Finished Objects!

It's been a while since I had any of these, isn't it?

First up, I made another Charlotte. For this one, I used a different yarn and a smaller needle size for a slightly different fit. These photos were taken before blocking. Once it's dry, I'll get some nicer pics that I can add to the pattern page on Ravelry:

(FYI, the Charlotte pattern is on sale for 50% off on Ravelry right now. You can also download through the patterns tab above, but I'm not sure if that link will reflect the discount or not.)

Yesterday, I spent all day writing and knitting and sewing. Missouri requested a rice cozy, and I found the perfect fabric for it at Joann's. No pictures of that yet, but I also finished this, a replacement for my favorite flamingo tote bag that is sadly falling apart:

The inside of the bag, complete with interior pocket. The lining fabric comes
from a box of vintage skirts that I was given last year.

I also made a couple of other little goodies, which will be going off to my partner for a swap I'm doing, but I don't want to post photos just yet--I will once she gets her package, just in case she decides to pop by the blog.

What I Made on My Day Off

That would be the top portion of a quilt, made from my old work shirts. The patterned material is from my favorite pillow sham which met an untimely death.

Somehow, I wound up with exactly the right number of blocks. No leftovers, none missing. When I get more fabric, I'll add to it (this is about the right width for a twin bed, but only half the length), but considering my cashflow problems at the moment...that'll have to wait. I also have no idea how I want to finish it. Full quilting? Batting? Border? Or just slap a backing onto it and topstitch the edges (since I lack a quilting machine and I am not up to hand quilting).

So, quilt top: 1 day. Rest of the quilt? That will probably take a year or more.

Finishing Friday

It's getting to be crunch time. Seven days from now, I'll be in Cincinnati for Steampunk Symposium.

Wednesday I spent all day sewing, attempting to get our costumes finished. Missouri has a lovely skirt, and the bulk for my Victorian walking dress is done, it's just waiting on buttons and trim--which my end up hand sewn on Friday night in the hotel room. (Is it scary or just sad that I'm contemplating bringing my sewing  machine to a convention?)

This year, I will remember my camera. And the charger. And a spare battery. And the cord. No repeats of last year, when I got to take one picture and then my battery died on me. I want pictures, dammit!

I'll have more details on the costumes once we get back. I also finished a knitting project, but I can't show it off just yet because it's for CENSORED. I'm a sketch and a photo shoot away from a finished book proposal. If I'm very, very lucky I'll be able to send it off before we got to Symposium, but with everything on my plate right now I kind of doubt it.

Lastly: I declare the week of April 28 to be Steampunk Week. that's when you'll get the rundown on the costumes, the con, and probably some tea, so stick around!

Skirting the Issue

Literally.

This is that skirt I promised to show you last week, but wasn't able to photograph.

I used a yard or two of fabric that I've been sitting on for over a year with no idea what to do with it, and a pair of jeans that had worn through in places. Normally, I wear it with a long shirt which covers the fly and pockets it actually fits me better than the dress form, because, as I have to remind myself every time I use it, people are squishy and mannequins are not. This is a very important fact. In order for something to be comfortable on me, it has to be quite snug on
the model.

This week I finally sat down and made the skirt for my Steampunk Symposium costume. I made the center panel last week, but got side tracked before I could finish it. It's done now, except for the last button.

Over the weekend, I'm hoping to get the matching jacket made. I have it all sketched out, but I'm terrified of actually making it. I've made a lot of skirts (clearly) but very few dresses or tops for myself that haven't been altered from something else. I have some extra fabric, but not a lot; I'm just really scared I'm going to completely screw it up since this close to the convention, I probably won't be able to find a replacement costume and one simply does not attend a steampunk convention in jeans and a tee shirt.

Gee, looking at these skirts now, you really can't tell what the dominant colors in my wardrobe are, can you?

Fashion Inspiration: Steampunk

At the end of April, I will once again be venturing off to Cincinnati for Steampunk Symposium. Last year we had a wonderful time--dancing, watching panels, meeting people, and this year promises more of the same on a grander scale. This year, Missouri and I will be hosing a panel on conserving and mimicking history. Since I can't go to a convention without at least one costume, I've been gathering images to create my own Victorian walking dress.

