Lip Balm with Shea butter and Cocoa Butter

Making lip balm, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

I spent the afternoon making Lip Balm! I ordered the lip balm kit from http://www.pvsoap.com and made their lip balm recipe.

I did a little research both on their site and around the web and found some pointers. The main thing I did was melt the shea butter first in a (homemade) double boiler. I mounted a food thermometer to the side of the bowl so I could watch the temperature. I simmered the shea butter between 140-160 for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

I added the beeswax first, then the cocoa butter. I let them melt fully before adding in the next ingredient. Finally I let my oils simmer for about 10 minutes (not exceeding 175 deg) to ensure they were well incorporated.

When everything was done, I turned off the heat but let the bowl stay in the warm water to keep the lip balm soft.

My lip balm has a smooth and firm texture. It goes on smoothly and isn't greasy. It smells so good from the shea butter and cocoa butter, there really wasn't any need for flavor oils.

Pots of lip balm, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Tubes of lip balm, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Making soap for the holidays!

Making soap and lip balm for the holidays!, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

I ordered my supplies from Ponte Vedra Soap . They have all natural pre-mixed bases for a variety of cosmetics including glycerin soaps and lip balm. They also sell additional items to mix into these including colors, scents, and flavors (for the lip balm).

Soaps!, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

I am using 3 of their melt and pour glycerin soap base - Crystal Clear, Goat Milk, and Shaving. I am also using their Fragrance Oils but I think next time I will look into using essential oils. The synthetics smell great and are the right price, but the essential oils just give the final product a certain depth.

For the lip balm, I bought their kit and a few extra flavor oils. Note that their kit does not come with vitamin E oil. Vitamin E is used as a preservative to keep your lip balm from going rancid. Most drug stores carry it, so it's no biggie.

Harney and Sons Tea!

Ok so this post isn't really "crafty" related other than I was introduced to this wonderful brand of tea at a knitting retreat. The brand of tea is Harney and Sons. My mom and I bought tins of a few different flavors, including Paris, Black Current, and Decaf Midsummer's Peach. The tea comes loose or in silk sachets. Well, Nick really liked the Paris tea and we managed to finish it! I went to the Harney and Sons website to order more and they sure have a lot of teas!! Besides loose tea and sachets, they have sample packets, small tins, and sampler variety boxes. I have been stalking our order ever since I placed it. We were supposed to get it Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, but it was delayed, so we didn't get it until today. Totally worth the wait. Anyways, so here's the lewtz (not pictured -- a one pound bag of Paris):

Mariebelle Aztec Chocolate, a sampler box of Harney & Sons sachets, Sampler pouches of loose tea, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Peach Fruit Tea (it smells GOOD), originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Small Tins with 3-5 sachets in them, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Peach and Kiwi Strawberry Fruit teas, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Peppermint Herbal, Rose Scented Black Tea, Chamomile Herbal, and Indian Spice (Chai) Tea, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Brown Teapot!, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Monster Hats!

Green monster hat, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

My first knitting project. I made this in early 2009.

Monster hat for Nick!, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

I made this for Nick as an early xmas present :D

Waving Lace Socks in Vesper Semi Solid Gin Bottle Blue

Waving lace socks in vesper gin bottle blue, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Finally finished! Now to start on xmas presents...

Latvian Wrister

LATVIAN wrister from a class i took last year, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

I found this and thought I'd share! This was from the Latvian Wrister class I took in March 2009 at the Norwegian Knitting Festival. A friend couldn't make the class at the last minute so I went as her. This was my first time doing lace AND color work! Cast off is too tight and I have to sew down the picot edge but otherwise, pretty decent for a first timer!

New Sock Yarn from Frog Creek Fibers

New Sock Yarn from Frog Creek, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Went to the So Much Yarn Fall knitting retreat this weekend and the gals from Frog Creek Fibers were there with a huge stash of their lovely Ebullient sock yarns! I bought Ice Wine (bottom) and Pink Flamingo (top).

Mom's Sock Yarn from Frog Creek, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

My mom bought several colorways as well. She ended up trading the Pink Flamingo in her pile for another colorway on account of someone else really wanted that Pink Flamingo.

Gift: Fetching Gloves from Mom

Gift: Fetching Gloves from Mom, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

My mom made me these adorable gloves!! The pattern is called Fetching and it's available for free from Knitty.

WIP: February Lady in Turquoise Heather Cascade 220 Superwash

WIP: February Lady in turqoise cascade 220, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

The pattern recommends size 8 needles. I dropped down to size 7 after doing a gauge when I started this sweater back in June. I still didn't like how loose the knitting was coming out and when I checked my gauge it was still too big, even on size 7's! So Friday night, I frogged it and dropped down to a size 6. The pattern recommends 4.5 stitches per inch and I'm at 5. I really like how this is coming out now with a nice tight texture.

I am nearly done with my increases! I am not totally sure if I am going to keep this sweater or give it to my mom. I like the pattern a lot but I'm not sure about the color. This yarn was originally for the Pin Up Girl sweater from Stitch and Bitch Nation but I got really bored making that sweater and decided to do something else with the yarn :)

WIP: Hedera in STR Koi Koi

WIP: Hedera in STR Koi Koi, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Finished the first sock! I won't be re-doing the second one until after the knitting retreat I'm going on this weekend. I will be busy working on my February Lady cardigan and starting a pair of socks with a cable design :D

WIP: Waving Lace Sock with Star toe

WIP: Waving Lace Sock with Star toe, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

I finished the first sock! My mom recently told me how awesome star toes are and another sock pattern in the same book had one, so I gave it a try. I really like the star toe better than the grafted toe!

