Friday, October 26, 2007

Forgive my Quietude.

For the past week I've been rather swamped, so please, dear reader, excuse the aforementioned quietude.
I've been book-readin', pumpkin' carvin', diet-takin', sleep-wantin' and critter-sewin' (and clearly apostrophe-over-usin'...g). The eyes, they do cry out for respite.
My hands have been knit-needlin', but nothing completed as yet.

I do have a question for you, of unhinging importance (as they all are):
Where the hell can I go to find a decent, ginormous tote bag. And yes, preferably not an ugly one. Online stores would be of great use, too.

See how important that was?

But I digress (as this entire post is a digression :p)
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I'm working, rather obsessively, on tiny wee felt owlies (and I find the term "owlies" to be cuter than "owlettes", though amongst those I've asked, there has been some contention).

If I put up a shop on etsy, do you think anyone would be interested in buying them? (well, perhaps not the owlies, since the copyright issues seem dubious.) Or the stitch markers? I have yet to work on/perfect the markers, but I trust my abilities may successfully carry me that far. I'm at a loss as to what else I could reasonably create/sell.
Any suggestions?

Until I bring myself to post about the sad, sad Tangled Yoke Cardigan, I must be off. And wish you all happy crafting!

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Faith Restored: the Bulky Pithy Hat

After a rash of knitting-disasters, the wonderful Pithy Hat has revitalized my zest for fiber. (I find it demoralizing to even think about the current knit-disaster. It will be blogged about, but I haven't the strength right now!)

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Pattern: Pithy Hat, modded for bulky yarn use
Yarn: Mirasol Sulka (60% merino, 20% alpaca, 20%20 alpaca 20% silk)
Things I'd change:
Actually, not much this time round. It's a wee bit too long in the back, but I can live with that.

I really really quite love this yarn. It does shed like a mad, moulting canary (hey, d'like my apropos simile there? eh? I try!), so I would personally only use it for accessory knitting.

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Friday, October 19, 2007

Mmmm, brains....

Upon searching for my annually unveiled Hallowe'en goodies, I stumbled across this gem from my second year in uni. A soft-sculpture art project, whom I refer to affectionately as Bonesy.

With his skin
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Skin's now gone
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Just his skull
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Bonesy's brains!
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Have a Happy Hallowe'en, my ghosties!

Friday, October 12, 2007

Circular Cardigan

As the uninteresting post-title may suggest, I have nothing spectacular to say about this knit.

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Specs:
Pattern: Circle Cardigan from Garn Studio
Yarn: Naturally Sensation, in a soft minty green (alpaca and merino)
Things I'd change:
As per usual, I've got knit-issues. But, for a change, it's not me - it's the knit!
I failed to pay any attention to other blogger's advice (namely Squeaky Weasel's, in her blog post re: this pattern) that the arm/shoulder areas are a bit, uh, lacking.
They continually fall off. At first, it was with a wee bitty of a "romantic" look.
Then it just turned into a bad circa 1981 nightmare.
I changed the position of the pin, with the result of no-more-shoulder-shrugging, but instead a new look of (how shall I say...) pregnancy.

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Once again, living sans-photographer results in crappy pictures. You see below a sad image of the back (this being the best part of the knit!)

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Perhaps a more innovative knitter could do more with this garment. Any ideas as to how to make it wearable? It looks so beautiful in pictures!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Forray into the Wide World of Polymer

After finding myself drooling over stitch markers on etsy and craftster, I decided to try my hand at it.
Here is the product of one crazy evening of clay baking.

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Which is the clay, and which is the sugar?

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Lemon pie...

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Pumpkin pie!

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Key lime pie?

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Grapes

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Green peppers. What can I say, I had a lot of green.

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Chicken bone!

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Chocolate-drizzled ice cream.

For all those out there who've made such items in the past, I have a question:
what did you use for the actual "loop" that goes over the needles, and how did you attach it? The solution I've come up with now is fishing line, super-glued into the holes made in the markers by the metal hooks (some of which you can see in the images).
I'm not sure if this will hold.

I recommend this to everyone. I felt like I was in kindergarten again!
Ideas are a-bubblin' in me noggin.

More to follow quite soon indeed....

AND!

guess who just got an invite to Ravelry!!

Monday, October 08, 2007

Thanksgiving

I shall give thanks that I was successful in my avoidance of mass familial poisoning.
My first Thanksgiving feast has gone off, hitchlessly.

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Thanksgiving crackers. I wore my crown through all turkey-eating and potato-gobbling.

Pumpkins in oven.
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Pumpkins in pie.
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Apples in buns.
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And now, back to the regularly scheduled blogging.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Ottawa

Welcome to Ottawa.
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I had a beautiful time in Ottawa. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

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After several attempts at self-portraiture, I decided the best route was a ridiculous face. Peace Tower in the distance, happy golden Pithy Hat in the foreground.

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Pretty view from my 6th floor room at the inn.

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Me, kitted out for the day. Note the mini sweater. (Warning: obligatory knitting/crafting content ahead).
Later that day, at the Canadian War Museum, a woman came up to me and asked if I had made that "beautiful sweater". Knitters know, she said. And indeed she was - she pulled out from her purse the current project. Knitters rule school.

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And crochet is cool for school too - here you see a hand-crocheted scarf by Queen Victoria herself. The explanatory panel can also be seen below.

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One of the many idyllic courtyard/squares in the Byward Market.
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Major's Hill Park, Parliament in background.

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The National Gallery, seen through trees in Major's Hill Park.

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Bourgeois' Maman, out in front of the National Gallery.

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... and from beneath.

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Beautiful trees surrounding Parliament Hill.

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And a view out across the river to Gatineau. The Canadian Museum of Civilization is in the middle.


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The locks on the Rideau Canal.

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Parliament Hill, this time from the front.

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Eternal flame.

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War memorial.

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Scarlet leaves outside the Museum of Civilization. Parliament Hill is fuzzy in the background.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Honour Me? Why Thank You!

I'm swooping in quickly to thank Hunny Bunny for her kind nomination!
:D
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I'm furiously preparing for my much anticipated trip to Ottawa - be back with pics for all.