I Love Lace

Oh HO! Finally, some progress. I finished an entire lace project!

Imagine that. It took SO long but after blocking, I think it looked way, way better than I could have hoped (it's true- blocking works and it's amazing.)

I worried that it might be way too small but it's okay.. The only thing really off about it is the uneven center "spine" and the pointy edging is rather uneven but it looks perfectly fine as a whole. Size reference:

wow! mostly consistent!

This is a present for my sister, but don't tell her. If she stumbles across this post it'll be a surprise anyway.

List No. 2

Continuing with my lists, I aim to embarass myself and make you uncomfortable with my Top 8 list-that-just-had-to-be-done: my personal pick of the Hottest Famous Men Alive.

WITH PICTURES!!!
Okay- it would have- *should have* been a Top 10. But this list left me emotionally drained. You can tell a lot about a person by their "Top" lists and I happen to put a *lot* of thought in them because I am very selective. Only those who make the cut consistently and continuously are here (and that should weird you out even more).

You won't find a conventional list here, I promise.

My Top 8 Hottest Famous Men Alive:

(Top Dead Guys might follow, if I can find a decent engraving of Liszt)

1. Christoph "Doom" Schneider

I have a thing for drummers. Even if a guy is also talented on guitar I will always think he looks better playing the drums. It is a strange, strange thing. Just ask me how I feel about Mikko Siren, drummer for Apocalyptica.

So even though there are a total of SIX huge German men in my favorite band, Rammstein, all of my utter fascination and attraction go to Schneider. (aka Doomy)

Whether he was channeling DeNiro from "Taxi Driver" in a music video (OMG mohawk!!!!) or having his massively curly hair stage I loved his face the first time I saw it. He definately wears eyeliner best of all the men in my harem. I mean, hot list.

2. Johnny Depp

Uh huh, yeah. Obviously. Brad Pitt can take a hike. See these dichotomous "style" photos? I love them both equally and unconditionally. Johnny can simply do no wrong. Haven't you heard he's a sweet heart to his fans, too? He's the only famous person I would consider doing unbearably fangirly for, like knitting a sweater with a strand of my hair in it. He might even wear it, too, if he happened to like it.

Consistently his name will rise to my mind when considering "Best Actor, Ever"

3. Ewan McGregor

Oh Ewan, even though you've had sorta crap roles in movies lately you are always utterly convincing in every character that you play, with your sexy Scottish accent and your sexy stubbly chin. You are the only person who can make smoking look really, really sexy. You are also the only one for whom I've written this blurb in "open letter" format. I admire you to no end for saying that men should spend as much screentime naked in movies as women do. You have clearly done your part. Major kudos.

4. Anthony Stewart Head


YES! No one can deny that Giles was a sexy beast! But even better, AsH is an amazingly unconventional actor, further emphasized by the Intellectual British persona he is most known for. Look a little further in his repertoire and you'll see lots- from quirky comedy to cult-movie rock opera (that man can SING) and yes- he looks like Bowie when he's got the glam rocker outfit and makeup on. Anthony Head is a silver fox.

5. Seth Green

Continuing with the Buffy-verse fandom, Oz was definately my favorite supernatural heartthrob. I *definately* stopped watching the show when he was spurned- he was that worth it. Nowadays he is one of my favorite voice actors and seems to have a hand in a lot of comedy that I like. He is super cute and I would date the hell out of him.

6. Patrick Wilson

Holy cow, his hotness just hits you in the face. He has got the best kind of smile- dimply and very crinkly around the eyes. He's the sole and primary reason I watched Hard Candy twice (and Watchmen a third time)- and somehow made me obsessed with owls. His hairline is also receding and he is working it very, very well- proof that balding men are sexy- though Chris will hardly get over his jealousy enough for me to make it a point to him.

7. Jared Padalecki

UNK. Um. Errrr.... all of a sudden I'm lightheaded. This picture is dangerous.
Uh..... what... more... can.. I say? Supernatural. I love this show. More shirtless Sam, please (no? then wifebeaters? clingy wet t-shirts?.... please?) Sorry to Jensen Ackles (who is also unbelievably buff) but Jared just takes the beefcake.
It's strange because I didn't think a sweet set of abs could do that to be anymore (that is, hit puberty all over again)- male models don't do much for me- but... yeah. Just look at them guns.

