so I'm in the middle of what will probably be a massively long PIA undertaking, hereby referred to as

Michelle is going through everything she owns and getting rid of a lot of it in prep for moving out and also because she's really, REALLY broke.

(I'm putting it up on eBay, and then whatever doesn't sell goes to Goodwill)

So far I've got one pair of shoes, watercolor and gouache paints, a pair of (never worn, thankyouverymuch) socks, a huge stack of books and magazines, and an mp3 player. I think all that's left is to go through the rest of my shoes and my clothes (and my massive trunk of various skirts and magazines and who knows what else). oh yeah, and some yarn.

I think I might just be being overly neurotic, but the main thought hovering over my head this week so far (along with 'man, I need to make a clutch to match my prom dress') is 'what if I move out and FAIL MISERABLY?!'. So I've been reading like, every article I can find on living cheap and making mental notes. I need to save a lot before I move out. I need to be prepared to walk a lot to save gas money, haha. I'm planning on making everything that I can, that I'll need for my new apartment. so far, I have dishcloths and blankets on the list - I'm used to sleeping with a LOT of them, and my current quilt is falling apart, and the other one I'll probably leave at home since it was hand-stitched (bejeezus, the patience that must've been required!) by my great-grandma on my mom's side and I'm afraid I'll like, destroy it somehow. Plus I somehow feel that I should have new bedding. I dunno. Anyways, so far I'm thinking a starghan in all these multicolored wool yarns I have, if I have enough (I'll do inventory and take a guess later). It's Moda Dea...err...Cache? I picked up a TON of it on clearance, and like how it looks worked up, but don't really have any ideas for clothing or anything. So I'll just do a big multicolored starghan. And then, I'm going to do a lighter blanket too - haven't decided if that'll be sewn or crocheted. There's the Color Bay afghan I've been thinking of for a while in the Happy Hooker, but the pattern is given in LB Wool-Ease (which I'm not a fan of) and I dunno if I could be arsed converting to colors in cotton. Sure would be pretty cheap to make, though. So maybe I'll make that afghan and then do another one AND my starghan haha! (the other afghan would be a Clash one. somehow, this strikes me as the COOLEST thing ever even though I'm probably waaay too lazy to come up with a graph for it). Yes, I'm a dork.

I think all of this stress is because of that stupid economics assignment of coming up with a budget. Or maybe it's transferred from prom or something, or other issues. haha.

I have so many t-shirt recons I want to do...sigh...after the ebay/goodwill project! I think Sunday will be the Day of Mass Listing.

I <3 postsecret:

so my friend (the same friend that gives me crap all the time about crochet being 'old lady like' and etc.) today randomly picks up my Crochet! magazine (without asking, another pet peeve of mine) and starts flipping through it, commenting constantly on how 'skanky' the models look. I'm like, dude, wtf, it's certainly not any worse than anything you'd see in Seventeen - OH GODS A NAVEL RING!! - and then she finds a picture of this hideous, hideous trench-coat length jacket made out of varying motifs in bright clashing colors all stitched together with black. (note: this is coming from someone who normally likes the effect of day-glo colors with black. but it was just too much, it was REALLY ugly) And is like "Hey, I like that. Will you make something like that for me?"

Yes, of course! Because after you insulted every CUTE pattern in my magazine(and have spent the last six months telling me I'm such an old lady), I would love to spend hours of my time working for less than minimum wage to make an awful concoction that looks like hippy barf. No, really! *eyeroll*

I'm done with the skirt of my prom dress and about half of the top. I have the underbust pieces cut out(and one set sewn together - I'm doubling the fabric up since it's a little sheer), but I still have to do the top part of the halter, the neck of the halter, and the lace trimming/grommet tape. Not bad for only working off and on since like 4:30 or 5. Yeah, I rock. haha.

I am...probably eventually going to blog something about the V Tech stuff...but I don't even know what to say. It's just so...tragic and depressing. :(

I can't wait to get out of school. I'm rediscovering why I used to read so much - when you read, people generally don't bother you. There's always that one person or two that's like "Oh, even though they are VERY OBVIOUSLY engrossed in their reading, I will pester them with petty questions...botherbotherbother" but for the most part people get the hint.

