Oooh La La -- TA DAH!

I am not sure if I have been naming my Oooooh La Las or not.  I'm assuming not, since I am not all that great with coming up with names for my projects.  I'll change that soon though.  You just watch!

Anyway, I planned on  making this post uhm.... what?  Like, 3 days ago or something?  I totally can't remember.  Everything has been such a whirlwind!  I meant to take pictures of this blanket Thursday, but my husband surprised me with another day off from work.  You don't even know what that means.  He works so much, we never get time together as a whole family, so I was like "Yeeeeaaauuuh!  HOLLA!!!"  We all went swimming all day on Thursday and then I went to hell.... I mean work.

Work has been off.the.chain.  I have this special routine that I do when I am going to work:
Shower.  If my hair is braided, then I make sure the stray hairs aren't too wild.  If my hair is in an afro puff, then I wet it a little, product-it a little, and then pull it back.  If my hair is flat ironed, I brush it out and then pull it into a pony tail.  Hair routine for crazy day: finger-comb hair into tight bun so it doesn't get pulled out of my head by angry children.

Then I get dressed in something nice, yet comfortable.  I like dresses in the summer with leggings underneath.  It's easy and cute.  Since it's hot, I like sandals.  Attire for crazy day: 1 of the 3 pairs of jeans that are baggy enough for me wrestle in without making me look like a box-shaped lezbo.  A shirt that I am not particularly attached to emotionally that doesn't show ANY skin, plus another super long tank top underneath that I tuck waaaaay down into my jeans (you never know how your clothes may shift or get pulled when in a "situation" at work) a belt, and some closed-toe shoes so I don't break a toe.

Then I like make-up.  I have crazy acne, sensitive skin and I scar easily.  That means, on any given day, I am either broken out from some hormonal rampage that has chosen to seize my face rather than impair my ability to function as an emotionally stable person.  Or, I am broken out because someone touched me too much and my skin rejects oils of any sort, including my own personal home-grown right from my own flesh natural body oils.  If I touch my face throughout the day, I will go to bed fully broken out.  Or, when the coast is clear, you see the aftermath of whatever insane breakout has left on my poor, little face.  In short.  Make up is essential.  Nothing touches my actual skin that I can't wash off, and I don't touch my face because I don't want to smear anything.  I like eye make up.  It's fun to play around with.  Make for crazy day:  foundation, mascara, chapstick, MAYBE blush.  I stick with the basics so that if someone does touch my face, I can easily wash it off without experiencing the damage.

Anyway, that's been my week.  I have fantastic family time, and then I shower and rush into work, where I chase and manage children who could otherwise choose to behave so that I don't have to dress like a boy and they don't have to be bored with restrictions.  I love what I do-- NEVER MISTAKE THAT!
So...  Here we are on Saturday, my day off.  I wanted to get out and take some pictures of my blanket, but then all hell broke loose!  The sky went black and there was rain, winds, thunder, lightening. It was straight up Wildness.com outside my window!

This is some of the aftermath.  My sister was out driving around and she came to have me walk the streets, looking at the damage.  There was more as we continued walking through neighborhoods.  A friend was unfortunate enough to be caught driving in it as trees were literally being uprooted and falling across the street!

So I had to, despite the terrible lighting, take these photos indoors.  I am pretty gutsy, but I never fuck with Mother Nature.  N.E.V.E.R.  But, I have been thinking about things, and I have got to set up some sort of a lighting system for photos.

43 rounds total, with 6 rounds for the border

I am really pumped about the spike stitch border.  I have experimented a little with the spike stitch before, but I have never made it a part of a finished project.  I will most definitely be using this interesting and fun stitch more often....and, by "more often", I mean within the next week for some new projects I have planned!

The only thing I am not super excited about is how the edges curl a little.  I have to sort out how to get that under control LOL.  I plan to make 2 more giant grannies. One with the pinks, that I showed you a while ago, and then another one with browns, off-white, and maybe a light orangey sherbet looking color...  I haven't worked out the kinks on the last one of the trio.  I will have different borders on all of them, and I am hoping that I can get it right so the corners don't curl.

After some thought, I think I have have answer to the curled edges problem, but I am not even going to attempt to work out this issue until I get over my blanket blues!  I need to work on something other than blankets, and after rounds and rounds and rounds of blue hues, I need to get away from that color too!!! 

Sucrette.  If you are just blog hopping and have some spare time after my long rambling, you should definitely check out her blog!!!  She has all these free patterns on there and tutorials.  Nothing makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside as when a person offers something to the craft community for free!  So THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Sucrette for coming up with the idea and giving me the opportunity to come out of my shell and try something new!

Happy Hooking!