Walking Dresses were worn to see and be seen. They are often referred to as Promenade Dresses, a very literal definition of their purpose....Walking Dresses differ for each location and season of the year. Because they were meant to be worn outdoors, the full costume of the Walking Dress always included a head covering of some kind, an outer garment or wrap, and gloves. Bonnets, caps, and veils were worn to cover the head, and were often the means of the most dashing or frivolous fashion statement.

(From http://www.janeausten.co.uk/walking-dresses. The era might be a little early for my purposes, but the definition is about the same.)

For my walking dress, I've chosen to go with a late Victorian, almost Edwardian silhouette, for a few reasons--First, conventions are crowded and the last thing I want is a six foot hoop skirt clogging up the hallways. Second, I likely won't get a chance to wear the dress before the convention, so a large bustle or anything that makes it difficult to wear is out of the question. Simplicity is the key here, since I've never really made a true historical garment before. Also, I know me and if I've got layers of big fluffy skirts, I'll probably tear them on something. And lastly, I simply prefer the look of that period to earlier Victorian garments.

Here you can see the difference in the cuts. On the left is an image from 1880, and on the right two dresses from the 1870s.

Of course, that's not to say that I don't love 1870s fashion. I love how elaborate the skirts and bustles are, I'm just not feeling ambitious enough to attempt them.

Here are a couple of modern interpretations I'm using for inspiration:

(Yeah, I know, 1870s. But look at that skirt! And also, the jacket. I'm using a similar fabric and need a jacket, which is where I'm getting stuck.)

I adore the back of this dress. It might be a little more fanciful than what I'm after, but I definately want to use it as a jumping off point:

Speaking of jumping off points, I think is the direction I want to go in for the jacket:

No Such Thing as a Day Off

Just a couple of things to show you today:

Here is the sample of the next pattern for Censored. I was feeling very optimistic about this pattern, until I laid it all out this morning and spotted two glaring issues--issues which might force me to rip back the whole thing and start over. Can you spot them?

I actually finished this last week, but am just getting around to photographing it today:

Victorian-inspired skirt made out of my old work pants.

I'm too broke to buy new pants every time I wear them out, so I usually repurpose them. The ones I like become skirts. The ones I don't like become the scrap fabric that goes into the skirts. In this case, I was lucky to find a nice pinstripe material at JoAnns that perfectly matched the source material.

Also, for reasons, I've added a poll to the sidebar, just to see what everyone is interested in. I can't promise it will affect my content at all, but I'm curious since most of my comments have been coming from typospherians and I haven't had typewriter content worth noting in ages.

Book Review: Sew Retro

Sew Retro: A Stylish History of the Sewing Revolution by Judi Ketteler

I picked this book up at the library this week, along with a stack of other sewing/craft books that I'd like to review for you. I was actually looking for books of fashion history/victorian fashion plates for a costume I'm planning when I found this one. I almost passed it up, until I started flipping through it and noticed that it wasn't just patterns, it was history, too.

Sew Retro combines a crafty how-to with a history of sewing unlike anything I've read. We begin with the invention of the sewing machine in the mid-1800s, including interesting facts like Issac Singer, who revolutionized the textile community, wasn't exactly known for great inventions--more like fast ways to turn a buck. Funny how something as enduring as the sewing machine was originally meant to be a "get rich quick" scheme for the inventor.

Ketteler takes the historical facts and blends them seamlessly with modern thought, exploring feminism and it's view of the past as well as the modern impetus for crafts, fashion, and sewing. She looks at both what historical women may have felt about their household chore, and how we today view our hobby. 

Her prose is well written, and illustrated with hundreds of vintage images taken from advertising, pamphlets, and magazines. The book itself combines historical essays with timelines, profiles of historical figures in the sewing and fashion industry, as well as interviews with contemporary designers.

