January 26, 2008

Little Bits of Creation

I managed to spend a short amount of time painting today. Here's the results (keep in mind this is a badly lit photo and this is just the very barest foundation of the painting; just a sketch really, blocked in):

It was inspired by a "happy accident" photo my mom took of the carousel at the Phoenix Zoo when we were there:

Lily spent a little time working as well:

This is one of her very first representational drawings. It's of chalk, so I wanted to capture it. It's a plate with some food on it (she made individual strands of spaghetti, then erased them, then put something called "dot food" on the plate). To the left and right of the plate you can see napkins, utensils, etc.

And here's an update on my knitting. I finished the cabled mitts, but left them at work (where I've been wearing them constantly), so alas, no photo. But here's the progress so far on Adam's socks:

Posted by mwashburn at 04:03 PM | Comments (3)

January 18, 2008

Some Sewing I Could Handle

They want $395 for this bedcovering at Ouno Design

(thanks apartmenttherapy)

It's beautiful, and "upcycled" from vintage scarves. I am always oohing and aahing at scarf finds at various thrift shops, but don't usually buy them for fear of not knowing what to do with them. Now I know. I'm going to have yet more bedcovers! Yay! The one I made last summer was just backed with an inexpensive sheet (I bought a sheet one size bigger than the bed the cover was to be for) and that would probably work well with this idea too, especially if I quilted around each square. Not that I have time for another project, mind you. But at least I have an excuse for some collecting. And I'm thinking why not border it with all those vintage ties I want to buy all the time!

Posted by mwashburn at 02:02 PM | Comments (0)

January 09, 2008

If Only I Liked to Sew

I often think of all the wondrous things I would do if only I actually *enjoyed* using my little sewing machine.

I would buy yards and yards of upholstery fabric, cover my couch, chairs, make an upholstered headboard, new curtains, you name it. I could even cover my lampshades in discount Scalamandre fabric in a lovely animal print. But, unfortunately, I've learned a couple of things. One, I really don't enjoy sewing. Too much process, too much setup. Second, by the time I buy fabric I like, I've spent more than I would have to just buy the darn thing finished. I learned that one last year with my "must have" holiday placemats. But with websites like Design Diva Fabrics I think that what would be feasible is designating myself an interior designer, sourcing fabric, and having someone else do the grunt work of actually sewing my fabulous creations.

It's hard to find good quality fabrics, and when you do the prices can be really outrageous. But there are always deals to be had on the web and Design Diva seems to have a huge selection, including some really cool vintage fabrics and non-yucky kids' prints. You can also browse by designer, type, style, etc., which is pretty cool. It can be really hard to tell if you like a fabric without actually seeing and touching it (I'm a very touchy-feeling person when it comes to choosing fabrics), but this website has pretty good photos with multiple views of each fabric. If you're a DIY-er, it's one to check out.

Posted by mwashburn at 09:14 AM | Comments (1)

January 06, 2008

Holy Shit, I'm Cabling!

Got fed up with the lace handwarmers I was working on, and like Manna from Heaven this gorgeous Malabrigo yarn appeared, a Christmas gift from Patita, and I decided to finally give cabling a try. I'm pretty pleased with the results thus far, though slightly distracted by the fact that I've now also cast on for another attempt at some socks for Adam.

Posted by mwashburn at 02:05 PM | Comments (5)

December 09, 2007

Weekend Randomness

The Family
We're entertaining the stomach flu this weekend, in a bout of vomiting that seems to be an annual pre-holiday event. All I can say is that I'm glad the Bug waited until after the holiday open house at the new Dean's house to hurl the entire contents of her stomach across the room.

Knitting
Finally got my Ravelry invite! I'm foureyedflygrrl there, so if you're on, look me up.

Reading
I finally started reading The Golden Compass. I would have LOVED this book when I was younger. I mean, I am really enjoying it now, but at the time in my life when I was fantasy-prone and extremely into that sort of fiction it would have really engrossed me. I can't figure out why I had never heard of it. In any case, it's actually quite complicated and dense for a book aimed at children. And however they may have softened up the movie, the book is quite clear in its anti-religion stance, using words like "papacy" and so forth, so the connotations of the Catholic church are there. What I can't figure out is why groups like the Catholic League want to actually ban such books/movies. You'd think that a strong, meaningful, legitimate worldview would stand up to scrutiny and invite examination of counter argument. Oh, wait a minute...

