Crafting Chaos

Noro blanket progress

I’ve finished with the Noro portion of Thebes’ blanket.

This Noro colorway is awesome. I’ve made eight squares.

Next up I’ll block the squares.

Then I’ll make the borders out of Lamb’s Pride wool.

Here’s Sieben on a recent walk:

He loves going on walks with me.

1 comment August 30th, 2010

Hedwig in Taos

Hedwig and the Angry Inch was playing as part of Taos Gay Pride. I love Hedwig and of course wanted to support Taos gays so I had to go. But two of my friends canceled out on me. Thebes couldn’t go because they serve popcorn when showing movies.

Going out to events alone is one of my biggest social anxiety fears. I get all nervous, my stomach knots and I often cry. But I was determined to see Hedwig. So I put on my big girl panties, grabbed my knitting and headed out the door.

And I did it! I had the typical stomach butterflies but I did it. I even saw a couple people I knew at the event. My favorite aunt gave me a necklace of my Uncle Marvin’s when we visited during our Midwest vacation. He died of AIDS when I was a little girl. Though I didn’t know him long he had a huge effect on me. He was a gay man so I wore his necklace to Hedwig in his memory:

I brought along my Sugas Lotus Blossom top to work on. Two women came up to talk to me about it. Knitting in public is a great conversation starter. Knitting really helped calm my nerves while sitting all by myself.

Hedwig was awesome to see on the big screen. The drag show beforehand was fun as well. Yay for Gay Pride in Taos! My friend Bevin said they may play Rocky for next year’s Pride and I said I am so in. Thebes said he’d buy a gas mask to come for that, bless him. (The popcorn in the air makes his throat swell up.)

If you haven’t seen Hedwig I recommend it. I laughed, I cried, I sang along. Goddess I love this movie!

1 comment August 23rd, 2010

Sari Silk yarn

I have been wanting Sari Silk yarn for awhile. But I’ve been on a yarn budget so haven’t made any purchases lately. But I came into an unexpected trade:

Lori from the Taos Yarn Shop traded me two skeins for some Rowan Kidsilk Haze that I had. I’m not sure about the brand name because they didn’t have tags.

I just love this yarn! It’s so beautiful.

I have about 200 yards and am thinking of making a purse.

1 comment August 20th, 2010

Behind the scenes

I’m always curious to see behind the scenes details on art. So I thought I’d share some of mine. Here’s the back of The Portal:

This is my embroidery detail and sewing. Some of the chains in the waterfall are made out of acrylic yarn so I have to sew them down.

Add comment August 19th, 2010

New bag design

I sewed some more bags for my friend Helen. In the midst of that I came up with a new design.

The strap was a bit tricky at first but I like how it turned out.

The lining came from an ill fitting shirt. I like how girly it turned out.

1 comment August 18th, 2010

New yarn!

Abbey gave me some new yarn. Yay!

It’s so soft and pretty.

I have 178 yards of handspun alpaca yarn.

Abbey got the yarn from the Yarn Lounge while she was on vacation in Richmond.

Here’s a cute bird hanging out on Thebes’ antennae.

Prana brought in a half dead bird to play with the other day. We woke up at 4am to squeaking under the bed. Thebes’ used the bb gun to put it out of it’s misery and I threw it outside. Cats are such killers. Cute, adorable, fuzzy little killers.

Add comment August 12th, 2010

More Portal progress

I’ve been working on the waterfall and opening of The Portal.

My thick and thin yarn crocheted up into a great textured chain.

I handcarded some fibers for the opening in the waterfall. I carded in some sparkly bronze bits.

Prana loves sleeping on my art.

I’m going back to it now. Time to do more embroidery.

2 comments August 9th, 2010

Washing wool

My friend Laura was so nice and let me use her bathtub to wash my latest wool fleece.

Latest as in, I bought it two years ago. Lazy hippie! But hey, at least I’m finally getting to it. I’m planning on spinning it up first and then dyeing it afterward.

While the fleece soaked I mended a pair of pants for Laura. Then I attached some new clasps on my Arwen sweater.

I bought these pretty clasps on Etsy. Proper pics to come soon.

I brought Sieben along because he gets along with Laura’s dogs, especially her dog Bobo.

He had a fun time and so did I.

Add comment August 3rd, 2010

New grocery bag

My friend Helen has a farm called Ladybug Farms. She sells her veggies at local farmer’s markets. I made her a cloth grocery bag for promotion.

I think the buttons are a cute touch.

All of the material except for the thread is recycled.

She liked it and I’ve made her some more. It’s nice to be sewing again.

Flying ant season has started so we’re sleeping under our mosquito netting for the next few weeks. Prana sleeps under it too. Doesn’t he look spoiled?

Add comment August 1st, 2010

Yada Yada Yarn

While in Silver City Thebes and I stopped at the local yarn store Yada Yada Yarn.

This was a nice store and they had great customer service.

I bought some Noro lace yarn. What will I make with it? I have no clue. But Noro lace yarn? I had to have it in my stash.

If you visit Silver City definitely check them out.

Add comment July 29th, 2010