Elleasea's Creative Outlets

Ack! Frustrated!

2012-01-23T23:33:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'll just preface this blog with the statement that yes, you may think I'm spitting in the face of a good thing, and if you were in my position you'd not complain. But I promise you, you would.

Anyway. I'm loving this new pattern, but I have - yet again - completely underestimated the freakish size of my breasts, and as such, the apron bib I've spent the last 2 1/2 days crafting to perfection is not just a pretty piles of scraps. I even fancy cut those bibs to get the chickens in the middle!!

Thankfully, the pattern called for easily 50% more material than was actually needed, so I can go back and recraft the top piece. I thought about adding a piece across the middle to make it more modest, but the shape is still all wrong. I want to keep my work cloths clean while I cook, and look cute doing it. Not like I just exploded into a kids apron.

Anyway, the skirt portion looks totally adorable, and hopefully I have enough bias take to redo the top. I don't have much time off in the next week, so we'll just see what happens.

In other news: look at these beautiful flowers that Richard sent me! I think they look quite nice with the tulips MaryAlice brought in.

extra time off? how about some crafts?

2012-01-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

so, i was inadvertantly given 3 days off this week, and 3 next week - while nervous about getting my hours and making quota, I'm excited about the new craft priject I'm working on:

New apron!

I finished cutting all the pieces last night, and tomorrow I begin assembly. I enlarged the bib pieces, but, sadly, not enough for my particular assests, so I'll likely add a faux shirt piece under with my contrasting material.

I'll trybto get some pics uo tomorrow!

Ho ho! Winter brings out the crafty in me!

2011-11-05T01:25:00.001-07:00

Check these sick napkin rings I created!

I originally bought this material for an apron, but since fell out of love with the pattern, but I think they make cute napkins!

What UFO's?

2010-12-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

okay, I'm undertaking the project of the century. In order to fully realize my crafty self in my new abode, I'm going to have to come face to face with a little skeleton I keep in the closet.

Yeah. It's time to dig out all the damn supplies, make a giant mess, re-organize and finally *gulp* finish those UFO's.

As you can see I've gathered some of the nearly finished projects together to be finished, as they are, tonight.

Then, after moving all my needles and notions out of the box with the yarn. I come to suspect that my lack of fiber and fiber tool segregation is the reason for all my knot related woes. Even after I sort and re-ball everything, and put it away, they miraculously find every d*mn crochet needle and knot themselves into wild, hair pulling designs after only a few months in the closet.

NO MORE.

I have Christmas crafts to attend to d*mnit, and I need my sh*t to be ready at a moments pull.

Wish me luck.. I've heard stories of those brave souls who've attempted to reclaim the disarray of their stash before and never been seen or heard from again.

New silly pics!

2010-08-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

here's a silly picture of me that they photoshoped at Powells!

2010-06-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

Aww calendar winner for the ElPaso 2010 neato places calendar!!!

day 36 of the bleeding earth - who's fault is it really?

2010-05-28T12:18:00.001-07:00

Who did this? BP? Obama? Santa Clause?

NO

People, take action, get a bike, let your taxes go to pay for public transit and sidewalks. WALK to the market. Demand the existence of a market that's walking distance to you. Commit to having one, two, or three days a week in which you will not use your car.

BP is drilling for oil because we as a people demand oil. This oil spill is not someone elses fault or problem. It it ours.

Individuals are the largest polluters on the planet - we wash toxic cleaners down the drain, we toss batteries and mercury bulbs into landfills, we use paper and disposable everything. And we DEMAND oil.

Please peeps, this is not a small thing. This is our ocean, our planet, our future. This may be the largest ecological disaster of our time, and it is time to take responsibility for our actions.

<3

Pledge to yourself, god, to the future generations that you will actively change your habits to be less self serving and remember that the illusion of separateness is just that. An illusion. We are all together on this.

Laura's North American Summer 2010 Tour

2010-05-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I just really wanted to share with you my excitement and the possibilities that I'm creating this summer!

I have my commencement ceremony on the 13th of June, here in Portland, but the day before that I have to move all of my stuff out of the dorms! *yikes*, so I'll officially be homeless starting June 12.