TMNT was AMAZING. just plain freakin' sweet. no other words.

And I finished the sweater. I am SO proud. it turned out pretty well. pictures (I'll do more details later, the flu of doom is kicking my butt...had a fever off and on all day Wednesday and I had to call in to work and actually not come in when I couldn't find anyone to cover my shift for the first time since I've been working at Journey's...anyways, still all achey and sick)





(at least my bra straps match the shirt right? haha)

so I'm sitting here because the Shining creeped me out and I'm not really tired anyways...against all logic. but yeah, picture of the WIP: (that's work in progress)



^this is the front (or back, one side, whatever) of the sweater (and yes, the neckline is meant to be asymmetrical)



^and this is the sleeve (or part of it) for the off-shoulder side

I made it so that the sleeve(s) will only go down to about elbow length. I want the ends of the sleeves to be verrrrry slightly belled and I figured rather than trying to figure out a slope for the whole sleeve design, I'll just crochet the sleeves on starting at the elbow and bell it as I go along.

I made my etsy goals for the weekend(see little thing in blogger sidebar - who's proud of me?! :D). Barring the legwarmers, which I frogged because I was getting frustrated, so I'm working on a different method now. I even listed a bunch of shoes and some purses on my brand-spankin' new ebay profile. (that I've already used to buy some Urban...aw crap. Urban something makeup brand Primer Potion and a set of makeup brushes, but Paypal is being SO SLOW in the payment so I probably won't get them 'til like next week...) I can't wait for my Best Buy order to get here either. That's the only bad thing about ordering online...you spend money, but it doesn't feel like you do since you don't get anything in your hands.

Anyways, hopefully I'll have enough by the end of this week (between eBay, listing some stuff for my mom, and my tax return - WHICH BETTER GET HERE THIS WEEK or some federal heads are going to roll, I tells ya) that I can get a new pair of Vans I've been lusting over for ages from Journey's, some Kryolan makeup off of eBay (also definitely lustworthy...yummy neon colors!), and make an order off Interpunk.com for some 4-5 cds and an on-sale t-shirt to boot. That would make for a very, very happy Michelle indeed.

Urban Decay. that's the brand.

I got warm fuzzies because the new girl, who, FYI, I haven't actually worked with yet, just met in passing a few times, was like "oh hey I have something to ask you about!". She wanted me to see if I could turn a shawl into a purse (I told her I'd have to see the purse design) and fix up a shirt for her. And I mean, I was going to do it, but I was a little miffed because I thought it was rather presumptuous seeing as how we had only talked in passing, to assume that I'd do her favors. (and I get so many people who are all "hey yeah, so can you make me a hat like the one you made one of your close friends as a CHRISTMAS PRESENT and spend like $6-10 in materials and then two or three hours of your time, for free? please?" and I'm like, WTF are you smoking, that it rubbed a bit) anyways, she goes "yeah, if you could do that, I would appreciate it SO MUCH, and then just let me know what I owe you, 'kay?"

aww.

and then I forgot and left it in the back room.

damn.



behold the angry gay cupcake! (which reminds me, I need to start working on Heath's b-day present...stencilled t-shirt, must be done by the 26th)

neat, I already sold that book I put up for sale on etsy. although it was a way way reduced price and I'm probably going to make all of $3 off of it. since it won't fit in the $#@%ing padded envelope we have. oh well, more feedback at least.

and Jordan still owes me $10! *makes note*

rainbow bag - FINISHED
purple flower crocheted and on the cloche - done

I'm so proud. And I am almost, ALMOST, done with the front half of my sweater. pictures tomorrow.