There are 25 patterns included in this book. The instructions are clear and concise, and a low skill level is required. A beginner could easily tackle every project in this book. However, I find that the designs themselves are somewhat unappealing, despite my love for vintage fashion. Most of them are for accessories or household items (lots of bags, aprons, and table linens), with only two actual garments in  the entire book (both skirts). That being said, however, the historical information makes this book well worth it, and there might be some techniques used in the patterns that would be useful in other applications.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 skeins

Hey, Look What I Made!

Want to see what I made while I was “away”?

Linen stitch coasters made from my handspun
Linen stitch is probably one of my favorite stitch types. I like both the front and back of the fabric, and it works so well for handspun yarn, or yarn that tends to pool. And coasters are great for stashbusting. And protecting the furniture.

Jewelry keeper
I saw a picture of one of these on Ravelry, and had to make one. I love doing slip stitch patterns with floats like that, and the handspun yarn really lent itself to the pattern.

Bicycle saddle bag
Made from a very ugly skirt (lining) and an old scrub top. The only part of this that was actually purchased were the buckles. I have another one cut out and waiting to be sewn, but haven't gotten to it yet.

Eric the Flamingo
Based on the main character in my short story. I just couldn't resist. He's freehand crochet with knitted i-cord legs. And yes, he lives on top of my alarm clock.

Dish drying mat
Because I love my granny squares and I was sick of not being able to find dish towels when I needed them. I think my parent's dryer eats them, the way it does my socks.

I know you’ve all seen the Scarf That Shall Not Be Named. But just for fun, here it is again:
You can download the original pattern for free, but there there's also an expansion pack with 4 additional charts to customize the pattern available for $1 (the words include Frak, Cancer, That, and Haters).

Original: download now
Expansion Pack:

I mentioned before that the FK You scarf caused quite the stir over on Ravelry (are you sick of hearing me talk about it yet?). In the wake of it's success, I decided to put together a book of illusion patterns for the more sarcastic side of life.

Speaking of which, I want some opinions:

Originally, I was going to do a Ravelry PDF for the book. It would be available for purchase through Ravelry and this blog. I’m thinking 7-8 patterns/charts with additional charts in the back and a little technique thrown in.

But, a few other options have been suggested:
1. Ravelry PDF as described above, to be released sometime between Halloween and Christmas (with any luck). Price would be between $14-$18. (US, for those wondering)

2. Traditional publication--would probably include a better layout (more spiffy graphics), better photography, and be available at bookstores in a hard format (either paperback or hardback). Release date would be TBD, but probably not until the middle of next year. Price would also be TBD, but probably somewhere in the $18-30 for a paperback and $30+ for a hardback.

3. Kickstarter--basically a print version of the PDF (since I’d still be doing most of the work myself), with a spiral binding (to make it easy to knit directly from the book without pages flopping around), available only in limited quantities directly from the blog, probably only the US and Canada just because of shipping costs, but I might change my mind on that part later. Cost would be TBD, since I’m still kind of iffy on the whole Kickstarter thing and haven’t found a printer that looks reliable yet.

Thoughts? Ideas?

More Sewing

The typewriter is still on my docket (this weekend, sometime) but I've had other projects that needed done. I haven't even worked on my sewing in a few days, though I did finish up this one last week:


When I was looking at the slide show of the dresses the previous owner was making available, this one caught my eye and I knew right then that I wanted the lot. Originally, it was a basic calf length skirt intended for someone with a 26 inch waist. In modern sizes, this is about a size 1. Maybe a 2.

I am not a size 2. Never have been, never will.

I made a few, ah, adjustments to the waistline, added a new band that I think will look just right with one of my thicker belts the next time I wear it, and raised the hem. Partly for taste, and partly because there was some damage to the hem and it was necessary to raise it about two inches.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the result, and I can't wait to wear it again.

Hey! Look over there!

In an attempt to distract you from the fact that it has been over a month since my last post, and the typewriter revamp STILL isn't done, I present you with this:



That would be one small part of the Christmas presents I received from my aunt. She got me a whole box of dresses and skirts from the 1950s. None of them fit, since most of them have a 24-30 inch waist and I....don't, but most of them are lovely and I'm enjoying converting them into something closer to my size. This example was once a dress that almost fit, but was far too tight in the shoulders to be practical. I also made a crinoline slip to go underneath, though that still needs some work, I think.

