It's Always Tea Time!

Last weekend, Mum and I went to see Alice (in Wonderland) the ballet.  It was extraordinary.  They did minimalist sets and focused instead on the dancing and the lighting.  It was gorgeous.  In honor of that event and the amazing way the dancers interpreted the story, I decided I should share some of the things I've made recently that are Alice inspired. 

I made these a few weeks ago while working on many projects that are gifts.  This would be why I haven't made many entries lately.  I have been busy with work and class, but the project I have worked on in the crafting arena haven't been gifted yet.  Soon...

But back to Alice things.  I had found a photo of a tattoo and knew I wanted to put it on the side of a mug.  Lo and behold, I found a wonderful purple mug for it.  :)  I also found a tea bag/ spoon rest and decided I needed that as well.

I'd also come across a little individual tea pot, which I'd been looking for after having a pre-graduation tea party for my BFF's sister last year.  I can't tell you how thrilled I was to find it.  But I waffled on what to draw on the lovely chartreuse canvas of porcelain.  But the other day I was browsing Etsy and came across this set of headphones with an Alice design painted on them (see treasury below).  I drew inspiration from them and painted it today.  Tomorrow I'll fire it.  :D 

And who knows, after the firing is done, perhaps I shall have a spot of tea.  I did recently order some loose leaf tea from ThinkGeek.com and they look highly entertaining.  Timmy's Tea Sampler and Monkey Picked Tea, I am looking forward to the tea time adventure!

I've been continuing my reading list for the year, and I am actually currently in the midst of an Alice inspired adventure.  Hatter by Daniel Coleman (he also wrote one called Jabberwocky).  I'm really enjoying it.  The Mat Hatter and the Cheshire Cat are two of my favorite characters in the stories.  I just love that madness.  XD

As always I find myself on Etsy when the crafting bug hits or something sparks my interest.  That being the case, I made an Alice inspired treasury:

Hassan Chop!

Watch out for the Knitja! Or at least that's what I call my version of Kate Boyette's Ninja pattern. This took way longer to knit than I thought. Mostly because I sometimes have the attention span of a goldfish.

There was also a delay in finishing due to the disappearance of my felt for the features. Needless to say, I ventured to the craft store for more and ended up buying a bunch of other crafting items. There will be more crafts besides knitting in the near future. :D

I had fun with this, and would likely make it again. I didn't stuff this one a whole lot, but made it a little flat plushie that is still squeezably soft. It might be entertaining to make a really plump ninja in the future. In black. *nods*

The sewing is a pain. I definitely don't appear to be a seamstress. *shakes head* I'm rather passable at this point, but hopefully down the line I can work on that and get better. At least this time the shapes and placement were easy. In the past the assembly of plushie objects hasn't gone well. This time went considerably better.

I hope my co-worker who asked for it is pleased. We decided on the pink for extra fun (and cause the purple was being knit into mystery project 4).

Also, THIS IS THE FIRST COMPLETED JOB OF THE YEAR!!!!

Tentacles Ahoy!

I did not always have this fascination with the octopus. It is a recently re-discovered interest that has been cultivated by my re-invigoration with knitting. When I was first looking at patterns and geeky things I came across this little guy. It took me a while, but I found the pattern and vow to knit him one day!

I blame my random trip to the zoo, for the inital intrigue. I was attending a conference downtown when the lecture room was declared too full and any further participants would make it a fire hazard. So to not waste the trip, I walked over to the zoo...in February. It was early morning and I discovered that the zookeepers were feeding many of the animals. So wanting to go ahead and see as much as I could, especially when it was inside, I wandered over to the invertebrate house. Here I discovered an octopus named Rachel. I learned some amazing things, such as, they change colors and they can fit through any space as long as their beaks can. That is most fascinating.

Needless to say, this fascination expanded when I discovered steampunk. I can only deduce that the octopus is part of the genre due to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Jules Verne. However, even with the confusion, that doesn't make them any less awesome.

So as I mentioned before, I've been knitting up this pair of mittens. I finished them after getting a bit side tracked due to other projects, the holidays creeping up, and general busyness with classes starting up and work.