I stopped by the DAV today and got some awesome stuff...this blue and black leopard print top that actually fits me (yeah, no resewing, amazing right?), a black and red snakeskin skirt that I'm going to add ruching in the sides and put on etsy (or maybe keep for myself, but probably put on etsy), a hot pink plain shirt (I think I'm going to redo and put on etsy, also cut off the sleeves and use them to make armwarmers with next item), and these hot pink and yellow leopard print pants. Part of which will be a skirt and part of which will be the aforementioned armwarmers. and then I'm sure part will be left over, but I don't know what to use it for. aaaand I have a b/w gingham skirt from my last trip there that I finally got some reconning inspiration on. woo-hoo.

something like 3/8s of a set of funky purple legwarmers done crocheting too. need to finish that, my sweater, and my hot pink corset thingie. preferably before the end of this weekend.

project graduation is stupid and the lady who runs it is such an insufferable snob. I'm supposed to show up to volunteer for this thing tomorrow, and I'm supposed to be at work at five. Screw that, I'm not volunteering and wasting my free time before work. It's not like I didn't already volunteer at the fireworks place and sell fireworks. And I'm bringing food and $20, I'm just turning around and leaving after that.

need to sign up for the next round of wardrobe refashion...

I've been feeling ucky all day. My blood sugar keeps doing funky things (I almost passed out at the mall), and I haven't been sleeping well all week which doesn't really help. And no matter how much I eat I'm STILL HUNGRY!

The aforementioned and long awaited photos of the massive rainbow scarf:





(note how I oh-so-cleverly seamed the sun and cloud motifs on there WITHOUT ANY STICHES SHOWING! *is proud*)





And though this isn't the exact hat, it's the same pattern:





I forgot to mention earlier that Ashley won tickets for the AFI/Sick of it All/The Dear and Departed show in Springfield. (or at least, I think I did, and at this point I'm far too lazy to check) Which was pretty freakin' cool - better than I expected. AFI is one of those bands that I like sometimes, but I have to be in the right mood for it. They put on a great live show though, and the other two bands were good too. (gotta admit, I liked Sick of it All better than The D&D) And their guitarist? (SOIA, that is) a *total* spaz. Holy crap, the guy was jumping around and pogoing and running back and forth across the stage for the entire 30 minutes or so that they played. I don't think he stood still once.

Plus, Davey Havok? Say it with me now: mmmmm...

I'm annoyed with this purse that I made...impressed with all the shiny colors of the rainbow scarf, I decided to make a rainbow messenger bag. Which took FOR-FREAKIN-EVER, I might add (those straps? so boring)...and when I seamed it up...due to a minor error, one side of it is an inch higher than the other. And even if it was just for me and not for my etsy shop, I wouldn't be able to leave it that way. Sooo I'm letting it sit and not looking at it for a while so it won't annoy me, and I'm probably going to have a go at re-assembling it tomorrow.

things to do tomorrow this week:
-fill out application for MSU
-reassemble purse
-get started/finish on my grandma's hat
-finish wristwarmer set for etsy (and get buttons for neckwarmer)
-finish cupcake
-finish listing for scarf
-list hat, reassembled purse, cupcake, neckwarmer, and wristwarmers
-round purse
-skull purse
-file taxes (rebate = good)
-make myself the freakin' purse and laptop bag that've been in planning stages for FOREVER (sewing may be a lot more instant gratification than crochet, but you can't do it while watching Buffy)
-order Denise set and mohair yarn

whew. when I put it like that, it seems really depressing. also, go figure that as I'm actually getting started(ish) on my two sweater projects, it's finally warming up. Supposed to hit 70 sometime this week. I'm not sure if I believe it, but if it does happen, I can deal with having some knit/crocheted garments that aren't wearable until next winter. (although I think the mohair will probably breathe enough for me to get at least some wear out of it...) also on the to-do list at some point is try out some of those patterns from the 70s that I got from my grandma (were originally my great-grandma's), because there's some neat clothing patterns that I could probably adapt. The whole thing is that I hate working from patterns, but I can't normally figure out how something is done and how well it works until I've...done the pattern. d'oh. It's interesting how (flipping through those patterns just now) that people want to say crochet was so tacky in the 70s, but they figured out something that people want to ignore today...that you can't use worsted-weight yarn for really wearable garments (stuff that isn't a poncho/hat/scarf, though I dunno how wearable some of those ponchos were...haha). I think that's a good reason everyone thinks of crochet as so chunky.

