hats and more

I have had a lovely Christmas here in Ohio at my parents house. Its nice to just sit back and do nothing for a while. I am ready to get back home tomorrow though. I miss my boyfriend and friends and the little things that make a space yours.

I decided to hold off on one idea for my boyfriends present. I'll be saving it for his birthday since its only a month away. Instead I knit him a hat. Its the half pipe hat from the Son of Stitch N Bitch. I highly recommend this hat to any and all knitters but especially beginners. Its a great looking hat, it knits up fast and its super easy. What more could you want really? The hardest part is sewing in the brim and even that isn't that hard. Here is a photo of me wearing the hat almost completed. All I had left to do was the grafting and sewing in the brim. I added stripes in the Nashville Predator colors since Joe is a huge Preds fan. I am debating whether or not to add GO PREDS in Navy on the gold band or not. We'll see it looks good with out it so its not a major thing to worry about. Not to bad for using yarn left over from previous projects.


I started another half pipe hat in a variegated gray yarn, Vanna's Choice Charcoal print by Lions brand to be specific. This one is for my brother Paul. I haven't made anything for him that I have ever completed. Paul usually asks for complicated patterns like the DNA scarf so this will be a nice one to make for him because I can finish is quickly and painlessly. Although I really should finish that DNA scarf because it is pretty bad @$$.

The Martina sweater is still coming along. Its following the old adage of two steps forward five steps back but I am bound and determined to finish it. Its a beautiful sweater.

knit to decrease another day

So far since I've made it to Ohio for the holidays all I have done is read and knit, watch movies, knit and read. Not all that interesting really but its nice to do something that is almost completely stress free.

So far in the past 3 days I have read the first installment to the Sisters Grimm, Coraline, some romantic novel about faeries, worked on finishing Crime and Punishment, and started the Gideon Trilogy. I have also watched the new bond film <3, the Saint, Stranger than Fiction, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, part of Speed Racer the movie, and the third Pirates of the Caribbean Movie.

Martina has been my constant companion through all of this. She has finally resolved her lace issues to lead me head long into a decreasing mistake. I decreased and decreased and decreased but some how did not decrease correctly or enough so I have ripped back once again. Happily not the beginning of the lace, though that isn't very far from where I am, merely to the place I assume I went wrong in decreasing. I don't allow myself to work on it when I am tired or occupied by persistent distractions so reworking things is going a bit slow. But I am enjoying knitting again despite the ringers Martina is putting me through.

I am looking for a sweater to knit out of a bright kelly green I have come to own. If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Martina strikes agian

I have taken my needles back up and am determined to finish the Adrienne Vittadini sweater Martina. It really isn't a hard pattern at all but I keep making small mistakes that cause me to have to rip out the lace portion on the front panel. I started it in June 2007 to give you an idea of how long I have been battling this sweater. I am feeling more confident however in my understanding of the lace portion of the pattern and am now as determined as ever to overcome this section of the sweater. I will not abandon such fine yarn to an unintended project. NO! I will finish this sweater and wear it with pride knowing I look fabulous in this color and that I conquered the demon called lace knitting to wear its hide upon my back! Haha!

In other news. Upon reading on Nipper's blog that the book Coraline is being released as a stop action movie in February I am ecstatic! I can hardly contain my excitement. In fact the next small sum of cash I run into that I can afford to spend on frivolity will go to purchasing yarn to knit the Coraline Sweater Nipper created. The sweater is a replica of Coraline's sweater and can be found in the bedroom of Coraline on the website for the movie. The website is loads of fun so I thoroughly suggest you check it out and find the pattern.

I am almost finished with a rasta hat for my soon to be old house mate, Jen. I will be making some matching fingerless gloves to go with it as well. The hat is a modified pattern from Treats and Treasures. I knit it as specified in the pattern but am going to come back and add a tighter rib to the opening of the hat to make it a bit more traditionally rasta since the opening on her hat is super wide and Jen wasn't in favor with it. Just a minor change.

so close to the end

Wow! Its hard to believe the year is almost up.

This past fall semester took my by storm and I am just now recovering. I've had a lot of good things happen with my art and craft though. I've sold or traded some of my paintings and am really happy with the direction of my work for once. I can't wait to start some new work after I get back from my parents home after the holidays.

