Oye! Mittens!

I knitted a last minute present for someone. It's not so much last minute, as it was I found out this weekend that I needed to knit them. Good thing mittens are easy :P

So yeah. I ate myself stupid this weekend. Between hanging out with friends and going out to eat, or eating a "left over Thanksgiving" at a friends house, or eating a ton of cake and ice cream with strawberries as an early celebration to my b-day (which is Thursday...if you care-I'm not sure I do- I'm celebrating all week)- I'm officially stupid.

man, looking at this picture I totally realize the value of blocking. I'll do that before "finishing up" the mittens. Yikes!

As for the weekend (between all of the eating)- I worked on the sculptures- which are almost done. ALMOST DONE!!! I also completed the commissioned drawing that was requested last week (pictures will be displayed soon- I forgot my flash drive at home). And I started but didn't finish a marathon of Planet of the Apes. Gonzo has never seen the movies before. I love that he stayed up until 2am watching them :) I heart Planet of the Apes...and Gonzo.

Totally forgot about it being the end of the week...

What did I do this week?
-worked on "sculptures"
-worked on comissioned drawing
-worked on "doodles of the day" (I think it will be a continuing thing...we'll see)
-prayed that we would get a half day on Friday (that didn't happen)

For the weekend:
-working on "sculptures"
-preparing for my birthday...yes, yes...the big 2-7 on the 4th.
-relaxing!!!
-working on my dad's christmas presents
-working on a comissioned drawing- to be completed by Monday
-going to see the parents

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Just a Farmer...

A combination of my dad, my granddad, and my uncle.
I'm bored. And this is totally incomplete. The only thing that will do it justice is a nice paint bath in photoshop...or illustrator...which ever I get to first.

This makes me think that I should totally write a childrens book about farming. I've already got the main character- "Farmer Fred".

Is this day over yet?

Elf vs. Garden Gnome

Doodle of the Day

This could totally be the next great UFC fight. You know...if Gnomes or Elves were allowed to cage fight. I'm pretty sure Santa is totally against cage fighting. And Gnomes...well...they have a deal with Travelocity, so I don't think the cage fighting gig would work out too well for them.

anyway. I started on a commissioned drawing this morning, didn't finish it, got bored- started knitting, didn't finish...and then this idea hit me for some retarded reason. Whatever.

10 calls so far. 3 faxes. Love the day after Thanksgiving. This is so much better than Christmas shopping with all of the crazies...did you hear about the guy who died at wal-mart in New York because of the people storming the doors??? Yeah, it's why I don't shop on this day.

The day after Thanksgiving

I drew "gobble gobble" on Tuesday, for a "doodle of the day" post for yesterday. Did I even see my computer yesterday? The answer is no.

Anyway.

I hope everyone had a joyous and fat Thanksgiving. I know I did.

I'm working today. Actual work work. With nothing to do really. I've had one phone call in the last hour- and it was from someone who works here- so that doesn't count. I'll probably draw today. Or knit. Whichever comes first i guess.

Seriously, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Hope everyone enjoys leftovers!

Doodle of the Day

Title: "Calamari?"

Tools used: 5.5" x 12" paper, Pigma Micron 01 pen

Date started: 11/26/08

Date completed: 11/26/08

Yesterday I was screwing around, doodling some crazy weird stuff and drew an octopus (image at the bottom of this post). I don't know why, but I get all nervous when I draw a "cartoony" figure, and I don't want to fill it in, or shade it, or color it- because I have a feeling that if I do any of that, it'll come out wrong and I will be wishing I had used a different media. So yeah. This guy came about from my design from yesterday. I'm actually going to start a "sculpture" after all of this holiday madness is over. It'll be a "holder" for my airbrush. This is kind of a rough idea of what it might look like. I think it might be cool looking to have an octopus holding an airbrush.

So this is the little guy from yesterday. I think I like him better all cramped on one tiny page better than all spred out. But whatever.

Happy Thanksgiving!

An End of The Week Update...early in the AM

Have I done anything this week? Um, yes.

- Completed all of my mom's Christmas presents
- Began painting "sculptures"- will continue to do so this weekend
- Received all of the books I ordered from knitpicks.com and began knitting giant squares for said Afgan that will be completed in time for the end of the world in 2012 (using patterns in one of the books...that's why mentioning the books was in there...).
- Bought my first pair of Converse (no mom, they don't make my feet look giant)...red :)
- Decided that I really really really want to be a tattoo artist.
- Cleaned my room (I'm starting to sound like I'm 10 years old.)
actually, the whole cleaning thing...it's bad. While I was home sick on Monday, I watched a marathon of some cleaning show on BBC America where the ladies wear frilly gloves to clean other people's dirty dirty homes. And well...the show freaked me out. Not that my place is anywhere as gross as the places they clean, but it made me realize I'm living in clutter, dusty, craptastic messiness and something has to be done. Hence, all week I've been cleaning after work.
- I've adapted to cold weather. Shock of all shockers. It's 36 degrees outside and I walked out of the house in a sweater and didn't immediatly go into shock. I think it's safe to say, that if I decide to move back to Wisconsin, I think I could handle the coldness. Even bigger of a shock, when they said it would be 36 degrees this morning I got all excited, and might have started doing a happy dance.

Anyway, when I have some pictures I'll post again, so if I'm not posting for 2 weeks I appologize. Have a great weekend everyone...and if I don't post before- Happy Turkey Day!!!

Nothing New

I'm not feeling so well these days. I avoided my parents all weekend because they both have sinus infections and I didn't want to get sick. However, magically, one of Gonzo's friends who we were hanging out with on Friday night and on Sunday has a sinus infection...I do not have a sinus infection, but I was sick yesterday. So sick that sitting in front of the tv, wrapped in a blanket was painful. Laying in bed trying to rest was painful. Then getting to work this morning I saw a headline on msn.com about some intestinal "thing" that is in grocery store meat. This could definitely be what I have. My innerds hate me right now.
I also like to contribute any "sick" feelings that I have to my natural human need to want to hybernate when it gets cold outside. Seriously, I think I'm part of that human species that is required to hybernate from mid-November until mid-March. I mis-took that for "seasonal depression" while living in Wisconsin (self diagnosis here people, it saves on therapy visits).
Anyway, while I feel a gazillion times better than I did yesterday (kind of), I still feel ill (left over from yesterday and new "stuff"). I woke up with a sore throat. I swear to everything that is holy, if anyone gave me a sinus infection I will...deal with it with o.t.c. drugs and get on with my life...but if I see you again...you're getting the stink eye.