Which leads me to my next item. Trying to make up my mind about throwing myself behind The OUT Campaign. Suddenly finding myself among tons of other non-theists, skeptics, etc. online has made me really examine my own unbelief and what it means in a larger sense. I see a big movement towards "coming out," which I think is important for atheists for a number of reasons, but at the same time I want to avoid the trap of setting up yet another faction, especially one based on supposed intellectual superiority. I think that the point I always want to make in outing myself as an atheist is my similarities to everyone else, not my differences. I think that showing myself to be a loving, caring, concerned, ethical, civic-minded person who is also an atheist does more for acceptance and understanding of atheism than doing the whole elitism thing. But by the same token I think not enough atheists are out, speaking out about the misrepresentation of atheism in the media, combating all the misconceptions out there, and so on. People like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris have been doing a HUGE part of this work by writing books and being so available to the media this past year, but it's not enough. In any case, I will probably be posting more about this as I sit around and continue to think through it all.

Posted by mwashburn at 03:35 PM | Comments (0)

December 05, 2007

Ho Ho Ho

This was an interesting knitting project. The pattern was from an issue of Interweave Knits I've had forever; I've been intending to make a Christmas stocking since last holiday season. I used various leftover yarns I had lying about, and the red is from a thrift store sweater I found and took apart a while ago. I just liked the color and knew I'd find something to do with it.

So I knitted this thing, and because the maroon alpaca is so soft, the instep of the thing just drooped, and the shaping at the toe made it look like a big, floppy, multi-colored condom. So, I threw it in the washing machine and felted it. Ahhhh, much less obscene. I knew the red wasn't going to felt (it's 50% cotton), so I just creased it up the front and added some lacing. Now I have to figure out where to hang the thing.

I'm also really hoping for some sort of windfall (art sale, whatever) soon, because I want to buy some Noro Silk Garden to knit this scarf/shawl for myself. I'm thinking pinks and reds and wines. First, though, there's a second Christmas stocking, and a pair of socks for Adam, and if I get bored between projects there's the skirt I was going to try making with some pink cotton in my stash... so many projects, so little time.

Posted by mwashburn at 07:42 AM | Comments (2)

November 23, 2007

The Holidays Begin

We had a nice Thanksgiving this year. We had sent out a general invite to all the Usual Suspects, and for whatever reason this year no one could make it. We were adjusting to the idea of having a quiet (and, frankly, somewhat lonely) Turkey Day when we got an invite to head to Indianapolis to spend the day with Jamie, Susanne, and the Littles. It turned out to be a really nice day. Lily had constant entertainment in the form of J and her pet bird, a musical Barney doll, and Bo the Beagle. I discovered that I really like cornbread stuffing and fried apples, I didn't kill nut-allergic Susanne with my pecan pie, and a good time was had by all. Hopefully my second-glass-of-wine ranting and raving didn't offend anyone. Oprah wasn't there to get offended, so if you don't tell her, I won't.

Most of today was spent at my office upgrading my computer to OSX Leopard. Woo-hoo. Except I didn't find out until afterwards that it doesn't get along too well with Konica Minolta printers. I might have a major problem come Monday morning, but I'm trying really hard not to lose too much sleep over it. We purposefully stayed away from all retail locations in silent protest of the Madness that is Black Friday. We may venture out for some holiday consumerism tomorrow. Maybe.

And, I finished the hat and mitten set I've been knitting for the Bug.

We ended up renting the old Rankin-Bass Frosty the Snowman cartoon to watch with Lily tonight, not realizing it was going to completely traumatize her, but I'll be covering that over at the Lilyblog.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Posted by mwashburn at 09:28 PM | Comments (0)

November 16, 2007

One Down, About 10,000 Left to Go

Just finished this scarf, which is destined to be a holiday gift for a co-worker:

It was inspired by this scarf over at Mason Dixon Knitting, though I took quite a few liberties. I got my first taste of Manos yarn. Oh my. How yummy.

I have yet to block the thing, so if anyone has any tips... the boucle is acrylic, and the thing basically wants to curl up edge-to-edge on me, so I'm not quite sure how to make it behave. Any ideas are welcome.

Posted by mwashburn at 02:33 PM | Comments (1)

September 02, 2007

Things I Like, Things I Don't

I have finally gotten around to reading Mason-Dixon Knitting, and what a fun read! I told myself I was going to table knitting for a while when I started working full time, but HA! It's too much of an obsession at this point. This morning I found myself putting the open knitting times at our LYS on my iCal, so guess I haven't kicked the habit. I have started a patternless sweater for Lily, based on a cute one from Old Navy she wore last winter that is now too small. I'm once again using recycled yarn from a chunky wool Goodwill find a couple of weekends ago. I also received a great package of yarn from friend Carol, who had promised me some of her mismatched Bam-Boo and also sent a couple of other odd duck stash leftovers.

One thing I keep running into in knitting patterns is Chevron Stripe, which I just think is ugly. I also find that I really hate Houndstooth Check, unless it's very very tiny. But I digress.

