Meet Tara Dactyll

This thursday was my roommates Sophie's "Schools a Drag" drag queen party. I have to say the most amazing party ever. It had cupcakes, wax lips, two dance floors, a pole on the lower level dance floor, a kareoke machine in the upstairs dance floor, spiked punch, hula hooping and then a ton of people in drag. I came as a girl dressed as a boy dressed as a girl because I love drag queens and seriously believe if I were a boy I would totally have to be one simply because they are that fabulous. So here is a shot of me as "Tara Dactyll". I wish you could see my boots in this shot. They were gold faux snake skin stilleto boots with camel color faux fur trim that I got for a dollar brand spankin' new at Rugged Warehouse. AMAZING! plus my uber hip hop earrings are hiding in my hair. They are these giant gold bamboo hoops that say "baby girl" in cursive across the hoop. haha. I love them and I am going to wear them so, so much.

Pipe cleaner mini me

Last night I went to Knoxville with my friend Merideth to go see Andrew Bird. The show was awesome! I got to meet the band memebers and have them sign my ticket stub too which made my week amazing. Merideth took pictures of us with them as well so when I get those from her I'll post them for you guys to see. I bought 2 LP's a cd and a long sleeve-t which means on top of the amazing chips and avacado/ atichoke dip, prickily pear margarita and mango margarita I spent way to much money in one evening for a college student with no job to spend.

Earlier that day in my Art Applications class I finished my "mini me" project. Its a project we can teach to kids as a reflective tool. We basically build ourselves out of pipe cleaners. It was fun and quick. Here is myself if I lived in a pipe cleaner world. All I can think of is Micheal Gondry. Can't you just imagine him making a movie with pipe cleaner people? The mini Heidi is now living a life as a dash board element since I can't think of a better place for a mini person to chill out.


I went to my parents for my brother Christian's birthday on Saturday. He just turned 20.

That is about all I have accomplished. I am almost done with Andy's scarf. I hope he likes it. I made it navy and charcaol grey striped. The stripes are irregular which I had fun with and I think he'll like but we'll see. I should be done with it by the end of the week I hope.

I still need to finish that top. I just haven't had a slow minute to just pull out the iron and get it all together. I am determined to get it done though.

The beginning

School and life have been slightly demanding for the past two weeks. My car is dead. I am now driving my brothers, school is really easy this semester. Hopefully it'll stay that way. Nathan is awesome and I love him. uh... I started a new scarf for a friend who is driving me around this semester so I can save gas and he gave me a glass vase that he blew. He's a glass blower. I still need to fuse and sew the pieces for the silk tank. I am planning to have that finished by the time Nathan visits so he can appreciate it since he bought me the book. <3

I haven't received my package from my virtual vacation buddy which makes me sad. But I think she's busy right now so I am going to drop her a line and see how she is. We've both been kind of MIA.

Hmmm.... I am rather amused because I am in college and for two of my classes we are doing middle school art projects in class. Haha they are fun classes and for art education so these are just showing us how to use projects like these to teach but it still feels like if my dad knew he was paying for me to do this he'd be pissed. hehe Here is the Beaded guardian that I made today.

Back and Fancy Free

The photo is a teaser of the pieces for the silk slip. I need to get some fusible web and some fabric to finish the rest of it which I can't wait to do. Unfortunately it is going to have to wait for a few days or so since I have to move into the dorms and start classes.

I bought my books today and took my first load of stuff up to the Craft Center so I am happy. Now I just need to finish packing and take the rest of it up tomorrow. I get my own room this semester which I am very excited about. I am looking forward to settling in.

My classes this semester include the History of Craft, 20Th Century Art History, Art Applications I, Art Educational Theory with Lab, Educational Psychology, and Digital Art Basics.

time crunch

Hey everyone I am just checking in again. I have been in Virginia for the past... few weeks as my trip extended itself from 5 days to a month. I am thoroughly enjoying myself and my time with my boy friend Nathan.

I have finished knitting a pattern from my newly acquired knitting book. Its a lovely tank top slip called the silk slip which I have knit in bonsai from Berroco. Which is 100% bamboo and feels scrumptious and is wonderful to knit with.

I'll post pictures as soon as I possibly can. (Currently typing in the library with a 37 minute limit to my time eek!) So ta ta and keep on knitting. I can't wait to check up on what I have been missing out on in your lives. Miss you all.

parcels and books

I mailed my first package out to my Virtual vacation pal. I hope that she enjoies it. I can't wait to see her response in her blog.

In other news the semester is winding down and I am almost through with working for my current job. Then I get a long over due vacation to Virginia where I fully intend to relax and knit and have a great time catching up with friends.

Speaking of friends my friend Cara just recently turned me onto this site,shelfari. Its a profile based site where you put in books you have read and rate them and people will recommend books for you to read. As I am always looking for great reads and like to know what others are reading I appreciate the concept. I'll be adding my profile link on the side in case your ever interested in seeing what I have read or am reading. One of my goals has been to read a book a month (at least) for the 1001 days list I made and I am proud to say that so far I have kept to it.

I am trying to think of what else I might have forgetten to mention but am drawing a blank. I'll post back here soon and let you know whats going on. hopefully I can through in something crafty since the past few posts have all been pretty non-craft related.

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Stock rocker with your dirty eyes

I know its been a while. I got a job(oh horrors) at a restraunt as a waitress which takes up my evenings 5 to 6 nights out of the week and with school taking up my mornings 5 days out of the week I tend to use my time off for sleeping. Making me a very boring girl lately. haha Despite that I have to say I have been Kareokeing a few times actually sang (terribly) Blondie's Call Me which was a first. Singing Kareoke I mean not singing to Blondie. haha. I also sang girls just want to have fun. Rode on a motorcycle for the first time ever (and loved it definatly have to get me one of them suckers eventually). Found an amazing play ground called the imagination station and saw Transformers and Ratatoulli(sp). Both of which were great movies.

I met my roommates boyfriend Steve he lives in Seattle so meeting him isn't a normal occurance. He is perfect for her. I hope they can make it work with the distance. Speaking of distance my boo just moved to Richmond Virginia so he can attend VCU. I am going to be visiting from August 2 through the 7th and I get to see an awesome band that I have fallen head over heels for the night I fly in. HURRAY! The band is called Shiny Toy Guns. They are so catchy and awesome I can't wait to go dance my little butt off. Hmmm what else.

Nathan got some scarification on his ankle. For any of you unfamiliar with this its where a design is carved into your body with a scalple and then treated to cause scaring of that design. Nathan got the RCA logo with the little dog listening to the vintage record player in his ankle. Its going to look great when it heals. He called me to ask about some ideas for what to get and I suggested this one so I am feeling a little proud of his ankle since it was based on my suggestion. Though thats a silly thing really. haha Heres a photo of it just after it was finished. Sorry if you don't like blood.

And things that look great also includes this clothing company,Wai-Ching, my friend sara just turned me on to. Its a bit more expensive than I can afford currently but I am still very happy to drool especially over dresses like this one, "Vapor". Man that dress is just hott. I would love to have a dress like that.

I am hoping ot have plenty of time to finish my projects this summer soon since I put in my two weeks. School is coming up fast which means moving and running around to see counslers and fill out paper work. I still saved up the money I wanted to this summer though in just a month which is also awesome. Did well in my summer classes and got to visit nathan in VA twice by the time the summer is through so I am a happy girl.

