I finished it last night while we finished watching Tin Man. I downloaded it a few days ago on itunes, and we watched it as a family over the last few nights.

Including a pattern, although, it's all single crochets, so it doesn't need a pattern. But if you're an absolute beginner, and trying to figure out a scarf for a big guy, this works for mine.
( the long green scarf )

I've still got most of this cone left. It was a huge cone for 5.00. So I'm working on some other projects with it. It's not the best for hats since it's not really stretchy, but I'm thinking it will felt nicely to make a mock map case for W, or possibly still another dice bag since he's keeping some of his miniatures in the last dice bag I gave him. E wants something out of this wool. I'm thinking maybe a flower encrusted headband because the juxtaposition of that army green wool and pretty flowers appeals to me.Plus headbands that cover ears are nice in the fall/winter here.

I posted basic domino instructions today here.
As you might remember, I did those pendants ages ago, but I've been caught up all week on working on Mike's scarf which is very nearly done. See.. Mike's scarves? Not quick. He likes them about 6-8 inches wide, and about 6 feet long, and wool. I'm using the big cone of army green wool/wool blend (just not sure, it was unlabeled, but it chars not melts, and it *itches*), and doing it lengthwise in single crochets so it gets that long vertical stripe texture you get when you do rows of single crochets. I'm going to do one final row all the way around it which will help block the starting chain which turned out just loose enough to slightly ruffle. I know, I could block that out, and probably will, but the final round will also neaten up the ends a bit.
What I've found, working with the weaver's wool instead of regular yarn is that it's not as stretchy because it's tighter spun, so using a size H hook with what's about a worsted weight yarn, I've got a lot of stitch definition. It looks *good*. E wants me to make her something out of it too. Possibly a new poncho. She wore a granny square poncho I made for her when she was about 5 to the solstice fair, I made it big, and it still fits her very nicely, but it's got holes in it from every other use she's used it for the last several years.

And.. um.. I was going to write more.. but I just realized the last time I ate was about 8 hours ago after I got home from the gym. So.. off to find food.

For example, I was trying to figure out some math for shawls. I got all caught up in trying to make sense of Pythagorean formulas for right angle triangles, and lost sight of a simple fact that really simplified the math. Worse? I KNEW it. It's a mathy thing I had figured out a while back, but for some reason, didn't remember and it took a certified math genius to point out the silliness.
( diagrams and granny square shawls )
Oh yeah.. and if anyone makes the rainbow shawl, I want a picture!

Time for chat. Right now. It usually lasts a couple hours. It's 7:30 am PST.

Well.. my first ever amigurumi was an alien, which my son took when he saw it.
Then I made a few more, and went to thread amigurumi, again, my first was an alien.

While I was cleaning out my purse last week, my son saw my little thread amigurumi and mentioned to me in a very subtle 17 yo boy kind of way.. "I don't have one that small"
So we talked, and he decided rather then just a loose little toy, he'd like a keyring.
( W's little alien keyring )

Yesterday I decided to straighten back out my schedule from being sick, so I was zombie like all day. You know, shuffling my feet, trying to eat brains.. or something like that. Since thinking was just beyond me, I watched Dark Angel and worked on that and on a really simple headband for E.

And no, I didn't consider using my evil duck icon, because my hands had a chat today with everyone. W was walking up to the convenience store, and planning to get himself a cup of coffee on the way. I suggested a Nutty Irishman, which is what he chose. Duck hand told him to get a cup of coffee and put it on her bill. W, sensibly, ignored the duck hand. Mike complained about the duck hand, so duck hand bit him. Duck has teeth (I haven't trimmed my fingernails in a couple weeks). Boy, aren't you glad you don't live with me?
Anyway, finished the witch finger puppet, except she has no arms.
( Witch Puppet and picture of my earrings )
I did make a feed for Cut Out and Keep. Here.
The feed for Beadwork at BellaOnline is here.
We inflicted 80s music and videos on the kids. Much fun.
Maybe I should see if I can make a devil duck mood theme?

