So So Sewing

Lately I've really been into making things and I've also realized that knitting can't fulfill all of my crafty visions. I got a sewing machine for Christmas from Matt's Nana Fumi and I finally pulled it out of the box for the first time last Thursday. I devoted a whole day to learning how to use my new machine and making a little project and although my sewing technique is a little sub-par, I'm pretty pleased with the way my project turned out.

This is the inside of the bag.


And today I made this



Both bags are made with old sweaters that I bought or had and then felted in the washing machine. The fabric on the inside has been hanging out in my craft bin for a couple of years just waiting to be used, and it's from a trip to Ikea. I did a little bit of embroidery on the fronts to make them more interesting but overall they're pretty simple. I think that the hardest part for me is sewing in the zipper and aligning the lining and everything so that they look okay. I tried a different method with each bag but both ways took me forever, so I'm going to keep working on the design and hopefully I'll figure out a way to make them a little faster and with better sewing. But first I'm going to order some cute fabric online and try making something that doesn't involve such thick fabric. I can't wait until I've got things all figured out and I can make a quilt from my Denyse Schmidt book, but for now I'll have to be patient and start small.

Happy Hooker

So I know I haven't posted in a week or so but I have a good excuse! It was midterms, and I really was not prepared. This is no surprise really, because I'm never prepared for anything and frankly, this is my process. So I had a few late nights and anxiety-filled days last week...but now I'm okay and I've been spending the weekend celebrating the fact that all of that studying is behind me. This will probably go on until the next time I realize at the last minute that it's finals but we'll just pretend that it's a surprise when it happens and go through the process all over again. It works for me.

Anyways, after my purchase of the Happy Hooker last week I've been desperately trying to finish Matt's pesky sweater so that I can get on with my life! I'm really interested to try out one of the crochet patterns in the book to see how I like it since all I've ever crocheted are hats and hat-like forms. There are so many things that I want to make and that damn sweater just won't end! We realized that it's too big (no wonder it took four hundred extra yards!) but it's too late now and Matt has agreed to wear the sweater regardless of how baggy and wierd it may look. That's love, people.


So, hopefully this week I will be able to post a picture of Matt's completed sweater but for now all I've got is this update. Stay tuned.

Self Respect

Okay, so either no one reads this blog or I have a lot of shy visitors because after last week's request for advice I got only ONE comment! I'm okay with this because I know deep down in my heart I am not using this blog as a popularity contest....but I will admit that there was a moment when I was feeling pretty lame and unloved. I'm okay now.

Anyways, maybe it's not the right time to go about a blogging change. I should probably start working on my crafty to do list before I take on such a big project. And speaking of big projects, I thought that I'd share my newest creation with you.

I am crotcheting a basket out of 24 gauge copper wire. So far I'm pleased with the way that it looks but I'm reaching a point that will require me to increase stitches and I'm not quite sure how I'll do that. I guess I'll have to see what happens.
I got this idea from a local Bay Area artist named Ruth Asawa who made hundreds of these amazing wire sculptures. They are really so simple and organic, but I find them to be really moving. They remind me of jellyfish or being underwater. I don't know if I'll ever be able to acheive the same feeling that Ruth has, but this is still only my first attempt.

Non-Knitting Content

Since I don't think that you want to see Matt's partly finished sweater, here is a photo of my first ever sculpture. It is made of plaster, it is chalky feeling, I like to look at it but I hate to touch it...it feels icky.

For my next sculpture project I have to make something that somehow involves a wooden box that I build myself. So far the box is done and as of today, it is also Shellac-ed and ready to be sculpturized. I'll keep you posted with the details, let's just say that there is a crochet hook involved.

In other bloggy news, I've been thinking alot about my blog lately and I realized that I had forgotten that my original purpose in having a blog was to keep track of my various creative endevers (I think this is spelled wrong, just to let you know) and to be part of the community of crafty people out there who inspire me by they're own crafty blogging. For this reason I think that I need to maybe change the format of my blog so that I can fit in all of the little details that make a good crafty blog good. So, I wanted to see if any of you people have any suggestions about different hosts. What do you like, or dislike about typepad, squarespace, etc.? Is it worth the trouble to switch?

Thanks in advance for your help!