i am the worst blogger ever.

That may not actually be true....mostly because I'm only working on two projects and one is TOP SECRET (as the person it is for looks at this page, so no hints until it is done!)


I'm reinforcing the velcro on the bouldering crash pads at Climbnasium right now.  They've offered to pay me for it (or comp me a monthly membership or two..) and I'm going to Chicago next week and could use some extra cash!  However, bouldering pads are huge and this is a pain in the ass.  My kitchen is a hot mess right now because of all the foam bits and pieces coming off of the pad cover.

Needless to say, I can't wait until I finish this project...

babylock.

So I've used my new sewing machines for two projects this week!  

First, I made curtains for my bathroom.  Nothing overly difficult, just hemmed some fabric, mostly to get a feel for the machine. 

Second, I used this tutorial from Stitched In Color (which is one of my favorite blogs to read) to make a quilted pillow cover.  This is the first time I've EVER quilted anything, so of course I dove right in and free motion quilted both pillow top and bottom.  I tried to do this looped meandering stitch, but it is far from perfect.  I chose thread that matched the fabric so the many imperfections are not really noticeable.  Also instead of making a LOVE pillow (I'm mostly an ant-Valentine's Day type), I stitched part of my blog header onto it because I really like that design.  The zipper isn't great, but the invisible zipper tutorial within the pillow tutorial is phenomenal and I suggest everyone bookmark it for future reference!

(this is the best picture I could get of the quilting =/)

Next up is a quilted chalk bucket that my friend Lauren in Nashville helped draft a pattern for!

spring things!

I haven't been blogging or crafting lately because honestly, I've had a pretty terrible week.  I made the decision to let my kittens permanently live at my grandparents home for several reasons, but mostly because I was never home to spend time with them and I felt bad.  My grandfather LOVES these cats, so I know they have the best home ever, but it has not been fun adjusting an empty apartment again.

My mom knew I was upset so today we went out and had a whole day that resulted in lots of colorful, spring-like, happy purchases made by me.  I've decided to share them to make up for the lack of finished projects (although I'm back on track with my hexagons and only have 12 to go!)

First, because I don't have kittens anymore, I can have plants and flowers again.  A long time ago, my grandmother decided to get both my mom and I a potted flower bulb for Christmas every year in two different colors.  This year my mom's bloomed and mine didn't but it turned into a pretty cool plant.  My mom has also gotten into the habit of getting me some kind of grow-y thing for Christmas so I planted her bulbs about 2 weeks ago and they've bloomed!  Very pretty looking in my kitchen, right next to my falcon screen prints I did in college.

We went to Ikea last week and she also got me my wonderful money tree that's holding up my new Bret Easton Ellis book that's waiting to be read.  We got a jade plant and some daisies and later in the week she surprised me with tulips (one of my favorites)!

I started my little crochet corner as well, and have my T-rex, octopod and Amy's (The Mad Crafter) little yeti all on display!

We got these little egg holders that are standing to guard my avocado pit that I'm trying to coax into growing.  I also got this awesome wind chime that's more than adorable, hanging in my room.

Got some pretty colored frames as well for two of my favorite pictures.  My grandfather and I in New York with the Twin Towers in the background and my father, myself and his first lab Cedar at Christmas!

BUT my pride and joy purchase was this guy....

my new Baby Lock sewing machine!  Oooo I'm so excited to start playing with it.

another chalk bag.

I've not been feeling very crafty lately.  I've also been climbing four times a week so it's hard to find time for anything else other than sleeping besides work.  I did make my climbing partner a chalk bag though!  I've pretty much perfected this pattern, and I'm real happy about that at least.

It matches his shoes, just like he wanted!

It's amazing to see these transform by felting.  I casted on the same number of stitches as I did for my bag, only I made it four rows shorter and felted it for 30 minutes longer and the size difference is incredible!  He requested a smaller bag than mine so this was all somewhat planned out but to see it happen is nuts.  Now I'm off to break up the kittens who've decided to wrestle nonstop for the past 30 minutes.

3/11 hats in 2011!

I finished the flapper hat.  I'm not excited because I don't really like.  I also finished the chalk bag and I love it!  

First the hat...

I really loved this pattern when I first saw it online.  In fact, it's one of the first patterns I favorite'd on Ravelry.  But my yarn choice did not mesh well with the intended design.  I don't know what I'm going to do with it now, maybe my parents can figure out someone who wants it?

Second the chalk bag...

This bag is going to be used!  In fact, I'm going climbing tomorrow and it'll make its debut.  All of the adjustments and picking at the pattern were so worth it.  I'm going to cast on another for Craig soon, I got the yarn he wanted today.  I'm pretty excited for these!

Third the cats...

My cats are little camera hogs.  Well Rivers is, Eli not so much.  Here is a picture of both of them being adorable and after the jump you can see a whole lot of adorable if you should choose to!

Happy week everyone!

chalk bag round two.

I have not been making anything or blogging due to a bad case of bronchitis.  I actually took my first two sick days from work last Wednesday and Thursday and felt ultra guilty.  I went to the doctor on Thursday and was given some steroids to help me breathe, although they haven't really been working at all.  

On a better/side note, I kind of got a promotion at work!  Instead of working at the State Board of Medicine, I've moved to the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Podiatry, where I will actually be evaluating doctors and medical students and issuing licenses.  I've moved my desk over and will hopefully begin training next week!  I'll still be doing the work of my old job for some time and I'm hoping this double duty will keep me safe when the Governor lays off his 500 state employees.

Sometime last week, I finished my second (and hopefully the first usable) chalk bag.  I used my first attempt as a model and improved upon it quite a bit to make this second one more durable.  

First, I did more of a rolled edge and crocheted it so it would stay in place, making the thicker edge more even all the way around.  I also spaced out the eyelets much better so they'll be more even!

I added a crocheted loop to the edge for a carabiner instead of what the original pattern suggested, simply because I didn't like that idea.

On my first attempt, there were teeny holes in the bottom created from the decreasing knit stitches, so I crocheted a circle and sewed it into the bottom to help it hold chalk better!

I hope this attempt is actually usable, unlike my last one!  It is in the washing machine felting as I'm typing.

I've also started my third hat of 2011, a flapper hat featured at Rheatheylia!

Have a happy week everyone!

chalk bag test run!

The chalk bag test run was a pretty good success.  There were some problems, some notes for chalk bag round 2, but overall worked out great.

Here are some notes:

1. Paton's Classics Wool Merino is awesome for this project.
2. Cast on 80, garter stitch AT LEAST 4 rounds, possibly more.
3. Test run did eyelets at round 15, only made 7.  Next time, do them at round 15 again but space them better and possibly make 8.
4. Crochet or knit another circle to reinforce the bottom, the decreasing creates small holes and I didn't felt it enough to completely fill those.
5. GET BIGGER GROMMETS!  I can't completely finish the test run until I return the grommets I got, they're too small!

Pictures of test bag: 

On a side note, moving was a huge success!  I'm all settled in, almost unpacked and going to get bad cats on Saturday!