urban romance

I suspect that if you are reading this blog, you probably know me already. But, in the off chance you don't, I'll tell you something about me...

I have a deep deep love for street art. It's a serious romance. And I pretty much look for it wherever I go. Some of the best pieces are the ones that find you though.

This is a random little something I found in Italy & liked a whole lot for no particular reason. I think it might have been in Florence. It sounds strange but things like this renew me, especially when I start to feel weighted down by a city.
I saw a ton of other amazing graffitti when I was in Italy this summer. I didn't really get pictures of it though because I usually found the best stuff when I was on a moving train or speeding boat.

When I was in New Paltz this past weekend, I was standing around waiting & looked up to see a post-it note on the remains of a phone booth. It said something to the effect of.."It's perfectly okay to be lonely." It was definitly one of those things that finds you.

a resurfacing

Don't believe the rumors. I have not been swept up into the bermuda triangle. Nor have I run away with the circus. I'm not ruling out these opportunities to disappear, but maybe I'll hold off till spring at least. No, folks..I've just been....without internet. (insert collective gasp here)

Despite the lack of communication, classes & sifting through a sea of boxes, I have managed to craft. I even finally finished Diamonique!!! Albeit with some mistakes here & there. The most annoying of which is the front armholes. As was instructed for the back, I was supposed to knit on both the "wrong" & "right" sides so the armhole didn't curl & I neglected to do that. I'm the type of gal who needs to be reminded of such things once I get to a new section. Anyway, I had to go back & pick up stitches to do some minor ribbing. I'm hoping it won't stick out so much once I've layered clothing underneath it.
Now I'm working on the Saunshine pattern that came with the Diamonique pattern. I didn't initially have intentions of making it, but decided to in the interest of using some of my yarn stash. However, the problem with my stash is that I don't have enough of any type of yarn to complete a project. It's just a large assortment of one or two skeins of random things. So sometimes I end up collecting more yarn to be able to finish "stash busting" projects. It makes no kind of sense, I know. But I don't really want to have a stash! I really need to get in gear & have a craft swap.

Aside from that, I'm still working on a baby blanket which continues to be the bane of my existence. I also knit a stuffed zebra that I'm quite proud of, but I'll post pictures when I get around to giving her eyes. It will be soon though. For real, it will! Baby shower is next weekend so it's gotta be done.

I also recently attended the NYC Knit Out & Crochet. I had a great time, but the event itself was kinda...ehh. I think it always sits so warmly in my mind since it's an excuse to hang out with one of my close friends from college. Sitting on a park bench in NYC, knitting & catching up with Meg= awesome. Large yarn companies trying to give me advertisements for their overpriced yarns & books= eh..not so much. Plus, there's always the risk of getting trampled by a stampede of aggressive old ladies when they are giving out free stuff at a booth. But I must say, I did also see some cool stuff & learned intarsia knitting.

On another note, I took this random shot on the way out to school the other day because I realized I hade made most of what I was wearing. And I don't think I can really describe how amazing that feels. I knit that top, made that skirt out of a pair of old jeans, and sewed pieces of one of my favorite shirts to that canvas bag. Yay me!

also..

I got this delicious handspun yarn, made from recycled silk scarves, at YOTG. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it just yet, but I'm in love with it all the same.

welcome back

My goodness. It's been over a month since I've posted!Life has just been busy busy busy. Quiting my job, moving, starting graduate school, going to Italy. I feel lucky to have snuck in any crafting at all!

Italy was beautiful & there's a lot to be observed in the way of fashion, crafting & trends. I could usually pick out who was American by their shoes & accesories alone. Sick, I know. There were countless gorgeous knitted pieces in the new fall lines in the windows. Mostly, knitted dresses.

I was overjoyed to find a yarn shop in Florence, only to be instructed by the owner, "it is very important not to touch the yarns". What?!? Don't touch the yarn?! Surely, I had to have heard her wrong. Maybe it was a language barrier. But no, she was speaking in english & there was no mistaking the scowl on her face as she eyed the skein I had just picked up.

That's like inviting kids into Willy Wonka's chocolate factory & then telling them they can't taste the candies! I just don't get it. And I left the shop flustered, dissapointed, and yarn-less.