I have pictures!!!

Yeah!!! Pictures!!!! And my square pile is growing!!! That's what I have done so far. Seriously...I don't even know the finished size of a blanket that I want yet...I'm just knitting squares. Can we say a disaster is on the way???

Ok, I know I have been saying that I have all of these projects and nothing to show for. Well I do have a lot to show, but just can't right now. But I'm going to give away some hints in the next pictures, just to make all 2 of you happy.

One of the "projects" that I'm working on is so top secret that you won't be seeing any pictures until it's done.

But I will show you one of the "projects" that I'm working on for one of my family members. Anyone want to take a guess as to what it is? You won't guess it, I promise. I took the picture so it's all overexposed and whatnot- you won't guess it.

And because I really enjoyed hanging out with my friend Jessica in Wisconsin, and seeing her two darling horses again- I've started drawing her male horse- Prinz. He was eating when the photo was taken, so pardon the jaw placement. He looks like he wants to say something...or spit...which I wouldn't put it past this horse to do.

Anyway. That's my Friday post. That's part of what I've been working on this week and part of what I will be working on all weekend. Hope everyone is as excited that it's Friday as I am. Can I take a nap now?

Break time

I'm taking a "grape-break" from drawing (and obviously it's a blog break as well). I've worked on so much knitting and drawing and cutting out "tags" in the last two days that I can officially say that I'm pretty sure I'm going to have arthritis soon. Oddly enough after all of the "tag" maddness last night, even my left hand hurt...including wrist, and I didn't think I was using it. Anyway, I need to finish up part 2 of my mom's Christmas present before the end of the day...because tonight I would really like to work on the "sculptures"- I only have 3 1/2 weeks left to complete them. I swear...I'll get a picture up...soon. I was going to take pictures at lunch, but the power was out at the house, so there was no light, and quite frankly I couldn't see much of anything- so I scraped that idea. I swear I'll post something picture-ific soon.

Beginning of the Week Update

-I finished part 1 of my dad's Christmas present (2 parts left to complete)
-I began part 2 of my mom's Christmas present and I'm about 1/2 way finished with it
-I sanded "sculpture #1" of my ubber secret sculpture-type-project
- and now I'm chilling out, waiting for lunch time. I might start to knit a square. "Might" is growing into a strong "will".
When I can post pictures of anything I will. Sorry, this blog is going to be pretty pictureless unless I get some "none holiday" drawings or knitting going.

so...many...projects...

and I can't post pictures of any of them!!!! The best and the worst part of the year...where I have a lot going on, and can't share anything.
Needless to say it's Friday. Which means this weekend I'm going on a scavenger hunt for sand paper, and tags. I can't tell you why.
I'm knitting more squares...I think I knitted a total of 3 or 4 yesterday- no pictures. Why? I know they aren't a secret or anything- but because I'm not taking pictures of my other goodies I figured the urge to photograph "everything" all while my camera is on, was too great, so I just haven't taken any pictures. (that's a lie, I totally took a picture of part 1 of my dad's christmas present this morning...and I'm not doing anything with it- he reads this blog- Hi Dad!)

So yeah, I still have 4 1/2 "things" to finish for "family" gifts...2 drawings to finish for a friends gift (but I can post those, she knows I'm drawing them for her). 2.5 statues to create (well finish, they are already "sculpted" per-say). And I'm still accepting orders for drawings for the holidays!!! We'll see how the next 2 weeks go- I may still accept drawings until December. You can always contact me to find out when the cut off is, or if you want me to do a drawing- it's been slow, so I'm sure I can work you in(ASBTSF@gmail.com).

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Socks! Pair #2

I hate buying varigated yarn...to make socks...and you knit one sock- then you knit the other one with the second ball of yarn...of the same dye lot and color as the first ball of yarn...and the socks don't match...

Granted I still like them. Yes, one is severly misfigured...although i can't figure out which one. The one with the large orange stripes has been in my backpack, with all of my knitting stuff for over a week. The other one (on the top) was actually the one I finished today. I think it just needs to be stretched a little.

You'll also see a square in the picture. That's square #5. It's tiny! 2" x 2". I'm going to make some more since there's no point in trying to use the last of the mis-matched yarn with matching dye lots. (AAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!)

Oh yeah, I also- FINALLY- bought a copy of "Drunk, Divorced & Coverd in Cat Hair" by Crazy Aunt Purl. www.crazyauntpurl.com is her blog of hilarity. I'm already to chapter 6 and I just got it in the mail last night (Amazon.com people, it's where I buy stuff). Great book so far!

I'm almost finished with part one of my dad's Christmas present...and I'm so excited about how it's turning out that I really really really want to post pictures of it. But I won't. Because I'm not spoiling the surprise. Seriously, I'm shocked with how well this is turning out. Me, shocked. Yeah. Shocked (I totally just typed "socked"...and laughed...it's fixed now).

"Callie" and "The Langs"

First things first, I drew 2 drawings yesterday!!! 2!!! That's a record. I guess starting both of them the day before helped out a little...but still! The majority of the work was done yesterday.

So here's the first one. While on my vacation to Wisconsin, I stayed with my friend Jessica (the one with the bad knee), and she has this cat named Callie. The last time I saw the cat she was a full grown adult cat. This time, we met 16lb. diabetic Callie. She's huge! But cute and fluffy and I wanted to sneak her away in my suit case and bring her home! But I don't do well with the insulin shots and all.

So anyway, as a thank you to Jess, I wanted to draw her adorable Callie- so this will be shipping off to her soon.

And then I had been bitten pretty hard by the drawing bug yesterday, so I went to work on drawing #2:

This is my friend Heather (who I also visited on vacation a few weeks ago- I posted her picture with the vacation pics), and her husband Eric. I was part of their wedding, and promised to draw their wedding picture- but didn't get to see the professional pics until this trip. So I figured it was time to get this one cranked out as well.

I'll be shipping this out as soon as I compile a cd of all the pictures and fun times that Gonzo and I took while with Heather.

Anyway. That's what I wanted to share for now. I'll be starting sock number 4.5 today, and maybe knitting a few squares. I started to roll my second skien of yarn to make sock #2 of the pair and it was split...so I have a tiny ball of left over yarn that I'll probably knit out first. I hate when skiens are split! I paid for one whole one...not part of one with a tiny ball...geez!

