w00t! Actual crafts in a craft blog!

So I started to feel guilty about all my WIPs. It got to the point where I was comparing my progress in life to the basket of half-knitted shame in my living room. SOOOOooooo I finished Knucks. I have to also guiltily admit, I also finished them because it's getting cold here at night and I can't be pursuaded to leave the computer when my hands get cold.

I made these out of Reynold's Odyssey 100% merino on size 6 needles. This yarn is awesome, super soft, and the camera doesn't do the colorway justice. It's color 441 Purple Mix. I'm definately going to start making more of these. I think there are a few ways to improve on the pattern though, so I'm going to try that next time.

Damn.

I've been crafting my head off here, and I can't post any photos because all my crafting has been for swap partners on Craftster. But let's see, what else have I done lately that I can talk about...

Started learning UNIX today in my CIS 320 class. I've worked with it some, but definately am a n00b. It's funny, when I don't know the UNIX command I try to use the DOS command, just like when I don't know the German word I try to use the Spanish word. Maybe that's only funny to me. And maybe it's not funny. But it's interesting (no it's not). Ahem.

So the current standing of my knitting WIPs: one Patons Bohemian garter stitch scarf, one soy silk drop stitch scarf, Paint Box purse that will eventually be felted, Banana Silk purse, one alpaca blend lace wrap, and one of two fingerless gloves completed. The scarves, purses, and wrap are all in various states of unfinished-ness. I'm trying to curb my desire to knit with some of my new yarns... I got Sari Silk, and this super soft stuff that I"m not sure what it is.... kind of a cross between boulce and fun fur, but not nearly as disgusting as that combination sounds. I'm also waiting for some yarn to come in to make MagKnit's Odessa hat for my friend.

As for the cats, someone has been puking in devious little places that I either find by foot, or spy whilst eating. Either way is unpleasant. Frodo is usually the one blamed for everything, but this morning I heard a hacking while Frodo was present for his morning cuddle, so it can't be him. Unless... do you think cats can psychically bi-locate, and Frodo was simultaneously puking on my living room rug while being petted and kissed by me before I got out of bed? Scary thought.

Ok, it's been awhile.

I haven't been lazy about crafting, I've just been lazy about posting. Haven't been doing a whole lot of knitting lately (translation: been knitting my head off but nothing is getting finished). I did however start making stitch markers. I will post a bunch of stuff this weekend as it's a 3 day weekend (YAY!).

I also just turned 25. I'm now halfway through my twenties. I pretend like it bothers me more than it actually does. For my birthday, The Boy bought me a season of the Simpsons, flowers, and this gorgeous necklace. I lurve it.

Received from my first real swap.

I got my bag from my first real Craftster swap the other day. OMG it rawks.
I love the material! Among the loot are some amazing stitch markers, cat themed patches, a couple of journals and some yarn. Was so happy to get the package. Everything was so awesome.

Last night I made some earrings too. First earrings I've ever made really. Finaly busted up one of the old keyboards I got at the thrift store for $1. They're just keys with some random beads. I didn't have any resistors so I couldn't use them, and the keyboard's resistors didn't have long enough tails to make them worthwhile harvesting. Still, I'm happy with the result. I've been making stitchmarkers like a mad hatter (or mad stitchmarker-er?) but I'm too tired to take photos right now.

OMG CATS!!!!!!!!!

@#$&@#$#@!!!!! When I came home today, the mason jar with the potho cutting was tipped over, and the cutting was all wilty with a dried-looking root! I put it back in water in a safer place. Evelyn, I've got my eye of sauron on you.

OMG Plants!

Check it y'all, I've been busy! I'll try to keep the photos down, so you'll just have to promise to go to my Flickr account to see them all!

The little mason jar is my potho cutting. The large leaf is a little mangled thanks to Evie, but the cutting seems to be putting out a nice root, and has already developed another leaf. Haven't decided if I'm going to try to pot it, or just let it be a jar plant.

This is my "cutting" table. The two large coleus were new plants, but the other little things are my cuttings and seeds. I have a baby spider plant in the back there, two dilapidated coleus staked up with toothpicks, some strawberry seeds in the pot o' dirt, and an avacado pit that's sprouting any day now.

