Pumpkin Carving

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday at work we took a little time and carved some pumpkins. This is mine.

Would you believe this picture was taken with a camera phone? Pretty good, huh?

Halloween Lucy

Last Saturday night J, JD, MD and I went to a couple of Halloween parties. This year I was Lucille Ball. I spent considerable time on the costume and hat, making them from vintage patterns. Here is the finished look in my kitchen before leaving for the party. I love this very 50's looking picture.

This is the matching hat. The hat alone took several hours over 2 days. It is made with a wire frame, satin cover sewn by hand and all the ribbon flowers and leaves sewn by hand. I don't know if I will ever attempt one of these again. It turned out really well though.

Someone asked me if this was a wig, but no, it's my real hair set on those squishy pink foam rollers for most of a day.

This is me and J. He refused going as Ricky to my Lucy. He went as Sam Kinison instead and was a pretty good likeness.

This is me and JD, she was Bonnie as half of a Bonnie and Clyde couple.

This is me and MD, he was Clyde.

The party house was all decorated outside as a graveyard. This is a very retro photo of me in the graveyard.

Last is a photo of the house all decorated outside. It was really cool looking!

We all had a good time. It was fun. I get one more chance to be Lucy on Halloween at work. Yeah!

3 Favorite Things

This is a picture I snapped over the weekend. I love my new green retro toaster and my alligator cookie jar, but I really love the skein of yarn I just got from Insubordiknit!

It's called Vitreous Humor and it's so gory and gross and fantastic! I just love it!

When I was reveiwing the photos later J pointed out that my yarn had a mouth. I can't believe I didn't notice the "face" when I was taking the photos - ha!

It's so cute in the skein I almost hate to knit it up into the scarf I had planned for it.

My Brush With Celebrity!

Ok, so last night was an event at Macy's NorthPark that I attended with JD. It was a fashion show and advice on plus size fashion with Clinton Kelly from What Not To Wear. I love that show and as soon as I got the postcard in the mail I called in my RSVP.

Anyway, Clinton came out and talked, pulled a few girls on stage for virtual 360 degree mirrors with him and then he narrated the fashion show. I have to say he is very much the same in person as on the show. He's very funny and both JD and I had a super time!

He provided a lot of really good advice and information. One of the things I liked the most was when he said never compare yourself to an image on a billboard or in a magazine because these people do not exist. He said it would be like comparing yourself to a tree stump or an inanimate object because these people don't really look like that and everything is photoshopped. I knew this already, but it was still nice to hear.

After the show there was a book signing and if you spent $100 the book was free and he signed. I have been wanting a great trench coat for a while and ended up buying 2 of the trench coats that were featured in the fashion show. One is bright green and the other is leopard print. They are both different in style and super cute! Following Clinton's advice to everyone, before I wear them they will both be going to the tailor for a little nip/tuck here and there.

So, I waited in line for a few minutes for the book signing and when I got up to the table with my book the first thing out of his mouth was: "That shirt is a great color for you!" I wore my favorite new pop your eyes out royal blue silk shirt. The prettiest and biggest pain in the ass shirt I own (it's very particular and I have nearly ruined it several times, the shirt and I have a "relationship" with the dry cleaner). Anyway I said thanks and told him I bought the green trench from the fashion show too. His eyes got big and he says "Oh yeah, that will be great on you too!" Anyway, we chatted for a couple of minutes and I can definitely say he's a super nice guy! He signed my book and JD took this picture with her phone.

It's a little blurry (I can't believe I didn't think to bring the camera!) that's me with Clinton Kelly! Yeah!

If you ever get a chance for a meet and greet with him, definitely do it!

First Finished Sweater

This is my first ever finished sweater.

Perfect Sweater from Mason Dixon Knitting - Seed Stitch neckline, cuffs and hem
KnitPicks Panache in Mulled Wine
KnitPicks Options circulars in sizes 5 and 6

This yarn is very soft. It is considered a bulky yarn, but I used the needle sizes suggested for a worsted yarn and it worked out perfectly.

I can't believe this is my first finished sweater ever. I have more in the works for sure because I am always so cold. I am very happy with the finished sweater. I have been working on it sporadically since last fall. Unfortunately it is a gift and will be going to J's mom tonight. I really hope she loves it. She is allergic to alpaca, but really loved the feel of that fiber, so we decided on an alpaca blend that hopefully she's not so sensitive to. She plans to wear a long sleeved shirt under it at all times anyway. I have a sweater for me that is halfway done, but after that my next sweater will definitely be a top down raglan because all the seaming was a total drag.

One thing about this yarn that I didn't expect was how heavy the sweater would be. It's very heavy.

Stitch Markers

This is the set of stitch markers I made for Sm00bs as her prize in the llama contest. I will be mailing them out tomorrow.

I love them. I could definitely use more markers, but I have yet to make any for myself.

I finished the tiger costume that I was making for a client last night. It turned out really cute and included a really easy mitten pattern that gave me some ideas for making some super cute mittens. More on that later.