What about when you're done?

Apparently it's the international fail day today, and I feel like a failure for not having much to report in the way of fail. Well, I did fail to go to Grandma Club (aka knit night) tonight, but instead I finished two work assignments which makes me free to dedicate tomorrow to baking and partying. Well deserved baking and partying.

A couple of weeks ago I told you about one of two big projects, and here's the other:

"Anthropomorphism, sexuality and gendered bodies in American mainstream animation" to you furriners.

Yes sir, my days as a bachelor are coming to an end. From soon on, I will have to get used to all the responsibilities that come with being a master. Of arts, no less! Prepare to be spanked!

There are pages! With words on them!

I have a strange condition: if I achieve something, suddenly the achievement ceases to be a big deal. I mean, if I can do it, it must be something ridiculously simple, right? And let's face it, I got here essentially by watching shitloads of Spongebob. But still: it was a hard journey and I try to remember that I didn't really believe I had it in me up until a couple of months ago.

And whoa: I can do whatever I want with my life now. Of course that also means I have to do something with my life now, but right now even that seems achievable. Two huge projects down, several more lined up. There will be more sweat, tears and hyperventilation to come, but if I learn a couple of lessons from this experience, it will become easier:

- First of all, if you're not proud of what you do, what exactly is the reward?

- Second, the lesson of the fail day should be that it's okay to try and fail, because that way lies learning and innovation (damn I've learned to hate that word), but honestly? Today all I can think about is that I did not fail. I thought I would, and I didn't.

- And third, give yourself a fucking break every once in a while, sheesh!

For the record, that is what a break looked like last night. Pay no attention to the fact that I have yet another new teapot. *cough*it'sonlymyfourth*cough*

Oh, right, I did say something about a knitting pattern last week, didn't I? Well, to your utter shock I presume, I was too busy playing role playing games through Friday to Tuesday. Just put that on your list of betrayed promises, but with a ticky-box so that you can feel the faint trace of satisfaction when I actually get around to it. 

Showing off

Regular updates you say? This is a step in the right direction, I suppose, even though a week seems to fly past so quickly!

Let me show you things I've neglected to report about. Roxanne mystery shawl (links to Rav), for instance? It's been finished and in use since May. First I thought I wasn't so keen on the design, but it looks very nice draped around one's neck, and that's what small shawls are really for, right? It's also a tiny bit smaller than I'd like, but on the other hand works perfectly on these autumn days when one wants just a little more warmth. I'm definitely using it on a daily basis at the moment.

What else? Ah yes! The owl pouch (links to Rav) has a face now, and lives on my bedside table. It was a very quick knit and a good way to use a skein of spontaneously acquired thick-and-thin yarn (Løve Garn's Cocoon which, by the way, drives me crazy because my English-thinking brain reads it as a whimsical way of writing 'love' even though I know full well that the word has nothing to do with English) I was going to make mittens with but changed my mind. Now there's still three more skeins left... Ideas? Besides more owls?

Geodesic cardigan, which you've already seen blocked, has not been used much. I'm not sure why, really. I think it's because it's such an in-between article of clothing: too warm for warm weather, but not warm enough if I actually need a cardigan. It's main purpose is to look good, and I'm not used to wearing clothes like that. I might have to, though, because today I fell in love with a waistcoat and what is a waistcoat for if not show?

I did wear the Geodesic at my mom's 50th birthday few weeks ago, the perfect occasion: warm autumn evening in the garden. I gave her this:

It's a small pleated evening bag made of raw silk. It has cotton lining, a magnet snap closure and ribbon embroidery. I've had the ribbons and a book on ribbon embroidery for years. I've been meaning to give it a shot, but somehow my rococo dress project has not been progressing lately. (It will, though, and sooner rather than later!) I'm glad I finally did it, it was lots of fun. I made the roses with the help of this tutorial.

For the bag I used a tutorial at crafster.org for inspiration, but ended up going in a whole different direction in the end. The only thing that remained were the pleats. I like pleats. I've tried smocking briefly and want to do more. Perhaps some rococo undergarments.

I love the golden swirls of the lining.

If I made this bag again I would change some of the construction bits taken from the tutorial for a neater result, even if it would mean a lot of pinning and basting and tearing out hair. I already managed to sew some pins inside the lining with this one...

That's it for tonight. I wonder, if I make a half-promise now that there might be a knitting pattern next week, would I actually finish it? Hasn't worked before.

¡Lucha Libre!

Well then. The summer is over and a two huge projects have been wrapped up in the last two months, making me a very busy cephalopod indeed. The hiatus this blog has been on has not been accidental, but a direct result of me focusing my energy on those projects. One of them is still dwindling, not exactly craft-related, and I will have something to show for it in the next couple of weeks. The other, however, is something you have seen bits and pieces of since April. It all started with this dress:

Next followed this mask:

Other bits and pieces have been completed since, such as this mod of an existing bra:

The ruffle, fringe and rose have been sewed on. There were also sequins.

