Candyglasses

For years I tried to come up with a crafty item that I could make and sell.  Sounds easy right?  I contemplated hair bows, hat rests, art prints, jewelry...but everything was either too time consuming, too boring, not good enough, or not cost effective.  I work an extremely demanding full time job as a special effects artist for the haunted attraction industry, my free time is limited.  It's my off season now so my brain is free to dream and be inspired (at least for 2 months before we get crazy again).  And so I came up with Candyglasses!  I've always loved oversized ridiculous sunglasses so I thought I would try my hand at making my own.  I was very impressed with the results and I figure it would be something I could sell and expand on.

Yes they are a little out there, but that is the point!  They will soon be available in my Etsy store Creepysnake!

-V
 
 

Shell

As much as I love mixed media, the actual process is always a struggle for me.  I try to achieve a balance somewhere between careless and overdone.  Eventually I just get fed up and end up putting stickers on everything!  I need to practice more, and not expect everything to come out perfect the first time.

This is a piece I am making for my mom.  She loves beachy things so I am doing a series of beach-related works.  This one is called Shell.  First I primed the background with white gesso.  I painted a conch shell, added some interest with bits of decorated tissue (using gloss gel), and stamped around a tree stencil in gold.  I highlighted the stencil using a red-violet marker in some places, and added a few shell stickers and pre-made cut outs of a fish and seahorse.  Lastly I stamped the word "HOME" on an embossing pad and added black embossing powder and melted it with a heat gun.  The sticker shown on the bottom actually won't stick to the painting so I think I'll forget it.  I also dripped some black nail polish.  Think it's time to move on to the next one! 

-V
 

Wehs!!

A few months ago I decided I wanted to make my own version of a little creature.
  I've been obsessed with this  Mini Alien Pattern for years

http://blog.fuzzymitten.com/2009/07/mini-alien-pattern.html?m=

I have probably made hundreds of these little guys by now and I give them to my
 friends and family when they are sad, about to travel, or just because!

I enjoy this pattern so much and cannot thank the creator enough.

Even though I had committed the pattern to memory, during a sleep deprived
knitting marathon I started to mess up the measurements, and thus the WEH was born!

The WEH is a cousin of the Mini Aliens, and can often be found at the site
 of a mistake or mishap, like a dropped stitch or a flat tire.

-V

 

Back From The Dead

Ok so I'm trying to revive my blog.  I feel like I should be sharing my crafts and activities as well as keeping a record of what I do in my free time.

So here we go! 

-V
 

So Busy. . .

So I've been extremely busy at work which equals barely anytime to knit, so you can understand my frustration when I had to frog what I had created in my very small amount of free time. I finished the baby sweater- and started the kid sweater, but my neurotic need to check and re-check caused me to look at the pattern on the website on my phone. I didn't seem to realize that although I was looking at the same pattern, it was the version that called for different yarn. ARRRGGGHHHHH!

SOOOO

I cast on too many stitches and had to frog it. I very very very rarely frog. Usually my motto is plow through it, what the heck it's handmade anyway- but to start off on the wrong foot just wont get me anywhere. Took some time out to re-knit what I ripped out and then some so I won't feel so bad- but it cost me my before work nap- hopefully I can stay awake.

Knitting Club

Hello

Today Knitting Club has a new member!!! I'm very excited that our small group is growing! I can't wait till work slows down (around November) so I can host proper knitting club gatherings at my house with delicious knit friendly snacks (nothing that will induce greasy fingers- promise) and cups of fancy herbal tea or homemade hot chocolate. . .

Not to mention that my mom will be able to join us and she is a terrific hostess.

Knitting Club went by so fast- and I even (almost) showed up on time! Before I knew it, I had almost the entire sleeve for the hoodie finished. A few more rows to go- and then I start working on the hood and pocket and then I'm done! I'm quite impressed at how fast it went considering how little time I have right now. Hopefully I will be finishing the project by next week Knitting Club! I also have to remember to bring a copy of my Chocolate Marshmallow Banana Nut Bread Recipe (aka Satan's Banana Loaf :P ) in exchange for a book borrow.

It is almost time to start thinking about my next project. . . which I will probably end up buying more yarn for (not like I don't already have enough for 1,100,000,000,000 projects)

I'm thinking of possibly making my mom a shawl (inspired by knitting club)- she makes me a lot of stuff- and the only thing I've ever made her is sea creatures, which she loves, but can't wear them. The time it would take me to finish it would make it a Christmas gift.

Pattern and yarn suggestions appreciated!

Work, Sleep, Knit

Seems to be just about all I do. . . knitting being the smallest part, with sleep coming in a close second. The little time I do have to myself to knit is usually between 4:30 and 6 am. Usually no one is up, and I can just lay back relax, watch some TV and work on my projects.

- I finished the front of the toddler sweater and attached it to the back. Already feeling accomplished. Started on the sleeve- but I'm getting a little hesitant as the directions are a little bit confusing. I mean seriously, how much effort would it be to clarify yourself? I don't know why patterns do that- is it out of sheer laziness? Or not to insult more experienced knitters? IDK.

I'm going to just keep knitting and hope it comes out alright!