OK so progress since last time...
As far as things I made, I made this great meal for my boyfriend the first night he flew in. Photos to follow, but we had a strawberry salad with homemade chocolate vinagerette, followed by orzo with roast vegetables, and the main dish was rosemary steak. I spent the most time on the roast veggies in the orzo -- peppers over the flame, eggplant and onions and MOAR PEPPERS in the oven. It looked so full going in the oven but after 40 minutes, I got a lot of vegetable fluid and a tiny thing of vegetables. I ended up making enough for DAYS. So good.
My pride and joy was the chocolate vinagerette though. It took about three seconds to make, melting chocolate in some vinegar and sugar, right before I flew out the door to pick up my boyfriend, but it ended up pretty badass. However, if you left it out, it'd solidify. Small problems.
As far as the meat went...oh boy, it was my first time ever making meat. I mean, I made meat dishes as in meat mixed with vegetables, but meat by itself like a steak? No way. I just remember when my mother made steak and had failure because she overcooked it and it was all...tough. My brother had described it akin to chewing a leather belt. So of course, naturally, I'm paranoid and ended up under cooking. Luckily, Alex and our handy dandy silicone spatula was there to save the day with a little extra time in the frying pan.
Last but not least, mixed berries. Mmmm.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Returned Camera
So it's a week before my spring concert. As one can imagine, I'm enormously busy and sort of want to cry every day of my life when I eat, sleep, and breathe how the concert is going.
Between late March till now, I managed to leave my camera in another state and just recently had it returned (woo!). Some photos for you all:
These are my first Amigurumi animals! Kim taught me to crochet and originally I was going to make something for my boyfriend's parents' birthdays. These two are Mama and Papa bear. Originally, there were three little son bears too with their two accompanying girlfriend beards. Long story short, the tiny bears got on my nerves. Now I have lots of random bear parts sitting around and it's just annoying.
Sadly, my second set of Amigurumi Goods disappeared into the Vienna Teng Trio hands while I didn't have my camera. In this collection was the Mouse Elephant (an elephant that had its ears attached too high), the Retarded Blowfish and Jimmy the Jellyfish. Jimmy the Jellyfish proved for great times at a diner...
Clucky the Chicken and the Penguin are my newest Yarn Sacrifice to the boys of the VT trio. They've certainly improved and look way less craptastic. AND they're proportional! Sitting at home is a Cthulu that has yet to be put together.
And why is Mr. Penguin wearing a hat? Did I make that hat? Oh yes I did. For a girl who didn't know how to crochet a few months ago, making a hat is pretty big! It's made out of Provence, an Egyptian mercernerized cotton. The texture is maybe less soft but has such a sheen. I made the hat from this pattern here and am thinking the cotton makes it a little too drapey. Ends up looking like a beret rather than a slouchy hat. Most likely off to Knit a Bit after work again today to find a nice olive green that's less drapey. Granted, I have one made of scrap yarn sitting at home... 
And there she is with the hat! Yay Vienna! Being a rockstar means you get cool yarn swag!
Between late March till now, I managed to leave my camera in another state and just recently had it returned (woo!). Some photos for you all:
These are my first Amigurumi animals! Kim taught me to crochet and originally I was going to make something for my boyfriend's parents' birthdays. These two are Mama and Papa bear. Originally, there were three little son bears too with their two accompanying girlfriend beards. Long story short, the tiny bears got on my nerves. Now I have lots of random bear parts sitting around and it's just annoying.Sadly, my second set of Amigurumi Goods disappeared into the Vienna Teng Trio hands while I didn't have my camera. In this collection was the Mouse Elephant (an elephant that had its ears attached too high), the Retarded Blowfish and Jimmy the Jellyfish. Jimmy the Jellyfish proved for great times at a diner...
Clucky the Chicken and the Penguin are my newest Yarn Sacrifice to the boys of the VT trio. They've certainly improved and look way less craptastic. AND they're proportional! Sitting at home is a Cthulu that has yet to be put together.
