|
Mar 23, 2009
Where Would I Hide, 1980?This is not a knitting post. Sorry. If you love makeup, the 80s, or bright colors then you may find this post fun (if not interesting). Otherwise keep scrolling through your blog reader. I should be working today, but apparently my kids STAY sick. Moving on....
 After buying some gel liner I REALLY wanted to try out some dramatic/ridiculous makeup so that I could test it. At first I was stumped as to what to do, staring at my face in the mirror and an open palette of makeup, I felt like I'd done it all. Then it struck me! The shirt I was wearing involved loads of bright colors and designs. It's not the sort of thing I normally wear, honestly, but I bought it to match some jeans with bright purple stitching and belt. So why not match my makeup to my shirt? I went with a pink/purple combo. When that was done I tested my new liner, which worked fabulously! Actually, I felt that making the wings was 10 times easier with the angled brush. Then it still felt a little incomplete...so I added checkers! This was a bit more difficult than I had anticipated because my liner brush was a little frazzled. All I did was wet the brush with water and dip it into the color I wanted. Anyways, here are the pictures, I'll list the products used at the bottom. Enjoy! 
 Products:
- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- Mineral Magic in Micah on lid
- Coastal Scents 56 palette (used column 6 row 2 in crease, column 3 row 4 for the checkers, and column 1 row 3 on brow bone, column 2 row 5 on lower lid)
- Studio Gear Invincible liner in Onyx
- Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencil in Yeyo (tear duct and outer corner under wing)
- Wet N' Wild Kohl pencil on waterline
- Urban Decay lipstick sample in Gash
I use Bare Minerals for my foundation and blush...so that's that. Micah has become a fast favorite of mine. I bought it on Etsy, but just recently rediscovered the seller and plan on buying more from her. If they are as amazing as Micah then it is worth every penny. The UDPP is worth it too. Sort of. There is apparently a way to hack into the goofy shaped bottle to get more out. Which I plan on doing. It definitely works though. I'll do my eyeshadow the night before I go to work and it lasts through the whole day! The Coastal Scents palette is probably worth MORE than the money. I love having the colorful variety to choose from, it allows me to (re)create looks I couldn't previously. Although I really want to be the 88 palette and the Shimmer 88 palette. Labels: 1980, eyeshadow, makeup 08:58 | | 
|
Mar 16, 2009
It Sneaks By Time, that is. I know that one day I will look around and realize my children are all grown. But for now I cradle them close. I also enjoy anniversaries and birthdays. These days are meant to celebrate another year with someone you love, that's how I look at it anyways. Today I celebrate another year with something I love. Yarn. Yep, that's right, another knitversary!
Understand that I use "celebrate" loosely. So loose that it's almost as if I'm not celebrating at all. Because, well, I'm not. That Baby is sicker than a dog, he had an appointment with a doctor today, who can only tell me that it's not the flu. She prescribed three medications for him. *sigh* There has been tons of knitting lately though. At least in comparison to the last few months. When I first started I was a knitting powerhouse, turning out project after project. So far  I've logged 127 projects into Ravelry. This actually is excluding several projects, as there are a few I don't have photos of...or just don't remember making honestly. It also includes my WIPs, my UFOs, and items I've frogged. Either way, that's about a project a week. Lately I've noticed my crafting energy has died out a bit. Maybe I hit the gas too hard and too fast? Or maybe it's due to the stressful environment Chez Shad recently. First we were moving to California, now we're not. Oh, what, I didn't mention that? No, of course not. That's because part of me knew what happened would. Actually, I don't much feel like talking about it now. It's rather upsetting.
How about some knitting? The BSJ is complete! Blocked and buttons and all! I wanted to trim it up with some crocheted edges in a contrasting color...but that didn't work out very well. So, I made some booties. Now I'm thinking I might make a hat  too. There is still some yarn left after all, why not? Apparently I haven't done a real update in over a month. Whoops. Originally I wanted to start updating every (other) week on my day off. That just didn't work though. On my day off I usually just want to sit around and do nothing. At any rate, I've made another MCCS Corporate Zombie (and finished the first one). The hair is done with some wool or another from Ashford, the color is Marigold though. I know that. Also, I just started another hoodie for Nolan. You all remember the first one, don't you? God, I love that sweater so much. Yes, present tense. It is still in great condition, although it needs washing. Unfortunately it is too small. This one should size up to be about a 4T when I'm done, at least that's the intent. I'm too cheap to buy the same pattern in a different size. If you already have the basics, all you need to do is crunch a few numbers. That's my philosophy anyway. The yarn I'm using is Plymouth Yarn Encore that I got in Wilmington for my birthday. Which I just realized I never posted about. :-/ There was a lot going on then.
