81. FO Swallowtail Shawl

I can't remember the last time I made an FO post. That means this shawl took me far too long to make. Details :




Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark (rav link)

Yarn: 1 skein Araucania Itata Solid Needles: US 8 36" circular



Needles: US 8 36" circular

Mods: I had to cut out 4 rows at the very end of of k7, yo, k1, yo out of fear of running out of yarn and I was dead on at the end. If I hadn't cut them I would not have had enough yarn to finish it.

Notes: I love this shawl so much, it took me quite a while to finish it because I lost all my luster as soon as I realized I might not have enough yarn to finish the full pattern. Out of fear of not being able to get the same yarn - I put it aside for a little while and worked on some other projects but, my roomate-made-lifemate suggested I just cut out some repeat rows at the end and she was right on the button. I don't have proper blocking facilities so I ended up laying it to dry on a towel which worked out okay. I will end up having to iron it every now and then to accentuate the yo, k1, yo's at the end but other than that - it is beautiful and I suggest knitting it no matter how many times you have to rip back (which was bout 4 or 5 for me). The yarn was great to knit with, it rarely split and I love the color's that it comes in. A++

I have some new stuff to put up on the shop but I have been SO busy lately I can't find the time. I will get it all done before I fly to Kansas City this weekend for one of my best friends baby showers.

xx

80.

Loook what I finisheeeeeed!!!!!

swallowtail shawl in all its glory. FO update later.

*yesssssssssssssssssss*.

x
-erngrn.

79.

So my friend Chloe has inspired me to run around taking photos of my finished apartment. We are all settled in with knick knacks and decorations just about finished. Everything has its place now and the boy has put a halt to my furniature accumulation which I think I am ok with for now.

Kitchen:


1. The view as soon as you open the apartment door. Note the fridge covered in Matthew Mcconaughey magnets.

2. cabinet & my favorite shelf in the whole apartment.

3. The kitchen table I have been going on and on about since I moved into this apartment



4 & 5. The hallway that houses the bathroom and my little vignette. I tried not to make it too "flowery & girly" so Trav got me the frame with the sail boat and I threw up a few empty ones just to cut the floral thing a bit.




6. I have intentionally not photographed our "couch" because it is a futon. A big eye sore futon that we need to swap out for something better sometime in the near future. But, I love my chair (used in this video I worked on).



7. The shelf that houses all things crafty & some books



8. His side of the bed, our makeshift table. I'm sure we won't be able to keep that wood there in the winter when the heat is on but for now it's a great little table. Wall of cameras, 2 of which are functioning - one I can't figure out how to load and get the film out of. I would one day like to develop the film that is inside of it.

9. My polaroid collages I made about 2.5 years ago. The only things I've ever shown and I priced them so high so no one would buy them.



10. Clothing land, we managed to fit most of our stuff in the closet but, I of course needed more space. A lot of the things on the rolling rack are things that I'm selling on etsy but we needed room for some more jackets and things. I think we'll have to replace the rolling rack soon because the left side of it keeps sinking lower and lower. Necklaces and sunglasses have their own little wall and the back of the door is covered in shoes. Something I also need to figure out because I'm running out of shoe room.



11. The lady desk/corner. Covered in things like mirrors, knitting needles & makeup. Canvas used to house my growing earring collection and the deer head is great for the hoops. It's a little weird because you can't really tell what it is under all the earrings.

12. This is the man station. I was told I could decorate the apartment pretty much any way that I wanted to if I gave up one corner of the apartment to be the "man station". Prince tank top from Vegas 7.7.07 show, faile piece angry dog mouth and assorted animals covered in 'blood' (red paint marker) among things like printers, scanners and other electronic gadgets that I wouldn't generally care about having. It was a good deal and to be honest, I kind of like the Prince tank top. Its better than a dream catcher.



So, thats all I got for now. I have a wicked craving for pancakes at 10:16pm and I think I am going to go get some!

x
erngrn.

78.

Baby bootie #1 complete... just about over halfway done the other with bedtime approaching in T minus 40 minutes. I think I will make a pair for Frank.

x
-erngrn

77.

I am still here somewhere.

Swallowtail Shawl is going to be the death of me. I think I might be short by ohh... maybe 10 - 15 yards but, I'm going to cut 4 rows and just skip right to finishing which will hopefully save me. Fingers crossed.

Little ballerina feet and baby booties are on the needles. Booties need to be finished by sunday - wish me luck.

x

76.

