Busy Bee

The thesis is turned in.
The job has been accepted.

The move is in the works.

My mind is spinning.

But that doesn't mean I have put creative endevors aside...

This weekend I painted a couple pieces of furniture that have been sitting around for quite some time:

Here is a before picture of the record stand, but I don't have a before of the bench/table. I am so happy with how both of these turned out. I love 'em! I have a couple chairs to paint as well, but I don't think I'll get to that until I move. I also bought this chair at the thrift store a while back and I am going to try to recover it. I've been doing some research online about reapholstery and I think I can do it! I've been doing lots of thrift shopping lately... I really love finding neat old things. I have posted some of my treasures on flickr, if you're interested at all. The doilies and the scarf on the tables were all thrifted recently.

I found instructions for freezer paper stencils and decided to give it a try. It is so quick and easy. You can find stencils on line, I found mine here, or you can make your own. I got the paint at Michael's. I made the two in the back row for my friend who's having a baby girl and the two in the front row for a co-worker who's having a boy. This is a really quick and easy way to make a personalized baby gift. Me likes.

And last, but definately not least, knitting. I finished my brea bag almost a month ago, and finally put the straps on last week. I was working on making a lining this weekend. Until I broke the needle on my sewing machine in my finger (really hurt) and now I can't figure out how to put a new needle in correctly... and I can't find my instructions/manual for my sewing machine. I know its somewhere.... so, that will have to wait until I have more time. Until then, I am using it without a lining. I love it.

So two weeks from now, I'll be all moved and starting my new job. Crazy.

Yum

I worked on this Drops headband like the one I had made for my friend Julia for Christmas this weekend when I was flying to and from New Mexico to visit the last school on my list of options. I made it with the leftovers from the Tree Jacket, and ran out at the end, but it worked out because it fits really well. I wore it running today and it works well to keep my ears warm but my head cool and keep hair out of my face. Plus its super soft!
... And so, in the face of an important decision, what does one do? Why, make beer cupcakes, of course! Thanks for the recipe, Jill! Made with Bell's Kalamazoo Stout. The cream cheese frosting is a bit chunky since I don't have an electric mixer, but these are DELICIOUS!

one more time

I made some more, with a scalloped edge cuff, with some gorgeous gray yarn I had. Its wool, so they're a bit itchy, but I like these better than the last ones. More photos on flickr.

Highlights from my pottery class

I wanted to post some shots from the better pieces I created in my pottery class that just finished up. It's a combination of hand-built and wheel-thrown pots.

This is probably my favorite piece. It was hand built on a puki base and coils were added to build the pot higher. I impressed herbs before it was fired and then painted with iron oxide before it was placed in the glazing kiln.

This little dish was thrown on the wheel. It was one of my first attempts at centering, pulling and trimming. It's too small to drink out of, so it's a Splenda and sugar holder.

This is a thrown mug that was trimmed. It was (clearly) my first attempt at pulling a handle. Overall, it turned out ok. Glazing is a whole other art. I was feeling better about my ability to throw on the wheel, and then you have to start glazing. You kind of have to guess what it will look like, because the glazes go on one color and come out different!

This was one of the first things we worked on, a hand-built mug. It was kind of neat, it started out from a single piece of clay. It became lopsided in the firing kiln.

Mitts

I wanted to make some mitts like the cute ones that Jill made for me for my friend Tessa, but the pattern calls for a provisional cast-on, which I've never done, and requires a crochet hook which I dont have anymore, thanks to losing my handy bag of knitting goods somewhere in Texas. Boo. But I used a little creativity and created my own. They're nothing fancy but I think they turned out well for a project done the past week (it was a crazy one) and completed in only a couple of days.

Like my skirt?

I made this a while ago, but finally wore it for the first time yesterday. So, I decided to take a picture of it. Both fabrics were from the thrift store. The brown is a really soft and slightly stretchy cordoury. The other is a cotton fabric that looks vintage, but who knows. I just cut the squares out and sewed them on. I really like how it turned out!

Chugging along...

Exactly two weeks until my thesis is due... eek! I actually feel pretty good about it, though. Ask me a week from now... I'm not sure I'll feel the same.

I have been very disciplined lately - working a strict schedule, and making time for knitting, reading, and relaxing for an hour or so before my 9pm bedtime. So, progress is slow but sure. I finished one of my Uptown boot socks. I've barely started on the second one though. I've been spending lots of time on my Brea Bag. I'm almost finished and I'm afraid I'm going to run out of yarn... Its just Lion Brand wool, so I could buy more, but the whole point of making it was to use up that yarn! Oy!

I did these little embroidered hedgehogs a while back with no plan for them. I just thought they were adorable, which they are. The other night I decided to send a package to one of my friends and I figured the little 'hogs would be a prefect patch for this red tote bag I had. My friend Cheryl made the bag while she was teaching a sewing summer camp and gave it to me when Frazier was having his surgery. My friend is kind of going through a crisis and I needed a quick package to send her... I don't think Cheryl will mind that I'm passing on her tote (I hope not, anyway!). I think it turned out really cute!