And lastly, my prideful plant shelf. It's my main shelf and the only spot in the house that gets any decent amount of sun. I got me purty spidey plant, two geraniums (top and bottom shelf), my herb garden, my ficus, and the random pots on the top shelf are cat grass (not sprouted yet) and garlic!

"Not So Crazy But Very Rambling" Ramblings

It's practically a parade of packages persistently present on my porch. So far I've received 3 packages, all containing the textbooks I ordered online for cheap( yay!). My mom told me she mailed me a box of pants... yes, pants. There is a reason, but I just don't want to get into it right now. Ya know? Anyway, so I'm expecting that. My boyfriend also ordered a new computer, so we should be getting his box soon, as well as a box from my best friend for my birthday. Can't wait to see what she sent. Love you, Liz. Other than that, I ordered a new camera off of Newegg. I really shouldn't have spent the money, but the big honker of a camera I have now is just too much to carry around. And I want to be all stealthy with my photo abilities, and spring out the camera at a moments notice to capture all the exciting things happening in my life. No for real, my life is exciting! I swear! Shut urp!

In other news, yesterday was Plant Tuesday at Chez Mary, and today is Clean-My-Messy-Ass-House Wednesday. See, told you my life was exciting. Well, at least about the plant part. I bought some new herbs to make a potted herb garden in my kitchen. I got basil, rosemary, and sage. I'm also placing my bamboo in the middle in hopes that the aromatics will deter Evelyn from eating the damn stuff. Two new coleus plants joined the family, as well as a hot pink geranium and a ficus. I have no fucking clue why I bought a ficus, but it was small and pretty and I had some sense of "every house needs a tree." Now I have to find out how to take care of a ficus because, honestly, I have no friggin clue.

And lastly, I saw this today and I friggin love it.

Knitting, Australopithecines, and Darth Vader

What part about "I need to just sit down and finish one... just one... of my poor forgotten projects" did I not understand? I got into a knitting frenzy this last weekend, and now I have more unfinished projects!!!! I was working on a scarf for a friend of mine... just stash busting really. See, awhile ago I got over-ambitious and thought "Hey, what would be fun to knit? I know! A stockinette stitch black sweater!" And that is how I ended up with about 10 skeins of black boring Caron Simply Soft. Well, I guess it's better than having 10 skeins of red heart. At least this stuff is actually soft. Anyway I also knitted one of Knucks. So even though that one glove is done, it doesn't have a mate and therefore sits, as Kim puts it, in the Knitting Basket of Shame.

In other musings, I was up till 4am last night talking with my boyfriend about various things. The first was a 30 minute lecture on Australopithecus afarensis. I know, its sad that I know the latin name. But oh well. We got to talking about Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles (which he's read) and the theory that Jesus was a vampire. Amusing. As if that weren't enough, I started blabbing about medieval history, and how I enjoy that era the most. And then there was the discussion of Constantine and the Roman Empire. Oh yes, we talked about many things.

Our evening ended on a more contemporary note. We were discussing what it is that makes Darth Vader so awesome. His view is that Vader is a very Git'R'Done type of leader. I argued that it is Vader's incredible stillness that makes him great. I mean think about it. The Emperor is essentially a chatty cathy doll, who is always yapping and yammering about something. Vader is stealty and silent. Much more imposing in my opinion.

Works in Progress

That amuses me. Works in Progress. In my house, they're called Works making no Progress. I currently have two pairs of socks, a tank top (which I started a loooooong time ago), two scarves (one started over a year ago), a dish cloth, a hat, and Kate sitting around all sad because they are not being worked on. For some reason I've developed real knitting ADD lately. It's normal for me to have a battleground of unfinished projects strewn helplessly around my house. But this is rediculous. And I keep planning the next shawl, or hat, or something that I'm going to make. I need to just sit down and finish one... just one... of my poor forgotten projects. If for no other reason than I need the damn needles and I don't want to buy a duplicate set. I know, I know, I could thread a lifeline through the work and just take the needles... but then I know I'd never finish the project because it would require reinsertion of said needles. And let's face it, I'm too damned lazy to do that.

