Mitts and things

I love my fingerless mitts.










Really, I do. They have some problems, but I love them anyway.

Also, my semi-matching button scarf.











I had new business cards made, as well, but I'm pretty sure everyone who would possibly read this has one, so no pictures necessary there.
And I played some CPE Bach at Classical Revolution tonight. It was good times. Too bad I'm usually busy on Wednesday nights. :(

Gift scarves!

I finished three scarves this week - all gifts for friends of mine.

A green one with faux cables of my own
(very simple) design for Jeremy. ---->
(I'll put up a picture of him
wearing it once I get one.)

<--A red/brown/green basketweave for Ben.

And a brown neckwarmer
(like the pink one I made for myself)
for Karolyn, who is off in Oregon
at the moment.--->

I got that fifty bucks from Stanford for my brain scan. The invoice says "human subject reimbursement."

Oh, and I put in notice at my job. Last day? Thursday. Thank goodness. I have six ensembles right now, all unpaid, but all beneficial to my repertoire and career. It was a decent job, and I will have to budget better, but maybe I'll actually get some paying gigs if I make myself find them. 'Cause right now, the unpaid ones will not stop coming. Which is awesome. That is in no way sarcastic. It's awesome.

And I'm taking the CBEST in eight hours. Good. Night.

YES.

Dr. Who Scarf. Finished.
BAM.

What's that? It's not 5 million miles long like I kept swearing it would be? ...Yeah, I know. I've let you down.

I realized when I tried it on (still on the needles) that if it got any longer it would, in fact, be so ridiculous that I would not be able to wear it...as much as ridiculousness is kind of my favorite thing ever and was totally the point.

I had to face the fact that I actually wanted to wear this scarf, and it is super, super thick and warm, and it really did not need to get any longer. Also, I trip over myself enough as it is. I really don't need any more help with that, thanks.

So, it's done! And I've been getting lots of very genuine compliments, which kind of surprised me, because, honestly, I've seen plenty a prettier scarf. And yes, it has been tripping me anyway. But I haven't actually fallen down yet, so I think that's a win for me.

Oh, yeah, and remember how I said this would be a cooking week? NO. Just no. There will be a cooking week. Probably several. Just not until opera is over.

I have had time for reading, though. And have decided that this woman is quite possibly my soulmate, for various reasons.

Aaaaand then there's Sabie.
She's getting pretty fat.
It's a work in progress.

I finally did some arts!

I have not been able to do arts for quite some time.

I love drawing, and writing comics, but I usually end up thinking whatever I draw isn't good enough, which is disheartening. Thus, four little sketches are kind of exciting for me.

Why, yes, I do love that hat. Thanks for asking. :3

Also, yes, I do use pictures of myself for reference and practice. It's not so much vanity as it is way easier than finding other references.


And then I did an "abstract" painting. Quotes
because I won't pretend to know anything about real art. I did put some thought into it, but it didn't take a whole lot of actual time. And, let me just say, I hate that paint never comes out dry like it does wet.

It's not quite what I intended, but it's close.

Don't worry. I usually paint actual stuff.

And here is my ongoing knitting project:


The Dr. Who scarf. Circa Tom Baker (70's-80's). I'm not planning to make it full sized, but it will probably end up about twice this long...and it's as tall as me already (5'7"). I think this counts as one of those "larger" projects.

Other than that (and working, and jogging), I've been watching Wonderfalls again. It's no Dr. Who, but I can't deny that it will always be a favorite. If you liked Dead Like Me or Pushing Daisies, this is by the same guy, and features some of the same actors (Lee Pace, anyone? Yeah, I thought so).


I think this coming week is going to be a cooking adventures week. Expect burnt kitchen ware.

You're just jealous.

Of my amazing cat hat:


Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.
As long as you don't tell them how remarkably difficult it is to take a picture of yourself encompassing both anthropomorphic kitty ears and dangly pom-poms.

Rest assured, I will be wearing this hat all possible hours of the day for at least a week. You will have plenty of chances to mock me. And I won't care.

Because I have a cat hat.

:D


Pattern found here, not that I exactly followed it, per se...

Hat 1.0

I finished a hat today. My first one.
...It's kind of ugly.

Turns out brown/green/tan multicolored yarn ends up looking like camo. Who'd have thought?

However, it does fit absolutely perfectly, and I put a button on it, so it's better.


I do actually like it, but I have a feeling I will less so upon making something cuter.

Pattern found here.

...since the new year started.

Let's start with the coolest one: I got my brain scanned.

I qualified to volunteer for a psychological study and got to hang out in an MRI for two hours. They showed me some pictures, I pushed some buttons and fell asleep several times, and eventually they'll send me a check. Oh Craigslist, the things you come up with.

And now I have pictures of my brain!







The study will be published in about a year (the middle one is my favorite, because it is the most creepy and weird).

Then I took up knitting! Err, re-took up knitting, I suppose. I learned a very long time ago and was never very good at it. But I love scarves...a lot...and I really needed a new hobby, so I gave it another shot. So far I only have one finished product; a pink ribbed scarf with a hole in it to loop through. There may or may not be a few extra holes... Luckily, none of the flaws are very noticeable.


You can find the pattern here if you are craftily inclined:
http://alison.knitsmiths.us/pattern_beginners_scarves.html

Likewise on the crafty side of things, I had some fun with paperclips and masking tape at work. I then took my masterpiece home, fixed the inaccurate bits, added a few details from my craft box, and spray painted the crap out of it.

I have been watching a lot of Dr. Who, and I may be going just a teensy bit overboard... Wait till you see that knitting project.

(It's a Dalek, sworn enemy of the Doctor, for those of you not in the know. They like to exterminate things. A lot.)

My cat has also been quite busy. Mostly trying to destroy things. Maybe she's a Dalek, too.