I think I might destash by putting some yarn/random stuff up on etsy. mainly my knitting looms...now that I can needle-knit, I don't really need them any more. And I wasn't too fond of the chunky results anyways, except for something like a hat (which...I never got, I'll admit, haha). or I might just give them to my sister, she seemed to like them. At the very least, I'll probably be getting rid of some of them. Or maybe use them to make some fun-fur scarfs first...I got some for Christmas, and that stuff is HARD to crochet with (can't see the stitches).

not looking forward to going back to school tomorrow, I spent my whole weekend feeling like crap. at least I don't have to work again 'til Thursday (and Friday, and Saturday)

Anyways...wow...long rambly post...ok, night now!

Ok. So. I read this, and that lead me to this, and I'm not gonna lie, I bawled like a baby. Which means that at least half my tax return (oh crap I was going to file that today and I forgot >_< SuperCrafty store in all likelihood. You should buy some too. Even if you don't knit. 'Cause it goes to that adorable baby's momma. And hey, there's embroidery and stuff too. Also if you're at a total lack of what to buy...you all know SOMEONE who could use it...*cough* ;)

Besides which, there's some nice stuff at relatively low prices (the megamart shopper in me cringes, the fiber-geek is all "ooh" and "ahh"), considering.

In the very good news, the scarf and hat set is finished. And it looks damn good, if I do say so myself. Pictures should be coming soon. Although I have to say, that if anyone ever asks me to make a 6"x6' scarf again...I'll charge more. It doesn't bother me so much this time because I know the girl, and because it wasn't her fault that I TOTALLY underestimated the amount of time it would take (I'm thinking it added up to something like 10-12 hours total). Hah, I'm such a whiner. This is why I rarely tackle big projects. Although that should be changing soon because I'm planning on doing my first crochet sweater soon. And knit, soon to follow. Aren't you all excited for me and stuff?

But right now I'm taking a teensy(as in, 2 day) break from crocheting that will probably extend until tomorrow because most of the scarf was done on Tuesday when I stayed home sick - message kiddies: something like 8 hours of crocheting in one stint? BAD IDEA. My wrist was killing me until recently. And it's still a little touchy. Yup, I'm a dork. A dorky dorky hooker.

And the other half of my tax return is going to get spent at Simply Fibers in Springfield. If I can *ever* get there. Was planning to go on Saturday, and the weather is supposed to be icky in the extreme. So I might try for tomorrow. Maybe. I dunno.

less than an inch of snow today my ass...we've already got 2-3 inches and the roads are NASTY. I'm betting that means that '1-2 inches' tonight means another 3-4. It's like a code.

working on a hat...my etsy is officially up and running - http://mishee.etsy.com. and has been for a few days, but I was going to wait until I had some more stuff up to say anything. Oh well, looks like I'll probably have the rest of tonight and all day tomorrow to work on it haha. Also looks like I might not get to go to Springfield on Saturday after all. :( (was going to go check out their LYS - that's local yarn store for the non-craft-geeks - and maybe see Pan's Labyrinth if it's still playing) I hope so though. I really want a set of Denise knitting needles so I can start tackling some projects. I'm sorry, but it's just a PIA to run out and buy a new set for everything.

Speaking of projects, I finished my devil hat:



Which got a pretty good reception. And I love it. I have one plain hat that needs an applique, one hat that I'm finishing up right now, and I STILL need to finish my shrug (just add the patches, after I make them). The tunisian corset, which I started and got a row and a half into and frogged, needs restarted. I've got some other great ideas that I can't wait to get started on. Yeah, I'm a geek, so sue me. Although the one project I'm NOT looking forward to is sorting all of this stuff again! ack. it grows, I swear.

Clearance aisles are really bad for me. How, you ask?





