Angry Kitten Jumps Over Puddle!!!

Pictures

2007-03-28T23:40:22Z

Garrrrr! I keep forgetting about livejournal!!! Anyway, here's my latest post from myspace. Not sure if anyone reads this thing anymore.

I've been so busy lately. School alone is stressful. By the end of April I need to build 2 websites, solidify my portfolio, and finish my senior project. Plus, I'm working. Add Marley to the mix, and I'm really looking forward to graduation.

Is intense embarrassment considered child abuse? Because I had to make this turtle costume for Marley for her school "Variety Show", and oh my god is it awful. The only costumes I could find online were ninja turtle costumes or cost $1000. And there aren't any sewing patterns for this kind of crap. With school and work taking up most of my time, I've been in a real crunch trying to make this quickly.

So I was once again stuck winging it. Fuck. Poor kid. I feel so sorry for her. This costume is terrible. I'm ashamed of it. But she's happy with it, and she said that no one made fun of it at school.

Oh, and she lost a tooth. This time, it wasn't bacon, but Naruto related rough housing. Don't ask.

Here's that sweater I knit last month. Overall, I'm happy with it, although I need to lose those 10 pounds I put on since summer to wear it proudly. Good thing it's wool and I won't be able to wear it for at least 7 months anyway.

Check out this badass coat! I got it a month or two ago for super cheap ($40 at Kohls). I get complimented every time I wear it.

Here's the detail on the sleeve

Here's the back

It was hell trying to find matching yarn for this coat. I hunted far and wide and finally found this stuff, wool acrylic blend with this tweed action. Matches perfectly. It's the Caloriometry pattern from knitty, which is like, this year's Panta (which I knit a kajillion of last winter). It's versatile and easy to alter for different yarns, and it's a headband, so I can still have long, yet un-smashed hair.

This turtle has been trying to escape lately. I think he's sick of the cold winter.

*huff huff puff puff* - Betsy

Did I ever mentioned that I named the rabbit finally? Can't remember. Anyway, I did. Her name is "My Melody" like the Sanrio bunny:

She's hard to take pictures of. She wiggles and twitches so much.

Since it's been warm out, we've been opening the windows. This makes the cats, MJ most of all, very happy. She wants to eat a bird so badly.

Ryan and I used our tax money to buy a new bed!!! So exciting!!!! It's a queen instead of a full like we had. This new one is big and plush and lovely. We also went Ikea shopping because we had to get new dressers and a new TV stand for the bedroom to accommodate the new bed.

We are also trying to learn Japanese. I know it's nerdy, because it's basically us being really huge anime geeks, but still. We've also been eating sushi a lot lately. We found a great place locally and we've been hitting it up once a week. It's so tasty. Rowr!

Like I said, I've gained 10 pounds since summer. It's depressing. I need to lose it, and 10 more before summer. *must not be lazy*

School has me stressed. I'm afraid I'll end up like this guy:

Anyway, that's that. Here's a picture I find hilarious.

X-posted to myspace

uuuuuhhhhh.....

2006-12-19T23:32:10Z

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

interesting.

yeah, don't post much on here. mostly over on myspace. i know, i'm a tool.

myspace.com/ladyspankington

Super quick update...

2006-11-09T19:34:20Z

I think calling Kevin Federline "Fed-ex" is about the most hilarious thing ever

Illustrator

2006-11-06T17:49:05Z

I made this freehand (no tracing, no reference) in Adobe Illustrator CS2. I know it isn't photorealistic, but I think it still looks pretty cool, for an image that's completely fake.

Now I have to find a way to make this into a "packaging label" or whatever the hell my next assignment is.

***edit***

Here's what I have so far. It's not finished, but it's getting there. Not too bad for 1 days work and first attempt with the gradient mesh.

torture

2006-10-03T16:34:19Z

I hate my new class. It's "Fundamentals of Animation" and we're using the program Adobe After Effects. I have never wanted to drop out of school so much in my life. Not because the program is difficult. But rather, it's hard for me to conceptualize moving images. I can photoshop like a fiend. But ask me to make those images move in a dynamic fashion, and I'm 40 + hours into a project that has no continuity, no sounds, only 6 seconds long and is due in 5 hours.

