so what's new?

So, it's almost been a week since the caterpillar in color post and I thought I would let you all know that I am now coloring the Pirate that I did the outline of back in December (the same day as the original caterpillar drawing) in Photoshop for your viewing pleasure. I'm kind of having fun and getting the hang of painting in photoshop (finally), so I'll probably start doing more of those this year (since I haven't really drawing any realistic drawings lately).
I started one on Monday- I drew the outline for it and scanned it in. I'm waiting to be done with the Pirate before I start on it, as I'm really looking forward to doing the other one and if I stear away from the pirate now, it'll never get done.
Good times people...good times!

Happy Wednesday!

Caterpillar in Technicolor! Ooooh Aaaahhh...

WARNING: Don't smoke...it's bad for you, causes cancer, and makes your lungs feel bad...not to mention you stink...so...just don't smoke.

Oh yes, I finished it. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! I've been working on this for 17+ hours this week just to finish up. I'm still not 100% satisfied with it, but hey, at least I don't hate it.

But I can't stress enough- don't smoke ok? Just because I drew him smoking doesn't mean it's cool...I mean look at him. All bloated and one eyed and one arm is pretty much rendered useless- just barely holding onto one of the hookah pipe pieces...I mean it's nuts. I even heard that shortly after the completion of this the caterpillar actually died from inhaling...true story. So don't smoke. (Did I mention that smoking makes you stink? If not I really mean to make that a solid point)

Alright. There he is...and a little birdie told me he might actually be up for print sales come March...keep checking the blog, the website, and you'll have to come see him in person at the Funky Finds Spring Fling in March...

the lost photos

If you could see what I'm holding in my hand at this very moment you would know what the scarf looks like...but alas, I'm slightly not with it and took a picture of the scarf, with my phone, and put it in my knitbuddy app...I thought it was on my camera roll, but it's not...so I have no picture of the scarf to show you.

It's 2 shades of grey. I casted on 40 sts...then I knit every row. With the dark color I knited 30 rows, then switched to the lighter grey for 26 rows, then back to the dark grey for 30, etc. etc.

But I did manage to take a picture of the mittens with my phone and email it to myself since my phone doesn't like me to update blogger...

I knitted them a size Large in Mens. The pattern I found online, but it was from like 1950 something and photocopied and uploaded...and it was for using 2 needles instead of knitting in the round (I hate making mittens that have a seam)- so I worked from the 1950s pattern, but changed it up to fit my needs. If anyone is interested in that pattern (knitting in the round- mens large mittens) shoot me an email: ASBTSF@gmail.com, or leave a comment and I'll be happy to post the pattern for all to see.

I actually think I'm going to use this pattern to make mittens from now on...even for women with large hands, these were roomy mittens and super warm (wool...mmm...warmth). I know it looks like there is a giant ladder in the right mitten, but I assure you, it's just folded (it was in my backpack all day)...there is a ladder in the left one, and I think there was a very small one in the right one (palm side-not pictured)...I get so excited knitting with double pointed needles that I forget to check the tension when switching to the next needle...it's cool, they weren't that horrible, and the person they were for loved them.

Today I'm actually giving my hands a rest (and the knitting needles), so I've been working on coloring in my caterpillar in photoshop (which technically is only giving my left hand a rest).

On a side note, I really love wacom tablets (which I use for Photoshop and Sketchbook pro goodness), but a few weeks ago (pre surgery) I went to a camera store that was giving a demonstration on the Wacom Cintiq...I fell in love, and now it's really hard to want to draw with my wacom...when with the Cintiq you can draw directly on the screen, you can even tilt the screen, and rotate it, or set it in your lap like a sketchbook and just DRAW...OMG I'm in love with the Cintiq...maybe I'll win the lottery soon and buy myself one. I just couldn't get over how awesome it was...and it wasn't even so much the screen as it was the pressure sensitive pen. You control how dark your strokes are, it was amazing. I could see actually drawing a portrait in photoshop with that, instead of on paper- that's how amazing this thing was. Ah...man. One day I'll have one.

End of rant. Hope everyone who has today off is enjoying it; and those of us who have to work, I hope we are getting lots accomplished...

CHRISTMAS UPDATES WITH PICTURES!!!!

I'm so excited that heading is all in Caps! HAHAHAHA! ok, sorry.
So first off, let me just say that I completely dropped the ball and forgot to take pictures of these really cool little knitted ornaments that I made from patterns. They were cute and quick to knit up, but it was so tiny that I only made 7 total to give out, because my hands would hurt too much after knitting them to make any more.

I know I have posted pictures of some of this stuff prior to now, but wanted to share them again because I'm so excited!!! (not really, I'm putting off working on a scarf that I'm pretty sure is causing me arthritis in my hands right now)

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My brother's girlfriend, Blair, wanted me to make her a pair of "Bella" mittens after she saw mine in October (mine are pictured to the left)...I made her's in black, and once again forgot to take pictures...but they look an awful lot like these.