History being made

I worked on 6 drawings last night. 6 drawings! That's a record for me. Granted none of them look like anything other than outlines...with a few rough squiggles, but seriously- that's insane, even for me.
It's all of those drawings that I have to get done by Christmas (the presents for loved ones). I'll only work on them one at a time now. 6 at once. Whew!

I also finished sock #3.5 yesterday afternoon. I didn't take any pictures yet. I figure I'll wait until I get the other one finished and take a picture of the pair...not on my feet. I kind of like how this one turned out. I kind of mixed several patterns together to get the kind of sock that I wanted...and then I kind of made part of it up...because that's how I roll.

But yeah, today I'm hoping to get at least one of the drawings 1/2 way to 100% of the way finished, and be able to cross it off of my list of things that need to be finished.

Oh yeah, and it's election day.

TM

I had this whole post typed out about my pricing, and how I'm proud that I've stayed consistant for almost an entire year, without having to increase or decrease my prices...and about a stupid discount program I was thinking about starting for repeat customers (as a thank you) and how it's tanking because people feel that I'm insulting them and their pocket books by not offering the discount to start with. But I'm scrapping that post for a more upbeat one!!

A Shade Better Than Stick Figures is trademarked now!!! Yeah!!! So I guess I should start labeling everything A Shade Better Than Stick FiguresTM ? I think this is the one thing I am most proud of owning. Granted it's like the "garage business", as I work out of my messy living room- which is actually a bedroom...One day I hope to have a store front...or at least my own studio. I think I would like a studio actually- one where people can pop into during the day (yes day...because by then it will be my full time job), and request drawings in person, or hang around and admire some prints of previous drawings that I've done (I won't let people watch me draw because I hate when people watch me draw- I get paranoid and can hear them in my head, judging every line and thinking to themselves- "why did she just draw it like that? Why didn't she put a line over here?" When in all actuality they are probably just watching and thinking "I wish I could draw like that" or "that's awesome!" I'm weird, the artist who doesn't want to be watched...let me blend with the wall paper folks)
I've actually been toying with the idea of seeing about renting an airconditioned storage space and "using" it as my "studio". Like going there after work and on weekends...but I don't know if they allow such madness at places like U-Store-It, or U-Haul, or any of the many storage places which all names have escaped me. It's not like I would tell people where I was, I would just use it to keep all of my drawing stuff there...and maybe actually buy a real drawing table...a nice dark cherry colored wooden drafting type table...that's adjustable...that I would be able to use in my nice clean storage unit. Where there's no tv to distract me...and maybe I would have an ipod dock, so I could turn some music on.
I know in Princeton Texas...some crazy amount of miles from my house...they have these great places that look like a storage facility, but they have a bay door, like for mechanic work, with a store front door. Some have glass front doors, others have a plain white door, everything's locked. But I have often dreamt about getting one of those so I could have art shows every once in awhile, and just open the bay door to let people in and wander around my "suite"...but it's in Princeton, and the likelyhood that I would go out there every weekend is slim to none, so it wouldn't really constitute the expense. But if they have any closer to the DFW area I might consider it.
But yeah...I dream...I dream big.

Anyway, I also wanted to say thank you to all of the many people who have helped make my first official year (technically I've been doing this since 2004, just not under the A Shade Better Than Stick FiguresTM name), with A Shade Better Than Stick FiguresTM a real adventure. Without everyone who has requested drawings there wouldn't be an A Shade Better Than Stick FiguresTM- there would just be some goofy girl with a pencil and some paper doodling. Thanks a million everyone! I hope to do business with all of you again! And I hope that you all truly love the drawings that I have done for you!!! THANK YOU!!!

It's a Monday

Please note! Drawing requests for holiday orders (to be delivered by December 24th, 2008) will now be accepted up until November 15th, 2008!!! Please get your orders in As Soon As Possible!!!


5" x 5" Magic Square, Square. Definitely needs to be blocked, but it's another in my lovely line of "squares" that will eventually be made into a blanket.

I have so many on-going projects, and so many "need to get them done by Christmas" projects (granted the later of the 2 are all presents for family members), that my mind has officially traveled to "the bad place" and is acting like it doesn't want to have anything to do with knitting needles, or clay. FRUSTRATING! But at least it gives me time to draw! Something I'm really in the mood to do right now.

This weekend I worked on the sculptures that I can't really discuss in detail as of now, but will post pictures the minute I am able to. I attempted to finish sock number 3.5, and sadly only worked about 8 rows of the foot before deciding that crap TV was way better than knitting. Sadly I didn't work on any part of my dad's Christmas present- which means I'll be doing double time from here on out on his present, as well as the remainder of my parents, and friends presents.
I shrank my socks in the wash on Thursday night. Those lovely pink strippedy- ugliness socks from a couple of posts ago. But magically I can still fit my gigantic feet in them and stretch them enough that they fit. I'm amazed!

I actually dressed up on Halloween, as I mentioned on Friday...but afterwork I hit it to the 9's in rock-a-billy make-up, shirt and rolled pants with classic high heels. I totally felt like Rosie the Riveter! Then we went to Gonzo's mom's house and passed out candy to all of 10 kids. 10 kids! What the heck happened to kids and trick-or-treating??? We have so much left over candy that I'm bringing most of it to work in hopes that my co-workers will eat it all.

Yesterday Gonzo and I did something we swore we wouldn't do. We rented "The Happening". Please note that I am extremely picky when it comes to movies. Extremely picky. I loved the "6th Sense". I liked "Unbreakable". I own "Signs". I never saw "Lady in the Water". And nearly walked out of "The Village". M. Night Shama-lama-ding-dong has made it really hard for me to even want to get excited about his movies. Seriously. But I had already been told the gist of "The Happening", which really irritated me that that's how the movie went- prior to seeing it. But low and behold, the movie didn't suck. Sure some of the acting was bad. Some of the things that happened in the movie were really unbelievable. But over-all, for what it was, the movie was pretty good. I didn't think that it was a "horror" movie per-say. It was more of a suspense movie...with an R rating. Maybe even knowing what the end was, helped me like the movie? I don't know. But if you are ever bored some night and haven't seen it, "The Happening" will at least give you one or two laughs, and maybe one or two "duh" moments. Plus there's a lot of pretty sick and twisted things in there that will make you go "what in the..." yeah, so it's not bad. He's re-newed my interest in his movies. That could be a bad thing in the long run...but for now, I see it as a positive.

