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Simply Sithel

@simply-sithel / simply-sithel.tumblr.com

a mish-mash of hobbies Fond of bookbinding, drawing, sewing, photography, and more... have questions? | my reblog blog
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I've gotten into shuttle tatting this year. Of course had to combine it with bookbinding. Behold, my latest project: Plato in sexy lingerie

Absolute mess of free handing but no regrets. First attempted shuttle tatting project. 2" x 1.25" x 1" Strong 'feels good in the hand' energy & easy to read.

yes, it's trimmed crooked but I don't mind. Typeset in LaTeX, but I'm so bad at it that I needed to implement a whole new feature in my latest imposer tool to achieve the results I wanted.

The real objective here was to (a) tat something (b) read Laches as it's being referenced in what I'm reading at the moment. A friend asked if there was more motive/meaning behind the Plato + lingerie. I think I sort of hemmed and hawed my way around the explanation, handwaving at "yes" but unable [unwilling?] to offer up details.

Maybe some day I'll do better at talking about it -- but in the mean time let us all just enjoy 'sexy book'

#apparently April 1st is International Tatting Day?#I'm always a sucker for tangled interests and converging ideas#having high hopes for April here...#the magnet latch is great - would recommend!#ask me about it in person some time and I'd love to go off cackling about all the silly details/interpretations of this one#maybe I'll get better with practice#book binding#book arts#little book#shuttle tatting#plato
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I haven't been posting for a while. It's hard to come back. But I want to. I've have projects I've made that I want to record and share. I have people here I like and want to interact with.

Life has been complicated and distorted this past Winter/Fall/Year. Problems and strife and hardships near to A & I as well as those plaguing everyone else broadly. I don't want to talk about them but I find it difficult to act as if They're Not There.

But I will try.

#Tumblr to me is a safe happy escapist place#reality and strife and overcoming and being responsible are for elsewhere#here is my little pea patch of joy that I'm haphazardly tending#my life is fine and easy compared to many so no 'real' worries#but to completely act like everything is fine makes me want to choke#to dwell on and rehash and wail about Problems gives them power -- I aspire to turn a cold shoulder and will instead resume trying to Live
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#visited my sister back in Spring 2023#it was a good time#she lives somewhere beautiful#I love that she purchased a picture capturing what she wanted long before she purchased the house that matches it so well#enjoyed time with the young nibblet as well#always thankful for the opportunity to do yard work#I've held this in my queue for well over a year... letting it slip out now in attempt to get back on the postin' wagon#! - apparently queued without planning well -- Happy Thanksgiving!!
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The colors have already begun to fade, but I remain in love with my "flower skirt" as I've been calling it. Double sided as its folded in half. Fabulous flounce to it. That rosemary came out much more yellow than expected which gives it a surprisingly summery vibe. Also some loquat and avocado used in parts. I don't think the raspberry really left a mark.

#am surprised that (unlike other two skirts) this one has received almost no compliments/remarks#definitely comfortable and I appreciate it's thick/modest enough to wear without an under skirt#took a long time - thought about it a lot - am so thankful that it came out satisfactory#every step was beautiful and I worried constantly that I'd destroy my work by making the next step -- glad I pushed through#sewing#natural plant dyeing#skirt
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Finally got around to creating a sheath for that French leather pairing knife I got years ago as part of a SFCB class. Had forgotten it (so intense was my NO! reaction to working with leather) and the fact I could use it to trim my text blocks till I took the SFCB edge decorating class. Embedded two tiny magnets in the case to help hold the blade in place. Covered with paper made during the Renegade retreat back in April*, marbled by the talented @ziezie13.

Is now mounted on wall in craft room next to my old thread holder (which I enjoy the sight of but seldom touch these days-- the spools of thread I use now residing elsewhere)

#*April 2023#domestic life#craft supplies#still feel a fondness/affinity for my chisel tho...#originally written Nov 10 2023#let this bake in my drafts for a while for some reason....#I've use this tool to trim more frequently now that it's so easily accessible/safe to travel#going to need to sharpen it again at some point here soon 😰
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Feeling like I need to try harder to post here a bit more. For my own sake. Undocumented projects are bound to be forgotten and being reminded of past works brings joy.

Tried to frame today as a "do whatever I want" day-- and apparently what I want is bookbinding. And tablet weaving, which has haunted me since @marvinhere started making it look so fun/interesting/full of potential. Have been feeling the itch of a new interest really start to bubble forth lately - have woven two bands so far and this is my third.

Of course bookbind can lovingly absorb such labors/interests. @chubsonthemoon's bookcloth is such a beautiful and inspiring piece, have been looking for a way to similarly slam these two interests together like a toddler with a pair of pots.

Minis are my MO and I've been long on the lookout for sufficiently tiny bookmarks (most ribbons being comically large when incorporated) -- I have also been interested in testing out a 2 (rather than 4) hole card/weave.

Thankfully stoned me last night, when pulling the thread needed for sewing the textblock, had an absurdly long excess when done... Which made me realize I could just weave the bookmark directly into the textblock (and anchor the rest of the warp by just looping it around the kettle stitches)

Saturday crafting in the sun- you can see the shadow of the binder clip I use to anchor the ends. Book is in tiny press and tiny press is in lap, allowing me to apply tension while also weaving off to the side (am still struggling with posture/form - I do not want/like to anchor it to my waist)

Having a good time. Brewing up more combo ideas...

#need to figure out how to prevent/fight that twist...#also need to get WAY better at a stable & consistent cord#4 cards with two holes for silk thread -- perfect size for a Tiny#post written Saturday - cord finished Sunday - queued for Monday#macro mondays#macro photography#bookbinding#tablet weaving#little book#wip
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