Tifffany's Ramblings

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Jolly!


As promised, pics of my new tat:



I found the pic online, kind of, and resized it. The pic was just the white skull on a black background but I obviously I didn't want it like that. So I headed to my fave shop and let him do his thing. I like it! Here he is, on location:



My man is the one who named him... Jolly. Better than Roger ;). The fairy on my back is Veronica (from the Elvis C song). The flower is just "the flower", heh.

Oh, and if you missed Pres Bush's speech, check this out. Hell, even if ya didn't, watch it for fun!

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Got several WIP's to show off this week. First up: a bag that is an AFO (almost finished object). I ripped out the shawl and made some granny squares that I was going to use for a scarf... but I didn't think they had the drape for that. So instead I worked them up into a bag, that is just about finished sans lining and handle. Here is one side:



And the other side:



I am probably going to use an old pair of jeans to line it, as I did before. This time I may use the ass of the jeans, so I can have some pockets inside. Not sure, still thinking about it. I also think I am going to make the handle(s) out of jeans... still undecided. I have decided one thing tho, I am going to hold off on finishing projects that require sewing until I have several, then pull out the machine and work them up. I don't have room to leave it out permanently and getting it out requires clearing off my crafting desk which is usually full of cardmaking supplies and/or books.

Another thing I am thinking I may clear off my desk for, though, is my sweater machine. I mentioned to my mom I might make her some golf club covers for xmas, and she was all into the idea. Also thinks I should sell them to people, that I could probably get $10 per. I'll work hers up and see how long they take and if it's worth it. Materials are not really an issue, as I will use red heart for durability.

I also worked on the Opal socks some, that I started forever ago. Here is how far I am on the first one:



I was knitting them on DPN's, but I've never liked that and switched to this circ. I am not a fan of this circ... the join is not so great and the yarn snags. I may look for another one tomorrow, but as for now it beats the DPN's.

Finally, I bought some of the new Caron Simply Soft Shadows yarn while at Michael's looking for yarn for the cottony wrap I am making. I started a multidirectional scarf, but as the color changes are somewhat gradual it wasn't looking how I wanted. So I decided to make the pattern on the label. Here is what it looks like:



And here is how far I am:



I am making the smaller size, and it says it only requires 3 balls. So far I have 2, and I think that it requiring 3 is BS. I am knitting exactly to gauge and finished the first ball WELL before the end of sleeve 1. the back is the same width as the largest part of the sleeves and practically as long... and then there is all that border. I am going to buy 2 more and knock some rows off this thing. 10 off the sleeves (each) and we'll see how many off the back. 26" across seems A LOT for a small/medium. But we shall see. I love the way the edging flips over at the collar.

I was looking through my mom's closet while she was out (gasp! Sometimes I'm such a kid. Since I don't want to raid the fridge due to dieting I have to do something fun) and found a dress that may work for a wedding I am going to in about a month. It's paisley and really cute. However, it has straps, which may be cold at the end of September. I may be designing a quickie black shrug to wear over it, after I ask if I can wear it, of course *wink*.

And one more bit of news, I got a new tattoo. I took a pic the day of but due to it being slathered in lotion, it came out looking gimpy. I'll re-photo once it's healed (which should be soon!)

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

I managed to eek out the 63 required octagonal motifs for the cottony throw/wrap I am making... with practically NO yarn to spare. So, since I do need more for squares and triangles and sewing and edging, I stopped at Joann yesterday and picked up some Sugar n Cream yarn in "Hot Green". Here is what it looks like:



Needless to say, it is NOT the right shade. It does match SOME of the green bits in the yarn, but not enough to "go" with it well. So I will be looking for a yellow, I guess, next time I head out there. In the meantime, I will occupy myself with weaving in the 150 ends and my other WIP's.

Speaking of... the shawl is no longer. I ripped it out today, which was relatively painless, and have new ideas for the rescued yarn. The project looked "okay", but since I was wanting to sell it I decided the price I could probably get for it wouldn't cover the cost of the yarn let alone the labor involved. So I think I am going to make several scarves instead... and those should do better, if this sale ever comes into existance.

