Squish!

From now on, I’m letting James name all my Cephalopods. This, according to him, is Squish:

Hello!

Squish is hand-sculpted from polymer clay in various shades of purple (and some blue). He’s little for an octopus but large for a pendant, and holds in his little be-tentacled arms a fuzzy teal heart.

Squishy Love

He’s got an asymmetrical chain with an “Imagine” charm on the clasp:

Imagine

Many fine, proud little suckers on his many fine, proud little arms:

Suckers

And he loves you.

Introducing Squish

This is how the list currently stands:

– Polymer Clay Skull and Rose Set
– Polymer Clay Purple Octopus Necklace
– Polymer Clay Teal Octopus Necklace- this one is giving me all sorts of issues
– Polymer Clay Eden Necklace
– Rose Hoodie
– Beaded Ocean Necklace (OMG I HATE SEED BEADS)
– Beaded Bamboo Necklace (Must restart, as strung this too tightly)
– Knitted Two-Toned Ribbed Shrug from Fitted Knits FROGGED because of unfixable screw-up
– Embroidered Cuttlefish Shirt
– Embroidered Chinatown Shirt
– A re/upcycled book (this one has a deadline)
– Tiger Iron Necklace

You may notice I added an item. This is not because I cast on anything new. This is because I forgot I was working on it when I originally wrote the list.

I appear to be chugging along nicely, though I must admit I’m going through new project withdrawl. I’ve got so many ideas!

Skulls, Roses and Spring Resolutions

This is what the list looked like.

This is what the list looks like now:

– Polymer Clay Skull and Rose Set
– Polymer Clay Purple Octopus Necklace
– Polymer Clay Teal Octopus Necklace
– Polymer Clay Eden Necklace
– Rose Hoodie
– Beaded Ocean Necklace (OMG I HATE SEED BEADS)
– Beaded Bamboo Necklace (Must restart, as strung this too tightly)
– Knitted Two-Toned Ribbed Shrug from Fitted Knits (I suspect I screwed up so badly I’ll have to frog this one)
– Embroidered Cuttlefish Shirt
– Embroidered Chinatown Shirt
– A pair of books made of re/upcycled materials (this one has a deadline)

That is a little progress, no? Last post I set myself on a new-project diet but was unspecific as to it’s limits and what I would consider “diet accomplished”. Shortly after this post ran across my RSS reader, which led me in turn to this post (ahh, internet, how I love your interwoven ways). I am no quilter and so do not know if I can play the “Spring to finish” game, but I can certainly adopt the goal: finish as many of my unfinshed objects as possible by the end of April.

Furthermore, I can invite you to play along! Dig out all your UFOs, my friends, for it is time for an April finish-a-thon. All who want to play, feel free to drop a comment (if you have to comment anonymously -I’m sorry LJ is so unkind to offsite visitors- please sign with your blog link), that way we can follow and motivate and compete with each other until that pile of projects is pwned.

And who knows, maybe I can get some sort of prize-thing together. Maybe.

Here’s some of the aforementioned progress for you:

Memento Mori

The skull is very similar to the ones in this post and the roses to the ones in this post. I like the two motifs together.

It’s a pretty chunky pendant, so I figured it would go well with a pretty chunky (thrifted) chain. I think I made the chain a bit long, however. Alas.

I painted the piece with black acrylic paint, wiped a bit of it off, then let it dry completely and sanded off a ton via cheap emory boards. I’m also trying out a new protective finish. So far I’m happy with the results.

Inane Rambling and a Scarf

I’ve grown suspicious that creativity, for me, is a finite resource. Not time to nor will to create (though these are both limited as well), but creativity itself; the fire of inspiration, the bright light of insight, the glorious fusion of mind and skill in the service of the grand idea. Yeah, that. You see, I’ve been quite consistent with my crafting in the last few weeks, and in correlation cannot produce a paragraph of non-crafty or schoolish writing nor so much as a sketch that is not specifically designed to be an embroidery pattern, even if I do have time and will. Likewise, when there are large time gaps in this blog’s archives, I can dig up corresponding bits of fiction or essays or books upon books of drawings in various states of completion. It feels like the discipline of thought required to churn out a scrap wood loom and scarf are very different than those required to think through a story’s plot, and that I can’t switch gears in less than, say, a month.

