Never let it be said that I sleep alone.



Actually, yeah, 'alone' is better than 'with novelty yarns'.
The quest for cheap, quick, sybarite (holla! lol I just typed 'holla'!) and saleable items continues 'round the clock and is yielding some um, surprising results...and shortcuts.

So the biggest cheat of all (so far) is reusing the ready made afghan blocks (granny squares mostly) that I buy in bags from Value Village whenever possible. Is that so wrong? They're washed and fabrezed....the best reason for using them is that I can not make up these wacky retro granny colour pallets on my own. I try but it never works. I don't have the afghan gene I guess. That follows as my Granny makes some of the most beautiful non tacky afghans I've ever seen (not counting the now infamous 'daisy' afghan that looks like fried eggs).

::Anyway:: I got these weirdo granny hexagons. I thought I'd just seam two up to make a bag, which I did, but then (because I think I'm oxygen deprived at the mo) I put the bag on my head and voila!!!! I think it looks like some of galliano's 'ethnic' experiments...I tried to take photos, but what with the no oxygen thingie I look like a zombie model heroinheroine so please disregard.

In other news, Yorick is THE coolest thing I have seen on Knitty in a looooooong time! So clever!! Can I steal/modify the idea in time for the show? Can I find a washing machine to felt in? I feel like one of those people who only visit their relatives when they have laundry. I wanted to see Granny anyway; she was going to help me write a brief bio for the fashion bonanza's website. Trouble is, everything she comes up with is about herself. Apparently, I started kniting b/c I have "always been in awe of her". Also, b/c she didn't start crocheting til she was in her 50s I knew it wasn't to late for me. The way I remember it she taught me to crochet when I was like 9. Granny has also discovered jon bon jovi. ("well Morgan, you may be right about his crap music, but I like looking at him all the same. I'm deaf anyways")

Please check out my latest celeb hat photos. I hope they are proof that the bon-juvinile thing is not genetic. Colin and my old friend Jack (lol)of the Trews. Colin was so confused...It's on sideways! I guess that's how you'd model a monster hat to make it more street. lol nothing I do is remotely street. Jack was well into it as you can see. (he's wearing the same one Gordie Johnson kissed). Next on my hitlist? The Trailor Park Boys. Oh yes Bubbles, you will wear my crocheted glasses!!



Soundtrack: "Sugar on my Tongue", Talking Heads "Train Robbers", The New Earth Mud mmmm new bootleg!

I have been crocheting my adorable ass off for the upcoming show (Nov.5). I am stressing over the difference between what would impress the average buyer, the average fashionista, the average knitter/crocheter and then what would impress me if I saw it at a show. All very different aims. I have decided that I don't care if crocheters come and know how quick the items were to make and how big a hook I'm using (mostly P) and if knitters recognise that I only duplicate stitched a lot of the motifs, I hope they don't care. Now my problem is creating things that are so unique and artistic that they bypass those issues (and my guilt) w/o alienating everyone who comes. Not everyone will want the pink mohair and lace cloche with giant pom pomed ribbons that hang to the waist, but it's undoubtedly spectacular. Unfortuntatly I now have to focus on turning out a pile of hats that are more likely to sell. (not as satisfying).

The most exciting thing about this show is that we're going to have models (!) which means I can take pictures of people wearing my stuff -people who know how to work the items to their full ridiculousness potential and best of all no more crap ass photos of my reflection in dirty mirrors. (I must remember to buy windex...)Here's two hats. Boy, they look better in person. Oh well.


A Victorian collar:

and something for the Lads:



(Ignore what appears to be a double chin in the above photo)I also made this scarf which I'm in love with and I'm not sure I'll be able to part with it. I wore it out last nite to see Kate and Anna McGarrigle (who were AMAZING; they were SO funny!!! They took 10min tuning and quibling before they managed to start each song and were just like a pair of twins I know-*sigh*). I was so in awe of them that I didn't even take photos. Well, just this one, and its crappy cause I didn't have the balls to use the zoom or display screen. I just blindly took a photo from the balcony when I didn't think anyone was looking. I have decided to marry into their family. Anyone know of any openings?

ps can you felt duplicate stitching? Will it felt consistantly w/ the base stockinette?