---

Though the revamp isn't complete, I can offer this teaser image of the Royalite. What you see in the platen is a review I will be posting soon.



More to come. Stay tuned.

I hate moving.

July is moving too quickly. In less than five weeks, I'm supposed to be in Italy, and I haven't even gotten my Visa paperwork sent out yet. Packing is at a stand still. I hate moving, and I espcially hate the temporary moves I've been making for school--three weeks here, four months there, six here. I love to travel, but I need to have a steady place to come back to, and unfortunately, my parents house no longer qualifies for that, since (after living in various apartments, houses and dorms) I now have too much stuff to fit in my shoebox bedroom.

On top of packing and all of that, I've also got a lot of crafting I need to do. I need to finish the top down sweater I started in June, if for no other reason than if I let it stew while I'm in Italy, I'm not going to have a clue what I was doing with it in the first place. I've got four or five garments that need fixed/altered so that they can come with me, and Mom asked me to dye a scarf for one of her friends. Oh, and I'm making Alice's bridesmaid dress. I've got the lining, bodice, and one sleeve done so far, and she needs it by the 28th at the latest. I don't often make clothes for other people--as in, never. This is the first time. I'm really nervous that it won't come out properly, since I'm on a time limit and neither of us has enough money for her to by a dress if this one doesn't work. From now on, I sew only for myself.

Cleaning and packing are threatening to make my head explode. I need to figure out what's coming to Italy, what's going to my parents house, and what is getting sold/thrown away/donated, and what to do with it in the mean time.

I want a hoard of fairies to clean my room and do all of my packing. That would free up a lot of time for me. I could finish this Visa paperwork, read my library books before I have to return them, and write. And sew. And not feel like I'm about to implode.

Well, enough complaining. I've got work to do.

Gimp

Does anyone know where I can trade in my body for a slightly newer, more gently used version (and preferably ten pounds lighter? Maybe with better skin and hair that's an actual color)? See, this past week, my allergies attacked with a vengence. The problem with Ohio is that it doesn't have Allergy Season. You just have to keep the meds and the tissue box handy from March until October and hope for the best. My nose is raw, and this evening is the first time in three days I've been able to breathe with my mouth closed. It hasn't been fun, and there's no telling how long it will last.

To top it off, I did something to me knee this afternoon. No idea what, but it feels like it's been twisted or something, and I can hardly put any weight on it (and wouldn't you know it, about five minutes after I settled in with the rice cozy, my boss calls to ask if I could pick up a nine hour shift). Heat, cold, pain killers--none of them are really doing much. I can't see any swelling or anything out of place, it just HURTS.

Anyway. To take my mind off of that, I've been knitting. I got all the way done with the sleeve, was about to cast off--and then I realized that my measurements were way off. So I ripped back six inches and started again. I'm just about to cast off again, hopefully this time it will be right.

I did a little bit of spinning. The house has been topsy turvy from getting the kitchen re-done, so I didn't have anyplace to work. But I cleared a spot for my wheel, and spun a few yards of the silk/bamboo mix I've only been working on since, oh, March? February? Earlier? and am still less than halfway done with.

Did a little sewing but I really need to oil poor Gemma, and my bottle of oil is nowhere in sight. Anyone know of an alternative to sewing machine oil until I find it?

I went to the Asian Festival over the weekend, but a full report on that will have to wait, since it's already almost midnight and I'm not done yet with everything I need to do.

American Gothic

I do not think that I am pretty. Not in the least. I avoid being in front of the camera. But I do make exceptions, like when I need to show off my latest knit creation, or when I've recently finished a particularly cool costume. Of course, it helps when you have a fantastic photographer working with you, like Alice.

