I'm bein' busy!

I'm doing a bunch of different things in order to ignore NaNoWriMo. *facepalm* I had announced on my LJ that I was definitely going to do NaNo and promptly found a ton of other things that needed my attention right away. Yeah, I don't even know what's wrong with me.

Here is the update on my Chang-O, I love the blank space where the bunny will go:

Shortly after my grandmother passed away I learned that she not only was a fantastic seamstress, she also knew how to knit and crochet. I discovered that one of my favorite blankets was one that my grandmother had made. I had found the pattern booklet (which she bought for 10 cents!) and decided that I wanted to make my own... which, of course, meant that I had to learn how to crochet.

I found a booklet to teach myself and here is my first project, a pot holder:

It's all in single crochet because apparently Phaedra is bass-ackwards in how she does double crochet. It will take a long while before I can tackle the blanket, but I'll get there. Some day.

Learning to crochet lit a fire under my butt to do more knitting. Well, that and the fact that after my last trip home I returned as the proud owner of my grandmother's knitting needles and two large balls of yarn and one little ball. Apparently my grandmother was working on a knitting a sweater, but there was no pattern to follow. Knowing her, it was something she was making up as she went along. Anywho, I wanted to start knitting again as well, so that I can eventually make something with the yarn. I just don't know what as there is no way to tell how much yarn is in the balls and I have know idea what to make. I just want to make sure that I knit something that I can keep for, well, ever.

So, I decided to use some yarn that I had bought earlier to knit a scarf. I didn't have a pattern or a person in mind, I just wanted to practice and a scarf seemed easy. The whole thing is in simple, easy garter stitch and I think it looks gorgeous. =) I didn't have anyone in mind to give it to when I started, but as I was knitting my mother in law popped into my mind's eye. Then I could picture her wearing it and it looked great on her, so it's going to be her Yule gift.

Here's a shot of where I'm at after two days:

BoInk Update

I got the next square done, most of it while I was fighting with a migraine. Go me!

I have a really hard time seeing what the pattern is supposed to be on this because the larger green areas look like frogs to me. So when I look at it all I see are frogs heads with huge orange and red eyes. *facepalm* I don't know what's wrong with me.

Here is the square:

And here is how it fits into the whole:

You can click on the above picture to make it bigger. =)

Chang-O Moon Goddess

I decided that just working on the BoInk was too easy or something. *facepalm* Actually, before the BoInk, before Cirque, I had put in a few hours on this pattern one sleepless night. I got a very tiny portion finished and have been dying to work on it ever since. It's a Pinn kit of Chang-O, but they call her Chang-Er.


Growing up I was always told about the Bunny in the Moon making rice-cakes (mochi), so when I saw the moon and the rabbit I was hooked. =) The kit came with 14 ct. aida and a bunch of floss... but I really think that they underestimated how much is needed. I got the whole thing for a steal off of eBay.

Here's the current amount of work done:


Mind you, this is the small portion of her hand and robe that is near the handle of the fan. I did get a little more done last night after I took this picture. I'm assuming that this is going to be one of those projects that takes me forever and a day to finish.

On the back is a bit of her history:

A legendary story for the Moon Festival
The Lady - Chang Er

When some ancient oriental philosopher gazed upon the silver disk of the moon, he saw a wise, magical, benevolent creature: a hare. And that creature held a flask containing the elixir of life. The hare was a symbol of fertility, wisdom, and of life itself. The Chinese Moon Goddess was often portrayed holding her special pet, a large rabbit, in her arms.

Every September, when the full moon is at its most brilliant, the Chinese women enjoy a moon festival. This celebration is held in honor of the women. It also honors Chang Er, the Moon Goddess, who is believed to live on the moon with a rabbit. People bake special, round treats called "moon cakes". As they eat them, they are reminded of the magic potion of immortality that transformed Chang-Er in to the queen of the moon.

The date of this story is around 2170 BC. The earth once had ten suns circling over it, each took its turn to illuminate the earth. But one day all ten suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. The earth was saved by a strong and tyrannical archer Hou Yi. He succeeded in shooting down nine of the suns. One day, Hou Yi stole the elixir of life from a Goddess. However, his beautiful wife Chang-Er drank the elixir of life in order to save the people from her husband's tyrannical rule. After drinking it, she found herself floating and flew to the moon. Hou Yi loved his divinely beautiful wife so much, he didn't shoot down the moon.