I'm working some 9 hour shifts this week so that I can leave early Friday and get my weekend craft on early! Woohoo!

Monday, August 14, 2006

Progress to report... sort of!


First up, one of the (many) motifs for the wrap/throw I'm working on:



I know that I don't have enough of this yarn to finish the afghan... I'm not even sure I have enough to make all of the octagonal motis (there are also square and triangular ones). I am going to have to choose another yarn at some point for the rest of it. I saw some limey looking cotton at Joann's and right now that is the forerunner. But for now, I'm blissfully making motifs til my fingers fall off.

Next up, the blue shawl I knitted with various blue yarns. Most of these were leftover or orphaned skeins, with 3 more skeins I bought and added in for volume and contrast.



I'm not lovin' it. I think I'm gonna r ip it out, tho I'm not sure what I will make with it. Maybe another shawl but crocheted this time... so I can better control how it will look. Or maybe a poncho. It's still unfinished above; I had plans to crochet a border with the suede to help the curling and in which to hide the ends. But now I'm thinking that idea will be abandoned.

Finally, one of the landscapes felted bags I was working on. I finally managed to attach handles to the smaller of the 2.



Even though I had knit and felted tabs, I didn't like how they were going to "face", so I cut them off and sewed them back on with the "right" side out and buttons to dress it up. If I made another one with tabs, I would be sure to switch from stockinette to reverse stockinette so I could have the ends on the outside with the "right" side facing out. It's little and cute. I have some more of this color left over and I thought of doing a pocket or flower... but I might just leave it as is.

That's all folks!

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Last weekend was a bit of a buzzkill. I was all excited for the concert I had planned, but then the boy had a day of grouchiness and killed the mood. For penance, I am making him take me to the zoo this weekend. In honor of this, I made some monkey bread for us to enjoy this weekend:



This is the first time I've made it and I hope it turned out right. It certainly looks rather tasty. I just hope it's cooked all the way through. If not, we can certainly pick around the raw-ish bits ;)

Came home from work sick today due to a stomach bug/cramps combo that hit hard last night and lingered today. Working on a shawl I started this past Monday... it should be ready soon!

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Wine-o Carrier-o


I finished embellishing the wine carrier, and now I lurve it. Yes, I said lurve, like Celine Dion. And no, I don't like her one bit. Deal with it.

It took several tries at making the pieces and then assembling. Here it is finished (click to make big):



I remembered a felted, embellished wine bag in the book Knit One, Felt Too, and got it out to take a looksee. Problem was, it used "fleece" to make the felt balls for the grapes (which I didn't have), and a square of knitted fabric, felted, and cut to make the leaf. I *could* have done that bit and needle felted a vine on top, but I wouldn't have been able to needle felt the leaf to the piece of the vine to the rest of the bag, due to the bag not being wool, so I decided not to go to the trouble. Instead, I used the pattern for the leaf to cut a piece out of regular craft store felt, which I "veined" with a black sharpee. I glued this on with some fabic glue, then set about making the grapes.

I had some purple wool leftover from a bag I had made, so I set out to crochet a grape and "hand-felt" it. To hand-felt, I rubbed it between my hands under water as hot as I could stand with a squirt of dishwasher soap... roughing it up while trying not to drop it down the garbage disposal. Problem was, my first attempt turned out about the size of a plum. So, I made a smaller one (which I stuffed with a wee bit of polyfil), and it turned out to be the rightish size. Make about 10 more of them, all hand-felted, and then glued them on to the bag several times with a combination of fabric and tacky glue. Finally, for the vines I decided I wanted something sparkly and strung a combination of green colored (different greens) "E" beads onto some wire, and glued the vine down to the bag. What you have as a result, is what you see. I surely do like it! It's just about complete... all it needs now is to be FILLED ;)