It's something about Saturdays and Michaels right?

E accidentally dropped a plate a few days ago, and it LOOKED like it was all up. Until I stepped on a piece. And it was a grab the counter and catch my breath sort of pain, which SHOULD have tipped me off how deep it got. I had her come over to throw away the piece. Caught my breath, and looked down, and I was standing in a puddle of blood. She brought me a clean towel, and volunteered to clean up the mess so I could get direct pressure on the TINY cut and get the bleeding stopped. Seriously? Doesn't look a cut that could bleed that much.

THIS is why we always have lots of adhesive bandages.

We went to Michaels, and the crafts on Crayola day? Getting cheesier and cheaper every year. She liked one, but it was the busiest table, so we bought the supplies for her to do it at home. Then we went to Mc Donalds. Her favorite one in town is right by Michaels, they have this decidedly faux retro theme, it got dad all nostalgic for the days when Coca-Cola advertising stuff wasn't reproduction vintage and 6 oz bottles of Coke cost a nickel.
If you don't have kids who still love Mc Donalds, I think I have to tell you, they have PotC toys in Happy Meals now. So E and I both had a happy meal. I usually do anyway, since a little cheeseburger and some apple slices is about right for me, but she hasn't in ages. Pirate toys convinced her it was a good idea.

I finally got a picture of the pink headband. E wanted to wear it tied around her head instead of like an Alice band, so that's how she did it.
( Picture )

First,the dice bag. jenna_thorn pointed out that Anticraft had a really neat eyeball dice bag up. Well.. I'm not really a follow patterns kind of girl, so I didn't. I just grabbed some yarn,and wondered why I'd never thought of that.
( wanna see? )
So.. I did this last night in about 3 hours catching up on podcasts with E, like I said, we have a cord to hook my ipod to the tv. We watched On Networks Food Science, and E loved it so much. I really liked it too, I don't have easy access to liquid nitrogen to make instant ice cream or sorbets, but I do have blowtorches, and I like the idea of roasting corn with my big one. Fun fun!
We also watched episodes of ThreadBanger we hadn't seen yet. Still full of win. Next New Network actually has a bunch of E's favorites, Indy Mogul explains special effects on a budget, and Metal Chik is nicely done casts on how to do basic silversmithing. I think all of those are available on youtube too which is nice, but I like watching them on tv because.. well.. it's bigger and E doesn't crowd me watching over my shoulder.
We also watched DIY Style which doesn't have the flare or entertainment value of ThreadBanger, but it's solid, and teaches good sewing habits. For me it's a little too basic, but my mom was an amazing seamstress. For E, it's great. A lot of things my mom taught me but I haven't taught her are shown, and I can explain in greater depth.
I prefer the slapdash get it done of ThreadBanger, but ThreadBanger is short on nice finishing techniques. So I guess it depends if you want an obviously handmade diy alternative/punk look or if you want something finished so people think you bought it in a store.

( W's iPod pouch )
I went to the doctor this morning, and found out my blood pressure is back down to normal! I cheered. I'm so many kinds of thrilled, it's been really high for 3 years. So there's a fairly fast result of my exercising.
I got a years supply of the flexeril which helps keep the pain down to managable levels, and we talked about my knees, which aren't doing so much worse, and she has a lot of faith that if I've managed to put off a replacement this long, I probably can hold it off for another 10 years, with exercise and care. Also really good news.
So all in all, the most positive visit I've had in a few years. I did get a bunch of blood tests, but most of that was because I was fasting anyway to check my liver and make sure my cholesterol meds and anti-inflammatories aren't messing it up, so she just asked if I wanted to do all the yearly screens at the same time. Oh yeah. Means no blood test next month!
I also got a flu shot. Just a bit late, but hopefully it will keep me from getting so sick again this year.

