So it has been about 3 weeks since I last posted and it seems like a lot and nothing at all has really happened. I feel like there is big new exciting news to tell, but past that I am not really sure what to say. So the big exciting news......ROLLER DERBY!!!! Yep, that's right I am going to be going to recruit night for the local roller derby team on May 9th. I am excited and nervous. My skating skills need a lot of work between now and then, but the good news is I have a buddy. April is also going to join me in roller derby...so we have been working out skating schedules and learning as much as we possibly can about roller derby. I am excited to being playing a sport again. I have played sports as far back as I can remember and have always had a blast playing them.
Let's see what else?? Abby's 4 month heartworm check up is officially scheduled for April 12th. I am really excited to get her checked out. I really curious to see how much she weighs. She is doing so well though. She really is the most amazing dog I could have ever dreamed up.
March nerd wars has 9 days left. I have 2 projects almost completely finished and one more to cast on and finish. Wow! I really need to get busy. Speaking of knitting....I sent in a application to GWR to try and break the current World Record for the longest hand knit scarf...the current record is 2.15 miles. I also got a bunch of yarn from Julie at her destash. So thankful for it. I am already using some of it for Nerd Wars projects!!
Still need to finish getting all of my crap for school together.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Nerd Wars Update!
So we are only 3 days in and I have one project finished (Elvish Leaves Dishcloth), yarn dyed, & beads sorted. I am feeling pretty good about Nerd Wars this time around. A bit nervous about the beading and the colorwork and the dolls, but I think it is all doable if I continue to stay this organized.
Tuesday, while finishing up the dish cloth I decided I would go ahead and start working on dyeing my yarn. Dyeing is a long process, but not one of those processes that requires you attention for the entire process. So I pulled out the lovely sock yarn blank that Francesca had sent me (90% British Wool, 10% Nylon) and stuck it in a bowl with 1 cup of vinegar & 3 cups of water. I then added 1 cup of vinegar and 4 cups of water to the crockpot and turned it on high. It took about 2 hours before I could see steam just starting to form in the crockpot. I knew it was time. I then heated (remember, heated not boiled) up some water on the stove...I would say about 4 cups. I heated this water so that I would have something to dissolve my Wilton's Food colorings in. I pulled out 4 plastic cups & four bamboo skewers. The four colors I chose for this particular dyeing session were: Kelly green, royal blue, sky blue, & teal. I was trying to go for a waterfall look. Inspired by this photo:
Basically, various shades of blues and greens. So where were we...oh yes, I had dissolved the dye in the cups and then I moved the yarn from it's vinegar bowl into the crockpot. Well, then I just began pouring in the dye, little bits at a time. I waited until the dye had exhausted (water was clear) I think flipped the yarn over and repeated. I continued in this manner until most of the yarn was colored. I wanted to keep a few white bits. I took the yarn out, rinsed it, & then put it in the washer on the spin cycle (how nice this was...my first time dyeing yarn since moving into a place with a washer/dryer hook-up). I then took my yarn out of the washer and to my horror it was a GIANT TANGLED MESS!! So I spent the better part of yesterday untangling the yarn and sorting my beads. I am excited to go home and actually cast on this scarf after 2 days of preparation!
Tuesday, while finishing up the dish cloth I decided I would go ahead and start working on dyeing my yarn. Dyeing is a long process, but not one of those processes that requires you attention for the entire process. So I pulled out the lovely sock yarn blank that Francesca had sent me (90% British Wool, 10% Nylon) and stuck it in a bowl with 1 cup of vinegar & 3 cups of water. I then added 1 cup of vinegar and 4 cups of water to the crockpot and turned it on high. It took about 2 hours before I could see steam just starting to form in the crockpot. I knew it was time. I then heated (remember, heated not boiled) up some water on the stove...I would say about 4 cups. I heated this water so that I would have something to dissolve my Wilton's Food colorings in. I pulled out 4 plastic cups & four bamboo skewers. The four colors I chose for this particular dyeing session were: Kelly green, royal blue, sky blue, & teal. I was trying to go for a waterfall look. Inspired by this photo:
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Nerd Wars March
So the challenges for March were issued at 12:01am and well I am pretty excited to get started. Hoping I don't overwhelm myself and can get everything accomplished and have a good time doing. I was hoping to be able to find a way to fit in my mittens and my cardigan that I want to knit, but I can not think of how they might meet one of the challenges. So the challenges and my ideas are as follows:
Category: Nerd Culture
Challenge: Don't hide your light under a bushel!