I'm so fucked.

Knit "Flore" hat

2006-09-22T14:06:47Z

Somehow, I'd imagine wearing a flower as a hat would be more flatterring. But honestly, I think my perpective comes from years of looking at Brian Froud books. I'm not the size of a flower, so having a hat that looks like a flower is less fantasy and sweetness, and more creepy and costumey.

Blocking:

Finished:

It was an annoying knit. I hurt my wrist towards the end because of the weight of the hat with the tight gauge (Cotton on small needles, alot of k2togs, ssks, and m1s, along with a lot of layers and modified kitchener stiches). It's taken a few days, btu my wrist is finally getting better.

Anyway, it looks much cuter in these pictures then in real life, I think.

And for good measure, here's Mudkip looking on:

TV, knit hat, sore hands, betsy

2006-09-20T23:38:36Z

Is anyone else reeeeeaally excited about America's Next Top Model coming on tonight? Cause I have a bag of popcorn just waiting to get popped at 8.

Anyone else watching Flavor of Love? Best show on TV, hands down. I mean, c'mon, "gutterbutt"!! Priceless.

I knit a hat this week and destroyed my hands doing it. I made the Flore Hat in Eggplant, and working with cotton and small needles and many many K2Togs along with many many modified Kitchener stitches makes for some sore hands. I actually have a blister square in the middle of my thumb.

Anyway, the hat is done, it's downstair blocking. I'll take pictures when it's done blocked and being worn. I'm not as thrilled with it as I thought I'd be. Maybe, I'm less tacky then I used to be?

Sigh

Also, I took Betsy to my famly reunion this weekend. My uncle, who has a photography studio wants me to bring Betsy down so he can get some pictures of her. That would be cute, some professional heghehog pictures.

Pleased-ish

2006-09-08T12:45:37Z

I finished the socks I started on Sunday. (I needed a break from the severely boring Sizzle shirt I've been working on.)

I did not gauge swatch, although if I had, I suspect I would have found that Koigu has a slightly higher gauge then the yarn called for in the pattern.

I made these with (as previosly stated) Koigu on size 2 needles. I didn't make them as tall as the pattern called for, as I like shorter socks. And I had to fudge the heel a little because of gauge issues. But all went well and the socks are pretty. I think that if I went yarn shopping specifically for this project, I'd have picked out something different, but I had the yarn first and had been looking for a pretty lace sock pattern for it, which I found with the Snowflake Lace Socks.

Lemme also add that the yarn looks much less variegated in real life. I had to tweek it in photosop because the yarn is a light color and I'm paler then snow. It made the color look more stripey then it actually is.

I have another 2 balls of koigu in the prettiest pink color which I'm trying to find a suitable pattern for. Maybe something with cables? Hmm....

Pictures!

2006-09-03T23:38:27Z

Effin finally, I might add.

Betsy!

Knitting!

Second Grade!

Weekend away from home!

Click any of the pictures for the full picture page (and not so witty commentary)

sooooo bored at 4 am (damn you early naps!)

2006-09-03T08:05:10Z

I can't believe how long this "three day shirt" is taking to knit. I'm knitting Sizzle from Knit and Tonic. It's a decent pattern, and it certainly isn't particularly difficult. But it's boring stockinette and my darts aren't as symmetrical as I'd like. And it's knit flat and seamed and the purl rows piss off my wrist after a bit.

I think I gained back all of the weight I lost in August. I guess it's fair because I didn't lose it honest. sigh.

No pictures yet. Because I'm boring and tired.

Betsy the hedgehog is an explorer. She knows how to lift the gate to the play cage I got her, so I haven't been able to let her out as much, as I need to keep a very close eye on her. I also need to sew her a new snuggle sack to carry her around in.