I love how the colors turned out. I wasn't sure if they were going to work, and they actually photograph better for the contrast, but I really love how they look. It's almost like the octopi are mid change and blending with the seaish color of the background. ;D The yarn feels amazing, and they are toasty warm.

This was the first pair of full mittens I've completed. I've started two pairs in the past, but frogged due to size and not liking the color combination. I'm so pleased with these. Even if I occasionally felt like this guy while knitting them.

Something else I started with this set and the recent knittings I've been working on. I was looking through projects for a fellow Raveler and saw they listed what they'd audiobooked or watched while knitting, so I've decided to document it myself. I don't really remember much for the first one mitten of this pair other than it was Thanksgiving and there was a brief MythBusters marathon while I was finishing it up. The second one was knit in the car with music and Neil Gaiman's Stardust on. I still have a good chunk of the book to listen through. Love it (even if I've read it three times)!

Finally, in honor of the octopus and its eight tentacle glory, I found some fun and amusing little odds and ends on Etsy.

Periodic Table Elements of Awesome

I like Chemistry. It is difficult and challenging and geeky. :) So when I came across this little gem of a duvet, I knew I would have to eventually make myself one. So on to the queue of projects to make it goes.

The creator has a listing on Craftster that I will likely need to reference. This would of course be helped along if I rocked at sewing...or was at least marginally better than I am. But it might be a nice project to improve the sewing capability. It also might be a good project to wait for an embroidery machine for so I can embroider the element info on them...printing (as she did) seems like it wouldn't last. However, either would be fun as I would still end up with a Periodic Table Duvet!

I think it would fun and entertaining (and because I don't match in most of my life except in clothing) to make the squares in the random one of yards of fabric. I would definitely have to plot it out and do color scheme ideas for the bigger sections, but again...loads of fun! I would likely put it all on black too, not sure if both sides would be black or if something zany fun would be cool too.

In light of this little wonder, I went browsing on Etsy as they fill my geeky heart with glee.

And yes, I bought a GeNiUS mug...in palladium purple. :3

This little treat of fun also makes me want to cast on the awesome little chemistry geekery hat I found many moons ago. What's better than a hat with the important structures of penicillin, serotonin, caffeine and theobromine? I don't even know. XD

Gifting fun giftys!

Got together with KA and her lifemate Bean. I'm going to be screwed when they get married since I've known the girl by first and last name forever...I don't know that I'll be able to change it in my head.

Anyway, had dinner with them and finally gave birthday gifts...a month and seven months late. Eh hehe. Yeah. Figuring schedules, so not my strong point.

Interesting, and humorously, enough Bean and I wore the same shirt without consulting. HAHAHA! That's what happens when you are nerdtastic.

Anyway, I gave each a coffee cup cozy that is hand sewn and reusable from sewtara's Etsy shop. I actually had to get one for myself since I got a ceramic coffee cup with lid that didn't come with a cozy. *pouts* Ah well, I picked a good one.

Along with that KA got a little panda pouch. I am a firm believer that one can never have too many pouches to store things in. Bean got a set of teacups that are cupcake molds. KA had told me when we were last out and about that he wanted them, soooooo. Yesh. :D

As you can see I knit a panda plushie too. This was for KA. She's a big panda fan. It was entirely too entertaining making this little cutie from Katie Boyette's KnitWit book. I have plans for a few other patterns within. *cackles*

There was also a knitted little wonder for Bean. KA and I discovered that there was a mutual love for Dr. Who. That being said I decided Bean needed 11's sonic screwdriver a la yarn.

In the midst of the shopping and browsing of Etsy, I realized I forgot to include a small item for each. *headdesk* I'll have to remember for next outing with one or both of them. *sigh*

They actually got me something pretty freakin' sweet too. KA commented that she loves journals, but doesn't journal well. So I reap the benefits since I do both things. Well, perhaps not well, but I use journals for various things. Anyway, they gave me Keri Smith's Wreck this Journal. I'd seen this when I worked at BN and always meant to buy it. Muwahahaha! I was doing a little googling on it and came across pictures of people following the journal's directions. It got me thinking, I might document this and post about that. Then I found a blog that is doing so. She calls it Wreck this Journal Wednesdays. I'm not sure if I can stick to that schedule, but I can certainly take pictures and post what I do to it.