I am renting a storage shed here in Portland to keep my things in for the duration of the summer, and then my beautiful parents are whisking me away to Alaska!

Seattle - June 14 - June 19 we will be making our way to Seattle to catch the boat - maybe go see the ocean, maybe the redwoods?? I hear there's some pretty good wine country around here!

Alaska - June 20 --June 27 I will watching the top of the world melt and trying to get in on the elusive chocolate buffet I hear is rumored to be aboard these ships!

Ontario, Canada- June 28 - July 11 Roger has agreed to let me be homeless in Toronoto! I am promised jazz and many conversations about the population genetics and the various methodologies employed in archaeology and anthropology

Washington - July 12 - July 23 I will be attending the LEAF field school in Edmonds, Washington; this is an applied anthropology field school based in environmental studies, so this is really exciting!

This is one of the newest areas of science that anthropology is being utilized to derive appropriate solutions to human problems. I met Dr. Tom Murphy, and applied ecological anthropologist, at the Northwest Anthropological Conference NWAC, and had the opportunity to learn not only about the success of LEAF, but also had an opportunity to meet some of his previous students! This field school is a rare gem, as most field schools are dedicated to archaeology and not socio-cultural methods, and is working perfectly in line with my most recent methods class!

LEAF this summer is looking at Island Ecology, so the first week I'll be, possibly, camping on *Whidbey Island*, taking the field school in the day-time and camping in the evening, and the 2nd week we'll be camping as a group in the *SAN JUAN Islands*! Hooray!!!

Oregon - July 24 - Aug 13 I have to return to beautiful Portland to couch surf for a few weeks while I attend two preliminary classes to prepare me for:

Oaxaca, Mexico - Aug 14 - Aug 28 I will be homestay with a Mexican family in Oaxaca city for the Health and Migration Oaxaca Capstone for school - this is the last class I have to complete to receive my degree. We'll be traveling with Dr. Margaret Everette, a medical anthropologist, who is working at Portland State University. She has a community partner here and in Mexico that studies the impact on health, specifically of women and children, in communities affected by migration (for labor, to escape persecution etc), and we'll be as a class working with the community partners in Mexico to do grant writing, lit review, perhaps even some on the ground field research or development project implementation (i.e. digging)!! There's also an
intensive language school we're attending in the mornings, and a weekend in the rural village planned.

I am also promised that there will crickets available for consumption. Ask my mom, this has been a life long dream. (I was grounded for at least a week for that one!)

Then I have to be back in Portland by Sept 7 for one last capstone class and then it's official! I will have a BA in anthropology, and lots of cool field work experience to make me nice and attractive to employers and grad schools!

Hey that's great! What's next??
Well, that's where things get a little fuzzier. I have an opportunity to apply for a job through Americorps with Dr. Tom Murphy, leading the LEAF school for 10 months starting in August! It's not a guarantee, but he did strongly encourage me to apply :) It would be a stipend position, with an Americorps cash award at the end of the 10 months.

If I get that job I'd be stationed in Edmonds, Washington for the year! This would be really exciting, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get this position, but I am keeping my ear to the ground for other internship opportunities. I'm available for work at least through the fall of 2011, and I'd like to stay in field, working with government and non-government agencies that hire social scientists.

Then it's grad school. Some of you may know, I am beginning the process of applying for graduate school. I need to take my GREs and start investigating programs. My friend Hannah insists that I look into attending school in Hawaii, since she's moving there. This might
be a good move, since two of my professors attended graduate school in Hawaii. But nothing is decided, and just like the Americorps opportunity, I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket!

No matter what, I am so excited about all the new things that are happening all around me! And my dear, beautiful friends and family, please keep me in mind when you hear any conversations about anthropology, or anthropological graduate programs, scholarships, internships etc! So much of social science work is based on "soft money" or grants and short term contracts, so most hiring happens through word of mouth. Your reputation is everything in this field, and networking is the main key! So please feel free to talk me up! And let me in on ALL anthropological rumors you hear!

xoxoxoxo

I'll be taking tons of pictures, and I think I'll start the daily video blog again for y'all so you can come with me on my wild summer tour of the North American continent and beyond!!

