Christmas wrapup

I need to get some more pictures (I failed to get any of my brother and phil in their hats), but here are a couple more of my Christmas crafts...

 

Emily got an octopus that I made, no kidding, on Christmas eve.  These things go FAST.  She and Connor both LOVED them.  I made hers out of the leftover yarn from Mom's mittens (some gorgeous wool that was a souvenir from a co-worker's trip to Ireland this spring). 

 

  

The first two octopi -- they were identical -- went to Brie and Rae.

Not really a craft per se, but the inaugural loaf of bread from our new bread machine!  (Gift from the in-laws.)  Dump in the ingredients, press some buttons, and pretty much ignore it for 3 hours and you get this delicious bread!

 

We also got a stand mixer from my parents...we'll be cooking and baking fiends this year!

Last craft for now -- my dinosaur planter!  (Don't mind the peaked looking little spider plant in there...he was happy until my cat decided that it needed to be munched.)  I made this from a tutorial on Offbeat Home, with a $2 Target dino.  I also made one for Brie out of a brontosaurus, planted with a jade cutting from my mom.

Next up:

Sew-along with Bridges on the Body (1912 corset -- I got my fabric in NYC last week -- red silk velvet!)

Wickedfaire costume (I have most of the materials, need to do more cutting and obviously construction -- and take pictutes!)

Mobious cowl (from KnitSimple magazine -- I'm working on it now so hopefully pictures soon)

More baby stuff for all my expectant friends!

And as always...all the weird and exciting projects at work!  (Next up there: I post pictures of the organza coats that have taken over my life.)

Finally some pictures!

More to come...most likely after the holiday when I can get shots of people wearing their goodies...but for now, some pictures that will probably not be seen to spoil anyone's surprises:

 Mom's mittens (a much lighter/brighter blue than they show up here)

 Lynnie's bag

Connor's octopus (the red is not quite as vibrant as the lighting makes it look!)

More goodies soon to come, until then, everyone enjoy their holiday!

Since I have no pictures of projects lately, enjoy some pictures of cats.

 Phil with Moose (one of my parents' cats).  Moose IS that big.  Actually...bigger.

 Moose in all his (simple) glory

Mary Louise (the other cat/brains of the operation) passed out on the couch.  Presumably, more comfortable than it looks.

So that bearing necklace I finished?  (You know, the post immediately below this one?)  The silent auction I donated it to was this weekend, at LVRG's season closer.  The auction itself was quite successful (no pictures of the table, sorry), raising a decent chunk of change for the league.  The big winners were Hits It Van Gogh's derby painting (we've been raffling them off all year -- they're amazing), a couple of ink drawings by one of our newer girls, and...my necklace!  Bidding started at $5 (with a $1 minimum bid) -- it sold for $25!  One of our other fresh meat had her eye on it...had the auction lasted longer, I bet it would have sold for more!  I also have several girls interested in buying some from me -- score!  Now I just need more bearings....

Completed bearing necklace!

My Physicist Husband got me roses...a week ago.  They're really holding up splendidly!  

And one of my projects -- wheel bearing necklace.  Just need a chain and it's ready for the silent auction!

Updates! And Pictures!!

It's a mitten!  I'm not wild with how it fits (I made it inside out...and it fits if you keep it that way, but it looks like crap, feel weird if you have it right side out...hopefully it'll be ok), and it still needs to be sewn together at the top and thumb...and I need to make the right one...but it's a mitten!

And my granny square bag is together!  Now it needs to be ironed, sewn together, and a strap done; I think I'm also going to cut out a lining in the shape before I sew everything together to make it stronger. 

Also started cutting out my corset for Wickedfaire....and I have a jar of denatured alcohol full of wheel bearings for some derby jewelry (earlier deadlines on that, i want to donate one for our next bout's silent auction in 2 weeks).  Snowflakes are soaking in fabric stiffener at work so I can block them when I have enough time in the evening/morning to set them out and get them back up before we need the tables.  Anything else for baby shower is looking unlikely, so booties and wrapping up a box of diapers it is!  (There will be plenty of winter left for her to get a baby hat.)  

For those interested, derby this weekend went skatingly.  Wilkes-Barre Scranton won the tourney; final scores were State College 290-Pottstown 50, WBS 156-LVRG 121, and WBS 159-SC 128.  Good games all around!  The day was not without its issues...but as I was not running the event, they were not mine!  It was almost relaxing to just do my assigned job and let the disasters be handled by someone else.  I'll see about posting the pictures (mostly non-derby) tomorrow!

Ok I lied

I had the start of Mom's mittens with me to show to a student who I'm teaching how to knit...

Nothing much to look at yet, just the wrist and beginning of the hand.  The yarn is this lovely Aran wool that was a gift from one of my coworkers from a recent trip to Ireland...it should be lovely and warm!

I've got some project finished but no pictures...and I couldn't post them anyway because they're gifts!  I've also been super busy with work...click the link to hear about Merrily We Roll Along, the musical that's currently running.  November is going to be insane, so things on here will likely be quiet...there is a tournament-style bout this weekend and another home bout the 19th, so hopefully I'll get some derby pictures up here.  Keep an eye on Costume Shop Madness for more on the next shows coming up, I should be updating with pictures from the Moving Stories dance show and Curse of the Starving Class.