On the upside, I finally finished the bag I was making for the Caftster Fill A Purse Swap. I also got it sent out a few days early. This is unheard of. I still have a package sitting around for my friend's Christmas present. That's Christmas as in Christmas '05. In fairness to me, I sent the thing out in Feb. and it came back to me in late May for some unknown reason. But still, now you understand the proudness of getting something mailed out early!

Back to knitting, I have decided my next project will be a Kitty Pi. Lord knows my cats are spoiled brats (HA! that rhymed!), but I don't make them wear hats, and I call Mia "fats." And ok I'll stop with the bad cat poetry now. The cats really do need a new kitty bed though. My hope is they'll love it, sleep in it, and in doing so deposit all their hair instead of depositing their shed all over my couch. I'll keep you posted on the results.

Sorry, no photos today. Like I said, I'm lazy.

I don't know why....

... but this made me happy today.

SQUEEEEEE!

Hooray for good sewing machines!

I've fallen in love with my mother's sewing machine. The kind of love that, were it directed toward a human, would be considered superficial. "It's so handsome... strong and silent... nice biceps." Ok, well maybe not the biceps. But seriously, no tangling bobbin threads, smooth and quiet motor, sleek and spiffy design, and nifty little storage compartments built into the machine itself. No searching high and low for the box containing my extra feet, no! Not with this beauty.

Mom's machine is the same brand as mine (Bernina) but her's is about 10 years newer. It's awesome! I used it to finish up the bag I'm making for the swap (will post photos once my partner receives!) and it was no trouble at all.

My precious. I wants it.

If only I had money.

*sigh*

Joy in knitted alien form.

First of all, let me give credit where credit is due. The photo pictured is an example of what mine looks like, and is actually the photo from the Alien Dishcloth pattern. As the caption suggests, I will post the photo of the one I made in due time. Still, I'm pretty proud of it. Mine isn't as pretty, as I didn't have cotton and had to use acrylic yarn (ick!). Still, it's awesome. I am trying to cut down on my massive paper towel usage. I'm cheap, what can I say? It's not for love of forest lands. No. It's for love of being able to buy more yarn and crafty goodies.

The new man in my life.

Well we added a new member to the family. Meet Tweek. He's a bundle of energy, this one. Dancing the exquisite dance of fur and claws, he's a daily alarm clock. This kitten doesn't know the meaning of calming down. He plays and plays and plays and BANG! he's asleep. No cooldown period, no notice, just BANG! Anyways, welcome to our family, Tweekers.

Argh, so much for regular updates.

But I have a good excuse. I have been knitting and crafting my little heart out for the purse swap I'm doing on Craftster. I can't post photos until my partner has received her package, so alas there are no photos to accompany this post. In fact, I shall toy with your emotions more by saying that I can't even describe all the goodies that I've made to fill the purse. Sendouts are by August 8th, and I actually think I'll be ready to send out by next weekend, depending on how well the finishing of the purse goes. I have some pockets to add and embellishments to make still.

As for home life, my ever wonderful boyfriend just adopted a kitten from the humane society. We're having trouble with names though. He's convinced that the kitten looks Russian, so in a monumental moment of dorkishness I suggested the name Captain Marko Ramius. Points if you know the reference.

Only a little pox left

I managed to revive my ailing apartment. At least, revive it from the brink of death. Now it's just slightly ill. Go me! I ended up cleaning the whole kitchen, although I only had time to sweep and not mop the floors. I also stopped ignoring the existence of the litterbox closet. Phew, man, I gotta get more regular about cleaning that. Ugh. Anyway, suffice it to say, I got that cleaned and swept too. In fact, the whole downstairs got cleaned and swept. All I have left to do is move the TV into the right place in the living room, and take out a few empty boxes to recycle. Then the whole downstairs is mother-presentable. Upstairs? That's a story for another time. :)

A pox upon my house.

Ack! My house is a disaster and my mom is coming to visit in two days! The living room is fairly straight, thank god. The kitchen? I'd prefer not to think about it. The Litterbox Closet? I'm pretending it doesn't exist, thus exacerbating the problem.

My bedroom is messy rather than dirty. I just need to pick up the dirty clothes and put them in the hamper, on the pretense of putting them later into the washing machine. This may not happen for a month, but at least they will be gathered into one place. Ideally, I should take time to straighten the house every day. But as I insist on living in mess, I need to at least consolidate the mess into neat piles.

