It’s Almost Hallowe’en! October 30, 2007

Sadly, my plans for Hallowe’en don’t need a costume.  Sigh.  And the costume idea that Lil Rose Thorn recommended isn’t going to work out because I don’t have enough yarn.  See, as I mentioned earlier, my favourite aspect of the Chu Totoro was his tail.  LRT recommended I crochet a Totoro tail and ears for tomorrow, but I barely had enough yarn to finish him, let alone make myself matching accoutrements.  Sighhhh.  So I’m going to wear my grey skeleton shirt.  And maybe my fetish earrings.  Or maybe the zombie shirt.

Which reminds me, the other night, I was laying in bed and I heard the guy upstairs cough, and suddenly I worried that the zombie infliction had already arrived and I was wondering how I would get out of the apartment building alive.  My, but I have an overactive imagination right before bed.  Oh, and my friend L got me my copy of Black Sheep, and we’re going to watch it Friday night.  So maybe I’ll worry about zombie sheep soon too (we have sheep at my workplace).  Not that I worry worry, I just contemplate the potential…

I’m going silver smithing tomorrow night, as per usual for Wednesday.  I’m in the process of making a ring with a top in the shape of a snail shell.  It’s even got a little extra texture because I annealed two pieces of silver, sandwiched a piece of tatting between them, and then forced them through a roller.  The tatting shattered (good thing I’m never really attached to my works, eh?), and the silver didn’t turn out quite the way I wanted, but it works really well for my snail shell, so it’s cool.  Zen and the art of silver smithing.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful and potentially spooky day and doesn’t get too high on the chocolates, etc.

Finally, a Finished Object! October 28, 2007

I finished my Chu Totoro (the link takes you to the pattern) a little while ago while watching Benny and Joon. He delights me, but mostly because of his tail, of all things.

I spent half of my weekend with my parents, which was pretty nice. Dad and I spent an hour in The Fishin’ Hole. He ended up buying some PowerBait because it was $1 cheaper up here than our local gas station…We also went to a restaurant called CHOP. It was pretty not bad, though I’ve come to realise that I’m a girl who likes ketchup, mustard and relish on a burger.

Otherwise I was pretty productive this weekend. I knit a sleeve onto the Burtley Sweater, so I just have one more sleeve to do, and then I’m going to figure out what modifications I’m going to do to the pattern…I’m building this sweater for summer wear, so I’m not sure I want to knit a scarf into it. But I’m really happy with the cuff. And I also worked on the sadly ignored Sahara sweater. And I baked bread pudding too. Yup, pretty productive.

Gadzooks, but these are some crazy times… October 25, 2007

I’ve been so busy, and things don’t really look like they’re going to be letting up any time soon. Although, I’m beginning to enjoy a three day weekend, and next week I’ll have two days off, and then the week after that I’ll be going back to one-day-weekends as I’ll be starting my new part time job as a receptionist for an eyeglasses shop. The choice came to this…I’d be paid better and I wouldn’t leave my entire paycheque in the store…although…I do like glasses…

Anyway, you’re not here for the boring details of my life in general, you’re here for the pictures of the things I play at.

First: Boo-ty Swap II

I was so pleased by the partnering Firefly did for me. The swag I got was great, and GI gave me a very delightful package including a bag she knit and loved (isn’t it lovely when people give you things that they love? It means so much as a recipient) and fish stitch markers…very amusing to a kid who likes to go fishing with her dad! There were also a couple of skeins of KnitPicks Gossamer yarn in the Caribbean colourway that I’m contemplating patterns for as I type this, a chocolate bar that is long gone (but not forgotten), a humerous little CD, and vanilla/caramel candles that made this by far and away the best smelling package ever (one of my friends warned me not to put them near my bed because they may be missing by the time I wake up and there would be a waxy taste in my mouth…). Thanks so much, GI, it’s all very awesome.

And I had the opportunity to get a fellow Labyrinth fan as my recipient. I had so much fun creating this little dude, and I’m so pleased that she loves him.

Second, the thing that causes me simultaneous pain and joy. Chu Totoro. Here’s the Wiki page on My Neighbor Totoro if you’re interested in how they explain the name. I’m in the process of building him. But the pattern recommended a 3.5 mm hook and I could only find a 3 mm and couldn’t wait…it’s hurty but fantastic. Here’s a progress shot.