I'm thinking about finding a new home for Mudkip the turtle. Not that he isn't a cool dude, or that I don't want him, but when got him out of his former (and painfully neglectful home) it was a rescue mission, I wanted him to be safe, I wasn't being selfish and just wanting a pet turtle. And now that he's healthy and happy, I was thinking of finding him a new home. We have a lot of pets and I don't feel like we really pay enough attention to him. He might be happier elsewhere. Maybe with somone who has a pond and other turtles or something.

Ryan and I have been watching a retarded amount of anime lately. We (well, mostly him) have been buying a lot of series. I want Ryan to check out the local anime club for me so maybe I can join (I'm too shy to do it on my own).

Secretly, I want to find other nerdy anime fans to cosplay with me next year. I really wanna cosplay as a group from Yu Yu Hakusho. Think:

Ryan: Hiei
Me: Boton
Marley: Genki (or possibly Koenma)

Hilarity ensues!

Or possibly Inuyahsa:

Ryan: Miroku
Me: Sango
Marley: Shippo

More hilarity!

I also think it's be funny to dress up Marley as Rock Lee from Naruto.

Time to breathe

2006-08-28T19:27:33Z

I woke up this morning, and got Marley ready for her first day of school. And Ryan drove her to school on his way to his first day at his new job.

And for the first time in a long long while, the house was completely MINE!!!

But "me" time had to be put on hold so that I could go to college and sign up for classes. I am still convinced that Wilmington College is the best flipping college ever.

After signing up for classes, I treated myself to some IHOP Blueberry Pancakes with a side of scrapple (nature's garbage disposal). When I got home, I picked up Marley, mailed a book for Amazon, ate half a piece of cheesecake and some nachos.

It's only 3:00 and marley only had half a day of school, but so far, this fall is looking up.

So I signed up for classes and did a grad check. After this semester, I'll have only the Spring, then I'll finally get my Bachelors! 5 years worth of education over about 7 years (I took a break after mom took Marley) and finally, FINALLY, I'll have that coveted piece of paper.

I'm (once again) really excited for my classes this semester. There were so many classes I wanted to take (Streaming Media, Intro to Podcasting, Network and Telecommunications, YUM!) but I setteld on 5.

Human Computer Interface Design (Making wepages pretty and functional)
Fundamentals of Animation (woo!)
Graphics Design Applications (don't know what this is, but it sounds more fun then Concept Development, so I subbed it)
Color Theory (Total bullshit class, I actually managed to sub this one for Computer Technology)
Physical Design and Implementation in Program Environment (sounds tricksy, hopefully I'll be up to task)

Part of me whats to wear my shirt to the web design course:

I signed up for an extra class just for some breathing room.
I really wanted to take Java, but it was full. sigh. Maybe next semester.

knitting rut

2006-08-24T02:49:25Z

I've been experiencing this knitting rut since I got back from the convention. Hell, I've been in a life rut since the convention. I guess since I poured so much energy into it, I feel kind of spent.

So Ryan and I have just spend all month watching anime. Sigh. We've been buying used anime series for cheap at various Game Stops and FuncoLands in the area. Plus all the downloading.

I want to knit, I do, and I have a project on the needles that should be really easy, but I just have a block. And I keep seeing awesome sweaters to make, but I don't want to start anything before I finish the thing I'm working on. I'm boring. And a bad blogger. Double sigh

But Ryan and I made Steamed Red Bean Dumpings tonight. Yum! It was our first time and we had to make multiple trips to procure the ingredients (who knew sweet red bean paste would be so hard to find?) but they turned out good. I think with a few more attempts and tweaks to the recipe, they would rock. We want to make several types, like coconut, lemon, pork, sesame and all that good stuff. Rowr!

Still no Betsy pictures. But mostly because I'm lazy and have been busy screwing around with my new phone (which is awesome and has many many cool anime ringtones and pictures and animated gifs and the like).

BOOOORED

I also hope I haven't gained any weight, what with the being lazy.