Anyway-I did a lot of knitting on my diamonique. In fact, I'm almost done! But in true knitty digital fashion, I ran out of yarn. Go figure. But now I have a good excuse to go back & visit Year of the Goat. My favorite yarn shop. Where they let me touch the yarn! (Okay, I promise I'll stop harping now)

I managed to do a few other minor crafty things before packing all my stuff up in boxes. My favorite of which was making shorts out of these oh-so-unflattering long capris to your left. I used to love these, though after trying them on again I had a hard time remembering why.

A little snip here, and some added fabric in the waist, and they were liberated into comfy long shorts (to the right) that have again become my favorite thing to wear. Now that I can breathe in them, I can appreciate how comfortable the fabric is as well.


I also finally found my halo fauna patch while packing, and used it to cover a hole in a shirt. Simple alteration, yet very effective in making the shirt wearable again.

I was also doing silly little things. Like gluing pins onto big buttons to make..well, a button I guess.

Even the smallest of "crafts" or alterations keeps me sane.

Seasons change

Despite all of my stress lately, I suppose my disposition has improved more than I've been willing to give myself credit for. I came to that realization after flipping through my journal quickly. Here's a collage I did sometime in February....
And here's one I did earlier this month...
Ahh, expressive arts.

sew what

My life has been devoid of knitting lately. It's not even the sweltering heat that's kept me from it either. I've just been too busy & stressed. But I'm making a date with my knitting needles this weekend, and that's for sure.

This evening, I did make a little time for some sewing though. Right now it's all just reconstruction work, which I think makes pretty good practice since I'm such a newbie at it. I feel a bit impatient though. I want to be making things from scratch. Simultaneously, I really appreciate being able to utilize garments at hand that would otherwise go unworn.

I made these denim capris from old jeans I had lying around from heavier times. I really like them EXCEPT that the crotch bugs me. It's too long & baggy. Unfortunately, I don't know enough tricks of the trade to fix that just yet. Luckily for me, long tops are in so I can cover the long crotch.
This is (obviously) a skirt from old jeans too. I really love how this turned out.
And last, but not least, I reconstructed this vintage skirt I thrifted. The picture doesn't really do it justice at all. But I lovelovelove this skirt. Luckily, the blunders from the last skirt I made, taught me how to enlarge this one. It's got this spanish style to it, but the pattern on the fabric seems more nordic to me. Makes me feel like a fancy lady. And in fall, I'll throw some tights on under it, and it will be perfect.

apples & oranges

I never feel more complete than when I make certain to incorporate art into my life. I've been doing that more lately, and it feels fantastic. I've also been inspired by a lot of fantastic work by folks I come across on the internet as well, and they inspire me to push my work further & to make it more frequently.

I've always done drawings of some sort for expression. Occasionally I'll make collages or sketches in my written journal when articulating things through words feels too heavy. Recently, I came across this livejournal which reminded me how good it feels doing those types of sketches. These are just two random ones I've done lately...
So I don't really ever drink anymore at all. I've never been into drugs, and I don't even like taking asprin unless I have to. But after taking Vicodin for my wisdom tooth removal...well, it's was just nice to have an excuse to feel so mellow after all the stress I've been under.
I did this the other day. It's just a question I've been asking myself. Maybe I'll color it. Maybe I won't.

And while I've never considered myself particularly fashion savvy, knitting has really allowed me to admit to myself how much I love the "fiber arts" (as Melissa would say). What it comes down to is- I really do love fashion (shhhh...don't tell). I'm getting better at admitting that to myself by learning that fashion doesn't have to be just a rich person's passion.
I've been reading blogs like this one, and dress a day (on top of all the knitting blogs, that is).

Yesterday, I thrifted this amazing skirt. I love the fabric. With my new found confidence after making that skirt with Moira, I bought this even though it's got a 26inch waist (pssshhh, yeah, as if). Luckily, after the last resizing, I know precisely how I'm going to resize this one.

And this (scary) beauty on the left is the dress form with the additions I mentioned in my last post. She freaks people out whenever they walk into the room. Some call her terrifying. I think of her as my watch dog.

I've also been painting, though I have nothing finished to share right now. Miles & I spread the paint supplies all over the living room floor and just play. It's really refreshing to have a friend that I am comfortable enough to paint with & enjoy their company even if we aren't talking at all.

And, of course, there's still knitting going on here & there.