I really need to get back to work on some painting. I'm planning a couple of small gouache still lifes at the moment. I did get around to printing some notecards with my painting Friendship, which are now for sale on Etsy. So, while time flies by and projects proceed at a crawl, some of them are actually being completed. Hooray!

Posted by mwashburn at 10:42 AM | Comments (1)

August 12, 2007

Another Project Completed

I started this top from knitty.com a while back with the intention of giving it to my neice for her birthday, which was back in July. I substituted yarns, and trying to pull it over the Bug's head to see how it looked last night, I realized that it was a bit too small (my neice is a couple of weeks younger than Lily and at least as big). The worst bit was right around the chest where the bottom of the smocking ends and the seams start. I ended up opening up the seams about an inch and then adding a crochet edge in the contrasting color all the way around the arm holes. I can get it on the Bug now, and it doesn't look half bad. I guess if it doesn't fit my niece I can offer to fix it for Xmas. I'm just really disappointed because I put a lot of work in on this and was very excited about it. Here's a photo:

I haven't decided whether my next project is going to be the Christmas stocking I've been talking about forever or a little something for myself. I was trying to talk myself into giving up knitting for a bit, since I'm just so busy right now, but I find I can't...

Posted by mwashburn at 09:25 AM | Comments (1)

June 24, 2007

More Thrift Store Goodness

I returned to my local Goodwill today, in search of a sheet to use as a backing on my bedspread top. I realized that to make a full-sized bedspread with the fabric, I was going to have to cut it into blocks and seam it, necessitating some sort of backing. Here's the finished bedspread top, and the pillowcase I made with some of the extra fabric.

The detail shows the mismatched strip I used for the edge; I plan to do the same thing at the top of the bedspread.

No luck on fabric, but I did find these two silver trays for $1.50, which I plan to use on the dresser in the guest room for... guest stuff.

And, I found a new sundress for the Bug, [40% off!] and a drum:

(specifically spotted and requested by the Bug, who always accompanies me on these little thrifting excursions). Total purchases, $3.18. You can't beat that. Really, what on earth would I do without Goodwill?

Posted by mwashburn at 05:05 PM | Comments (0)

June 22, 2007

Admitting I Have A Problem

No, no, not that problem. The problem of buying large quantities of fabric, sheets, pillowcases, etc. at Goodwill with no clue what I'm going to do with them.

Sometimes, though, opportunities present themselves. This pillowcase:

was the inspiration for my magenta office space, and is being stretched on a frame to hang as a piece of wall art. Today, I picked up this little gem:

which I hope to make into another one of these:

And last, but not least, today's other find was about 6 yards of this obnoxious fabric:

I'll probably use it to sew a summer bedspread for the guest room, which will be home to Nana R. for a few weeks in July. I keep finding these vintage-y, chintz-y fabrics, so I've got quite a collection going and just haven't figured out what to do with them yet. It's one of those situations where the colors and patterns appeal to me immensely, yet they go with nothing in my house. I think I have a very split personality, home-decor-wise. Our current push for purging and simplification has allowed me to indulge my more minimalist, modernist side, but I have a secret shabby chic/Victorian fetish I'm afraid to indulge, along with a hint of multicultural World chic (not sure there's a name for it, but my friend N pulls it off really well at her house).

Posted by mwashburn at 02:12 PM | Comments (1)

March 17, 2007

knitting

Here's the baby sweater vest I just finished for my cousin Kim's new baby, Jack:

It's from Debbie Bliss's Special Knits book, though I changed the colors (the original is in baby blue with white and navy argyle.) It knitted up fairly quickly, and the baby Cashmerino yarn is just sooooo yummy.

Next project is a poncho for Lily. I'm hoping to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, so to speak. I got some yarn of questionable taste for Xmas, but I'm hoping to make it into something fun and wearable by a toddler.

Posted by mwashburn at 06:07 PM | Comments (2)

March 03, 2007

Oh, Yeah, How Did That Thing Turn Out?

I finished the experimental zebra swatch I started a while ago. Here is the finished knitted swatch, with our little Vanna White for scale:

And after felting:

It came out a little smaller and shorter than I had anticipated, but overall I'm happy with the results. It needs some blocking to fix the rippling, but first I need to decide what to do with it. I could probably fold it in half for a nice little change purse type dealie. If I had the patience to knit about ten more of them (well, and if I had enough yarn, which I probably don't) it would make a really cool scarf. Right now it's serving as a coaster on my bedside table.

Today I bought some nice baby Cashmerino to make the argyle vest from Debbie Bliss' Special Knits for Babies as a gift for my cousin's new baby boy. I'm going to do it in a nice sage green with white and yellow argyle, to match the colors they chose for the nursery.