Soundtrack:"Matapedia", McGarrigles

I am no felter. I am, however the creatrix of one kicking nalgene cozy (crocheted in cotton). Thread at Craftster. So I thought I'd try a knitted version. Thinking ahead I used B&L pure wool, figuring that if the switch from hearty crochet to flexable knitting resulted in a flaccid cozy (no one wants that) I could felt the hell out of it till it smartened up and stiffened up. I also prayed I wouldn't have to resort to felting. (It scares me...I can think of lots I could do with felting attempts gone awry...patchwork, flower cutouts, relief motifs, embroidery....but then I'd still have to start the project over again, and with less confidence. bla)

So, With a crocheted bottom and knit sides and handle (which I was convinced I had fastened twisted) I ended up with this. A big floppy squid casing. Before I could think too long about what purpose this thing could serve as is, I threw it in the washer and closed my eyes.

I think I should have opened them sooner. I guess the washer was full of invisable fluff that is only visable after it attaches itself to squid casings. This photo doesn't do the carnage justice. It really was awful. So what could I do but whip out my handy lady disposable and shave the beast. I guess that really is what you're supposed to do. It felt wrong and I'm disturbed that I even thought of it. Here I am shaving the naughty squid.
The moral of this story? Well there isn't one and god knows why I spent so long telling you all this. I'm going to submit the pattern, I think (once I figure out how to avoid the mystery fluff). I know I just wouldn't want to follow a pattern that says H hook, 6.5mm circs, ladies razor. The finished cozy is loverly though and nice and stiff.


Soundtrack: "My Doorbell", White Stripes-thank you Lindsay!

THE PRIDE OF NOVA SCOTIA!!

I have a prize for anyone who can tell me who this is in my latest celebrity-hat-photo.

ps. no locals!

pps. it has to be his official name/title; not just 'that guy'!

There are more 2 celebrity hat photos to come as well as the photostory of me testing the pattern and effing up the felting of this loverly nalgene cozy:



Soundtrack: click here to see what Hollis and Morris should look like. No fibrefluff this time (re last post)-unless they stuff their pants with it now they've toured with plant...sort of sorry to say the jury's still out. *wink wink nudge nudge*

Thank You Natasha!!! Turns out Blogger (or maybe me by accident) changed my settings so that only 'team members' could post comments. Here I was stewing and steaming (and steeping of course) that no one loved me anymore! Post you must.

Thank You to Catheryn for letting me know that for some weird reason all my photos are coming across really dark. I don't have an image editor on this computer (not even paintbrush!!) so I think I'll just keep on posting as is and then go back and lighten them when I have access to another computer (unless theres an online photo editor that works for macs?)

In crafting news I was supossed to have a workshop this weekend to create a personal dress form -a ducttape judy- but it seems to have vanished into thin air. I was quite the sight wandering around the streets and piers of downtown halifax with my giganto bags of fibrefluff. I had a coffee in the pub, left a note at the school and got ready to walk home. I stopped along the way to listen to a Korean drum demonstration (!) when I was nearly knocked off my feet by a bunch of people running in what looked like the Amazing Race. (!?!) I asked, but they didn't want my help :(

In knitting news, I'm starting an alteration of Glampyre'sRaglan Cardi in Fleece Artist "Rapunzel" and "Slubby", and R2's "Drawn on and Dinky" in Collinette's "Giotto". I'm also agonizing over the single skeins of Noro I keep buying. I'm a projectcomittment-phobe when it comes to noro.


I will try posting those photos again......

Is it done? I'm not sure.

Here's a shrug thing in shetland lace, and what I hope is a better photo of the Kimono-sleaved Mohair thingie. Man. Someone stop me from taking crap photos in my dirty mirrors....

There now. Did it work?? I am so fed up with everything. Bla. Message me if they are too dark to make out.

ps Congratulations to Christine!!!!!!!!!!

Soundtrack: "Hollis and Morris [with 4 bags of fibrefleece]", The Trews.

