Thursday, February 28, 2002
Indecision An order from Colinette arrived for me today - Point Five - five skeins in Tapis, one in Lapis and one in Jamboree. The Tapis are to make a waistcoat from her Mandalay pattern book, the Lapis to make Chicknit's H2O hat and the Jamboree was to lengthen my existing point five scarf. The scarf I don't really like although I didn't know that when I ordered the extra skein. Comforts (for throws and shawls) and Shadows (for prism and skye) pattern books are also in my order. It'll probably be no surprise for you to hear that I own nearly all of Colinette's pattern books and yet have made few of her patterns! :-) Now, I can't start the waistcoat because I still haven't finished the Graffiti jumper - just has to be sewn up) plus I have yarn for a Lapis Isis jumper and a Fandango Velvet Bilberry jumper. I look through the Comforts book and decide to make an Isis scarf using a skein in jewel from my stash and the Chicknits hat in Lapis. I'll probably work on the scarf through E.R....or maybe the hat.........:-) Tuesday, February 26, 2002
Clara's Window has a link to making your own Hello Kitty Laptop so if you want to know how to transform your deathly grey laptop into something pink and fluffy pop over there now. One thing that I can't yet do but really want to master is crochet not only because I'd like to do some sort of craft on the plane next month and knitting needles are banned but also so that I can crochet a Hello Kitty! Pictures and pattern can be found here. You can also crochet a cute Hello Kitty child's backpack. The new Rowan 31 has crochet patterns for cushions and a throw. But if you're looking for really wild retro crochet check out Groovy Crochet. Fab, fab patterns for clothing and accessories including bags. I must learn how to make one!
My eebeads order arrived today! Among it were all the ingredients to make these earrings. I also bought the rocks in the purple and blue colourway as well. Also in my order were these unusual Venetian millifiori beads most of which have faces on them. They're really strange like something from a Stephen King novel. I'm not sure if I Iike them or not. They're quite large so I could just wear them singly on a length of cord. I'm not sure yet. Got a few rows done on the Jaeger bag but still haven't picked up the clog soles yet. Maybe tomorrow. Sunday, February 24, 2002
I'm knackered and my right hand is feeling sore because I've been on the old computer a bit too long today. I've been busy updating the site and signing up for webrings etc. Did manage to do a bit of knitting though on what I've deemed is to be my "at computer project" - the Jaeger Aqua DK cotton bag. It's a simple pattern but I'm a bit bored with the colour so I'm hoping to finish it quickly mainly because I'm now in love with the idea of a bright striped knitted bag for the summer. I saw some nice ones in Accessorize yesterday and on people in the street too. I really have to keep away from Accessorize, far too many pretty trinkets that I just have to have including some bags that would make cool knitting bags too. Usually I try and limit myself by not buying anything that I could make. Well they had lots of little bright beaded necklaces and bracelets so it was really hard. I know that I have the beads to make them but it's getting around to it that's the problem. So many projects, so little time! Anyway with the bright little bag idea I really had to control myself from going into David Morgans (big department store in Cardiff and the only place that sells Rowan, Jaeger and any half decent yarns that aren't 100% acrylic) to check out the cotton colours. Just as well I didn't go in, not only for my purse but also because their colour range is very limited. I'll probably end up buying from Colourway instead. Chicknits blog reveals that David Duchovny knits! I'm not too sure about Bonne Marie's comments about both genders being taught knitting at age five. I can only go by my own experiences and when I was growing up the sexes were very segregated when it came to crafts. Boys would do woodwork and girls sewing or embroidery. I remember one of the teachers telling us that they had swapped them around once just for a day and the boys had made embroidered bookmarks. I felt very jealous because we never made bookmarks just those placemat type things that no one would ever use. Personally I do think that it's good for all kids to learn woodwork, cookery, knitting and sewing. Being able to produce something is so rewarding. And yes, I wouldn't have minded having a go at woodwork back then. A couple of years ago I did have this idea that I was going to build a new cupboard for under the sink but now it seems so much easier to just go to Ikea or something! :-) My wrist is killing me so I'm going to finish now. That means no more knitting today either........:-( Saturday, February 23, 2002
Today I'm going craft shopping with my friend Karen and her little girl Ali. Karen's looking for fabric to make an Indian style elephant cushion - she's thinking felt because it'll be easy - and perhaps a dalmatian type fabric for a regular cushion for Ali. Me, I'll just be trying not to spend much. Have to have some money ready for the New York trip next month! :-)
