Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Claw!

So the Goth Girl quilt has gone to its new home... but this is all I can show you. The black and white is the back.I did get it completed and her mom was thrilled. So yay.
I'd say more but my hand hurts. Not sure why. Worn to a frazzle, I 'spect.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Like Snowflakes

I've been spending a little time making up my zip pouches. I made and brought three to my knitting group on Saturday and they all got snapped right up... before I could even take pictures. One was gone before I got the camera out, even! Their new owners had already stuffed 'em so their PiPs (Projects in Progress) are in the shot.I got a wild hair and did a little machine embroidery--a special bonus. Don't ever expect that to happen again. It's... uh, a special edition. Yeah. I guess they all are, though. I mean, I make 'em from scraps so I just use up what's there. No two alike. Like snowflakes. 'Cept they don't melt when you catch 'em on your tongue.

I Can't Show You

I've been working on a quilt for a friend... but I can't show you.
It's made up of photo blocks that show her daughter as she grew up... but I can't show you.
Every picture has her name and address and face... that's WHY I can't show you.
What I can show you is the fabric I'm using. Special note: she's Goth.
Goth (adjective) partial to anything a vampire would find trendy and fun, such as black velvet, grey satin, burgundy jewels, and sleeping in a coffin or coffin-like surroundings.
After really looking at the photos, which you can't do--I think I made that point already--I decided that using black fabric to frame the photos would wash 'em out, so I chose this grey. I think it falls into the goth sensibilities, even if it's a little on the perky side of goth. And I needed another color for contrast, so I chose a red-orange batik, with touches of green. The problem with this fabric is it's like a djinni--it doesn't show on film very well.* The color falls somewhere between what you can see in the corner of this picture... ... and this shot. It actually works quite well. It picks up a lot of the colors in the photos and makes me happy, which is really what matters, after all.
Oh, and Stashbuster Alert! This is made from stuff I've already got--woo-hoo!
*Remember the wedding episode of I Dream of Jeannie, where Jeannie couldn't be in the wedding because she wouldn't show up in the photos? No? Just me, huh. (sigh) Why am I the only one who was paying attention?

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Winnah, Winnah!

Battlestar Galactica Fleet Power Battle gave me another mission: to do a project using 900--or more--yards in a project. Some people are doing several projects that use the yardage that way, but I figured it's time for me to stretch my wings. I am making a lacey stole! The Urban Dictionary defines stole this way: "To punch someone in the face." ... That's not what this is. This is more of the rectangular shawl type of stole. It's called the Baltic Sea Wrap and can be purchased for download (It's a PDF--I want you to know before you click!) here. Ooh, wouldn't it be cool if somebody was knitting along with me? I'm about 25% done and I've figured out the groove.
And in contest news...
I used my random number generator to decide my winner (drumroll from the froggie band, please!) and Beth is the winner. Beth, please get in contact with me through Ravelry or the comments to claim your prize. I'd contact you, but you're blocked. Boo. But yay! If I don't hear from you by June 19, I'm rolling the random number generator for a new winnah.

Monday, June 7, 2010

From My Cold Dead Hands... to Yours

Yes, that's right, I'm actually digging something out of my closely held stash to give away. This is the first time it's ever happened and it may never happen again, so I recommend jumping on this possible one-time offer!
Oh, but first you must admire the baby blanket I finally finished! I started it in January and here it is June, all done. Oh, didn't I mention I started in January of 2008? Um, yeah. To distract you from that distressing amount of time, I chose a very charming model: Tiny's stuffed Mononucleosis. No, really. She got it as a gift. I suppose most people get it that way...Okay, you've been waiting patiently, so let's get the most exciting portion of this blog underway! I accidentally wound up with a second copy of the Yarn Harlot's Page-a-Day calendar. I just adore my copy--some days are funny, some are informative, some inspirational--but how many of the same calendar does a girl really need? So I figured I should give it to someone who really wants it. As it's already June, I wanna get this baby to you before even more of the year disappears.I'm also adding in three balls of Knit Picks Risata--that's a fingering weight cotton/wool/polyamide/elastic yarn, perfect for summertime knitting! I must confess I was probably seduced by the name of the colorway: Fairy Tale. They could have named it anything, really. Well, not green. Now this is open to anyone with a mailing address in the US or Canada. I know that's not fair, but I can't get Jane Brockett's giveaway acuz she's in the UK. No whining.
How to get in on the fun:
  1. Have a mailing address in the US or Canada.
  2. Leave a comment on THIS bog entry and tell me what you would call this yarn colorway. Disqualification for just saying purple. I mean, come on!
  3. Deadline to enter: June 12, midnight PST
  4. Then I'll contact the rapturous winner for their address and all will be joy. (PS: if I can't get ahold of you by June 19, I'm pulling another name. So there.)

And extra points to anybody who can tell me what this mysterious plant is that has invaded my front yard.