And why is Mr. Penguin wearing a hat? Did I make that hat? Oh yes I did. For a girl who didn't know how to crochet a few months ago, making a hat is pretty big! It's made out of Provence, an Egyptian mercernerized cotton. The texture is maybe less soft but has such a sheen. I made the hat from this pattern here and am thinking the cotton makes it a little too drapey. Ends up looking like a beret rather than a slouchy hat. Most likely off to Knit a Bit after work again today to find a nice olive green that's less drapey. Granted, I have one made of scrap yarn sitting at home... 
And there she is with the hat! Yay Vienna! Being a rockstar means you get cool yarn swag!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Quick NonPhoto Update
It's been a month since anyone's posted. Although I have photos, I also have little time, so I'm going to post a quick summary of my crafty life at the moment and post pictures after lesson plans and bills. Ahhh real life.
Scarves - those pretty ruffle scarves have taken over my life. The first four were RIDICULOUSLY fun to make, by the fifth, I think I want to die a little. There was the bamboo one in blue, a pretty pink-dusty purple one, sunset-reds and one in what Kim referred to as mermaid green. The green one was for a friend and I gots to make money off of it! The ones on the needles right now are made of Filatura Della Crossa mohair, and it's black, shimmery and a little rainbow-sy, and I owe another teacher one. Yay things I'm being paid for. But like all things I'm being paid for, it's getting a little overwhelming.
Needles -- ADDIS. ADDIS ADDIS ADDIS. THEY TOOK OVER MY LIFE. THEY ARE CRACK. THAT IS ALL.
Sweaters -- Yes, sweaters! I have this awesome pattern on Knitty that I'm following, nice simple ribbed sweater. I'm making it out of Skacel Divine which is such a beautiful and soft yarn. However, with multiple projects going, it's sorta slow. On Monday or Tuesday I have to go pick up some more Berrocco Ultra Alpaca because eventually I'm starting Alex's man-sweater, which is the Wallaby sweater, a knit hoodie!
Food -- We just had a pie party in which there were NINE PIES. Okay, two of them were rice krispie pies but hey. SO MUCH FOOD. I also made lots of Korean food (funny since I'm not Korean) and apparently, really good eggplant. Pictures of the pies are definitely in order.
Books -- Bought Twinkle's Big City Knits. LOVING it, although putting another project on the needles would most likely kill me right now. Will review later. :D
Lesson plans and bills -- still not done!
Scarves - those pretty ruffle scarves have taken over my life. The first four were RIDICULOUSLY fun to make, by the fifth, I think I want to die a little. There was the bamboo one in blue, a pretty pink-dusty purple one, sunset-reds and one in what Kim referred to as mermaid green. The green one was for a friend and I gots to make money off of it! The ones on the needles right now are made of Filatura Della Crossa mohair, and it's black, shimmery and a little rainbow-sy, and I owe another teacher one. Yay things I'm being paid for. But like all things I'm being paid for, it's getting a little overwhelming.
Needles -- ADDIS. ADDIS ADDIS ADDIS. THEY TOOK OVER MY LIFE. THEY ARE CRACK. THAT IS ALL.
Sweaters -- Yes, sweaters! I have this awesome pattern on Knitty that I'm following, nice simple ribbed sweater. I'm making it out of Skacel Divine which is such a beautiful and soft yarn. However, with multiple projects going, it's sorta slow. On Monday or Tuesday I have to go pick up some more Berrocco Ultra Alpaca because eventually I'm starting Alex's man-sweater, which is the Wallaby sweater, a knit hoodie!
Food -- We just had a pie party in which there were NINE PIES. Okay, two of them were rice krispie pies but hey. SO MUCH FOOD. I also made lots of Korean food (funny since I'm not Korean) and apparently, really good eggplant. Pictures of the pies are definitely in order.