*EDIT*: My bum is not that big; I'm sitting on the sink. I'm not really bootylicious, but man, am I ever edge of 17 *wink*

Ok so I guess my posts aren't showing up right for different browsers. All my photos are messed. I'll try and fix it and repost. sorry :(

A new shrug. It's an original pattern which is why I'm modeling it half done; the orange is holding my stitches, not a design element. It's also why I'm modling it in the bathroom (dirty I see now) mirror, and why I'm wearing a Tim's tshirt that doesn't match. No wait, that's cause I'm steeped.

Hello Comments?

Soundtrack: "Walls", Tom Petty

I can post photos! On to FOs: I'm trying to get around to blocking these gauntlets.
The lace is based on a c.1870 Canadian needlework book called "Handywork". I updated the pattern on my own (so that it could be called an 'original' pattern) feeling v.clever before noticing that Nikki Epstein has almost the same pattern in On the Edge. Oh well.
Here's a blue mohair shrug with kimono sleaves:

and a crap photo of a mohair minisweater I made for $3(!)

This is more weaving:

I didn't have time to finish before the end of the course so I think I'll encorporate into something else-build a garment around it. Now I'm taking a course in Book Arts. We bound a book in my first class which is so exciting to me and my only concern is that I will abandon knitting and become obsessed with altered books. It's like scrapbooking for the pretentious. (moi). More photos soon.

Soundtrack:"Time Will Tell", Black Crowes

Is everyone watching Martha? It is my new favorite show (and not just because her last guest was Susan Lucci, my personal hero since age 5, who came on the show to learn how to pot plants. Poor thing, LaKane was too short to use such a big urn.) You should see it if you havn't. Tuesday was poncho day and it was as ridiculous as it was touching. Lily Chin was on and crocheted a poncho for Paw Paw the dog before the show was through. (Turns out her secret is that she lubes up her hooks. I hadn't read that.) Everyone was very funny and very sweet and it was nice to watch something crochet-proud. I just feel really bad because these ponchos are truly the ugliest things I have ever seen. Martha's own isn't too bad. But people: the woman who made it was in prison. She didnt have access to lovely yarns and fibres. She did a fantastic job w/ what she had. So why do you keep making these puke coloured acrylic monstrosities?? David Spade looked cute in his though:

In other news, some of you may know that I'm a huge fan of teen vogue (I even lied about my age so I could become a teenvogueitgirl.) and I am SO excited because the new issue should be out today and has the first ever solo interview with Frances Bean Cobain!


I think the Bean is gorgeous and a hilarious mix of her parents. I would knit her a whole wordrobe. I also think knitting would help Courtney out. :) In other magazine news, I went to IK's website to look at the new Interweave Crochet Magazine to see if it was worth buying (something I never do). I
am so glad I did! I was so disapointed!

Now I'm woried knitscene wont live up to my expectations either. I so want it you be good, and better than knit1. IK is really weird though.

Thats it, still no card reader, oh, and I updated my inspirations blog.

Soundtrack:"Bucky Done Gun","Hombre", M.I.A.
 

You are bamboo.
Warm, cozy, and thoughtful, you take your time and
enjoy how things feel, smell, and taste. You
love the craft and beauty of traditional
things, and you value the comfort and
experience of knitting as much as the results.
But while you are reveling in your warm cozies,
don't get stuck. Warm is wonderful, but so is
the whole wide world!


What kind of knitting needles are you?
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You are a masterful knitter! I don't know how you
got this result, but what the hell... Enjoy
your title, and try selling some of your
"unvented" patterns- you may make
enough for that bundle of qiviut you've been
drooling over...


Are you a knitter?
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You are Merino Wool.
You are very easygoing and sweet. People like to
keep you close because you are so softhearted.
You love to be comfortable and warm from your
head to your toes.


What kind of yarn are you?
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You're Subtly Horny Lindsey. Sex is truly on your
mind 24/7 but you try not to admit it. With a
few cold showers, you might just be
conversation friendly!


Which of Lindsey Buckingham's multiple personalities are you?
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lol These are the quizzes that matter. Lindsey turns me on like Noro and Clovers.

ps Off The Needles: Shetland Lace Collar, Gothic Lace Gauntlets, Mohair Minisweater and Metalic Shrug. Why can't I post pictures?!?!?!

I'm also going to have a go at the Circular Vest of Wonders and Disagreements.
Soundtrack:"Monster Hospital" Metric, "Nous Sommes" Stéphanie Lapointe