And, the bustle is finished. Well…maybe…I’m contemplating crocheting or tatting some lace to go around the jacket edges…yes, I am crazy for the bustle. I think I finally admitted to myself that the 1880s bustle period is my favourite. I’m a bad costume mother, but there it is. Oh, and yes, Chu Totoro is sitting on the mannequin’s neck, I brought him in to show Lil Rose Thorn.

And anybody who lives in Edmonton and is looking for a dry cleaner, I totally recommend Hangers on Jasper Avenue. They do wonderful work, and their stuff doesn’t smell of dry-cleaning afterwards. DREAMY. And totally conscientious. The owner is so customer oriented, it’s phenomenal. I’m a costumer, I’m allowed to be excited about laundry.

End of an Era…Sort Of October 19, 2007

So, I gave my notice at the yarn store awhile ago, and today was my last day.  And it ended with me feeling really weary.

I’m pretty sure I’ve made the right choice, and I’ll talk about the changes in two weeks, but right now I’m looking forward to veg-ing and maybe doing a little tidying tomorrow, working 5 days, taking 3 days off (I was supposed to go on a cool vacation at the end of the month but it got canceled so I’m taking a long weekend and saving the rest of the days for later), one of which is my friend L’s birthday as well as my parents’ 39th anniversary and the day I’m getting my haircut (the first time in months and I need it), and then start with a new, stoopid busy schedule.

But I’m not entirely leaving the store…I’ll still be a customer of course, and in January I’ll teach another sock class, so I’m still involved, just not quite so regularly.

I Left My Camera Cable at Work. October 17, 2007

So no photos today.

But a webshop of beautiful things…

And…I went to another webshop and I want this dress but it only comes in a s/m and I would be an m/l…sadness.  And it’s cheap too.  More sadness…

I HAVE Been Doing Stuff October 15, 2007

I just can’t show you yet because a lot of it’s for my Booty Swap partner.  And it’s oh, oh so good (I’m humble too).

But, there are a few things I can show.  Like the costume I’m currently working on (yeah, the jacket’s on the backburner again, I needed the bustle therapy already).

Under-bustle.

Skirt.

And there’s going to be a really interesting bodice/jacket thing going on top.  I think this year is the year of the long (and I do mean long) bodice.

And look, I’ve been knitting on my Kaylee sock!

This morning I made my pledge to CJSR’s Fun Drive. They’re my pet charity again.

How You Turn My World You Precious Thing October 13, 2007

I received notice that something had arrived in the mail for me, so I went to pick it up yesterday after the yarn store.  Hold your hats cats and kittens, I got the greatest belated birthday present ever.  You shouldn’t choose favourites, but really, when your competition is this:

Up in the corner, there’s an extra hand, and a crystal ball, which is awesome; it’s a nod to the wicked contact juggling!

You really have no chance at topping that.  Dudes, the people who created this lovely little toy were exceptional with their attention to detail.  And I can tell you for a fact that not only Jim Henson was the reason for my costuming ways; this particular film is where it truly stems from.

I laughed so hard when I opened the package inside the post office (it said “plastic toys” on the packing slip, and I hadn’t ordered any so I had to open it then and there to get to the bottom of the mystery), and I giggled all the way to my friends’ house to show it off.

Thanks so much to my friend Crispy.  She knows me far too well, and I am completely undone.

Will Somebody PLEASE Sign These Artists! October 8, 2007

I want their CDs.

I was link surfing on Saturday and came upon this blog with a podcast in it.

I really liked Lanterns on the Lake.  There was a point in my life not too long ago when I really didn’t like female vocalists.  I was listening to a really angry radio station at the time, and, well, they didn’t have a lot of angry female vocalists.  Now I like listening to rather differently angry artists, more of the not mass produced variety, and female vocalists are no longer on my dislike list.  Good thing, because Lanterns on the Lake has a female vocalist, and the music is lovely.

And then there is another female vocalist, Kendra Morris.  Not only is her music interesting, but the bio she wrote, and her influences are quite fascinating too.

However, neither Amazon.ca nor iTunes have heard of either of these artists, so I’m stuck only listening to them at home on my computer.  Sadness.

I’m Excited… October 8, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians.  I hope you’re not overdosing on Tryptophan.  But that’s not what I’m excited about.
A movie I have been looking forward to seeing for MONTHS is coming out on DVD tomorrow.  The shock, the HORROR!  Heeheeheeeee.

Shirt and Glasses October 3, 2007

Two things that are new.