 Labels: booties, bsj, crochet, knitting, sweater, tunic, zombies 14:30 | |
|
Feb 25, 2009
Dirty Mouth?Yeah, I finally did the pattern for the penis chapstick cozy. I received a surprising amount of requests for it. I'm going to copy and paste it into here. Also...I did manage to make a PDF somehow. I think. But really, I'm not sure how that works exactly. So...it's not online. If you want it, just email me.
Phallic Chapstick Cozy
by ShadkittyNeed a little protection? Grab your penis and put it on your mouth, er, your chapstick that is. This cozy has no functional use whatsoever, but it's HILARIOUS and you'll enjoy it. And, unlike real life, one size fits all!! MATERIALS Caron Simply Soft [100% acrylic; 315yd/288m per 170g skein]; color: Pink; all you really need are some scraps 1 set(s) US #4/3.5mm double-point needles Tapestry needle Fluff Key ring (optional) GAUGE Useless. Just make it work for you. PATTERN NOTES You can attach a keyring if you want to hang this from your keys. Or whatever. Just crochet a chain long enough to meet your standards and attach it to the cozy and the keyring. Use your own smarts for that. PATTERN SHAFT CO 12, leaving a longish tail. Join in round, making sure stitches aren't twisted, yada yada. Do some k2, p2 ribbing for awhile. Periodically slip the work over chapstick tube. When work reaches from the bottom of the cap to the bottom of the tube: K 2 rounds plain Next rnd: *k1, k2tog* Cut yarn and thread through stitches. Pull shut tight – weave end in on side facing you!! Then turn inside out. HEAD CO 18. Join in round, blah blah blah. You know the drill. Round 1: k9 sts together with tail from CO, k9 remaining sts together with tail from body CO. Make sure you leave a little bit of yarn between the body and head. This is the little piece of yarn that connects the two. If you make them too close together you won't be able to get the head off and on easily! Round 2: knit around Round 3: k9, inc, k9, inc Round 4 & 5: knit around Round 6: *k3, k2tog* to end Round 7: knit Rep rounds 6 & 7 until 8sts remain. Next Round: k2tog around Cut yarn and pull through remaining sts. BALLS (make 2) CO 8. Round 1: *k1, kfb* around Round 2: knit Rep these 2 rounds once more (16sts). Work St st for 3 rounds. Next Round: *k1, k2tog* around Next Round: knit Next Round: *k1, k2tog* around Stuff with fluff! Cut yarn and pull through remaining sts. Attach to body using your good judgement and general knowledge of a man's tool. You are now a penii warrior! Battle the forces of chapped lips! FINISHING Ha. I kinda gave most of the finishing details in the pattern instructions. You don't need to really weave in the ends that you knitted together. Just trim them. Weave in any remaining ends. Then pop in your tube of chapstick. ABOUT THE DESIGNER Ms. Kitty is completely bonkers. She lives in a constant state of chaos with her man servant and 3 little critters...amongst piles of yarn and laundry. A menial gas station employee by day, and a fiendish knitting powerhouse by night, there is no knitting challenge too great! I'm getting carried away, go show off your knitted penis. Labels: chapstick, cozy, pattern, penis 10:07 | |
|
Feb 4, 2009
Cut My Heart Out I'm struggling with how to begin this post. I don't want it to be the same thing as always, or boring. It should be snappy and attention getting because I know that this is the first thing you will read in your bloglines. This is how you will decide whether or not you will bother reading the whole post or if you'll just skim it for good pictures. Unfortunately my thoughts are unintelligible. They're simmering on the back burner as I'm writing this while watching Life. Instead I just thought I'd insert a gratuitous yarn photo, this is Kauni Effektgarn in colorway ET.