Yes...this is going to be entertaining. :D

Just around the corner...

I love autumn. The colors changing. The cooling weather. Everything about it. I'm always so excited for fall to arrive. When I was still in school, I loved the start of school. It meant fall was coming. :D

I think one of my favorite things about fall is Halloween. I love the holiday and October in general. October always had the best weather change and leaves on the trees.

To celebrate fall coming soon...if even in a month, I made a Jack-o-lantern treasury.

I can already smell the cooler weather and falling leaves. Fall also has some of the best food things and spicy smells. Mmmmm.

SHARK WEEK!

I haven't watched any of it yet, but there will be sharking this week. I have no clue why I love shark week other than there are really interesting shows on. Notably I love the Dirty Job and Mythbuster episodes. :D

In honor of Shark Week, I give you an Etsy treasury!

I might have to try making the shark ipod cozy...I do have 2 ipods. XD And changing it up once in a while is good.

leaving a mark

My youngest cousin Kels is getting married and she's asked me to look after her guestbook. In addition to the guestbook she wants a tree. I honestly had no clue what she was talking about, but finally got some enlightenment from her. She was talking about a thumbprint tree, which is an awesome idea. She's also asked for use of my artistic talent in drawing the tree.

I've done some looking and determined a fairly good size I think. I had to call her and ask how many guests (around 300). Hopefully it's big enough. Though some of the ideas I've seen with "leaves" on the ground are kinda cool too. I have plans for both directions, be it so many or so little.

My biggest trouble was finding a tree that fit her. I know nothing of the groom... Heh.

Anyway I did a massive search and poked through various listings on Etsy. I honestly don't remember where I found the one that I really liked. I did a lot of it similar to the drawing, but added branches and smooshed it so it would fit my piece of paper.

In addition to the names for the bride and groom with the wedding date beneath, I thought a quote would be nice. I was going to do the love is patient bible verse, but decided I needed something shorter. So after googling a bit, I found a few. I asked Mum's opinion and decided on David Viscott's "To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides." I thought that with the tree it was quite fitting. :)

So I've been drawing and tracing and erasing. Now my hand is very tired. I think that I'll finish it up tomorrow with details on the wood for the tree. I'll have to post pictures in a few weeks since I don't know if she pokes through here. :)

and sometimes, when you fall, you fly

I have a ridiculous amount of love for Neil Gaiman and his various works. I've read a few and have stacks of other to get through yet. But I don't know that I'll ever forget my first foray into his genius head.

I was in high school and a friend in my creative writing class suggested Neverwhere to me. After that I picked up other novels. I think it's a tie between Stardust and The Graveyard Book as my current favorite and I poke through The Sandman comics from time to time.

I love that there are a few references to his work in my favorite television show Supernatural as well.

He's created worlds that are simply awe-inspiring and incredible. The stories are often creepy with a good dose of humor in there to keep you on your toes. As I was stumbling about the internet I came across a video of knitting for the movie Coraline based off his book.

I can promise I was fascinated and enthralled.



Here's an actual person sized pattern of Coraline's sweater. I really really loved that sweater. I might actually have to make one for myself...yeah, that would be kind of awesome to dress up as at a convention. I actually have this awesome glow in the dark yarn that I could use for the stars. Hmmmm...this might be a good first sweater project.

In the mean time, I would love to see him speak. I've watched video and he seems completely awesome.

Ah well. One day.

defy gravity!

Going to see Wicked this weekend. In honor of that (and the fact that I've found various yarns that are fairy tale or Oz inspired), I went looking on Etsy for cool things. :)

I have way too much fun just poking through etsy.

A search on ravelry yielded some cool patterns. Always like the little wee dolls that can be made.

Wacky knee socks, a neckwarmer/cowl, and wrist warmers are awesome too. I like making things in the round. :)

Baby items aren't really my thing, but these booties are pretty freakin' adorable!

And for something completely different a wine bottle cozy!