Books -- Bought Twinkle's Big City Knits. LOVING it, although putting another project on the needles would most likely kill me right now. Will review later. :D
Lesson plans and bills -- still not done!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
I am not obsessed.
Okay, my title lies. I'm a little obsessed. I've always found knitting to be decidedly theraputic and instead of finishing lesson plans like I should've, I've finished another small project! It's a lace ruffle scarf, and probably one of the more useless items I've created.
The yarn itself is quite gorgeous -- bamboo tape. I thought I had enough with 100 grams of blue. The same proved itself with my slightly less than 50 grams of brown. Hence I had to cast off with pink, but all in all, I can't say it turned out poorly. Knit on size 11 bamboo circulars, by the time I got to 800 stitches I wanted to die. It sort of felt never ending. The laceyness is really quite attractive though.
It's probably going to go to my boyfriend's mom in Texas, where it's warm enough to never need a useful scarf...but meanwhile, Oreo Cheesecake the Stuffed Two Foot Penguin will model!
The yarn itself is quite gorgeous -- bamboo tape. I thought I had enough with 100 grams of blue. The same proved itself with my slightly less than 50 grams of brown. Hence I had to cast off with pink, but all in all, I can't say it turned out poorly. Knit on size 11 bamboo circulars, by the time I got to 800 stitches I wanted to die. It sort of felt never ending. The laceyness is really quite attractive though.
It's probably going to go to my boyfriend's mom in Texas, where it's warm enough to never need a useful scarf...but meanwhile, Oreo Cheesecake the Stuffed Two Foot Penguin will model!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Synesthesia
Yesterday I briefly mentioned Alex Wong, a wonderful musician and friend who is part of a few great ensembles (Vienna Teng, The Paper Raincoat, Deadbeat Darling) that all play wonderful music. Aside from multitasking like crazy, he has a wild assortment of instruments that include a waterphone, melodica, and cajon (THE ELVES). Wiki it, you'll be there a while.
He also has this wild thing called synesthesia, where letters, words and pitches are colors to him. I once made a cross stitch that said "Glockenspiel Hero" on it and made the word "glockenspiel" out of the colors he saw. When I first started stalking/hanging out with Wong, he just got these new tattoos on his hands, I think they said "music" and "air"? I could be wrong. I feel like "water" might have been one of them but I have no idea. I'll have to ask him again. See tattoos that need to be re-inked!
Now, over Christmas, I gave Vienna a Christmas present but didn't give Alex one. Naturally, like any good fangirl, I felt bad, and ended up making these. I began these on the train Sunday afternoon, and just finished the stitching of the boxes just now. My fingerless mitties are getting better and better! I think the only thing that might annoy me is that white yarn? Dude, it was light blue on the spool. Thank you light and contrast. I tried!
He also has this wild thing called synesthesia, where letters, words and pitches are colors to him. I once made a cross stitch that said "Glockenspiel Hero" on it and made the word "glockenspiel" out of the colors he saw. When I first started stalking/hanging out with Wong, he just got these new tattoos on his hands, I think they said "music" and "air"? I could be wrong. I feel like "water" might have been one of them but I have no idea. I'll have to ask him again. See tattoos that need to be re-inked!
Now, over Christmas, I gave Vienna a Christmas present but didn't give Alex one. Naturally, like any good fangirl, I felt bad, and ended up making these. I began these on the train Sunday afternoon, and just finished the stitching of the boxes just now. My fingerless mitties are getting better and better! I think the only thing that might annoy me is that white yarn? Dude, it was light blue on the spool. Thank you light and contrast. I tried!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
A Seriously Long Post
Ever notice how blogging goes so much faster than work/writing you have to do for your job? Blech!