8. Mischa Collins

It must be the eyes. Or his voice. Or the character, Castiel. Something about Mischa Collins actually makes me able to *take my eyes off of* Jared Padalecki in favor of him. He's got that 'serene yet intense' thing going all over the place. That is just what I'm trying to say- his appeal is inexplicable.

PS (aka: parting shot): I totally have a folder in my hard drive labeled "boys", just like Adrian Veidt. Heeheeeeeeeeeee

List No. 1

I am so obviously in a blogging rut. Projects ARE coming along- just very, very slowly. So I will entertain (or horribly bore you all) with another thing that I love to do: make lists.

I can make lists all day, every day. I will try to post one every few days until my next big post. Can we make list-a-day a blog challenge?

I begin with:

Books Read since March (i.e: since arriving in Yellowknife)

along with my very short, half-assed reviews

because there is nothing else to do.

Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood. Is there any wonder why I like Margaret Atwood? Her literary style is masterly, the pacing is excellent her characters and story have boundless depth. You can also tell she does her research. That said, it was a very satisfying read with engaging characters, wonderful reading, memorable story, etc etc forever.

The Tommyknockers, Stephen King. I am liking horror fiction a lot lately, and decided to take the plunge into more "popular" writers- Stephen King seemed like a pretty obvious start. There are some very memorable and chilling bits and the unusual fusion of sci-fi and horror was novel But the book is Too. Damn. Long. It ruins the ominous pacing by making it drag on and on. The climax was epic and the ending was great (everybody DIES) but I was so glad it was over.

Wetlands, Charlotte Roche. Equal parts unnerving and fascinating, and not for the squeamish. This is a headlong rush into the innermost thoughts (and bodily functions) of an strongly opinionated and liberal-minded young woman that is sometimes gross and shocking but un-put-down-able. Regardless of your opinion of the story by the end, it will definately make you rethink your relationship with your own body.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Mary Ann Schaffer & Annie Barrows. Making a trip into bestseller-land: it is certainly a good book with unique and witty writing. The occupation of unprotected British islands by Germans for 5 years during WWII is the main story but the love and influence of literature is the heart of the experience. It has an incredibly happy fairy-tale ending for the main character, which I'm not sure how to feel about.

Let the Right One In, John A Lindqvist. Very much the most chilling vampire fiction I've ever read- this is the vampire legend at its most primeval, mysterious and dangerous, counter-acted with the fragile innocence and trepidation of childhood with just a touch of the evils of humanity. It inspired a fantastic movie with the same pacing- peaceful yet ominous, with moments that are tender and brutal. Among the best of the best in vampire fiction.

The Last Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko. The last of the Night/Day/Twilight Watch series is as great as all the previous ones- chock-full of magic and spells and supernatural beings and alternate worlds and on and on... with a mystery to solve with each chapter. My only gripe with it is that it's over!! Each chapter and end of story left me feeling lacking because I wanted to *keep* reading, to learn more and more about this particular magic universe, terribly interesting and vast but largely unexplained. I suppose that is a good thing- I bid it farewell with fondness in my heart.

A Great and Terrible Beauty, Libba Bray. I was under the impression this would be good teen fantasy fiction with strong female characters but sadly, it told an extremely unremarkable and predictable storyline- so blase, I can retell it now: Girl is uprooted from hometown and placed in a strict finishing school following family tragedy where she is unpopular and rubbish and finishing school because she is Different but Special. Makes it into the popular crowd somehow but still defends the unpopular; they have a secret club; they enter a fantasy world with magic powers they didn't know they had; they are warned a lot not to abuse these powers but do anyway. Slight plot twist that reintroduces/explains the tragedy at beginning of story. Supreme evil threatens. Supreme evil is defeated, one person dies (by their own choice). There. Saved you the trouble.

Their problems in both the real and fantasy world never have very much depth or menace, and the unexplained bits aren't even interesting enough to read the next in the series. Ho hum.