I have an FO!!! It's a simple necklace but I really like the colours - lovely aquas and blues, real seaside colours. I used the 4mm cube Caribbean mix and size 11/0 Aqua/Teal AB Japanese seed beads from eebeads Very easy pattern just cube bead followed by seedbead followed by cube bead followed by seedbead etc. Really easy. I made it while watching "Fraiser" and the first half of "So, Graham Norton". I don't have access to a digital camera anymore but I have scanned it. It's not the best scan in the world and some of the transparent areas of the beads haven't scanned so it looks a bit weird but you get an idea of it - Cube necklace.gif To Frog or not to Frog I've completed one of Andy's Fiber Trends Felt Clogs and made it with one strand of heavy worsted Lopi because I was sure that I'd read somewhere that you could use one strand of that instead of two strands of a worsted yarn. However, while looking through some old email print outs I see that it's TWO strands of Lopi not one! I've sewn up the sole and everything and am not sure whether to try and felt it in a pan on the stove or frog it and try again or just knit the other with two strands and compare them. Hmmmmmm I hate frogging and I do have plenty of Lopi so I may just start again and frog the too thin one another day. I haven't finished the soles on my pair yet so I'll make them tomorrow and hopefully felt them on Sunday. Thursday, February 21, 2002
I have loads of WIPs (Works In Progress) but still doesn't stop me from thinking about future or dream projects! Right now I am totally in the love with the idea of dragonfly pajamas. I have several pieces of dragonfly jewellery plus a waistcoat and skirt made from fabric featuring them but until I saw Dana Bontrager's new pajama and robe pattern Night & Day I'd never thought about them appearing on sleepware. Check out the pictures in her gallery to see them. Quite fancy the oriental patterned ones too! Another dream FO is her Baltimore coat although I'm not sure in what fabric. Purple raincoat material would be great. I have used another of her coat patterns the To Dye For Duster. I made it in some black and blue velvet that had a striped sort of corduroy but not appearance. I really have to get a digital camera because it's very difficult to explain. It was very easy to make although I was a bit nervous about the kick pleat in case I completely wrecked the back of the coat. Humbag Bag or other bag made from kimono pieces I bought a few scrap bags of kimono pieces from a fiber artist over the net which would make some dreamy bags. I also have some lovely oriental fat quarters from when I belonged to one of Equilter' s monthly FQ clubs. I usually look out for cheap little Chinese purses to use as gift bags for jewellery but the smaller humbug bags would be great. I really like making jewellery with semi-precious stones. I came across this Crystal Pendant by Tammy Powley the other day but doubt that I'll ever get around to making it. I bought a load of glass crystals just before Xmas to make into a necklace that I saw in BeadWork magazine and I still haven't created it yet. There are several things in the new Rowan 31 That I want. Current faves are "Smoulder" by Kaffe Fassett - a striped cardigan in Cotton Glace and 4 ply cotton and "Anemone" by Kim Hargreaves in Summer Tweed. Can't decide which of the variegated colours I'd make that from. Check out ColourWay if you're thinking of ordering any Rowan. Teresa is lovely and very helpful, plus they're now based in Wales! Time to take a rest from future projects and work on a WIP - a sole for one of my Fiber Trends felt clogs while I watch E.R.
Didn't get a chance to work on anything tonight as my friend Hannah and I went to see Omid Djalili the Iranian comedian. At one stage he asked if there were any Iranians in the audience but I didn't raise my hand because he was asking in relation to a gag about Iranian families and seeing if the other Iranians in the audience, there were three, agreed. Not having grown up in such a household I of course would not have been able to answer. The Iranian side is from my father whom I've never met. However, aside from laughing so hard that I got a stitch I do feel that I learnt quite a bit about Iranian culture. One of which is that Iranian houses are cluttered up with ornaments! So that's where I got it from! What a great excuse "it's in my genes"! :-) Omid was excellent. If his current tour comes anywhere near you go and see him. Otherwise you can also see him being killed by scarab beetles in The Mummy, as a slave trader in Gladiator and in an upcoming lead guest star role in Relic Hunter. Tuesday, February 19, 2002
I've been playing around with the format of this blog today and thanks to Andy it now matches the rest of the site plus it has its own nav bar. I'd prefer it if the background was white with black text but somehow we can't seem to do it without everything mysteriously changing to white. So, for the moment this is going to stay just as it is. Now onto something far more interesting - craft Works In Progress! As usual I have several WIPs going on they include Knitting WIPs - Fiber Trends Felt Clogs in Lupin (purply colour) for me and black and dark green Lopi for Andy. So far I have two of mine finished, but need to make two outer soles before I can felt it, and one of Andy's done. These clogs are great but before felting they look like clown size shoes! I've never felted anything before but am trying not to feel too scared by the prospect! Check out ChicKnits Felting Adventure - Colinette Graffiti jumper. It's complete and blocked but is in the middle of finishing. I got stuck on the armholes - mattress