Jell-Ofish

Eugene hosts an annual Jell-O Art show. I participated last year as an artist and had a blast so here I am again. Generally when one thinks of Jell-O art, one thinks of beautifully molded 1960's casserole. Something gross like cherry and tuna fish Jell-O salad. However, the artists have taken Jell-O to a new level and it really is amazing and eye opening to see.

My friend and Jell-O art mentor, Diane McWhorter blogs about Jell-O art. Take a look around and see the magnificent pieces she's created over the years. This link here will give you a tutorial on making your own Jell-O art.

For this year, I was inspired by jellyfish. Inspired by Diane's Jell-O art, I love how gelatin can resemble glass. I call my piece Jell-Ofish.

See more Jell-O art at Maude Kern's Art Center, this Saturday from 5-8pm. Facebook event linked here.

Zombie Blog

It's back! Risen from the dead! My bloooooooog! So I'm terribly ashamed that I haven't updated my blog since December. I have no excuses. I've been busy, really busy but who hasn't? Anyhow I'm here, I'm back and hopefully I'll get back into the habit of posting more often.

Since five months is a long time of catching up, I'm just going to do a super quick run down of the things I've knitted or otherwise created in that time. If you want more details or have a question, feel free to ask in the comments section.

In November I knit this gorgeous creature for a Ravelry Knit Knack swap. Anne wanted something with grey and mustard yellow.

Name: Super Secret Swap

Pattern: My own design inspired by several cowls.

Yarn: Madeline Tosh Merino Light

Weight: Fingering

See my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.

In January I finally finished these socks. I love socks as a simple project. A row here or there. Just chillin', not worrying about getting them done on a deadline.

Name: Swirly Q

Pattern: Inspired by Spiral Eyelet Socks by Sandi Rosner.

Yarn: Wisdom Yarns Poem Socks

Weight: Fingering

See my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.

In the same swap that I knit the mustard and grey cowl, Anne gave me a kit. She provided the yarn and pattern to make these super sweet mitts! I had plenty of yarn left over so I made myself a quicky shawl to match.

Name: Strawberry Shortcake Mitts

Pattern: Strawberry Mittens by SpillyJane.

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 Fingering

Weight: Fingering

See my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.

Name: Strawberry Leftovers

Pattern: Diving in {recipe} by Mam'zelle Flo

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 Fingering

Weight: Fingering

See my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.

Ages ago another Knit Knacker Amber spun this breathtaking yarn and I bought it from her. I mean, look at it!! I didn't want to knit with it, I couldn't find something that seemed right for it until January. I knit the Ginkgo shawl and I love it!

Name: Ginkgo Coastal

Pattern: Ginkgo Shoulderette Shawl by Maggie Magali

Yarn: Coast Handspun by Amber (yarnaholic)

Weight: Fingering

See my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.

When I first became S.L.U.G. Queen, Queen Slugtoinette asked me if I could knit her a doll of her likening. Of course! I wasn't able to give it to her on her birthday, but rather at my birthday party and as you can see, she's beyond thrilled!

Name: SLUG Queen Marie Slugtoinette

Pattern: Marie Antoinette Knit Doll Pattern by Amy Gaines

Yarn: Scrap acrylic I had

Weight: Worsted

See my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.

I'm on the call list for test knitting for one of my favorite designers, Lee Meredith (Leethal). In March, she sent out this hat pattern to be tested. I volunteered to make it in fingering, with little to no slouch for a man- my hunky husband.

Name: Barry

Pattern: Barry by Lee Meredith

Yarn: Knit Picks Palette, Rowan Scottish Tweed 4-Ply

Weight: Worsted

See my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.

Every year, a local boutique has a silly, stunning, creative, festive Easter bonnet contest. As Queen, I entered and I won! I was awarded a $100 gift certificate. Woohoo! My bonnet has flowers, leaves, Easter eggs, chicks, bunnies and a slug or two.

Name: Passionflower Easter Bonnet

Pattern: My own

Yarn: Various yarn I had around the house.