Idea: Basically what you need to do for this challenge is take a photo of yourself knitting/crocheting in public. Easy enough I do this all the time!
Category: Intellectual
Challenge: Warrior's Friend
Idea: This challenge was about shield and protection....this month I am aiming high for team spirit points so I am knitting a Gondorian Shield. It should look something like this:
Category: Team Spirit
Challenge: In like a lion, out like a lamb.
Idea: This challenge is all about the soft and harsh sides of one thing/person/animal. So for this I will attempt to knit 2 dolls. One to represent Gollum and one to represent Smeagol and a ring joining them.
Category: Scientific
Challenge: Capillary Action
Idea: This is just what it sounds like. You are to knit something that represents capillary action. So I am knitting some dish/wash cloths.
Category: Technical
Challenge: Polytech
Idea: For this challenge you must use more than one technique to complete a challenge. For this I will be dyeing my own yarn and then knitting a scarf from it. This scarf also has beads worked into so that will be a new adventure for me.
Category: Giving Geeks
Challenge: WIP Help
Idea: So I don't really have a plan for this one. The challenge is to help someone finish a WIP who is no longer capable of finishing the project themselves for whatever reason. Not sure that I know anyone who has any WIPs they would want me to finish for them.
So there you have it! Those are the challenges and my plans! Wish me luck!
Category: Nerd Culture
Challenge: Don't hide your light under a bushel!
Idea: Basically what you need to do for this challenge is take a photo of yourself knitting/crocheting in public. Easy enough I do this all the time!
Category: Intellectual
Challenge: Warrior's Friend
Idea: This challenge was about shield and protection....this month I am aiming high for team spirit points so I am knitting a Gondorian Shield. It should look something like this:
Challenge: In like a lion, out like a lamb.
Idea: This challenge is all about the soft and harsh sides of one thing/person/animal. So for this I will attempt to knit 2 dolls. One to represent Gollum and one to represent Smeagol and a ring joining them.
Category: Scientific
Challenge: Capillary Action
Idea: This is just what it sounds like. You are to knit something that represents capillary action. So I am knitting some dish/wash cloths.
Category: Technical
Challenge: Polytech
Idea: For this challenge you must use more than one technique to complete a challenge. For this I will be dyeing my own yarn and then knitting a scarf from it. This scarf also has beads worked into so that will be a new adventure for me.
Category: Giving Geeks
Challenge: WIP Help
Idea: So I don't really have a plan for this one. The challenge is to help someone finish a WIP who is no longer capable of finishing the project themselves for whatever reason. Not sure that I know anyone who has any WIPs they would want me to finish for them.
So there you have it! Those are the challenges and my plans! Wish me luck!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Nerd Wars
So the first month of Nerd Wars is almost over and well, I didn't accomplish as much as I had hoped to, but I did conquer colorwork. It was my first time attempting anything tougher than stripes which aren't really that tough. Wanna see??
I am pretty proud of this hat. Although, I won't get to wear it for at least 9 months or so. My tension was a bit off in some places, but all in all it came out looking pretty good. I am also less scared of colorwork and ready to tackle some more. Hoping one of the challenges for March will allow for me to cast on the cardigan I order through Knitpicks. It is just another one of those things I have always wanted to try and knit, but never really been brave enough. Doing well though with trying new knitting techniques..I have completed a lace project or two, colorwork, & charts!
I am pretty proud of this hat. Although, I won't get to wear it for at least 9 months or so. My tension was a bit off in some places, but all in all it came out looking pretty good. I am also less scared of colorwork and ready to tackle some more. Hoping one of the challenges for March will allow for me to cast on the cardigan I order through Knitpicks. It is just another one of those things I have always wanted to try and knit, but never really been brave enough. Doing well though with trying new knitting techniques..I have completed a lace project or two, colorwork, & charts!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
School
I began working on stuff today to return to school again....Hopefully, during the summer. I am nervous and anxious and excited. I need to schedule a day off between now and April 4th and actually go to PSC and talk with someone. Last year I denied financial aid for whatever reason, but I just finished my FASFA and things look promising. I need to get with Walt so that we can get his FASFA completed and we can schedule an appointment for both of us on the same day. I have plans for the future (like owning a home) and I am not going to be able to do that on an Auto Shopper salary. I want Walt to be able to continue doing what he is doing and I want to finally have a job that I enjoy going to everyday!