Think of it like juggling. I am a beginning juggler- the more brightly-colored balls I have in the air the more I drop, shatter and forget. As, always one to be irresistibly drawn to shiny objects, I add more and more crafty projects and pursuits, my old standbys -my art, my writing- fall away.

But you know, with practice, beginning jugglers become experts. I suspect I need more practice on juggling creativity, on moving my tired little mind from one sort of production to another without burning it out. A creative work-out, if you will. Any advice, my dear internet friends?

The point of all this is that I miss telling stories and pulling all sorts of odd and amusing beasties out into my sketchbook, and that I think I need to cut down on the “ongoing craft project” roster. This is the ongoing craft project roster:

– Polymer Clay Skull and Rose Set
– Polymer Clay Purple Octopus Necklace
– Polymer Clay Teal Octopus Necklace
– Polymer Clay Eden Necklace
– Rose Hoodie
– Beaded Ocean Necklace (OMG I HATE SEED BEADS)
– Beaded Bamboo Necklace (Must restart, as strung this too tightly)
– Knitted Two-Toned Ribbed Shrug from Fitted Knits (I suspect I screwed up so badly I’ll have to frog this one)
– Embroidered Cuttlefish Shirt
– Embroidered Chinatown Shirt
– A pair of books made of re/upcycled materials (this one has a deadline)

And that list has nothing on the projects I want to work on. It is officially time to go on a new project diet.

Recently in the finished category, I’ve finished a second scarf:

Vinyard Dreams

The warp yarn is the same 1/4 inch stretched t-shirt yarn I used in the tutorial. The weft, however, was cut at an inch or so and very carefully left unstretched. I was also careful not to pack the weft down as tightly as I had before. I like the effect.

Close up

I’ve entered this scarf in the Sublime Stitching Upcycling contest. I’d love to win this one- I’m a huge Sublime Stitching fan. I wonder if you can submit multiple entries? Because the books I’m working on might turn out quite impressive.

Love!

Jellies

I was hoping to have a rose hoodie to show you today, but instead I have some advice for sewing with knit fabrics: make sure the stretch of the fabric goes across the garment, not up and down. Alas, I must placate you with an embroidery pattern.

Looking at the patterns I’ve supplied thusfar, one could easily come to the conclusion that I have some sort of anti-chordate bias. I’ll have to work on that one.

Cnidaria

Per usual these patterns/images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.

As the spiel goes, you are encouraged to do whatever you want with the piece(s) (use, reuse, abuse, remix, share), just give me a nod (a link back would be preferred) and don’t use it for profit. Should you really want to use them in a profit-making venture, talk to me and maybe we can work something out. The best thanks you could give me, should you like my patterns, would be to show me what you do with them and tell your friends where you got them.

To get the full-resolution image, click on your desired picture once, then click on it again. Save it to your computer, then resize, print and use as you see fit. You can find a reminder/introduction to embroidery, including basic stitches and the all-important “how to transfer your pattern to your fabric” links in this post!

Finally: if you’ve got suggestions for embroidery patterns you’d like to see, I would love to hear them (no promises, though), and if you would like to see all of my growing collection of free embroidery patterns, look here.

Happy stitching!

Skulls

When all else fails -when I want to embroider SOMETHING but I don’t know what, when I have no ideas nor specific inspiration nor anything but the urge to stitch- I tend to plaster skulls all over everything.

This sheet has just about every variation on skull badassery I could come up with whilst killing time before Stats class starts. There are grinning skulls, poison skulls, skulls with horns and skulls of a piratical nature. There are skulls galore.

Skulls!

Per usual these patterns/images are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.