Please note! Drawing requests for holiday orders (to be delivered by December 24th, 2008) will now be accepted up until November 15th, 2008!!! Please get your orders in As Soon As Possible!!!

Happy Halloween!

It's already Halloween. My co-workers are telling scary stories. I've got a little bit of candy corn left at my desk for people to rub their dirty hands thru to get that perfect piece (I prefer the pumpkins), and no one is dressed up.
Granted I wouldn't have dressed up today anyway- but it's the fact that everyone should have the RIGHT to dress up...if they wanted to.

I kind of did. Well not really. It's jeans Friday so I'm wearing my jeans, rolled up at the bottom, so people can see my pig socks that my friend Heather bought for me while we were dinning at The Machine Shed in Lake Elmo, MN. Oh yeah, I actually got up early enough to put a face on (i.e. wear some make up-which was obviously a bad decision since a co-worker just said I look tired...which I'm not), and I also did my hair...all rock-a-billy style. But then again I often wear my hair like that to work.

I don't know what happened to me. I used to love Halloween. I loved getting scared; I loved seeing people in costumes; I loved picking out my own costume- the minute they were put on sale; I awaited the many trick-or-treaters that never actually showed up to my apartment door...it was just a good old time. I think I know when it all came to a crashing hault though. I was 17. I had dressed up- because that's what you do on Halloween- and gone to my friend Jessica's house (the one I stayed with while on vacation 2 weeks ago). Her little brother was going trick-or-treating, and we went along too. Figured it was the last time ever. We went to one house and the kid (yes kid, younger than me), passing out candy said I was too old and that he wouldn't give me any- which I understood...what 17 year old should be trick-or-treating? So as I'm walking away, I hear an adult in the house say "give her the candy!" and then I get beaned on the head with a tootsie pop. The little sh*t thru candy...at MY HEAD! So yeah, anyway. That was the beginning of the end.

I decided I don't like being scared because of one movie. The Eye. Not the remake with Jessica Alba that just came out. The original, Asian version. Seriously, one of the most terrifying movies I have ever seen. I now have a fear of elevators because of that movie...and small children with baseball hats...and hallways (ok, I actually blame the "6th Sense" for the hallway thing).
But yeah. I guess I just can't handle the "thrill" of it all anymore. I'm a big whimp.

But anyway, if anyone is interested in reading about some scary stuff, either from people who share their own "haunted" experiences or if you're interested if you city has anything scary that has happened... theshadowlands.net/ is the site you need to visit. Don't let the cheesy front page make you stop looking...click around on the tabs at the top. There's some good stuff.

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I haven't done anything artsy yet today. But I did work on my dad's present last night...so far it looks pretty cool if I do say so myself.

On to knitting the sock I started yesterday...Have a Happy Halloween...or if you aren't into it...Have a Happy Friday.

"Dock" and square #3

So the drawing I've been talking about for...pretty much all this week and part of last week is done. Complete. With permission to put it up here for all the world to see!!!

Isn't it cute??? Well not necessarily the drawing itself, but the concept? I get the vibe this wasn't a staged photo, so it makes it all that much more special.

Anyway, it should be shipped out this weekend and on it's way to a happy home. I'm excited!

I'm so excited that I started my dad's christmas present while at lunch today. I should have parts of it done by this weekend. I'm sure he'll like it, he has to right? I made it, I'm his daughter, even if it's hideous- the parent-child code says he has to love it until he cries, right? :) Just kidding dad, I think you really will like it.

I also started a new sock. This will be sock number 3.5 (I started the last pair and ripped it out to start again-hence the .5-, which gave me the end result...look back a few days until you see them on my feet if you want to see what they look like...I'm too tired for linking today). I know, how many projects can I have going at once? Apparently a ton. It keeps me on my toes this way. I'm never bored, right?

And here is good old square number 3 that I knitted this morning. It's a 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" square...see these odd measurements will make it fun to sew together later! I'm crazy!

The beginning of "Squares"!!!

It's like the name of some horrible B horror movie that's about to be released. While it's almost as scary as that, I've actually decided that my next "never ending project, to be finished in the year 2012" will be a blanket made up of various sized squares that I've knitted. We'll see how long that takes.

I also want to start on a sweater...but I'm kind of strapped for cash these days, so buying any new yarn is on my "don't you dare do it" list.

So for now, I used up (well there's about enough yarn left to make- oh I don't know, 1/2 of one of these squares) the yarn that I knitted the socks with from the previous 2 posts.

They are appoximately 4 1/4" x 4 1/4". Should be interesting when I start knitting some 10" x 10" squares, huh?

Yes I did work on the drawing, so everyone who is about to send me an email or comment about not working on a drawing can just calm down for a minute. I did work on it, and got as far as I can go today. I have to take some time to not look at it, or the photo, and revisit it tomorrow to see what needs to be adjusted and tweeked. If I stare at it too long I begin to think it's a fantastic piece and can't possibly see any mistakes that are probably there. So really, my eyes and brain need a rest before I can make any decisions or sound judgement on art. Does anyone else have that problem?

With hardly any yarn left to knit with and the drawing needing a break, I guess it's time to work on an ATC or two.

Too bad clay sculptures are too messy for work, otherwise I'd totally dive head first into that.

We have a pair of ugly socks!

HA HAA! Ugly socks! And I'm wearing them! (well not right now, but last night I did)

I can say they fit...kind of. The heels like to sag and it's a little weird feeling. But I'm sure if I make any more socks, I'll make it more...fitable? Is that a word? It is now, if it wasn't before.

I did get the go ahead on the drawing I was mentioning earlier this week. So I'll be working on that today and tomorrow. I'll be emailing the person about it on Friday, so maybe sometime Friday I'll be able to post up a little something for all to see. It's been too long since I posted a drawing.

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I'm not sure I mentioned anything about the temperature in Wisconsin while Gonzo and I were there. It seemed as though they were having a late summer, but within 48 hours of being there the temp pretty much bottomed out and we woke up freezing one morning...although not at the 32 degree mark mind you...just in the sense that we weren't used to the temperature in the 40s.

