Little bits of pretty January 25, 2008

I’ve been a knitting fiend these past couple of weeks. The first to show off is my very first sweater

(click on the photos to go to ravelry for more info)

I’m not quite sure how I feel about it. I’m not too happy with the length, and I think the stranded yoke may be a bit too much for someone who’s already top-heavy, and it’s kinda itchy…. and I think I may have just convinced myself that it needs to become something else. But I’ll wait a couple of days before I start getting all frog happy. On to something I’m much more happy with:

This is the Honey Bunny from Craftleftovers . This little guy is just too cute. He’s a birthday/christmas present for a friend that’s long overdue. Just some weaving in ends and embroidery and this guy is done. He’s so fluffy and cute I just giggle looking at him. I have a feeling another one of these is in my future. Next on the making-jess-feel-productive list is a slew of baby clothes.

so maybe it’s not *quite* a slew, but it feels like it. Winter seems to be the time in which people decide to commit and procreate, which leaves me with plenty of baby knitting to do. And I couldn’t be happier. While babies themselves kinda creep me out, I love baby stuff, and making baby stuff helps to fight off baby fever (you know, when for no logical reason you have the sudden urge to pop out a wee one, even if you know you’d never be able to stand the thing?). I figure a couple more pairs of booties, some blankets, and a toy or two should get that all out of my system.

I also have these wonderful mittens in the works

They’re an improvised pattern, using some yarn I reclaimed from a sweater. The yarn reminds me of manos de uraguy, in both the color and texture, but there’s one. key. difference. The dye rubs off on my hands while I knit it. I’m not too worried about it… I wanted these to be “workhorse” mittens. Functional, a little pretty, but with the main focus on keeping my hands warm. I figure I’ll give them a nice bath once they’re finished, maybe throw in a little vinegar, see what happens. Maybe I’ll just end up with constantly colorful fingers.

(and thanks to Kristin and Carolyn for helping me with the photo issue… It was so simple, and I’m such a ditz…computers baffle me)

seriously, now January 11, 2008

Something about life after college seems… long. Or rather un-timed. In school it’s simple: semester, break, semester, break, and continue as needed. I’ve managed to still try and hold onto that mindset, thinking that it’s ok if I’m slack during christmas and new year’s because I’ll be able to jump back into it once break is over… but there’s nothing now to signify that break is over, and I keep telling myself, “next week I’ll seriously buckle down and schedule myself proper” and of course we know how that goes. Even little things like posting pictures to ravelry seems like such a time suck (probably because it’s so easy to get distracted there). The worst part of all this is that it’s my studio time that suffers the most, which then makes me feel miserable because I really love my studio time. So seriously, I’m gonna pull this shit together, stop moving like an old man getting up from a chair, and make it work. But enough of this whiny stuff… I have pictures!

amusing little bunny/dog thing

a little man thingy

owls I made using this tutorial

and sock puppets

These were the sewing portion of my friend’s gifts (which there’s actually only one knitted gift, but that requires it’s own special post). All except the owls are of my own design. It was my first real attempt at pattern drafting, and it wasn’t a complete flop, so yay! I was giggling the entire time I was making them because they are just so ridiculous. And the sock puppets… god do I love sock puppets. I surprisingly haven’t made some for myself, but try to find any excuse to make them for others. I think there’s a magical transformation that occurs when someone puts them on their hands, it’s just hilarious.

Anyway, new years was filled with fun and games and drunken-ness. I have several projects in the works, and I’ve spent the past two nights reclaiming old sweaters to start new ones. woo! More soon, and possibly better photos (I’ve managed to get a photoshop and illustrator hook-up… I know a guy, well, girl actually, but I should be getting it in a couple of weeks)

ps- forgot to mention, all of the gifts were made from reclaimed materials (except the socks. that would be… not right). aren’t I just a good little recycler.

hooligans, shenanigans, and general tomfoolery January 3, 2008

Happy new year to one and all! I know I mentioned posting about projects as they finished and such, but we all know how that goes, so just a little update before I bombard you with photos. The cousin and brother both loved their hats. Here’s a link to my brother’s hat bobohat.jpg. Sorry for the link… I’ve been struggling with not having photoshop, and I can’t find a way to shrink file sizes in Apeture… Any suggestions?

Anyway, on to the fun stuff. New Year’s is always an event for my friends and me. It’s when we do our gift exchange, and in general have a good time (isn’t that what New Year’s is about?). In recent years we’ve added a little excitement to our annual night: theme parties. Last year was “I’m Dreaming of a White Trash Christmas”, and this year we had “The Ghosts of Drunkards Past” in which we dressed as famous dead alcoholics.

In attendance we had the lovely (yet blurry) Frances Farmer

Hunter S. Thompson

Bon Scott (he actually had a sock in his pants… I was slightly frightened)

And Bender the Robot

Also in attendance were Zelda Fitzgerald and Caligula (we happen to be rather camera shy).

I hope the next year will be as wonderful as the last for everyone!

Coming soon: All the little goodies, and maybe a slight amount of obscenity