the quacking fiber addict

The felting part was easy. I am lazy and shouldn't be left to scientifically DO anything. I just threw the tricorn in the wash for a cycle, forgot about it, threw it in the dryer, and then declared it done after about 30 minutes of rolling around in hot air.

It's a wonder I even made it past the Scientific Method, isn't it?

Anyway. It came out perfectly felted. The next part, the really tricky step, was shaping the bloody thing. Getting the three horns (or at least two of them) even is something the ancient Greek geometricians would have cringed at. But, finally, after nearly an hour of pinning, unpinning, repinning and the first 15 minutes of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Mum declared this 'good':



I decided to go with the a slightly earlier time period than POTC - late Baroque/ very early Rococo. So, the front horn is a bit longer and pointer than the back two. The top curves are gently scooped inward, and the back third is a little bit lower than the front two. I still don't have a plume (BLAST! I forgot that!), and haven't sewn on the trim I bought for it - aubergine ribbon and gold braid. I plan on having it done for the show tomorrow night, even if I go in jeans.

The hat WILL be done. Hopefully it'll be blocked (or semi-blocked tomorrow), so I won't have to do too much tacking with a needle and thread.

I have some small knitting news. I finished ONE of my Top Secret projects, right before I had to leave for Homework Club. Which went well, all things considered, since there were 5 kids and just Emmos and me between them. I managed to cover Spanish, Health, and Fractions pretty evenly, I hope.

And, that's about all. I need to find my bodice and work some repairs on it. It's not even remotely Baroque or Rococo - try early Renaissance. But I doubt anyone will notice.

Maybe I will just wear the hat and some jeans...

Labels: costume construction, felting

At 12:45 am, I FINISHED weaving in the ends on my soon-to-be Tricorn hat, whilst Mum and I watched Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl (for the 467th time). As the credits scrolled, I went upstairs and snapped a picture:


I'm going to felt it later today (gawd, it's actually after midnight).

Other news? Mum and Dad are sick with some respiratory infection (joy be unbounded), and Dad's been prescribed FOUR different medications - coinciding, funnily enough, with the fact that he's had pneumonia FOUR times in his life. I made him go to the doctor yesterday (I am such a good daughter, I know) because he nearly fainted from a coughing fit. It turns out he had been sleeping in a recliner for several nights prior, because he couldn't breathe if he laid down.

I just sort of stared at him when he admitted this. ONE night like that would have sent me to the doctor. The man clearly doesn't learn as quickly as he should.

Ohwell.

More news? Erm. Not much. I'm working on knitting some Secret Items. Top Secret.

And, uh, that's all I can remember at 1 am.

Labels: costume construction, felting

Well, no, not really. That's the "colour" of the yarn I'm working with on my new and improved Spox. I'm currently working on the gusset right now of the left one. And, uh, I was wondering if anyone was terribly interested in doing me a favor and trying out the pattern? I'm working out the math and should have it ready in a day or two... any completely crazy wonderful takers? (actually, it's not that bad, the sock's knit flat for most of the pattern, and only requires two intermediate/ advanced techniques: picking up stitches purlwise and p2tog tbl,. both of which are very easy to learn - I taught myself)

Other knitting news? I finished the back of the peacock pullover tonight! And, even better, it actually matches up to the sweater I modeled it after:


The neckline is curling so, even though it doesn't look it, I swear it does match. I was so pleased with myself for several hours, because I had finally cracked the armhole/ sleeve cap code. I couldn't just copy the red sweater, since the gauge is tiny and that wouldn't have taught me anything. But, after a costume construction class and many a failed sweater (my own and others') I figured out that the curve of the sleeve cap is the same as the armscye and that the armhole measurement corresponds with the sleeve width. (yes, I am a slow learner)

Now I just have to figure out how to standardize it. (read above in parentheses)

Right-O. Once I understand that, I can get Sauci started. And, just to mix things up a bit, here's tonight's quote at the end of the post...

“Experience is the best teacher, but a fool will learn from no other.”
Benjamin Franklin

Labels: costume construction, designing, knitting, socks

“There ought to be a room in every house to swear in.”
Mark Twain

I just let off a string of words I shouldn't even know. Today was just one of those verdamnt long days (and, look, a German curse). I let myself relax and completely ignore all the complete insanity around the house yesterday. Today I tried to fix some of it. Stupid idea.