Sneak Peak of the Week

Hey Hey!  I am sorry about being MIA for a while.  I guess it hasn't been that long, but my absence was longer than planned. 

I just haven't been motivated.  I have been groggy, bored, uninspired.  I have been depressed about not knowing how to sew.  I have been longing for things that I know I just can't have right now.  I basically sort of chose to start dreaming and then get mad at myself for not being able to make each little dream come true.  Let me tell you, I am one Crazy Dreamer! 

In one dream, I imagined that I went to NYC back when I was 18 after being offered a modelling career.  I left the modelling gig to start my own fashion line and lived the life the fast, rich, and well-dressed.  I was actually offered a career, but when they asked me to lose 20 pounds even though I'd only gained about 7, I knew I couldn't spend my life being poked and prodded and having my self worth summed up by some fat meanie whose career description is: Make skinny, young women feel terrible about themselves in the name of fashion.

My real obsession lies in fashion photography!  I love-love all the photos...and hey, the clothes aren't too bad either!!!

Like this ad from Jean Paul Gaultier

All of that would be awesome, but I wouldn't have The Hubs or my Little Darling.  And I think it goes without saying that a life without my family isn't worth living!

The other dream that I keep dreaming has to do with sewing. I keep dreaming that I make  myself these wonderful clothes inspired by Alexander McQueen and Burberry Prorsum and by artists like Lady Gaga, Boy George, and B.E.P.  Only something more "wearable" than their stage get-ups!

Alexander McQueen Spring 2011

You can't tell me that if someone gave you a pair of these for your birthday that you wouldn't just DIE!  I know I would!!!

Burberry Prorsum Resort 2011

The other dream that I keep dreaming is that I become a well-known published author and I get offers to turn my books into films.  But I am a demanding and stingy woman, so I demand to be on-set for all productions, as I refuse to have my books distorted into ridiculous Hollywood hubbalub full of great-looking actors who are a) quite obviously starving and b) have no real talent!

Anyway, being stuck in my dream world has had me forgetting about the Real World.  My World consists of planning a home school fall semester for my four year old.  My World consists of planning healthy, predominantly vegetarian menus for my family.  My World consists of more cleaning and tossing on some yoga pants and flip flops for play time than actually getting dressed and "going out".  My World consists of working with youth that, if they had it their way on most days, would skin me alive and stuff me with an apple before roasting me on an open fire.  My World consists of working on crochet projects using familiar stitches and familiar patterns because I haven't grown the balls or patience to try something out of the box.  My World is really, really small.

But then, yesterday, something awesome happened.  I was reminded of something important:

The Hubs and our Little Darling in a creek looking for frogs and crawdads at Bernheim forest

My World is actually pretty awesome and full of meaning.  I just needed that special family time out hiking at a local forest to remember it.  It's the small things that really matter to me.  And the dreams of living it big and rich and famous...well, I think I enjoy them so much because they are just dreams.  I am happy to wake up to My World every day, with The Hubs wrapped around me and my Little Darling jumping in the bed to say, "Good Morning, Mommy and Daddy.  I wub you boff".

And with that said/realized, I made an effort last night to put 3 of the last 5 rows on my Mega Granny Blanket -- you just have to see it!!!!  .... Tomorrow!  Hahahahaha!  I'm mean, I know.  And I was also motivated to post this sneak peak that I planned to post about 6 days ago:

I usually don't bother with doing anything that has rows because I get discouraged and bored.  Something tells me I need to grow the hell up!  Afterall, I finished a MEGA GRANNY SQUARE, didn't I?  So I am putting my Big Girl Panties on and I am going to work out this baby blanket.  I am sooooooo far from being done, but I rather enjoy the process.  I am using 100% cotton yarn that I have LOADS of, but never use.  I am also using 3 different stitches-- single, half-double, double and popcorn stitches. 

**As for the designing... I am just going to go back to my high school ways:  sketching out my personal ideas and making mood boards.  Get ready for some posts from my fashion sketch book!
**As for modelling... I am still almost 6 feet tall, but I am also now 28 and I weigh 184 pounds, and unless I can lose 8 years and 70 pounds by tomorrow morning, I think I will have to let that one go!  **As for my sewing... I am taking classes starting the end of this month (WOO-HOO!  No more fear and no more excuses!) 
**As for writing.... I hate to write.  I'll be honest.  But I have plans for a graphic novel, so stay tuned for sketches of my character line-up, since I am going back to my fine arts roots these days.  Did you know that about me?  I am actually more of a studio artist, rather than a crafter?  I paint and draw...which explains my frustrations with crafty things such as sewing and crochet.
**And finally... As for Crochet... I have a shit-wad of patterns and ideas and sketches and you-name-its that I am about to embark upon.  I am so tired of being unmotivated because I am too afraid to Get Motivated.  I'll never truly know what I am capable of if I keep making excuses and keep letting my fear of failure rule my decisions.