The dress for these shots is actually a tank top (the black with pink paisley is the original top). It didn't fit properly (i.e. I have huge hips and most shirts, even if they're long, ride up to become belly shirts. This one was particularly bad, but also particularly pretty). I designed and hand-sewed the skirt, with the intention of dressing it up and also weighing down the hem to keep it in place. Originally I was thinking more of a tutu, but the more I drew and worked on it, the more a longer, more Victorian look seemed better. It's not exactly historically accurate (not even close, really) but I kind of combined styles from around 1900-1910 with stuff from my own head and things from movies.

I really like the way it came out. It fits well and is pretty comfortable. Wearing the long sleeve black top and the corset over top was pretty hot, though. I drank a lot of water during that part of the shoot.

Unfortunately, out of the 200+ photos we took, we didn't get any really good just frontal shots showing off the dress. It was definitely more of an art/fashion shoot, telling a story. Alice lives in an awesome Victorian, and we used the setting a lot in the shoot. We had a lot of fun pretending that I was about to kill my husband. There are several shots of me involving a knife and also some deadly nightshade she found growing in the yard.

These are just a few of my favorite images, the ones that show off my part of the work (the costume) the best. We also took some pictures in a local graveyard. We went to the older part of the cemetery and found some tiger lilies growing by a fence which we used as a prop. We left flowers on every grave we used as a thank you; most of them were so old that no one cleans or takes care of them anymore, except to mow around the headstone.

I also finished up an afghan I was working on, but I have yet to hook up my camera to the laptop. Or really get a decent picture of it. Flash photos on my messy bedroom floor don't count, but it's been raining every day for...A month? Two? So I haven't taken any outdoor pictures (When it's not raining, it's 90 and humid).

As soon as I get the next flag for the Peace Project, I'm going to start stitching it all together. Squee!

Project update

Well, my goal of blogging at least every other day isn't going so well, is it? I guess that's partly because of all the crap I have to do to my photos before I can upload them, but I'm also just plain lazy.

I finished the Blueberry socks a few days ago. These sat collecting dust for I don't know how long after I got back from Italy, but I've been working through the WIP bin. This is the first project to get crossed off of my list.

I should have photos of my latest sewing project up soon. I just need to finish the lacing holes, and attach the skirt to the top and I'll be finished. Shouldn't take me too long once I actually sit down and do it.


The shrug is resting at the moment; I needed a break from stockinette. I finished with the body, and have about four inches on one side of the hood done. It's not coming out quite right, and I think I may end up frogging it (one of the reasons it is "resting."

Swag

I like swag bags, especially when they are full of yarn. It is sad when that yarn is 100% wool, since I am allergic to it, but a bag of free yarn and patterns means happiness nonetheless.

I gave the brown and green balls to Alice, because she didn't get a swag bag since she's not a Knitter's Connection member (I got a member so that I could pre-reg. And get the swag). The grey was 100% wool and quite coarse, to I handed it off to some lovely ladies I met and chatted with out in the common area who were not plagued by the allergy to wool that Alice and I share. The pink yarns are either acrylic or merino; I can sometimes use merino if it's really fine, though that large ball of Gems might be a bit of a stretch for me. I think I'll be okay with the sock yarn, though.

The books are pattern books (well, one of them is; the other is a catalog for patterns). There are lots of very pretty pictures that I'll probably use for resources, since I don't actually use patterns.

Sadly, I didn't get to go to any of the classes offered (just plain couldn't afford it, especially after what I bought today, but that's another story). I did get to go to the Ravelry presentation last night. I learned some things about the site that I didn't know, and I also got to breath the same air as Jess, Casey, Mary-Heather, and Cate Bordie (I'm sure there were others, but they were the only ones who got introduced).

The Market Place (the main reason Alice and I attended) was really much smaller than I thought it would be. After going to TNNA last year, I thought we'd get at least one whole room, but we only got about 3/4 of one. What really irriated me though was that 95% of the fiber for sale was all wool! Alice had trouble even going in there because her lanolin allergy is so severe, but there was very little I could afford that wasn't all wool (I was *this close* to walking away with a $45 hank of silk laceweight though). Instead of collecting yarn, we collected business cards so that maybe when we have more money we can look them up and buy some of their products. For the time being however, we will have to stick with lower end yarns.