My virtual pal should be excited I have been shopping like crazy for her. I am going to mail the first package on monday. I think I'm going to set up her packages by locations of popular attractions in TN. K well got to jet. <3

Skulls in fashion isn't a new idea at all

I am happy to be over yet another test with one on friday and the last one next week. Hurray then I am done with Biology I. Then we move into Biology II which is going to be interesting since I haven't disescted anything since middle school and we have to do several.

I am on the second sleeve of the skull shrug. I haven't finished it because I got obsorbed not in studying but in a book, The Golden Compass. It was delightful. I am really very excited to read the next one but first I have to read Howl's Moving Castle because a girl in my class has lent it to me. I finished the Golden Compass last night though and so I now can focus on finishing the shrug agian before I start Howl's. The photo I encluded is an old vintage image I found on some site years ago. I've kept it because I thought it was fasinating to see a skull icon in their fashion back then even it was just for a film costume of some sort.

I'll post the shrug in a photo when I am done. I posted an old painting on my art page since I found a picture of it if any of you are interested. The link to that is under my profile.

A skull shrug and a lonely summer

I have been knitting away on a new project. Shameful I know since I have quite a few going already. I couldn't resist though. It is such and easy fast project and I have use for it right now. If your wondering what it is well its a skull shrug. I got the pattern from the punk knitters group and love it. Its black with skulls on the elbows and white stripes on the sleeves(which I added to the pattern). I am currently on the back of it heading toward the other sleeve. The photo is of my progress on the day I started Saturday. It is now Monday show that after my initial excitement I tend to slow down a little til the end gets in site and I get a second super burst of knitting energy. I should get to that point soon. I am hoping to get it done by Wednesday at the latest we shall see.

I have been kind of lonely lately. I spend most of my days by myself studying,reading,watching new movies,and knitting. I talk to Nathan at multiple points through out the day and attend class Monday through Friday and a study group on Sundays so I don't think I really have any real reason to be but I feel little lonely non the less. I think it may be because I have no one to spend time with out side of school. Everyone I know is busy right now as is understandable and I am too but I do miss everyone and wish there was time to get together and do something fun.

I am seriously considering going to Salvation again regularly again. I always had a great time and there were some great people and I at least felt like I did something not alone even if I was technically (I usually attend alone having no one to attend with me). May be I'll go this weekend as a prize to do well on my test, a reason to show off my new shrug and an excuse to exercise a bit (hurray dancing)

new glasses and project updates.

Today I got to pic up my new glasses. Huray. I only need them for reading or when my eyes are under stress like long distance driving and computer or tv gazing. I do however love to wear glasses which is a switch from other period of my life like kindergarden that was til I got my pink glasses in first grade then it was ok.

Today I donated some things to good will, returned library items and got pictures of something I have in the works right now. These are some felix the cat peices I am making ot turn into a bag. I am using some yarn that was gifted to me from some one elses stash. Its red heart which is part of the reason I am using it for this. Its an expirement so we'll see how is turns out.

Here is the latest photo of the progress of the vogue rose felted bag. It has roses now but no leaves and I want to add more roses. I have some of the leaves but not all fleted and the remaining roses I have need to a little TLC and then I need to finish felting them(they are only partially felted). People at school have been asking about its continued progress and want to see it. One girl even is inquiring about my knitting a felted bag for her. We will see I told her I'd need to look at the cost of yarn and what type of bag she'd want and the amount of time I have to make it. I am pretty sure that when I quote a price its going to be to high though since that bag was 100 bucks worth of yarn and she wants about that size. We shall see though. We shall see.

Me and my DNA

I took this picture last friday in my science lab. haha. Its a picture of me with my DNA. haha. I look like the hugest nerd. Anyways. I am wearing my tube top that I knit last summer. haha I need to start wearing a scarf when I drive. I've been driving with the windows down and my hair looks like a whirl wind when I get to school. I'll never be one of those girls whose hair is perfectly in place. Sigh thats nothing to dwell on.

To see your DNA you'll need:
5ml dish soap solution, a test tube, 10ml saline, a dixie cup, and 10ml rubbing alchohol

saline solution=Prepare the 0.9 percent salt solution (2 teespoons of table salt dissolved in 1 quart/liter of water)

soap soultion=1 volume of detergent mixed with 3 volumes of water

Directions:
Pour amount of saline into a dixie cup
Swish the saline around in your mouth for 30 seconds to remove some cheek cells.
Spit saline/saliva solution back into dixie cup
Get your test tube and put 5ml of dish soap solution into your tube.
Then pour your saline solution over the soap solution.
Gently rock your soap/saline/salive solution for 2 minutes to mix it all together.
DO NOT shake it as this will break the DNA up and you won't be able to see it.
After rocking your solutin of 2 minutes get 10ml of rubbing alcoholand pour it in the test tube.
The 10ml of rubbing alcohol will sit on top of the other soapy solution but if you look at the division line between the two you will see hazy cloudy white strands coming up into the clear solution. That is your DNA. Yippee!

movies to watch

I felted my roses. Most of them turned out. I am going to repair the ones that didn't felt fully or warped a little(which interestingly enough are also ones that didn't finish their felting). I sewed most of the little roses on to my bag already. I am so excited. I felted the leaves as well. I need to sew them on still as well. I know the instructions said to sew them to the rose first but I am not to worried about it. Just really excited to be so close to finishing it. I'll take a picture and force my way on to a computer at home to post the bag, strawberry progress and all the other goodies I've been wanting to share.

What else what else. I watched a few good movies recently that I highly recommend if you haven't seen them already. Inventing the Abbotts, The Brain that Wouldn't Die, It Happened One Night, Pan's Labyrinth, Following, King of the Zombies.

Had my second science exam today. I don't feel very well about how I think I did. We'll see tomorrow I geuss is all I can do. Well I am off to do some errands.

work shmirk

Today I was introduced to some cool websites worth taking a peek at.
cool business card designs
Mr. Lee's cat cam

I also finished my roses. Well knitting and sewing them. I am going to felt them tonight when I get home. Very excited about that. The bag is so close to finally being done. As soon as I find the missing skein of light colored yarn that I am hoping I still have (I am not sure if I actually still have another light colored olive skein I may have used it all on the bag). How ever it goes its really close to being done. Yipee!

I brought my sweater along (Martina 1) so I could work on it if I get finished with all I can on the bag. Looks like I'm going to actually get to it. That'll be good its been sitting in limbo since last weekend. I think I need to rip a few more rows out just to be sure it will all be right. I don't want any more suprises. I just want to finish it so I can wear it in all its fine sweater glory.

Last night we (Lori, Jamie, Everrett and I) didn't make it to te Roller Derby. Everrett's flight came in during the middle of the bout and it was an hour late so it wasn't worth it to spend $15 a person to see nothing really. We went to a bunch of bars instead most of which were on Broadway which is where Jamie and I usually go when we go into Nashville because they always have great live bands playing rockabilly, country, and bluegrass and the beer is cheap. Its a bit touristy on weekends but some how in that area since it only really gets super busy on the weekends its nice instead of annoying. We went to The Paradise Park Trailer Resort which wasn't what I thought it was going to be but still fun, the across the street to Robert's which I think is my favorite bar over there, then across the street agian to the Full Moon. Saw three diffrent bands and have a great time. We stopped in at a gift shop on the corner that has the greatest cheap sun glasses and spoofy stuff but they were out of elvis sun glasses and I already had the other glasses that I liked there so I didn't get anything. Next time though the elvis-ness will be mine.

