anne is an artist

I just picked up the Little Mermaid on DVD! Oh how I've waited patiently...

I also picked up some really nice yarn and I am currently crocheting Mark a scarf. I also started a skirt, and I like the fabric, but I picked it out from the slim-selections at Joann's Fabric. I'm not sure where another fabric store is in Milwaukee where I can pick out some thicker, nicer material, so I will have to do some research.

I have to finish my Microalgae Powerpoint today. I was doing research on all of the Pro-quest and Ebscohost databases and I was getting so frustrated because all of the articles are so specific. No one had, "What is algae?" or "How does it eat?" or anything simple that I was looking for. Finally Mark told me to just look online and online I did. I know that it isn't really encouraged, but sheesh! We aren't all science majors! It's dumb for them to expect us to get anything out of Science Journals. Art on the other hand, is easy to look up in those databases because we already know a lot of what the articles are talking about. Either way I spent about a month researching and getting fruustrated and now that it is due tomorrow I'm a little disappointed that I didn't look online earlier or that I had just asked Mark earlier (he is a bio-molecular designer for heaven's sake). But at least I have information before it's due.

Crochet, actually. This was one of the first "official" projects I did. That was actually usable. All of my first projects went to someone else, so I don't really have too much to show for my own skills, whenever I say, "Oh yea, I knit and crochet!" That and I always start several projects at once. Doesn't everyone? I don't really finish them. Everyone does that too.



But really, I decided that I should make myself stuff. I mean, what fun is it if you can't show it off? In the works: cuff of a pair of socks, half a sweater, and a bunch of flowers that I'm going to stick on things. This weekend I'm going to photograph it all. I've been neglecting my flickr and I've been to New Orleans and back since the new year. Time for some photos!!!

So I'm thinking these flowers are a good way to use up extra yarn left over. I've gotten a lot of comments about this flower (my mom made the scarf) so I want to make some for everyone! They are from the Happy Hooker book, and are real quick.

This week, I want to take lots of photographs of my millions of projects for Ravelry. Nerdy, I know, but I got the invite on Friday and that's how I spent my weekend. A well deserved, lazy weekend I might add. For the past SIX weekends, I have been in-transit across the country. Time to settle in! My weekends are going to be clear until spring.

Also, I really would like to join a knit-group, especially since the days are getting longer. I tried to go to the Alterra one yesterday, however Allyson called, needing help putting together her set for a play she is working on. So instead of knitting, I taped.

p.s. my car is dying again
p.p.s. I am VERY awkward in conversation. But I think I like it.

So, I've had a pretty rough weekend. I have had a flu since Friday night and it HASN'T let up!! I went to the doctor today to get some sweet sweet drugs. This thing is supposed to last two more weeks and I've already missed two days of work. Ick. Good news is, now that I've got some medicine in me, I'm feeling a little better, at least manageable.

So my weekend was completely unproductive. I was supposed to hem some pants, photograph some things to sell and overall just have a fun weekend, but no go.

I did manage to hem these pants on Thursday, so one down. Unfortunately a lot of my dress clothes are very plaid. The good news is I got it done real quick with this:

My birthday present! I haven't had too much of a chance to bust out some items, but as soon as this flu is done, I'm going on a sewing spree.

Till then, hope everyone survives the million inches of snow we are going to get.

This weekend I haven't done a thing. It is wonderful. Well, I did do a couple of things, but they were all things that I didn't have to do, so that made it nice.

First, I went to JoAnn's and took advantage of their sale. Now I don't particularly like JoAnn's. They never have anything I want, nor are their sales associates very nice. Last time I was there, the lady was really snotty after I had asked her a simple question. Sort of the "what do YOU know?" attitude that I don't appreciate. Especially since I was asking for Pima Cotton and any self-respecting sales person that works at JoAnn's should know what that is. I'm not the dunce, lady.

