Knitting a rainbow

First of all, I've been a busy, busy lady. I may not have documented my hobbies here for posterity, but I have done many things. I've completed a dozen more knitting projects, invented and tried out new recipes, and our queue of home projects are slowly getting completed. Right now I'm drooling over the yarn I have sitting in my stash, I can't wait to make more lovely things.

My current WIP is a shawl I'm making for myself (and another three or so things I'll write about later). I used to think that shawls were something only old ladies wore, just like knitting is supposed to be a pastime for the female members of the retirement community. Since I joined Ravelry over a year ago, well, all that changed. Now I think they are artistic and refined, a means of self expression and a manner of warming oneself in a stylish way.

The first shawl I tried to make was a lovely lacy purple one, but my gauge was too large for the amount of yarn I had in that color. Since I love my Plum Pudding  colored yarn, I bought a little more in the same dye lot, and now I can make more purple things. Anyway, I have this soft fingering weight rainbow yarn, called Serenity Garden by Deborah Norville. The colorway is Gems.

I fell in love with the color but had no idea what I was going to make of it. I've seen other Ravelers make lovely lacy shawls with this, but the sad part is that in the pictures at least, the intricate lace is not as aesthetically appreciated because the Gems outshines the actual pattern. My eye is drawn toward the color changes, not the pattern itself. So, I found a simple shawl that would be the vessel for this beautiful, bright yarn.

I chose a pattern that is worked from side to side so that the stripes are vertical (rather than the typical top-down shawl that has horizontal stripes). I chose this for two reasons. The first reason is that toward the beginning of a top-down pattern, the stripes are visible, but as the stitch count grows, the stripes start melting together in a weird variegated pattern. I guess that the colors are pretty regardless, but I prefer the neat transitions.

Second, I just like the stripes better vertical. I added two pattern repeats because the pattern calls for worsted and a larger needle, but it seems to be plenty large with the way it's coming out. I can't wait to wear it, and be shameless about fashion faux pas in public. I will update again when I'm done!

Constitution Stitch

So, I've apparently been so busy making things that I haven't kept up with the blog. Sorry. I've not only been cooking up lots of fun stuff, but have been planning craft projects, too. I'm planning out future knitting projects so I can adhere to the old addage "A stitch in time saves nine". I like to stitch while I'm doing just about anything else that occupies my ears. I could be (listening to a podcast and) keeping my hands busy while I wait for something, while I ride as a passenger in the car, or when conversing with someone. Pretty soon nine stitches in time will save 81!

I've started brainstorming for original designs for cross stitch, too. I tend to get carried away with one thing at a time to the neglect of all the other projects I have going on. I used to spend at least 20 minutes a day with my plants, but not so much. I'll update on that later. So. This was a project I undertook two years ago. I wanted to make a present for my mom's birthday, and saw a shirt I saw from Mental_Floss that I thought she would like (she's very patriotic, and I thought she'd love the cleverness). But I couldn't imagine her wearing a t-shirt like that a lot, and what if I got the wrong size?  I frayed the edges and attached some cardboard to the back to make it keep its shape.  

Yeah, so not the most impressive thing I've made (you'll see that coming up later). I just like the idea of capturing words like that in such a crafty way... it was an inexpensive handmade gift, can't beat that, right?

Link has come to town

Ok, I'm a huge Legend of Zelda fan, but I've only really played 3  4 of the games and never finished one. The farthest I ever got was in The Ocarina of Time for N64, and in Link's Awakening on my gameboy color. I've tried Majora's Mask and the classic A Link to the Past but never got too far. I loved playing OoT, though. I would play it again in a heartbeat. I love the exploration, the characters, Epona, the Ocarina... I love that you can go fishing and swim in the lake. It's a classic adventure game. You can even say it's Legendary. I have two different versions of the soundtrack, and currently when I get a text message on my phone, it plays the sound effect that plays when you acquire a new item!

Anyway, I acquired a pattern years ago of Link in Wind Waker style, even though I never played the game. I thought he looks kawaii and chibi and all that. I never got far, but I started again after unpacking my craft supplies from our recent move. I love mindless crafts, why not multitask and make something cute (instead of being put off by crafting altogether because it is a "time commitment")? Besides, just sitting there and stitching string into holes is kind of boring because my mind will wander and itch for some other stimulation. I like letting my mind wander, too... but I like listening to podcasts or watching The X Files or Dexter while I stitch (right now it's Doctor Who). If I don't have any other stimulation, chances are I'll have the Hyrule field theme playing on loop in my head while I stare at Link. About 2 weeks ago he didn't have a head or color. I expect to finish him in another week or two, and then I'll move onto my first attempt at amigurumi.

I have some elaborate (and some simple) cross-stitch projects I have to post about soon. I have half a dozen ideas on designs that have yet to come to fruition. There is so much to stay tuned for, so stay tuned!

Stuff I want to try!

I have a lot of blogs on my Google reader. I mean, I follow 34 blogs just in the craft/cooking/gardening sections. I get a lot of ideas. This post is going to be about things I actually want to try.

Knitting:
Necktie

Stitching:
When I read this blog, I want to cover our house in nerdy crafts.

Baking:
Tiny pies!
Button cupcakes

Cooking/recipes:
Portabello Pesto Pizza (how's that for alliteration?)
Chicken Shawarma- have to admit, I don't know what this is but it looks good! I love this blog!
Birthday Cake Pancakes! I love cake batter ice cream, so I gotta try this...
Skillet Lasagna, another awesome looking meal courtesy of Budget Bytes. I love the step-by-step photos!
Creme Brulee French Toast- Jorge's favorite dessert in breakfast form?
BLT Pasta Salad- I love experimenting with pasta salads, I get creative. I will certainly post some of my trademark recipes!

Other food:
Homeade fruit leather- a good use for mango? We'll see...
Sky in a glass- this looks awesome!
Sweet Sprouts - they look like seedlings!

Inspiration for home projects:
Chinese lantern = Hot Air Balloon. Ikea hackers is a treasure trove for DIY projects for the commoner. I've also wanted to create a Mud Room in our entryway. I think every house (with room) should have one.
I loved this unique way to store yarn- on display inside a wine rack.

This last link isn't something I would likely ever own, but in my ideal world, I would be able to ramble in the forest wearing a gorgeous Dream Coat. They are a bit pricey to begin with, but I live in Miami, FL. Chances are it will never be cold enough to warrant one.

Cross stitch'n

Ha! I tricked you. This isn't even a real post about something I did or am doing. I meant to post yesterday, but unforeseen events kept me from doing so. However, I was inspired by something I saw. I was at Bubba Gump in Bayside (one of my faves), and I saw this sign in the gift shop: "Being this messy requires character. You should see the characters who live here." I found it appropriate for... well, our house. We are filthy slobs and we are self-proclaimed characters! I didn't like the aesthetic aspects of the sign, it was black, white, and yellow. Yuck. I would also embellish it with clutter to punctuate the message. Maybe throw in a plushie, a book, a DVD, some car keys...

Do you design your own embroidery, or do you follow a pattern? I started out by following a pattern for ONE thing, and have done nothing sans augmentation since. I can't help it. When I cook, I change the recipe or make it up. When I knit, I merge patterns. I believe it's a true sign of a creative mind. I need to make it my own, so I think outside the box (pattern).

For cross stitch, I've been using graph paper and pixelmator for mac. I can much more easily give away patterns from something that's already on the computer. I've got two three more ideas for unique cross stitch patterns... so stay tuned! I'm going to post another previously completed project today, but there are fresh stitches coming your way soon.