Fancy Flickr!

So I did something fancy. I made sets of my photos in flickr and added a link on my side bar so that if you want you can look and see what I am working on, what I have worked on, and pictures of progress pictures while working on stuff that is now finished. Neat aye?

gift again

So I have thought long and hard, and did some math, and realized that I should not be a selfish knitter, that I should just make a baby blanket. This also comes from the realization that there is a huge differnce between 48 squares that would be needed to make a baby blanket and 100+squares that would be needed to make an adult size blanket... so sad. Plus on top of that there is the whole thing about not having enough yarn in the right colors to make a full size afghan. So a compromise has been made. I will make the baby an afghan out of all my random acrylic yarn (which is not a whole lot) and I will make an afghan out of all the random wool yarn for me (which I have a whole lot more of). It will be a goofy looking afghan that will be made out of a bunch of random yarn of random sizes and that I will just make bigger and bigger as the years go along. I think it will be one of those connect the squares as I go along type deals. It should be fun, and colorful!

Yet another project!

Okay, so this started out as a planned gift, but i think i am starting to like it too much and i don't know if i'm going to be able to give it away. It's an afghan from the book Simple Crochet. I'm using my stash yarn for it. These are the squares I made today. I think I'm just going to use the two multi colored squares toward the bottom of the picture and not the white one or the little one. Although I may use the varigated yarn to connect them all together though. Oh yet another project, well at least it's not costing anything!

interesting... and a good idea!

Do you ever see something and think to yourself, "damn, i wish i would have thought of that" and then you stew about it that it would have been the perfect fit for who you are and what you do and what you think about. They just beat you to it. sometimes, it's by an hour, others it's more like 30 years. Well, that's the way I feel about the Red Sweater Project http://www.redsweaters.org/RedSweaters.html . This artist had an amazing idea. A way to get many people envolved and think about the war and all work together to make other people think about the war. I have been wanting to do something like this for awhile. I just wasn't sure how, and well she figured it out. knit or crochet a bunch of sweaters and tie them together to make people think. The people that help knit the sweaters think about who's death that sweater might be representing, and the people who see and then ask about the sweaters think about the magnitude of the deaths in Iraq. I like her explination of why she is only representing american soldiers, it's kind of a sad reason really. there is just no way to fit all of them in the tree. there are too many people who have died to represent in three inch sweaters inside of one tree. It seems to me that it would actually take a neighborhood of trees. So go to the sight and knit a sweater and remember who's fighting out there.

On a side note I just found out that a close friend of mine is being deployed to Iraq soon. It makes me kind of sad. I realize that he may die. That I may never see him again. That he too may be represented by a little red sweater.

m.a.p. bag

So here are some pictures of my m.a.p. bag! There is the bag closed, open, the inside, button close up, and the inside showing the devider unsnapped (yess sir eee, the devider comes out, or stays in, it is secured with 6 snaps). I like it so much I'm going to make another one! I have some ideas on how to make the design better and the sewing process easier.

More Pictures

This is a picture of all the stuff I've been working on together. Crewel work, knitting, sewing, it makes me happy.

Finally... Pictures!

Sweaters and more sweaters! So I am finally posting some pictures of the projects I'm working on. I just started the somewhat cowl (sky blue cotton fleece), have been working on the wavey line sweater from the book Vintage Knits (Lambs Pride, light blue, pink, red, and brown, I will post the official names of the colors later), and the go with anything anywhere sweater from stitch and bitch.

