Wrapped in silent elegance...

I finally uploaded a finished object to my Ravelry! And I'll link it here, because it's ridiculously cute.

It started as a basic winter hat, but due to crazyness in oversized-ness and the absolute fluffy soft beauty of this yarn, I made it into a Fraggle Hat!

Made out of Caron Bliss, which is a ridiculously soft acrylic yarn. It's too purple for my own daily wear (and actually a little big for my small head), but hopefully I can gift it to someone.

This is what happens when I prop up my toe and watch football; I didn't feel like working on any recent projects, so I dragged one out of my bin. No idle hands here!

So my brains are finally mine again, and the creativity has been abundant. What does this mostly mean? Recovering the bum-load of projects that were put on hold while I was juggling two classes and full time work as well as Faire season and the FaerieCon and SunCon and.. and.. yeah.

Oh, and posting in here again. June 19th was the last time I put anything up. That's ridiculous.

I'm not making any specific resolutions in 2008 (and they've usually been pretty silly when I have), but I am enforcing a new pro-me mindset: I'm going to stop making excuses about taking care of myself and trying new things as well as spending time working on older ones. There's a diet and workout plan in scope for January and February (including Bellydancing Class!! Eeee!), and it's nothing I haven't restricted myself to before or anything too high in expectations.

And that's only a small portion of my life. My creativity has it's fingers in so many little things, and I'm hoping to keep them in motion throughout the new year, and somewhat focus on the ones that end up bringing me the most joy.

I have one large story and two small writing projects in progress right now, so even if one is stalled, I should be able to work on another. I have plenty of idle time at work in which I can do some writing too, so... no excuses.

I have two knitting projects in current progress and a great many "queued up"! (Seriously, if you're not on Ravelry yet, join!) I also plan on dissecting the great yarn bin the moment I have the space and can get it out of the closet and getting rid of, giving away, and then otherwise "stash"-ing the whole thing. I know I keep saying this, but it is becoming truth. I'm done, in general, of lugging around baggage that I don't need and doesn't do me any good. So it's part of the whole thing.

I have a few other craft and even some sewing projects coming up. I'm still working on a pirate fairy costume to be used for either the spring fae festivals, or fall's FaerieCon 2. I've conceptualized 80% of an ice fairy/queen costume, including the concept of the wings (that happened while I was SUPPOSED to be studying for an exam, ugh). I've been encouraged to try doing fairy wings with yarn.

I'm sure there will be projects tied to RelaxiCon and Pirates 2008: Surrender the Booty next year.

And on top of all of that, I plan on finally building my websites. It shouldn't take me more than a solid day or two of work considering the ease of iWeb, but it's still going to be a labor of love where I'm tied to my computer for too many hours not knitting or writing or catching up with video games. ;-) I'm planning two sites, one personal and one professional.

That's all just the creative projects. Others including prepping for my first audition in almost 2 years, catching up with the assload of video games I've purchased and never played or beaten, moving in January, possibly getting a part-time job to save more money... and I could go on.

Even if I only get a fraction of any of this achieved, I will be happy. I like having options. And I think I let 2007's creative me slide under the radar with the personal disasters and problems I was coping with. I've been aching for an outlet of any kind, though, so I'm going to run with it. And hopefully keep the online world updated a bit more often.

But now... It's time to attend the annual Christmas Cookie Bake. I leave you with the quote that is becoming my Mantra.

Charlotte: I just don't know what I'm supposed to be.
Bob: You'll figure that out. The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.
Lost in Translation

So I got two new knitting books today! It's always exciting getting packages, but ESPECIALLY at work, and EXTRA ESPECIALLY when they cost me less than $10 together. (Amazon.com baby! I rarely give them business, but it was worth it.)

Stitch and Bitch Nation is pretty self-explanatory, but it was only $3.19 so I couldn't pass it up. Knit 2 Together is the Tracey Ullman/Mel Clark knitting book that had a few cute patterns, so I figured I'd check it out. I think I love about half of the patterns in the book, and, because it's Tracey Ullman, there's little jokes and funny stories spread through the whole thing, so I'm really enjoying it. There's a pair of knit britches AND a knit bodice that would both work really well for a Renn outfit. I can't sew worth the dickens, but a knit Renn outfit? May be possible...

I also went to Stitches with Style (no link), the local fancy yarn shoppe, yesterday. The had a change of ownership recently and the store has been cleaned up and streamlined a bit. It looked much more open and fun! And their whole "teaching" room is now the clearance room. I got overwhelmed! I broke my yarn diet, but Plymouth Elegante (which is a seriously cushy eyelash) was $1 a ball and they had it in the deepest royal blue that just made my eyes go "yay!".

I also got some in orange for my mother's Lopi Tote (which will also be in Patons SWS, Natural Green colorway). I cast on a test swatch for that last night and have to felt the test swatch and loosen my new Bamboo 13s' cord before that project is underway. The pattern is super-easy, though, and something I can dabble on here at work later this week.

That's the update for now, hopefully I'll have something to actually post soon. I have to find the battery charger for my digital camera, to start.

Edit:
It would be just my luck that the SAME DAY that I find the bodice and bloomers patterns in this book and get all excited, that two free patterns that are a bit nicer/lovelier come out on Knitty for free. Are you kidding me? Sigh.

The Original Hat.



Minus pom-pom, 'cause I haven't gotten that brave. Large and stretchy for a man-head (Secret Santa gift, and it's awesome I got this person, since he requested one o' these).

I've been told that I pull off the ear-flap thing well.

I will share pictures of the mass numbers of scarves and baby items that need to be finished in the next three days as they are completed. This was definitely my difficult project.

( Most recent finished knitted thing. It's sparkly. Literally. )

Pattern (self-made-up) found here.

Finally getting to use this journal. Yay.

What it's now for:
~Recipes
~Knitting Projects
~Written word (poems, lyrics, stories, monologues, etc.)
~Photography/Artwork
~Musings related to the crafting/artistic world

The rules:
~Constructive criticism is welcome. Constructive positivity is also welcome. It should be obvious what isn't welcome.
~Any recipes/patterns here, of course, are up for grabs, as long as you're not going to sell it or redistribute it without my permission.
~I might be posting gifts here from time to time; if anyone here is the receiver, I will edit them off of the posting for that entry. Please, no cross-entry posting so that no secrets are given away.
~Unsure? Ask.

Thanks for being part of my creative side.

Friends Only. Creative journal of ladyceleste . Comment to be added.

And at the end of the day
All I want
Is you here beside me
A warm comfort to my cold world
Here beneath the covers
is a world of our own

And at the end of a night
All I want
Is you here inside me
Your warm being inside my cold one
Here beneath my cover
you melt what was once icy...