I'll be honest, I don't really remember what the whole story is for the rabbit on the moon. I know my mom and grandmother probably told me a million times when I was little, but, alas... my memory can not dredge it up. If you don't see the bunny, here's a picture to show you:

I'm thinking, now that I'm done with Cirque, that I'll try to post my progress on the BoInk and Chang-O every Thursday. I will always have that day off, so I should be able to do that without any problems. *nods* Or maybe I'll update each one once every other week. Hrm. Off to think about it!

Book of Ink Mystery update

After a long absence from it, I returned to finish the frame and get the first interior section completed! Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha! Since the last update, I also got a job outside the house that has nothing to do with comics. I was a little worried that it would interfere with my sewing time, but I between forcing myself to work on Cirque and the fact that sewing is soothing... I do a pretty good job of getting a little stitching in once I get home.

If you go back a few posts, you can see where I left off on the BoInk. The frame was mostly done and when I came back to it, I thought I could fly through the rest of it. I suppose it did go rather quickly, but man do I dislike metallic thread. Ugh.

Here is the frame in all it's finished glory (as always, click to see the image larger):


I'm still rather afraid that the colors I picked are too dark for each other, but I'm feeling stubborn and finishing with what I've got. For better or for worse, these are my colors. Plus, I had already decided in mah head that I will be doing this again... the only change? The kitties will be grey for my Heika. *grins*

After that, I spent maybe an hour a night for a few nights doing the first cell:

My sewing isn't crooked, I just can't take a straight picture to save my life. *facepalm* I don't know how all the other people manage to get gorgeous, professional looking photos.

Anywho, here's a close-up of that first corner:

I have started the next section, the square directly below the first corner. I have it about 1/3 done, hopefully I'll get back to it before too long. I felt a little disheartened because just as I felt like I was catching up a new section came out. Oh, well! I'll finish it eventually!

Finished!

I know, I've been awfully quiet! But I've been devoting my time to working on Cirque de Cercles and getting it done, done, done. I finished it the other night and decided that even I'm going to post it now instead of later. I doubt my mom will find this blog and if she does, well, she'd still better act surprised. Y'hear me, mama? *laughs*

I used DMC variegated thread (it was #4240) and the color change is very subtle. I stitched it on marbled aida 14 ct. that is a warm golden color. Mom loves the color blue and I had wanted to use a dark navy fabric and a golden color thread, but couldn't find any around here. So, I switched the colors and I think it still looks stunning.


Here is the first bit that I finished. At this point, because I'm slow with cross stitch, I was certain that I wouldn't finish this in time. Yes, I was giving myself six months to do this in as I started it June 10th and needed it for Yule. Heh. I told you I was slow!


More work done, it's starting to look like I'm getting somewhere! Whoo-hoo!


At this point I was very excited and working on it every day. Everything after this point became a trial for me and yet has made the piece very sentimental. I almost don't want to give it up.


Somewhere between the previous picture and this picture my grandmother passed away. I was actually working on stitching when my brother called to let me know. Now, I'm one of those people who tend to abandon things that have bad memories attached to it and I was worried that I wouldn't finish Cirque. Since this was always intended as a gift for my mom, I felt I had to finish it. Plus, she knew I was sewing something for her. Anyway, I ended up falling behind because we were going home a lot to help my mom out and I wasn't taking this with me.


Finally, on Oct. 6th I finished it. It came as a surprise when I put the last stitch in because I had been so focused on finishing I hadn't really been paying attention to how much was left. I still have to go and get it framed and then wait until December. Mom thought she was getting it for her birthday but there is no way I would have had it done then. *laughs* I need to get faster!

Goddess Box

I was pointed in the direction of the Order of the White Moon by an LJ friend of mine and decided to give it a shot so that I could reconnect to the Goddess and as part of my dedication to go back to the source and start learning. When I entered into paganism, I was very Goddess-centric and I think in some ways I need to get back to that. Not because I think that's a better system but because I think it will help me to heal myself.

Anyway, part of the first assignment was to create a Goddess Box, a place to keep wishes and secrets, fears and worries, hopes and desires. You write whatever it is on a slip of paper and place it in the Box and into the Goddess' capable hands. I thought it was a great idea as there are some things that I want to offer up to Deity and let it go until I can handle it.