Even worse, I tried to get things done.

I can be quite idiotic when I put my mind to it, honestly.

I cleaned up the disgusting mess that was the front room, as St M was coming over, so she could have a clean floor to lay out her fabric on. It took me over half an hour to vacuum a nearly empty living room. Seriously, that is the level of nasty the males have left everywhere.

3 damn weeks, and they've made a mess that I can't even describe.

Anyway. I got the front room clean. I brought out my spinning wheel and other bits and bobs I'd need to get a start on the Solstice-Equinox Challenge. As I was grabbing things from my stash, I paused. What the heck was that??

A hahaha. The pile of yarn and needle rolls I had been digging in had, oh you'll love this, GIANT FREAKING PANES OF GLASS lying in them. Apparently, whilst I was cleaning the front room one of the workmen had broken my bedroom window. Yes... BROKEN.

Had anyone told me? No. Cuz, hell, why would I notice something like this:


I mean, c'mon, it's such a paltry little thing. Right-O. I came storming downstairs, pissed off (there were shards of glass in my yarn, dammit), and Dad just shrugged, "Oh, yeah, J mentioned that."

"Oh," I said, trying not to hit him, "Did he?"

MEN.

I am so seriously considering the positive aspects of lesbianism right now, you have no idea.

Anyway. *Breathing*. I went on, after all this, to go and clean the kitchen. I don't want to think of what's been growing in there. I found two opened cans of food that had been left out on the counter for so long...

(shudder)

((and the men wonder why we have ants? and they treat me like I'm stupid.))

It took me about an hour, but I got the kitchen almost clean. I say almost, since we're out of sponges (I think, since everything's been boxed up, I have no idea) and I had to use a dish towel. Also, the fact that the kitchen is also in the middle of the renovation process... oy. I got it clean enough to cook a decent meal (which I still need to clean up) when St M showed up. I took a break from cleaning, and we went to other "feminine" pastimes:


She's cutting out a cotehardie (no pattern!) and I was spinning for the Challenge. I got all the singles spun before I had to make dinner. I got dinner made and somehow a table and chairs were rustled up. Dinner went relatively well, I guess. Don't get me started.

We set up the sewing machine on the table for St M to sew up her cotehardie while I got the yarn ready to ply. Hereupon I made one of the stupidest mistakes I've ever made with yarn preparation. Somehow I convinced myself that it'd be easier to wind the singles with a thread and beads on and ply it on itself than to just ply it with the thread and beads.

Right.

I am beyond stupid.

By about an hour ago I was nearly shrieking with frustration - everyone got as far away as possible. So, finally, I gave it up (I have 2/3 of it plied, and that's bloody well enough - I'll give my target some other stuff to make up for this) and went to work on "that-" verdamnt "Judaica thing." I got a line and a half embroidered tonight. Yay, me.

If you've made it thus far, I need an opinion. I am so damn sick of working on "that Judaica thing". It's been as difficult as the bloody Challenge, and not half so satisfying. The pattern calls for handknit lace around the edge with a handknit braid over the seam. I have taken near three months to get this far. Should I just attach bought lace and braiding, so the recipient can finally have the verdamnt thing?

I just want it done. Is that so wrong?

And, and look, it's 42F out and I have a broken window. Lucky verdamnt me.

Labels: costume construction, family, friends, The Move

But, as you have guessed (correctly! Vonnie and Blair :D), I have GRADUATED!!!

This warrants running around the house shrieking, to be sure, but I'm blogging currently and will get to that later. I promise ;)

So. I'm sure you've guessed that my parents obsessively took pictures of the ceremony. Which was wonderfully short, intimate, and fun. Much better than any other Commencement I've ever been to, honestly. Of course, only the graduates and faculty understood half of the jokes, but that's normal I guess. Actually, I think my parents got a bunch of 'em, too. Anyway, here be the pix...

Labels: costume construction, finished object, velvet

And, wow!, aren't we amazed with her talent? I have been lusting after these for a bit. Bless her! I now have way cool, individual "Spinster" t-shirts.

And here's Emmos (and C, seated) getting everything ready for us to silkscreen:


It soon became readily apparent (I HAD warned her I wasn't awake) that I couldn't be trusted with ink. Nope. It got everywhere. But on my clothes. I even wore crappy clothes, too. That's just wrong.

