Tara Miller Designs

Cozy new friend

Remember that busted up blanket in my last post? Well, once I brushed her off and added the new bias trim the family is fighting over her. She is shining bright and loving the attention. Plus she really goes well with my new christmas pillow cover. Now I need to look around and see what else needs some bias trim...

Yesterday and today

My projects runeth over! On the table I have a memory quilt that is a LONG time in coming. A blank tank top that needs something. A awkward toddler life vest/ swim suit combo that takes 2 adults and 2 min to get onto said toddler- so that needs a zipper. My duvet needs to be made. There is my Sept Project, my October project, some socks for next week, a cowl I can't get out of my head. Alot more...

But yesterday and today I got to the tank, some of the quilt and definitely the zipper (before the pool closes).   

I was a little distracted by the little one in the above shot. She insisted on laughing at me while I took some self photography. Tonight I am putting in some more time with the LaLa Scarf that I am blogging this month. 

Yesterday, I put in some serious face time with my sock/October pattern on the front porch. Just me, my coffee, yarn, needles and, of course, some bug spray. 
And the dogs had to join me. 
We ended the day today with just a little outdoor vacuuming. The day is not done until the grass is dirt free!
   

Goodbye Old Friend

When I married Garrett he came with little baggage in comparison to many other men. There were few things that weren't negotiable and I loved that about him. But he was going nowhere without his Brittany Spaniel, Brittany (That is what a 12 year old names his dog). Being a dog lover myself I was all for it. However, I had never met a dog quite like Brittany. From day 1 I learned that she was her own dog, preferring to be outdoors for hours, especially if Garrett was outside. If we were inside she was in and out all day as if she could not decide between being with him or being outside. All attempts by Garrett's dad to turn her into a hunting dog failed miserably. She just wasn't interested in filling that role when it was so much more interesting to sniff out squirrels, chase squirrels or dream about chasing and sniffing squirrels (she ran and barked in her sleep). She would roam around the house and the neighbors homes. Garrett lived in a small neighborhood and more then one neighbor told me about how Brittany would greet them on their porches when they came home.  It wasn't until later years after I had moved in and noticed that Brittany's hearing wasn't as good as it used to be that we fenced in the backyard to protect her from cars she might not hear. That started her new mission. Every morning, she would be let out and would commence sniffing the fence perimeter for an escape and find plenty she did in the first few weeks. Then she would eat and nap and run the perimeter again in case she missed something. This would last all day. She was the most diligent dog I had ever met. She never waivered in her love of Garrett or her desire to roam fence free.
Brittany died Saturday morning, peacefully despite her kidneys failing. My only wish was that we could have had just one more day.  She was 15 and never reconciled to the fact that she was too old to play, too old to run or too old to cause trouble.  Murphy and Maggie miss you!

Dog Daze of Summer

Treats are not an uncommon occurance in my house and when the word goes out, all dogs come a-running. All except Brittany, who at 15 runs more than she should then makes up for it with marathon naps. Far be it for her to miss out on treats just because she happens to be unconcious. She is after all being good and not getting into trouble and so by the losest definition should be rewarded for such upstanding (upstanding while napping...hehe) behavior. So we (and by we, I mean me) sometimes play tricks on her. My favorite is to put the treat as close as possible before she wakes up. This morning, I won. As you can see, I was able to prop the treat on her nose while she slept for at least 2 min, then I poked her to the other monsters would not steal her treat whilst she dozed. She then proceeded to sniff the entire house, just in case there was another hidden somewhere (which I have never done, but her mind works in weird ways).

I am the proud own of dining room chairs! Hooray. It seems like such a minor accomplishment for most, but I have been lugging chairs from the kitchen to the dining room since Sept. It feels good to have another deed checked off my list and a real place to feed friends and family. Oh, I should mention that I only had 4 kitchen chairs, so Garrett and I would sit on stools when we had more than 2 over, Not comfy. I scored these beauties at the North Ga Outlets, in which is housed one, Pottery Barn Outlet!!! Which also owns West Elm, double score. I have had my heart set on the square chairs for over year but the price tag made us star-crossed lovers. When I went to the outlet to pick out chairs, I had no idea these guys where there. How excited was I to see my chairs in my color! Though they didn't have any arm chairs, I have been in lust with these {let's call them school house chairs} since my last visit to the outlets, but at that time that didn't have these in arm chairs. There must have been some sort of planetary alignment that conceded the exact chairs I would love but hadn't considered putting together till then. Now, I must make chair pads.

Lastly, I have starting knitting for my baby or rather given the size of the finished product, my almost grown child. This bonnet could easily fit a 6 year old and would swallow the head of any baby. Though Garrett did have a big head, so maybe there is so good to be said for big headed babies. Otherwise, I might lose it before it fits.