We enjoyed it. I could actually breathe for once. I've developed horrible allergies since being in Texas, and I seriously could do without them. So the whole, re-learning to breathe thru my nose, was awesome!

Then we came back and it was hot and allergies flarred up as soon as we crossed back into Texas.

But yesterday! I woke up to frost on the ground! What the crap??? Frost in Texas in October??? Did I have any knitted goods handy to put on? Of course not, they're all boxed up because winter doesn't happen for at least 4 more months here. But anyway, I assure you, the temps are going back up this week, it'll be 80 by the weekend, which I'm really not excited about.

I can't believe I actually miss the cold weather of Wisconsin. All those years of dying to move to Texas and it only takes 8 years to ruin it all. It could be all of the sun-burning I did this year that did it- I really don't know. Or maybe it's the fact that they have seasons up nort 'der.

And I leave you with a quote from a sign that we saw at an applebees in Madison, WI:

"Dat 'der Root Beer, ets a hoot!"

and trust me, the root beer is better up there (if you can pronounce the quote, you get a gold star for the day. Gonzo had to have me translate).

"Amber's Ugliest Sock" - plurl to come

I finally knitted a sock! It's only taken forever. Yep, it's ugly. It's ok to agree. It's also very large. I have giant ankles so I started this with more stitches than I found any patterns for. Too bad the foot is so...large. I have a long foot (which I'm not sure I made this long enough for), but it's kind of skinny. Anyway. I made it. The one, so far, the only...Amber's ugliest sock. And I am making these for myself. Because let's face it, the only person who is interested in my knitted goods, is myself.

I started on some sculptures this weekend, so that was fantastic! I love playing with Super Sculpy! I didn't draw any because I haven't heard back from the person who contacted me while I was on vacation, so it's in a holding pattern, possibly headed for the "not going to get paid for it" pile. I could have started on some other drawings this weekend but I got tied up hanging out with my parents on Saturday, which was fun as always. We found the family albums, which had already apparently been found by someone in the family as their album was missing. So I have a new "family" project to work on. Digitizing all of the photos (that were in the box), and hopefully adding names to everything to get some sort of a family history down.

Anywho. That's it from me for now. Hope everyone had fabulous weekends and are having great Monday's.

End of the Week Recap

Can I say that I'm happy it's Friday, and everyone not hate me because I just worked 4 days after being gone for a week? Yeah? Ok.
Is it possible to get jet lag from driving? Because I'm experiencing overly tiredness at odd hours of the day and wanting to go to bed at 6:30pm. There was no time change between Texas and Wisconsin people...None.
Anyway. So yeah, this week hasn't been crap. At least not for me, we won't talk about Gonzo, because that's completely different.
I was contacted while I was on vacation to do a commissioned drawing for a Christmas present, and I'm completely excited to start on it (which I kind of already have), but haven't heard back from the woman to find out exactly how she would like it drawn. I have this horrible feeling that taking 4 days to get back to her, due to no internet access while out of town, might have been a deal breaker. I hope not, because the photo she wants me to use is one of the greatest photos anyone has ever requested for me to draw.
I've also been contacted about a "holiday" gift (it's all very secret and hush hush so quotes will be used). I'm excited, it involves sculpting. I won't be able to post those pictures until after the gift has been given.
After sorting thru many of the 8,000 photos that were taken on vacation I've found several that I'm going to do for a "series" for a family member for Christmas. I hope they like it. And I hope they turn out like I'm hoping they will...it'll be on brown paper with colored pencils.
Oh, and I was also informed that a former co-worker has pictures of her baby boy that she wants me to draw for a Christmas present as well.
I'm overwhelmed with greatness! I love it! I can use some more!
Oh yeah, and I frogged my pink striped socks from awhile ago and started over on them today...I'm working on the heel already! I had to switch patterns too, the other one was sucking the life out of me.
Anyway, no pictures today. I just wanted everyone to know where I'm at.
Please feel free to email me any pictures you want drawn for the holidays this year (ASBTSF@gmail.com) and I promise to get back to you ASAP via email. Also I'm extending my deadline for having photos in to me, to have them shipped in time for December 24th. You now have until November 15th, 2008 to get them in. It's been slow, so I figured I'd extend it. I'll update that on my website when I have some time.
Alright, well I hope everyone has had an enjoyable week, and I hope you all get to relax, sleep, and/or do something fun this weekend!

The Rest of the Trip in a nutshell

I've realized that not everyone wants the play by play of my week long trip. So from this post forward I'm only going to highlight some of the better moments and post pictures as I think of them.

Gonzo and I stayed with Jessica and her mom Helen, and obnoxious younger brother Joey from the evening of the 11th, until the morning of Tuesday the 14th. I have pictures of the animals and landscape and all of the roadside stands that we stopped at during the 12th. But, there are so many pictures, I can't widdle it down to my favorites. I'll post them later, and I'll probably draw some of them. We had a good time, ate some great pancakes, had some fabulous Taco DipTM , and all around had fun being "lazy". We did get to one of my favorite spots...well used to be favorite spots- it's not as fun as it was when I was in High School...State Street in Madison. Gonzo got his hair cut at the Campus Barber, we stopped at a Wisconsin Shop where I took this:

(I didn't steal it, I just took the picture) We stopped at Pipefitters where I bought 2 sweatshirts, one for me and one for Gonzo, to support the wonderful state of Wisconsin and the college team (Go Badgers!).

Once we left Jessica's house, we made the quick trip to see my friend Heather:

I miss Heather. I miss all of my friends in Wisconsin, but I really miss Heather. So I was really excited when plans changed from going to North Carolina to going to Wisconsin, because that meant I would get to see her.

That's Heather. She took us on a fantastic trip all in 2 days. The first day she showed us this rediculously pretty state park...she didn't know it exsisted, we just kind of "found it". Big Falls, I believe is the name of it.

Gonzo took probably 3000 pictures there. I'll include a few:

She took us by a haunted church where Gonzo got some very freaky pictures. We cooked out at her house in 35 degree weather the first night, then the next day Heather and her husband took us in the direction of Minnesota, where we stopped to eat lunch at the Machine Shed in Lake Elmo- then off to The Mall of America- which was a blast but really, really hard to get past one section...my feet and legs have never hurt so bad. We went to the aquarium in the bottom of the mall (which come to think of it, I don't know where those pictures are...hum...), then we left and went back to the Machine Shed for dinner, where they sat us in the same exact booth. We rested up and headed back to the Madison area so we could go to the farm to visit my relatives.

