I don't want to work today

So my options are:

a) work on a project plan

b) work on my cute orange capelet

c) do both

I choose C, do both!

oscar + bubbly = not so much crafting

but lots of fun!

chris and i wove and knit, respectively, but mostly we ate, chat, and watched the oscars. here's proof:



all of my talk about a new project tonight got lost somewhere between champagne #2 and fancy cheese. i'm hoping to start something new soon... the shower curtain with maux's fab fabric is on my mind. craft may be postponed for a few weeks due to 3 successive trips including one or a couple of us. i'm considering lining up a few guest stars to keep me on the true path.

i'm making progress on the capelet. after a conversation today with amy about next steps, i'm confident i can do it:

Craft Production....HIGH

So for the past couple of Sunday's, craft production and creativity has been low in Seattle. Well things have changed. Last Sunday we met at Karen's house and it was a flurry of activity.

Karen, inspired by her trip to New York, sketched African shields for upcoming prints. Plus she gave me an education in all things Speedball. Speedball is a brand of intaglio tools used for print making. I think I'm going to try my hand at linoleum cuts.

Maureen bought this beautiful gauzy blue print fabric for a peasant top. She was busy cutting out her pattern with Mr. Sato supervising production from his comfortable chair.

Kintea was making wire contraptions for work. The contraptions involved copper wire wrapped around a yard stick. She then cut the wire and created wire loops. To be honest, I haven't a clue what they're to be used for but I know it involves birds.

My orange capelet is coming along. I had to rip it out and start from scratch. Since I was home sick end of last, week I had plenty of time to knit. I am about 4-inches in, only 13 more to go. Friday night I was totally bored and feeling not so hot. I was inspired by Greg and his decoupage. So I grabbed my scissors and started cutting out letters in cool fonts. Chris can probably identify the fonts from his typography class. I see a decoupaged bowl in my near future.

This Sunday, c-n-c takes a break for the Oscars. Productivity will return back to HIGH soon.

knitting and hosting

i love sunday nights. i especially enjoy hosting craftery. seems like each sunday the crew ups the ante, and this sunday was no exception. as chris' post illuminated, our last gathering was impressive in its creativity.

after a setback in my capelet, my second run at it is proving successful. i'm really enjoying it, although i haven't been knitting quite as much now that i'm a working stiff (that's me on my first morning of work):

and after witnessing the amped of creative juices of chris and greg, i'm feeling like perhaps i need to mix it up a bit. i just uncovered 2 other knitting projects that i orphaned; i may pick them up again or try something new. in the interim, here's a shot chris took of me knitting. and here's a shot of greg's handiwork, tins decoupaged with blossoms and a dude in a troubling outfit receiving a munch on the kneecap from an affable rhino:

The Many Faces of Mr. Sato

C-N-C met at my house this week and while craft production was low, we had a darn good time. Mr. Sato provided his usual load of canine entertainment. Maux is determined to fix her super cute halter dress started last year and spent the night ripping out some seams. With her new found sewing skills, she will do it! Kintea's project was watching The Grammy's while I started making an orange capelet. Similar to Sarah's capelet experience, I had to rip mine out too! I somehow twisted my rows.

Karen was sorely missed but we did take the opportunity to have C-N-C Special Meat Edition. We started with some proscuitto and then had chicken curry for dinner. Karen, we will take your company and friendship over chicken any day!

weaving!

weaving!, originally uploaded by Blutopher.

Wow! My first craft n' complain posting. For my innaugural post, here's the weaving I did last night, and the homemade loom I wove it on. I saw the loom in Martha Stewart Living (huge fan of the Martha) and thought I'd take a shot at making one myself. This is based off a product from the early 1900's called a Weavette. I guess they were wildly popular. My version was made from scrap wood from Cliff's Variety and some finishing nails. The placement of the nails was a bit tricky but other than that it was pretty straightforward. The tough part was the needle; all I had was a large sewing needle. Today I got a really long metal needle and it works much much better.

I used a dyed wool yarn that has a varied green color. It made a very nice plaid pattern when woven all together, and so far I've made 3 squares. The magazine gave all sorts of suggestions about what to do with these once you have a few done. What will I make with them? Not sure, but I can tell you what I won't be making with them: a Kleenex box cover (nice try, Martha).

New hat

Although I missed stitch for the last week, I did manage to finish a hat. I think I will give it to my friend Vivian for her little boy Ian! That extra yarn I had from the scarf I made for Luca came in handy!

sf stylin'

last night we convened the sf craft gathering, and i learned that the members of this crew have some special skills. this past week, chris decided to make curtains... not just your average, flowy curtains, but the kind that have small dowels that fold the fabric when a string is pulled. he sketched out the design--which was crucial, because mechanics are involved--used old curtain fabric, re-sewed them, stained dowels a dark color, used eye hooks, and created some really fine curtains. rather than sewing the dowels inside a layer of fabric, he placed them on the outside, which looks quite nice.

chris spent last night making valentines with paper bags and cool pink paper.

the other member, greg, took a metal tin and decoupaged arty images from magazines to the inside, in an effort to make a sweet little spot for his roommates' many remote controls, and also to make room for a small plant.

these dudes are crafty.

what did i do? i ripped out the capelet to fix my twisting issue, and started again. :)