stitch is a bitch to undo - so it's still on the table in my craft room after a month. - Colinette Point Five garter stitch scarf in Jamboree just waiting to be blocked. This is made from two skeins (cast on 13 stitches and knit stitch all the way) but one of them was more pastely than the other. I think the dye bath must have been nearly used up when it was done. Anyway I really don't like the lighter one and although I made it in large blocks of colour and tried to keep the lighter bits where they won't show too much, I'm really not keen on it. - Colinette Isis hat in Lapis. I've only got as far as casting on stitches with this one. This is a lovely looking yarn but a real pain to knit with. I need to get a 6mm circular needle that's at least 80cm long before I can get on with this. My current 6mm needles are only 35cm long and the yarn is so fuzzy - it's a viscose chenille - that you can't see the stitches properly. - Jaeger Aqua Cotton DK bagin shade 313 gunmetal type colour This actually started out as a face cloth using the Chinese Waves pattern. What's that you say? Jaeger cotton DK for a face cloth! I agree with you entirely far too good for that (can't get Suger'n'cream dish cotton over here) so it's going to be a slim bag instead with a matching I-cord strap. Should be ready just in time for summer. Fortissima Colori 100 socks in shade 525 a dark purply/blue/green variegated shade. This isn't really a WIP but a planned project. I haven't yet mastered sock knitting despite owning Mary Moran's The Sole Solution software, Cat Bordi's "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles" and countless web page printouts. I found a pattern yesterday for making them on two straight needles so I may well try that one. Beading WIPs Too many to list right now because most of them get tossed into in ziplock bags because I get stuck on something but after seeing Tara's necklace in Buffy (see last post) I decided to check my supplies and see I had the ingredients for something similar. I needed a donut and 11/0 seedbeads in a matching colour. I have some turquoise donuts that I bought on my last vacation to San Francisco, I got them from Gargoyle Beads in the Haight Ashbury, and some turquoise colour lined Japanese seed beads from eebeads. I've gotten so far as laying them all out on the ironing board - the only free surface in the craft room! - and am not sure how to progress. Well I have some ideas but I'm concerned that the donut won't lie flat on a seedbead chain. I could make a little peyote loop around the donut and attach the chain that way but I'm not sure. I had hoped to wear this tomorrow but it's late and I'm getting tired. I think I'll just pop it all in a ziplock for the mo! Sewing WIPs - Vogue 2299 tunic in purple stretch velvet - I bought the fabic as a remnant in Stone Mountain & Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley last November. I went there for a fab Trunk Show lecture by Diane Ericson. Diane is what we call in radio "a good talker" and was very inspiring. I came away with lots of ideas that of course I haven't put into use because of the darn sewing block. Oh well perhaps I'll get around to making the Dragonfly before the summer. I've just looked in the craft room and seen just how many sewing WIPs there are! I think I'll continue the list another day! :-)
I just watched the season six Buffy episode "Dead Things" and Tara is wearing an amazing ensemble when she leaves the Magic Box. Red kimono style jacket with oriental style jasmine blossoms in a light gold and a fab red necklace of seed beads with a donut that looks either like painted ceramic or glass. It has a little dangle/tassle off the end of the donut. Almost makes me want to brave the sewing machine - I've had a block since mid-November after a nasty experince trying to sew a stretch velvet - although I would of course be honour bound to at least finish Andy's Christmas present shirts. That jacket would be sooo nice for my NYC trip next month................ah well............at least the necklace is more doable. Monday, February 18, 2002
This blog probably won't be about sci-fi because believe it or not I do have other interests and I intend to write about them here. When I was a kid I was very creative and enjoyed making things but as I grew older I became less interested in crafts although I did make a few simple bits of jewellery in my teens. Since buying a house with my partner, and love of my life, Andy I've rediscovered crafts and learnt some new ones. It started off with a little painting, then decopage, glass painting, ceramic painting and then jewellery making, sewing and most recently knitting. I enjoy making things whether it's for myself or to give others as presents. I'd never sell any of my work because I don't believe that people take into account the actual cost of producing something. I know this from my Mother's experiences as a florist - people want something for nothing. They're too used to paying peanuts for cheap goods to appreciate the many hours of a person's time and creative energies that go into making jewellery or clothing etc. Far better to give them as presents to people who are only too happy to recieve something that's been made just for them. Opps! Just discovered that one of my hard drives is completely full! I'll have to crank the CD burner up and start deleting! And have something to eat because it's 8.30pm and I still haven't had dinner! Not very good. |
