Monday, July 28, 2008

as promised, almost

Here is "My double" (which is currently my niece's double, but that is another blog entirely) modeling my scarf in progress. I wanted to be done at the end of June. I would have been too, had I not decided one skein wasn't enough. Thus, I am currently halfway through my second skein, which I think will make it the correct length. If I knit like the wind, I think I may make it for the end of July. Once I conquer this scarf, I plan to find some chunky yarn that will work on the size fifteen needles I (accidentally) purchased. I could have returned them, but they are so pretty and red and acrylic and shiny. So far, it has been tough finding yarn that is chunky enough, and that I like well enough that I would consider wearing it.

I was going to also post some fabric pics, but the light wasn't cooperating, so I shall get those up as soon as I remember to take shots during the daylight hours!!

In the meantime, I have been enjoying the summer, and all the opportunities it offers to wear sundresses, cotton jumpsuits, and icy cold beverages.

Cheers!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Adipose!!


What do you get for the guy who has everything? Someone who recently spent hours watching the new Doctor Who on the SciFi Channel with his roommate? Someone who has a birthday you forgot about and you're too poor to buy anything cool ANYway???

The answer: An Adipose!!

I found this GREAT tutorial... it was weirdly like fate. My first attempt wasn't 100% successful -- sometimes I'm not a great directions-follower -- but I have Adipose #2 halfway sewn and I think it may be gift-worthy!

Plus I have to see the show sometimes too, I s'pose.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Oh, the PRESSURE!

Silly me. I thought a once-a-week posting assignment would be a piece of cake. However, Monday seems to sneak up on me every darn week. Thus, all of the adorable pictures and witty prose I thought would be here for you to read do not exist. Le sigh.

However, I am well into skein two of the scarf I started for last month's challenge. I am in official get-the-darn-thing done mode, and did about a foot of scarf last night while watching DVDs with my sister and her kids. I had to give up for the evening though, when my left hand started to cramp, and I feared a blister on my right index finger (aka the tension finger). I am still debating on whether I should also learn to purl, and make a complimentary scarf that is entirely purled.

In other crafty news, my mom loved her reversible tote bag. She now wants them in "all the colors." I have yet to determine what that means. It's the only one currently in existence. It's not like there are specified colorways for the choosing. Do I start at one end of the fabric store and start buying? Does this mean I also have to exhaust all the possible combinations? So much pressure! In the meantime she sent a skirt out, with my visiting sis, of which she loves the fabric just not in skirt form. I have been instructed to bagify it, thus I believe this is the second of "all the colors." I also found a robe this weekend while consignment shopping that is not so great as a robe, but which has delightful fabric. I must go back and purchase said robe and use the fabric as yet another of the colors (and maybe for a garment or wrap).

I have learned some fabulous sewing tips over the last couple of weeks, and look forward to cranking it up a notch. I actually started making my first mock up! I always just cut the fabric and go, and it usually works itself out. However, I am hoping to make a top quality garment, so we shall see if this cheap cotton mock up is worth the trouble. Part of my problem is that I hate cheap fabric. It is more difficult to work with, particularly for a test run. I suppose if I can find something I love to work with on the cheap, it won't be so bad.

Finally, in the previously mentioned consignment shopping, we found a gorgeous formal from the '40s that fits my gorgeous niece. She is going to wear it to her prom this year (yes, that is nearly a year away). There are a couple of minor flaws to be fixed, and guess who has been tasked! So, I am off to do some repairs so she can haul the dress home. I promise that next week there will be pictures of some sort of projecting, and hopefully some wittier writing.

Happy Monday!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Dagnabbit!!

So we finally got together to make some goals -- one of which was me posting every Thursday -- guess what I *didn't* do yesterday? (Well, it's a little obvious, isn't it.)

Anyway, on an unrelated note: Mamma Mia! The Movie is pretty cute, and a fun time.

So I've been doing a lot of cruising around the internets, reading some fabulous crafty blogs and looking for some new crafty ideas to try... Here are a few of my favorites:

scrapjazz has a great tutorial for making this uber-cute Family Tree... I've fallen out of my papercrafting lately, and this might be just the thing to get me back on track!

roman sock's Little Acorn Knitting Bag (that can also be adapted to a strawberry!) looks like it would be perfect for those one-skein projects (socks, anyone?)

...and as a person who is totally in love with Bento boxes, and the art of the Adorable Lunch... The Small Object (a great blog! Check it out!) has a great tutorial for a Reusable Sandwich Wrap - farewell to plastic sandwich bags!

In other news, I have a wedding I am attending tomorrow, and I have exactly nothing prepared to gift! It may be an early-morning JoAnn trip followed by a flurry of crafting! Thank goodness the wedding isn't until 3pm!

Good crafting to all, and to all a great Friday!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Kind of cheating...


...but kind of not.

I know we were all supposed to try a new craft last month, and I was going to make these adorable mini-cupcakes... but it just didn't work out. However, I did have the opportunity to try my hand at building a banjo for a play I'm working on. So, I'm posting that as my new craft! So there!

Take one 1"x3" and an unfinished hatbox... add paint and some hot glue, and VOILA! It isn't playable, but hey -- it looks goooood.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Woot!

I apologize for the delay in my posting. I assure you I met the throw down head-on, and completed my bag in time... but my spotty internet access is not serving me very well right now. In any case, here is my bag!

I used the Amy Butler "Sophia Carry-All" pattern... A lot more sophisticated than any pattern I had used before. And, okay, I don't usually use patterns at all. A LOT of ironing interfacing, and then making the piping, and them maybe I didn't follow the instructions *exactly* which made me have to adjust things later on...

However, keeping in the proCRAFTinating spirit, I did use fabric that I already owned! I am pretty proud of it, and given enough time to heal and forget - I may try this pattern again!