February 2015 - Quilts, Socks and Soap.

                                                       Happy February 2015

The new year came and the next thing we know it's mid February.  Time for updates all around!

Violin News - I am still found playing my violin about 7-10 hours a week.  I have made some progress and I feel happy in my violin journey, most of the time.  I have been getting some extra online tutoring, and support from my violin friends all around the world.  More on that on another post.

Last November I did play in a little online venue with my friends. Street Jelly Fiddlefest, LIVE show. Yep I did it.  There will be another Fiddle Jamboree on February 21st on Street Jelly.  I will be playing 6 songs.  It is a small time fun venue, online busking.  I don't do it for the tips, as much as for trying to fight the stage fright, and peer pressure.   What a nice group of friends.   More details in another post.

Soap News - After a much needed hiatus my best girl Jess and I are making soap again. We started this year off with three of our customer favorites.  Oatmeal Scrub, Lavender Vanilla,  and Rosemary Mint.  Also this year look for some new cute sample packs. We had a lovely batch for party favors at my baby grand daughters, one year birthday party.  

We are moving slowing back into soap production and still enjoying family time and hobbies.   Happy New Year and thank you to all of our soap customers and fans.  Thank you for all the lovely reviews and compliments all of last year.   We hope to make lots of skin friendly soap for you this year.

Off the needles ... Knitting  -   I stayed busy with knitting through the holidays.  There were knitted hats, mittens,  cloth and soap sets, and in January a sweet lamb for Marley.  I recently finished a sock knit a long with my Wednesday Night Knit pals.   There are new babies coming at me left and right, so I will be making some blankets and booties.   I have a new Great Nephew on the way.

Quilting!!!!  I am obsessed with having some nicely quilted cotton items in my house.  So I am working on finishing my Irish Chain Quilt and I am on the verge of  starting my first full sized Quilt!!! EXCITING, and pretty much a dream coming true.    I am not in love with the process of making quilts.  But I want colorful homemade quilts in my house.... I like cozy and I LOVE QUILTS.

New Diet - I  can be found Low Carb-ing this year.  I am feeling positive and eating a lot of spinach and veggies.  I can say that it is a good thing that 1/2 way into February and my resolve is still strong!!

My Hound -  Well he is always nearby on my quilting, knitting, and cooking adventures.  (not so much or the violin playing.. his loss).   I think he is so handsome!

READING... My reading brain is still in the tank.  I am struggling to get lost in a book.

My best wishes to everyone on your musical, craft, and creative journeys.  

Toni

Hello everyone!
It has been a while since I put up a post.

The soap shop is doing well.  We make the soap and it goes as quickly as we make it.  Look for a new special Holiday scent coming soon.

In violin news, I can report I have a big smile on my face.   The online project that I have been working on, Thaxted with my friends at Fiddlerman.com published!!!!!    I am so pleased with the result.

Happy Fall and November.  

Happy Fourth of July and Summer!

Happy Fourth of July.. and actually Happy Summer Days to all!

About the Violin:

• I have been practicing my Star Spangled Banner - much easier and prettier than last year.
• I have been enjoying a bit of fun playing some "fiddle" type tunes.  Stiches in my Britches.   A friend sent me a link to jam along with a video. I think it will be fun.  http://youtu.be/1iyfy--v1Mg I can't wait to get up to speed and get some toe tapping. 
• I am still working on Thaxted, from Gustav Holst's Jupiter, a project on the Fiddlerman.com site.   Goals after Thaxted are to get back to a version of Swan Lake, and a few other songs.

About Soap:

I made a new soap. Georgia Peach, with a hint of clove.  It is lovely and so summery fresh.  To order Click Here.

About Books:

I am so thrilled that I am reading with my old book club and some dear friends.  We are reading  The Fall of Giants by Ken Follett.  We had a July 1st start date.  I am enjoying the books so far. I am also reading Pillars of the Earth by the same Author at the same time.  This will be a test on my brain.  