Life in Fear is No Life at All.

Mission...Possible???

I am really hoping this "Mission" is possible, at least!  Some time ago, I am guessing a few weeks at this point, I started this:

Then, I got into some other things....and then my "Creative Block" happened...and then I looked at my calendar, and BLAM!  I just have a week to finish this gift!!!  This blanket is just a small portion of what I have planned in total!  And to make things a little more complicated.... I also have to conjure up some birthday gifts for my twin brother & sister's birthday coming up this next weekend too!!!  CRAZY!

Now, I have this:

My apologies on the terrible picture quality! 

This is meant to be a smaller blanket accompanied by a cardigan, hat, booties, a larger blanket, and a little amigurumi something or another.  UHHHHM... yeap.  But now?  I have No Idea!  (wiggles with discomfort)  I am looking at this, and thinking that I might go bald and lose a wrist in this endeavor.  But you know what?  I can't show up with a hand made gift and it not be adequate.  If I am going to make something, I have to bring on the WOW-factor, especially because I won't know anyone there.....  Oh goodness!  Why the hell am I even making a post??  Gah!  I should have my hook in hand, working even now!

I don't know how Agent Ethan does it without sweating bullets.....

Photo from: Here


This post will self-destruct.

Sneak Peak of the Week

I am sure this is crazy to make a "Sneak Peak"....on a Thursday night, less than an hour away from being Friday.  It makes much more sense for me to do this Sundays/Mondays like I planned.  But nooooooo, my internet has this thing where it keeps cutting in and out whenever it wants, leaving me with a load of ideas to post, but no means of doing such!
So anyway, I have some things that I have started to work on.  After the depressing, whiny post I made the other day, I decided to pull my shit together and DO SOMETHING!  I often come to the realization that, when you are not motivated and don't know what to do, it is best to do something.... anything!  It's the sitting around waiting for something big to slap you in the face that eats away at you and your motivation.  So, I picked up this huge granny that I have been working on for the past two weeks, off and on.

Yea, buddy!  This sucker is getting huge!!!  I am excited about it.  I have never even thought to make a single granny this large before.  It's a little awkward, trying to hold all that blankie in my lap and I continue the rounds.  I always make smaller squares/motifs and then put them together.

I love the way this came along so fast and simple.  I needed an "easy win", considering my little creativity slump.  But, I am BACK and I am happy with what I have done :)  This Mega Granny is about 41 inches so far, bigger than my Little Darling!!!  I am almost done.  I have about 3-5 more rounds, plus something I dreamed up for a border.  And you know how it goes when I start dreaming about things......  I make them happen!

With all this success, I just had to add something else to the mix... a new project.  You ever have that happen to you???  You're working on something and then suddenly inspiration hits...and you start asking, "Well, if this worked out so well, what about....?"  And then your brain starts ticking and you start itching because you just gotta get it out of your system, this new project???  Know what I mean!? 

Well, that's what happened here.  This chemical/creative chain reaction of sorts.

Meet Big Boy Granny...and say Hello to his sister...

Big Girl Granny

 Ok, I get it. I need to put some effort into coming up with better names for these projects.  What can I say?  I'm a no bullshit kinda girl.  I call it like I see it.  This is a big granny for a girl...Big Girl Granny, right???  No?   Ok, fine.  I'll work on the name thing, LOL.  Maybe another chain reaction will come out of the "Name Game".

So there ya have it.  My next Mega Granny!!!!  The same thing in precious girly colors.  When the sun comes up and I get some more rounds on this cutie, I will make another post to update!

And just when you thought your mind couldn't process anymore-- I have another sneak peak coming up later this weekend..pending internet connection!  I need to work on it some more over the next few days.  Although I am excited about it, if I made a post with just a few rounds on it, I am sure everyone would be scratching their heads thinking, "This girl has either lost it .... or her ego is so big, she thinks she can show us 3 rounds of some random project and we are impressed with it!" 

Yeap....so.... until then!!!

Frustrated....

I finally got my internet back!  Something keeps happening with our router, and the internet "blacks out" for 5-7 days and then comes back.  It doesn't bother me too much.  Aside from some research online and planning my Little Darling's homeschool for the coming year, I don't need the web much.  I can always find other things to do.....

But lately here, I have been REALLY unmotivated :(  Really. Really. Unmotivated!  I keep thinking of all these great projects, but they are always WAY beyond my crochet skill level.  And then I keep trying to sew.  Luckily these patterns and fabric don't cost much because I have blown through a lot of both lately.