:*

Oh and if anyone wants to get me graduation presents ;) I could use memberships to:
the American Anthropological Association (AAA),
and the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) , or perhaps EndNote software, or maybe this Surge Northface Backpack

Birthday and Valentines!

2010-02-14T19:58:00.000-08:00

My super awesome boyfriend got me a new knitting book! I've already found so many patterns I want to make!

So, I suppose it's fitting that for Valentine's I made him this eye pillow! I am still a novice at sewing those curves, lol and he asked if I'd taken a bite out of it! whoops!

It's filled with flax seed and chamomille/lavendar tea, so it can be heated or chilled, and smells nice and relaxing!

Hopefully no more headaches! <3

Catching up on the posts!

2010-01-08T21:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I've been busier than it seems with the knitting and crochet! First there's the yoga mat bag I made for my yoga class. Unfortunately the bag is a little hard to get back in, but since I'm so zen after my yoga practice I don't mind too much ;)

Here is the Queen Anne's Lace scarf I started at Christmas with Richard's mom :)

It's such a soft yarn and really fun pattern, but I am not a big fan of the colors.. but it will be a nice change from the cheap yarn crochet scarf I'm wearing right now!

Koibito Hat and Scarf Set!

2009-12-26T21:38:00.000-08:00

Here's the pics I promised! The hat came out a little too large, but I've got enough yarn left to make another smaller one I think (maybe in time for the birthday?)

I'll post up some pics of the new scarf I'm starting soon, promise!

:*

Christmas Crafting!

2009-12-24T12:51:00.000-08:00

okay, the pics are coming soon for this post, but in the meantime I'll just clue y'all in. I made Richard a hat and scarf set for Christmas, the hat is too big, but I hope that I can block/felt it down a size or two. The scarf is really pretty though, so I hope he like it!

I'll put up pics of both of them directly.

I also bought two skeins of yarn to make the Queen Anne's Lace Scarf with, I got one for Michele, Richards mom, and one for me. The idea is that I'm going to teach her to crochet with this project. It'll be a fun way to get to know her and spend some time :) (Maybe!)

I'll also post pics of that soon!

2009-11-24T00:40:00.001-08:00

Okay, this doesn't have anything to do with my crafting, except that I've been listening to this song over and over.

I think I like this song, because I wish that when people have done hurtful things that just crushed me, they'd have apologized in such a genuine way.

I'm all about forgiveness if it starts with actually owning up and really results in a change in behavior. I mean we're all going to be on the wrong end of an apology at one time or another, we can just try to do better in the future.

Of course, I'm a big fan of second chances.. even though.. well, it's like reading a book twice, you might notice some new stuff, but in the end King Kong still dies... but.. maybe not... it's worth a second read just in case.

Bunk Bed Pocket

2009-08-31T14:16:00.000-07:00

So in my dorm room, my roommate and I elected to stack the beds, to make more floor space, and make the room seem bigger. I got the top bunk, and for a few months it's really been a hassle trying to cope with the lack of nightstand. I'm very used to having my Zune, my phone, and my journal with me in bed. But being up so high, and having concrete floors, I'm always having to tuck them into my pillow case to keep them from falling our the bed!

Solution: make a "pocket" for my bunk!

I used an old polo shirt of my boyfriends, shrinky dink, and a screenprinted patch I bought at an outdoor fair 2 summes ago.

I think the final product is quite good!

I've been waiting for a really good chance to use this screenprint patch!

I used shrinky dink to form the buttons, and this was my first button hole experience with Penelope. I think I made them a little too long, but I think they came out all-right.

I gave the pocket three sections, a large one in the back for books or my journal, and two smaller ones in the front for electronics.

Summer Hat Craze

2009-08-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

So, some of you may know, and some of you have been lucky enough to have missed it, but I recently got the world’s worst haircut. The best way to describe it is a cross between an a-line and a mullet; combined with my curls, it was a true disaster!

So what do crafty people do in the face of hair disasters? Make hats of course!