Any how, I did get a lot of things! Their Simplicity patterns are only a dollar!!! Unfortunately I didn't like a lot of the patterns, but I did manage to find five that will do the trick for work - clothes. Also I got Fitted Knits which after glancing through, I am VERY excited about.

I also got a book on how to adjust a simple pattern to your body, and how to make it into several different articles of clothing, just from one pattern. I am going to be on a roll soon with that new sewing machine.

I've also spent a good deal of time this weekend crocheting up that Babette blanket. I went out to get the rest of the yarn at Loop in Milwaukee and so I think I have my basic colors down. It is a lot less than the actual blanket, but I know that it will probably look like baby puke (you know how all of those colors sort of meld together) if I didn't limit my color palette. I like it so far! Now just a billion more squares to go.

So this is my first "Stitch-Stirrers" post. I really like the idea--gets my brain thinking! So without further ado;

What is your favorite thing about crochet?

Well, it would have to be the fact that I am wearing a sweater right now that my mom made me and it is keeping me decidedly warm. Especially with the snow falling outside right now.

Actually when I first started crocheting I hated it. It wasn't that I was impatient, but man was it BORING! My mom tried teaching it to me and I think we were both so frustrated that I just sort of got it, but didn't do anything with it. I knew how to crochet a flat afghan, but it killed me to do so.

After I found out about granny squares, I realized crochet was a bit more available to me and a lot more interesting. No more blankets! Gone were the days of flat crochet and stripes. I think my favorite thing to crochet these days are hand bags.

...

Also, when I came back to Kansas City, all proud of my mad crochet skills, I convinced my mom to do something other than afghans and flat scarfs. It was like pulling teeth.

She stinkin' busted out a sweater on her first try.

p.s. happy birthday mom!!

Yesterday marked a milestone for me and my boyfriend. He finally accepted my knitting in public. Granted, he was very skeptical when I first started which made me either want to knit 24-7 just to show him, or to knit in a closet where people wouldn't feel awkward.

Understandably he thought that if I were to knit in public, I would sit in a corner and not talk to anyone, feverishly working like some old grandma in the corner. You know, the awkward person in the crowd that doesn't really join in, but she's there anyway so you're not quite sure how to handle her? He was afraid that would be me.

But I did win him over! This weekend was full of friends, frolicking and lots of sweater knitting. So ladies, how did I win him over? Let me share some advice;

If you are trying to convince one that knitting in public is not as nerdy as it seems, you should make an extra effort to make it look cool! Bring your coolest project and DON'T talk about it. People will be curious, but non-knitters just don't care enough to ask you about it, but they'll be intrigued (as opposed to nerded out). Also, TALK A LOT. If people are gonna think you're antisocial, well sorry mister! I'm going to talk your face off and knit this row at the same time! Last but not least, participate! Not only did I knit, but I played Wii, watched a couple movies and partook in several meals.

Now my boyfriend not only isn't worried about me being a knit wallflower, but he even brags about me! "Look at this cool sweater she's making..." or "Yea, she figured out all that stuff by herself!"

Happy ending!

I'm finding out that I am really slow at getting projects done. And I procrastinate. What's new? Everyone does that. But I look at all of the gorgeous projects on Ravelry and really wonder how in the world does anyone do any of this? I mean, how is it physically possible to get everything done and still keep a full time job, family and other hobbies?

I have this sweater and blanket that I take with me everywhere. Been carrying it around for about a month now. In addition to working on it at home, I work on it at friends' houses, bars, movies, anywhere. AND THEY ARE STILL NOT DONE. I feel like every row I add really doesn't add anything at all. It's getting ridiculous. I also try to create a lot of projects at one time, which is probably not the best idea. But those are my main two and they won't hurry up and finish. What is a girl to do?

(I do realize that this is probably the main problem of every handi-girl. But then when does anyone ever finish the things that I get jealous of and then try to make?)