Needless to say I'm pretty excited. I've heard a few snippets of songs and I tried reading the book. Keyword was try. But I've heard amazing things about the show. :D

Odds and Ends

Every so often I tool around Etsy, since it is really inspiring as well as awesome. There are some really amazing things on there. A little while ago, GeekCraft had a post about a Dr. Who Companion bracelet. I've recently been watching Dr. Who, and have become thoroughly addicted. It is really entertaining. I do love this bracelet, but know that I have nowhere to wear it. :(

She's also got a few different charm bracelets with other features, such as Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland. I really like that she explains the reasoning behind the charms too on a few of them.

I especially like the bookmarks. Again, I have little use for one since I have a Kindle that is very much dearly loved, but they are still very neat.

There are different styles and everything. :)

However, I did get a pair of earrings that were Harry Potter inspired. :) She's got lots of nice little things that are cute and interesting.

And speaking of earring, there was a really cute pair that were inspired by Breaking Dawn. If I actually like the series I would get them since they are really rather awesome, but I couldn't get through the third book. >_< Twilight hurts my brain. I do want to finish them, mostly since I have friends that like them. However I also like to be decently informed if I'm going to bitch about something. *sigh* But the books have still been a nice art inspiration for many. I like where the is creativity flowing! Just look at the little chess pieces!

On a search far far away...

Bwahahaha! I came across this little gem today. I was happy to see it was from a designer whose book I already have. Anyway, I might have to make this for Mum for Christmas since she is always having issues with her PC. Too fraking adorable!

She has some really great tiny knits and other things on her website and in her book.

There are so many little cute things and so little time. I really want to make the pencil. Especially since Mrs. G asked me to consider making something for their Geoscavenger hunt thing. I can't ever really remember what it is called.

Continuing on with geek cute knits, I came across a really great hat of my favorite little android. R2D2!

And along the Star Wars knitting line I found these! LIGHTSABERS! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEh!

And they are plushie and safe. There's a pattern for small ones (pictured) and a larger dueling one. I already got glittery yarn to make the blades. XD

Even though it isn't my thing, biology still provides some awesome knits. Like this great DNA scarf with a cable. I think that it would be suitably entertaining and I will figure out someone that really likes DNA/genetics to make it for.

Also in the double helix pattern is a plushie pattern. Scroll up and down for some other knit baby toys and apparel. Some are really adorable. :)

In other biology patterns are some of these plush bacterium. They are really funny and seem like a nice small scale in the round pattern for beginners.

These also remind me of the plushie diseases I purchased last year at the SPN convention. Which after finding the website I might have to revisit since I am terribly fond of the soap dispenser. :D

Rise of Geekdom

I'm a proud self proclaimed geek. This has been proven by the fact that a guy at work (who I don't know all that well) came in with scruffy facial hair. Now he looks like Wolverine, and it is marvelous and hilarious. Some started calling him Wolverine, and he laughed. I told him it was better than Logan. He paused, blinked at me, and then declared his shock I knew that. *falls over laughing* When I related this to another co-worker (who I do know a bit better) he seemed surprised more didn't know what a geek I was, since something comes up and I go off on a geek tangent.

I already have this shirt, but it continues to amuse the hell out of me. Even if Mum tried to revoke my geek card for having issues with her PC. I'm sorry, computers aren't a really huge interest of mine, thus I haven't kept up with the technology trends as much in recent years.

There was mass explanation that there was more than computer things on the shirt and for the application of geek.

Mum just kind of shook her head. :)

Anyway, on with the geeking. I was looking into knitting patterns for Thor, (don't ask, my mind is an odd place), and I came across this Crafting Valhalla entry at GeekCrafts.com. *falls over* I have the original Creepy Cute Crochet (I have yet to make anything, but the little grim reaper calls to me). Anywho, I am loving the blog. So much geekness love condensed. *rolls about like a puppy*

As I was reading GeekCraft recently came across a few projects that were in a book. Now I want the book, mostly because they have Pow and Zap magnets to make. :D World of Geekcraft, I will be acquiring you.

I'm sure it is a bit apparent that I like geeky things. :D But this really got me. I do love Etsy. So many quirky things, but still wonderful! I have found awesome presents for people there. Now if only I could think of someone who would really really appreciate this!

*sigh* Too bad. But it's still funny! :D