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I'm fairly sure that I've posted this picture before, but I could be wrong...this was while I was in the middle of making knitted poop for all of my relatives...It ended up I only made 4...2 went to my parents and the other two went to Gonzo's sister and brother-in-law. I really wish I would have taken pictures of these because I wrapped them in toilet paper and sealed them with smiling poop stickers that I got from Zazzle.com...they were hilarious.

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My awesome friend Tania, received this little guy. The Loch Ness Monster, because when I saw the pattern in a book I immediately thought of her (I don't know why exactly)- but she loved it, so that was a win. He was so easy to knit up that I'm thinking of making a second one for a different friend that would equally appreciate it.
Although my fingers would appreciate it if I never attempted it again (blisters from tight knitting!)

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And now everyone can tilt their heads to the left (hehehe, sorry). I made bottle cap coasters for a bunch of people (some people still don't know they are receiving one yet)...my birthday present from a few people was a vase full of bottle caps- so I decided to give back. They were not all that easy to make, so I'm not sure that this will be a long lasting craft that I stick with (past the use of the bottle caps I currently have).


At the time of making these I was using a center punch (which killed my hand to use), wire, needle nosed pliers and foam to put on the bottom of the caps so they don't scratch anyones coffee tables. Cheap to make, but rough on the hands. I now have a Dremel tool, so it should be much easier. ____________________________________________________

Do not adjust your screens, this is extremely blurry, so let me describe it for you, huh?

I kept seeing these bottlecap magnets at craft shows, and found a "tutorial" online (I use the word tutorial loosely- it basically told what kind of glue to use and that was about it). I found the never-been-used bottle caps on Amazon.com then I cut up an old 2000 map/atlas with different places that I thought people would like (this one says "Austin" it's for Gonzo); and I used those 1/2 glass marbles that you find in the floral section of hobby stores- the clear ones that some people put in the bottom of vases- it give it this cool magnified look. And round magnets that are rated "6" in strength (they are STRONG!)

Some people received places on maps, other's received things pertaining to their personal businesses...other's just received used bottle caps with a magnet glued to the back...you know, whatever.
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And lastly. I still haven't met up with my friend to give her the present yet, but I figure she doesn't check out my blog too often so I'll post it anyway (if you read this May, you are spoiling your surprise)
I learned how to make Kanzashi flowers.
Last spring we had gone to a Dallas Etsy show and there was a girl selling Kanzashi flowers for your hair- I had never seen them before. May stopped and almost bought one but opted to buy something else at another booth and we never went back. I was dumb enough to not grab a business card- and then when I went to look up "folder fabric flowers" on Etsy I was bombarded with search results....all of them beautiful, but also extremely expensive...I was never able to find that particular person who was selling them at the show- so I opted to figure out how to make them myself. They were tricky and these are the only ones that I have done so far. Those aren't even finished in this picture. The dark blue and pink ones are finished now, complete with hair clips...but yeah.

I think I learned my lesson for next Christmas- attempting to make presents for everyone is a full time job- and I just don't have the time. I like making things for people all year long, not having to tell people "sorry I'm making something for Christmas I can't work on that right now" when it's July. So next year...probably not so much hand made stuff. Sorry!

"Cory and Eden"

Finally!!!

Here is the drawing that I did for Holly's husband for Christmas. She let me know that he loved it and it is hanging in their house.

It's 8 1/2" x 11"; white paper; 2B, HB, and 4B pencils were used.

That was the only drawing I did for Christmas last year- so there isn't much else to post, except some other crafty things...I'll be taking pictures of them and posting them in the coming days. (I have to figure out how to do that from my phone...updates will happen more often that way).

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

recovering

Hi kids! (and I mean that in an affectionate friendly way, not in a demeaning way) I'm back at work, which means my recovery from crazy freak show surgeries is on the way to being complete. However I'm on "no heavy lifting" restrictions, which means I can't haul my laptop to work and upload anything cool right now.
"But why won't you upload when you get home from work and can leave a laptop on the couch next to you and not lift it at all?" you ask?
well, because I'm pretty tired when I get home from work. I can manage a shower, and turning the tv on, and after that I'm pretty useless. Actually tonight after work I have to make a yarn store run and possibly pop in to any grocery store near by to pick up some V8 Splash Berry Blend. My friend Tania dropped it off to me while I was in the hospital and I tried it and fell in love with it. I was terrified that it was going to have a carrot/tomatoe-y taste to it like V8 anything else does (it's been a few years since I've tried V8, I'm not a fan of drinking my veggies)- and the Berry Blend tastes all fruit to me. It was delicious...I'm hoarding the last cup full right now, until I get another bottle of the stuff, then I'll probably down the hoarded cup and get another one right away!
Anyway. So yeah. I'm actually not sure when I'll post again. I promised someone emergency mittens (because it's supposed to be 13 degrees in North Texas on Saturday at some time), and a scarf...so I have to get on that asap...then I'll post.
I forgot to take pictures of most of the presents I gave away at Christmas time...so I'll just have to describe them for you at a later date...and then there's some that I did take pictures of, but I haven't seen everyone to give them their gifts yet so I can't post them yet...ahhh...am I making any sense?
Geez, surgery...I'm glad that's done.