I didn't do much to box other than paint the top and the inside. The box itself is the same one that E. gave to me on Midsummer. I wasn't sure what to do with it, but it seems that the Universe was setting me on the path even then. =)

Before I started on the box I was re-introduced to Maat, an Egyptian Goddess. When I read about her they almost always mention that she is the judge of souls when we die. Our heart is placed on a scale and on the other side Maat places her feather. If our heart is heavier than the feather then we were more evil than good in this life. Maat is said to have a very heavy feather. She is also listed as the consort of Thoth.

I decided to incorporate Maat's feather and the heart into the box, partially to show that I hope I'm leading a good life and also to show that I'm trying to get in touch with my true heart and the will of the Goddess. I decided on a peacock feather with the heart as the center of the eye.

The front of the box. I didn't do much to this other than add some gold embellishment to the swirly parts on the sides.


Now for the inside! I painted it all purple because that is a color I associate with the Goddess. The dedication that is written inside is from the school, I didn't write it. I did embellish it with the triple moon.

And a close up of the dedication on the lid:

Rattle?

So, I'm part of a group called the Lunar Grove (thelunargrove.com) and we meet for discussions and occasionally do ritual. Well, for ritual we tend to have a section where we dance, sing, and make merry... usually with instruments. Well, we don't have much in the way of noise makers and being cheap bitches (and bastards) I decided to help our cause along by making one.

It started with a snack canister that I poured some rice into and sealed the top. Then I covered the whole thing in paper mache. For the glue mixture I added some blue paint so that I would have less work to do later on for it.

Once the paper mache dried I used more of the watercolor paint to make stripes in magenta, violet, and green. I wanted it to look kind of 'watery' so I let the paint drip down the sides some. Once the paint was dry I glued glass 'stones' around the ends, the colors are aqua, blue, green, and red.

The final product:

On one end I painted a sun for the God:

And on the other end is a triple moon for the Goddess:

It's a little hard to see, but the Goddess end is more blue and the God end is more green. I had planned on tinting both ends green, but blue seemed more fitting for the Goddess.

I still have to find a clear coating to ensure that the glass stones won't fall off and the paint won't wear off, but all in all I think that it's a successful project.

Book of Ink Mystery

I do have new pictures to show of my progress on this! However, the next set will probably be a while because all of my time is being devoted to Cirque de Cercles 'cause it's a gift. For the larger images, you should be able to click on them and see them bigger.

The top half almost complete:


A close up of the kitty in the corner:


The top FINISHED! Glory, glory, hallelujah!



And the bottom mostly finished:


I'm a little surprised at how quickly the frame went, I was thinking I'd be working on it for most of the summer. WRONG! But at least it's a good surprise. =) Now I just have to find time to finish the frame so I can get to the cells. Each one is going to hold some sort of Celtic knotwork, the ones that they've released so far look gorgeous.

Changes

Well, I've been pretty lax here... mainly because I don't have any finished sewing peices to share. I am still working on the Book of Ink Mystery pattern, I've added Cirque des Cercles from Ink Circles because that is a gift for someone. Someone whom I'm hoping won't find this blog. *facepalm*

Anywho, the main change is that I'm not just going to put my sewing stuff up on here. I've been crafty in other ways and would like to share those as well. There will still be a lot of cross stitch and knitting on here, just interspersed with other items. Part of this is coming about because I joined a group called the Order of the White Moon and it looks like I'll be doing some artsy things. Plus, there are the cool items I make while working with the Lunar Grove.

Hmmm... I do seem to be drawn to groups that are named after the moon, huh? I just noticed that.

I am going to get some pics of the new project, the Book of Ink one, and a few other things that I've made (like home made rattle things). Just thought I'd make the update about it first. =)

1/4 finished with the frame!

I'm sorry for the poor quality of the picture but it was taken last night on my cell phone. The husband took the camera with him to Georgia.

This is after seven days of work. I feel like I've finally gotten somewhere with it.

Day seven:









I think I may have chosen colors that are too dark. I think it still looks pretty good, but I think that the colors may blend together too well and it will be hard to see the pattern. Live and learn, I guess. I'm glad this was a project I was planning on keeping as I don't think it will be eye catching enough to give away. I don't want the recipient to have to strain to see what is going on in the picture.

Also, I know that the colors are distorted from the crappy cell picture. The green is much brighter and the gold really shimmers when looking at it. I'm more worried what will happen when I fill in the squared when I get those patterns and how they'll look.