I found this on Just Jussi's page and loved it to much not to share it. I am currently sitting in the gallery at the Appalachian Center for Crafts working. This is where I work when I am in school and I agreed to come up and fill in for Tony for the weekend. Happily I am only an hour away from being done for the evening. YAY!

Then I am going with Lori to Nashville to pick up Jamie and Everette from the airport after which we are going to the Roller Derby at the fair grounds and to some bar some where. I am voting to go to the Paradise Trailer Resort which is a new restraunt/ bar in Nashville. I have heard mixed reviews about it but am willing to over look any negative burger reviews for their $6 pitcher and trailer trash-esque digs. I'll let you know if its any good. WHere ever we go I am super excited about getting to ride with Lori since I was worried I'd have to use another full tank of gas this weekend.

I have been studying and knitting while at work today. I am almost finished with my dark leaves for the rose bag which knit up super fast and then I have to wait on the light colored leaves because I have no idea where I put the rest of my light colored olive skein. Drat. I'll find it and finish that when I get home. I think I am going to felt the roses and leaves I do have tomorrow though.

Knitters Virtual Vacation Swap Questions

1. If you could visit any state in the US, which would it be and why? California because I have never been there and feel I should put my childhood fear of it dropping off into the ocean the moment I step there to rest (can't help what a six year old mind comes up with). Also because of the wonderful kitchy midcentry hotels, car clubs and all other things wonderous.

2. If you could visit any country in the world, other than your own, which would it be and why? New Zealand. All my favorite movies were filmed there, its home to exterme sports, its warm in the winter and cold in summer, and it has more sheep than people. If I could move there I would.

3. Have you ever driven across several states/providence/countries?
Yes

4. Have you ever visited someplace you consider exotic? Where was it?
Yes, Sicily,Italy when Iw as a wee girl and I use to live in Hawai'i for a year.

5. What was your favorite "travel" vacation? Why? Berlin, Germany because I could travel to a diffrent museum every day for a month and not run out of museums and it has a great night life plus its a beautiful city.

6. Have you ever played tourist in your own home city/state (if international, country)? Explain. Yes constantly mainly because I am a military brat so my home city/ state is constantly changing.

7. Are you a museum visitor, beach comer or an amusement seeker?I would say I am all three. I am a big fan of fandom wierd sites like the worlds largest ball of twine or whatever.

8. What's your favorite type of yarn? Interesting ones and Yummy ones. If you like to look at it or touch it I'll love it.

9. What's your least favorite type of yarn? Itchy ones or difficult ones. If they are notorious for that then I don't like 'em.

10. What items do you like to knit/crochet? Sweaters and accesories.

11. What do you pack, knit/crochet wise when you go on vacation? My most recent projects or something I haven't started but am really excited about.

12. What other crafts do you do/would like to do other than Knit/Crochet? embrodery, pin striping, painting, sewing, etc.

13. Are you allergic to anything? (Yarn wise or treat wise) Not that I know of

14. What is your favorite color? Least Favorite? Purple is my favorite color but I don't wear it or use it much oddly enough. I don't have a least favorite color.

15. Sweet or Savory (Treat not personality)? Sweet. I am A candy-oholic.

16. Anything else we are forgetting to ask that you think your partner desperately needs to know? I collect interesting metal tins and lunch boxes, old lisence plates, craft books and magazines, and love all things vintage.

ripping causes a progress depression

Ripping back always temporarily puts a dent in my progress (well obviously) but besides just having to physically go back I tend to get a wee depressed with the project and take a few days off from it. Terrible habit that I have to say I dislike but can't seem to get over. So I have taken wee baby break on Matrina 1. Shameful I could be almost done by now.

In its stead however I have been finishing the long over due roses and leaves for the Felted Rose bag. I have five roses knit though not assembled and no leaves to date but I have started and I will say they are a great project to interject vocabulary and notes with. I do 40 minutes of note or vocab and knit one or two roses. I figure at this rate I'll pass all my science tests and finish the bag that seems to just lag on and on. I really want to get some fabric to line the inside. I have just the fabric in mind actually.

Oh I almost forgot. I passed my first Biology exam with a B. Hurray! So I can start my Weird Oh model Car. Hurray! I got Daddy a crazy suburbanite on his way to or from work. The kit comes with the road signs and the goes so far to replicate the drawing as to have the piston falling out the bottom of the car and the little martini hood ornament

Procrastination station and the end at the light of the school bus

I am siting here reading blogs when I should be studying for my test tomorrow. Shameful. I have been studying a lot though and did just photo copy 4 practice tests to study even more once I tear myself away from this computer and drive home from school.

I am excited because I have affirmed that if I am allowed to use my already taken art classes that I can have all the classes finished to graduate with the art education BFA by December of 2008. HURRAY! Then I am taking a well deserved break from educational studies. At least a semester. Then we'll see what I do. Whether I decide to further torture myself right away or take a long break and join the work force. Two things are for certain Nathan and my Dad will be ecstatic. This means I can move to Richmond and be with Nathan and that I will have finished my BFA which is a MUST in the eyes and understanding of my dad in what I need to survive in toady's society.

So no more doing bad in classes, which I shouldn't do anyways. And I need to get all the paper work handled to get everything going. Crazyness. The end is in site I just need to get there. Well I am off to study.

Weekend delights

The weekend is almost over and I have been sitting at home watching old horror movies and knitting while studying for my science test on tuesday for most of it. This is the progress I have made on Matrina 1. I watched the killer shrews, Dr. Jekell and Mr.Hyde, The king of the zombies, The Swamp Women, and The brian that wouldn't Die.
When not watching the boob tube I have been sitting on the back porch enjoying the sound of my mom's fountian and the birds while reading my science notes and reviews or the book on heavy metal history my brother got for me. I realized this morning that I had made a mistake on my sweater in the lace knitting about 2 inches below where I was when I took the photo today so I have ripped back since. Hopefully I can find some time to catch up this week.

I talked with friends I haven't talked to in a while on the phone which was nice and planted some strawberries in a hanging basket. I am hoping to document their growth. Here is Day 1 the planting.That is the fountian my mom made in the back ground.
I have been eyeballing a model set in the model car section recently so I purchased one and have set it up as a prize for myself if I do well on my first science test. Namely I am not allowed to start working on it til after I take the test and pass it. I am excited about it though. Its one of the Weird Oh's by Bill Campbell. I got the suburbanite "Daddy". I hope to eventally collect and create them all.

Introducing Martina 1

Started a new sweater. Its part of my process of getting rid of my stash. I am using a tourquise cotton yarn (Schulana Super cotton color number 53) I bought on sale a year ago with no project in mind. The pattern is by Adrienne Vittadini as sweater called Martina 1 from her fall 2004 collection. Love the pattern its beautiful and so far really easy to knit. We'll see if I still feel that way when I get up to the lace area. The yarn is wonderful. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a soft plump cotton yarn that makes you want to touch it.

non-craft chit chat

Schools going well. Fast but well. Its weird thinking that in 5 weeks I'll be done with this class. I am actually thinking about seeing if I can pick up another class int he next 5 week session if this one goes well so I can try to get farther ahead. I just want to graduate. I love going to school I hate pressure to get a degree so if I get a degree I can graduate and just take classes as I please willy nilly as it fits in with my life. Perfect.