So really, I've been intensely behind on updating on my created goods, because there's been a lot! I guess I should start with this great yarn store in the town I work in. The place is called Knit-a-Bit, and according to my boyfriend, you would never know there was a yarn store in this cute little downtown area. If their photos on their site are any indication, this is yarn heaven. I've become such a fiber snob because of them! On top of that, they had this great Superbowl Sale, where yarns were anywhere from 20%-50% off. Really, I should've bought more, but...alas! No monies! Here I ended up with this yarn stash.
The green, red, and black are Berroco Comfort (Worsted Weight), the pink is Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, and for the life of me, I can't remember what the brown is. Frack! I know it's nice wool though. I also picked up a great self striping yarn from Lang called Milli Fiori (I think). That's not in the photo since it got turned into MITTENS! Two photos, one with flash. Both are pretty accurate representations of the beautiful colors.
Still have yet to master DPN's (somehow I feel very Old-Dog-New-Trick with DPN's) so I got a great two needle pattern here that I felt pretty good about. I made a thumb gusset for the first time and was so proud! I could do this again with a thicker yarn -- these are a little airy for me.
Like any good pianist, I'm fond of my handwear and so are my musician friends after seeing my eighth note fingerles-mitts (See other post). I'm a close stalker of a wonderful artist named Vienna Teng, whose fourth album, Inland Territory was just released in Germany and will be released here in April. (Buy it, she's amazing) I was just at Caffe Vivaldi (oh man, I feel like I could link forever) for a benefit that her and her percussionist, the indominitable Alex Wong were playing and like any good stalker, I offered knit goods. A few days later, I churn out these things and were able to offer them as fangirl and friend sacrifice.
The grey is just Lion Brand Wool, while the purple is Cascaade Heathers, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool (Oh god, Fiber Snob!). They look really great from the front, but I was ridiculously ashamed of taking a picture of the seam. My boyfriend was helping me seam but between the two of us, it got sorta lumpy and awful. I blame the color changes.
More things on the way...especially after receiving yarn for Valentine's Day!
So really, I've been intensely behind on updating on my created goods, because there's been a lot! I guess I should start with this great yarn store in the town I work in. The place is called Knit-a-Bit, and according to my boyfriend, you would never know there was a yarn store in this cute little downtown area. If their photos on their site are any indication, this is yarn heaven. I've become such a fiber snob because of them! On top of that, they had this great Superbowl Sale, where yarns were anywhere from 20%-50% off. Really, I should've bought more, but...alas! No monies! Here I ended up with this yarn stash.
The green, red, and black are Berroco Comfort (Worsted Weight), the pink is Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, and for the life of me, I can't remember what the brown is. Frack! I know it's nice wool though. I also picked up a great self striping yarn from Lang called Milli Fiori (I think). That's not in the photo since it got turned into MITTENS! Two photos, one with flash. Both are pretty accurate representations of the beautiful colors.
Still have yet to master DPN's (somehow I feel very Old-Dog-New-Trick with DPN's) so I got a great two needle pattern here that I felt pretty good about. I made a thumb gusset for the first time and was so proud! I could do this again with a thicker yarn -- these are a little airy for me.
Like any good pianist, I'm fond of my handwear and so are my musician friends after seeing my eighth note fingerles-mitts (See other post). I'm a close stalker of a wonderful artist named Vienna Teng, whose fourth album, Inland Territory was just released in Germany and will be released here in April. (Buy it, she's amazing) I was just at Caffe Vivaldi (oh man, I feel like I could link forever) for a benefit that her and her percussionist, the indominitable Alex Wong were playing and like any good stalker, I offered knit goods. A few days later, I churn out these things and were able to offer them as fangirl and friend sacrifice.
The grey is just Lion Brand Wool, while the purple is Cascaade Heathers, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool (Oh god, Fiber Snob!). They look really great from the front, but I was ridiculously ashamed of taking a picture of the seam. My boyfriend was helping me seam but between the two of us, it got sorta lumpy and awful. I blame the color changes.
More things on the way...especially after receiving yarn for Valentine's Day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)