These hats are all the same pattern: it's called a Juliet cap, and you can find the pattern here

I started with this cream colored one; it's a hemp yarn.

Unfortunatley, it was a little loose, and kinda made me look like I was dressed in drag as a muslim man...

So I made this one from the tonalita italian silk yarn I had left over from my Zune case:

The pattern was so much fun to make; I made one for my mother! She likes more autumn-y colors so hers is the red-orange that fades to blue. The one I made for my mother is a Noro Silk Garden Lite yarn, and is so much fun to crochet with, but ended a little loose as well!

Ta-dah!

Anyway, I'm off to my cousin's wedding (and I'll be working on my winter scarf on the way!

Most Awesome Shopping Bag!

2009-02-09T14:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, so yesterday Chris and I went to the fabric store and got some canvas, orange thread, and awesome strap material to make a super fabuloso shopping bag! It's a proto project, he wants to make something cool for this new girlfriend (so sweet)

But the practice bag came out great! I'm really proud of it, but since I wasn't at my place, I didn't get very many pics- so I'll work on harassing him into takeing some good detail pics, and I'll post them right away!

In the meantime, here one quick pic (from my makes everything orange phone):

and also, please take the time to watch this video and sign the Courage Campaign Petition - Equal Rights should be equally available to all our citizens!

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Laura and Penelope sew a bookbag

2009-01-22T15:10:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, Penelope is my sewing machine. I named her after Odysseus' wife, who used her fiber arts to delay her wedding date so she could keep waiting for her husband to return.

I found this pattern for a quick book bag on stumble, and so last night, I decided to chop apart a few old shirts and an old belt (for the shoulder strap) and whipped it together in about 3 hours!

This was an old t-shirt of mine, that's become a little to short for my comfort, but I've always liked the design. And I really lucked out that I had another blue shirt for the lining. The colors don't match exactly, but somehow it really worked out.

You can't see it too clearly from these pics, but I used a zig-zag stitch for my pockets on the inside!
I also learned a lot about leaving large margins or edges to work with during the pocket attachment, but they're on the inside, and that was the first step, sewing the main pieces together went a lot better.

Overall I'm really happy with the way it came out, and now I just feel pained being seperated from Penelope long enough to do my Spanish.

Pero, qué lástima, es importante también.

Hats & Earwarmers

2009-01-14T23:19:00.000-08:00

Third Christmas Hat

so this is the third of these hats I've made; it's based on the Ski Beanie from Son of a SnB- using the larger needles and a CO of 105. I didn't reduce the CO number enough, I guess, because they've all come out fairly large and poofy.

This particular hat is the only one I kept, the other two were gifts to my newphews, and it has expanded quite a bit. Richard now calls it my "Rastafarian hat", but it's super soft , warm and cuddly; and I love it anyway (especially since it reduces the need for styling my hair in the morning).

The first time I wore it in the rain, however, the all-natural-fiber, that this one is made of, returned for one final "alpaca in the rain" swan song. It was quite manky and musty for about 2 days. But now, it just smells like my shampoo, so *phew*

The beginning of the ear warmers:

a humble beginning. Or, you could say, and 11 inch I-cord and nothing more..

I'm a little nervous; I've only read bad reviews of this particular pattern (in the SnB nation) and my first attempt at it yielded similar results to what I'd read: frustration, confusion, and a general disagreement with the writing style. But I will persevere.. or if all else fails, I will resort to my usual mo of ignoring the pattern outside of the most basic sense and making something that makes sense to me.

ciao!

Finished Christmas Hat

2008-12-23T01:17:00.000-08:00

Finished Christmas Hat!

So I'll have to come back and edit this post later with more info on the yarn and stuff, but this is a pattern from the Debbi Stoller - Son of Stitch n' Bitch book. I just love it! It came out so well and went really fast too.

I'm going to make another in the reverse colors, green stripe with red as the main. Originally I was making them for my newphews, but it looked so good on my sister I thought maybe they should be for her and her husband.. they're kinda big for the boys anyway.

We'll see.

ciao for now!

