Holy Pumpkins!

Wow, it's fair time already.  I have only a hand full of items to enter this year.

Here is the run down:

Snake sweater
Fawkes socks
Stag bag
Crochet clutch
Christmas frog
Neckwarmer converted to dish cloth (ran out of yarn)

Mmm, I am sure I am forgetting something.

Holy Pumpkins, I am nearly finished with Christmas!

This has to be a record, I am not knitting on Christmas Eve!  Here is what I have finished:

Daddy- wine
Momma- socks
Sister- Kindle cover
Brother- sign (I broke the rules and bought it.)
B-I-L- hat 85%
R- sweater 85%
Husband- Nothing yet.  But, he is getting a nice woolly hat for his birthday.

I am finished with Christmas purchases for R.  I haven't even started on Joe.  It maybe a one item year.  I really have no desire to purchase a bunch of little items.

Weekend-

Yesterday R and I got out the Halloween decor.  I have 3 stuffed pumpkins that were hand-me-downs and other little items that I have picked up.  Last year we made a felt creature/monster hanging garland.  It is still in one piece for most part.

This year I have knitted garlic hanging on our front door.  Joe came in last night and ask if it was Halloween decor.  I told him I thought it seemed fitting.  R has just gotten on the paper pumpkin roll.  I will try to post photos once we have about a billion cut out pumpkins everywhere.

I also hope to post pictures of Christmas and Fair projects soon!

Thinking about...

I have been thinking about the color orange.  Not particularly my favorite, but I can appreciate it.  I keep wanting to use orange for a knitting project--  pumpkins, specifically. I think I have fall fever.  Today, I have been wasting time looking through Etsy Collections people have created.  Everyone seems to be thinking about the end of summer or fall.

Something else I have been pondering is squirrels.  They are some of the most unsual creatures.  I encouter them all the time on my way to work and from work.  They have lost their fear of people for the most part and I can walk right up to them.  Squirrels are a classic case of ADHD.

I am already planning for Halloween.  I always do this and then kind of burn out before it gets here.  This year I am not making a costume.  If I ever sew for myself again I am buying a dress form.  I never really did knit any Halloween items which is a bummer.  I still have time, but who knows where my fancy will take me before October.

I joined a Halloween swap so that has got me thinking about it.  I have one item made for it and a second in the works.  The second item is very taste specific so it may or may not be used.  They are really cool.  I have made about 20 of these little treasures.  I am making Jack Skellington faces out of shrinky dinks for buttons.  I have some micro ones for a Blythe sweater and some about the size of a dime.  I have been hand drawing them.  I hope to make R a little sweater with them also.

I made some purchases lately.  I bought 2 Shaun the Sheeps for R's birthday and Christmas presents, a cheapo swift ($28 from Overstock.com!), and a clone Blythe.  The clone Blythe is for R's "Santa" present.  I am unsure the quality yet.  I looked up some reviews before I made the purchase (she was really, really great price) and they were all really positive.  I did hear rumor about high lead levels with the clones and I am looking for some place to test the doll before I give it to R. She doesn't chew on her toys so I think it will be okay, but just to be safe.... 

As I was making new outfits for my Blythes this past weekend, I was pretty stumped on my Neo Blythe, Ginny.  I was going to get Simply Gauva in the future.  Now I am thinking about passing on her.  I really prefer the Ashton Drake Blythes.  I like the fact the faces are a bit more matt finished and they feel more durable.  I have one ebay that I am watching.  I am debating.  I have an angel and a devil on my shoulders.  The devil will most likely win.

I just got a text from my cousin asking for This is Blythe website.  She loved my dolls!  It is good to know that my dolls are liked by someone in my family other than a 4 year old.

Witch and Clown

I hate weddings

I have said this many times, the only good thing about weddings is the food. Okay, great you want a fancy dancy wedding to show everyone what your parents are willing to spend to prove that you love a person- go for it. However, does that mean I have to come?

My 1st cousin is getting married on Halloween. I am pissed that it is on Halloween for # 1 and #2 it is a formalish wedding. I have shoes but no dress. I am really hoping for the swine flu. I think that is a good valid excuse not to go.

Why on earth would one have a wedding on Halloween that is not themed?? Uh, I am disgusted pretty much all the way around.

Dresses are a joke. There is nothing that I can afford or even like. I found one that was cute but they completely missed it on the design. In my head, I could have made it much cuter and flattering.

All I have to say is f....k!!!!!!!

Note to people- if you had a wedding and it was fancy or what not, don't be offended....I wasn't invited so I am fine with it.

Costume 2

I have the skirt gathered, first bodice piece together, and the cape finished. I hopefully will get it finished without snags.

I am pretty sure the skirt will be shorter than I want so I am going to wear a longer petticoat underneath. I am going to either buy or make it.

The cape needed to be ironed and I need to add the spider webbing on the top too.

I am just really nervous about the outcome.

Costume

I have been working on my Halloween costume today. I finally decided what to make with the help of Joe. I was going for a frumpy witch costume, he suggested the sexy one. I am hoping it won't be as short as it is on the model- I am short so most skirts fit me longer. I am making A.

I found some dove grey satin-like fabric for 1.50 a yard. Somehow I have A LOT more fabric than needed. I thought I only got about 3/4 more than the pattern suggested. I have a spider web netting too.

So far everything is going smoothly. I have been going the long way around. I wish I would have thought about the pattern layout more. I should have been cutting double out for the bodice pieces- one for the lining. Instead I followed the stupid pattern cutting layout.

I am going to double line the cape also. Especially since I have so much grey. I am hoping that it turns out okay. This is my first serious sewing project in a long time.

Sweater Lust

So, I found a sweater pattern. Nothing uncommon, but this is the first time that I WANT that sweater. Problem is once I knit (or if I knit it more like it) is it going to look good on me. I think that is my issue with knitting sweaters. At least at the store I can try it on and decided one way or another- with making it myself I am stuck with it. Anywho, I love it.

Here is a link to all of the lovely photos of my future sweater. http://interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/fall-2009/scoop-pullover.asp

I also lurve very much tiny owl knits's snake-a-licious sweater. Here is a photo of it on her blog: http://owlinthedark.blogspot.com/2009_08_30_archive.html

I am taking the afternoon off of work. Yea. I really don't have a choice someone has to stay with R.


Something else I have been thinking of- I am ready for Halloween. I have decided R and I will decorate a certain section of the living room. We hung window clings of pumpkins. They are pretty cheesy but she likes them. I wanted to purchase some Halloween house things from Michaels, but gee they were 80 and 40 dollars. I said never mind. I am hoping I can find some for cheaper.

I haven't even started on our costumes. The thing that sucks the most is my cousin is getting married on Halloween. And, no, it will not be themed Halloween. It will be a formal wedding.

I am actually jealous that people are getting married in October. That is when I was hoping we would get married, instead it is March. March is no fun.

Fair time

So, it is my county's fair time. I am gathering my knitting up to submit. I have to do it today and I am hoping I won't miss the entry time.

I survived the weekend mostly. My daddy has a new knee. He is in a lot of pain. I am hoping that he will recover just as fast with this one as the last. Today was his first day of therapy.

I have been in a dazed majority of the day.

Gee...I don't have much to say. I am going to go home, go to the fair grounds, and start working on my Halloween stuff.

I am finishing up packages tonight or tomorrow. I have 5 boxes to ship. Man, that is going to be pricey.