The nice thing about this semester is I get to ride to and from school with my brothers. We're car pooling. Its nice since we don't get to spend all the at much time together any more what with all our seperate interests and activities and me not living here half the time. Granted they have classes 3 hours before me but I can use the time to study, work on home work, knit, or whatever. Which will be great I'll get more done.

Well I should hit the hay since I have classes tomorrow and I have to be ready to go by 7. Hope everyone is doing well.

I'm back! Back in the saddle agian

Man I love Aerosmith. I am planning to go back to VA in August to see not Aerosmith but Def Lepoard, Foreigner and Stix with Nathan and his family. Hells Yay!

The flight from VA to TN was interesting. The first flight went great loading quickly, taking off quickly, good company (I sat next to a piolet who lives in a Aruba and works for Southwest). The second flight was secudeled to have an hour layover which was expected so I worked on my black and white striped hat and talked to a really nice girl from Huston, Texas. We loaded on the plane and a computer broke. So they replaced the computer and it didn't work so we loaded off the plane and moved over a terminal and waited for another flight to unload and then we reloaded on to the new flight. Just sitting on the plane while they worked the computer situation was an hour to give you an idea of the delay. No biggie though I did feel bad because I had forgotten my cell phone at Nathans and couldn't call my mother who was picking me up. Not that it would have mattered because she forgot to take hers as well. haha.

So all the knitting on the hat is finished and I crocheted the orange border on it and started attaching the orange Mohawk. I am trying a slightly diffrent technique with the frindge though. We'll see how it works in comparison to the the other hats. I decided that I am going to give this hat to my friends Ryan and Alicia's son. I'll make another for their 8 month old daughter Evie.

Tomorrow I start my summer classes. I'm just taking science classes with their labs so it should be a sinch. They start at 9:45am and go til 12:30ish Monday through Friday. I am actually really glad since with out it till I find my job I have very little to do that doesn't make me feel like a loafer. Anywhoodles. I need to hit the sack.

Wastng time

So I am flying back to Tennessee in about 6 hours. Nathan has a mild fever and is resting. Poor guy. I can never sleep when I have to be up early for anything with a time deadline so I am of course sitting here trying to get tired so I can fall asleep for a few hours.

I started another Mohawk hat. I have an hour delay tomorrow and I don't want to be stuck with nothing to do. Its black and white striped. I am trying to enlist the no color jog stripe trick that I learned at Knittapalooza this year in Sally Melville's class on Stripes. I am not doing it right so far but I hope to get it by the end of the hat. I feel this is a good project to practice on since I am going to be covering the seam with a Mohawk anyway.

Speaking of Knittapalooza I need to remember to pay for next year assapple so I can get into Nicky Epstein's classes. I love her work. Still need to finish the Roses on my Rose bag. That should totally be done by now. Maybe that should be my goal for the week when I get home.

Goals for the week
Knit Roses for bag
Apply for Job
Start Classes
Clean room
Go through Stuff in Storage Shed
Finish current Mohawk hat

There thats pretty hefty.

The Things I've done

a little quiz I took from Roxtarchicknits showing what you may or may not have done throughout your life. BOLD marks each affirmative statement. it's definitely a nice distration remembering things (fondly) that you've done!

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said “I love you” and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of PisaI am marking this one because I visited the tower when your weren't allowed to enter it so you couldn't walk up it but I've been to it
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
42. Had an amazing friend
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark it was shark jerky
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray just this week actually
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol X
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild X
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (caught it) it was fish
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

the Dame test

You know I have to say I don't think this is very me at all but if it is then well I won't complain. Its more like what I wish I were rather than what I believe I am.

Your Score: Myrna Loy

You scored 16% grit, 33% wit, 33% flair, and 33% class!

You are class itself, the calm, confident "perfect woman." Men turn and look at you admiringly as you walk down the street, and even your rivals have a grudging respect for you. You always know the right thing to say, do and, of course, wear. You can take charge of a situation when things get out of hand, and you're a great help to your partner even if they don't immediately see or know it. You are one classy dame. Your screen partners include William Powell and Cary Grant, you little simmerpot, you.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the
Classic Leading Man Test.

Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Towel day and a shower make me officially official

Apparently today is Towel Day in appreciation of Douglas Adams work and life. Amusingly enough I discovered this as I had gotten out of the shower and had a towel on my head. Hahah. Very cool idea.

Interestingly enough that isn't the only thing the shower brought up today. Nathan came home from work early and proposed to me officially as I was standing peeking out of the shower I was taking. The ring is beautiful (pictures later). Now some of you might think that this is a horribly unromantic way to propose but to be honest Nathan and I have been proposing to each other during every special moment and ordinary moment when the thought popped into our heads for the past... at least 6 months. So in all honesty I have been proposed to hundreds of ways hundreds of times all by the same man and I have proposed to him hundreds of times as well so for him to propose to me while I was in the shower (which is a new one by the way) is perfect because I know that he will be proposing to me randomly for the rest of my life just to remind me he loves me just as I will be him. We made our engagement official about two weeks ago when he asked my dad for his blessing to marry me and we started announcing it to all our friends and family. Which sort of happened by accident stealing the thunder of a ring which made Nathan sad. I could care less its a mere symbol of the love we have for each other and I am just happy to know we are on our way to sharing the rest of our lives together.

Patrica Waller: Accidents, Rabbits, and Twins oh My!

Nathan and I have been trying to figure out who the artist of these macabre knitted works was and today I found it on the Knitsy Bitsy Spider's page. The artist is Patrica Waller.Hurray mystery solved. Thank you Knitsy Bitsy for helping us solve the mystery.

Allicorns and Unigators

Last night I gave the hats to their new family. Everyone loved them as far as I can tell. Ethan was already in bed because it was 9 o'clock and he is 10. So I'll just have to hear about how much he liked the hat later. Other stuff... hmmm...


I finally got a picture taken of a project a million years old now. I embroidered this pillow case for Nathan almost a year ago. He never uses it because he says its to special. It was part of out Alphabet Mail Along that we did while we were close to 670 miles apart which we still are but this helped us a lot in the beginning to make sure we stayed in touch and still created new memories together. This was his A. I was going to make its cousin the "Uni-gator" for U but to be completely honest the Alphabet-along fell off a bit when we took a month off from being together (understandably). I should restart it when I get back to Tennessee. I never put the horn on the Allicorn. Couldn't find a way that I liked it so Its been left off for now.

In case you were wondering what it is. At some point there was a conversation with some friends of ours about drawing animals mixed together. Namely a Unicorn with an Alligator. What would it be called? What would it look like. So they drew one and I drew them and the result was an Allicorn and a Unigator. It is said that they are mortal enemies and will fight to the death if they come across one another. So that is the tale of the Allicorna nd the Unigator.

Break Time

I am taking a break from cleaning which is going well. I recently discovered that this book has the most amazing leg warmers that I have to make for my friend Abby for her birthday which is in two days. She'll forgive me for being a bit late since I have to fly back to Tennessee the day before. I also have to make them for me. So frickin AMAZING! The designer of the leg warmers lists Siouxsie from Siouxsie and the Banshees as her source of inspiration. Which makes this a must must knit.

Nathan called and we're going to have a picnic on the beach after he gets off work. Hurray! We'll stop at Echo's of time first so I can sell my stuff hopefully. I have some shoes from the 30's, a vintage hand bag, a black pill box hat, a 70's dress that I love but never wear and some other things. I have a really hard time giving things up but I feel at least if I can give them up to Echo's they will go to a good home and I can make a couple bucks.