2008-11-03T20:45:00.000-08:00

Well, the scarf is really coming together - once I abandoned all the patterns in the name of common sense, and my knowlege of even numbers, it's looking beautiful! I'd say it's about 1/2 way now (if you don't count the inevitable fringe)

I'll be really glad to have a more toned down scarf for the days I'm not feeling the bright pink one!

ciao for now!

Oh p.s. Check out this song! I'm absolutely in love with it! It's very open and dreamy - so it's better for your chiller moods
School of Seven Bells on IndieFeed

Yes, they are.

2008-10-23T21:19:00.001-07:00

see more english fails

Striped Scarf

2008-10-16T19:50:00.001-07:00

Striped Scarf
Originally uploaded by leeisenhauer

scarf
Okay, the real post! This is the new scarf I'm working on. Originally I was thinking about doing the stripes really wide, but finally decided that I liked the ease of doing a 2x2 striping patter (1x1 ribbing)

p.s. to all you folks out there that said the odd number cast on for this pattern would make it simple and mindless should all go join MENSA. Or post clearer rules about how you're making an odd number bahave like an even number..

For all my peeps that have been wondering where I am: you guessed it. Back in school, which means that I have no time to do anything but.

Classes and Lamba Alpha
This semester I'm not taking 20 credit hours (last spring was brutal), but I am taking 16, and have taken on the challenge of reviving Lamba Alpha (anth students honor society) at PSU. We recently lost our funding because we were running a program that was too similar to ASA (Anthropology Students Association), and also everyone running both of those programs just graduated. So Wendy (who's taking charge of ASA) and myself (taking charge of LA) have our work cut out for us.

In good news, I just met with our advisor today, and she thinks we can get our funding back by winter if we can prove two seperate programs.

I've also been unofficially elected to get study groups off the ground in Spanish, and in Anthropology for this semester. So with all these things combined, I've spent the better part of this week juggleing peoples schedules, while still trying to find time to read and watch the debates.

I'm hoping that we can get our funding back in time to have our entomophogy feast in the spring!

Okay.. other news... Yes, Ben and I did break up; yes, we are still friends; No, I don't want to talk about it. Thanks, though.

Colorado
People keep asking me to give better updates about the trip to Colorado (except for those of you that were there in Colorado with me, you all seem to be pretty on top of it)

Look, I'm sorry, but a lot happened, and I can't really wrap my mind around all of it. All I know is that it's a really strange dynamic for me to be in Colorado. There are a lot of things that I was happy to leave behind when I left the first time, and there were a lot of things I didn't realize that I'd miss so much.

Going back this summer really made me think hard about which parts of my personality from CO to keep, and which from OR to keep.
Needless to say, they don't align that easily. This summers trip to CO was really hard on me emotionally, and it has fanned the flames for a much bigger fire inside my heart.

I had fun, there's pics on facebook, and I guess for the final result of the summer at my home away from home, you'll just have to stay tuned.:)

xoxox

knittin kitties

2008-10-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

Alright, the weather is getting colder, it's time to start dusting off the knittin' needles!

In the meantime though, here's some lolcat pics that Ben and I made over the summer. I can't seem to get them posted to the home page, but I think they're funny anyway!

Enjoy!

moar funny pictures

moar funny pictures

moar funny pictures

moar funny pictures

moar funny pictures

moar funny pictures

moar funny pictures

moar funny pictures

Needle graph

2008-07-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

From my ravelry account, in case ya'll need to borrow needles! ;) Nereisa you can put yours back to me in a comment!

I can't wait to get back to see all ya'll in the the fall!

Pics!

2008-05-12T10:46:00.000-07:00

Ryan and myself at Sushiland have a Zune Social and showing off our Zune Cases!

Priscilla! I ran into her at random on Saturday (which was perfect since I had been trying to call her to give her the hat!

The second Spring Spiral Hat, I made this one for MaryAlice (I added a removable flower)

Look at that beautiful spiral!

So my mom has requested something to cover her shoulders and arms at my brothers wedding. So into the pattern books I go!

Finished project storm!