more projects

Well, somehow, even though I hardly have time to eat (last night I had aprox 15 mins to make and eat dinner inbetween school and work), I find time to knit and sew and find new projects to work on. And on top of that, I find that my reading list is getting longer everytime I post. I just added the new book from the museum of contemporary art in chicago. Here's a picture of the front, isn't it beautiful! And then, I just started swatching for the Somewhat Cowl from knitandtonic.com... she has some great patterns.
I'm not sure what color to make it though, but i'm going to make my decision today! I was actually thinking that a beige might be good because I don't have a beige anything really to wear at all and it's a color that looks pretty good on me and would go great with a nice gray wool twill skirts that has little crewel work along the hem! Or possibly light sky blue.... hmm... okay so maybe I won't make up my mind. I want to make it red, but I have three red sweaters already! I don't need to make one. The brown in the picture looks nice, but I just don't know if I want to knit something that's all brown for the summer.... hmmm... anyway I'm thinking about making it with cotton fleece, but i'm not sure if it will work, it did guage perfect though... we will see. In other news it is Jason's (my boyfriend) birthday this weekend. He is turning 24, and is getting over the hill syndrom already "I'm so old, don't remind me about my birthday." Geeze, he better not be like this every year. Anyway, so I got him some pretty good gifts, but I feel like there is something missing, like I should get him one more thing, but I'm not sure what! I will figure it out i'm sure. I'm writing a research paper this week and have two exams and an article summery due all tomorrow! oh my what am I doing on the internet, I need to kick it into high gear!... oh and the reason that I have not posted any works in progress pictures is because my digital camera broke and I am going to have to get a new one. But I cannnot afford one right now, so you will all have to just hold onto your pants and wait until a friend can take some pictures for me. That in a wierd way reminds me. I made a Museum All-Purpose bag or m.a.p. bag as my dad likes to call it (i like to call it that too), and it is the perfect size for taking to museums and galleries. It has a divider so you can put a sack lunch on one side and wallet, keys, phone, brochures, etc on the other. There is an inside pocket, and it buttons on the outside (no noisey zippers or velcro). The strap is 2 inches thick so as to provide a comfortable fit as you run around in the museum. You want to focus on art and not on "oh my shoulder sure does hurt, I wish I would have bought that m.a.p. bag from Kristin Roach Originals!" I mean, I know that's what I want to focus on. Anyway, I will be selling them on etsy.com in a week and a half (after my paper is turned in). I will post a link when I get everything up and running to my online store. Also, I will post pictures of the m.a.p. bag this weekend.

The long awaited Birthday list!

Well there have been a few requests from family (the people I mainly blog for so they can see what I'm up to as far as projects and events goes) to make a birthday wish list. So here is goes:
1. Bookcase! (or two) tall and narrow is the thing. no wider than 27" and as tall as can be
2. gift certificut to The Yarn Exchange or Dick Blick or JoAnn's Fabric (the only fabric store in town)
3. "Vanishing American Needle Arts" by Denise Longhurst
4. "Compendium of Finishing Techniques" by Naomi McEneely
5. "What is Wrong with Contemporary Art?"
6. "An Atlas of Animal Anatomy for Artists" (I really want this, as far as books go it is top of the list)
7. "The Rape of the Masters: How Political Correctness Sabotages Art" (This is right under animal anatomy for artists)
8. "Denyse Schmidt Quilts"
9. "Make Your Own Contemporary Quilts"

Now of course I do not expect to get all this, but it's just some ideas for what I am interested in right now. Basically any book on art theory would be great, the bookcase is very very needed (I have piles all over my apartment, books and books and books, it's rediculous, but I love it).

more chicago and a splash of dekalb

Ah chicago... what a great day I had with you. I was dropped off at 10am (hitched a ride with a friend). Walked around for a bit, went to Au Bon Pain and then decided not to so I went to Cosi instead. There were couches, wooden tables, a big fireplace to bake bread in, and most importantly they didn't seem to mind people just buying coffee and sitting for a bit to read. Then off to the insitute for a few hours. There were so many great things there, I could have spent 6 hours there and not just 2.... It was only 7 dollars and I enjoyed it more than a movie, so I figured it was a good deal. I saw so much....