Weight: Mostly worsted

See my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.

Also, every year there is a fantastic art show dedicated to Jell-O. The current SLUG Queen always gives the benediction. I also entered this year by knitting with Jell-O. Well, sort of. Check out the link to read more about my adventures in wiggly, jiggling knitting.

Name: Knit 1, Jell-O 2

Pattern: My own

Yarn: Scrap Yarn and gelatin

Weight: Does Jell-O have a gauge?

See my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.

Another Leethal test knit! I had bought the beautiful blue yarn last summer and still hadn't used it. When I saw I needed one or two more yarns for this shawl I went out and got the vibrant fuchsia to go with it. They look great together! I love this shawl- it reminds me of butterfly wings. I took the pictures at the Woodburn Tulip Festival.

Name: Robin

Pattern: Robin by Lee Meredith

Yarn: Madeline Tosh Merino Light

Weight: Fingering

See my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.

And finally, I have this hat. When I did the test knitting for Lee Meredith, I was given credit to her pattern store in exchange. I bought this hat and used some yarn around the house. It needed more flare, so I needle felted hearts over the ears. Because of the style of the hat and the additional hearts, I call this my Amelia EarHeart hat.

Name: Amelia EarHEART

Pattern: Gentle on My Mind by Lee Meredith

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220

Weight: Worsted

See my Ravelry page for more pictures and details.

Well, that's it! I hope you enjoyed my knitting as much I as did making them. What's up next for me? I'm starting on a new Queen gown. It'll be my Old Queen gown, something I can retire into. I'd like to get back into spinning. I can't remember the last time I spun yarn. The Black Sheep Gathering is next month, I'm excited for that! I also was curious at how much yarn I knit in a year so I joined Knit Meter. You plug in your yardage and it adds it up for you (it would be great though if it was synced with Ravelry so you didn't have to do it twice.) The little gadget update automatically but as of today, I've knit 2.02 miles in 2013. That's pretty cool!

Birthday Burger Bag

My friend Katie had her birthday this week. I crocheted her a cheeseburger purse! A couple weeks ago I came across a picture of a woman who sewed a donut purse out of felt. It inspired me to make junk food purses of my own. Luckily Katie's birthday fell around this time and she received my first one. I'm also thinking of making a pizza purse too.

I didn't follow a pattern, I just winged it (wong it? wanged it??). I used worsted Red Heart yarn and a size 4.0mm crochet hook. It's a pretty cool bag if I do say so myself. I took it out on a date to Little Big Burger so I could shoot some photos with it.

Name: Birthday Burger Bag
Pattern: my own
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Hook: 4.0mm

Sadie Slimy Stitches for Slug Queen

Tomorrow, I will be one of six competitors to run for Slug Queen 2012. My Queenly name is Sadie Slimy Stitches. I've been campaigning and working towards this title since April 2011. I love Eugene, love its people and want to help encourage community art. In the competition tomorrow, I will be judged on my costume, 3 minute talent and my answer to whatever wacky question I get asked. My costume is my crowning achievement. I thought I'd break it down for you.

I started knitting my gown in May of 2011. I was inspired by the Emerald City gowns in the Broadway musical Wicked. Wicked had toured Eugene in April and I thought those Emerald City gowns would make great Slug Queen costumes. Being a textural knitter, or an unconventional knitter to say the least I had the idea to knit a gown. Thus the creation of Sadie Slimy Stitches.

My gown took 418 days to knit using 43 different green yarns. I made the pattern myself. Just knitting and fitting it as I went. A couple of friends of mine donated green tshirts that I cut into "yarn" and knit myself a train. Christina knit me a bunch of little slugs. I sewed 30 onto my train to represent the 30th year of Slug Queens-  one for every queen! I added silver organza ribbon as 'slime trails.'

My little top hat fascinator was knitted by one of my Slugettes, Vicki. It's knit and felted. She also make a beautiful sparkly green veil to go with it. I finished it off with sparkly ribbon and a peacock feather.