Emmos finally adopted Mad Eye's "Constant Vigilence" methods of supervision, cuz I needed it. Didn't work, but it was worth a shot. At least I didn't ruin anything. I only got ink all over the screens, myself, the counters, the sink, and the floor. Yeah.

Genius quality, I know.

But, my one achievement tonight is my insistence on using pink ink - which contrasted BEAUTIFULLY with our t-shirt's. Even half-dead and foggy, I still have great colour sense:


Very kindly, too, the nice young lady working at the Craft Center didn't kick us out at 10p (their closing time) and also didn't bother us about using more than one ink colour. Woohoo! Black and pink, baby.

By 10:20, we had this loverly stack of t-shirts and patches:


I now have a t-shirt wardrobe to be the envy of any local spinner. Mission accomplished! Also, I managed to cover another fiber art on my blog, kick @ss. I think I just need to pull out some of my embroidery and take up cross-stitch, and I'll have done everything. And, wow, at 21.

But, on further thought, I refuse to take up another hobby, so nevermind.

That's it for today, I think.

Labels: costume construction, finished object

Cuz, I wouldn't have had a day like this, otherwise. "Mental health vaycay" doesn't even cover it! This is going to be a long post, I want to savor this for a bit :D

I woke up before 7 am. For the average college student, 7 am doesn't exist except as a punishment or character-building exercise - and I am not any different. Needless to say, I was cranky as I got around this morning, expecting today to suck monumentally.

But, it didn't. Life can be what you make it, I guess. So, I caught a way early bus to campus, and went to the student post office - which was EMPTY for once! OMG, the shock nearly killed me ;)

So, I mailed Crimson's "reward" and an ebay package (mwahahaha! but forgot to include my notes, oh well).

Then, I grabbed breakfast and sat for a half hour, listening to Bach and watching the squirrells chase each other across campus. I keep forgetting to mention this, but the UO has the most impressive (i.e. pretty) campus I've even been on - and I've toured Ivies, guys.

So, I decided to take a pic of one of the many lawn nooks there are:


If you're ever in Eugene and want to see pretty green things, visit the UO Campus. We're known for it. We even have an arborial tour, and stuff. I just like wandering campus in my off-hours to unwind. And the "wildlife" are tamer than housecats - feed a duck!

Anyway. After that, I aced my Ling test (first in a long time) and went to the Bookstore to grab lunch. This was, well, a bad idea (when it comes to budgeting) but a good idea when it comes to personal library improvement. Since the prepacked food thingies weren't ready yet, I went upstairs to puruse the bookstore's usually tiny knitting shelf. Shelf.

Well, it used to be a shelf - which it shared with the crochet and quilting books. Not anymore. This was my downfall. It now was it's own section. There were shelves of knitting books. And nary a "Stitch'n'Bitch" or "Knitting for Dummies" in sight (praise the knitting g-ddess!).

Seriously. I saw books I hadn't been able to get my hands on for weeks, or ever - and I had a credit card. What did I do? Because I lack any form of self-control when stressed, I bought these:


The "Vogue Knitting Stitchionary" and the Yarn Harlot's "Knitting Rules".

I totally, and completely, endorse these two books. If you don't own them, buy them! The Harlot is, as ever, a great read. But, the Vogue, is just amazing. I'm a stitchionary addict. I have more knitting books I can shake a stick at, and this book had patterns I'd never seen before (please don't make me list the books in my knitting library, please). That's impressive. I had to get it. For personal edification, obviously. I am nothing if not thorough in my knitting studies ;)

I then grabbed lunch (no, food had not arrived yet, tardy non-knitting people must have been in charge or something) and ran to the costume shop. Where I was besieged by other knitters who were curious about my new pretties.

I ending up reading passages from "Knitting Rules" to them for 1/2 an hour. We were quite giggly when class started.

I love knitters. They rock.

Then, wonder of wonders, I FINISHED(!) Puck's trousers. Tail and all. Yes, FINISHED. (does little victory dance). What a momentous occasion, which I didn't photograph, since I want a pic of it ON the bloody actor, in full costume.

At this, D and I took our handsewing assignments outside, to escape the blinding heat of what was quickly becoming a real sweatshop (A/C on the fritz?). We mostly sat and chatted, but we did get our cross-stitching done.

