beck's blog

Friday, August 27, 2010

Sock Lion Rumbleroar and Sock Monkey Draco visit

Some of you may have been wondering what ever happened to Sock Monkey Snape and Sock Monkey Dumbledore since there last posts here and here.

Well, just yesterday I spotted them on the deck in the back yard, laughing, chatting and catching up on things with a dear old friend of Dumbledore's named Rumbleroar. (If you've watched the Harry Potter musicals on You Tube, you will already be familiar with good old 'Rumby' (as Dumbledore affectionately refers to him as). For those who still haven't had time to watch the Potter musicals, Rumbleroar is Headmaster of Pigfarts, which every good wizard and witch will know is located on Mars). Just ask Draco, who was also there in the backyard enjoying the sunshine and free rides on Rumbleroar's back.

I took some photos of the friends enjoying themselves. (Click on them to enlarge).

Photobucket Photobucket

Here's a nice group shot. I asked them to turn and face me and took the next shot.

Photobucket

Snape wasn't too sure Rumbleroar was friendly at first and kept pointing his wand at Rumby until Dumbledore told him to knock it off.

Photobucket Photobucket

Here's two nice close-ups of Rumby and Draco. Rumbleroar is very friendly and protective of his students.

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

And finally, when it was time to leave, Rumbleroar helped Draco climb up on his back for the long trip back to Pigfarts. (Don't worry, they magically put on their spacesuits before disapperating just above the yard). I think I would like to visit Pigfarts some day. I think being anyplace other than here right now sounds wonderful. I'm already practicing their school song.

"Pigfarts, Pigfarts, here I come. Pigfarts, Pigfarts, yum, yum, yum."...

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Butterflies Are Free

I worked on this a few months ago but never posted it here. It's a rug that can also be wall art made with thick craft yarn on a canvas from a 1970's kit I bought on e-bay. (Click photo to enlarge).

Photobucket

I love the colors! The background was supposed to be all white but you know how I have to always go crazy on things and make them even more psychedelic. It's made with a simple half-cross stitch using a thick yarn needle.

Love Is Like A Butterfly

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Starkid Afghan

Have you all seen A Very Potter Musical on You Tube Yet?
Well, if you haven't, oh my Rowling, what are you waiting for??!
It's hilarious!



(My personal favorite is definitely Quirrel, Voldemort, um, QuirrelMort.)
The actors are fantastic, the music is so great, and the humor is spot-on for all Potter fans to revel in.

So I wanted to make an afghan to celebrate this "totally awesome" musical and I had a lot of ideas from "Pigfarts" to "Rumbleroar" to "Red Vines".
But I finally decided on crocheting their production company's logo "Starkid".
So, here it is, (click on the pic to enlarge the photo).

Photobucket

It's only 18" x 37". It would be great to hang on a wall or just to put around your shoulders or lap while on the computer.
I used all cotton Sinfonia yarn by Omega. The variegated pink really looks cool using the afghan stitch.

Now, if you're dying for more Potter Musical fun, they have just posted the A Very Potter Musical Sequel on You Tube as well.



This is also fantastic and I've watched both quite a few times already.
They even have soundtrack music available for free. Yes. Free!
It doesn't get any better than that, does it?
Unless they do a third Potter Sequel.
Now that really would be totally awesome!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Virgo Heather Square

I've finished up the last square of my Zodiac afghan a little early.
This one is Virgo. (Click to enlarge)

Photobucket

My son asked me why did I make a Statue of Liberty square? LOL!
She does resemble the statue but I think it's really a lady with long hair who has a sun in the background behind her and the sun's rays are what is shining all around her head. (The Zodiac Knits book I used for all the patterns is from Patons yarn which is made in Canada and the book was printed in Canada and I'm fairly certain they could care a less about the Statue of Liberty).

Anyway, it doesn't matter because I'm done. Woohoo!!!!
I am now bordering all the squares and then I can join them together. It's going to be one huge massive afghan that's for sure.

Usually I end the post here with something related to the square. A song link or a picture or a story. But here I have nothing. Let me see... Well, I have a niece born September 5th. I think that makes her a Virgo. So this can be called the Heather Square.
Yep, that's right. Heather. She looks like a Heather, doesn't she?

Oh, and, what the heck......this too.

Now I'm off to join the squares!

Monday, August 09, 2010

Moondance - Van Morrison afghan

Well it's a marvelous night for a Moondance,
with the stars up above in your eyes.
A fantabulous night to make romance,
'neath the cover of October skies.


I have been groovin' to Van The Man the whole time I was working on this, my latest afghan.
(Please click on the photo to make it bigger. A second click will make it even larger you know).



Photobucket

Van Morrison from the album cover Moondance. (One of my most favorite albums of all-time).


Photobucket Photobucket

Here's a front and then a back shot side by side. I think the back turned out to be not so messy looking. That's hard to accomplish so I'm pretty dang happy about that too.

