Spring into Spring

With Spring upon us and finals thankfully a memory of last week, here are some lovelies I managed to finish in between finals, and a mini road trip to Kentucky (more on that later).

First, some crocheted armwarmers, made from 100% recycled yarn and reclaimed buttons.













I really adore buttons. Really adore them. And I am head over heels for these little fellas.




















Next are probably the most elegant pair of armwarmers I've ever made or seen, and they are PERFECT for spring. 100% acrylic (leftover from the Madeleine Tam), upcycled lace, and beads from my stash make a lovely combo.










So does the picot edging! it really turned these into something beautiful, rather than the original simple armwarmers I had planned.














Mmm, lace! The lace is girly, but the deep blue gives it a funky edge.




















Flirtatious, funky, feminine, and all around awesome.















More on my rav page, and if you want these to be your very own, check them out on etsy!



I promise to blog more later this week. Next up, the whisper cardigan, and (hopefully) a sneak preview of the launch of a new etsy line/brainchild!

What I've Been Doing

...in this long absence.

No internet is getting to me, guys. I'm ashamed to say it, but I want internet! I also desperately don't want internet. I could go on for days with a pro and con list (more quality time in the apartment vs. harder to check email/contact people, more reading vs. less blogging) but that would just be another lame excuse as to why I've fallen off the face of the earth for nearly two months!

Eric is wearing down too, however, so we may soon be calling AT&T with pathetic pleas.

It has, however, been a good summer. I've been working hard and playing hard.

• Have you seen Tastespotting? This website has done nothing but feed my cooking obsession. When I do get internet (at our local cafe or restaurant) half of my time is spent gawking and drooling. Especially with summer berries upon us, all I want to do is make pies!
• I've signed up for Mystery Stole 4! I had so much fun last year that I can't wait to start again. After stash diving, I realized I would need yarn and beads. Luckily, this weekend has been spent in Lansing, and Eric promised we could stop at Threadbear at the way out of town.
• I've also been working on the Babette Afghan from IK crochet. It's taken a hiatus as of late, as the temperatures soar and my attention turns to schoolwork, but I'm hoping to have it done for Christmas. I'm using a medly of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in purples and greens, and am in love!

The rest of my time has been spent on less pleasant (albeit perhaps more important) pursuits. I'll be back soon to post about segways in Chicago, family reunions, and more cooking and knitting!

Beret Me

My first thought upon arriving at Goldsmith's College, University of London was "I miss the sunlight."

It is possible the second was "I miss American food. And Taco Bell."

But certainly the third was "I need new clothes."

In all seriousness, sometimes I feel like I'm Alice, only to discover that Wonderland is an Urban Outfitters. People here are fashionable. I've seen more skinny jeans and ankle boots here than in my previous 21 years combined. Eye makeup, high heels, and indie-rock ensembles make Goldsmiths a really unique place to attempt to mesh into. And, what does every indie rocker need? The answer seems to be a beret. Handknit, preferably. A little funky, but not too eye catching. Something you happened to throw on in the morning to cover the hair that may still reek of cigarette smoke from your night at the Oasis cover band concert across the street, or dancing till dawn at one of the many local pubs.


So of course, I knit one. Last week I had picked up a few balls of Lana Grossa Royal Tweed in a rich purple, with a vague beret idea in mind. A day later I had a cabled companion for all my nights out. I can now drink and dance the night away in style, and even protect my head from the constant rain!

Independence in more ways than one!

Happy Fourth of July! Today was not only a much needed break from work, but a lovely day of barbecuing, movie watching and crocheting. Finally, as America celebrated her independence, my "reduce, reuse, recycle," or R3 bag was freed from my hands.

1. This bag took over 75 Meijer bags to complete. I wish I had kept track. I want to make another one, but I'm not sure I'm up to all that cutting! 250,000 men served in the War for Independence, which is quite a bit larger (although after the first big bag cutting marathon, 25 really feels no different than 250,000).
2. As a rule, I don't crochet. I haven't actually crocheted a project, well, ever. I was unprepared, nervous, and naive. Luckily, like our Founding Fathers, it all worked out in the end. Not really how I'd envisioned it - it's larger, stronger, and not quite as pretty as I'd have liked it, but I'm satisfied.

3. I want to take this to a farmer's market. I have visions of this bag brimming with vegetables as I bike home to saute and chop to my heart's content. Too bad it's a Christmas present.

Remember,
"Three it's a magic number
Yes it is, it's a magic number
Because two times three is six
And three times six is eighteen
And the eighteenth letter in the alphabet is R
We've got three R's we're going to talk about today
We've got to learn to
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"