About Knitting:

I am working on Vodka Lemonade.  I call it Vodka Pink Lemonade.  I will start the sleeves this weekend.  I can't wait to see it finished.   It has been an enjoyable knit, mostly cruising and an occasional lace reward to break up a lot of stockinette stitch.   I found a little crochet pattern that I might work into something spiffy and fun for my newest grand daughter. (My Niece brought this to my attention). So very cute right?

http://www.whistleandivy.com/category/patterns

I am planning on having a great Summer of knitting, violin, quilting, friends, and grand children.  I do have a busy work schedule this summer, so the hobbies and fun are carefully budgeted in to my life. With extreme pleasure, of course!  Any great plans that you would love to share?

I hope to have some new soap and new songs under my belt the next time I check in with everyone.  Maybe even a few summer escapades to share as I am now a bicycle rider....( to be continued.........)

What Happened to May?

May slipped by.... and now the first week of June has blinked by as well.  Summer is here to stay.  I don't mind. I am used to California, after 48 years I am seasoned triple digit survivor.

HomeGoodsByToni has a Facebook Page. Welcome all.   My partner and daughter is usually the voice behind the page, but if you  tag me I see the comments and respond also.  Like the page to hear  about the great specials each week.

HomeGoodsByToni had a soap event in May. It was at Bounce U, a fund raiser for Make a Wish Foundation. It was our first official public appearance. We had a blast, new scents, and soaps and a lot of happy soap buyers.  Pictured is Jessica, what a cutie.

Violin News:  I am working on a project with the fine friends at Fiddlerman.com on "Thaxted."  I will keep you all  posted.  I might even have a video by June 20th to share. Yes, that is a deadline, go ahead give me a bit of pressure.  I have a nice online friend helping me get the "Fiddle" and the "Jig" in to my Swallowtail Jig. So he gave me a little song called Stitches in my Britches to play. It is really fun.  I might have a clip on that one soon also.  I am playing 45 minutes to 1.5 hours a day.  I see progress at times and other times it feels I am not making progress. 

On Memorial Day, I thought it would be fun to see how well I could play The Star Spangled Banner. Last year I learned and practice for 3 months to make a somewhat sketchy video to post in a Fourth of July Forum.  This year I pulled out the sheet music and had it decent in about 30 minutes.  That is progress I told myself.   That lead to a binge of pulling out sheet music from songs from a year ago and playing them, and I have to say I feel happier in the whole over all progress.  Especially since songs from a year ago had the music marked with the letter number over the note, and I had learning tapes on my violin.

 Spring and Summer has brought forth some mediocre gardening and flowers. But I am enjoying the fruits of the labor of my watering.

and a bit of mediocre photography also.

On the craft front:

A sweater  is emerging from my needles, and a cheerful quilt is on the way.

More about the projects later.  I am behind in blogging.   I'd like to sit down and read some soon also.   I 'd love to hear from everyone.   Have a great week, thanks for stopping by.

Toni

Dexter's Domain and Spring 2014

Dexter is very happy this time of year.  Cool mornings and a lot of shade and bugs!    What more could a hound want.

I love the roses.   These Roses always bloom so fully this time of year.  I always think of my daughter and prom when they bloom.  Good memories and hearty flowers. They thrive on neglect, and I am oh so thankful.

*edited this was pre-rainy weather.  :). Happy rain drops!

Lavender Tea Soap

 Lavender Tea Soap with Lemon.

The soap is our usual 100% Olive Oil base.  There are finely ground lavender buds in the body of the soap. And to make it pretty the bottom is set with full lavender blossoms.  The scent is light and reminiscent of Tea.  The soap has high quality lemon essential oil.  There is no artificial coloring in the soap.  It is one of our most natural bars, that just happens to be lovely also.

Our most popular selling soap - we can hardly keep in it stock.  Raspberry Vanilla.  (pure olive oil base, Sun-ripened Raspberry fragrance with Vanilla Bean Oil, and smidge of  food coloring to make it pretty).

What's Cooking (besides soap)

This past  week I had a carb craving ... specifically sugar/dessert type craving.  So I hit the internet for low carb cheesecake. I am glad I did.  I learned to use almond meal for crust. (mighty tasty) and I have a delicious low carb yummy treat.

The recipe is here ...

I give this recipe a five stars.  It was easy to make and delicious. (Disclosure..this post was supposed to go out a week ago... I have been inhaling carbs for the past week.)