photos

Ok, as requested by my fans (ok, fan -- Hi Laurie!), I present photos.

First, let me state for the record, that I am a bad photo blogger person. I forgot to take a photo of myself in the pink crocheted shrug with the bridesmaid dress (it was really hot at the reception, so I only wore it for a few minutes). But, I did remember to photograph the shrug & dress on the hanger. Not as good, but maybe a close second. So, here it is:


And here is the embroidery piece I (with help from my husband, who actually embroidered -- and liked it). I had it framed & matted before I gave it.


Here is the jewelry that I made for my sister (turquoise chunks, freshwater pearls & silver beads). She wore it to the wedding to match her Charlie's Angels-esque dress.


And here she is in said jewelry (why her mouth is open like she's trying to catch flies, I don't know).


And finally, here is me with the family at the wedding. Note the "glow" about my face (some unkind people might call it sweat). It was like 100 degrees with little to no breeze. But it was fun.


Santa Monica Stitch n Bitch is tonight. I don't really know what I'll work on because my finger is still sore from the *sports-related* injury. Maybe I'll try a little crochet, at least until it starts hurting again. grr. It's frustrating not to be able to make stuff when I want to.

weekend (craft) update

Ok, so it's Monday. The wedding is over, which means I'd better have finished all my wedding-related craft projects. And I am happy to say that I did.

I finished my alterations to the bridesmaid dress. It was still relatively unattractive, but aren't all bridesmaid dresses? The zipper never looked right, but I think that was mostly because I had to replace the it (first one broke while I was re-installing it) with one that was slightly heavier.

Crocheted shrug -- finished, although I think I actually wore it for all of 6 minutes because it was so hot at the reception. I passed the shrug on to my friend Carrie, so hopefully, she'll get some use out of it.

Embroidery wedding present -- complete & framed & gifted. Pictures posted later.

Jenny's jewelry -- completed, presented & worn (and paid for). Ended up with a necklace, bracelet & earrings.

Did I mention that I finished all of these projects with a *kickball* injury? Yes, I play in an adult kickball league (adult as in, over 21, but not as in "Debbie Does Kickball" -- www.kickball.com), and in the pre-game practice session on Wednesday, I bent to catch a kicked ball and jammed my right ring finger. I played the game, but I paid for it Thursday morning when it was bruised, swollen & hurting. I've got it taped up, but it still hurts like a mother. And it makes typing a bitch. So please excuse any spelling mistakes as I'm using the hunt & peck method as best I can.

Now that the wedding is over, I can not only work on non-wedding related crafts, but I can start the baby-related projects (not for me -- for one of my best friends). She's of English/Irish descent and his family is from Mexico, so I'm thinking of doing a baby blanket with shamrocks and chili peppers. I'll keep you updated.

First post

First posting, I'd better make it good.

Ok, intro. My name is Sara and I am a 29-year-old craft-a-holic. I do a lot of them. Whether I do them well, that's for someone else to decide.

• Sewing -- almost 10 years
• Jewelry (beads, not silversmithing) -- 10 years, off and on
• Crocheting -- 2 years
• Knitting -- 1 year
• Decoupage -- 2 years
• Other assorted crafts done on a per project basis (i.e., not done continually) -- mosaic, embroidery, upholstery

I've decided to start this blog to chronicle my life through my projects, since I do crafts rather than, oh say, cleaning my apartment or cooking or reading or other less expensive hobbies.

So, the current list of projects underway:

1. Bridesmaid dress (fyi, I'm in a wedding this weekend -- I don't just work on expensive, ill-fitting dresses for the heck of it). Status: almost complete -- just need to reattach bow to back of dress.
2. Crocheted shrug from 1955 "Smart Crochet" magazine (to wear to wedding). Status: almost complete (although it's been in this state for weeks). Just need to finish loop fringe.
3. Embroidery piece for wedding present (to be framed). Status: almost complete -- just need to finish vines.
4. Jewelry for sister (to wear to wedding). Status: almost complete -- just need to make earrings (necklace & bracelet already completed).
5. Knitted tank top (Cannes pattern from Rowan Beach Cool book). Status: pissing me off. I finished the front, only to realize that, due to the quirky wording of Rowan patterns, the stockinette section is too short. So, I have two choices -- either rip out the top & all armhole shaping and keep knitting, or pick up stitches along the bottom and increase the size of the garter stitch border. I'm leaning towards the second choice (I know, I should just rip it out, but the yarn is raggy, and I'm afraid it won't rip out cleanly, and the yarn is discontinued, so I can't get more if I ruin it), but it makes me too mad to think about it right now.
6. Green & brown crocheted sweater (based on pattern from 1952 "Smart Crochet" magazine, but changed because I don't have a 26" waist and 36" bust). Status: more than 1/2 done, but I haven't worked on it since before Christmas. It's mostly wool & mohair, so it's not exactly the type of project I want to work on in the summer, but I've spent so much money on the yarn that I can't let it go uncompleted like so many of my projects. So I'm writing this to remind me to finish it!
7. Imitation of Marc Jacobs Spring 2005 granny square purse. Status: not working out the way I wanted it to. I was using a color combo of pink, green & white, but the pink was not the right shade, so I bought a brighter color and need to start over.
8. Knitty "Tempting" ribbed off-the-shoulder sweater. Status: I'm bored. Rows & rows of 2x2 ribbing. I'd say I'm about 1/3 of the way there, but I just don't know if I can go on.
   

Planned project that I have already purchased the materials for, but have not yet started.

1. Crocheted starburst tank top (from Japanese pattern). A friend from Stitch n Bitch went to Japan in March and brought me back these fabulous knitting & crochet books. I don't read Japanese, but their patterns are written in graph form, so if you can figure out the initial symbols (that's what the internet is for), you can figure it out. This pattern is a cute tank that is worked from the top left shoulder in a radiating pattern. I bought some great cotton (Blue Sky Organic, GGH Goa) in a 70s harvest gold, dark brown & white. I can't wait to start this, but I need to finish some projects first.
2. Sewn summer tops for sister Jenny. I have the materials and patterns, but I've only finished one, of an expected three.
3. Sewn fancy dress for Jenny. Will get to it when I have time. I have to create this one without a pattern, so it will involve a lot of draping.
   

Yarn that I have purchased, but don't have projects for (these are just ones I can think of off the top of my head -- I've got more yarn than I know what to do with).

1. 10 skeins of Noro "Gisha" ribbon yarn (discontinued). Brown/orange colorway. Purchased on ebay for $39.99. Practically free, and perfect for a summer project, but I don't know what yet.
2. 10 skeins of Austermann "Candy" suede-like ribbon. Black/orange colorway. Purchased at Yarn Lady sale last year for 50% off. No idea what to do with it.
3. 10 skeins of Trendsetter cotton/silk riboon yarn (can't remember name). Green/lilac spacedyed colorway. Purchased at Yarn Lady sale last year for 50% off. Will make fabulous summer tank, if I ever get to it.
4. 10 skeins of Filatura di Crosa "Elena" wool/acrylic yarn. Taupe/peach colorway. Yarn Lady sale, again. No idea what to do with it.
5. And so much more...

That's it for now. I'll post photos of the wedding related crafts after this weekend.