THIS is what happens when I take work home.  You're welcome.

Granny Squares!

Spent part of my otherwise frustrating weekend crocheting like mad...I'm done with all the colored sections of the squares and now just need to do all the edging and put this together.

 The ones with the black borders are all done!

And the ones left to finish.

This Week's WTF Moment

This WTF moment has been brought to you by my need to spend my Tuesday of Fall Break running work errands.  Specifically, the need to procure plastic wrap and lighters someplace in the vicinity of Joann Fabric.  Might I also add that I passed up many prime parking spots in order to immortalize this moment.

Guess they blew the wedding budget on that limo.....

As Promised....

Masks, shaped!  Now I have to get around to painting them....

As promised, granny squares for the bag I'm working on.  I've gone with a different pattern than the original (below) since I had some issues getting it to look right.

 Mine

The original pattern

Aaaand I finished my PJ pants!  Only took me...well, a year since I bought the fabric.  I cut them out in August and only just finished them....yeah.

Projects in progress

Ok, not all in progress, but things which I have some sort of deadline to do. (Here we go, keeping me honest I hope!)  Hopefully I'll update with pictures and finishing things soon!


In progress:
*Star Wars hats -- 2 of them for Christmas gifts.  Need to finish details (UPDATE: Done)
*Granny square bag -- For MIL Xmas gift.  I'm like 10 squares in.  More details later (UPDATE: Done)
*PJ pants -- 2 pair, one is a gift, one is for me (UPDATE: Done)
*Snowflakes -- need finishing. (Update: Done) 
*Card holster -- for Phil -- may need to be modified to be a calculator holster.  This is patterned.
*Magic article -- for the magazine Phil writes for.  The editor talked me into it. (UPDATE: Editing it)
*Masks -- to be sold on Etsy or a local place.  I don't think it'll happen in time for Halloween, sadly.

To do:
*Suit -- for Phil, as promised as a wedding present (I have to get into NYC to buy fabric -- UPDATE: probably next week)
*JLo dress -- commissioned by Carmen (again with NYC, and I have to get on that since she put down a deposit) (UPDATE: did pick up some fabric but will see about some more, 3 yards seems skimpy and I think it's going to be a 2-layer jobbie.)
*Wicked Faire outfit -- my part of the Steampunk 4 Horsemen.  Must do by Feb. (Update: Working on corset and engineering the additions, have hoop steel, got my wig.  Need to get moving on this)
*Skate booties -- for the other pregnant friend (once gender is determined)
*Baby hats -- for the pregnant friends (UPDATE: One in progress since I got bored)
*Baby blankets -- again, for the pregnant friends

Xmas:
*4 Cel phone sweaters (IN PROGRESS)
*Mittens -- for Mom.  Hopefully will match hat from last year (Done!  Don't match hat)
* Calendars -- for everyone.  One set I have almost done, but I don't trust the pictures and must replace. (All done, loved so far!)
*Leather card case -- for Phil, to replace his old one that vanished (and was worn out and needed tweaks anyway)
*Black corset?  I've been given a request for one.

Other things I'm meaning to do:
*18th century gown from old drapes
*Edwardian longline corset (UPDATE: Will be participating in a sew-along in January for just this!  Excited!)
*belt for treadle machine (This is YEARS in actually happening)
*Reupholster wing chairs (or get some slipcovers, they're really pathetic)
*Draft dodger - back room
*18th c. For artist model (I bought one of those wooden articulated figures years ago from IKEA; it has no shins or feet and the plan has been to make a little Marie Antoinette-looking outfit for it.  Eventually)
*Steampunk weapons (This should happen for Wicked Faire)
*Egg bags (a magic prop.  I need to make several to sell)
*Phil's helmet
*Redo website
*Paint leather trench -- another project years in the making, I'm adding these punky wings to the back of a coat that never quite fit in hopes of selling the thing and getting it out of my closet.
*Star wars crochet pillows -- the couch needs them.

The Other Blog

  I've taken over the costume shop's blog -- and should be posting all sorts of pictures of the insanity that goes on from day to day, the weird things we do, and some of the fantastic things we do.
 
Costume Shop Madness

Getting up to date...

 

In progress (the point of the blog!): leather masks.  This one has been cut to shape and the edges burnished, but no eyes and has not been shaped.  (Pictures of the shaped masks soon!)

 

Mohawk hat for a now-former coworker...sadly, I finished this just in time for his move to TEXAS.  *facepalm*

 

My cel phone sweater!

 

Commissioned brown corset.  Not that interesting, but I do love corsets.

My new bathing suit...sadly, I did not get a chance to wear this out this season.  Next year perhaps...I'm looking very forward to confusing people on the beach.

Not a craft...Squee, who decided just this once to hang out in the sink, rather than just sit on the side begging for the faucet to be turned on.

Roller skate baby booties!  Gift for one of several pregnant friends.

So Mr Magic has a blog...I'll be posting to my work blog with those projects...I need space to catalog what I'm doing!  Now is as good a time as any...I have loads of projects lined up for Christmas and my various pregnant friends, I'm doing crazy stuff at work, and I should have lots to share.  I also have a list of projects out the eyeballs...hopefully this will keep me honest about actually getting around to/finishing them.  Eventually I'll also get my website back up, and can link that to here, too.