Family Traditions

It's closing in on Christmas and time for my favorite family activity: cookie decorating. We always bake several kinds of cookie when the holidays come around, and we always try out at least one new recipe; but every year we decorate Christmas-themed sugar cookie cutouts.

Instead of a traditional sugar cookie, I use a butter cookie for the "canvas" in a sampling of shapes from the mountain of cookie cutters stored in the pantry. Then we pull out the confectioner's sugar, and dyes to make the royal icing "paint". I use gel icing color because it doesn't thin out the icing. If you're not familiar with gel icing color, I believe you can find it hiding among the baked goods at most stores. Soon as the cookies are cool and there's icing, we all grab paintbrushes and go to town!

Every year, I pack up tins of cookies to give my close friends when I visit back home. It's the perfect personal thing to share with those you love.
This year I've also made a eye-pillows using Amy Butler's pattern available at the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog, and wrapped both up with their holiday gift-tags.

A Res-Life Christmas

Christmas comes early in the Residence halls, when Resident Assistants come with individualized tidings on slips of paper and random mini-tubs of Play-Doh.

Last-minute studying

Companion cube hearts you too...That's not Sandy Claws (Santa Claus)...
Little Santa-bunny...

Legend of Madness

The semester is coming to a close and I've taken an unannounced hiatus from the blog to accommodate my workload. I have made a few updates to the project lists: I've completed my pincushion, and am now in a felt and sewing sewing mood. Once exams are finished, I think I may finally have time to work on a wild and crazy idea I've had floating around my head for at least a year. Any Legend of Mana fans out there?

Study Break

This is where I want to be......This is where I have to be.But I need a break to stay sane, so let's visit the nicer side of the room.My "hex hat" was too big and bulky for my little head, so these granny hexagons will happily become the start of a new afghan. It's only big enough for little Anni right now, but it will grow...once I buy more yarn. Last time I was at HobbyLobby however, my friends and I picked these up:I know it doesn't look like much, and it is an experiment into the world of sewing, but I'm excited to take this project on. For now I'll just say that it will be weighted, cube-like, and a plush companion...as if that didn't give it away. Maybe I'll make a tutorial if it turns out OK. The hour is late, but it will be long-spent before I have earned my retreat to slumber. Because of this, I must return to the bleaker, code-filled side of the room.

A Teacup Oasis

The sun hides behind the clouds and the cold settles in. Leaves crunch beneath the soles of shoes as feet carry students to class. The professor is sick, defining infinite series while the students harmonize with her every cough. The dorm room is a spartan retreat, but all it takes is a hot cup of tea and a skein of yarn to whisk me away to my mind's garden. Every tea takes you someplace new; Earl Grey to an old scholar's library with plush leather armchairs and walls of book-stuffed shelves, green Matcha tea to the clean lines and decor of a Japanese tea room graced with caligraphic artwork, flowers, and the sound of tabi socks striding over tatami. Or more exotic, blend the African Rooibos bush with the cocoa bean and throw in the leaves of Yerba Mate and almond pieces for a real earthy retreat. Ahh... Teavana, you taste so good.

I need a breather from schoolwork this weekend and will be setting aside time to work on a few projects I've been eager to start. I've added a project list on the right-hand side for anyone who is keeping track, or wondering when the heck I'll finish something. Your comments are welcomed and encouraged, as always.

~Halloween~ Half-Life style

I'm working on many crafty things, but the most instantly satisfying has to be the Black Mesa symbol and ID I created for my friend's Halloween costume. His ID tag reads:
Black Mesa
ID 300588293
Gordon Freeman
Anomalous Materials



If only the head-crab plushie was in stock! Valve, you disappointed me. Swinging around a bloody crowbar (not pictured) just isn't the same without a head-crab to chase after. The ID tag was whipped up in Illustrator along with the Black Mesa symbol. ID was then inserted into the name tag, and the Black Mesa symbol printed on heat-transfer paper and ironed onto the lab coat.

Note: This post has been updated. For downloads and tips to make this costume, please see my Gordon Freeman Costume Resources post.