Man I can't wait to knit those leg warmers and wear them. They are going to be hot!!!

101 things to do in 1001 days

From Triplux.com:
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

"Here's my list"

001. Grow hair out till the end of the 1001 days small trims for dead ends allowed but no more than 2 inches.
002. Plan a Wedding that doesn’t break the bank and still looks fabulous.
003. Move back to Virginia
004. Sew at least one item a month
005. Read at least one new book a month.
006. Knit all projects that I have already purchased yarn and patterns for
007. Learn to Screen Print like a pro
008. Learn to crochet a lot better
009. Crochet Amuragumi for friends
010. Knit Viking hats for god kids
011. Eat better with more veggies, fruits, and less junk.
012. Travel somewhere out of country
013. Learn to pin stripe
014. Throw a cocktail party.
015. Send letters of appreciation and love to Nathan at least once a month.
016. Get a Double Dutch group going
017. Learn to Double Dutch
018. Order custom tags for handmade items.
019. Go camping.
020. Get a full-time job.
021. Design a knitting pattern
022. Test Knit the designed pattern
023. Purchase from Stop Staring,Black Cherry Clothing, and Zombie Kitten
024. Submit the pattern to a knitting group/magazine
025. Do 1 sketch every day for 1 month.
026. Wear red lipstick every day for a month
027. Dress like a Harajuku girl for a month
028. Write pen pals and send small surprise once a month
029. Learn to style hair in a vintage style
030. Knit graffiti something
031. Organize files on computer
032. Sew a dress all by myself.
033. Make bath bombs.
034. Make marshmallows.
035. Build a piece of furniture from scratch.
036. Tag.
037. Create an alias.
038. Bake all the cupcakes in the 75 vegan cupcakes book
039. Write everyone’s phone numbers down so when I kill my phone I actually have them
040. Sew a corset
041. Make a sock monkey.
042. Move into my own place.
043. Join a new SNB
044. Go to either: Rockabilly Weekender, Viva Las Vegas or Bonneville Speed Week
045. Take a picture of myself everyday for a month
046. Get a dog
047. Get tattoo
048. Get and install throwers for the car
049. Visit the zoo
050. Fix the passenger seat in the car by myself
051. Sew new upholstery for the car
052. Create a resume.
053. Get all the Knit 1 magazines
054. Build a small model-sized house out of matches -- then burn it down.
055. Learn to tie a bowtie.
056. Subscribe to Interweave Knits
057. get an IUD
058. Watch all 54 horror movies I got for my birthday and any other horror movies in my collection that I have not yet watched
059. Go to the drive-in.
060. Skinny-dip.
061. Watch "The Wizard Of OZ" while listening to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon".
062. Re-establish Tanksylvainia
063. Add the new edition Bait’s Motel
064. Start as 401K
065. Start actively saving $30 a month (a least) in a no touch savings account
066. Get Married to my awesome boyfriend
067. Go apple-picking in the fall.
068. Make jam.
069. Burn all photos on computers to disk by interest (i.e. inspiration, family/friends etc)
070. Get a new degree
071. Graduate TCC
072. Learn how to design a website
073. Learn the lyrics to 4 rap songs efficiently enough to rap along. I'm so white.
074. Start and herb garden
075. Create & bury a time-capsule.
076. be more active in my online communities
077. Call family regularly
078. Write a thank you note for all gifts and kind gestures from people
079. Go streaking
080. Learn how to mix drinks well
081. See at least one band a month live
082. Go out dancing at least once a month
083. Go through all belongings and get rid of stuff
084. Sing in public (in a band, another person, karaoke, anything).
085. Make a 5 year plan with Nathan
086. Build a display case(s) for all Nathan’s loose WWF action figures
087. Watch all David Lynch movies.
088. Learn the US state capitols.
089. Get a new bed.
090. Get a free slurpiee on free slurpiee day (july 11)
091. Participate in another secret pal along
092. Host a mail along
093. Join a Mix tape group
094. Dress up as a hot dog and go tanning
095. Dress up as a hamster and go zorbing
096. Create faux fox stole from design to prototype
097. Put an entire paycheck into savings.
098. Transfer all my MP3 files to AAC for the sake of computer space or invest in a portable hard drive to hold just music.
099. Tell friends & family "I love you" regularly.
100. Embroider something once a month
101. Throw a day of the Dead party

Mohawk Hats and dumpster dive rants

All finished! Hurray! And I actually have a photo to share. I know its amazing!
So now the plan is to make about five more of the little baby ones but for 5 different babies most of them boys. I'll be getting started on that as soon as I get back from VA.

Speaking of getting back from VA to TN. I am going to be a busy girl. I am taking summer classes,both Biology Sciences with a Labs. Classes start every morning at 8. I haven't had to wake up that early in a while so that will be fun. I want to start getting back on my old sleeping schedule anyways. I was way more productive. I also need to find a job when I get back. Tired of being broke. Plus I have an upcoming wedding, move and all that razzamataz so ya job is necessary.

Today my plans are to clean Nathan's room, Hang out with Nathan, Andrew, Abby, Goob and who ever else shows up at Andrew's house. MMM... oh and go to Echo's in Time to sell some of my vintage or vintage style clothing to them since I don't wear it or need it and I can't bear to just give it to Goodwill where it will be miss treated or thrown away. Don't get me wrong I love good will and donate to them regularly but their policy of if its ripped or broken they can't sell it really pisses me off. Mainly because they toss out perfectly fine items that could and are offered to be purchased with out a care to the person offering to purchase it, the environment, or our wasteful society. Plus at most Goodwill stores these days they have COMPACTORS! Those things are the devil and should be destroyed. If you think its trash and others think its a treasure let them have the d*mn thing don't destroy it. If your worried about law suites just put up a sign with a whole long list on a legal document on the dumpster saying if someone dies, gets hurt, or what ever else someone thinks they can sue a company for when they dumpster dive that person/company owning the dumpster can't be held responsible. I am done ranting.

New Face

Well I just gave the blog a huge face lift. I'm still working on putting in the links that I use to have which is probably of no consequence to any of you but I thought I'd let you know in case it was.

Hat is sewn together and I am cutting fringe. Got a little side tracked redoing the blog. Let me know what you think of it.

Pop Lock it Drop it

I have just completed the kitting for the baby Mohawk hat for the unborn, unnamed girl of my friends Josh and Marley. I don't have my needles here and Nathan and I have been on a kind of tight budget this month with all the traveling so when I ran into issues with my circulars being to big for the pattern I was using and to small to do the magic loop with I fudged the pattern and made it so I can seam up the back and wallah (hopefully). I am at the seaming part so we shall see in a few mere moments how this hat will turn out. I also fiddled with the pattern's cast ons after making the ear flaps. It has 15 sts for each ear flap (total 30 sts) so I cast on 5 sts picked up the 15 sts then cast on 12 sts picked up 15 sts and cast on 5 more sts (total 52 sts in all). Oh and that was using the pattern for Ethan's hat.

When Nathan gets home I hope to have the baby hat finished complete with mohawk. If it is I'll have Nathan take a picture of the hats. Yay!

List Gank

Swiped this from Gothknits.
You know the drill.
Mark with bold the things you have knit (or are knitting)/crocheting, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American knitting
English knitting
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards (???)
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

tada that was yesterday

Knitting away on the baby hat. I thought I would be done by now but yesterday I went to the Virginia Marine and Science Museum with Nathan to check out the temporary penguin exhibit. There were only 8 of the penguins and they all looked kind of bored and cooped up. I did have a great time though. I got to pet sting ray, horseshoe crab(I also got to feed it a shrimp and touch its mouth), and a snake. It was a beautiful day.