Computers, crocheting, cozies and chocolate.
Computers- Got a used computer last night, Mike's working on getting it up to what I need. Happiness!
Crocheting- A cozy for W's iPod. He saw the one I keep my nano in, and said "I hate to ask,but I'd really like a case for mine." and I said "Not a problem, will a crocheted one work until I find a good deal on one?" and he said yes. So I'm crocheting him one. He wants a neckstrap like my nano case has, and picked out a dark blue yarn. I couldn't find any buttons that would go well with it, so I made one with a bottle cap and a bit of wire. He says he likes it. It's kind of rough and neat looking.
Chocolate- Fred Meyers, or Krogers carry a lot of Disney themed kids food, which you know if you have one locally, and right now they have their big PotC and Princess chocolate bars on sale for 69 cents. Which I'm including just to include something about chocolate. E loves them. Because the wrappers are fun to glue on things.

They also have mini kid sized icecream cones, which are about 2 inches tall and so cute! So Sunday night after dinner, I offered everyone icecream cones. (Peppermint icecream is one of my favorites, it reminds me of mom who loved it so, and it was on sale for 1.50 for a half gallon). Mike didn't know we got mini cones. E did. So I served up the icecream, and giggling insanely in the kitchen, I had E bring it out to him, because I knew I couldn't without laughing too hard. She handed him the tiny icecream cone and he shouted "WTF?", at which point, E , W and I just convulsed in laughter. He grumbled, and ate it in a couple bites. And refused seconds. He said the icecream cones made him feel like a giant. But I love tiny things so much! I think I want to make mini lace cookie cones for tiny servings of sherbert this summer.

Check out this ipod case made from milk jug plastic. Very clever reuse!

Well, today was remarkably unpainful. Well, except physically, the weather has been causing my arthritis to have fits. But emotionally, it was a quiet day.
I didn't get any presents to brag about. They are all still in the mail, Mike ordered new glasses for me, since mine got run over about a week after I got them, and I've been using an old pair since then because I felt so silly for breaking a brand new pair. The kids ordered a hard to get cd for me. So at this point, I may or may not get it, but it's the thought that counts, and if I don't, they will order me something different.
Kim's present.. I have no idea what it is, I'll see her, assuming she gets a break from school, around W's birthday (NYE)

The kids loved their presents, it was a very lego holiday for the youngest, and a video game holiday for the oldest. He was absolutely thrilled with getting the full season of Firefly, which I picked up on Black Friday for 18.00 for him.
Dad loved his presents. I did manage to get his blanket done in time.

Dinner wound up being remarkably easy. Dad's next door neighbor was given a dinner from the corporation she's a member of, and so were all the other members including her son and her brother. So she had 3 turkey dinners and a ham she'd already bought, so she asked Dad if he could use one. It was a complete dinner, but Mike wanted homemade stuffing. After 3 months of salads, I figured homemade stuffing was the least I could do, so I made a big batch. Everything else just needed to be heated up. Not near as good as homemade, but so much easier!

Yesterday I wove a pouch to keep my nano in when I was doing housework.
( looky here )
OH! I found black ww cotton at Wal-Mart! Only 4 balls, but I bought them. Hopefully it will be a color they will start carrying more regularly!!!!

With some scraps of bulky alpaca yarn, I crocheted E a pair of earwarmers.
( earwarmers )

Because you know, I'm prone to boasting. *laughs*
But I told E I'd pick her up breakfast, and with the time crunch.. that wound up being a burrito from the convenience store. And she acted like beans and cheese were geniunely what she wanted first thing in the morning.
W offered me a plastic spider, and said "I'm sure you can do something crafty with this."
Oh yeah, and both kids are being very patient with the sheets of aluminum foil in the sink that need to be "cleaned" for crafting. Since you know, using new aluminum foil would be too easy and wasteful when we do use it occasionally for covering things in the oven and fridge.