Battle Scars

2006-08-14T19:13:29Z

Like a ninja in the night, she comes to your house, embarrasses you in front of your kids, drinks all of your Captain Morgan, and then, like that *poof* she's gone.

Wait, that's nothing like a ninja.

Anyway, it's the next day, and it looks like I got in a fist fight with rose bush. I have all these rediculous cuts and bruises all over my legs, a rather angry looking scrape/bruise thing on my shoulder and I sliced open my toe. Ferociously.

The Captain didn't steer my ship into calm waters last night.

He steered me into a tempest of hillbillies, cell phone comparisions, vertigo and unfortunately, a video camera. I hope to hell it didn't catch me falling off of that lawn chair.

I haven't knit much lately. I got the back of a tank top done, but have been too lazy to continue. Laaazzyy. Since the convention, all I've done is sit in bed and watch anime in my pjs. I watched all of the Witch Hunter Robin box set (which, if you ask me, what it lacks in depth, it more then makes up for with pretentiousness. I mean seriously, her hairstyle alone smacks of over-ambition), and s-CRY-ed (which is from a genre I like to call "Man-Fluff". The last couple of episodes were almost unwatchably absurd, but still kind of engaging in a "young-skinny-men-fighting-each-other-and-having-huge-crotch-seams-on-their-pants" kind of way. What, you aren't familiar with that kind of way?). Ryan hasn't seen Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu yet, so we'll watch that one next.

I sold about $100 in yarn on Ebay to make money for the convention. My yarn stash looks sad, like I sold off it's family.

I'm picking up Betsy the Hedgehog tomorrow, which fills me with ooey gooey piles of excitement. I bought special green Carefresh for the occasion. I still need to decorate the hell out of her home. I'm thinking glitter glue.

I'd kill a young mother and her first born baby for some guilt free Taco Bell right about now. sigh

Stupidity

2006-08-11T16:22:51Z

I did something very stupid just now.

I've been looking for employment and have always found that I get better results if I email the company directly, rather then go through Monster. So.

I email this company. I write up this beautious cover letter, make sure that my resume kicks awesome ass. The job itself would rule, it's close to home, good benefits, and good hours.

I hit the send button, and guess what I saw?????

My fucking yahoo email signature somehow got checked and got send with the message. What could be so bad? Could my signature be so bad that it would take me out of the running for a nice professional job? Oh yes, it totally could:

"-----Captain Sassypants hath spoken, and thus it is so-----"

So, I guess I can just flush the chances of getting that job right down the toilet. Sigh

Brief yet long Otakon post!!!

2006-08-08T01:34:25Z

BEST OTAKON EVER!!!!

Wednesday:

We got to the hotel, and they let us check in right away instead of waiting for check in. We found that our room was pretty bitching, it even had a fridge and microwave. We put our shit away and went directly to the docks and began working. Basically, it was our job to get all of the truck into the 32 docks in an organized manner. I was working with this other kid name John and we found this little air conditioned booth to sit in and we hung out pretty bored most of the day. We also met this kid Duc, who was Sams cousin and was helping out on docks. After work was over, Ryan had to go back home and get a job interview and pick up Alyssa. They didnt get back to the hotel till late. We didnt get to sleep until about 2 or 3.

Thursday:

We woke up early. Alyssa's costume was very much not finished and she spent the day working on it. Ryan and I worked docks and it was much harder then on Wednesday. Lots more people and things were different them years past. I was also about 105 degrees and I worked primarily in the sun. I came up with a way to streamline the docks which made everyones life easier. As a treat, Sam (Head of Logistics and former classmate of both Ryan and Alyssa) treated us to dinner and we had Duc along. Hes a really cool guy, youd never have guessed he was only 16. Again, I didnt get to sleep till 2 or 3.