2008-05-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

Oh man! Okay I've been waiting to update on these for photos, but my camera won't talk to my new computer (generation gap), so I'll get the pics up tomorrow!

In the meantime I'll just tell ya how excited I am!

I finished Priscillas hat, and I gave it to her today, she looks so adorable in it! Although I have to say, clearly my head is bigger than hers, because it's a little big bigger on her than me! me= fat head?? bloated ego?? Super Ginormous brain! <-- yeah that's gotta be it ;)
--Also I only used about 1/2 the amount of yarn I thought I would, so I'm making a secondary one for my little sis, I think she'll look super cute in it too!

I also finished Ryan's Zune case and we met up for lunch at Sushiland today to share music and revel in the glory of our Zune-tastic-ness! Also he turned me onto a new band: the Xploding Plastix ::heart::

And finally the shawl for my sister is complete! It's so pretty! The fringe is all trimmed, and the blocking really made a difference. So I'll show it off tomorrow, and then mail in on Monday!

In news: It looks like I'll be back in CO for the summer.

SnB my peeps?

2008-05-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

Next Sunday?

Interview with Lolly

2008-04-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I've been getting a lot of request for intel lately, so my publicist thought it would be a good time to answer some of the fan mail.

Okay, let's get started!

Laura, I haven't heard much from you lately? Are you mad at me?
I am not mad at you. I love you. I've just super swamped with school work (20 credit hours after all)

Really? I thought you would have dropped some of those classes by now, you're really doing it huh? How's that working out?
Well, I'm pretty stressed out. I have a break down about twice a week, and my emotions range from absolutely rock bottom depressed, to super fantasticly elated, to paralysing fear of failure, to glowing pride that I'm making it happen about 6 times a day!

Wow.. that sounds.. umm.. I guess I'm glad I haven't see you. So if you're so busy all the time, how come you have time to flood my comments with those silly cats? And how come you have time to send cat pictures, but not enough to return my e-mails or make a move on scrabble?
It's part of my coping mechanisms. It only takes me 2 minutes to go the the lolcat website and mad post the cat pics, but it takes time to sit down and write out an e-mail.

Also, I think the cats are funny, and it's good to laugh when you're busy!

I see. So what else do you do to relax?
Well, Benjo helps alot. I have to say, he really has a high tolerance lever for nuerotic behavior! We go play tennis (I'm actually improving), and on the weekends we'll get in his hottub.

Wow, a hot tub! Does that mean you've gotten over your irrational fear of public water?
No, the germaphobe is still alive and kickin' Somehow I'm just better able to ignore it. I'm getting better about moths too.

Does that mean you're able to get in the ocean yet?
Well, I haven't tested it. But probably the answer is still no. After all, there's really big fish in the ocean.

Okay, so you're still a freak. I read on your knitting blog that you knit to relax too, Is it true that you have 3 projects going on right now?
Actually there's 4, but one has fallen firmly into the UFO (unfinished object) pile; the sock.. But I'm currently blocking a shawl for my older sister to wear to her best friends wedding, a hat for Priscilla's birthday, and a Zune case for Ryan (Zune Social friend)

Wow, you sure do get a lot done!
I sure do. I'm also in the middle of the ColorWars2008 with ZeFrank.

So one thing I've really been worried about is what is going on with your apartment? What happened there?
Well, I'm in government subsidized housing, which means there's a lot of beaurocratic red tape to go through every year. I was afraid that some of my paperwork went through, and disqualified me. But so far so good. The leasing office has NOT told me to pack it up and leave. Although I will need to look into new housing options this summer for fall. It looks like my sis is less ceratin about moving, so I need to start considering alternatives in case she doesn't.

What about a boyfriend? When are you going to get married and have babies already? Everyone else is doing it!
I've taken on Durga as an example for my life. I don't need to have a man to validate my reality, and as for children, they'd be fun BUT that's just not something I can consider right now.

It's more important in my life that I stay "married" to my cause of making the world a more equitable place. I can't take kids (or a hubby who's got a life in the states) with me to the Peace Corps, so I'm putting all that kind of serious dating on hold for now.