So I am actually feeling pretty down about that sweater. I think I started it in March or February so it is a lot of work and I've actually never "frogged" a whole sweater before. Currently it is sitting on my bed, looking dejected, forlorn and covered in cat hair. Should I do it? Well, frogging that sweater will be easier because I have successfully sewn together a dress from this tutorial and I LOVE IT.

The fabric at JoAnn's was half off as well, which sealed the deal. I haven't finished any of the edges yet. I kind of haphazardly dived into this dress (because I can't really do it any other way) so I didn't think about finishing edges until I realized I should probably finish them. Maybe some kind of ribbon or bias-binding. How easily does knit fabric unravel?

The best part about this dress? I can actually get away without wearing a bra! I made the straps extra long so that there were extra reinforcements when it came to the girls. I was so excited that I wasn't wearing a bra that I ran to the grocery store. IN PUBLIC.

So now I am sitting here in my new dress. I also busted out some tried and true socks so that I can boost my knitting ego.

A LOT TO SAY! I haven't been to work since Monday so I have a lot I wanna blog about. So I'm just going to keep talking!

Speaking of keeping talking, I was visiting a sweet old lady in my apartment who has to move out this summer and can't take her cat along with her. We are trying to get this cat into a no kill shelter but we haven't heard back from the lady that is taking her. So I opened up my big trap and offered to take the cat if she doesn't hear from this lady. We introduced the cat to my cats and they seemed pretty okay with each other. This cat is OLD but gorgeous. One of the most unique facial structures I've ever seen. But it is old and it takes a lot of medicine. I definitely would not be able to keep it. Why oh why did I open my big mouth?

On a hilarious note, she gave me two bags of catnip. I've never treated these cats to catnip before. Never really crossed my mind. I crumbled some up on their scratch post and CRAZINESS ENSUED! They were getting into all kinds of mischief! It was hard to keep up with them bouncing off the walls for AN HOUR. Now they are sound asleep on the sweater that needs to be frogged. Enjoy some pictures of cats being caught in the act on FLICKR.

Is it so wrong that I am actually looking forward to attending my court date so that I can knit?

So before you think I'm a hardened criminal: My car got towed. Because it did not have the appropriate sticker on the license plate. Not only did it used to have the appropriate sticker, my registration doesn't expire 'til Jan. 09! Someone took the sticker off my license plate and I got towed and ticketed for it. I'm going to court to contest that not only did I update my registration in January, I put my sticker on and that it was stolen recently. So. Wish me luck.

Hopefully, today I won't miss the Locust Street Days Festival. I have open house from 1-4pm and it has been raining cats and dogs-literally-all weekend. With all of these thunderstorms, it's almost like I'm back in Kansas City, with all the tornado warnings and lightening that have been happening. Minus the tornadoes of course.

But really, Locust Street Days is always very fun. We missed out on the beer run this morning because of the rain, but hopefully it will clear up by the evening. It is the kind of festival where you just put on some random hippie dress and walk around like you live on Locust Street. I'm not sure why, but it's fun!

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Instead, Mark and I bought Shrinky Dinks. We made these amino acid charms on the Z-Corps Machine at his work. While they are extremely cool, it's not like we can use the z-corp machine to actually make these charms because it is extremely expensive, we don't own it, and they are very fragile. I've already broken my "R" charm. We're hoping that the Shrinky Dinks are a little bit more resilient and productive.

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I have finished 2 projects this weekend! A crocheted bath mat and another gag tie for the office. Unfortunately I do not have my camera. It is at Mark's office. I feel bare without it. I've been holding off on posting because I have no pictures to go with it. I'm going to do a covert-op and sneak it from him one of these days. Then I'll have proof that I actually finished something!

And, like I promised myself, I am going to knit up some gauge swatches for some NEW projects. One month finishing and one month starting, I say.