There were many nights of frantic sewing, and it was all rather lovely.

Sewing layers and layers of fringe, however, was not.

And then there were of course all the choreographing and rehearsing and all that jazz, every bit of which I sorely miss. All of it culminated into one amazing weekend at the end of August: ¡Lucha Libre! All the following pictures are by Nino Hynninen, unless otherwise stated. More can be found here and here.

Apparently I have confidence. Who would have guessed?

Picture by Suvi Korhonen

Thriller dance in the middle of a fight! I made those golden pants, too.

Dont' you just love my skeleton dancers? They rocked!

Fake tattoos, check. Bruises, check. Keeping it classy!

I have to say this was probably one of the best times of my entire life up to this point. Starting from practically no martial arts experience whatsoever I, and many others, practiced up to a point where being slammed down on a thin mattress was no big deal at all. Actually, I really miss being thrown around and then slapped a bit for a good measure. Good times. Amazing, every bit of it, and I'm quite sorry that it's over. As for burlesque, this was my first time on stage and now that the initial shock has worn I'm sure it won't be the last time. I am a strong believer in challenging yourself and testing your limits, and hoo boy did I do that this time!

Tutorial coming? Maaybe.

Now it's time to move on to new projects, and old too. I have so much to show and tell that regular updates are to be expected. Or irregular - tomorrow I'm going to post a special entry to mark the anniversary of something life-changingly grand and important.

Blue Monday, or, giveaway week for adventurous souls

Since my mother is now safely wrapped inside her new Holden shawlette I feel safe to post pictures of the finished thing. I'm very pleased with it, it turned out so pretty and I just love the yarn, which is a limited colorway from Little Red Bicycle (Tandem Sock in Dagon). 

I guess I shouldn't have used the "thrifted treasures" title so soon because in all honesty that is a pretty big part of this blog. Browsing pretty things is, for me, a big middle finger to stress, hurry and being poor. Thus, after last week that was dominated by a big rush-job and me being so tired that I left a bag of yarn on the train, I somehow ended up splurging a little bit.

Used to hold a skein of yarn instead of the arms of an innocent bystander, for all of you not in the know.

In all honesty I bought an antique yarn swift last summer, but it's missing a somewhat vital component, the screw that keeps it attached on a table. A post about all the little projects I have lying around with the innocuous "I'll fix this bit and then..." labels attached to them is for another day. At least I now have something to model that missing screw on, and I paid a fraction of the retail price for it. Besides, it will soon come very handy.

Because I also bought a bag of cobweb weight yarn, nearly a kilogram altogether. It's not quite as insanely thin as the last one, but close. Again I have no idea what the fiber content is, but I'm guessing cotton. It's squishier than the last one that I suspect is mercerized, but not squishy enough to be wool. I did a burn test, but it told me nothing, really, except that it's organic material or rayon.

There's black yarn. 

Also in the picture: my IKEA scale, very useful for everything from baking to knitting to weighing kittens.

There's gray yarn.

Also in the picture: a sheet ripped by a kitten and destined into the sewing bin

And then there's a whole bunch of different shades of blue yarn.

Very dark, purplish indigo. 

A more greenish and duller shade of blue.

Bright, deep blue.

Very close to the last one, but a bit darker and duller.

Blue really is not my color. And since a week from now this blog turns three months, which obviously is a big fucking deal, I've decided to hold a giveaway worthy of such a milestone. Do you want my ridiculously thin blue yarn of unknown fiber content?

This is relevant also because I decided to overcome my stupid blog shyness and comment on all of the blogs I follow this week, starting today. So, comment on this post and tell me what you want to make out of 62-155 grams of maybe cobweb maybe cotton yarn. I really could use the ideas because apart from making a summer shawl/scarf from the gray yarn I have no ideas for the black yarn except a gazillion pairs of fancy lace stockings. After a week I'll pick up names from a hat or something and mail one of these batches to four people anywhere on this planet. And unlike all the fancy pants giveaways out there, not many people actually read this blog so you might end up with all four of them! How wonderful! Or not!

Let me repeat the rules:

1. Comment on this post.

2. Tell me what you would make out of 62-155 grams of mystery!yarn.

3. If you have a blog, put the address in the comment, I'm easily amused.

4. You have until May 16th midnight Finnish time to comment. The winners will be posted on May 17th.

5. Feel free to celebrate your own "comment on the blogs you read" week if you are as awkward as me about it.

I'm going to finish this post with a cake. In the last couple of weeks I've made 45 liters of mead, over 120 doughnuts, three cakes and some ginger ale and this is the only picture I have to show for it. It's also entirely mine, my own, for me to eat. I had that slice and now I'm full. Cake, anyone?

Chocolate cake with cream, mascarpone and cherry filling and chocolate frosting. Yum!