Valentine's Day is one of my least favorite holidays. It really doesn't mean  anything to me. Less now than ever. Things are strained between Mr. Shad and I at the moment, but I don't need a glittery card and a heart shaped box on some commercial holiday to define my love. Oh, and I DEFINITELY do not need a piece of jewelry that I'm not gonna wear. Love is constant, which means that February 14th is just another day. However, making V-Day cards when I was little was one of my favorite things. Because I've always loved crafts, and well...I do like glitter. And chocolate, but that's beside the point. After seeing this post, I was inspired and reinvested a small glimmer of glee in the crafting that this holiday calls for.
Crafting something by hand is the best way to show you care, if you want my opinion. To show some of my coworkers how much I appreciate them, I decided to craft them a little something. That's right, MCCS Corporate Zombies! Arghhhh Brainssss! First up is one for my favorite male cashier! He also happens to be the only male cashier we have, he's got great work ethic and seems kinda down sometimes that he works so hard and everyone else slacks off. Right now, he has no hair because I just couldn't figure out how to make it look right. Guess I'll needle felt him some hair. Actually, I like most of the people I'm working with right now. You'll be able to tell who I like when you see all of the zombies. Because, let's face it, I'm not going to waste time on anyone I don't like.
Somehow, I'm trying to roll into this next paragraph/project. I wanted it to be smooth, but it just isn't coming. Even though it really should have been easy, what with all of this talk about caring, crafting and zombies. Oh well. Just recently I ordered the BSJ pattern from Schoolhouse Press for $3! Come on, you all know how expensive The Opinionated Knitter is, when I found out they were selling this  pattern by itself for three dollars, I had to get it. Which meant, I had to cast on! So far it's been pretty easy knitting. We'll see how it goes, I've read through the pattern a couple of times and still feel confused. Then again, that's happened before, sometimes the pattern doesn't make sense until you're knitting it. Then you have that big "OH!" moment. My tattoo artist and his girlfriend just recently had twins, so I figured that would be a perfect opportunity to try out this time tested favorite. But...what about the buttons? I'd have to find something really cute. Or maybe...maybe I could make something really cute! Since I bought a bunch of polymer clay to make eyes and embellishments for all of the Creepy, Cute Crochet critters I could make buttons. Here is the first batch, what do you guys think?Labels: bsj, buttons, knitting, pretty, sewing, working, yarn 21:31 | |
|
Jan 20, 2009
Light Flurries (now with pictures!) So, I'm not going to lie, I just forget to post here some days. When I'm off work, I just want to be lazy. Yesterday was my day off, instead of posting or anything, I went to the store with Mr. Shad, played some WoW (yeah, that's returned), and did some knitting/crocheting. Today I had work at 0530...but last night the county school system sent out an automated call to let us know that schools would be closed today. Well, crap. That means the daycare will be closed too. My job is about 40 minutes away, nobody wants to drive 40 minutes to find out that they're closed. Especially in bad weather. So, I hunt down the phone number that is supposed to let us know if we're reporting to work in the event of inclement weather (hurricane area, remember? we're prepped for this). It's a recording, oh well. Call it in the morning and hear that all non-emergency/non-essential personnel need not come in to work. How am I essential? A cashier. Psht, back to sleep. Get a call at 0540, oh, we ARE open. Whatever. After being cranky and doing things I'm not getting paid for, they finally call around 0930 and say everyone in my area should get home! Sweet!
There was no real snow at the time, but we've got it now! The snow is even sticking. It's so awesome. I know some of you have already seen your fair share of snow, but this is the first time I've seen it really snow down here in NC. Also, this is the first time my boys have seen snow. Ever. At all. The last snow that I saw was in Maryland when I was pregnant with Ky Boo. Of course we went outside to play in it. Too bad that we don't own any sleds. I mean...why would we? You don't see snow in 3 years and you get kind of jaded. Honestly, I didn't think it'd snow at all today. :)
 Oh, I have pictures too by the way. I just can't find the USB cable for my camera. Right now I'm still steady working on instant gratification projects. Finished the  Grim Reaper and a few pairs of the Bijouterie earrings. This is really difficult/awkward, knitting with wire. Not to mention that the wire I bought is absolute crap. I'm considering ordering this Artistic Wire stuff off the internet. Yes, by the way, I've completely bypassed my resolutions. Haven't frogged anything. Though I did work on re-organizing my queue. So...kudos to me on that. lol Deleted a few things I never plan on making, or that my interest in has waned. Currently I have 6 WIPs though; one I mean to frog, two that could be finished if I'd just sit down and do it already, and one instant gratification project. Well, Mr. Shad is home. I'm going to see if he knows where the cable is. I'll finish this later. And my favorite picture from the day:
He's hiding from the snow. :)Labels: amigurumi, crochet, jewelry, knitting, snow 16:49 | |
|
Jan 7, 2009
I Quit This LifeNo really, I'm sick of my job. And I've only been working there for a a little more than a month. We're not even going to discuss it. Anymore.