I made a knife bag for my current beau, Joe, a culinary arts student. Its gotten a lot of good response and it sounds like I'll have a commission for another for a woman he knows from culinary school which is flattering and exciting. I hope it happens but I am not to worried about it if it doesn't.

I am finishing up some back logged knitting projects namely a rasta hat and some gloves for my roommate. Jen. The hats about half done and should be finished by the end of the weekend. I am hoping to get it and the gloves done before we both go ur separate ways for the holidays. After the holidays we are parting again as she'll be moving back to the craft center and my friend Sophie will be moving in with me.

Nathan and I separated during the middle of the semester. We are both in good standing with one another and keep in contact. His photography is really taking off and I am very proud of him. www.nathannovakphotography.com is his wedding photography site if your interested to see his work. It is about to be updated soon so keep checking back to see his latest work.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday. I've been decorating with paper snowflakes and twinkle lights in the window. Since I am at Joe's more than my place we got a small rosemary tree so he can cook with it all year round. Its currently decorated with red bulbs and silver beaded garland. I am about to make a secret family recipe for a german cookie that I absolutely adore which is traditionally made around the holidays.

random ramblings

Man. I just keep falling off the planet. Luckily I always seem to make my way back. Things have been very busy and I don't have a lot of time or energy tonight.I just wanted to get back in the groove of posting.

I recently had a surgery and am recovering quite well. I still work at a thai restaurant and attend school for art education. I have two semesters left. Thank goodness.

I recently saw the new Hellboy and Batman movies and adore them. I am working on a knit sperm doll for my friend Sophie and a custom knife bag for my friend Joe.

My family moved to Ohio. I am now the only person in Tennessee in my family. Luckily I like it here. I am still dating Nathan who lives in Virginia. We aren't on the top of our game but we are trying to make it work.

I have no idea what to do with myself once school gets out but I have to start working on it since its not to far off.

I have been getting rid of a lot of my belongings that I have been dragging around from move to move. I am a major pack rat and just kind of realized how useless it really is to keep some of it.

Its so strange how certain parts of growing up just kind of hit you. You are completely aware of them as they happen to you even if you aren't quite sure how relevant or emmense they will be in the effect they have on your life.

My snake damien has gotten larger... as has my roommates kitten... or should I say katten... not quite a cat and not quite a kitten.

anyways I need to go to bed. Still alive. I wish it were raining.

Schools out for summer Alice Coper would be proud

Well the semester is over and I am happy to say I did well in everything except metals which I figured since I basically stopped going after I missed the second critique. Oh's the wells. I'll survive making a bad grade in a class I don't need to get A's and B's in the ones I do need any ol' day.

New things.

My roommate got a Kitten. He is adorably vicious. Liking to claw and sratch things. He thinks that I am a climbing post which is going ot be very interesting as he gets older.


I also got a pet. Whilst looking at the for sale board at the school after leaving the bank I noticed a notice for a 43 inch ball python with tank and etc. Decided what the heck I'll go look at it and hold it since I like snakes and the ad says friendly. Needless to say I fell in love with the little fellow and now have a new pet snake. Which I have agreed to let Nathan say is his. Nathan changed his name from Big Louie to Damien (the name of the wrestler Jake the Snake's snake).


Other than that.

My brothers are all graduating from something (2 from community college and 1 from High school), I am going to Texas with my Mom to see my Omi soon, getting my tracker back in time for the summer with a new soft top, engine and bumper. My Family is moving to Ohio in a month and I am getting a new mac for my birthday. Yippee!

That about sums it up.

Hey been a while. So the photo above is a casting that didn't quite turn out. I have currently re cast the wings and cut the old ones off the butterfly's body so I can solder the new one on it. I have done quite a few other casts but I don't have any pictures to show from them at this time.

I am currently working on a brooch design that I am really happy with so hopefully all will go well with that and I can show you images of it in the next week or so.

Hope everyone is well. I am feeling much better thank you for the wonderful home remedy by the way. It worked wonders.

I haven't had any time to knit and can't even if I wanted to. All my knitting needles are in Virginia with Nathan. I need to get him to send them back to me.