In translation, you are encouraged to do whatever you want with the piece(s) (use, reuse, abuse, remix, share), just give me a nod (a link back would be preferred) and don’t use it for profit. Should you really want to use them in a profit-making venture, talk to me and maybe we can work something out. Really, I just want to keep track of where she goes, and want anyone who wants the pattern to know where to find it.

To get the full-resolution image, click on your desired picture once, then click on it again. Save it to your computer, then resize, print and use as you see fit. You can find a reminder/introduction to embroidery, including basic stitches and the all-important “how to transfer your pattern to your fabric” links in this post!

Finally: if you use these patterns I’d love to see it (and I may just feature you in my blog!), if you’ve got suggestions for embroidery patterns you’d like to see, I would love to hear them (no promises, though), and if you would like to see all of my growing collection of free embroidery patterns, look here.

Happy stitching!

I Just Can’t Stop Myself

Jumprope Necklace the Second

Jumprope necklace number two! This one is made with agate pebble beads and silver foil-lined large seed beads, and finished with a simple silver toggle clasp.

Clasp

I love the look of the multicolored agate- it’s playful, somehow wild and natural. (I have trouble using the word natural, since it’s become an advertising codeword. “It must be good for you!” the masses say, “It’s natural!” “Great!” say I. “So’s Anthrax!” Alas, I lack a better word for this look.)

Agate

I’m starting to look at all the nugget and pebble beads cross-eyed and lusty-like. This one would look fantastic with copper spacers, this one with something black. Nugget beads in general have such character to them that I think they work best in simple designs like a jumprope necklace.

I have actually begun updating the store, beginning with the Young Spring necklace and this necklace. Just so’s you know.

One

Two

Three

To-Do Lists

I have so many projects on the proverbial burners right now that the whole damn kitchen wants to go up in flames. I’m knitting the two-toned shrug from Fitted Knits, I’m making a project for this here button challenge, I’m weaving a scarf and making another project to enter into this Sublime Stitching contest (ohpleaseletmewin), I’m embroidering some cuttlefish, making my first piece of chainmail (under the direction of the lovely James), I’m working on some polymer clay sculpture, I’ve got multiple sewing projects on the table, two beaded necklaces piled right next to the sewing projects, and my etsy shop is staring me down with a superior smirk, sneering “Just when did you say you’d actually update me? Two weeks ago?”

And then there’s school, and my LJ paid account came due (the account isn’t that costly, but add the extra storage space for pictures and it sends a pang through this month’s budget), and who knows what else. Whew!

Let’s focus on what I’ve actually gotten done, shall we? I did get a bit of housekeeping work done on my etsy shop, including the creation of a sale section with a rotating roster of items offered at good discounts and with free shipping. Check it out! I plan to start listing recent creations today, as soon as I can find my ruler. Here, ruler. Where are you?

Also, after a long hiatus, I have been sewing agiain! I used this pattern to make this shirt:

Cherries

It was a remarkably simple pattern and took me literally an afternoon to knock out, and I plan to use it again very soon. I’d like to use the long-sleeved crossover front version with some knit fabric I’ve had in my stash FOREVER- I just need some teal knit fabric to set it off.

I found this fabric in the remnants pile a while back and could not resist:

SHARKS!

However, I had no clue what to do with it until I picked up a blue hoodie from the thrift store and took a seam ripper to it.

1 Hoodie + Fabric = 2 Hoodies

One normal, boring blue hoodie is thus in the process of transforming into two hoodies of awesome. First off, the shark hoodie:

Reconstructed

The sleeves are a bit roomy, so I may end up taking them off, sewing the sleeve holes smaller, then stitching the sleeves down to the appropriate size and throwing it all back together. Maybe. When my project list is a little shorter.

The rose hoodie, alas, is still in progress. It’ll be a pullover with 3/4 length sleeves and maybe, if I have enough fabric from the rest of the sleeves, some contrasting pockets on the front.