When I first learned to knit, I was really good at knitting squares and keeping even gauge. So instead of learning how to knit consistent squares, I jumped right into sweaters and socks. Ugly sweaters and socks at that. As much yarn as I probably wasted, I am now at that point where I am confident to follow any pattern and follow it well. I've started back with small basics and they are knitting up great (and a lot faster than I've ever been!) It is as if it has finally clicked into the idea of making practical, wearable items - rather than learning the ropes and practicing techniques on baggy ugly sweaters. Yay!

On a fairly serious matter, I have narrowed down some serious grad school choices. My goal is to enroll in Fall 2010. I will surprise you with a list later, as I'm not sure I want it to be that "real" yet. That gives me a good couple years to start on a portfolio and earn some sweet monies/scholarships.

Hint: I'm thinking east. "East" as in so-far-east-it's-on-another-continent east. Maybe. Maybe just a little east. But so far I haven't gone west.

I was in Chicago a while back and I was traipsing through the Dick Blick store that they have downtown. HUGE and HEAVEN are the first words that I would use to describe it. I came across a beautiful sketchbook with several different colors every few pages. I HAD TO HAVE IT. But now was not the time nor place, so I decided I'd get it in Milwaukee. NO ART STORES IN MILWAUKEE HAVE IT. "What is wrong with this city?" I thought to myself.

I did end up ordering it off of the Dick Blick site about a month ago. GLORY! I've never gotten a sketchbook that I was excited about really finishing. I've been drawing in it nearly every day.

*

I've also been going crazy with the Shrinky Dinks. I've been gluing them everywhere. Especially magnets. They make great fridge magnets. Mark has gone even crazier. He's drawn every food substance (fruits, veggies, the whole pyramid) and made them into fridge magnets. I want to start making amino acid necklaces with them, but I'm getting too much of a kick out of the skulls to do much else.

So I'm hopefully volunteering for Art vs. Craft on Saturday, November 29th. That will be an extremely busy day, because I have pre-college in the morning and then bowling league at night. PHEW.

Also, postcards will be coming in for the comic show. I am EXCITED.

And it is cold out, but I am increasingly becoming used to it. Riding the bike in the winter ain't that bad. I haven't tried blustery snow yet though. Those days may be bus days.

And this is what Brett and I look like when we work:

So we finally have a nice layer of snow on the ground. Oh. Yay. Time for the count down to March.

Art vs. Craft was fun! I probably saw a million people I knew, as I was the one manning the clicker/counter at the door. I was able to wander around a bit afterwards and look at all of the wonderful booths full of good things. It seemed like it was smaller this year! I also ran into several vendors that I knew, yet weren't there last year. Pretty nice! I need to attend an arts and crafts fair every weekend, because it gets me all inspired to do things. I went home and immediately picked up some Shrinky Dinks and some dusty old earring kits I had bought a while ago, and made Day of the Dead Earrings. Pictures to arrive shortly!

I found a $99 plane ticket to Kansas City for Christmas. Unbelievable. I think instead of Christmas presents I'm just going to be giving out a bunch of random baked goods. Watch for it.

PS Go to IN SEQUENCE on Friday. It will be glorious.

I have finally finished the Ernie Sweater! Six months of hard labor. It isn't as momentous as I would have liked, because as you can see from this wonderful photograph that it is WAY to big. And I was so sure I got the gauge right!

Well, regardless of fit, or function, it is a real sweater and it is finished so does the practicality of it really matter? (ssshhh, be quiet, it doesn't matter! Shut up!)

Now that I've dredged through this sweater, I'm ready to make other hideous sweaters, for Mark and myself. Mark has agreed to wear the sweater so that my ego isn't entirely shattered, but we did agree on strict terms (no sweater in public) of contract. But again, I'm so blinded by the fact that I actually finished something, that right now I don't care who it fits. Congratulatory comments very much welcome. hint. hint.

Tada! And you thought I was one of those girls that starts a bunch of stuff, yet never ever finishes anything.

