Playing Catchup

There have been a few finished projects that haven't been photographed, so I think I ought to catch up. Also, I am considering creating a sidebar of projects I *want* to do, but haven't had a chance to start. I'm hoping that maybe I can perhaps use that as a way to plan ahead, have a goal and follow through with it, rather than just starting projects willy-nilly without proper planning or allowing myself enough time to do the job correctly. Maybe it will help my crazy brain.

So let's list the completed projects:

1. Beledi dress: as you can see, a triangular section was added (to both sides) from the armpit to the hip to make this dress fit a normal-sized human being. It had previously belonged to a 5'2" size 0 sort of woman, and it was handed down to me, 5'9" ... you can see the problem. Fortunately for me, the arms were sewn together with French seams which allowed me to simply rip it out, and put it back together using a normal seam, giving me about 1/2" more diameter in the arm. Otherwise, I'd have had to do another pair of triangular inserts in each arm, too.

2. Love stamp: I mentioned it being completed previously, and you saw the original drawing, and the transfer to the stamp material. Here, you can see the carved stamp material along with the stamped result. Stamp carving is one of my favorite things to do, and thanks to a friend, I've learned to not rely on the imperfect carving tools available, but to really get more precision from an X-acto knife. It really helps when you're trying to get tight corners dug deep.

3. Sari silk purse: This was an imperfect result, probably because I'm an imperfect knitter and so one side looks really good (the side shown here) and the other side looks something like the loose skin on the stomach of a person who's lost 300 pounds. Ugh. That's disappointing... who wants that hanging on their arm? 

4. Silly hat: The silly hat is coming out really well. I love DPNs (double-pointed needles) because it just seems like magic the way it works. It's not magic, but my puny brain finds the whole process of knitting to be just miraculous. I can't believe someone invented this stuff. I'm about 1/3 done with it, and having some minor issues deciding how to incorporate the silliness, so I'm taking a little break to think it through. I don't want it to be just like the hat I already have, but I want it to be flattering in the same way, and silly in the same way: not *too* silly, but definitely not normal. On a related note, I really like this website for fun knitting patterns and information.

On the nature of inspiration.

Or the inspiration of nature?

Either way, it was a beautiful day yesterday, and I managed to get most of my "real" work done in time to put some time in on these projects that have been hanging around for way too long. Inspired by the lovely weather, and to be honest, by wanting to be able to post here "I finished it!"

Well, nothing's finished, but I did work quite a while on the beledi dress, so that the seams that had been ripped apart for expansion have had the panels inserted and it now absolutely fits. I re-applied the trim along the edges, too, so now you can hardly tell that it's been altered. Well, you can tell ... but it sorta looks like it was made that way in the first place. Amazing. Now I just need to lengthen it along the bottom of the dress. Since there is a front and back panel, and I've finished the front panel (to my satisfaction, but not really a fantastic job), I'm practically done! I ought to have pushed on and finished the back panel, but to be honest, I was losing my patience with the whole thing, so decided to do the dishes instead.

As for the recycled sari silk purse, I've progressed a bit on that, as well. Actually, I was nearly done last night until I realized that I did it all wrong, and had to undo all my work of the past two days. A word about the yarn: I don't mind that each ball of yarn was wildly different colors, but I do mind that the spun quality was vastly different. It was as though one ball was composed of only VERY short, frayed strands, so it came apart easily, and makes the yarn look really fuzzy. The other ball had a very smooth, tight twist to it, so that the knitted result was also smooth and tight. It was also much easier to work with, because it didn't unravel, or get tangled in itself as much. I was pretty disappointed in that, and if I was making anything but a purse, I'd probably have returned it for something else.

current status

Should I skip the intros, and dive right into what projects are currently cluttering my living room floor? Or should I mention how December came with a burst of creative energy and very little time, so several projects were started, abandoned, or just came out terribly.

See, the thing with Projectitis is that planning ahead isn't something a person can do. When you're in the grip of the compulsion to create, you don't stop to think about the hows and whens and whys. You just start making stuff until the compulsion leaves you ... and leaves a giant mess on the living room floor.

So let's look at December. I had grand plans of sewing fabulous new Christmas stockings similar to those of several years ago, with more embellishment. However, I finished only two. They were taken down to a local shop to be sold (except they didn't sell).

A stamp was carved and Christmas cards were made with tiny "jewels" (and even sent!), and some were taken to the shop to be sold. There are LOTS still available, by the way. 

After seeing the beautiful chicken tractor my friend made, I was driven to make my own. Due to husband assistance, this was also finished. It's not finished in that photo, but I assure you it has been finished and even used!

You'd think that's enough projects for one December, but no... I had the brilliant idea of making my own Christmas tree. I thought I'd gather willow branches from the ranch, spray paint them silver, and then insert them into a rod that would act like a tree trunk. Well, in my *head* it was beautiful. Let's just say I have plenty of things to do differently next year. I won't even share a picture of it. So disappointing. And definitely not cheaper than just buying a real tree.

Current projects around the house? I shall list them, with status:

1. Belly dancing flounced skirt. Two tiered skirt with lined flounces along the bottom. Fabric has been purchased and washed.

2. Belly dancing beledi dress. Dress was acquired from a very tiny dancer. Since the rest of the troupe uses this dress in performances and the fabric is not to be found anywhere, I am altering it to fit me. Seams have been unstitched, fabric and trim purchased, fabric cut.

3. Return address stamp. I am carving a stamp of my home address to use on letters I mail. Half-carved.

4. Recycled sari silk purse. Half-circle purse knitted from yarn that was woven with the leftover silk strings recycled from a place that makes silk saris. I  have knit both half circles (front and back) and 1/3 of the strap.

A smart person would restrain herself from starting any new projects.