The idea is to use it to cover notebooks, with holes cut out to make "bezels" for cast resin cabs, so stuff that's wrinkly will be more interesting once we use the acrylic paint to bring out details.
Of course, this would work better if I had the slightest clue where my spray adhesive was. I know where my repositional spray is. And where my acrylic clear spray is. And a bunch of cans of spray paint. But not my spray adhesive. But how cool would a plastic bat encased in resin look on the cover of a notebook covered with crinkly foil? Hopefully, very cool. I'll let you know.

Working out today was hard, but since I'm over my excitement, I was able to pinpoint exactly which exercise made me ache last time. Chest press. Yep. Definately not my favorite. I've never really weight trained before. I had this awful nightmare I was all ripply with muscles. *shudders* Yeah.. definately going for high reps, low weights. Because ick. Really. My trainer added a new exercise today to work on my triceps. And today I counted. What she said was 12 reps was actually more like 16. It's a sneaky plot isn't it? Make people do more then they think they can. New shoes though. I did enjoy the new pumas. We exchanged ideas for places for good deals on clothes, I guess her kids were into Abercrombie and Fitch, which is another thing that makes my kids wonderful. So not brand conscious. Both kids love garage sales and thrift stores, and E actually gets a major thrill out of it, finding cool stuff to work into her very unique warddrobe. E's favorite current item of clothing though is a corduroy jumper I got her in Hell for 12.00, she loves it so much and it's such a basic item of clothing I went back and got her 3 more. She gets compliments on her jumpers and teeshirt combos whenever she wears them. Usually from older people who just seem shocked to see a 12 yo girl look like a 12 yo girl instead of like a miniature woman.
I got this *great* knitting with beads book to review, and one of projects is this lovely vintage-y looking cap I think I want to replicate the shape of for E for the ren faire next year.
Of course, right this minute, I'd embrace anything that wasn't single crochet in the back loop with dark blue wool. BORING.

( a potholder design )
Ideas for making checkers-
E and I were talking about checkers last night, and ways we could make checkers and checkerboards. The boards are easy, ideas we came up with for checkers...
Bottle caps filled with resin and glitter or pictures
polymer clay
buttons
shrink plastic
candy
paper
hardware, washers et cetra
Fruit Loops
bread dough clay (white bread mixed with glue)
Beads

Still working on other ideas, willing to take suggestions. Marble magnets would work too. We could make a board in pretty papers on a cookie sheet, then use the marble magnets for a magnetised game.

Halloween was fun. We went to a house of horror at E's insistence. She let herself be very scared. W was amused by the whole thing and walked through it with a half smile and his hands in his pockets.
Then we went trick or treating at very specific houses. Friends or family. The kids of course wound up with way too much candy. E was incredibly hyper, so I asked her "Did you drink coffee?" "No." *thinks* "How much candy did you eat?" She held her hands out, indicating about 3 inches "about this much chocolate?" Next question.. "A piece that big, or a stack that high?" Silence for a couple minutes.
"A stack that high."

Now, mostly, chocolate doesn't effect my family. Makes W break out a bit, and Dad considers it a food group. E on the other hand.. gets loopy. Hyper, loopy, chocolate is very good drugs indeed for E, and she loves the stuff.
She bounced like a superball in a shower stall. The kind with a door not a curtain.

On the crochet nunchaku thing.. how about quilted shuriken as well? and a plastic canvas needlepoint katana? I could be the CRAFT NINJA next year.Embroidered black outfit..

Of course, that would mean that R would have to figure out a way to be a Craft Pirate.

I henna'd W's arm with a dragon, and I still have a cone and half left. Oh yeah. I really mixed entirely too much.

I also worked out, in my head at least, a spiderweb potholder, should I make it and post the pattern?

OH! VS! Before I forget.
Poll #1081106
Open to: All, results viewable to: All

Iron-man vs. Batman

Last week, it was a tie between purple lightsaber and Luke. In the store that week the winner was Mace Windu. Mike's vote was "you know by posting that, you've become a geek poster girl right?"