Monday, February 21, 2011
A Break & Plus Sized
So I returned to work after a much needed 4 day break. My job really is not all that hard it is just very mentally draining and emotionally damaging sometimes. I am feeling refreshed and rejuvenated and hoping this feeling will at least get me through the next 2 months or so.
So... on to the other thing that I have been thinking about and reading about all day. Being plus sized when it comes to sewing patterns. I am by no means what I would consider plus sized in "regular everyday" clothes. I mean I don't have to shop in the plus size section. Honestly, it wouldn't really bother me all that much if I had to. I am proud of my curves and I love my boobs! I think this has to do with the fact that I hit puberty much later than most (if not all) of the girls I know. Which means I spend a good portion of my teens being made fun of for being flat chested and have knobby knees. Then puberty finally kicked and well, let's just say no one would even think about calling me flat chested. Anyhow, back to my original topic. So after purchasing a few dress patterns then measuring myself (hey! new sewers....measure yourself before you buy any clothing patterns) I discovered that in the world of sewing I am plus sized. Again, I would be totally fine with this if all of the dresses did not look like this:
I love this fabric and I love what they were going for....but it looks like she is wearing a big rectangle with sleeves....I DON'T want to wear a big rectangle. Did I mention I love my curves??!! This dress looks likes 2 rectangles sewing together. I know there are plenty of big girls out there that are proud of their curves too. I am all for dressing for your body type, but a dress shaped like this is not going to flatter anyone! When I decided I wanted to learn to sew I wanted to be able to sew those cool retro dresses that I love so much. I am really inspired by Pin-Ups....those girls had curves! Here is what I think plus size sewing patterns should be like:
This is a dress from the plus sized section of pinupgirlclothing.com. They have lovely curve hugging clothes for the plus sized! So I have been reading other sewer's opinions on this and well there seems to be a consensus. So if anyone knows where some really cute plus sized patterns can be found please let me. I must say though I am really fond of some of simplicity's plus sized patterns.
So... on to the other thing that I have been thinking about and reading about all day. Being plus sized when it comes to sewing patterns. I am by no means what I would consider plus sized in "regular everyday" clothes. I mean I don't have to shop in the plus size section. Honestly, it wouldn't really bother me all that much if I had to. I am proud of my curves and I love my boobs! I think this has to do with the fact that I hit puberty much later than most (if not all) of the girls I know. Which means I spend a good portion of my teens being made fun of for being flat chested and have knobby knees. Then puberty finally kicked and well, let's just say no one would even think about calling me flat chested. Anyhow, back to my original topic. So after purchasing a few dress patterns then measuring myself (hey! new sewers....measure yourself before you buy any clothing patterns) I discovered that in the world of sewing I am plus sized. Again, I would be totally fine with this if all of the dresses did not look like this:
This is a dress from the plus sized section of pinupgirlclothing.com. They have lovely curve hugging clothes for the plus sized! So I have been reading other sewer's opinions on this and well there seems to be a consensus. So if anyone knows where some really cute plus sized patterns can be found please let me. I must say though I am really fond of some of simplicity's plus sized patterns.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
You Are Not A Rooster!!
Lately I have found myself trying to convince Abby that she is in fact a dog and not a rooster. For about the past 2 weeks she has had the urge to bark in my face some between 5:00 & 6:00am. Not really sure what is going with that. When I get out of bed she doesn't rush to go outside and potty she just wants me to be awake. While this doesn't really bother me Tuesday-Friday when I have to be up at 7:00am it does bother me on the weekend when I could be sleeping in. We have tried really wearing her out just before bed. We make sure the last thing we do before going to sleep is taking her out to potty. Nothing seems to work. Sadly, I am a sucker and can't be mad at her for more than about 5 seconds, so she will probably live the rest of her life thinking she is a rooster. How could I ever be mad at something this precious!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)