It is blocking right now, but knit from Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk in Celery and Denim. I don't recommend this pattern from LMKG. It was pretty easy but the directions are poorly and the knit on I-cord made no sense in the pattern but I finally figured it out, once I closed the book and experimented on my own.

Peppermint Bark

First the aftermath. These dogs have had a hard day of 'helping' me make peppermint bark. And by 'help' I mean sitting at my feet, sitting on my feet, keeping my feet warm, sticking their bony butt bones into my feet, standing between me and the counter, standing right behind me so I trip when I turn around and making sure no peppermint made the floor all sticky. I could not have done it without them. Now for the good stuff.

This was ridiculously easy to make and it looks and tastes super yummy. I bought white chocolate chips and milk chocolate bark coating at my local super store and let me confess that chips melt faster, you don't have to chop them up first and are more practical in the post bark season. What am I going to do with huge chucks of milk chocolate in January. --Hmm, what aren't I going to do with it. Strike my last anti bark coating comment.   

Here is the process. I started with 2 16 oz bags of white chocolate and 2 packages of milk chocolate bark coating and not only do I have my family (8 people) covered with bark but I have half the neighborhood as well (I am looking forward to my new insta-friendship over a shared love of bark). So 1 package of each is more than enough plus- though this is super easy, each batch sits in the fridge for one hour so for each batch you are tied to your house for at least one hour or more depending on the number of batches, so keep that in mind.

First grab a smashing object, I used a meat mallet, to smash your peppermint candies.

Smash them pretty small. The dust is really good for adding flavor without a big crunch.

I used a cookie sheet with raised sides and it only let the occasional piece fly (enter dogs). Leave your mayhem behind and turn to your chocolate. Get out another cookie sheet and cover it with Wax paper (very important step) and set it aside. You need a microwave safe bowl (But, Tara, it seems so traditional to melt the chocolate over the stove with cheerful Christmas carols in the background. Oh I thought so too but, water is your  enemy here and I could not pour my melted chocolate without dripping water on it from the bottom of my double boiler. Plus our Christmas CDs are still in moving limbo- So I listened to some sort of Jack Johnsonish punk. Too weird). Ok, in the aforementioned bowl pour about 1 cup of chips or three chopped up bars of bark coating (the smaller you chop it the faster it melts. Inversely the smaller you chop it the more bored you get). Blast this chocolate with about 30 sec of high heat (non X-men use the microwave) stir and return for another 30 sec and stir again. This should melt it all. if not return it for 15 sec intervals, stirring in between until all melted

Stir in some of the peppermint pieces and then pour the chocolate onto your wax paper covered cookie sheet. Spread it out with a spatula. Sprinkle a few pieces of peppermint on top and put it in the fridge for at least one hour.

Once cool and hard break apart much like peanut brittle.

Wrap and hand to your friends or eat it all yourself (no shame in that).

For the marble bark. Melt both chocolates and pour blobs of each onto the wax paper covered cookie sheet. then take you spatula and drag each flavor into the other until it is swirled enough for your liking and then top and chill.

Pat your self on the back and join your dogs for a nap. Happy Holidays! 

Stitch N Bitch

Well, I started a knitting group in my neighborhood and it was a success from the beginning. In my whole experience teaching knitting (all of 2, count 'em, 2) it seems I have a knack for it. Our first meeting was Nov 20 (just 2 days before Big Thursday) and 3 ladies showed. I taught one that night. This past Tuesday (oh, silly me, I forgot to add that we meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month), 5 ladies showed and I taught 2 to knit, one the purl stitch and taught one a 2 min refresher. She hasn't knit since her daughter was born 8 mo ago and even still only the knit stitch. The group/class is scheduled to go from 7-8, but we were there till 9pm. I enjoy getting to know my neighbors so much. One of the ladies (she was crocheting that night) lives right across the street and this was our first meeting. Man, I love my new neighborhood! We also learned about 1 mo before we moved in that one of Garrett's good friends, that he grew up with, also lives in the neighborhood. His wife and I have become close and we are actually planning a Neighborhood Networking Party for January. We have a big brainstorming meeting next Wed that oddly enough will require wine, food and probably alot of discussion over how crazy Britney is this week. It is bound to be very productive.

On the baking front: I am making cookies....lots of cookies. It could be that it is cold or the holidays but I can't keep sugar, eggs or flour stocked enough. Totally unrelated, my jeans are a little snug. Hmmm.

I have also rearranged my living room. It all started with changing the slip covers, which in and of itself is a 2 hour endeavor. Then, I just wasn't happy with the arrangement. One couch was up against the left wall and you could not see the TV while sitting on it. So means 2 humans and 2 dogs would usually squeeze onto the other which was parallel to the fireplace. This meant that when Garrett got home and I was still cooking that the majority of our conversations were with his back to me facing the TV. This doesn't make for very involved conversations. Now we can use both couches and I get at least half his attention should the TV be on. You don't pick the battles you think you can win, you fight the battles that are worth fighting.
I think my favorite piece in the living room is the secretary desk by the fireplace. This is not its final home but it works to cover all the wires we have over there. Eventually we will add built in bookshelves that will continue out from the fireplace. I also want to introduce more traditional furniture. This modernish-ness really worked in our old house but our craftsman style needs something different. I was thinking along the lines of the red velvet couch from "Because I said so" It has a rolled back and arms and it is tufted. I did find a similar one that is a very good price, no tufts, but comes in velvet. What do you think?
 