Quietly Working (on a mouse and scarf)

Juggling paid work and college coursework is difficult, but I always make time for crafting. My little mouse friend here is about half done: she needs limbs, a coat, and a new set of whiskers to finish her off. The weather has turned for the cold finally, so I've pulled out the knitting needles and am working on a waffle patterned scarf with/for my dorm-neighbor. I'm using a simple scarf pattern I've used before and still love from Bernat yarns. The scarf pattern can be found here.
With Halloween just around the corner I'm hoping to get something festive crafted too, but I'm still tossing around ideas.

College Crafts

How do you keep your door open? Paint a rock! I was feeling inspired so I jumped on the dorm-activities bandwagon and crafted a doorstop featuring a totoro (painted from memory, mind you). It's a simple project that anyone can do; just grab some paint, brushes, some rocks, and some friends!
All my yarn is still sitting around waiting so be loved. I promise I'll get to you soon (once I figure out my Calc homework)!

Farewell Chicago; Hello Kalamazoo

A lot has been going on the past two weeks. My last day of work was on the 23rd. I said goodbye to my coworkers and made my way to the 'L' one last time. I wasn't ready to leave the big city with all it's splendor and my good friends, but it had to be done.

After packing all my things up in the car, I spent my last evening out at the lakefront and soaked it all in. I will have more pictures of home up on flickr shortly.

I had no internet access at my parents house (dial-up doesn't count), but I was too busy unpacking, shopping and repacking to to anything crafty or update. My new University is proving a great place so far; hanging out with my roommate, making friends and being social with my other hallmates too. I'm all moved and settled in here in my new dorm room. Classes start tomorrow, so I'm having fun while I still can this weekend.

I did do something crafty before I left, but busy as I was, I forgot to take a picture of it completed. Here's the kitty in-progress, pattern care of Hillary Lang at Wee Wonderfuls.

How house sparrows got their name...

"Annie, how good are your animal removal skills?"
"Um... relentless?"

This little house sparrow decided to come into Ann's bedroom through the air conditioner in the window... and then cowered in the corner trapped by the ferocious Mickey. After flying once around the room, and stirring up several dormant dust bunnies we captured the little bird with a trashcan and pink towel, and took her out to the back yard to set her free. After a few moments of shock, she shook the dust bunny off her head and flew away into the nearest tree.

Shopping spree!

Today I stocked up on yarn so I'm not lamenting about being poor in my dorm room instead of being crafty. I saw the new "Vanna's Choice" colour palette and was instantly in love; I had to have them! It's 100% acrylic, but nice and soft. Hopefully I'll have a new project to show this yarn off soon, but I'll be moving and settling into my new dorm room over the next two weeks, so we'll see.

Dangerous places for plants

I'm not sure who invented the bed-level windowsill, but indeed, this is a dangerous place to set one's precious things. Yesterday evening, as my beau napped and I crushed the Aztecs in Black & White 2, he inadvertently kicked my orchid from the sill in attempt to get comfortable. Luckily, the precious thing survived with a few battle scars for character.

Faun - WIP

This little faun has been waiting patiently for months for another arm, and I intend to grant his wish very shortly.

Lakeshore Arts Festival

Circus arts, another of my passions. Little sister to my dear friend (pictured), performed a beautiful act on the silk knot and just as well in other acts with the rest of the Teen Ensemble created by the Actors Gymnasium at the Lakeshore Arts Festival today.

The festival itself was far less impressive than the Teen Ensemble performance. A lot of art vendors, a fair number with good works, but very few with terribly great innovation. Nothing jumped out at me and screamed "Take me home!".

Delays, delays, and more delays

Yes, I realize it's been more than a month, but things like making money (a.k.a. work) get in the way. Frankly, I'm not sure how long it'll be before I have any real progress to show. I still need to finish up a few of my amigurumi and shoot photos of them. But in the event of something new, I will release an update.

Launch

While we all eagerly await the launch of my website, here I launch a blog to keep everyone informed of my progress pre and post-launch. Annigurumi is my home for my personally designed crocheted creations.

Site progress:
Layout: 100%
Design: 25%
Publish: 5%