My leggings are one of a kind by Allihalla. Alli makes the best swimsuits and I commissioned her to make me some Slug Queen leggings. I bought the spandex online and told her surprise me. They're perfect!

My shoes are Vans slip-ons that I commissioned my friend Candice to paint. What a great job! Yarn, a royal slug, knitted stitches and slime? Perfect!

I knit my purse as part of the Ravellenic Games on Ravelry. I knit then felted it. I needle felted for the first time to create the image of a slug carrying a bouquet of heart balloons.

Lastly, my parasol. Hands down the most difficult thing I've ever knit. An Herbert Niebling pattern, I knit it with lace weight and stretched it to fit over a parasol frame. You can read more about it on my past post.

To finish it all off, Sarah Clifford created my hair and make-up. Curled and teased and sprayed, my hair is HUGE! Sparkly eyes, bow lips... She did an amazing job of helping me to create Sadie's character.

Melissa Mankins at Paper Moon Studio took these amazing photos of me. I wanted photos as a keepsake. I've worked so hard to get here I want to remember it always. I couldn't have done any of this without the help and support of so many people. Thank you all. ♥

Stitch N Pitch 2012

Last night was Eugene's annual Stitch N Pitch. Hosted by Soft Horizon Fibre, a bunch of knitters get together and knit at a baseball game. Why? Because it's fun, yo! This is the second time I've attended, I wrote up last year's experience here. At the game, I chose to knit on my Aquaphobia socks with yarn I dyed with food coloring.

The Eugene Emeralds played against the Vancouver Canadians. We lost unfortunately. However, I had a blast! This year, quite a few of my yarn bombing group, The Knotty Knitters got to go! We got a picture with Sluggo, the Em's mascot.

The Knotty Knitters knitting.

Drink holder makes a great yarn cozy for knitting, didn't you know?

Prince Puckler's Raspberry Cheesecake ice cream.

It Was a Good Day

In the words of Ice Cube, "Today it was a good day."

As most of you know, I'm running this year for the title of Eugene Slug Queen.  I'm knitting my gown and I've also knitted a parasol to match.  Today, I finally finished it and put it on the umbrella frame.  It looks so amazing.  If I never knit another thing again, I'll be okay.  Because I have this.

Name: Parasol Fit for a Queen
Pattern: Frosted Ferns #7633 by Herbert Niebling
Yarn: Huckleberry Knits BFL/silk lace
Colorway: Weeping Willow
Yardage: approx. 500 yards
View more photos and details on my Ravelry page.

Please like my Sadie Slimy Stitches page on Facebook to keep up to date with my crazy slug 'trail.'

Also today, my family took a little road trip up to Woodburn, Oregon today to see the Tulip Festival.  Tulips are my favorite flower and I haven't been to the festival in a few years.  Here are some of my favorite photos from today.

Jell-O Art

I recently took my 5 year old son Bailey to a local art show featuring Jell-O art.  I have only recently heard of this art form from my friend Diane.  Diane makes amazing Jello-O art and even won this year's title as Jell-O Art Queen.  View her wiggly, jiggly Gelatinaceae blog here.

At the Maude Kerns Jell-O Art Show Diane gave Bailey a bag of unflavored Knox gelatin and some instructions so he could experiment and make his own art!  You pretty much just use a lot of gelatin, a little water and pour it into thin sheets.  Let it solidify, cut and shape and dry further.  When it's dry, it's very hard like plastic.

Bailey made a chicken and a flower.  His chicken was too thick and ended up molding before it could dry completely so we tossed it.  This very wet Oregon weather has not been cooperative in helping gelatin dry.  But his flower petals dried nicely.  He used 3 colors.  We dyed some of the gelatin black, blue and left a part undyed.  With the advice to use re-melted gelatin as glue Bailey attached his petals.  Bailey had so much fun he told me he wanted to enter the art show next year.  I think that's a great plan!