We had lunch with Nathan's mom at a Mexican restaurant and to dinner later in the day with both of his parents at the Wild Wings Cantina. After that Nathan and I went to see Foxy Shazam play. I was excited to find out that Tubring was also on the set list as I really like them as well. Then there was a big surprise later when at Nathan and I'd friend Andrew's house I discovered that I had seen Darren from This show is the Rainbow on his first ever tour. I had sadly missed his show which was earlier in the evening before Foxy and Tubring. I wish I had seen him preform again because he was AMAZING when I saw him in Tulsa, OK.

We got home around 1:30 since Nathan had to work today at 8 in the A.M.. So today I have been sluggin it. Doing laundry since I have no clean pants, shirts, or under panties left on this trip. I guess thats normal when your trip gets extended for twice the amount of time you thought you we're going to be somewhere. No biggie.

tra-la-la

I finished knitting and fringing the hat for Ethan last night while watching Nathan and I's newest favorite show, Trailer Park Boys. The hat turned out great and I hope that Ethan likes it. The show which is also equally if not even more amazing doesn't air in the US of A so we watch it online.

Hope to start the babies Mohawk hat a-sapple. Can't wait to give them to Marley and Josh. So excited. If the Mohawk baby hat is a hit I am going to make a whole load of them for my other expecting or recently blessed friends.

I find it amusing that the Mohawk hat is all over the place recently. Its in Domiknitrix new book, there is a site that specializes in just making knit Mohawk hats some of which are very cool(they also claim to be its inventor which I severely disagree with but thats not worth dithering over), the Dior hat a good 5 years or so ago that hit the runways which I still love and want and so on. I think its an exciting trend mainly because I think they are fun hats.

This is a bit of kitchen fun I stumbled on to,the voodoo 5 knife holder. I really want one actually. I see how some people would think that its really morbid but its so cartoon-ish I really don't feel that its threatening. Can't help what you love I guess.


I'm planning on moving back to VA with in the next 6 months and I have always dreamed of having a cartoon inspired kitchen. Kind of retro with bold primary colors. All the appliances would be stainless steel with pops of red occasionally. I want my mixer to be bright red. Anywhoodles enough with the day dreams.

viking hat

For the new pillager in your family this is a link to a baby viking hat pattern.

Meet the squiddies

This hat is adorable. A little Squid hat for baby.
It reminds me of this squid hat pattern which is for adults.

Babies babies every where

This year is a year for babies. In the past 6 months I have had 7 friends reveal that they were having babies soon. Most are due at some point during the summer so I am working on getting things knit for them.

I am working on a set of hats for my friends Josh and Marley's daughter. They already have a 10 year old named Ethan so I am also knitting him a hat to match his sisters. Marley and Josh are kind of punky so I am making the kids Mohawk hats. For Ethan's hat I am using this pattern as the base hat. It will be black with an orange Mohawk(his favorite color) for his sisters I am going to use white for the base and a variegated pink for the Mohawk.Hopefully this pattern will work out for me. I hope they turn out and the family likes them.

Wow! Its been so long since I posted. Well we'll have to correct that.

Since I last posted I have attended Knittapolooza in Virginia Beach with my mother. I had a great time. Took some awesome classes and got really inspired to try my hand at getting ideas I have for knitting patterns out of my head and onto paper. I am determined to have one complete pattern at the very least by the end of the summer.

School has been hectic as it should be but is now over. My last final is in 2 hours. Thank goodness.
I made some great projects from my fibers class. Hopefully I can get some good pictures of them when Nathan comes to visit so I can share my work with all of you.

I got the book Naughty Knits which was a little more Naughty than I was expecting but still has some really cute patterns in it besides.

Nathan is coming to visit me in a week and 7 hours. Hurray!

In my knitting news.
I got the bag part of the rose bag finished. I am working on finishing all the roses and petals. Can't wait for it all to be finished and sewn together.

Well I have to jet but more later.

Sites to see, books to read

So I have discovered some great new sites.

inspireco which is to charming for words. I am just over joyed at a site that makes me feel so girlie and cute just reading it. Great ideas beautiful work. Ya she's a fun one.

I also found out about this clothing company, Knuckleheads Clothing which has the most adorably retro clothes for little boys. I can't wait to get together some extra cash and get some for my god son. So so so cute.

This is a stationary site. While the work is fairly plain it is still rather fetching in its simplisity. Pink loves Brown

In other news. I have attempted to once agian try my hand at knitting a bikini. I don't know why I have such rotten luck with getting a pattern that I like to work out to a point where I feel comfortable giving it away to my Aunt (who I really want to make one for). So my latest attempt was for the Ashley Paige Blue Suede Bikini. It knit up quickly except for one thing. The chart messed up. I am trying to figure out if I went wrong or the pattern did. More on that as I find time to work on it. School has been so terribly busy I hadly have time to knit but I am going to start forcing it into my scheduel. I love it to much and it relaxes me so well to just let it sit in baskets waiting for me.


My boyfriend even told me he misses me knitting. I geuss he misses it so much he thought I needed inspiration so he bought me (with out even knowing how long I have been waiting for this book to come out I might add) Dominknitrix book. I am so excited to get it and start knitting.

I just discovered some other books that I am super excited about as well. Namely Naughty Knits and Knitting lingerie Style. I can't wait to go get those. I think I am going to go look for them tomorrow. I new project would lift my spirits plus there is bound to be a bikini in one if not both of them. Ah knitting how I love you.

Oh ya the craft center is supose to be starting a stitch n bitch. Not sure when. Super excited though.

Back at large

Been on the down low. We'll see what happens this year.

Found my pattern so the knitting is back on. YAY!

I really want to make that pencil skirt from kitty. I can't afford bamboo yarn though that would be positively scrumcious. Any suggestions as to anything else I could use?

trades, dyes, and weaves

Back agian.

The skull scarf is going well. Half of it is finished and a quarter of the next half is finished. I miss placed my pattern for a week so I couldn't finish it. I was suprised to realize I handled the pattern every day that it was missing and hadn't even realized it haha. I had used the back of it to write out my weaving pattern for class and had been using it daily for that. That project it done hurray. I really like weaving. I'll take a picture and show you the first sampler I did. Its got some mistakes but I love the colors and had fun making it. Its a shame looms cost a whopper or I'd be begging to get one this christmas. Maybe next year... probubly not.

So ya. Knitting is back underway. Hopefully I'll get up to weaving this weekend. Tomorrow we are starting a yarn dying section in fibers. YAY! granted we're using it for weaving I can't wait to experiment this x-mas break on my own. I need to make a bunch of hats for trading purposes.

Walt wants a hat, I want some of his bowls and a watering can.
I want some of brittany's beer glasses, don't know what she might want yet.
some other people have asked about hats but I can't think who off the top of my head.

I think I'll make a bunch and have them at the ready so people can just choose.

Chicken little

Hello

Things seem to keep getting away from me this semester. I haven't been on top of anything. My classes, my blogging, my knitting, my relationships. It sort of feels like everything is coming crashing down around me leaving me feeling a lot like chicken little.

So I have been trying to take the bull by the horns and get back on top of things. I am caught up in school agian and started knitting agian yesterday. I missed it so much I can't begin to tell you.

