WIP: secret swap gifts.

Let's talk about how I got finished work at about 6:30, cooked dinner and planted myself until front of the TV until just now. However, I did knit and hand felt ten little hearts for a project that I'm making for my Valentine's day swap partner. I hope she loves it, because my hands are all pruny and I'm about to pass out. I still have a lot of work to do before I can mail her gift out, so it looks like another crafting marathon tomorrow. Seriously, I'm not kidding anyone; I live for this stuff!

What are you up to tonight?

intro to ceramics: day one.

On Tuesday, I had my first Introduction to Ceramics class. I was excited, but now I have sort of mixed feelings.

Let me start at the beginning:

We had to go to the campus bookstore to buy the enormous block of specially mixed clay (it takes longer to dry). It only weighed about 25 pounds, but it was enough to make me struggle. I walked over to the store with this giant military guy who took the class because he thought it would be easy, which is fine; no big deal. Embarrassed, I tried so hard to be a tough guy and lift the clay sort of nonchalantly. I couldn't. I ended pushing the big block of clay across the floor with my foot, like a really heavy soccer ball. Giant military guy did the same thing, he probably felt bad for me.

I struggled with the block as I bought a bottle of soy milk and an apple in the cafeteria. after putting my lil' snack into my backpack I carefully carried my block of clay with both hands back to class. Exhausted, I dropped it onto the table as soon as I walked in the door to the ceramics room. I was already defeated.

Our first project was to make a very simple pinch pot. For those of you not familiar, a pinch pot is made by rolling clay into a ball and pinching it into the shape of a vessel using your thumb and forefinger. Seems pretty simple, right?

WRONG!!!!

I tried FIVE times, before I had a pot that I hadn't stuck my thumbnail through and it still looked pretty sad. (It's actually the picture on the right if you want to see). I look across the room and GMG (Giant Military Guy) has the best looking pinch pot in the room. Seriously, this thing looked like it was store bought. Now, when we first started class, I assumed this guy was going to be awful; he'd probably drop the class because it's lame or something. He's not an "art guy".

WRONG AGAIN!!!!!

I studied his technique, and the sixth pot I made was actually acceptable.

I actually learned two lessons this week; people aren't as one-dimensional as I think they are and it's really effing hard to make a clay pot.

five things i'm freaking out about friday.

I really tried hard not to fall into that "Friday Favorites" trap. It seems like everyone is just sharing the same handful of links in our little corner of blogland. Sometimes, these "favorite" links things seem just like those creepy "advert-torials" in magazines; kinda awkward and shameless.

Recently, I've been getting emails about "endorsing" products and I think it's so strange. I mean, I understand that this is how new media works and that it can be very lucrative but it just comes across as slimy to promote something just because someone is giving you money or free product; dishonest.

Anyway, I'm going to use my "friday favorites" to share things from REAL people that I genuinely love, and think that you should see.

Sound good?

I've just come across Cassie Marie's paintings this week and I love every single one of them! Seriously, Cassie if you're reading this I have about 800 questions for you. I guess I should probably just email you, huh?

Anyway, her series of still life paintings featuring a handful of vintage figurines is some of the most exciting work I've seen this week. I hope she has something in my price range :-)

This banner from Secret Holiday & Co. is so simple and poignant, without trying to be profound. It's very similar to a print we have right above our coat rack that reads "Everything is going to be just fine". I have a tendency to panic or worry about every single thing, and these simple mantras are just so reassuring. As soon as my check is deposited, I'm ordering this banner to hang right above our bed.

This Octopus scarf by Flickr user MandalinaRossa is incredible! I've been following her of Flickr for years and I just want to say that everything single thing this girl has ever made is absolutely perfect! Everything! She has an incredible sense of color and such a energetic spirit that is really reflected in her work. I just recently found her Tumblr and I'm so excited to follow her.

I was so upset to find out that this art yarn from FolktaleFibers had sold out before I had seen it. It's so fun! Hopefully, Abby is able to spin some more because I'm not sure I can live without it.

I don't know how I ever lived before I found Kyary Pamyu Pamyu! Seriously, since I cut out caffeine I need to find new ways to energize my life and she is pretty much the most adorable cup of coffee ever. Watch the whole thing! You won't be sorry.

What's inspiring you this week?

Get Healthy!: 28-day Challenge Wrap-Up.

As you may have deduced from my last "Get Healthy" post, we have pretty much given up on the strict guidelines imposed during the 28-Day Challenge. That is not to say that we have completely given up on healthy eating, but that our eating habits were exactly congruent with the standards.

In the last two weeks of the challenge, we did still eat the recipes; one of my favorites being the tofu scramble. I made it twice and ate almost all of it myself. The biggest problem we had with the challenge was the amount of ingredients that each recipe required and how much prep and cooking time was needed for each meal was just far too much. Of course, you could say that it would be worth the extra time to know that what we were eating was beneficial to our health and blah blah blah...