The Luxe, Anna Godsbersen. Now this was teen fiction I could get into. Full of soap opera-like twists and turns and love quadrangles the high-society, rich-and-spoiled-but-with-everything-to-lose characters are all manipulated in such ways as to make their lives impossible. The dresses and parties are pretty but their lives are a mess. It's a wonder their heads don't implode with the intensity of their emotions. I found it very entertaining and am going to read the whole series.

Twilight, Stephanie Meyer. I have already read lots of spoilers for the books to come (including the last one, with every character's eventual fate) and fear what is to come if the general opinion is that the books go downhill after the first one- which was fine- okay, the lead characters are terrible and the love story is rubbish and more irritating than not but the story and secondary characters look(ed) promising. It was readable and enjoyable but not gripping or essential. I can definately wait till they are all out in paperback- but I mostly want to finish it as to understand Twilight references.

Dead until Dark, Club Dead, Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris. Incredibly entertaining and might I say- a great companion to the True Blood series. You'll like Sookie a lot more if you read the books. I just bought the box set- can't wait for it to get here!!- for the fun, sexy, supernatural escapism that it provides. I will definately re-read them all- in a Southern accent.

back in black

After a long hiatus involving moving to Yellowknife, getting (two) new jobs, working full-time hours with both jobs combined five days a week for the first time in my life and a whole lotta computer drama, I have finally assumed some sense of normalcy. And that means knitting!
Still homesick as hell, though.

I started these as the cold weather seemed like it would never end (it's still unseasonably cold for May) but of course the weather warms up to mid-ten degrees as soon as I finish.

Wheeeeeeeee multicolored roving! Thrumming looks so cool- and is super easy. With all the extra thickness, the mitten is at least 1.5 times larger than your actual hand.

But even with all that roving (around 8 oz) these mittens wouldn't be warm enough the dead of Yellowknife winter- maybe spring or fall... or Halifax winter.

ALSO, how come nobody told me these existed?? And of all places to see them for sale- a small gardening shop off Kam Lake here in Yellowknife- along with a lot more knitpicks products. They were $80 but seem like a bargain as I'd be set for life for circular needles! I had to try hard NOT to buy them- only because I've already amassed a huge collection of circulars... and saving up for a major shopping trip in Edmonton. Some day, though.

I'll be back soon, promise.

another month another... oh, you know

okay. here is the post about stuff with the thing.

Having a week off work gave me tons of free time so as not to stress out about the big move, but at the same time I went completely stir crazy. I crafted like mad, although along with the strict organized side of me, I finished all endevours perfectly on schedule. In no matter what condition.

First off, I cast on and completed this super steampunk aviator hat in three days.
It buckles underneath the chin, wowee.
I used fuzzy cream yarn to line the earflaps to mimic sheepswool.

I accidently clipped an enormous hole in the dead center front of the hat- can't you tell? It was bad. Real bad. As the alternative was chucking the whole thing and starting over (the only reason I didn't: wouldn't have enough brown yarn for another), I patched it up hastily with little regards to the appearance.

The inside is a mess of retarded intarsia.

I would like to remake it a size bigger, with less mistakes and lined completely with that fuzzy yarn, because it's awesome and was such a quick knit nonetheless, considering.

This month's Masq was "cult movie" themed.

me and my Masq posse.

Is it bad that I already owned most of the components of Amber Sweet's "Zydrate Anatomy" outfit? (as well as a Lydia outfit from Tim Burton's 1989 "BeetleJuice" for Meaghan?)
....don't answer that.
(here I am intimidating Kitt, as Shilo. If only they had played the actual song-- as we were perfectly prepared to reenact the scene)

Seriously, besides the lace for the bolero and the beaded trim and sequined elastic I dismantled to adorn the corset and the bra, I only needed buy the wig.
I was dying to share my costume-making technique with other party-goers (who I assumed would know about Repo?!) Mostly, I got hit on by girls because I am asian.

So yeah, the "skirt" took about 3 hours to make (a long time, for a bunch of straps) while the bolero took 30 minutes. The bra was hand-beaded, one sequin at a time.
Makeup took a long time too (courtesy of wonderful Meaghan).