And then I went to the contemporary... interesting as always. There was one instilation and one painting that I really liked. Unfortunately I will have to look them up online because I forgot to write them down. There was another piece that was interesting. There were two empty galleries before I saw the guard and I know she must be guarding something so I keep walking.... and then I see it... a child... a small boy, he's kneeling and facing away from me, I cannot see what he looks like, so I walk around to face him. It is no child at all, it is in reality a child size hitler kneeling in front of me. The realization is startling.... deeping desturbing really. I left feeling discusted and betrayed. I was feeling innocent about the boy and that feeling was quickly replaced with horror because of the face. It's interesting how a face can mean so much, how a half truth is so decieving.

I went to the gift shop... which is more like an extensive library of books that can't be found in your standard bookstore. They range from artist biographies/autobiographies to art history and art theory. The really great thing is that all the art theory books are current. I decide another time I will buy one....

I go across the street to borders and drink some more coffee... I sit down and think about things what I've seen... how much I love the city. I'm thinking "you know, there was a help wanted sign on the door of that coffe place I was at earlier.... oh to work here, to be here, to live here, how wonderful." and then I realize that it won't happen for another 3 years at least, maybe more, so it goes i guess. It was great sitting there looking down at michigan and chicago ave and seeing all those people blur together into one identity... the identity of the city.

I kick myself for not buying that book. It was a toss up really on what to buy. Either "what is wrong with contemporary art?" or "art history versus aesthetics." They were both really good. I decide to go back and make up my mind about which book and buy one. First though I check to make sure that they don't sell them at borders for a whole lot cheaper. They don't. So I go back across the way to the contemporary and look at the books again.. all those wonderful books. Some day I will have a library that fills up two rooms, maybe more. And when I die, I will donate it to the art community and it will be called the Kristin Roach Mermorial Library! Anyway, so after much debate and looking around I decided on "Art History versus Aesthetics." Off to the office to catch my ride home, but I get there early so I go next door to starbucks and get a coffee. You know I don't like them or their coffee, but it is convienient having a coffee shop on almost every block.

I met up with david at 430 and we headed off to the Oak Park Library for the oak park arts league seminar on artists marketing. It was really good and I wrote a bunch of notes. I learned a whole lot and became inspired to sell my art and to market it. We chatted a bit and then headed home.

Back in DeKalb...
More work at old navy.
And I ordered my pattern for the knit along. I'm going to be making the somewhat cowl from Knit and Tonic. I will post a picture of that and other things later.
I had dinner with my neighbors, I'm going to be so sad when they move, but that's not until July so I'm just going to enjoy their company for now.
Watched Cowboy Beebop season 2 again... it is so good.

Well this is a mighty long post so I'm going to call it quits for now. I'll post pictures of things later.

Chicago

Oh yesterday was so good. I went to chicago, I saw art, I lived in the city for a day. I want to go back soon. The day was just to short. I will post more later, because I have to go to work. Blah.

Art Emersion Day, Horray!

So I have decided that although I have two papers, 3 exams, one summary, french homework, and a painting to paint in one week for submission to the sga show that I am taking One whole day off for art, for my love of art, for my desire of art. I am going to take this day, start off at 7am and take myself to chicago. I am less than 2 hours away from chicago and have lived less than 2 hours from chicago for over 8 months and have not gone there. What is wrong with me!? I think I am afraid.. although I am not sure why. So I am going to go and look at art, make art, be inspired and renew my soul. And yes I am serious, I need renewal. I am burnt out, uninspired, and not excited about my work. My cousin ask me "when is the last time you did art for yourself and not for school?" It was a tough question for me to swallow... it has been since last summer! that is too long! that is rediculous!