However, that brings me to part un of my purchases:



A drop spindle and 1.5 oz of natural alpaca fiber. We've both been wanting to learn to spin, and I figured that (what with the wool allergy) this was a good basic fiber to learn on, and with it being natural in color, I could experiment with dying, too. It was a really excellant price--$13 for the spindle, and only $7.50 for the fiber (I'll edit this later and put in the company--I have to find her business card, if I remembered to grab one).

Now, that certainly isn't enough to break the bank. But part deux of my shopping is (at least for me): fabric. Now, the two yards each of satin and tulle aren't a huge deal. Not at all. The entire bolt of 45" muslin (25 yds) was. Don't tell my mom I spent $70 on fabric today, kay?). My credit card was screaming, and I was almost in tears, but I need it for school (I consoled myself by saying I could write it off for my taxes. Hey, it is for my senior thesis show). The muslin will be used for several projects: 1) backing the Peace Project, as well as going in between the individual flags. 2) A series of embroidery projects that I have planned. 3) leftovers will become test subjects for my dye pot. Cool-aide dyed fabric, anyone? 4) If I manage to scrap together enough money for batik supplies, I'll be using it for that, too.

Photographic Proof

This is the top that I was talking about the other day. Haven't tried it on to mark the darts yet. No, that is not the poor photo quality (though it is a bad picture); the material really is iridescent. I picked it up for about two euro for about four or five yards at this little stand just outside our apartment. I've discovered that this crappy little stand has the best apparel fabric at the best prices--he beats the pants off of the Tuesday morning market, plus he's close and open every day but Sundays.

This is the first sock of the second pair. I've got a few more inches to do before I can cast off. I'm thinking maybe four or five. I should be trying it on again, but I'm afraid I'm going to break those itty bitty needles. I'm so used to using size eight or nine aluminum needles that these sock needles just feel like toothpicks in my hands.

This is the scarf for my mom. I'll probably have to go out and buy two more balls of the yarn for it, since I'm only about 1/3 done and I've doubled the yarn. Still, it's working up nicely. I'm going to have to beat it a little before I give it to her, though, because it's linen and a little bit coarse on the skin.

I was a bad girl this morning and ordered some things from Amazon, which will be waiting for me when I get back. I purchased Knitting for Peace and Knitting Goddess, and pre-ordered Tin Man. I am a dork and want to take Alan Cumming home. He really does not look forty-two years old.

I added a few things to my wishlist, too. Like some addie turbos, and a set of Denise interchangeables, as well as some spinning books that were recommended on Lime and Violet.

And just to prove that there are pretty things in Florence, here is a picture of Cascine Park when there is no market. This park is my favorite place in the entire city.

New Stuff

Hi! I'm tired!

We stayed up to marathon all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I knit through the first one, crocheted through the second, and closed my eyes through most of the third, peeking out every once in a while when I knew Will had a good line or something funny was about to happen.

I started a new project yesterday. I'm making myself a top. I started by tracing a different top, and actually used a pattern (!) though it was of my own making. It's sort of a tunic style, with a crossed v-neck. I'm working on the hem now, and only have to put on the cap sleeves. I tried it on, and it's fits a little weird around the boobs, but I think a couple of darts might fix that. I traced a fitted tee shirt for the pattern, because that was the best fit I had, but the top is a woven fabric with only a little stretch.

The podcast is now up. It is not on Itunes, because I am still trying to figure it out, but if you go to the Pomcow blog (link the sidebar), then there are links in the shownotes for the downloads. Please be patient as I figure out these internet things--I'm really no good with computers at all, and I don't really have anyone to help me except a few nice people on Ravelry.

I'm going to go sleep in the computer lounge now. Bye!

Catch Up

Once again, I find myself behind in my picture taking. Stupid camera. Always running out of batteries. I need to get one of the fancy ones like my uncle has that uses a cell phone battery that lasts for about two months.

Projects:

Turkish Rib Tank: I'm just getting ready to start the sleeve shaping on the front. It's on hold until I finish my socks though. The socks are eating my soul.