I was absolutely freezing all night, due to complete lack of pants. I was wearing TWO corsets (one ultratight elastic, one boned) and was squeezed outta my life. The underbust miracle bodysuit was designed to push tits together so that plus a push-up bra ensured my boobs consistently pointed UP and OUT and painfully so (that is NOT my normal posture, realize).
The false eyelashes were murder, (i'm a lightweight when it comes to contacts to boot) the wig kept sliding around, and I stumbled around on numb, aching feet, my organs packed tightly inside my squashed ribcage, simultaneously sweating and shivering and feeling tripped out of my skull.

At least I was in character.

owl obsession

This month's craft blog is devoted to the big (and well-deserved) hype of the month: Watchmen. I will be seeing it again soon for the third time in 2 weeks (but this time in IMAX. So. Excited.) And I loved it. (You either do or don't) But probably the reason that keeps me going back is the overwhelming amount of man candy in a single movie.

PATRICK WILSON AS NITE OWL = SEX ON LEGS
...even with the weight gain and retro haircut! Dan was always my favorite in the graphic novel (underdog? nerdy? gentleman? multiple costumes? awesome ship? HELLO FANTASY BOYFRIEND) and the movie just cemented the crush.

On that note- which Nite Owl fan doesn't have an obsession with the infamously cute snowsuit from the graphic novel? (look it up in the book if you don't know what it is- don't have a pic to post) Inspired by posts of fan plushies across the internets (mostly of Rorschach) I knew it MUST be done.
Time: 9-10 hours / Material: Felt, Fleece, Faux Fur, Acrylic paint, stitchwitch, plastic buttons

This is my very first attempt at making a custom plushie (entirely self-drafted pattern). Considering it was about 90% handsewn I think it came together extremely quickly (there is also a strong motivation aspect when being propelled by fandom)
The coat is not removable and the legs are only continued up to the waist. (where they are then sewn to the coat)

I call it "Version 1.0" because I definately plan to make another one to perfect the design- although the prototype was definately necessary to test the effectiveness of the pattern.
Version 2.0 will include:
- felting the brown "feathers" detail into the fleece, instead of paint
- refining the sewing and stuffing
- more ovalish eyes
Because it was such a success, I did consider making an entirely separate doll to be encased in the coat but it would simply be too much for my skills (and wouldn't get the desired cuddly chubbiness that this plush boasts)

Of course, I lamented this version was not in the movie (probably cause it looks like the kind of coat grannies wear) but I appreciated the high-tech version with zip-up snuggie sleeves. Perhaps he could have put the hood up- but then the chorus of "awwwws!" would have drowned out the soundtrack.

Next in the plan: Rorschach plushie with changeable masks!!!

clothes talk

Sorting through my wardrobe in preparation for 6 months of clothes-shopping-barren Yellowknife, I've noticed some repeat items that I buy again and again- in many different varieties, brands and fabrics- but still the same specific thing.
It is a difficult choice to decide which of them I want to bring- because there are so MANY, and yet I love them all.
This is because I wear them incessantly.
This is because I am completely obsessed with them.

This is what's called a signature look, though. And this is mine down pat:
- Black long-sleeved blazers: I love the way they can dress up a pair of jeans or be dressed down with a printed t-shirt. I've got a collection for every season and occasion (nearly...) whether 3/4 length sleeve or velvet or cotton jersey or lightweight or outdoor-weight. At last count I had nearly 10.

- Flat, knee-high, lace-up boots (black): You simply can't beat the lace-up variety. I wear them every day. When it comes to boot shopping, I shun all other varieties. But when I encounter a lace-up pair, I must have it. I've tried different variations (high heels, calf/ankle height, no-lace) and they simply don't work for me. Call it the Daria and/or Jane syndrome. That shit was all about me.

- Long hooded sweaters (black): The absolute ultimate in lounging gear. And they've got to be long: I'm talking butt-length- or longer. I don't get to wear them enough as I work every day, but I've got half a dozen stuffed in a shelf for single, glorious, warm moments. I've got a knee-length zip-up hoodie that is the only thing I've worn enough to warrant multiple repairs and I'm going to own it forever.

What is your signature style?