That's how. Ouch. But look...that fabric (the neon colored leopard print and zebra print stuff, which probably everyone except me will find godawful ugly) was $1.50 a yard! and those quilter block thingies were like $3.50. No, I don't quilt. But I bet I can make some great appliques out of them. And the yarn was cheap too. And look - that blue yarn (which you can't really see) matches the blue houndstooth. And then all that cotton yarn was on sale at Hobby Lobby and I NEEDED those colors for a hat in progress. I also got some bamboo knitting needles with a coupon for my sister, because she has taken up knitting. Kind of. And those shoes were $12! $12!!! I can blame the shoes on Lydia at least, because she made the mistake of showing me the clearance aisle in shoes. Yeah, it's her fault.

My shrug is almost done. I need to make the hood, and I need to seam up the sleeves. and then make the patches for the shoulders...I decided it was too plain, so I'm going to embroider swallows (old sailor-jerry style) in black on the pink stuff that I got on clearance, and sew those on it. that should do it. and one of the neon-animal prints is going to be a laptop bag, for my new squishy. (yes, that is what I decided to name it) I was going to crochet one out of this wool that I have and felt it, and then embroider a lotus on it. then I realized it would take like 6 balls of yarn, and I only have two (one already crocheted up). But I still like the idea. Just have nothing to make with it.

Working on editing pictures of hats for my shop. I still need to set up a paypal account so that I can actually start listing items. Plus I have some new ideas. Not enough time in the day....considering that I still to need vacuum the house, among other things, before I leave, and I wanted to go someplace with wifi to download some more things.

I'm still enjoying the lack of school. Even if it might mean that I'll have to graduate later, which I'm trying not to think about.

whoooooooooooooooooooooooo our internet is back! well, electricity, and with it the internet. I'm just hoping it doesn't go off again tomorrow.

boring boring BORING week. no school all week, obviously. but it's not a whole lot of fun when you're stuck in one room of a house. and the light was so bad that I couldn't crochet unless it was light outside too.

I think I have a good chance at getting the job at JoAnn's (and if I don't, Michael's might be hiring at the end of the month). I hope so, because I'm working one day a week at Journey's, which is obviously not cutting it, higher minimum wage or no.

(crafty rant that nobody's going to care about starts here)

I really do NOT get this whole bias with knitting and crochet. I mean, I can't even purl yet(which is a whole 'nother rant, because I tried that at least three times this week and all I ended up with was a garter stitch swatch, definitely NOT stockinette - even using three sets of instructions and a freakin' video, am I just dense or what?), and I already own more knitting books than crochet books just because there's so many MORE of them (4 vs. 3, but still). Why? BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY MORE OF THEM! And with cuter patterns too. This makes no sense to me. Knitters get more magazines, more books, more cute patterns, and more funky type patterns too. I mean, there are punk-y knitting patterns for clothes and accessories and stuff. Things I'd wear. The vast majority of crocheted patterns I've seen are either afghans or things that, don't get me wrong, have merit and good design, but I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. It all looks just like the stuff at Aero or American Eagle or whatnot, and if you know me, you know that's NOT what I wear. I mean, sure, knitting is better at making fabric that stretches and...uh...unstretches? expands and contracts would be a better choice of words, maybe. anyways, does whatever, easily. But I don't think it necessarily has better drape or is all that much thinner than crochet, and I like the look of crocheted stuff more. More texture.

I guess it's kind of a moot point anyways with the patterns, because I don't usually do well with patterns (they give me headaches), but I've seen very little to even get inspiration from. Except for knitted stuff, and that's silly, because even though neither of them is better than the other, they're different things and trying to make one look like the other is just retarded and a waste of time. Highlight the good things, don't try and make it look like anything else. Yuck.

I had most of this conversation with Dave earlier and we decided that it all comes down to the fact that the word 'knit' rhymes with way more things and is much easier to pun with. 'Crochet', however is not. haha. all he came up with was 'the croshiznit', which made me laugh. and I will find a use for it eventually.

And now, back to the hooded shrug and tunisian faux corset... (see, I guess I'm not doing so badly)