Friday:

First day of the con!!! Since we were docks, we didnt actually have to work. Well, Ryan did a little in the morning. We watched Hare Guu (silliest thing ever) and went to the dealers room and bought tons of cool shit. I wore my Karna costume and got recognized! The people who got it were really enthusiastic about the show. At one point, the appliqués on my dress got messed up so I made the mistake of using hot glue which screwed it up worse. I sat around and moped for an hour or two, fixed it, and went back to the convention. Ryan, Duc, Alyssa and I watched Venture Brothers till late. Again, I didnt get to sleep till 2 or 3 (seeing a pattern?)

Saturday:

The big day! Ryan and I were in costume and got recognized a bunch. I had like, every 14 year old girl take my picture. I saw a ton of Bleach cosplay! But all of the Rukias sucked. Im still glad I didnt go as her, if only because she isnt a stand alone character, more of an ensemble one. Duc saved us staff seats for the Anime Music Videos (which I normally wouldnt have watched, but am really glad I did, because they were great!) and then we went to go see the Full Metal Alchemist movie and Hellsing Ultimate. We went back to the room with beer and mixed drinks, but were too tired to really care. We had a good day, lots of picture taking, lost of dealers room fun and lots of just fun shit. We stayed up and watched FLCL and Cowboy Bebop. Didnt get to sleep till 2 or 3.

Sunday:

Last day! Although we had fun, the lack of sleep and food was wearing thin and my body was sore. I scored at the dealers room a bunch of cool stuff. I siesta-ed for the middle part of the day because I was so tired. I kind of wanted to go home, but wanted to go to the staff party as well. Sam scored Alyssa a contractor badge so she could go. We went to the party, which was basically the 27^th floor of the Wyndam, all the penthouse suites, literally they rented the entire floor for a party and it was open bar. We hung out in one of the room and watched cartoons when some annoying people decided to take the worlds longest bath together in the bathroom of our room. Then people just kept going in the room and never leaving. It was fairly annoying to I was making bets and trying to pay someone to take a huge smelly dump in there so that they would leave. No one took me up on it.

But guess who I partied with? The fucking voice actors!! I partied with the lady that does Izumi from Full Metal Alchemist and This other lady (I cant remember her name) but she does tons of voiceover work. And Hawkeye from FMA was there too. I had gotten her signature earlier in the day. It was way cool.

Anyway, everyone was wrecked and had lots of fun and was jumping around acting crazy. At one point, I decided that I was a velociraptor. I'm not sure why. But people were laughing, so I assumed it was funny. I also called Alyssa's friend while I was drunk. I may have pissed him off.

Anyway, it was really fun, but I didnt get to sleep till 2 or 3 (or actually later)

Monday

Just the drive home. I missed Marley and the pets, although leaving them here for days made them angry with us and made the house smelly. I have homework to do and its life back to normal. I cant wait until next year though!!!

Here's just a few pictures. For the rest, click on them to be taken to the full picture page. Bandwidth warning: there about 70 pictures on there

Cross posted to myspace

Mid Con

2006-08-05T03:18:37Z

So far, Otakon has been really awesome. There have been great cosplayers and the dealers room is hooked up. With Alyssa having the handicap sticker and me being staff, we don't have to wait through line for anything. I wore the Karna costume today and got recognized! But only by about 10 people, but those 10 people were really happy to see such an under-the-radar anime being cosplayed.

Tomorrow I'm wearing the Animal Crossing costume. If I don't get my picture taken at least a dozen times, I'll take it as a huge insult.

I'll post pictures when I get back. So far, this has been the most fun con ever. I hope it keeps up.

Oh, and the Full Metal Alchemist movie is on the 35mm tomorrow. Kick ass!

Con Update

2006-07-31T22:43:34Z

I'm begining to really hate sewing. Normally, I love it, when it's something small and fun. But this, this crazy marathon of sewing machine rape is just too much.

So far:
Karna is 99% done. All that's left is to thread in some elastic of the bottom of the pants and it's done.

Cid: 90% done. All that's left there is the socks and the hem on the knitted waistband (which looks badass).

Animal Crossing: 90% done. Technically, it's done, and has been, but it could use some extra work, like straightening up the hem.

