Steampunk Office Supplies Anyone?

While browsing for a new work journal i decided to checkout the very large display of Office Supplies at my local Staples.  Surprise!  They too have caught the bug with new antique styled Typewriter Key Office Accessories!  And relatively good quality too.  Apart from the over sized magnets (far left of bottom picture) the others are nice pieces.  The price doesn't scream buy me, rip me apart, and re-use me for a bigger purpose...but it does say Barrettes, Hat Pins, Cuff Links, etc. and some patience as everything eventually gets put on clearance.

Surprisingly they are not online...hmmm...

Knitting Victorian Lace

I decided a few weeks ago to knit lace for a Victorian Dress/Polonaise i hope to work on in April.  I have made good progress, so far about 9 feet.  I need about 20 feet for the dress edging...and about 4 additional feet in different heights for the cuffs.  This is a wonderful BART project with only a six row repeat, and clear indication where i am by looking at the last row.  The pattern is from "Victorian Lace Today" of the .  I finally managed to take a picture.

New Book gifted to me - "Softies"

A co-worker was in Japan for a few weeks recently and brought me back a fantastic present.  A book "Softies"!!!  I am already super in love with a couple of the different Plush Pals.  Looks like the sewing will be continuing for some time to come.  There is one amigurumi pattern, so the crochet will also be happening.

This is one of those new styled awesome craft books where it comes with patterns and is spiral bound so it can actually sit open while you use your hands for something else..like what the pictures show!  Such fantastic ideas!  My favorite after a quick flip is the "Wee Robot"  They actually recommend Overall hooks for "Antennae Ears".  Super cute!!!

The Opera and Homeopathic Medicine

The Berkeley Opera presented "The Tales of Hoffmann".  Billed as a "Steampunk" opera.  Well...it had some late 1800's inspired attire and lots of goggles.  Not totally a Steampunk poster card, but it did showcase the basics.  Very glad am i that there is more to the scene then goggles.  I don't like goggles is a giant understatement.  I dunno what it is.  I hated them when they came onto the industrial club scene in LA in the late 90's and haven't gotten over it.  It's just weird to watch everyone walking around with things that they wouldn't be able to see out of if they tried.  Believe it or not, but i really am a big beliver in the practical.  The show was fun, the singing was great.  I could have had a bit more tradgey or sadness,and a bit less love story...but that's pretty much how i feel about a lot of performances.  (You do *have* to love the Elton John glasses...)

The other part of the weekend involved lots of rest as i came home from NY having spent three nights coughing and blowing my nose in the hotel room.  I have *mostly* recovered.  Still not back into the swing, and then stupid Daylight Saving Time snuck up on me.  This never happens!  I always know when the little bugger is approaching.  All of this travel is definitly taking a toll on my oraginazation skills.

***Goal's for the week***

~ Bone Corest ~
~ Knit 10 feet of Lace ~
~ Finish Waist Closure on Bloomers ~
~ Make "Bias" taping for Corest Finishing ~

Stitches West: Day Three - Enterlac Learning, 50% off bulk yarns, and a Shawl Pin

My last day at Stitches West had a nice late start with a class at 1:30pm.  I decided since i had such an abbreviated schedule for the day i would drive, nice move.  I left about 12:15 and spent an hour listening to Lolita(read by Jeremy Irons, yea!) and not hitting traffic.  Parking was free, this was also a motivating factor.  I'm used to the $15 convention Center parking of Anime Expo, Comic Con, etc.  There even *was* parking when i got there about 1pm.  I spent the next 20 minutes being run around from building to building with no one able to tell me where my class was, very poor planning Stitches people.

Finally with the class located i picked a seat in the back.  I didn't think Enterlac would be terribly difficult for me to pick up, but i wanted to take a class and this was about it that was open when i registered a few weeks after the classes were announced.  The teacher Margaret ??? walked us through the theory of Enterlac, showed examples, and passed out very clear detailed instructions.  We did it together as a class stopping after each section.  I can now do Enterlac!  Here is my progression...

Step One: Knit Base Triangles


Step Two: Knit Right Side Triangle


Step Three: Knit Rectangles


Step Four: Knit Top Triangles to Finish off piece/swatch

Next was a trek back into the Market place to look for more "Black Ice" Cotton yarn for my Vintage Sweater.  Mission accomplished!  a couple of other things slipped into my bag too ; )  Blanket yarn!  I found a very pretty Black, Blue, and Off White that will make a perfect Snowflake crocheted blanket for my bed.  Also two pounds of a beautiful variegated dark color blend yarn that is screaming to be made into a throw for the living room.  Last stop was back to the Tactile booth to procure some items that had been whispering to me for days while i sat and wrote up others gorgeous purchases.  Some Fiber blends, Yellow Sock Yarn (not for socks), and ... the Shawl Pin.  I love this shawl pin, and now need to knit a shawl for it.  Good motivation!

All in all my first Stitches West experience was fun.  It seemed slow, and it will be interesting to see what the crowds are like at wondercon by comparison.  I'm so used to the crowded Anime Cons with small children popping out of every corner, this was a nice difference.  No classes next year i think, unless it's the Japanese Knitting class.

The Death Star has been Defeated!

The quilt is complete!  And has been for a few weeks, how time does fly!  Here are some pictures.  I am VERY pleased with the final result and can't wait to get started on a quilt for my bed, thinking the Ghastly Grimm Alphabet Kids?