Yes that is me eating a piece of wheat. Well chewing on it is more like it. There's nothing like being down on the farm. (I have a ton of other pictures that Gonzo took, but I'm working...don't have the time to post them all.)

For anyone who is interested, we did get to eat at Taco John's...twice. Once for lunch, and once for breakfast...the Taco John's on Monona Drive serves Breakfast now! Holy Crap!

And here's one last picture that Gonzo and I took on the way to Heathers in Elk Mound Wisconsin:

Day 2

*vacation story continued*
October 11, 2008
Waking up in a strange part of Missouri I had never been to before, I discovered that I loved the breakfast at the Fairfield Inn and decided right then and there I wanted to live there. Ok, maybe not live there- but I wanted their breakfast every morning from then on. They have a waffle maker- where you fill the cup with the waffle batter and put it in the waffle iron and wait until it beeps then flip it and wait until it beeps and throw it on your plate! I did not have waffles however. I was drawn to the blueberry muffins. I have to admit, I loaded my plate with more carbs than one can ingest in one meal, so I took most of it with me. I still have the box of raisin bran I picked up.
Anyway. We decided to get going with this whole "vacation" thing around 10am that day. While I had been napping in the car the night before I had missed several road signs that would have peeked my interest- Good thing Gonzo had been awake. About 20 minutes after we hit the highway, Gonzo was exiting to a strange road that wasn't on our path and I was like "dude, where are we going?" and he just points to a sign.
One of the best parts of the trip happened on day 2. Gonzo was driving me on Route 66. Something I had been wanting to do since High School.

We drove on it for a good while, saw that one entire town in Missouri turns into a massive yard sale on Saturdays and then continued on our way.
We kept pulling off the road to see little campsites and explore the gorgeousness that actually lives in Missouri (I'm sorry if I'm offending people by saying that, but I grew up in a home that made it sound like hillbillies were the only thing that lived in Missouri, and it was probably a barren waste-land. It is not, and they are normal folks, just like anyone else. Missouri is beautiful- especially with the falls colors). We pulled off the road in time for lunch at the Meramec Caverns.

These Caverns just so happen to be the hideout of Jesse James- however they will only spend about 5 minutes of the tour telling you about him...the tour is over an hour long (walking tour, bring your walking shoes, and a jacket...it's cold!). I have to admit, I was pretty excited to get out of the car and walk...especially in the caverns. In Wisconsin they have the Cave of the Mounds, which can pretty much compare to the Meramec Caverns- with no tight spaces to crawl thru (Cave of the Mounds is a field trip spot elementary kids go to- grown adults don't enjoy the tight spaces as much...especially if you have a fear of enclosed spaces). But I found myself thinking about the time when I was a kid and wandering Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and thinking about how much bigger that was.

But it was fun! Gonzo took a crap ton of pictures (my camera hates the dark and far distances...his thrives in it)

We got back on the road after the tour and headed North...East...northeast? To hit our next destination- St. Louis.

I have to admit, I did not want to stop and see the arch. I was like "it's an arch, big woopie". But when you start to see it and you're still 10 miles away from it, it's kind of impressive. So we stopped. They were having some big hippie art festival where they were going to be burning some stuff later that night, but we didn't stay for it. It was good to get to stop and chat with the local artists and find out about the festival, and watch them build their pieces along the river. We have so many pictures of St. Louis I'm only going to post a few:

I've heard tales of the locals asking people who are taking pictures if they can see the wad of gum stuck to the top of the arch and I actually met one of them...not as funny since I've heard the stories. But it still made me laugh.
I wanted to go on a horse carriage ride but Gonzo's response was "Sorry man, we're heading to Wisconsin, we don't have time".

Next time we're in St. Louis we'll make the time.

We got lost trying to leave the downtown area- and I'm glad we did.

They have some beautiful architecture and some gorgeous fountains. Apparently the day we were there 18 couples had gotten hitched and were all taking their wedding photos in the fountains- it was really pretty.
We hit the Illinois/Missouri border just before sun down and made it thru the state in about 2 hours (thank you radar detector!).
By about 8:45pm we made it to Wisconsin. We took the back way of getting to my friend Jessica's house, via Beloit, Janesville, Evansville, and Brooklyn- but we got there by 10pm.
We were pretty wiped out but managed to stay up and chat with Jess and her mom Helen.
Thus concludes day 2 of our trip.

I'm Back

I know everyone missed me. I'll have a more appropriate blog post once I get all of my pictures sorted thru. I'm probably going to break it down by days and spread it out over the rest of the week.
But for now I'll start you with this...

Day 1
Friday October 10th, 2008
Gonzo and I packed our bags, loaded the car and hit the road around 6:30pm. At approximately 6:33pm we turned around and went back home, because we left the deliciousness that are donut sticks, sitting on the counter- that was our breakfast for the week- very important not to forget the 230 calorie snacks.
We decided to take a different route to get up to the great white north (not white just yet), so we went up 75/69 thru Oklahoma to head to Interstate 44. Once it got dark the feeling of sleep soon took over and I started napping thru much of the boringness of Oklahoma (lots of small towns that you have to slow down to get thru-if it wasn't dark I'm sure I would have enjoyed it). I woke up once we reached the Glasshouse McDonald's- former World's Largest McDonald's- that goes over interstate 44. I had the best cheeseburger I have ever eaten at a McDonald's and the worst Fries ever. Gonzo really hated the Big mac that he got as well. Kind of a big dissappointment. We had a good conversation about the EPA and towns that have been wiped off the map because of contamination and pollution, and then I went back to sleep. I woke up around 2:30am, due to the fact of the car coming to a stop. Gonzo had finally decided he had had enough driving for one day and we stopped in at a Fairfield Inn in St. Robert Missouri.
The bed and the pillows turned my "nap" into sleep- and thus concluded day 1 on the road.

I've been tagged

I just checked the blogs that I frequent, and I see I've been tagged. I hadn't really planned on posting again before the big trip...but seeing as how it'll be a week before I'm back into a "normal thinking mode" I thought I better do this now before I forget.

The rules: Link to your tagger (mine is Dallas Shaw) and list the rules
List 7 random facts about yourself
Tag 7 people (and make sure you check back and see what they say!)
If you're tagged, play along and pass it on!