So what is on the agenda?
the melanee cooper gallery - http://www.melaneecoopergallery.com/index.html
the douglas dawson gallery - http://www.douglasdawson.com/index.html
the jean albano gallery - http://www.jeanalbanogallery.com/index.html
the aldo castillo gallery - http://www.artaldo.com/index.shtml
the art institute of chicago - http://www.artic.edu/aic/
the museum of contemporary art chicago - http://www.mcachicago.org

I know, I know, it's a lot to do in one day... but really no... I will do it.... although, honestly the aldo castillo gallery may just be too far away. I'm going to have to check into the El and see if they run out that way. Make it easier on me to get around. I am looking forward to this so much. Most of the galleries are in the northern downtown next to the contemporary so i will most likely go to more galleries than listed. Oh the art emerssion proceeds!

Oh and the painting on the left is not mine, it's something I came across while looking for galleries to go to... I love this woman and I plan on going to boston and meeting her. She is amazing!

Yeah for today!

I haven't posted in awhile, but that's mainly because I have been lazy and busy at the same time. I did a few packages in the mail this past week that brought me so much happiness. My cousin sent me a few bookmarks that she made along with a letter on really cute stationary. It really made my day. Then just yesterday I recieved The New Crewel, which also made my day. I suppose I should reliquish my copy from the library back to their hold... I do love the library and all of their books, and the way that they smelled, the feel of their pages. I will post pictures later, when I am no longer feeling so lazy.

New links horray!

So I have found some new links that everyone should enjoy:
1. http://www.cast-on.com - an amazing woman that I enjoy listening to every sunday afternoon
2. http://www.podiobooks.com - interesting books to listen to for free
3. http://www.storynory.com - free kid books to listen to for free
4. http://www.autumnbreezedesigns.com/blog/ - another woman to listen to on sunday afternoons... maybe, i haven't listent to a full podcast yet
5. http://www.rubyfruitradio.com/ - music by women that is good to listen to anytime

I exchanged some stuff at joann's and got a new pattern for a shirt, i will post a picture of the fabric and the pattern sometime this week... I have a lot of homework built up from being sick so not much time to tinker around on the computer.

The Happy Hooker - that's me!

So I found this randomly at Borders last night and was pretty happy to see it too. It has some pretty good patterns for some pretty interesting things... Maybe if they get it at the library I will get it and make something, but as with stitch 'n bitch and stitch 'n bitch nation I'm not sure if there is enough things in this book that I would want to make to warrent me buying the book instead of another one... like the new crewel (which I just finished ordering from albris.com).... and yes I did cave and not wait until next christmas.... so it goes, books my only vice.

Crewel and Cats

So I have been sick and i figured out the cause, it was not the flu it was stress. So you know what my cure was? well it was not medicine that did the trick it was the library! I do love that place. So I had to return some movies I had rented and I went reguardless of the migraine that was plaging me and a good thing too. The longer I was there the less I noticed my headache and by the time I had found four good books, one book on cd, and two movies my headache was miniscule and I felt wonderful. No nausia, no headache, just inspiring thoughts and smiles all around. So two books I found were just how-two's so not much to mention there, but the other two! oh the other two! Cats on Quilts and The New Crewel! What fun books and just the kind of thing that I've been looking for. I've been thinking about designing a quilt and about making some purses with embroidery and crewel is really what I was thinking of I just didn't know the right name! So yep... oh and another thing that helped me out (my headache is gone completely now I think because of this directly) I found out that instead of failing my french test like I was thinking (and I'm serious, I thought I was done with french after this, it was all written too so it was mostly skills and not multiple choice dumb luck) I got a B+! Almost an A! So now I'm going to go to borders and sign up for their prefered customer card and hopefully by next christmas I will have enough money in that christmas savings account to buy the new crewel book! woot!

Etsy bitsy!

So my cousin just happened to send me a link to etsy.com... It's kind of like ebay, but different. There is no auction, but more just buy it now, which is kind of nice because you (the seller) can set the price. The really neat thing is that in order to sell on etsy.com your product has to be handmade/handcrafted or at the very least original hand assembled. I think I may sell stuff that I make from my scraps on there... I do fancy making tote bags and such so it should be fun. The listing price is not too bad and when you sell something the "selling" fee is 3.?%... i think 3.4... which is not half bad.