So that's that. We leave for the con Wednesday morning and come home Monday. I'm pretty excited although I'll be glad when the burden of costume making will be over. It is fun, and I do enjoy it, but I think that I should make less costumes less year. Or space them out a little more. Or actually have sewing ability.

I started the knitting pattern Sizzle from knitandtonic.com using a dark plum colored Cotton Fleece. So far, it looks nice.

So that's that for now. I am going to try and update with pictures while I'm gione, but if I don't, I'll have tons of pictures to post when I get back. Of course, I have homework to do while I'm gone, but hopefully, it won't use up all my computer time.

Wish me luck with getting these costumes done!!!

Oh, and 2 weeks from tomorrow, I go pick up Betsy the hedgehog!!! I'm so excited!!!

Heavens to Betsy!

2006-07-28T18:55:00Z

BETSY THE HEDGEHOG!!!!

Guess who I get to bring home in 2 weeks? This little sweetie!! I went down to the breeder on Wednesday and picked her out. When she was put in my hands, she was really sweet, licked me and tried to eat my rings. So Cute!

I've named her Betsy. I'm going to go out to Target today and get her living space, which I will decorate with glitter glue, stickers and cleverly placed drilled holes.

BETSY!!! YAY!!!

Costume Sneak Peeks!!!!!

2006-07-25T01:27:58Z

I decided that I'm not going to make any large knitting projects until I get a job and can pay for good quality yarn. I will however buy small amount of crappy yarn to make smaller less ambitious projects.

The reason for the fiscal responsibility? A total lack of fiscal responsibility. I'm blowing through too much money.

That being said, on Wednesday, I'm going down to Joppa to put down a deposit and pick out a hedgehog!!! So exciting!!! There will be so many pictures when I get to bring him/her home!!!!

Speaking of pictures:
I updated and revamped the website, so it's look is more consistant and the newer pages are listed.

So, today, instead of writing a paper about how Microsoft Access blows, I installed the digital camera software and Photoshop CS2 on the laptop and played with pictures all day. Well, technically, it's what I am going to school for....

So here's a few choice pictures, click on them for the full scoop:

Click to see many many more pictures

Collecting my thoughts

2006-07-23T15:55:00Z

I've spent weeks now making costumes. I love sewing, although I was never really properly taught how to, so it's a prety tempestuous relationship. I've only been knitting a little: the cumberbund for Ryan's Cid costume.

So, the convention is 2 weeks away, but I only really have a week and a few days to really work.

So far:

Animal Crossing: Done!!! All I need is a little pink hair jell because a little of my hair sticks out of the hat and I'm NOT making a new hat. If I have time, I would like to redo the hem (even though it took me 3 days and no less then 4 attempts). In a dream, a better method came to me.

Karna from Niea: Almost done!! The dress itself is done. All I need now is to do the applique and the hair pieces and the antenna. Maybe the pants.

Cid: I am almost done the cumberbund, but haven't started on the pants yet. But they are pants and won't take too long.

So, I'm making ok progress. I need to put the digital camera software and photoshop on the laptop so we can upload pics at the convention.

The diet is going ok except for one minor setback. My tits!!! They are slowing taking their leave of me!! So I have to decide, would I rather be thinner and boobless, or thicker and have boobs? I think I'll lose 5 more pounds and call it quits. But I've been doing well, losing around 2 pounds a week. Not too shabby.

I have ants in the pants with regard to knitting. I have multiple projects that I really want to work on.

Sizzle from Knit and Tonic: Cute, sweet, and would only take a few days to knit. I could wear it in the summer.

Caftan Pullover from IK Spring 06: So awesome! But the yarn called for is absuredly expensive, so I have to find a suitable substitute.

Rogue: I've always wanted to knit this, and if I start now, maybe I'll have it done by winter. Hopefully.

So, I found yarn for the Rogue and I think I'll make it first. Its a green tweedy yarn that's great for cables and won't totally break the bank.