So, I made some stuff over the past few days. I finally got the feathers from my best friend in L.A who's house I left them at when I visited and after using them for a shoot :


I turned them into these:



And I've been seeing a lot of really big bulky necklaces lately that have been turning the wheels in my head with my knits and how to use my scrap yarn and voila! I figured it out. This is the first of a few I'm going to make and put up in my shop. I am already halfway done the 2nd one which I plan on making a little bit bigger than this one. I'm sure I will progressively keep on making them bigger and bigger but for now - this is what I got.



Simple i-cords made cute.

I have been working like crazy this week. I had 2 makeup jobs on tuesday (which was my first day off this week from the coffee shop) and I have 2 makeup jobs that I'm doing tomorrow. The first should be simple - event makeup and the second is going to be... KICK ASS. I got so many new pretty bright colors today at the mac store - all of which I plan on using tomorrow.

I'm toying with the idea of going out tonight but, its probably not too smart considering I have quite the day tomorrow...

Hmmm am I young and able enough to handle a hangover? Only time will tell...

x
erngrn.

and something new that I love : youtube link (un-embed-able)

75.

I'm not sure whats going on with me but, I don't want to finish anything I've been knitting lately. All I want to do is just start new projects. I want more petit ballerina feet socks, I want to knit another cape, I want to make necklaces with the scrap yarns that I have but - I am not interested in finishing any of these items, nor am I interested into sewing any of them together and or blocking. I wish that the magical finishing fairy would come and get all this stuff done for me.

I've been thinking lately of making more time for my etsy shop in my life because I finally figured out that - working for yourself is WAY more fun than working for someone else. I mean, I don't work 5 days a week - I don't know many servers who do but, I am at around 3 or 4 days a week and on my off days, I'm doing makeup so it might not hurt to specifically set aside one day a week to just work on my etsy shop.

It's mom's last day today which is sad - we've had a really good time. Having your mother around while your moving is kind of the best thing ever. My sink and countertops are so clean! My jewlery is all untangled and the coffee is generally ready in the morning before I even wake up! It's great! But, I suppose all good things must come to an end and tonight I will resume my regular life and experience my new apartment with my manfriend as it is going to be.

On that note, I am taking my mother makeup shopping now before she has to go to the airport. Finally, someone who is going to take advantage of my 40% off at M.A.C.

New shop update photos:




high of 72. I like that.

x.
gern.

74.

Always & Never:

Miss Tara Lynn posted this meme that she was tagged by and at work last night I found myself thinking about my always & never's so here we go with mine:

always

1. bangles: I wear bangles every single day - I actually never take them off. I have 2 large gold/brass, 2 medium size (one looks similar to the one in the image below) and about 7 littles ones. People think its weird that I sleep with them but, I would feel naked without them.



2. tapered jeans: the tighter the better, I had troubles re-adjusting into bell bottom or straight leg jeans because I've been skin tight-ing it for so many years and these are of course, my go to's

3. curly messy hair: my hair has always been as flat as a board, so needless to say when it drops down with no volume doing absolutely nothing but sitting there like i flat ironed it, it makes me insane. therefor, i curl my hair every 3 days. can't wait until the bleach is gone so i can get a body wave.

4. waist belts: I am a huge fan of waist belts. I love them, I need them, I dont' want to ever have less than 10.


5. oversized cardigans: I almost have one in ever color.


never

1. headbands: I know a lot of people really like these things and they seem to be popular with the kids these days but, I just cannot get into them. I have actually asked friends of mine to take them off because they drive me so nuts.


2. knee high gladiator sandals: please stop making them.


3. converse: now, this is not because I don't like converse, or have never work converse because that is not the case in the least. I own multiple pairs of converse, all black, black & white, white, pin stripe, camo but - everytime I try to put a pair on I feel dumpy and have to take them off. I have transformed in the last couple of years or so and somehow I magically cannot anymore wear converse. I prefer dainty lady slip on's or 7$ kmart slip ons.

4. yellow: my skin tone can't support an all yellow outfit. i can only do it in small doses which is sad because, yellow is kinda cute.


5. crop tops: I have always had this weird complex about bearing my stomach - I can't do it. If I do, I am constantly tugging down on my shirt and trying to cover myself. It was easier for me before I decided that I was embarassed of my lower back tattoo but now that I am, it is completely impossible for me to do. No bear mid-drift. I'd be great in middle school now.



If you're reading this post - consider yourself tagged for always & nevers.

and i know the font is all messed up. i am too annoyed with blogging to fix it.

x