Posted by mwashburn at 06:30 PM | Comments (2)

February 04, 2007

KNITTING!!!

I've been an absolute knitting fool lately. I was all excited recently when I found two nice wool sweaters, one in cherry red and one in a nice cream mohair/merino blend, at Goodwill on 50% off day. So, the cream one has been recycled into a sweater for Lily. I used this kimono wrap pattern and then added my own touches–a crochet hem and some duplicate-stitched swallows in hot pink. The results:

I need to re-block the hem, because the crochet edge is making it curl up again, but I'm pretty happy with the results.

The other thing I made for Lily is this little lace bracelet with a snap closure:

I was inspired by this pattern from knitty, which proved too large for a toddler wrist, but which I am thinking of knitting in a dark color for a certain birthday twin's birthday...

And last but not least, I am experimenting with felting with some more of the cream recycled yarn and some leftovers from other projects. I downloaded some knitter's graph paper here, printed out a zebra stripe pattern on it and charted it like this:

I have only knitted a couple rows, but I'm using it to learn fair isle technique. I'm not sure what I'll do with the finished piece, but I guess it depends on what the dimensions are when it's felted. If it turns into anything, I can probably post the chart here if anyone else is interested in using it.

Other knitting plans include a Christmas stocking for Lily and a baby sweater for my cousin's new little one, Jake.

Posted by mwashburn at 11:05 AM | Comments (2)

December 11, 2006

A Little Something for Me

So I've been knitting like a maniac to have holiday gifts ready, but I thought it was about time to finally make something for myself. I love love love the book Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson, and decided that I needed a pair of wrist warmers (fingerless gloves, basically—perfect for getting children in and out of carseats in the cold) in a pretty raspberry color. I can't show you what else I've been working on, lest I ruin Christmas for someone.

Although I seem to be developing carpal tunnel syndrome (which I am told is common in women after childbirth...) I am determined to finish these stupid things. I promised Adam I'd take 2 whole weeks off from knitting, starting with our trip to NY. "Why not stop now?" he asked. I said I needed to finish the projects I already had underway. His response, (in a high-pitched approximation of my voice) "even if it paralyzes me!"

But of course.

Posted by mwashburn at 03:47 PM | Comments (1)

November 17, 2006

Holidays, Here We Come!

I finally got around to trying out my new sewing machine, the handy little powder-blue Kenmore Mini Ultra. I was having a hard time finding placemats that I liked that went with the kitchen. And I balked at paying $4 apiece for placemats (of which I wanted 8), so the irony is that I now have $6 apiece placemats after buying fabric and supplies, but oh well, I had the fun of sewing, right?

I have completed all four of the green-toned ones (see below) and need to just finish up the coordinating brown-toned ones. I was all giddy about buying bunches of fat quarters, so I have two each of four different designs. Other than a little goofiness in the bindings, they actually turned out quite nicely. So, we will be eating off of them at the upcoming Thanksgiving Feast. Placemats make much more sense than a tablecloth when you have a toddler at the table.

I am also making progress on Knitted Goodies for the Holidays, but don't want to ruin any holiday surprises, so no photos yet.

Cheers!

Posted by mwashburn at 04:22 PM | Comments (2)

October 13, 2006

I Heart Brioche Stitch

I started a new knitting project this week-- the brioche stitch scarf and hat from Melanie Falick's Weekend Knitting. It was a little tricky to get the hang of at first, but the result is a really beautiful pattern. It comes out looking like stockinette stitch on both sides, but in two colors with one color sort of between the other in rib-fashion. Here's some photos:

Gray side:

Black side:

I just hope the hat turns out well. This is supposed to be a Christmas present for my brother.

Posted by mwashburn at 02:37 PM | Comments (0)

August 31, 2006

Back to the Mundane

I was quite the domestic yesterday. Up early (thanks, Lil!) so I baked bread, mopped the kitchen, and finished this nifty sock for the Bug:

I still need to knit its partner. This was another pattern I found at knitty. It's actually a sock formula; you take some measurements and the formula creates the pattern, so you can knit socks of any size or length. Hopefully I will have the pair finished before it gets too chilly, and while the Bug still fits in them.

In other Bug-related news, she's walking pretty much full time now. She falls down a lot, but it doesn't seem to bother her. It just cracks me up watching her do that crazy little waddle with her little potbelly sticking out. She also has a lot more words. My favorite right now is when she wants you to open something up for her, instead of saying "open," she says "ook, ook!"

We are about to have a visit from Uncle Wash this weekend. He's flying in tonight, and we have lots of plans over the long weekend. Hopefully I'll have some Chicago photos and beach photos to post.

Posted by mwashburn at 07:27 AM | Comments (1)