Wednesday, February 26, 2014

2-26-14 Pic dump

 Some of these have been on Facebook so sorry for the replay of pics Facebookers. 

  I have been playing around with sewing and need models.  Ella and I designed and made Maya a skirt.  We are proud and those are model poses made up by Maya.   I have also hemmed some pants, fixed holes in clothes and generally played around with the machine.  Learning to set it up, fill a bobbin and thread the sewing machine is the hardest part.  Over the past few years I have been collecting wool and other nice materials for sewing projects.   Wool cycling hats are my next goal.
 We go to the science museum once in a while.  The girls always love the science museum in St. Paul more than I think they will.   Dino's kick ass.
 I recently got a copy of the cooking reference book  larousse gastronomique (1960) at a thrift store.   In a pic of a "modern kitchen" in the 1960 book was this little pot.  Later that week while at Iverson's Scandinavian Imports I found out that the company Ittala made it and it is in the museum of modern art.  The internet told me Ittala is making it again but only in black.  The name of the pot is a Timo Sarpaneva.  The wood handle also works to take the lid off.
 I really like to have art that I can use as an every day item.

 I need to insulate my BBQ grill that I use to roast coffee.  I currently use an old computer box cut open to insulate and block the wind from messing with my roast temps.
 My goal is to make a grill cozy that is more permanent.  I have been to Home Depot, Mennards, Ace, a fire place store and an auto parts store looking for a material that is good to about 800 degrees.  I found this metallic coated fiberglass at Home Depot and made a cozy with it.  What appeared to be a metal exterior melted to the grill on my first roast.  The internet has a couple of similar looking products that would work at my temp needs but they are often in big rolls and cost more than I want for this project.  Back to my cardboard box for now.
 Heath taught my girls how to both ski and hold ski's for victory pics.
Made noodles with uncle Mike.
 Mazy is a good dog.
 I have too much girth for my Western Mountaineering Bison -40 sleeping bag.  Midwest Mountaineering contacted them and the owner said he would make a one off bag expander for me.  They make a similar product for summer bags but as far as I know they have never made one for a winter bag.
 It took over 4 months but I got it and it is amazing.  Looks like my bag had a tadpole bag baby.  To have the owner hand make me this beautiful item for $69 is amazing.  It is jam packed with 850 (likely higher) down fill.  The expander is also made with windstopper material on the outside like the bag.  It is sewn beautifully like all WM products.
 My only regret is that I had to sleep with it part way open much of the coldest winter we have had in years waiting for it to be finished.
 
 It should get cold next year too.   With the Gore Windstopper shell I can use the bag with a ground pad and without a tent.   I can't wait to use it this weekend.  Come on cold!