I am working on a skull scarf from knitty. I really like it the pattern is easy to understand and fast to knit so hopefully I can get it done quickly. haha.

Speaking of knitty I am in love with a skirt from the new knitty. Its a pencil skirt. Amazing. I am temted to work on that this winter break since I will be at home most of the break.

What else. Nothing to report really been pretty well entangled in school and making friends and am currently trying to just get in a groove to finish out this semester. I am hoping next semster I will be much more organised and on top of the game.

Move In Day

Today I moved into my new apartment at the Appalachian Center for Craft. I am very, very excited to be attending school there. I missed meeting my room mate, Anna. She's visiting her mother this weekend so I'll meet her on Monday. I think that I may already have a job with the Appalachian Centers Art Gallaries. I have to go pick up an official transcript tomorrow but I already talked to the people in charge of placing me at the Facility so we will see how it goes.

Felted Bag Part III
I found my missing yarn. YAY! I started the back panel before I went to bed last night. I am right about to start the trellis pattern. Then its just the bottom, leaves, flowers and bows. I can't wait!

lil' Mermaid top
I finished the front pannel. I hope that it will all work out I am pretty sure that it will. I am working on the i-cord that goes throught the eyelets and as soon as that finishes I will seam up the front and back pannels and start the ruffle. I am hoping to finish it by Monday so I can wear it to classes with the necklace and bracelet my Tante Chrissy gave me. The necklace and braclets color was the inspiration for the color I chose for the top. I have to say other than the minor problem with the pattern this tube top is really easy to make.

Then I just have to decide what to pick up next. I still haven't finished the Angelina Jacket. hmmm...

to gnome me is to love me

While visiting my friends blogs I ran into the cutest of cute patterns that a friend of mine is doing and had to find it so I can do it myself. The pattern is a crochet gnome! I love gnomes. They have a spot in my heart not only because they are freakin' adorable but because my grandparents, parents and brothers all love gnomes. We have them in the garden, we have them in the house, when we were little we'd watch "David the Gnome" and my father would make up stories when we'd go hiking about all the things gnomes, elves and dawrfs would do. I love gnomes and now I can make cute little gnomes too. The pattern is from Let's go Ice Skating whose blog is really very fun. I am defiantly going to have to keep reading her blog. The link above will lead you straight to the gnome pattern on her blog for all interested parties. I am going to go look for my hooks and some yarn tonight and get started on some gnomes to send to friends and family. So so cute.

SnB and Felted Rose Bag part II
Last night I went to the Tullahoma Stitch and Bitch for the second time. I love the yarn store where its held and the women are very nice though most of them were there for a dying class rather than the SnB. But it was still nice to meet people and see some of the ladies from last week. I worked on the Felted Rose bag by Nicky Epstien. I finished the Handles. I miss placed three skeins of the yarn I bought for it and so I have been working on whatever I can untill I find it. Which should be soon. I know its around here somewhere since I had it not two weeks ago. I have a terrible habit of putting things places so they will be safe and then forgetting where it was that I put it. Really rather annoying. So the front pannel and the handles are finished. YAY.

No news on the Lil' Mermaid Top Corrections
So I am just going to fudge it. I am rather sad about not being able to get the corrections for any of the patterns. I had wanted to do some of the other patterns in the book. I'll keep looking though and see what happens. I'll also keep you all in the loop as to what happens with the top. I really want to wear it this summer.

The dreaded BF sweater

So my boyfriend finally popped the question. No! Not that question, the other question. The "Will you knit me a sweater?" question. And I said yes of course. So we went through the whole what do you want kick. He doesn't really own any sweaters so he had no idea he just wanted a sweater and I was like I'm not knitting something that your not wearing. So he went through patterns and liked the Warrior pattern by Brandon Mably in the Rowan Magazine 39. Its pictured below.



He didn't want that color palette however so we are going to change it to White, Grey, Charcoal Grey, Black and a deep blue based Red. He looks good in those colors and he wears them alot. I think we're going to do cotton because Nathan is always to warm.

The project should get underway soon. I plan on looking at yarn tomorrow while I am at the Stitch n Bitch and seeing what options are available to me. Nathan will be sending me his chest dimensions tomorrow as well since I don't know if he is an xl or a xxl. He's a big guy. If he's a xxl I need to figure out how to enlarge the pattern which doesn't look like it will be to difficult... hopefully. Its a beautiful sweater though and I am excited to do it. Although I am praying that the break up susperstition is just a superstition.

Knitters are Sexy

So I stumbled across this club on some of the other knitting blogs I had been reading lately and really liked what it was rooting for. The Sexy Knitters club is for knitters who think knitting is for sexy vibrant women which we all are and so I decided to join. So here's to the sexy knitters club.

New icon

I made a new button for my blog. Its on the left and contains this cute little fellow that I just created.

Thought he'd make a good mascot. Now if I can just figure out how to get it in the banner. hmmm... still working on that.

Vogue's Felted Rose Bag part I

I ripped out what I had knit of the felted rose bag because I couldn't figure out where I was in realtion to the pattern and since I hadn't gotten very far decided to just go for it.

I finished the front panel. It looks awesome. I can't wait to finish the rest of the bag which shouldn't take very long. I am trying to figure out if I am doing the bottom right. It says to cast on 10 stitches and then increase every other row til I have 14 stitches then knit in Stockinet til I get to 6 inches. The thing is that the bottom of my front panel is alot longer than 6 inches. Am I supose to just sew it in a manor that it will work or am I doing something wrong. I am curious.

I joined this knit-along for the felted rose bag. I am excited about that. Here is a button that will link any interested parties to that blog. It will also be posted on the side bar which to my annoyance seems to move up and down the page at a whim. I am going to have to figure out a way to make that stop.


I still haven't heard anything about the pattern corrections for the Little Mermaid Tubetop which is sad and some what annoying I am about ready to fudge it. I really want to know what other patterns have issues though since I have the book and I do like some of the other patterns in it. Hopefully something will come through with that.

I finished an embrodered pillow case for Nathan. I hope he likes it its part of our Alphabet-along. It covers the letter A. I need to find the camera so I can share all this stuff.

My knitting was going along famously... until I finished the eyelet rows. I followed the pattern to the letter and it ended up to long (it called for it to be 17 3/4 inches before you start the rib to finish the panel and I got 19 inches on the row of the last eyelets) Very frustrating. I went on a search to try and find any pattern corrections but haven't been able to find anything except another knitter having a problem with one of her patterns who couldn't find any corrections either. So I did the next logical thing. I found her swimsuit business email and I emailed her about my problem. I am praying that her spammer doesn't reduce my email to trash and I make it though as well as get a responce. This is really annoying I was in the last little bit of finishing. I really wanted to wear this while the weather was still hot. Sigh. We'll see what happens. I will post pictures of what I have for now for you Denise since you had requested it as well as scan in a picture of what the pattern is supose to turn out like since I am sure you are all curious.

I also got in touch with a fellow knitting blogger,The knitting virgin who also had a problem with one of Ashely Paige's patterns. She replied with this email.

"I'll find the corrections I used and forward them along to you by email. I'll also send you another blogger's info to contact. She got some corrections from the publisher, but I couldn't open her attachments. Maybe she could send it to you. I actually got fed up and am giving away my book. It wasn't worth the effort to me as I'm still a moderate knitter and not ready to improvise and think that hard. I'll try to get my stuff together by tomorrow. :)"

I am very grateful to her for her quick responce and help and would also like to extend a note of thanks to whom ever it was who helped her. I will be sending another email to ashley Paige requesting she make a webpage listing her book corrections.