Well I am. This is a fluke.

This is the dress that I made for Sophie's Wedding. It looks a lot whiter than it is (I know, wearing white when it isn't your wedding is a faux pas) it's really a cream color. And I'll be wearing a blue sweater, blue sash and brown heels, so there will be a bit more color. I just wanted something light for the Texas weather. I actually finished this in one day, which is unheard of for me. I usually take about 4 months.

The arm pits are still a bit big, however, so I'll have to nip the sides in a bit. Any suggestions? I worked so hard on the lining so that it looks nice and neat, but I'm thinking just serging up the sides will be just fine. I know no one will see it, but I like little details, like the lining being just perfect as it is now. Also, when I think about how much WORK it would be to seam rip the WHOLE THING just to tuck in an inch or so----I think I'll just use the serger. Again, any suggestions?

When I first started really getting into knitting and crochet, was when I was sitting in a waiting room for about 12 hrs. a day for six weeks, waiting for my mom to get better. There is really nothing better to do when you are stuck doing that. I had known how to crochet before that, but I never took either craft seriously until then. Of course, the desire to knit became larger and larger as I found that it was not only a great way to relieve anxiety (which sitting in a waiting room can create a lot of) but it had this whole grassroots, hippy art girl culture that appealed to hippy art girl me the more and more I got into it.

So I conquered the p2tog's, the toe-up socks, intarsia (kinda) and gauges. I plowed through books and taught myself a majority of what to do. If there was a fancy technique, I'd try it. Cables? Aced. Lace? Ate it for breakfast.

However, I hardly have anything to show for it. The reason being, is because I am slow. And not just jesting to make other knitters feel better. I am turtle slow. Sloth Slow. Granny-trying-to-back-out-of-a-parking-lot slow. Not only am I slow, but the whole first year was filled with "Oh I can knit you one of those!" or "Of course I'll make you a hand knit sweater!" Needless to say, no one has gotten anything from me yet besides good half-finished intentions and one really horrible sweater.

The point being is, even though I am a slow knitter and have been knitting for quite some time, I have NEVER knitted anything for myself. So I decided now is the time. And THIS TIME I will finish the project. I will not start anything until I finish this one project, and break my never-finishing streak. It was then I decided to knit the longest project known to man, the Rapunzel Stockings from Knit.1 Magazine.

These socks are fine gauge, small needles, million cables kind of socks. The thing that kills me the most is that even though they go to the knee, I know that at any time I can finish them and just be done with it. Secret: I broke my great idea of not starting another project. I decided to cast on Foliage on Knitty's website with a chunky yarn. AND I FINISHED IT IN TWO DAYS! And have been wearing it since then (yes it's June but apparently Milwaukee doesn't know that yet.)

So here is the moral of the story. If you are a really slow knitter, get an extremely complicated project that requires a million years and is using toothpicks and thread to complete. Then half way through, pick up giant needles and yarn. Not only will you finish a project, but it will make you feel like you are the fastest knitter in the world.

Second moral. I now have something for myself to show for all my knitting!

p.s. I bought myself a knitting machine over the weekend. More developments as they occur.

I have this habit of buying things that I have no idea how to use. I did that this weekend. Thank the lord for Craigslist to satisfy all of my items-that-I-don't-know-how-to-use-yet-need lust.

So last week when I was perusing Craigslist, I came upon a garage sale that had a huge selection of yarn and a knitting machine for $100. I figured, "I got a hundred dollars!" so of course, I went to check it out.

Not before the brakes went out in Mark's car. Okay, plan B. Take care to shop, have Mark's dad pick us up and drive him back home with the Horizon. THEN still go to garage sale.

Then it starts raining.

Okay, Plan C. Drop off car, Google the address, see how far away it is. Only a mile! Let's go see if they are even still having the garage sale!

Can you guess what I ended up getting?

So, how the heck do you use one of these things?