New Toy

The weather has been getting cooler, and I've accomplished the goals I set for myself, in cleaning and clearing out the yard.  We even had a couple of nice, warm days that allowed me to do some of what I was leaving for next year - at this point, any more clearing and cleaning outside is just gravy!  Over the summer, we have been able to clean up, clear out and prune the maple grove, the trees behind the "spare" house in the yard, the north perimeter and east fence line of the spruce grove, and I've even managed to get some progress on the south fence line along the spruce grove.  All of which involved clearing out shocking amounts of junk.  On top of that, I've been working on building up a smallish garden next to the house that had been mostly a flower garden, but my other also used for things like onions, mint and chives.  It has a couple of ornamental apple trees in it, rhubarb, a lilac, a couple of white rose bushes, some honeysuckle, and even some asparagus, in there.  Unfortunately, much of it was overtaken by invasive flowers and vines, so I've covered it over with cardboard, then built up layers of leaves, straw, and more leaves.  If all goes to plan, I will put a small retaining wall at one end, and build it up to be level, too.  Being so close to the house, it will make a good location for a kitchen garden.

In the middle of all this, I've actually managed to do some crafting!  I was able to do a hat and two scarves for a dear friend, in crochet.  I'm currently working on a Tunisian stitch cat blanket.

I was even able to do a local market!  It was a last minute thing I signed up for, and the first market held in this neighbouring town.  We got our first snowfall that day, yet it was a fantastic success.  My best market, ever!  I even had some costumers telling me about other popular local markets in our region that they recommended I sell at.  They tell me no one else has an inventory like mine.

It was not something I was expecting to get into after the move, but I will give it a go, when the markets start up again next year.

Which means, I need to build up  new inventory!

So I expect to be doing a lot more crochet over the winter, as well as trying out some new crafts.

Allow me to show you my new toy.

The girls and I went into the city today, and I was finally able to swing by a Lee Valley store.  There was a small, battery operated engraving pen I had seen in their online catalog that I wanted to get.  At only $20, I figured it would be an inexpensive way to try out a new craft.

After talking to the saleswoman, however, I ended up getting this, instead.  It was only $10 more.  I was thinking I didn't want something with a cord, but the battery operated one slows down as the batteries die.  I can see that becoming annoying fast!

This one has adjustable speeds.  It is small enough to handle easily, and the tips are interchangeable.  It only comes with one, but I looked at complete kit of engraving tips, too.  A bit beyond my budget, right now.  I will see how things go with this, first.  If it works out, getting more tips will be worth the investment.

For now, what I am looking to do is engrave into wood.  Some of the trees I've been cleaning up and pruning included apple and lilac. Lilac, I've discovered, is a surprisingly hard wood, and it has purple in it!  I also have maple, elm and poplar to choose from.

Right now, I have some apple that was pruned last summer, before we moved out here.  I've cut a few disks to do some experimenting on.  Depending on the size of the wood, I plan to make everything from earrings and pendants, to coasters and trivets.  Along with the engraving, I also want to do some wood burning.

The engraver is something I also want to try on some of the beach rocks I've collected.

But not until after I've had some practise on wood, first!!