I decided that this would be the "Winter of the Sweaters". I wanna get lotsa sweaters done this winter: ones with cables, ones with lace, ones with cables and lace, ones with saddle shoulder seams, ones with raglan seams, ones with set in seams, fair-isle sweaters, striped sweaters --- sweaters everywhere!!!!!

Also, Marley bit down on a bacon cheeseburger and lost her third tooth with a bloody CRACK! So now, she has a huge three tooth gap on the bottom. I took her to the dentist to make sure that all the shard were out, since the tooth wasn't even loose to begin with, and they said that everything was fine and to expect the tooth on the other side to cone out soon along with the top ones.

My daughter will soon look like Cecil County.

...sigh...

Also, Ryan and I may be getting a hedgehog in the next few months. More on that later

Any Input???

2006-07-13T20:43:20Z

I made the costume for this:

Lemme say first of all, I hate appliques!!

Overall, the costume looks pretty good. The cherries look good, the hat and hair are good. My only issue is with the hem of the skirt (which as you can see is supposed to stand out). It looks a little sloppy. But other then that, I have the striped socks and the shoes are on the way, and the costume looks great.
Cosplay dilemma:
I have narrowed my second costume to one of two characters. The first is fairly recognizable, which is cool, but not so cool in that it's not all that original and there will most likely be other people in the same costume. The second is less recognizable, but no one would be wearing this costume. Although not all that many people would "get" it, the ones that did would think it rocked.

So, do I go for common (Haruko from FLCL) or rare (Karna from Niea under 7)???

Ryan says Haruko, but I'm not sure. They both could be fun, and with 25,000 people or whatever, I'm sure someone will recognize the Niea outfit.

Any opinions???

(oh, and I've lost 5 pounds since July started. I'm hoping to get another 5 more gone by convention time. *crossy fingers*)

Booored

2006-06-30T02:37:16Z

I'm so bored. I need friends to hang out and knit with. Sigh.

Otakon Cosplay Ideas

2006-06-27T16:44:57Z

I hate my period. I always gain at least 5 pounds the week before and then freak out about having gained so much weight. Sigh...

Otakon is coming up next month, and I HAVE to cosplay. So I have to lose at least 10 more pounds by then to make my cosplaying extra fun. I weigh what I did 2 years ago when I dressed as Rakka and I'm about 20 pounds less then when I did Tohru last year (when I ballooned).

The problem is the costume. I want to go as something awesome, but I'm not sure what. I'd like to make 2 costumes, one for Friday and one for Saturday. By Sunday, I'm usually to exhausted to dress up.

COSPLAY IDEAS

1st idea: Rukia from Bleach - School girl type outfit - Pros: I already have the hair and the costume is fairly easy. Since it hasn't been released in the US at all, not everyone will know who I am. I also really like her character - Cons: There will be TONS of Bleach cosplay anyway. And most of them will be in big groups together, and I'll be the loser Rukia all by herself. Not sure that will be fun.

2nd idea: Haruko from FLCL - Pros: Easy outfit, instantly recognizable - Cons: It's been really overdone

3rd Idea: Karna from Niea Under Seven - Pros: Fun costume that's obviously a costume and not just me dressing badly. Rarely cosplayed anime, which can be good, but... - Cons: Might not be recognized by anyone, and thus just look like an idiot

4th Idea: Human from Animal Crossing - Pros: Very silly, very obvious costume (hoola hoop skirt bottom) - Cons: If no one knows who I'm dressed as, I'll look like a total psycho

5th Idea: Fuu From Samurai Champloo - Pros: Easy to make, recognizable - Cons: Will be other Fuus there, not terribly original

6th Idea: Pai from 3x3 Eyes - Pros: Complex outfit, somewhat recognizable - Cons: complex outfit, which might be too much clothes in the heat of summer

7th Idea: Washu from Tenchi - Pros: Complex outfit, crazy hair, recognizable - Cons: complex outfit, which might be too much clothes in the heat of summer

Any suggestions????

(x-posted in myspace)

Felted Bowls

2006-06-25T16:30:31Z

I made some more felted bowls, this time as a gift for Ryan's parents.