Does that mean you're not dating at all?
No, I'm going on the occasional date, but nothing serious.

Speaking of good causes, how'd the March of Dimes go?
It was a huge success! I raised $446, and the weather was perfect. I've got some pics and videos up on myspace and facebook, but a more official summary will come soon.

Okay, so back to school. I thought you had a 5 page paper on Gandhi due today, and I know for a fact that last night you watched Lars and the Real Girl. Care to fill me in on what happened?
The paper got pushed back to next Monday.

Wow, lucky break. How are the rest of your grades?
On everything thing I've gotten back so far I've been getting about 84 - 88% on.

That must be really hard for you, being such a perfectionist and all
I'm happy to say that yes, it's hard for me, but I've finally gotten to a point in my life where I don't quit just because I can't be the best. Getting all B's in 5 classes I think is still pretty good.

Is it true that you might take a course through Linfield college this summer in archeology and get to do some actual digging?
How'd you find out about that?? That's all still up in the air. The PSU professor's may be stiking, so it might be the best course of action for me, BUT it would mean that I'd have to stay down there for the full term, PLUS I'd miss the last week because of my brothers wedding.. so we're not sure yet.

So Colorado in the summer. Are you going to be here or not?
Hopefully yes, but truthfully, I'm still waiting on confirmation of my tour dates. But there are some people who I would just love to see, even if only breifly.

Okay, two more questions. I know that you use your oven for storage. Are you eating enough?
Again, thank Benjo, he's really steped up to the plate on that one! I think he's just practicing for his new girlfriend though.

Okay.. so when are you going to stop with the dang cats already?
I can only say soon. Right now the obsession is fun and new. Let me get bored of it, and then I swear the silly cat pics will start to fade!

Well, thanks for being with us today! I know it's hard for you to get away
Well. For you, it's worth it!

Ciao, ChowChow

Shawls and Fringe

2008-04-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

So I've actually finished this piece, except for the fringe, and I have to say I'm just in love with it! It took a while to get off the groung, because I was trying to force the wrong size hook, but once I started going with it, it was done!

So I may have to block this piece, something I've never really done at all before, but it's a little off center, with the pointed end veering a little to far off to the one side than I can truely be happy with. I think I'll try the blocking with a steam iron before I go all the way to the soaking and pinning for days and days.

In bad news of course: I have lost it! I actually think I left it in my professors office on Tuesday, but I'm not entirely sure, and her office hours are while I'm in class, I've sent an e-mail asking about it, hopefully she'll have it and bring it to class on Friday for me :)

ciao!

Knitting in Court

2008-04-02T17:11:00.000-07:00

So I was summoned to jury duty yesterday. Acutally I was summoned today, but I showed up a day early on accident, so they just said "stay".

On the web it says you can't bring knitting needles into the court house, but I figured, since I'm the Queen of Awesometown, that didn't apply to me. So I brought the Zune case that I'm working on: size 2 dp sock needles. They didn't even bat an eye.

So I got to knit while I was waiting to be called. I got called for the second trial of the day, and was kept for the actaul jury. In fact I got to be the person that spoke for the jury. And I NEVER want that job again!

Anyway, I was pretty excited that I got to make part of the Zune case at the courthouse, even some of it in the jury deliberation room!! I knit in a little piece of history into my work! Hooray!

Oh yeah.. p.s. I NEVER want to get the public DA if I go to trial in this state! YIKES!

Sock Puppets = Yes!

2008-03-08T01:44:00.000-08:00

In Spanish class we're doing a skit as part of the final! It's about a bank robber:

But I think it should be about forbidden love!

But really it doesn't matter, because any reason to desecrate a sock is good with me!

Lolly's Zune Case

2008-03-03T03:20:00.000-08:00

Laura Eisenhauer
ZUNE CASE

I created this Zune case for my 80gig Zune because when I bought it, it came with a pouch that is soft and nice, but it’s too big for practical use. There were a few patterns on the web, but none I really liked, so I decided to try my hand at making one!