So here are 7 random things about me..

1. I grew up on a pig farm in Wisconsin
2. I can draw with my toes (don't ask)
3. I'm scared to leave comments on other people's blogs because of spelling errors or saying something stupid (yet I encourage people to leave comments on my blog).
4. My very first car was a 1973 VW Super Beetle which I only drove a total of 10 times before re-selling it...and I miss the crap out of that car.
5. I have a horrible fear of spiders.
6. I'm a morning person. So much so that "sleeping in" to me, means waking up at 8:30am.
7. I've always wanted to learn to play the banjo, but never have.

and for the 7 people I choose to tag:
Deanna, Tania, Charles, Bag 'n' Trash, May, Gonzo, Bryan. (Not that I expect you to complete it...it's fun if you have time)

t- minus 4 hours and counting...

To take on the trip?

I think I'll pack them just in case...but the likelyhood that I'll get to wear them is slim. Well except when I'm way way way up north in Wisconsin and into Minnesota with my friend Heather. Oh yeah, did I mention I may or may not be going to Minnesota for the first time ever? Mall of America anyone? I know the excitement has passed for me too. But I've never been to Minnesota. How can I truly say I'm "from the North" when I've never been to the state of 10,000 lakes? (my entire trip revolves around Wisconsin, Minnesota will remain a day trip)

Oh wait- SIDE TRACKED! This is what I may or may not pack for the trip:

The hat isn't new, and it's completely upside down. But the fingerless mittens are new. I made them...uh...my days have run together...I think I made them either Monday of this week or late last week.

I actually don't know why I make the fingerless mittens anymore, other than the fact that I can make a pair in 4 hours. When I wear them I end up curling my fingers into my palms so they can be warm too. Because lets face it- when your hands are cold, your fingers are the most cold, right?

So yeah, I don't think it's going to be as cold during the day, but 30's at night really may constitute me wearing something knitted.

I had to practice wearing them. You know, being that it's only really cold in Texas for about 1 week out of the year, it's surprisingly easy to forget what it's like to wear something warm.

I'm leaving tomorrow evening, so I'm not sure there will be another post before I go. If you have any drawing needs please follow the directions on my website www.ashadebetterthanstickfigures.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I have access to email (which could be as soon as I get to Wisconsin- depending upon who has internet access- or it could be as late as when I get back to Texas in a week).

2 days and counting

I wish I had something colorful or interesting to post. I'm just so excited that I'm rocking in my office chair at work watching the clock tick by. At least it's almost lunch. I suppose I could roll a ball of yarn that I have with me...and maybe knit something after lunch. But usually after lunch is when I'm busy with work things...funny that I work at work. :P (Really I do work, but there is a lot of down time as a receptionist so it just seems like I don't work.)
I'm actually not feeling 100% today, I woke up dizzy and I'm still dizzy. It could just be my body anticipating the climate change. Or it could just be me being overly excited for vacation to start.
Whatever it is needs to quit. It's making me want to take a very long nap...say a nap from now until Friday? :)
Although I did just think of something interesting. Yesterday was the 17th anniversary of when I broke my wrist. Man I feel old. I like to think of that day as the day that magically changed my right wrist/hand into a drawing machine. I should've planned ahead and bought a cake and thru a drawing party. Oh well.

"Trees get lonely too"

Once upon a time I worked for a company that clearly is the devil. It's located in Downtown Dallas. That's all I'll give you. Their name can remain anonymous. Seriously, the people there all sucked. Mainly 3 people in particular really sucked. I only worked there for a grand total of 2 weeks, but clearly it made an impact.

But that's not the purpose of this post (even though I HATE that company, and if I ever have to do any advertisements for my company I will dangle a little carrot in front of their face just to go "you suck, why would I ever do business with you?"). The one good thing I got from working at *name withheld for legal reasons* was my good friend Mortimer. Actually I don't know what his "real" name is- Mortimer is just what I call him. I might have actually told you all about him once or twice before. My last day at *company that is the devil* I had to go into the "management den" to get dinner orders. While waiting for one of the dumbest people ever left in charge of anything to get off her personal call during working hours so I could find out what she wanted to eat (only to be told that she wasn't going to need dinner)- I looked out the window and low and behold was this sad looking tree. I doodled his face on my notepad (not this drawing- this one is new as of 15 minutes ago), got the response, and walked away- then I left and never came back. See. Mortimer helped me. In a sick and twisted way, the look on his face...a tree's face...was all I needed to see to realize I wasn't going to be unhappy where I worked. Unfortunately for Mortimer, he's doomed to stare at those horrible faces at the horrible company until he dies, or construction takes him out, or some horrible drunk driver runs into him and breaks him in half. I feel bad for Mortimer. But hey, I like to think of it this way. His sad face is making those people's lives miserable because they have to stare at a really unhappy tree every day, all day long.

Love you Mortimer! Thanks for so much drawing inspiration.

Wisconsin

This week will truly be void of photos (hopefully not completely void- I have a few things I would like to take pictures of and post)- I'm in a crazy "I don't want to be here" "I don't want to do this" "why can't I be on vacation RIGHT NOW?" mood. So needless to say, while I am working on stuff, to keep my hands and mind busy during the day, I'm in such a "wait, I better not forget to pack this" mind set, that I'm neglecting the blog.

All because vacation is looming. I turn into a complete spazz. I have my lovely "don't forget to pack!" list that I add to daily. Earlier this morning I was printing off map after map of crap that I either want to go to while I'm in WI or directions to friend's houses. Oh the maddness.

Ok, not completely void of pictures. I will be in many many parts of this wonderful state next week. I'm sure you can throw a dart at this map (print it first, you don't want to ruin your monitor) and you'll hit someplace that I'll be.

Sadly the thing I'm looking forward to the most in Wisconsin is a little place called "Taco John's". Oh I can taste the beef burrito now!!! Potato Ole!!! DANG IT! I want to be on vacation already!!!!

I can't wait.

I'm getting to see some, and stay with some, really really good friends that I've known for pretty much my entire existence .

Seeing them will be vacation enough. Let's just hope that it doesn't snow while we're there.

I'M EXCITED!!!

And the Winner is...

