Crafting Rehab

• My craft room has been reclaimed and I adore the new layout.
• New wrist/thumb braces have been ordered, and I solemnly swear to wear them nightly forevermore if it means I can knit and crochet again. D:
• Slightly crafty work: my gross brass knobs on my kitchen and bathroom cabinets have all been painted a matte black. The look is growing on me (and is infinitely better than the original color).
• A 1:1 ratio of vinegar and table salt + old toothbrush + liberal application of ELBOW GREASE = brass knobs with an interesting patina (not all stains removed; laquer stains cannot be removed). I’m trying to decide if I like the look or if I want to resort to corrosive cleaners. They’re a beautiful cool bronze color, though.
• Murphy’s Oil is magic. I cleaned my sewing desk and stool with it…and the towel turned a disgusting brown. 60 years of grime adds up! I think one of my painting projects in the upcoming year will be to sand and paint over the old icky laminate finish.
• Lots of crafty plotting done, the first since April!
• New cover for the top of the sewing desk stool. The cloth is a lovely microsuede/microfiber sort of cloth that I picked up cheap from JoAnn’s sometime in the past.
• 2 new ferret beds made (from materials purchased in April, doh): one new hammock complete with hooks and one new snuggle bag (no wire).
• Prototype dangle cover made for pog, but he doesn’t think he needs it now; filed for future reference in case he changes his mind.
• Discovered my MP3 player (a Sony) will interface with a set of old PC speakers we have, so now I can be cool, too, and play podcasts and mp3’s directly!
• Dismantling a sleeveless 75% acrylic/25% wool sweater that I picked up at Goodwill when my mother was visiting in the spring. I loved the color, but my shoulders are really too wide for the type of sweater. I’ll recycle the yarn into a new project that I can wear (I’m thinking vest or shrug, maybe scarf).

Sometime today I also managed to cause a deep bruise on my right knee. I’ve had a goose-egg since I cleaned the sewing desk with Murphy’s Oil, so sometime around then I injured myself pretty seriously. Current color: deep purple. Icing it to hope the swelling goes down, as I’d hate to go waste money going to the doctor over a mystery injury. >.<