Unfortunately, it just didn't seem realistic to be peeling and chopping from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed. Emotionally, it wasn't worth the stress of the "dish wars" that making a billion things from scratch would eventually fuel. Ha!

Instead of looking at this experience as a complete failure, I'm actually walking away with a feeling of accomplishment. The zeal and dedication that we showed in the first two weeks made it abundantly clear that we are taking our health seriously and that we are united in the quest for a better "us". The challenge has brought us back to the regular flexi-tarian diet that we had agreed upon over a year ago. We eat mostly vegetarian meals, punctuated by small portion of meat once or twice a week.

I've actually been reading up on Ayurvedic Lifestyles recently, and have found that some of the foods that we had been avoiding during the cleanse (and some of the foods we were eating) may have caused certain imbalances within each of our very different doshas.

But, more on that next week...

I'm happy that we took the opportunity to participate in the challenge and some of the recipes will definitely be integrated into our weekly meal plans! Whole Living definitely had the right idea, but it just wasn't the right idea for us right now. We'll definitely give "detox" diets another go in the future, but right now I could really go for a latte and donut!

FINISHED!: a terrycloth lion.

I'm so excited to finally share this with you! I've been working on her since November, and she's finally completely finished.

Don't you just love her?!!!!

I used a vintage pattern from a "pack o fun" magazine; those lil' zines are such an inspiration! Of course my lack of editing got in the way, and somehow this lion with a mane turned into the most precious lady; once I get going going I just can't stop.

I had a tough time planning out the eyes. I cut out at least 30 different little circles before flipping out and giving up for a few days. One day, I was fumbling around the internet and finally found the answer; DREAMPETS! We all know how much I love those things. I found an eye shape that I could easily adapt (and that wasn't circle) and that was that. The sequins came much later after a bout of stash diving for more felt.

The "mane" is made of vintage rug yarn someone had given me a few years ago. I used a waldorf doll technique that involved hand sewing tons of loops and anchoring them with satin stitches in between. It took forever!

All of the other materials were vintage and sourced on etsy with the exception of felt and fiberfill. The prints are all so perfect! I didn't even feel bad or guilty about using up those last precious scraps, because it just seemed like it was all meant to be together.

I can't wait to mail her off! Tomorrow night, I'm going to work on some pompoms for Pip's daughter's wedding and toss them all in a box with this lovely little lioness.

Have you finished anything recently? Leave a link in the comments! I wanna see!

tuesday night knitting club; strickliesel edition.

Sometime last week, I saw a feature in a magazine (Vogue Knitting?) about knitting spools that led to an evening of insomnia. They were all so colorful and kitschy; why didn't I own one? After tossing and turning all night with a horrible bout of tool envy, I decided to go searching on the internet for these lil' guys.

There were quite a few vintage ones on Etsy, but they all seemed too precious (and expensive) to actually use. eBay is always my backup plan when I see something I love but think that it costs too much. After trying a handful of researched terms (knitting spool, knitting nancy and strickliesel), I finally found a ton in my price range.

Even if I had been hesitant to buy one for $10, after reading the seller's description there was no way I couldn't "buy it now"!

See?

"When I was 6 yrs old my sister made a jumping rope for me on her Strick Liesel. Now that I am over 70 yrs young I made some Strick Liesels for children or grown- ups who like to do more than watch TV. The spool knitter is an ideal toy, and a lot of crafts can be made with the cords. F.E. potholders ,headbands, scarfs etc. One way to get rid of left over wool or yarns."

It just melts your heart, right? How could you NOT buy one?

I was afraid to start using it on my on and waited anxious to show my fairy craftmother, Lea, what I had found. Of course, she knew exactly what it was, how to thread it and how to fix the sloppy end I had started.

I'm not sure if it's much easier than knitting i-cord on two DPN's, but it is addictive and the result is very clean and uniform. I can't help but smile when I look down into my hand and see this little guy!

Have you experimented with any new tools?

FO: Jaywalker Socks.

I first casted these socks on in June of 2008. I frogged them once and forgot about them for a while. I tried again in April of last year and they were still far too small. The leg opening wouldn't stretch to fit my really weak ankles. I don't know if I was doing something wrong or if the pattern was just written on the small side. My gauge was on, but the sock was not.

After adding a second "V" to the chevron pattern and being coached to knit a little looser by Will, I finally ended up with one sock that fit. I tossed it in my knitting bag and left it there for a little while.

Eventually, I kicked the S-S-S (second sock syndrome) and forced myself to finish the second.

And there you have it, a fun pair of socks!

Project Particulars

Pattern: Jaywalkers (free download @ Ravelry)

Yarn: Spaghetti by Chewy Spaghetti

Needles: Addi Turbo US Size 1 circulars (magic loop method)

Cost: Free! The yarn was a gift!

Time: We're not going to talk about it.

Notes: These ended being very small (3 times)! I finally decided to modify the pattern to add an extra "V" to the chevron.

Have YOU finished anything lately? Leave a link in the comments, I'd love to see!