He is doing well. He just got a job at a screen printing company and has been working on getting his wedding photography website up and running, his other website for his fine art photography is already up here's the link. Let him know what you think and let me know as well. He's always looking for new criticism.

Hope to give you all a long post soon. <3

BuZZ

Busy Busy Busy went the little bee as she went buzzing about so ferouciously.
That would pretty easily sum up me at the moment. I have been a working maven for sure. I am really enjoying this semester though. I love the casting class and will hopefully have some awesome shots for you on wendsday of my first few casts. Painting has been awesome as well although I'll admit I'm not devoting enough time to it because I am so in love with casting (I spent 12 hours in the studio yesterday).

The weather here has been a yo-yo of activity which means everyone and thier brother is sick. I am worried I am starting to get something myself which is not good. Not good at all. I've been drowning myself in Vitamin C to try to flush it out. It'll be that or I'll turn orange from to much orange juice.

I got Craft magazine 6 and another magazine on the way called Kitchykoo! I'll let you know what I think of them once I get through them. Although I am excited about the cardboard chair becuase I made a cardboard chair once and loved it (it was stolen so I no longer have it but it was awesome view my art site since the library computer is not letting me load images drat!) This chair is ver cute and I would like it for my bedroom actually. So I think I will construct it when ever I can find the time. <3

Monster Hat Pattern

R.I.P Vampira (Maila Nurmi)

I was very saddened to hear the news that Vampira (Maila Nurmi) passed way on the Tenth of January this year. She was defiantly one of my favorite personalities of all time. Her name will forever be remembered in my house. I think in her honor I am going to set up a movie fest of movies she was in. For more information on Vampira and her death check out here. Feel free to share and spread the flyer I made just please host it on your own. It's just polite.

On a happier note. The make-up I ordered for myself arrived and I am in love with it. It is a new brand called Coffin Color. It is natural, mineral eyeshadows that are hand blended by two awesome horror-rock-lovin' babes - Melissa and Xiane - in their "dark secret labs 50,000 feet underground." I am in love with the colors with such ghoulishly fun names as Gangrene, Gold Toof, Tombstone, Poison Purple and many more. It is very affordable as well which makes me happy and from trying it out the past couple days has some real staying power. Very happy to be supporting a diy, independent company. I am actually about to order the sample pack (which what I have pictured and what I purchased) for a good friend of mine, Abby. I am hoping she'll love it as much as I.

January was always a weird month

I guess that its bound to be since it is named after a god with two faces. First I have to say that I am writing this as I listen to
Richard Cheese's cover of Gin and Juice. You should check it out if you haven't ever heard it and tune into it if you have simply because its awesome.

I started a myspace page for my pin up. Not to to much there yet but its all work safe as I don't do nudes.


I am currently in the middle of making a penis pinata for my friend Sara's bachelorette party tonight. I still need to make cupcakes and figure out what to wear. The pinata has been fun to make though. My friend Tiffany helped me for a bit last night.I am also making cupcakes for the party tonight which I am hosting though not at my home but at my friend Leah's. My friend Tina has helped me contract a stripper and I am hoping that everything will go well since I am planning this party from an hour and half from where I am currently having never done a bachelorette party or really anything involving a stripper so I am just hoping that I have enough set up to entertain everyone and that they all have a good time.


I am still in Virginia visiting Nathan. Its been a good break though a bit rough at times. Nathan got held up at gun point at work the other day. Needless to say I was not happy about that. I think that was the roughest patch everything else has been really peachy-keen. I have been working on some monster hats for my friend Merideth's nieces and nephew. The one I have a photo of right now I call razz-berry. I'll post the others soon.

I got an new apartment in Tennessee with my friend Jen. I am really excited to get back so I can really start unpacking and getting settled.

Well back to cupcake and pinata-ing. <3 hope everyone has been awesome.

In Case You've forgotten how to make a pinata

2 cups flour
1 cup water
(or 2 parts flour to one part water)
salt to keep the paste from molding
mix till pasty and smooth

rip newspaper into strips and pieces
build a form from cardboard, balloons, and/or poster board (be sure to leave an opening for things to get placed into you pinata)
dip a strip of paper in paste and squeegie off excess with your fingers
apply and continue till the whole form is covered.
let dry.

(note: I like to let the pinata dry in between layers to make sure that it is fully dry.)