Not colors I'd have chosen for myself, but his parents have a "country" themed house, so hopefully these will work.

Knit Wire Bracelet Tutorial

2006-06-15T03:34:54Z

The Knit Wire Bracelet Tutorial (as requested by lilfairywingz)

Just a note: I didn't get this from any kind of pattern, it was just something I decided to do one day. There might be better "patterns" out there.

I also made this one differently then the pink one. For the pink one, I made it using a very annoying provisional cast on and when I knit the bracelt long enough, I grafted the thing together. It looks nice, but forced it to be rather wide, as it had to fit over my hand. For this version, I wanted a tighter fit, so I purchased a lobster clasp closure.

Ok, so start up supplies:

I also used a pair of needle nosed pliers at the very end.

I have always seen online that when knitting with wire that you are supposed to use crappy wooden needles. I think metal ones just make a horrid screeching sound. And don't use nice wooden needles, as the wire might gouge them.

Everything pictures was purchased at the local big box craft store.

For this projects, I decided to make a bracelet wider then the pink one, which used size 8 (U.S.) needles and was 4 stitches across. For this one, I wanted a wider, tighter knit bracelet, so I used 5 (U.S.) needles and 5 stitches across.

Start stringing the beads onto the wire:

I arbitrarily picked 12 small beads to 1 large bead. Other then that, the beads are in no order, by color or size. And I strung waaaay to many beads to begin with. For the pink bracelet, I used 10 small to 1 large, and went through about 100 beads. But for this one, I only went through about 60 beads. I just figured, it's better ot string to many then not enough. This part feels like it takes forever. Just listen to some good music and the time will fly.

See? Way too many beads:

Now, the fun part:

The knitting!

Cast on 2
Row 1: Knit into front and back of 1st stitch, Knit the second (3 sts)
Row 2: Knit all sts
Row 3: Knit into front and back of 1st and 2nd stitch, Knit the third (5 stitches)

This makes it tapered. If you want a large slip on bracelet, you can just cast on 5 and go to work and graft the ends together when you finish.

It will look kinda crappy to start with. And it's kind of hard until you get the hang of it. The nice thing about knitting wire is that you can screw up, and it's not terribly noticable.

I slip beads for every other stitch. Since it's 5 stitches wide and 12 small beads in between each large bead, knitting every other stitch with a small bead makes the larger beads come at random places, since the numbers aren't divisible evenly. If that doesn't make sense, it will when you start and see what I'm talking about.

So the beads will be slipped like this:
Row 1: K1 with bead, K1, K1 with bead, K1, K1 with bead
Row 2: K1, K1 with bead, K1, K1 with bead, K1

So just plug along:

Try it on every now and again to make sure you get it the length you want. I stretch mine wide and long and try to make it as flat as I can without losing the texture and uneveness of the wire. At first this will seem awkward, the wire knitting, the bead slipping, but you'll find your groove.

Knit until it's long enough. Start making decreases:
Row 1: K2tog, k1, k2tog (3 sts)
Row 2: K3
Row 3: Knit 3 tog (1 st)

For the clasp action:

Now, cut the wire a few inches out and wrap it through the last stitch. You can either make your own ring using the wire at hand, or (since Ryan does chain mail and there are small metal rings all over my house) find a metal ring. Wind the wire through the ring a few times and wrap it around the base where the ring meets the bracelet. It'll just keep it stable.

Do the same thing for the other side:

Attach the clasp in the same way mentioned above. It's nice working with wire because if something is acting stupid, you can just bend it into shape!

When it's all said and done:

A nice fat little bracelet!

Here's the bottom claspy part:

Next time, I might make the increases and decreases less gradual and make the coils around the clasp parts smaller, but other then that, I'm pleased!

And here it is on my wrist:

Fits like a glove... er... bracelet!

Hope this helps! If you have any questions, just comment or email and I'll try and answer as best as I can.

Oh, and here's a bonus picture of my newly acquired turtle Mudkip: