I am going to do so more. I really want to be a midwife, not a doula, and yet the skills of a doula are useful to a midwife. Plus, it would get me working in the birth community, and meeting people, and learning new things and such. I mean, I'm learning lots from books, but its a different kind of learning learning through experience or observation.


then I went to the Corte Madera farmers market. I wasn't planning on going, but I decided to. Boy am I glad I did. I was delighted to see Pete still remembers me from last spring and summer (I talked to him a fair bit when I saw him at the various markets). Its always lovely to be remembered by people you remember but who you don't expect to remember you. Anyways, I talked to him for a bit, and he said he was doing ok. (he elaborated more, but that's not my place to share with you :P) I said that at least ok was better than bad, and that was about where I am right now. "ok is better than bad." lol. I was looking at what produce he had when I spotted something that looked suspiciously like a cucumber. I asked him what it was. "a Persian cucumber". Can you pickle it? "It makes great pickles, I've had people bring me some they've made from them." That was all it took. I bought 4. (I figure that's enough to start, besides which, while his produce is great, its a little expensive. I paid 4 dollars for said 4 cukes. But he almost always has some of the best looking produce, and its natural. (Not certified organic, but not sprayed I believe is what he said). Its tasty. Anyways, I'm so excited about making pickles! I have wanted to make pickles for a while, but cucumbers aren't in season and I have not been enjoying waiting until summer to have real pickles again. Of course, these will go fast once I make them, but still. I'm delighted.

I also got some strawberries (I probably shouldn't have but they were so tasty, and the farmers convinced me. And I haven't had strawberries in a while since I couldn't eat them after having my wisdom teeth out so they taste extra good. And one could say its not that long early for strawberries, given the weather we've been having.... ok yeah, they're not in season. oh well.).

In addition I got some RAW ALMONDS for $6/lb!!!! Now, I know that sounds expensive, but the soaked, dehydrated nuts are $8/lb from three stone hearth I believe, so since I'm going to soak them and dehydrate them myself, its a great deal for me :D (plus, the farmer said they were unpasteurized, and really raw. Which, since that is illegal currently, is an extra steal :D yay!!!!!!)

Tell me about your favorite illegal foods. (I'm not interested in foods that are illegal because they come from endangered species, that's just mean. I'm talking illegal because of big lobby, because of health code paranoia, laws designed for big companies, laws that benefit big companies, etc.)
Where do you find them?

(side note, I'm planning on adding back in more pics when I find my camera, hopefully this weekend so I can take pics at the midwifery conference.)

Apron-Mania

So I'm in for the Flirty Apron Swap! I'm so excited about it. I haven't bought my vintage linens yet, I'm kind of thinking it would be nice to know a bit about my partner before I buy the linens. (what if they hate flowers, and I buy something flowery? well, I suppose then I'd have to make something else, which since I'd love a flowery vintage linen apron, wouldn't be the end of the world, but I'm trying to conserve money here.) So I'm thinking that as soon as I find out my partner, I'll rush off to the thrift stores, find some inspiring linens, and get going. I hope Goodwill or the Salvation Army has some nice ones. The antique stores are just so expensive around here. (nice stuff but too expensive for my taste)

I suppose I could go to the one near the Sword and the Rose, that place was nice, less expensive, and had some wonderful silverware. (a piece for a dollar, tons of it. I keep thinking I should make up a full set when I get my own place. How lovely would that be, mismatched silver? (and its real silver, not stainless steel). Of course, they might not have it anymore, and I suppose that IS more expensive than say, plastic and stainless that I could get at target, but there has to be SOMETHING said for prettiness, even on a budget, right? I mean, i could probably get away with 4 of each, while its just me and Justin right? (we'll have roommates almost certainly (which I'm not thrilled at all about, but it is the most we can afford, unless we find something unusual), so how does that work? hmmmmm) anyways, back to aprons). I don't recall that place having linens at all though. I suppose I could check out all the Goodwill's around. We'll see.

anyways, Tie One On's current theme is no-money. As in, spend no money to make the apron. Which is genius, except it requires me to stretch. Because submitting the one that i bought the fabric specifically to make an apron with but just haven't yet feels like cheating. So I'm considering a patchwork apron, but I don't have enough fabric scraps, so I'm trying to think if there are any clothes that I could cut up. The only thing in the goodwill bag in my room is bras. But there might be a goodwill bag that I could raid upstairs. I just feel kind of bad cutting up clothing that has plenty of useful life left, it just doesn't fit me or anyone anymore, you know? oh well, I suppose I'll get more use out of it as an apron, right?

Also, does anyone have any ideas of good fabric for headscarves? I'm thinking like the ones from headcoverings by devorah, specifically this one: http://www.headcoverings-by-devorah.com/headcoverings-Sarah-Kerchiefs.htm. They call it "cotton batiste" but I haven't figured out what inexpensive cotton would work. In fact the only fabric I've seen that I think would work is the $30 dollars for half a yard remnant of silk at Britex. Hahahaha not happening. (maybe for a super special occasion when I have money but not right now. particularly given the hugely too big amount of money I spent there on fabric for a wonderful short cloak. Pics when I find the cam. I'm going to make a skirt as well, since I bought too much fabric, but I need to get some more muslin to perfect my made up pattern with before I cut the wool (its actually wool with a touch of polyester, but its perfect in looks and feels like wool.) anyways, back on topic. ) My friend Miriam and I were trying to figure out a pattern for this, and I think she in her brilliance pretty much figured it out. I want to try it, but I need something drapey, soft and see-through. I don't think my muslin in drapey or see-through enough, but when I find it, maybe I'll try it.

yeah, I'm going through a major clean up, since I can't find anything! I'm also trying to de-clutter for the 2009 Treasure Map, and because, honestly, I need it. My room is a MESS. I mean, its clean, very little dust, and dirt and all (except under these giant piles, but since it was clean when the piles started, I'm sure there isn't too much dust *under* the piles, but still). anyways, I'm making progress. I did my shoes, my underwear drawer and about 1/4 of the giant scary pile on the floor. Well, one of the piles. Its not much, but its HUGE. (I've also been working on flylady day two: getting dressed every day. I've been skipping the shoes, because well, I don't think its good to wear shoes all the time, so I go barefoot in the house, but getting dressed does help one get up and at stuff instead of wanting to laze in bed all day. I've skipped day 1, because I feel like its not "my sink" which is probably bad but anyways. Starting somewhere is a start, right?)

oh, and I'm making the legs for my octopus. So much fun :D he's made out of a dolphin/fish fabric that is leftover from when my mom made me a sundress when I was a kid. That was the coolest dress ever, even if the dolphins WERE upside down on half of it (she forgot about the nap lol). I wonder if we still have it somewhere. Now that is something I'd love to give my own daughter someday. anyways, there will still be plenty of fabric from it when I'm done with the octopus, i'm not using it all up. I'm thinking I may make a patchwork quilt made of fabrics I remember from various things (in the fabric box as a kid, things I remember making stuff with, or ma making stuff with, the fabric we picked out to make cushions with that we never did, etc.) But I don't know if the quilt would be for me or for mum, so i might have to make two lol.

I'd like to add more photos to my blog, so hopefully that will be coming up. I intended to have lots of photos. We'll see. Hopefully I'll find my digital camera in this cleaning up project.