I have about 5-8 crochet projects that are incomplete.... But I have no interest in finishing them.  I want to do something new.  Something different.  Something more interesting.  I am tired of granny-this, and motif-that.  I want to make Clothing!  I want to make Jewelry!  I want to make Accessories!  I want to make something Unique!

But for now, I am just going to sit and sketch out my frustrations in my journal and continue my search for something that will satisfy this hunger I have more something Bigger...that is on my skill level.

Frustrated. Bored. Searching. Until next time.

High Fashion...Right?

Ok, so I am all about fashion.  I will admit that I always choose comfort over something that looks amazing.  I also must admit that I have "collections" of awesome things that I will never wear: shoes, clothes, jewelry.  Just because I love fashion...interesting things.

And because I have always been into fashion, since I was about 11 or so, I have always been into high fashion magazines.  Man, I would rip out all the pages and put the trends together in these Lisa Frank folders.  I would draw and sketch and try to predict trends on my own.  I applied (and was accepted) into a bunch of art schools because I was sure that the fashion industry was for me.  Needless to say, that is not the path that I pursued.  I am happy with my life now, and I am happy that I chose this life instead of life in the fast lane. 

But then I saw something amazing!!!  No, really, I am not being dramatic at all.  I have to be honest, I always dream and think about all the "what-ifs".  But I guess I don't really have to dream anymore.

Check this out...

Sorry about the wrinkled paper.  I ripped this out of the July 2011 of ELLE magazine.... I had to do it on the low... I was waiting on my gynecologist.  When I heard her coming, I ripped out the page and shoved it into my purse.  I just had to take it right then and there.  I was so excited.  I admit, I am a loser and I hate being dishonest.  So for everyone who is worried I stole this page and ran out of my gynecologist office..... I didn't  I pulled it out and showed it to her and asked if I could leave with the ripped page.  She told me it didn't matter to her whether I took the whole magazine.  I didn't want to do that.  Who knows what other woman might come in and leave with a pap smear and a new take on fashion :)

So  JUST LOOK!!!!!!  This "High Fashion" ensemble is totally all about this skirt.... and this skirt is a what??  GRANNY SQUAAAAARE!!!!  Ok, I might be a little over-excited.  But this is where I am coming from.....  We, crochet lovers, make all grannies ALL the time!  It's so simple!

But seriously....This is what took my breath away:

This little skirt ... is $1300!!!!  Wh-what?!  Crazy, right.  This is a skirt by Christopher Kane by Johnstons of Elgin.  I rushed to tell The Hubs about it.  I was like, "Babe, I have one of those in my closet!" 

Remember this?

Well, almost...  I am pretty positive that the designer one was made of all silk cashmere... Hell, for $1300, it better have some gold & silver threading woven into the yarn.  Anyway, I googled and searched all over to find more details about the skirt, but I couldn't. 

The point here is that Something as small and simple as a granny square can still totally work in a the world of overly-sophisticated, overly priced High Fashion. I love this!

It reminds me that....
Anything is Possible!  Never Forget the Simple Things in Life!....

And of course, my new objective is to make one toooooo!

Shopping Spree

Today has totally been one of those days.  My mind has been scattered.  I am completely and utterly unmotivated and uninspired.  Typically, when I get into one of these funks, I can still pick up my latest crochet project and put a few rows/rounds on it.  I haven't even felt like doing any of that today.  I know, right.  It goes against the laws of creative nature, or something.

So I decided that, since I can't do this in real life, I am going to go shopping.... well, sorta :)

And since it is coming up on the Fall 2011 season, I figured, why not get a head start?

Like, this beautiful coat by Jason Wu

Jason Wu Genuine Ostrich Feather Dégradé Coat $4,595

And then, since I am wearing something fancy on the outside, I should probably put on something classy on the inside and head on out to a fancy place to eat.... alone.  Just a little "me time" to decompress at a nice restaurant with great wine...

I could wear this

Ports 1961 Pleated Jacquard Dress $1,850

With these

Brian Atwood Swarovski Crystal Embellished Silk Pump $4,970

And let's not forget these accessories!

Bracelet:  Pamela Love Fall 2011 Collection

Bag:  VBH Fall 2011 Collection 

Ring: Flutter Fall 2011 Collection

Earrings:  Kimberly McDonald Fall 2011 Collection

I am not really big on accessories at all.... but I guess it wouldn't hurt to also add....

This ring from Kimberly McDonald Fall 2011 Collection....

and...

These necklaces from Flutter Fall 2011 Collection ... which I am sure I can't wear at the same time, but why not?  This is a fantasy, right :)














Well, I don't know about you, but I always feel better after I go shopping.   There is no way in a fiery hell that I would be able to spend $50,000 on an ensemble and some dinner... But a girl can dream right?  I always think like this: 

Dream BIG or Go Home!