Am I doomed to be a slob the rest of my life? I'd like to blame it on ADD. "I just start cleaning and get distracted, so I never really finish cleaning." But I can't. Because I don't have ADD. I have a perfectly functioning attention span when it comes to knitting, World of Warcraft, or just sitting around on my ass watching TV. Is there a clinical diagnosis for "lazy"? I don't recall there being one. They should include it in the next edition of the DSM. "Chronic Sitting Disorder" they could call it, for that would encompass the many places I park my ass instead of tending to my horrid apartment.

Wow, a real project!

Ok, here is a purse I knitted awhile ago. It hardly took one skein, knit on size 13 circulars. I believe it is Wool in the Woods brand (if my memory serves) and it is a llama/wool blend. Colors are gorgeous, although quite faded in the final felting. Straps turned out all stripey and awesome.

I think it took me about 2 days to finish. Knitting it up on such big needles went really fast. I messed up on the sides though, and tucked them all weird. Looking back, I think I should have ignored the tucks, and just felted it and shaped it square. Still, unexpectedly it turned out kind of a strange oblong squareish shape, which I dig heartily.

Because of the llama, the bag turned out REALLY hairy. I wasn't too happy with that, so I shaved it. Yeah, I shaved my bag. You wanna start somethin'? It's not that I hate the hair, I just didn't like the amount of furryness about the thing. No worries though. The bag sheds like my three cats combined, so it is progressively becoming less hairy. Here is a closeup of the hairyness in all its glory. The pin says "A fat ass is a sign of a life well lived."

Ice cream and honey wheat bread

I know it's been awhile. Life has been kind of nutty lately. Anyway, I made a batch of Honey Whole Wheat Bread and, although it tastes wonderful and in every way a whole wheat bread should taste, it is about 2 inches tall. It's weird, and I am not sure what happened. I came down after letting it rise for the first time, and oh my blessed it had risen! Praise the Lord. Or something. Anyway, I punched it down a bit (gently), formed into loaves, and then let it rise again, for longer this time. It rose, but not a whole helluva lot. Still, it was bigger and filling out the pans so I thought "meh" and went ahead and baked it. I guess it fell during baking or something, because the loaves came out a lot smaller than they went in. Ah well. I'll have to try it again after I do some pondering and pontificating as to the source of the flatness.

Also...

I made ice cream this 4th of July, and I'm happy to report that it was NOT a disaster. In fact, I have created some of the yummiest ice cream I have ever tasted. First to go into the freeze was the dark chocolate. Mmmmm, chocolate. It was a really simple recipe, and it tastes ALMOST as good as a good lay, if you know what I mean. The second flavor to be put forth into creation was vanilla cake batter. Now, this recipe was a lot fancier, and called for a real vanilla bean. What with being poor and all, I decided to go for the genuine vanilla extract and honestly I don't think it would have tasted much better had I used the bean. Basically it came out awesome. The only criticism is that I think I left it in the maker too long and it came out a little harder than I would have liked. More the consistency of really hard scoop ice cream. The dark chocolate (my dream, my treasure) came out somewhere between soft serve and hard scoop, which is how I likes it.

I also finished knitting a hat, but as I have no photos and this post is long enough, I'll save that story for another day.

Toodles.

CraftyHobbit

Update! Photos of the prettyness.

So I finally got around to photographing the most recent yarn binge. So excited, so many ideas. Here's the entire stash, to the right. So excited to add it to my collection. I am realizing now that I need more storage areas for my pretties. My two baskets are getting kinda full. In the interest of keeping such lovely yarn safe and happy, I think I am going to "invest" in one of those clear plastic sets of drawers that one can find at Target. Not the loveliest looking storage solution, but it'll be handy to keep my wools, acrylics, cottons, silks, and miscellaneous all separate and organized. Me, organized. HAH!

Anyway, I have to show y'all a closeup of the gorgeous banana silk (that's right, banana silk) that I bought. It's such a lovely green color, the photo just doesn't do it justice. Not sure what I am going to make out of it though. I don't have enough for a shawl or anything. I was thinking a hat but I really have no idea. Maybe a lace hat? Oh the decisions one must make in the interest of gorgeous yarn.

And of course one mustn't forget the awesome buttons. Check 'em out!