So finsihed school at TCC. I should be walking in December for two AAA's one in Fine Arts and one in Crafts. Hurray for being finished.

I start school at the Appalachian Center for Crafts in a week. I'll be working on getting a BA in Fiber Arts aka Textile design. I am really stoked on that.

I moved to Tennessee about a week ago. Its beautiful here. Tons of forests and lakes and wildlife. My parents live about an hour from Nashville. There is still tons to do though. For example there is a 3 screen drive in theater down the road along with a yarn store sporting a stitch and bitch every tuesday. I'll be going tomorrow and let you know how that goes. There alot of museums and attractions around as well. The Jack Daniels distillery for example is just 12 miles downt he road.

My knitting has been coming along since I finished school. I am almost done with the front panel of the Little Mermaid Tube Top from the Ashliegh Paige book. I am really excited about finishing it since it means I'll finally have something to wear a really cute orange beaded neckalce and bracelet that my aunt sent me that I didn't have anything that matched it. So thats exciteing.

Once thats done I am going to go back and fix the problem I was having with the Flame skirt. I should have just gone with the intarsia but I decided to weave and it was my undoing. I think I can get away with cutting the back thread and weavign it in. If it doesn't work... then I will buy new yarn and start a new. For now the plan is to try this idea out. I think it should work.

My knitting class went well. I was excited to teach it and all the girls were lovely. 3 of the four were able to finish their pencil bags and the last one was going to take the class agian this month with Nancy.

So that whats new with me. Sorry to have not posted for so long.

Been busy around here. My parents have moved to Tennessee I'll be joining them in about two weeks to live with them for two weeks before I go to school.

My knitting class for this month showed. I had 4 students. they all did really well. I thought them to Cast on, Knit, Purl, and Bind off. They were making pencil cases off a pattern of my design. I'll post that in the next post. 3 of the girls finished their bags before the end of the class. The 4th girl really has the knits down but has a small tendency to drop stitches. But she is doing a really good job.

I finished the back pannel of my tube top from the Ashley paige book. Can't wait to finish it so I can wear it well I am going to jet. Hopefully I'll get to post agian soon. Right now I don't have a computer with interweb access.

My student for the knitting class never showed. Thats ok I am teaching a class next month to so its not like it won't happen agian.

I finished the flames on my skirt. Now I just need to finish the top. YAY! I started to and I was running two threads togethe which was silly because its caused the last five rows that I've done to pucker. DOH! so I am going to un ravel and just knit it with one strand even though that will make it thicker at the flames I don't think it will be a major issue because it will be even and I cn say that I made it that way to add weight to the skirt at the bottom. So yes frogging is the name of the game for the next part of the skirt.

Still haven't gotten any farther on the Rose bag which is shame but I'm going to get to work on it as soon as the unraveling is completed.

I found this link and thought some of you might enjoy it. crochet me.

Today I teach a beginners knitting class to 8-13 year olds. Should be fun. I have never taught a class before so it will probubly send me down in flames. I'm really nervous about it. Hopefully I can teach them how to knit. The plan is a small scarf, bag, or hat... in their two days of knitting class. So wish me luck!

Vacation all I ever wanted

The mid terms have arrived and I am slowly strarting to wish for the end of the semester. I am just ready to have some time to myself. Time to make stuff, time to get use to the fact that I have finished a whole chapter of my life and time to figure out what the hell I am doing.

I am leaving in August to go study Fiber Arts. I'm not sure what I can do when I'm done and that kind of scares me. But I am really excited about getting to study something I already love indepth.

I worked on an illustration for a childrens book a friend is writting. I'm not allowed to show it to you because its agianst the contract but I am still excited to give it ot her and see what she thinks. This is just a test illustration to see if she likes my ideas and if she thinks it will work for her book. So we'll see.

I am working on a plastic canvas bag that I hope will be a sucess. I am pretty sure it will since my lil' brother walked in and looked at the first peice and said he thought it looked really cool. So that is a good indicator.

I found all my missing bags from the last move(we thought they lost a box) in a suitcase no one had used in forever that was in the garage. YAY! I was so sad when I thought that those bags had been lost but now they are found and I can finally fit my school books all in one bag agian(that box was for my large tote bags in particular).

I have to say I have been pretty happy with the way things are going latly although my knitting is lacking. I still have yet to finish the flame motif on the skirt. All other areas of life and craft are doing good. I started an on line journal to sell my excess items of craft and what-not.

those are a pair of earrings I made to sell as an example.

I have been asked to sell some of my wares down at a store on the ocean front as well so I am going to do that. Excited about it really,

School is going well. I am actually doing well in Math and I can't say I have any issues with any of my classes, teachers or classmates. I am suprised that its already mid-term. Hard to believe.

The house is beginning to look like one giant box of boxes. Kind of sad really never liked how houses look when your moving out. Its fun when your moving in because its like opening presents. Well I'm going to get back to what I need to be doing but I wanted to let you know what I've been up too.

what did the daddy tomato say to the baby tomato when he fell behind?

Katchup! that the pulp fiction quote of the weekend and the name of the game.

13 rows and counting left of the motif.

the rose bag hasn't budged same with the Angelina Jacket.

My weekend will be filled with the partial disassemblement of my room. So far I have gathered most everything to take up to storage. I still need to take apart my bed (the fram is going to storage). Man I am so ready to just vegg.

Plan today in the craft way is to make earrings lots and lots of them. like... 20 of them. yup. Maybe I'll see about making candles tomorrow. I need to use the wax that Nathan's mom gave me and soon. I'm not moving that stuff.

I also need to go in and put handles on my pitcher before it dries (I was thinking about making it look like a granade too since it kind of has that shape already and I thought it'd be kind of cool to have a granade pitcher. If i do that I'm going to have to make some mini granade cups to match. fun stuff. I am really enjoying pttery this semester. I loathed it the last time I took it but this semster I feel like I'm doing alot better at controlling the forms. Its still a 6 to 1 ratio. I mess up 6 forms before I get one that I can keep(these are by no means perfect either).

I also have to study Math with Sara she has a test tuesday and I have a test thursday and we're both not to excited about either. I am so glad I didn't take her class. I could never remember 5 chapters of math for one test. My class has a test for every 2 chapters. Thank heavens.

Feeling a bit down but I think its more because I'm not doing anything than anything else.

I wish my Zombie Kitten Skirt would get here. I want to wear it everywhere.

666 the number of the beast

So today yesterday is was the day that most metal bands have been looking forward to forever.

skirt count down t-minus 20 rows of motif.

I cancled the bonneville trip. I am not going to be able to pull in the extra cash so I am going to invest the money into equipment that I have been wanting for quite a while now... and clothes. I've been oggling some dresses and things on diffrent sites so we'll see.

So last night I was going through one of my many stacks of papers that I have around that I need to file and sort and what was in it? My Angelina Jacket pattern. Sweet! I am stoked that I can start working on that agian. I have been wanting to finish that for quite a while.

The skirt has t-mis 26 rows of motif left til the black. I am going to start doing a count down.

I haven't worked on the rose bag since the last post. Shameful.

In other news. Some friends and I are going to start crafting together. We're actually getting together as soon as I get off of here so I geuss I should hop to that. haha.