And yes. I know, Joss, Eliza, new show. Which is cool. But I'm not getting my hopes up. Fox? Has a serious habit of cancelling shows I like without giving them a fair chance, for a station that was originally willing to settle for a small slice of the tv viewing pie using really new concepts and shows, they've really become a shining example of sell out.
I'm not at all bitter. Really.

E got in trouble last night for helping herself to a roll of duct tape. She knows she's supposed to ask about using my craft supplies, but frequently gets so caught up in the moment, she doesn't. She used *most* of it.
When I said "Well, what should we do about it?" She replied "You can stop buying so much duct tape."

Yeah. No. Not an answer.
But I guess I should be grateful, I mean, she's 12, it could really be so much worse. Of course, last week she tried to borrow one of my leather jackets, and I said "NO NO NO. And besides, it needs to be cleaned." She said "oh.. okay." and I said "Nice try though" (she had put it on and was heading out the door wearing it) and she said "I know."

The tape was for making paper nunchaku (what is the correct way to use that word? A set? A pair? Or is just nunchaku enough?), and I'm not sure I have enough left, however, it occurs to me, I could crochet a pair with fun foam to stiffen and fill it. It also occurs to me that even hypothetically designing crocheted nunchaku brings me to whole new levels of crafty geekdom. Time to just go ahead and bead myself a bracelet that says "Shop Smart, Shop S-mart".

How to make Angel Wings gave me a probably impossible idea. Wouldn't it be NEAT to make a pair of magpie wings and dress all in white and black with *tons* of sparkly jewelry next year for Halloween?
Maybe a tiara. Ahh.. to be a magpie diva in sequins, beads and big pretty wings.

Well.. time to go check my tape supply, hopefully I've got a roll stashed away of black duct tape.

You know how you sometimes buy something just because you know you want to cover it with the craft of your choice?
Like I bought a thing of little bubbles, because I like making bubble necklaces recently. I have flasks and little medical bottles and all sort of craft happy stuff that wasn't purposed originally for crafts.

So today I emailed Mike and asked him to pick me up a dog on his way home from work. So I can make one of these (warning- really annoying music).

Of course I don't want a dog. But I'd love to be there when he gets the email!!!

He's lost 6 more lbs, for 45 lbs total. I mean.. seriously.. that's a small child!!!

Pattern made for the pastie bases, it's a bit on the large side because I'm using size 10 thread for the covering. I was thinking maybe I could use handy dandy recycled plastic taped for the base, then glue fabric over that, it would be reasonable sturdy that way. The book suggested buckram, but I haven't had a chance to hit the fabric store, and while I *thought* I had buckram, I haven't been able to find it. It also suggested cardboard for a first pair, but I do want something a bit more sturdy. So I hit on the plastic idea. Hey! Another idea for margerine tub lids and bottoms!

BTW, when you're in a hurry and ask your 12 yo daughter to grab a couple tassels at the craft store, be ready with an answer when she asks "What for?". I distracted her with "Do you think these mini ones would make good curtain tie backs for my dollhouse?" and asking her if she wanted to help repair the damage she did to it when she was little.

Other crafty happiness, last night, I was trying to find information on making folding fans, specifically the sticks that hold them together, because Lacis charges 10 dollars per, and lets face it, you can BUY a fan less expensively then that and strip it for the sticks. I couldn't find *anything*, which I mentioned in passing to a friend.
The friend speaks Japanese, which is very helpful, and found the information for me.
Fan link one(in Japanese)
Fan link twoIn English

Okay, now.. I have a favor to ask. Anyone who speaks another language well.. please please translate the following phrase for me..
"Danger is my middle name."
I really sort of want it in Spanish most, but any language would be helpful.
Thank you!

Well, I finally got started on the tessallated skull mini-pouch. And then had to frog. Restarted. Had to frog again. Restarted, got 16 rows done.. and noticed another mistake, plus I realized it needed a slight regraph.

But it is, right this moment, working.

Of course, I feel almost guilty posting another skull pattern. Because I've posted an awful lot of them. I think skulls might be starting to bore some of my readers.

