[art] Joy of Painting #4

Went to a Joy of Painting class last weekend.

I always loved the idea of adding monsters to paintings. These classes don't really allow for something like this- because there are so many people in class and things have to keep moving along at a steady pace. If I raised my hand and asked "How should I highlight my monster's fur?", the instructor would probably say "What monster? I told you to add a tree." 

Anyway, I saw that this painting featured a bunny, so I tried to make it a creepy bunny by giving it a red eye and fang. From a distance, you can't even tell- but I know it's there. 

Someday, when I'm feeling more confident in my painting skills, I'll set up all my paintings and add proper monsters.

[knitting] Camera Cable Pouch

Another small tech cable pouch using up leftover handspun yarn:

I slightly sized-up the pattern from the earbud pouch by using heavier yarn and US 4 needles. Now it fits my camera's USB cable cable perfectly.

[spinning] Dance of the Dervish

Spun up 8oz of corriedale pencil roving into a single-ply:

Fiber from Crown Mountain Farms, which is now sadly closed, in a colorway called Dance of thte Dervish.

I was going to do a plied yarn but then I was all, "Naaaahhh" so I spun low twist singles ranging from fingering to dk weight. Some spots have a little extra twist.

Will probably use the yarn for a lacy shawl. Someday.

[knitting] Embossed Leaves Socks

Finished a new pair of socks from Favorite Socks:

Used my super-sharp DyakCraft US 2 DPNs. I forget the name of the yarn but it's just a regular ball of Regia or Opal or On-Line or something. Regular work-horse sock yarn.

The leg isn't too long, so it was fast to work up. They are very pretty on.

I think I've finished all the socks that I want to do for now from this book. Time to switch to a different sock book.

[misc] Penny Friday

I had some new things delivered from Amazon and was able to add a new wing to the cardboard estate that the cat's have:

One of the items delivered was a fur pad that reflects body heat, so it warms up when you lay on it. It fit perfectly into the new addition and Penny wouldn't get out for anything.

This week was a blur. I had Tuesday off work and then Wed/Thur we flew to NYC for a b-day party for Dollar's favorite bass player: Megadeth's Dave Ellefson. It was a free event but of course we spent so much on plane tickets and hotel and cabs and etc etc etc. It was all very nice and easy and relaxed. The flight from Burlington, VT to JFK was 45 minutes. It was all worth it in the end- Dollar got to have pictures and autographs and meet so many of his idols. Next time, though, we're going somewhere for me. Either a knitting or a cooking event of some sort. 

[misc] Murderface Monday

Woke up before 6am on Saturday and couldn't get back to sleep. I got up and fed the cats. Murderface came to hang out with me on the couch:

Then he was face down, asleep in five minutes. At least I finished a new pair of socks.

[crafts] Faux Succulent Garden

I finally put everything together for my faux succulent garden:

I used a sign that I purchased at the craft store. It had "Apple Orchard" printed on it with a big apple. I painted over it:

Then I added the pistachio shell succulents that I made a few weeks ago:

Then added rocks:

And finally variety of mosses:

Very pretty. Possibly good Feng Shui depending on where I have it. Kind of useless and takes up a lot of valuable table space, though. I figure when I'm sick of it, I'll take the rocks back out, toss the moss and shells and repurpose the sign into a bottlecap table.

[spinning] Niagara Falls

Last year I took a trip to Niagara Falls and brought back a 4oz bump of Merino:

I split the fiber into two lengths and pre-drafted. The plan was to spin each thin and chain ply to retain the gradual color change from blue to brown. 

If I leave any of the unspun fiber unattended, Murderface "helps" by needle-felting it in places:

Then I have to come along and carefully peel apart the sections that are matted together. Classic Murderface.

The final yarn:

They're about the same- one skein has slightly more yardage than the other. I'd like to knit a pair of simple fingerless gloves. Basically sleeves- no hole for the thumb or anything- just arm warmers.

[knitting] Waving Lace Socks

Finished a new pair of socks:

Pattern: Waving Lace Socks from Interweave Knits Favorite Socks

Yarn: Chugiak Hand Dyed Sock Yarn from Pagewood Farm

Needles: US 2

Mods: I did an extra pattern repeat to make the leg a little longer.

Working both socks in tandem worked out well- I liked finishing the pair at the same time rather than completing one and thinking, "Oh man... now I have to make another?" Also, this all-over lace pattern works up more quickly than standard 1x1 ribbing. I've always thought socks were so damn tedious to make- and now I'm sure it's because I was doing k1p1 ribbed socks which- yeah- is crazy boring and tedious. I think it's just lace socks for me from now on!