WIP: Waving Lace Sock with star toe, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

WIP: Hedera Socks in Koi Koi

WIP: Hedera Socks in Koi Koi, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

I am re-knitting the Hedera Socks I made with Blue Moon Fibers Socks that Rock Lightweight in Koi Koi. I wanted to re-knit these because not only are the legs too loose but I like the color better on the tighter gauge.

I'm a few rows shy of starting the heel! I like how the colors pooled, it reminds me of the color patterns on Koi fish.

WIP: Waving Lace Socks

WIP: Waving Lace Socks, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

I really like how these are turning out. This is a good sock for patterned yarn (not striped) as there are wide knitted areas that would show off the color changes nicely. The pattern reminds me a little of the Monkey socks my mom made me :)

WIP: Frogged Hedera

Frogged Hedera, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

I am re-doing my Hedera socks. I knitted them too loose in the calves, so not only are they slouchy but the wonderful Koi Koi pattern didn't come out either. I thought about just buying more yarn and keeping my slouchy ones for house socks, but it looks like Blue Moon Fiber Arts doesn't carry that colorway anymore :( Too bad, it's really pretty!

Loot: Namaste Knitting Bag

Namaste Knitting Bag, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

So Much Yarn just got a shipment of new items from Namaste. I picked up this cool knitting bag that can double as a purse. It has all kinds of neat pockets in it!

Namaste Knitting Bag Inside, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

Loot: Namaste Knitting Doo Dad

Namaste Knitting Doo Dad, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

So Much Yarn just got some new lewtz from Namaste including this little container. You put things like yarn needles, place markers, scissors, or whatever small things you need to keep track of. I knit on the sofa and am always losing my small notions, so this is perfect.

Namaste Knitting Doo Dad Inside, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

WIP: Waving Lace Socks

WIP: Waving Lace Socks, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

From "Favorite Socks" in Vesper Semi Solid Superwash Sock yarn in Blue Bottle Gin

WIP: Waving Lace Socks

Waving Lace Socks, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

From "Favorite Socks" in Vesper Semi Solid Superwash Sock yarn in Blue Bottle Gin

WIP: Lenore socks

Lenore socks, originally uploaded by Auggy D'Auggy.

From Blue Moon Fiber Arts Pattern in Vesper Semi Solid Superwash sock yarn in Cherry Red. These are for my mom! 

WIP: Hedera Socks

Finished the first sock! Now starting on the second one. Yarn: Blue Moon Socks that Rock in Koi Koi

New Yarn from Knitpicks

Clockwise from Left: Stroll Kettle Dye Timber, Stroll Kettle Dye Soot, Stroll Kettle Dye Jay, Stroll Kettle Dye Eggplant, Stroll Fruit Punch, Stroll Meadow, Imagination Unicorn, Stroll Lily Pad, Imagination Pirate King

I also purchased some metal circular needles for a fraction of the price of competing brands like Addi Turbo. They have really nice pointy tips and the cords are more flexible, so they don't get stuck in an awkward shape that you end up fighting as you're knitting.

WIP: Fingering Weight Socks for Nick

I took a sock class in January 2009 where I learned how to make a basic worsted weight sock on double pointed needles. The instructor provided sportweight and fingering weight variations of her pattern. This is the Fingering Weight pattern done on 2 circular needles. I started these socks earlier this year, but they've been on the back burner for some time. It's getting colder now and Nick wants his socks!

Fingering Weight Socks, pattern by Lauren Lindeman at So Much Yarn in Seattle, Washington. The socks are made with Lion Brand Sockease in Toffee.

WIP: Hedera Socks

I started the Hedera Sock pattern by Cookie A. featured in Knitty - http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/PATThedera.html

I am using Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight in Koi Koi. I was worried the color might detract from the lace pattern but it seems to be working nicely with it :)

Little Penny Sweater

Little Penny Sweater in Cascade 220 Superwash, Heather Grey.

This is a really great first doggy sweater. I used a larger needle and could have used what the pattern suggested. It stretches A LOT.

It's a little loose in the neck! The original pattern has you start with a size 5 needle in the neck and increase to a size 6 for the body. I used a size 7 throughout because I wasn't sure how this sweater would fit Radagast, my French Bulldog. Ends up, I could have just used the indicated needle sizes.

Big Penny Sweater

Well, I should have made the Little Penny Sweater for my dog. I followed her measurements and gauge, and the Big Penny Sweater is too big! It fits him more or less but it's a little baggy. Great for around the apartment though, it's pretty cute overall.

WIP: Big Penny Sweater

I recently aquired the cutest dog sweater book, Doggie Knits by Corinne Niessner. The shaping is really straightforward and the patterns are super simple with suggestions for embelleshments. Several of the patterns fit odd-sized dogs like my little French Bulldog :D

The Big Penny Sweater is ribbed along the back with simple increases. She uses the same armhole shaping technique throughout the book. This is an ideal first sweater because the pattern is very straightforward and the ribbing gives a lot of leniency to the fit.

Another shot of my progress thus far. Just over halfway done with the increases before starting on the armholes! This sweater is made with a heavyweight yarn so it goes pretty fast.

Fieldtrip: Churchmouse Yarns and Teas on Bainbridge Island, WA

Went to Bainbridge Islands with friends and made the obligatory stop at Churchmouse Yarns and Teas.


Some really nice Peruvian Cotton that I was tempted to buy but alas, I was only there for one thing..

Socks that Rock by Blue Moon! I splurged on 5 skeins. Blue Moon doesn't distribute to too many yarn shops and I don't like buying their yarn online because there is so much color variation.

Me working on my dual-Noro Old Shale scarf on the Ferry. Yeah.. I'm still working on it. It's getting pretty long.. :D