This one, minus the frogging, is working up really fast in just plain old Japanese size 11 seeds. After doing so much in the last few years in 15s and delicas, I forgot how nice it is to work with something you don't particularly need a halogen or ott lamp to see properly.

But now I'm too sleepy to work on it, but I'm staying awake for the mailman because I have a package coming from Microcosm. Love them so much, and always want to spend more money then I can with them, but I had a 25 dollar mastercard gift card, and decided to order 3 books. Vegan cookbooks, Making Stuff and Doing Things and a copy of Stolen Sharpie Revolution. *happiness*
The other day, I got to use the word aglet in a sentence. I was re-lacing my shoes, because the very cute tinkerbell laces in them tend to come untied*, and I noticed the aglets were frayed. So I got to say "My aglets are frayed.". Nobody made the obvious pun. I'm glad. E ran over to the computer to check on dictionary.com what the heck an aglet was. I replaced the laces with cute Halloween ribbons. Because 'tis the season to be spooky.

Other then that? Still working on blue and green panda, plus I have some *cute* bubble bottles (check Halloween aisles) in different colors, all the purple ones I'm sending to Pamy, but E wants me to bead an orange one for her.

* My dad** has been warning me for weeks about my shoelaces. It's horrible warnings. "Shala, tie your shoes, or you're going to trip and die." "You're going to trip over your laces and break your neck." "Your shoe is untied, do you want to go to the hospital?" Apparently, dying of an untied shoe is a lot more common then I realized.
**I still think, other then W, I'm the sanest person in my family. Even if I do take my life into my own hands and live dangerously with untied shoes.

Mike only lost one lb last week, he's a little grumpy about it. I don't think I ever really understood food addiction before seeing Mike start to work at breaking his. It's really like any other addiction I think, you can't be cured, but unlike other addictions, you can't abstain either. You have to eat. You can make yourself eat the right things, and the right servings, but that temptation to go overboard, or eat a handful of chips or a twinkie is always there.
I also don't think I understood how bad his cravings for sweets was. Me? I'm pretty happy with caramel rice cakes, or other healthy alternatives to sweets, lately, my sweet treat has been 100% pure grape juice, because it's a memory trigger for me of being a kid in California. Mike on the other hand, is really wanting that candy bar or maybe some oreos, and it doesn't help that we buy them when they are on sale for my dad, and have them here until we see him.

So yesterday, I found brown and pink yarn clearance priced at Michaels (this is related, I swear), now, one of my noticeable whines about yarn here, is that I have a hard time finding my worsted weight cotton in brown or black. If I'd had more money, I'd have just pushed the whole sale cart up to the register. Seriously. Because it might take me years, but I will eventually use it all. I did buy as many balls as I could comfortably afford, even if it wasn't nearly as much as I wanted. They were a dollar a ball, not a *great* price, since it goes on sale for that price fairly frequently, but not bad. And brown, and pink. So I got home, and had all this brown and pink yarn, and whipped this up.
( little purse )
I asked Mike how it looked, and he said "It looks like something to eat", which was really the point, but I didn't realize a crocheted purse could trigger it. He said later "If I dream about cupcakes, you're in so much trouble." and I said "I didn't think you would find yarn appetising" and he said "Fat man on a diet, do you know how much I want a cupcake?"
Whoops. But is cute.
It's made with a size G hook, and the bottom has a bit of plastic canvas in it to keep it flat, why plastic canvas not recycled milk jug plastic or something like that? Because I couldn't find any milk jug plastic, and all my cheese tubs and stuff have been used to send food over to dad's house and I didn't have any of them handy. I did have circles of plastic canvas handy. Just FYI, for the re-purposers who read this, the cheese containers for the alouette cheese and soft spreadable cheeses I use on roasted mushrooms make great bento side dish containers if you need a possibly disposable bento. E likes them for some of her crafting supplies too, and a lot of them are actually fairly pretty in a plain way.