A lot of the yarn is that newish Vanna White yarn. She has some really great fall colors and it's really soft yarn.

I used a photo from Van Morrison's Moondance album here...



I then graphed it at microrevolt after adjusting the contrast and sharpness a few times to simplify the graph.

For the word Moondance, I went to that Celtic Cross Stitch site and just typed in Moondance and entered it. I thought it was only fitting to have a Celtic font for the "Belfast Cowboy". He really does have that Celtic Soul sound and I just love him to death!

While working on the afghan, I found a couple of awesome live performances and songs by him on You Tube.

This version of Caravan is even better than the album version. Just amazing!

Into The Mystic is spectacular.

And, of course, I have to end this post with Moondance. This version has the lyrics which are,of course, ..... fantabulous!

Oh! I also wanted to let you all know I put up that Jim Morrison afghan, The Harry Potter vs Voldemort afghan, and the Beatles afghans all for sale on e-bay yesterday. I'm pretty nervous about showing my stuff and selling it. I hope you can go check out the listings. All my afghans are special to me. My listings are under snapescape

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

That 70's Shift - Zig Zag Daphne Dress

This is the hottest day of the year here in Indiana.
And I went outside to take pictures of my new totally 70's Zig Zag Daphne dress. ("Daphne" is in honor of Daphne from Scooby Doo. She'd wear something like this, (if they'd ever change her out of that purple dress!!) LOL!!!

It's 100% cotton and crocheted with Lily's Sugan 'n Cream yarn in lots of their summertime bright colors.
(You know the yarn. The stuff you make pot holders out of).
Needless to say it's as heavy as all get-out, (hmm what a weird expression that is; I wonder where that came from) and it shrank about 3 inches when I washed it.

So, without any more babble, here she is..... (Please click on the photos to enlarge them).

Photobucket Photobucket

I'm calling this the front but it really doesn't matter which side is front because they are both made the same.
The only difference is in the yarn color at the top. (I had to use a darker color surrounding the pink stripe in the back. Well, you'll see in a minute. I just didn't have enough to make it all the same front and back.)

ANYWAY, I decided to go throw on my hot pink capri pants because if anything was made for these pants, this sweater sure is!!!

Photobucket Photobucket

Here's the back. My hands are on my hips to show you the full effect of the bell sleeves. I could have left it sleeveless like an ordinary shift dress but I just got carried away and decided, what the heck. It's already so screamingly eye-popping and funky I might as well go totally all-out and make the bell sleeves too.

I wanted to make this as simply as possible. That is; not have a million different tricky stitches to handle or measurements to deal with. It's just as it seems. Basically, two rippled panels for the front and back. Two one-rippled side panels not quite as long as the front and back - (to accommodate for the sleeves).

Then, I went to town on the sleeves. Keep in mind that it was even larger before I washed it. But I knew it would shrink up a whole lot so everything had to be big.

I would never wear this as a dress. But I think with some nice bright slacks or even sweat pants this would look neat.
I'm thinking of wearing it on Halloween to pass out treats - if it's cold enough! Man, this thing's HOT!!!!!

I also wanted to let you all know that I have finally decided to sell a few of my things. I have so much stuff, well, stuffed away and there really is no more room. And I need the money! LOL!!!!!

So, if you check in my gallery, I have put a sign up on 3 afghans to start with. I'm letting you know in advance since you're most likely a loyal blog-reader of mine if you are even reading this. I will put them in my etsy shop this weekend. (Unless I choose e-bay. Not sure which way to go with them yet).

The afghans on sale are:

1). The Jim Morrison afghan. It's huge!!!

2). The small Beatles afghan.
That's my son holding it in that photo. That's how small it is.

3). The Harry vs Voldemort afghan. This is about the size of a certain purple squishy sleeping bag. So, about a medium.


I tried to pick three different sized items and also have variety. Music and literature themes. I hope they might appeal to some of you. There's an email address at the very bottom of this blog which you can write to if you're interested in these or have any questions. (Look for the owl.) (If you want to contact me, you have to be weird like me and send an owl.) LOL!

I'll be selling lots more too but I'm starting out small. I have so many different items. I kind of need to see what sort of things people might be interested in. If nobody likes this stuff, I guess I'll find out that too.

Anyway, thanks for reading my blog like you do!

Monday, August 02, 2010

Leo Square

My Leo square is done just in time to wish my Dad a happy birthday this Thursday!

Photobucket

(Click on the picture to enlarge it). It wouldn't lay flat for the photo but after I attach it to the other zodiac squares it will be fine.
It's an eye-popping lime green and orange. It's so bright it just might melt your retinas to gaze upon it in person.



To celebrate, here's I Can Dance / Long Tall Glasses by a famous Leo..... Leo Sayer , that is.