...NO ONE.
*blink* *blink*
I made ugly mittens. It's cool. No one wanted absolutely FREE mittens. Apparently times are tough enough that no one can afford to own FREE mittens. Either that or no one on the face of the planet has women's size small hands. I'm down with that. If I can't wear it, why would I want free?
They shall go in the "trash" pile. Thanks to anyone who was reading though. I appreciate it. I'm sure you would appreciate it more if I would make some FREE mittens that actually fit someone though, huh?
Anyway. I didn't do anything remotely art related this weekend. Attack of the allergies happened while at a Good Guys car show so my day was shot at about noon on Saturday. Then yesterday was the State Fair of Texas. I don't think anyone can truly appreciate the greatness that is bacon, until they have had Chicken Fried Bacon (sorry dad, it's just so good). 6 hours at a fair is enough of a day to me, so I pretty much passed out at 7pm last night.
Well rested and ready for a new week. A week that will go by much too slowly because I will be leaving for vacation on Friday. FRIDAY of THIS week. Too excited.
I promise if I make anymore FREE mittens, they will fit everyone.

***FREE MITTENS***

It's Free Mitten Friday!!! Ok, let's not get too excited. It's not like I'm going to start doing this every Friday.

These are the "Terracotta" mittens I was referring to earlier this week. Don't worry, once I know someone actually wants these Women's size Small mittens, I will sew in the ends before I ship it. I see a little tail hanging out there- need to fix that.

These mittens are absolutely free! The only thing you have to do, as a reader, if you would like these mittens, is leave a comment. I'll pick a winner on Monday. There may or may not be an "extra surprise" in the package (value of the possible "extra surprise" is to be determined).

Another view of them, to prove that there are in fact 2 whole mittens up for give-away. And yes they are the same size (they are on the top of my couch, which is rounded, hence the right one looking smaller- it's called perspective).

I was going to do a whole cool themed photoshoot and then got lazy and decided to make dinner instead.

So yeah, if you want them, leave a comment (it would be awesome if you had a link on how to contact you- either website, or email, whatever- so I can then contact you for shipping information- I would prefer, and I would hope you would too, that you not leave your mailing address in the comment- cool?)

Ok this is going to be a long post, because I don't want to post again before Monday- so everyone has a fair opportunity and doesn't get all freaked out and wonder which post they need to comment on, since I know EVERYONE wants these mittens (:P).

I made another pair of mittens this week (not up for grabs...yet). I had some left over green yarn from the magic scarf I worked on a few months ago, so I decided I wanted to make some mittens- with a "twist" (HA! just wait, you'll laugh in a minute). Honestly I need to explain how I knit my mittens. It's not normal. In fact I'm not sure I'm following any one pattern here. I learned how to knit "convertible mittens" a few years ago from one of those awesome Target "I can knit" kits- I waited for it to go on clearance- I still haven't used the yarn or needles that came with the package...just the instructions- which were very poorly written. So I've been making the fingerless mitten part of the convertible mittens for the last 3 years or so as seen here. I could probably make those in my sleep. But then to make a complete "mitten" I never really looked at the rest of the instructions from my Target buy. Recently, I started reading http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/ and found her roll-brim hat "recipe" (ok actually I was looking for free knitted hat patterns on google and her website popped up and I've been hooked every since), the way she does the decrease on the hat is how I do the decrease on the thumb and the top of the mitten. And now:

as much as I hate math, I counted my way thru my maddness that are my stitches and made some "twists" to my mittens (HA! Laughing yet? Anyone? Anyone? No? Ok). Seriously, I wrote out my instructions this time. So if anyone is interested in obtaining the instructions (FREE) for these mittens, leave a comment (simply say that you want the "Twist Mitten Instructions" and I'll either post them when I have time, or email you- they aren't typed at this point, but I'm working on it.), and believe me, these are the easiest instructions to follow...ever...because I spell everything out. No guessing at what K2T means. :P I may even work on another pair, and take pictures along the way so it will kind of be like a tutorial...however that will take longer- patience.

And now for non-mitten news. Gonzo and I have decided that our "trip" this year, instead of the NASCAR invaded North Carolina, that we will be going to...DRUM ROLL....Wisconsin! WOO HOO!!! Doncha know? Yeah. So I'm completely overly excited, to say the least. Next weekend can't get here fast enough. I will be able to sew in ends on Terracotta mittens and ship them out before I leave- hence the winner will be picked on Monday (pre-vacation). Oh yeah, did I mention that it's cold enough in Wisconsin now to wear my knitted goods? Yeah. It's awesome. I plan to visit a few yarn shops while up in the Southern part of the state. I'm so excited!!!

Anyway, this post is long enough. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. I'll be watching the comments!

I like cupcakes and drawing babies

My mom made it. Isn't it cute? Actually my dad helped too. He likes glue. Hence he glued the eyes on. The cupcake needs to be cleaned off just a bit, but I like him. It's a pin cushion, in case you were wondering. The "sprinkles" on top are actually beads sewn on- I have yet to stick any pins in. I'm affraid he might run away if I stick him. I've never had a useful object with legs before- I'm not sure what the protocall is.

So the lovely North Carolina trip? Anyone remember mention of that? Good, because I don't remember when I posted about that. yeah. It's looking like North Carolina might not be our vacationing spot afterall. Hurricanes, NASCAR, and gas shortages our making us look elsewhere in the good 'ol US of A. We've narrowed it down to New Mexico- just because we like to fly by the seat of our pants and Wisconsin. You know Wisconsin. Because they have cheese. And I'm from there. I'll keep you up to date with our decision. The more I think about it though, the more I'm leaning toward the great up-nort. Where "Doncha know?" is an actual saying and everyone knows what it means-without making it sound like they are making fun of an accent. Plus it's my favorite time of year up there. FALL. We don't really have that season here.

And here's the baby I had started earlier this week. See? It really is laying down. I'm alright with how it turned out, but I so rarely shade the background that I'm still scratching my head about how it looks.

I'm ready for the weekend.

Oh yeah, before I forget. I just made the ugliest and smallest pair of "Terricotta" colored mittens ever. I'm scared if I take a picture of them they will either dissappear (which wouldn't be so bad) or they'll break my camera. Ok, they aren't that bad. I made them yesterday at work. 2 mittens in 8 hours is pretty good right? I'll need to be reminded once I post them, but I'm going to be giving this pair of mittens away. So keep an eye out for the post (They best fit a woman's small or medium hand...I have large hands and can put them on, but they aren't a comfortable fit).