My New Year's Resolutions...the ones I made anyways, are
- Of course, not to start any new projects until I finish (or otherwise take care of) all my UFOs
- When I start new projects I will maintain only three WIPs at a time, one pair of plain socks to carry around, a gift for someone else (starting my Christmas knitting early this year), and something selfish.
- Blog more. Like once a week...or even a month.
- Check my bloglines more, also once a week.
- Try not to overreact when my husband upsets me.
- Actually, try not to overreact when anything upsets me.
We'll see how long any of these last. I've got a gift certificate to the LYS, brand new yarn from my birthday that's itching to be cast-on, and loads of stress that needs to be soothed by the feel of new and yummy yarns between my fingers. Oh...and I really want to make those Bijouterie from Knitty, it couldn't take that long. Generally I find that maintaining resolutions is to make short term goals, and plans on how I am going to achieve these things. So far all I've got are: Inventory my UFOs (thank you Ravelry!) and frog anything I won't finish, then make a priority list. How long has that been sitting? Really, a year? Ugh...guess I should do that first. Prioritize/reorganize my Rav queue. That may not be so easy. I'm thinking I'll write them all down on a sheet of paper (or two), cut it into strips and reorganize it there first. May actually be easier.Labels: blogging, decisions, resolutions 18:29 | |
|
Dec 11, 2008
Customer Service ReportRecently I started working, as I think I mentioned. My main job is working as a cashier in what is, let's face it, a gas station. It's on base, so they call it a "C-Store" (convenience store), but it's a gas station. Briefly I worked as a waitress in a poolhall, and that is also a customer service job. At any rate, I now notice things I didn't before about other cashiers and people in similar job positions. It's easy to notice when someone isn't doing their job very well, or has an attitude. But can I just say one thing, to all of you customers? Did you ever consider that our attitude is a reciprocation of yours? It's a very tough, thankless job. So let me give you a few pointers, some tips, just little things to remember the next time you're in line at the checkout at your local grocery store, Wal-Mart, Sears, or any line in any store. We are ALL people, with feelings, just trying to get through one more day. Without further ado, my list of things that aggravate me:
- TALKING ON THE PHONE! Folks please, put the phone down, ask your mother/sister/friend/boyfriend/cousin to HOLD ON. Aside from being rude this also breaks down communication and we cannot do our jobs well. You're talking to someone else, not to us, the person who is trying to assist you. We don't know what you are saying to whom. Just...don't do it.
- Reaching across the counter to grab your bag. We'll hand it to you, we promise. We know you're in a hurry. There is usually a reason that it's not been moved toward you. Also, you're coming into my personal space when you do this.
- Try to have your ID ready/easily accessible if you are buying something you know you'll be carded for or using a credit card. You will probably be asked for it, if not, oh well, at least now you don't have to fumble for it. (Part B of this...put your ID in the same place and stop cursing and looking through your purse/wallet for it as if you don't know why we asked you to show it.)
- Smile. We do this for you, despite having bad days. Well, some of us do. If you see a cashier smile, just return it. Everyone has a rough time, doesn't it feel better to smile than frown?
- Yes, you have to wait in line. It doesn't matter who you are, what you are buying, how many things you are buying or where you need to be in 10 minutes. Everyone else is waiting in line, common courtesy dictates that you wait too.
This last one is particularly aggravating when it comes to the gas. People assume they can just pay for their gas and leave, or just throw some money at me and I can prepay the pump. That's not how it works. Oh, and take your receipt if you prepay. Just in case you don't fill up your tank and there is money leftover. Also...we don't turn on the pump. Seriously. We can prepay, we can approve, but we don't turn it on. Sorry.
I think that's it for my rant right now. Clearly it hasn't been a marvelous day today. But I will be back tomorrow, smiling. Life is too short to be unkind to other human beings. Just remember that. Good day.Labels: life, working, writing 15:49 | |
|