Giant Doorstops

My brother came over this weekend for a little photo shoot (evidence to be presented later this week) and saw these and requested about 6 for himself for various doors and so special made for his photo equipment. I do not have Lotta's book yet (yet is the key word- see budget restraints) but plan on buying it as soon as the house sells. My amazon list is 4 pages! I miss having money but find that I am infinitely more creative when I do not have it. I have to figure out how to make what I want. These are my giant door stop. The shape is based on Lotta's but I think taller and more narrow. The bottom square is 10''. My door to the balcony is pretty high over the wood so these are about 13'' tall.  The red is Uptown by Moda and the green is Heather Ross by Free Spirit. These took no time to make and I love them. I poured about 2 lbs of beans in each and filled the rest with stuffing. I still need to attach the handles.

Check it out. I have added more pictures and a Tutorial Here!

Phew!

While 99% of my time has been driving back and forth between houses, climbing in and out of boxes, and battling a severe case of newspaper-print-stained-fingers-itis. I hear is is contagious and not very serious. The side effects are smuges on walls and hours spent scrubbing them off. All that aside, I have managed to find time and some supplies so that I may treat my family to some home made goodies come christmas time. and something for me, as well. I have found some yarn and am working on the cropped cardigan from Blue Sky. But, while I love the merino, I am not sure I love this color yellow so close to my face (I choose Crocus) nor the ribbing starting mid boob. I am very conscious of drawing attention to my boobs, since they do that fine on their own and much prefer to wear items that do not put them on center stage. Plus, It seems that moving has cause some sort of reaction in my body and now all my clothes are too big. This includes the sweater I am knitting. It is sort of bulgy in places. I am going to block what I have tonite to see if I can fix it that way, otherwise that is the last strike.
I am also flirting with an idea I have that I can preview here for a project on this blog. It might be a wreath or garland or a mobile. But here are the pieces. I think that they are super cuddly.
Last, I am making another Wisp out of Cashmere and Alpaca for a loved one but I forgot to include photos of my last one, finished. So here are some shots of both. Let me know what you think.
Be back soon and sorry about the smudges!

2 Bone Maggie and Gold Rush Murphy

Rawhide bones are equivilent to gold in my house. or More like Gold mines from the 1849 Gold Rush. Everybody wants one, then they want the other's and then they want both. If goes something like this. I open the cabinet, Dogs wiggle with excitment. I ask the dogs to sit, i then raise my voice "Sit!" dogs sit. I hand each a rawhide chip. They sniff the rawhide and lick it while i hold it. I tell them i will not hand fee them again and let go of the rawhide. Gold Rush ensues. Murphy runs with his into the living room. Maggie has hers in her mouth and follows me around the kitchen. I get something to drink and head towards the living room. Murphy is standing guard before living room sees me approach, knows i am coming for his bone (the one i just handed to him, though i don't remind him and make him look the fool) and runs ahead to get his bone. I sit and am suddenly no longer a threat. He drops and starts to chew. Maggie drops her bone and sits in front of Murphy and whines. He get bored and she claims his bone. Maggie walks around with 2 bones in her mouth. Little while later, Murphy steals back a bone, short time after that, bones no longer exist. It is pretty funny.
Garrett and i gave ourselves the week off since we listed our house on Sunday (Big cheer!!) so i have been knitting and sewing. It feels good and weird. I keep thinking of things i need to do around the house but then the part of my brain that would rather relax (90% of my brain actually) quotes my Brother and says: "F- that noise". I actually love that saying, no idea why but it makes me chuckle everytime i say it which, truth be told is probably more often than needed. I decided that what the house needed to say "I am cozy and you know you want me" were hand knit warsh cloths. So I finally busted out my cotton cones and here is my first. I am on the 8th out of 13 repeats now!!

From the Desk of Murphy Dog Miller

Dear Garrett,
You are no good to Tara and I don't like you. I only let you pet me when Tara is knitting. You don't feed me according to the schedule I prefer and you are always kissing on my girl. I suspect you are too dense to realize that when I growl at you for hugging Tara, that means I am displeased. Now that we have that straight, I suggest you don't try it again. She obviously doesn't care for it either; I can tell. Don't let it happen again or else!
-Your Pal, Murphy
P.s. My favroite time of day is when Tara is reading in bed and I get to lay on your pillow and pretend to clean my paws and then you get to lay down on a wet pillow. You're welcome.