In other news, as a microbiologist I’ve often morned lack of awesome microbiologist gear. Sure, we have the Giant Microbes, but you can’t really wear those to show off your microbiologist pride. Awesome as the biohazard symbol is, you’re more likely to see it tattooed on the neck of some punk who hasn’t gotten within a hundred yards of a microbiology class, much less a research lab, than associated with any genuine science and other microbial symbols are sadly lacking, since many microbes would only come across as dots or blobs in any symbolic artwork. Some day I plan to learn to use ArtClay and rectify this- I have images of bacteriophage necklaces dancing through my mind- but that’s not in the crafting budget any time soon. So you’ll understand why, when I saw this shirt, I HAD TO HAVE IT. (This one is awesome too. And this. And this.)

And I will. Some day. When it’s in the budget.

Scrap Loom: Now Even More Awesome!

Hey, weavers: I need some information. I came up with a rather basic idea to improve my loom-o-scraps, ran it by James because his building ideas tend to work out a lot better than mine, then made a third piece to the loom as described below. I figure it has to have some kind of real-loom counterpart, so my question is, what is this thing?

Right now, I call it a “doohickey”. And if you do it right, it’ll make your scrap loom much more efficient. You’ll need a piece of wood about 1 in x 1 in and as long as your weaving is wide, a couple of dowels, some little woodscrew-like eyelets, safety pins or some other small clip, a drill, some way to cut wood, glue, and a hammer.

Wood!

That’s right. You can use powertools. That automatically makes your scrap loom -makes anything, really- a hundred times more awesome.

Rainbows

Tonight, it is supposed to snow.

While not currently under severe drought conditions Colorado is certainly thirsty, so the snow, should she fall, will be much apperciated. Even I, with my deep aversion to being cold when I’m not skiing, snowshoeing, or otherwise participating (as bundled up as possible) in an activity where the cold is necessary, have my fingers crossed for snow.

I would prefer rain, of course. Rain, and warmth, and spring, and color:

I have a nostalgic little love for chip beads: they were the best bang for my buck as a beading child, and I like to find new and interesting ways to use them.

This necklace came from vague ideas of making a chunk of rainbow pride that was less flamboyant and more beautiful, made with natural stones with organic pebble-or-chip shapes (pebbles are more expensive; chips win, for the first one at least) and from the longing for color that winter always brings me just before spring breaks.

Rainbow

The stones are as follows:
Red – Garnet
Orange – Goldstone
Yellow – Yellow Jade
Green – Fluorite
Blue – Sodalite
Purple – Amethyst

I wasn’t sure how the concept would play out in the real world, but for once it has exceeded expectations. This is a spectacular piece to wear, if I may say so myself without sounding like I’ve lost all traces of humility. This picture gives a general idea how it lays, but doesn’t begin to do justice to the color and drape and feel of the thing:

On a neck

Looking at that, however, I suspect I need to shorten the amethyst strand slightly. Damnation.

Jumprope Necklace

I’m not sure what the original inspiration was, but a little while ago I decided I wanted to use nugget beads to make a really, obscenely long necklace with a simple, regular pattern to it- so that the whole thing was uniform in design. Then I could wear it all sorts of different and weird ways.

I’m proud to say that, for once, everything worked out exactly as planned:

Jumprope Necklace Number One

The necklace is tiger’s eye and hematite with a silver clasp. The hematite is a mix of round bead and multiple sizes of whimsical little star beads.

I can wrap it twice around my neck and wear it with one long and one short strand, which seems to be a popular look right now:

Or I can stack it around my neck, uniformly, three times:

Or I can wear it as a bracelet:

And gods only know what else I can do with it. I call it a jumprope necklace, because it is nearly long enough for me to hop (if I keep my arms hanging as low as they go), and I like the style enough that I’m already working on a second one.

I had exactly four tiger’s eye pebble beads left when I finshed off the above necklace, so I pulled some pearls out of my stash and made this:

Pearls

I’m a rare bracelet wearer, but I’ve been making an exception for this one. I appear to love tiger eye (and tiger iron) too much to part with it, alas. I don’t think I’ll be able to bring myself to list any of these in the store.