i bet you want to lick your computer screen, don't you?

Just a quick ten minute post to share what came in the mail today. Two fabric stacks from Anna Maria's shop, which I've been wanting to order forEVER but talked myself down each and every time the urge hit. I can't remember what made me click the shop button that day, as I read her blog often, but don't visit the shop much, because I'm trying to back off the craft supply that is my heroin, my meth, my white sugar, if you will. Of course when I clicked, I saw her Garden Party and Drawing Room collections (my faves) are marked down 10%. You'd have thought they were 75% off, as fast as I clicked the BUY button! This could be, as experts describe it, as a cry for help.

Of course this sweet, sweet fluffiness didn't come from Anna Maria. It came from my LYS, and if was buy one get one free. LOVE that. I made the penguin mittens out of this hank's sister/brother/cousin. Although I love those blues, this one is my favorite. Even though I haven't really ever been a big fan of purples, I'm rethinking my opinion of them. This color is so bright, so nice and current, you know? I know I've seen it before somewhere....

Riiiight. The verbena that still insists on blooming even though we've had some pretty chilly days and even though it's still in its same Home Depot plastic container...I love that kind of stubborness!

did you know...

it is very difficult to photograph mittens? It is. Especially if for some reason you thought you'd be able to do it with both mittens on at once without the camera slipping out of your hand.

So I placed them on one of the trees. Still weird looking.

Oh! Hey new neighbors! Not really. There wasn't anyone around. At least I hope not.

I realize the thumb on these need to be fixed, desperately. They kind of look like they could've been made for Danny Devito's Penguin character in one of the Batman movies, I can't remember which. While although they feel great, my extra long thumb sleeves look completely ridiculous. So I'll be reworking that for sure. And of course, these were made up as I went along, no pattern to follow or to blame for strange looking thumbs.

But don't you just love that wool?

hexagons

I don't know why they're so addictive. Big ones, little ones, all joined, bright and cheery. At least, once you realize hexes have six sides, duh.

I've had this afghan finished for a while, using a free online pattern for inspiration, but making it my own with much more color. It also helps that I have (had) a huge acrylic stash to bust.

And because we have more than enough afghans to last us a lifetime, I'm thinking I'm going to place this one on Etsy. I've had a store forever, but nothing in it! Something I really need to work on doing, because I literally have two shelves full of projects completed that I'll never get around to using!

wordless wednesday

liberated

After weeks of procrastination, I finally quit my painting classes. I am so completely relieved I can't begin to tell you. I went back and forth trying to decide what to do, and ultimately what made my decision was the response I got from others when I explained to them exactly what had been progressing over the last several months during class. Which is, to say, nothing. Nothing happened at all. I think the final straw for me was during our last class, my instructor came over to see what I was doing (only because her dog was giving birth and was placed behind my chair - And of course I'm serious.) and noticed I was working on the SUV in the scene. I had decided to paint it out in a greyish-purple tone to first get the values right, and then will add more color when I'm happy with what I have down.

Without her asking, I described my approach to her, to which she responded with, "That's the way the Masters did it, too. It's called, (something I can't remember)." Please don't get me wrong. I know I am no Master, nor am I on my way to becoming one. And I know that right now the shape of my SUV is wonky and off. HOWEVER. At the risk of sounding like an egomaniac, if I'm just by some stroke of luck approaching a painting like someone who even remotely knows what they're doing without being told, WHY AM I THERE?

So yeah. That made the decision easy for me. That, and the fact that I told myself I could take the money I've been speding on classes each week for supplies! I'm going to start stocking up on oils, woot!

Five side a gons?

So the next time I set out to make what I think will be a really cool afghan with large, large (the ones above aren't nearly big enough) hexagons, I'll be sure to confirm that what I'm whipping up is, in fact, a hexagon. Hope your crafting is going better!

Fall Festival '09

Each year our city hosts the second largest street food fair in North America known simply as the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival. It occurs over the first full week of October, rain or shine, from early in the morning (some booths start serving food at 6:30 am!) until late at night, or around 11 pm. I haven't gone for many years, avoiding it like the plague as most of the offerings are of the deep fried variety, and when I say variety, I mean variety! There are deep fried candy bars of all kinds, deep fried Twinkies, Oreos, Monte Cristo sandwiches and chocolate covered bacon, alongside traditional faves like caramel apples, apple cider & pork tenderloin sandwiches. I took a few pics when my daughter and I ventured down on Monday afternoon; mostly because of the funny things I found in addition to the rides, games and food. Like the above booth, which is the only booth offering Rolaids alongside clams and frog legs. I'm sure they sold a fair amount!

See the hot dog over on the right? The one talking and walking? Yep, that's pretty typical.

These are deep fried Oreos. Also known as the main reason for me to take the time to drive there, pay for close proximity parking and walk FOREVER on a foot that had just been knifed earlier that day by my physician. (Weird growth, too yucky to talk about here.)

Anyway, the deep fried Oreo. Not to my liking, after all. Very dry, really no flavor at all and so disappointing I threw the untouched other two in the photo away. Bummer. Next year I'll try deep fried buttercream frosting. I've put the idea in some of the food booth operator's minds, and hopefully they'll take me up on it.

My personal favorite booth at the Fall Festival. Not because of the hot fudge brownie sundaes they offer, but because apparently they are on fire for Jesus. I cannot walk past their booth and not crack up every single time. What does that mean, exactly? On fire for Jesus? I can't imagine He would want us to be on fire, right? They don't serve any fried food at this particular booth, nor do they offer spicy chili. I just don't get it. But I appreciate the chuckle!

Oh - And I have worked on the painting a tiny, tiny bit. Will share soon!