At 2 pm, I escaped The Dungeon as fast as I could and caught the bus home. I actually remembered (on time!) that I had things due from the public library tomorrow. So, I grabbed my books and CDs and told Dad I was alive, and heading out. I returned my stuff and found some really cool goodies - two of the knitting books I'd place requests for were in, and I found some new medieval music.

Rejoicing in my success, I caught the Breeze to Alton Baker Park:


which was, as ever, lovely and wonderful. I love visiting Alton Baker when I'm depressed or feeling peaky. It's such a pick-me-up, all the greenery and duckies and the river and everything.

So, I sat for a couple of hours, reading thru "Knitting Rules," occassionally giggling aloud and probably weirding out other people on the lawn. Eh. There were some cute families there. And, not all of them were human:


The animals never cease to amaze me at AB, they're so tame. They make Uni ducks look feral. When I was walking back to catch my bus, I came across a pile of goslings - all furry and fluffy! Too cute. And, they let me walk right up to them and photograph 'em:


At one point, one of the adult geese hissed at me, for getting too close. But, otherwise, they were completely indifferent to me, and the other people cooing over them. No, I was not alone. They were cute, okay? I really wanted to put one in my purse, but resisted. So fluffy!

Anyway. I digress. I eventually called Dad for a ride, since the bus back was taking forever. When did they add all those stops to the Breeze? It's supposed to be an express bus! Sheesh.

We then did what any normal escapees would do. We hit Rose And Thistle. I love their fish and chips. Okay. Another thing you MUST do if you come to Eugene is eat at Rose and Thistle once. Their beer-batter is euphoric, or it has crack (I can't tell).

Over dinner Dad told me about the update from my big sister, A, who is (finally!) pregnant and settled (hey, I've been waiting fairly patiently for nieces and nephews here). She sent us this pic: (dances again with joy)


Obviously, she's the brunette. And, I hope to g-d she doesn't kill me for posting this. But, it's too exciting! She's almost 6 months along! She and K, her partner, are dressed for K's younger brother's wedding. (Don't ask, too complicated).

So, of course, I'm in mild panic mode over the baby and child sweaters. But, I'm certain everything'll be fine.

And, my last bit of news is that Mom is starting detox at Serenity Lane tomorrow at 10 a. Thank g-d. I think one of us might have hurt, if not killed, her if things had gone on this way much longer.

That's everything. I'm off to knit my lace spencer and watch Bill Mahr. Toods :D

Labels: baby T, costume construction, finished object

I haven't been this depressed since high school. I think self-awareness is the only thing keeping me from being suicidal right now. I know it has to be chemical or something. Yes, my family and school lives are shitty beyond emphasis, but not bad enough to make me feel like this.

I think it's the estrogen withdrawl. I went off the pill, kinda because I had to, and I feel horrible. That has to be it, right?

I skipped Ling today, then showed up late to Costume Construction, which I left after explaining to Sandy my exam perdicament - how I had let my other classes slip to finish the costume in time for photocall. She excused me. I went and studied for an hour or so. Then I took the worst Anth exam in the history of mankind. After all the Latin, Greek, and Anatomy classes I've aced - one paltry Practical Lab should have been a snap.

It was horrible. Just horrible.

Dad bought me these to make me feel better:


So what if he's one of my many enablers? I need the super-soft Chenille and Firenze ($3!!! on sale) to cuddle against. Seriously.

We went to Costco, and Dad even got me the carbonated juice I wanted. I must have looked miserable - everyone's been commenting on it. Just great, thanks.

Then I went to the costume lab to escape my life. It's good for that. I have come to have a passionate devotion for my sewing machine, Baby. We get along wonderfully. I had to put another row of fringe on Puck's trousers, since they're not furry enough. Fun. Then they made me take off the neon green fur tail (pout) to exchange it for a black velvet one. Aside from being boring, doesn't this sound hypocritical to anyone else? They want him to look furrier, but make me take off the faux-fur tail. Fabulous.

Then, once D and S and I were alone - the signs of Costume Construction Stress Disorder (madness) started to show, I got footage of it... Here is D playing with her jelly-fish skirt:







I got her permission to post these, don't worry.

Does anyone else think of Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious" when watching these?

I don't think you're ready this jelly, I don't think you're ready for this...

oh! I also got my One Skein Secret Swap Pal's info today. Mwahaha.

Labels: costume construction