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.

Bailey turns 6!

My oldest son Bailey turns 6 years old today!  I've compiled my favorite photos of him from the past year- one from every month going back to his birthday last year.

Bailey six years old!

Photo by Paper Moon Photo Studio.

For his photo Valentine.

Bailey on his fifth birthday.

See last year's photos.

Inspired by Katie Aaberg.

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.

Messy party!

Today I threw my youngest son a messy birthday party for his third birthday. This was so much fun!! Seriously, it was the best birthday party ever!

We held it at Fern Ridge Reservoir just outside of Eugene, Oregon. That way we could be super messy and I didn't have to worry about my house getting messy too! Also there's the lake so we could swim/wash ourselves clean afterwards. We told the guests to come in play clothes or swimsuits. Bring towels and a change of clothes for the ride home.

We laid down plastic sheeting and secured the corners with stakes. One on sheet I made slime out of cornstarch and water. I also dumped in Kool Aid packets to color it and make it smell good. And added tons of glitter. Always add glitter.

On the second sheet, I set up washable tempera paint and paint brushes I got at a craft store. The kids could squirt, paint and all around cover themselves in color.

On the third sheet, I squirted shaving cream and set up more cans. The kids could slip and slide and style their hair and pretty much just get messy.

Last night my husband and I filled a big tub full of water balloons and we all had a huge water balloon fight!

Instead of cake or cupcakes, we served ice cream sundaes with lots of candy toppings, syrups, whip cream and sprinkles. Such a hit on such a hot day.

Clean up was super easy. We just pulled the sheeting up with everything on it and dumped it in the trash! And we ended it all by floating in the lake.

Happy birthday Silas!