Notes: I used the Trendsetter Yarns, Tonalita, and rosewood needles for this pattern; the combined slickness of the needles, and fine texture of the yarn allowed me to use smaller needles and a thicker worsted weight yarn. I’d recommend using a thinner yarn yarn as long as you can get a similar gauge.

Also, you can switch from the s,p stitch to a knitting in the round after an inch or so, but it might make your gauge a little smaller (but it will could save you hours of frustration as one missed stitch can be a devastating to correct).

Size: Zune 80gig

Materials:
*size 6 sock needles, one button,
*1 ball Trendsetter Yarns, Tonalita
*One button (approx. nickel sized)

Gauge: based on stockinette stitch: 5 sts and 7 rows in 1 sq. in.

Directions:
Starting at the bottom and working up:

Pouch:
all slips are purlwise
CO 32 sts.

*s1, p1* to end for 4 ½ in. in (about 26 counted rows)
Check every few rows to be sure you haven’t made any mistakes, otherwise your pouch will be sealed shut at that point.

Open the pouch by slipping every other stitch onto two separate needles. You should have 16 on each needle. Move about 4 stitches off each needle onto 3 needle to work in the round. Pull the pouch through the needles so the purl side is on the inside.

BO 18 sts. K to end

Headphone gap:
The pouch is designed to have the Zune screen facing the back of the pouch to avoid unnecessary pressure from the button against the screen.

P to end
BO 3 sts, k to end
P 11 sts, CO3

Flap:

K3, p9, k3
K to end
Repeat last two rows 5 times
K3, p3, BO3, p3, k3
K6, CO3, K6
Next four rows: K to end
BO

Finishing:
Put Zune in case to properly line up the button hole. Attach button and enjoy your new creation!

Frogging the second Zune case!

2008-03-03T01:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I got about 1/2 way through the hard part of this Zune case, but, it was not to be. Unfortunatley I had to frog it today. >:(

The last one has stretched out a little, and it's kinda baggy now:

So I thought I'll make the next one smaller. The pattern calls for an even number of stitches, so I decreased by two, but Alas! Either I've knit the edges too loose, or it's just too small....

I tried really hard to love it with this laddering on the side, but I just couldn't do it.

Back to the drawing board. *sigh*

Finished hat!

2008-02-24T02:31:00.000-08:00

Done!

Supersize PomPom!

2008-02-23T02:52:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the first pom pom I made was a little on the LARGE side!! But as soon as those are resized, and attached the hat will me officially done!!

*cheering*

In the meantime, I do this charity event WalkAmerica every year for March of Dimes. It's so enjoyable and I just love it!

Almost done with hat

2008-02-11T16:33:00.000-08:00

I'm almost through knitting the Russian Winter hat. It looks great! About 2 inches into the bonnet part I realized that my guage was too tight (despite the 4 guage swatches) so I increased 4 stitches. Now it seems to be just about perfect!

if I can get it done today than I can mail it to my Mom for a belated V-day gift!

Pictures soon!

Russian Winter Hat from Stitch n' Bitch Nation

2008-02-09T04:23:00.000-08:00

Hooray! What do we do with insomnia? Knit out little hearts out!

So after 4 gauge swatches I finally got started on the hat! It's coming along really well, but I got pretty easily stumped on row 25! Thanks to ravelry.com, though, I was able to find the patterns creator and she had some FAQ's just for this pattern! Once I wrapped my mind around the fact that I was creating the back of the bonnet, and not an earflap it made a lot more sense!

And I learned something today too, I was picking up stitches completely wrong! Now that I've got that sorted out, I may actually be able to go back and pick up that UGH! sock I've been working on since last year!

p.s. yes I still remember about the Zune case pattern.. I've tried writing it a few times, and it's harder than it looks to write a pattern out, so it's still coming - but you can exhale now :*

Ah, the first post!

2008-02-03T19:05:00.000-08:00

Okay I created this blog just for you, Ravelry.com! I have another blog on my myspace, so if you're interested in the other nonsense that happens in my life shoot me a line and we'll talk about access options ;) But this blog is going to be just for my fiber arts projects, and maybe the random poem that I feel like forcing on the rest of you.

First order of buisness. But up the pattern for my Zune case... coming soon.