First Ever Socks: I just started the leg of the second sock last night. The foot has a weird striping thing going on, which is funny because I'm using the same ball of yarn from the first sock, but there's absolutely no striping on that one. For some reason, the foot on this sock seems to be slightly shorting, and the heel is coming out weird. I got it to fit, but it's still not 100% identical to the first sock (even without the stripes). But hey, they're my first pair. I'm still playing.

Jeans skirt: I started cutting up a worn out pair of jeans last night. I'd worn a hole through the inside of the thigh, but I'm afraid to throw away my jeans because I don't exactly fit the typical Florentine body type: 4'10" size zero, or 5'11" size zero. And most of the places I've seen with jeans don't have changing rooms (oh, the plight of shopping outdoor markets). So, I tore out the inseams and sewed in some iridescent blue fabric to make a skirt. I'm wearing it as we speak, and I love, love LOVE it.

Hopefully I'll get those pictures up soon. I'm also working on the video for my Rome trip, so you'll be able to see those pictures...Oh, by this weekend, I think. I only have a couple more little cue cards to make, and then I can put it on youtube.

Finals start tomorrow. Not a big deal, because the only final I have is for Art history. I've already got my review sheet, and the review session is going to be tomorrow night. Other than that, I've got a critique in batik, and that's all. My writing teacher is an anarchist, and is opposed to exams. :D

Well, I'm going to go off in our lovely, warms sun, and try to find some fresh air in which to study the Ninja Turtles.

Fiber Content

For a while now I've been talking about my various craft projects, but I haven't shown any pictures--well, here's a couple to make up for it:



I made this....last week? Out of boredom.



Boredom is the reason I make most things. Since the charger on my laptop died, I've needed something to do during my Art History class, as surfing the web is no longer an option. This was a little something I started carrying around in my purse, and have randomly been pulling out when we go on trips to that I'm not focusing on how badly the prof is butchering any word that isn't Italian (she's American, by the way, and has been teaching for 25 years, so there's really no excuse), and why are we at a museum this early in the morning? And do I really care if we look at yet another Madonna and Child? I think no.

So imagine twenty-five college kids following a tall blonde chatterbox around like so many baby ducklings, and me trailing along at the end with three or four inches of crochet peeking out of my over sized Harry Potter bag. That is how this bag was born. And it's actually kind of funny that it was crocheted mostly in my art history class, since it is finished just in time for our trip this weekend. Perfect! Now if I can only keep from garroting the prof with my next project, we'll be just peachy!

In more cheerful news, I found a really cool book tucked away in our apartment. Well, actually, Alice found it. We have a bookshelf that is laden with Italian novels we can't read, encyclopedias that are ten to twenty years out of date, and board games with half the pieces missing. Yet the other day she unearthed this treasure:




This is an Italian translation of an American book from the early 1980's. Basically, it's everything you ever wanted to know about sewing, embroidery, macrame, crochet, needlepoint, knitting, and tatting. Tatting! I was so surprised to find that in there.

I've been studying this book ever since. I don't use pattern books, but I like "how-to" type things; How to make this stitch; how to piece these things together--more of a recipe than a detailed step-by-step.








And those are just what I found by flipping to random pages! This book even has basic color theory in it, which was really surprising for me.

I'm going to have to search Amazon for the English version--It's a Reader's Digest book. I don't have it in front of me, so I can't look up the original title, but I will post it later on. If I can't find it online, this copy might just fall into my suitcase. I think the best part is that even though my Italian is awful, I can still understand a good portion of the instructions because the images are so clear.


----
Peace Project Update
----

Eighty-Five. EIGHTY-FIVE!

Do you know what that number represents? That is the number of flags that have been signed up for. EIGHTY-FIVE! I actually counted twice because I didn't think there could possibly be that many, but there are. You are all so wonderful! I never would have expected this kind of response in less than a month!

I should be getting the center panel back from the cleaners this afternoon, so I'll be able to start the quilting and embroidery.

I will be gone this weekend on a trip to Rome, so you probably won't hear from me until Monday.