On another note I have been sick with the flu lately which is why I've been on the internet so much... just so you know... I mean I'm not a slave to my computer or anything. Well my crossiants are done so I'm going to go eat those and hopefully they will go down and stay down okay. And hopefully I will be okay to take my exam tonight... Have a good day internet folks!

Scraps of Fabric

Well, I have come to a point in my life where I have two rubber made containers, one large garbage bag, and various other boxes and baskets full, and I mean full of fabric. Some of the peices are large enough to make clothing items, but so hidious that I would never wear them, and other pieces that are so small, that my best hope is to make costers and then there are all those inbetween pieces that are temptingly large so when I first pick them up I think "oh this would make a cute little button up shirt" and then am dismayed to find that it is really only a half yard... sigh... so I have two questions to pose to the world out there... 1) what would be a good way to store all of these scraps 2) please send some ideas on what you like to do with your scraps.


I have been perusing the internet lately and found some interesting blogs/sites... check them out:
http://www.chiccosas.com/ - a fancy lady with some fancy stuff for sale
http://www.jesshutch.com/update.html - she has an amazing little book of knitting patterns for sale and a free pattern for a bunny!
http://www.woolworks.org/charity.html - a list of knitting for charity projects by state
http://www.magknits.com/ - lots of cute patterns for knitting
http://www.anniemodesitt.com/patterns/#Corset - I want to make this sooooo bad!
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=e00725&categoryid=32 - I doubt this takes only 2 hours... but still cute.
http://www.womenforwomen.org/index.htm - an interesting site with an amazing mission
http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/ - some really cute stuff... i think there is a pattern somewhere in here for a cute cat too (sewing)
http://www.loobylu.com/ - more cute stuff
http://thewurstgallery.com/index.html - neat stuff to buy
http://srithreads.com/index.php - you should just check this out, it's neat, especially if you are interested in fiber art

oh I am so excited, I am working at encore clothing, inc today... I'm almost done with my training.... I think I will get there early and look around in the yarn shop, maybe knit for a bit. (the yarn store is owned by the same person and they are connected). http://www.encoreclothing.com/ and http://www.theyarnexchange.com/

Chogakpo

So I was looking around the web on some blogs and such and I some how fell onto this site http://srithreads.com/gallery.php/zoom/2 ... it's a gallery that speciallizes in asian textiles... This particular image is really sticking into my mind. I've been looking for something to do with my scraps and I think something like this would be a good place to use them.... although what pratical items could I make? A quilt for my bed? A table cloth? A bag to put my yoga mat into? I am sure that I have enough scrap material to do it all. Although I understand that if I were to make something like this it would not be authentic, but the main point is that this image and little detour into asian textile practices has inspired me to make stuff. I will post pictures of sketches later this week i'm sure.

More skirt stuff

Well, so i found this sew along that is making a skirt and unfortunately the enrollment time has passed and I can't sign up... sigh... oh well. I did buy a pattern anyway and i'm going to make it because as you can see from the past post i was planning on making a skirt. I went and bought the pattern and was so excited that I grabbed the wrong size, oh well, I exchanged it and everything is good now. This is the skirt that I am making (B4025-A). I just happened to have some materal that was handed down to me that will be just perfect! I may have to use interfacing or muslin at the least to reinforce it, but that won't be too hard. The material I have is kind of a black satin that's kind of stiff but very thin. I'm sure it's a poly blend of some sort. It will be a fancy skirt that will look great with the corset I'm going to start making soon... yes I know another corset, but you see I'm addicted, besides, I already have everything I need for it except the time... but that will come eventually. I think I will be able to start and finish the skirt this weekend, I barely work on friday and I have Saturday off, plus no major projects due. Well I do have exams this week so i better go study some french... Parlez-vous français?