A-Squared: I Want To Be a Craft-Master

It all started with my attempt at Martha Stewart-dom. Maybe not full Martha Stewart-dom, but at least a step in the right direction. Since the pinecone adventure, I've decided that I want to applique t-shirts, make hairpieces, bedazzle/glitterize shoes, and knit a scarf. However, I didn't know I wanted to do all of this until I reached the store. I had thrown around the idea of dazzling some shoes and maybe changing up an old t-shirt. And by thrown around I mean the thought entered my head. So, I hadn't thought too much about it. I mentioned my ideas to Claire (a friend, coworker, and inspiration to anyone who wants to make anything wearable), and she sent me some great links for how-tos and ideas.

That was sometime during the middle of the week. On Friday, Al and I were headed to the store for some Panettone. It's a special kind of bread that is only around during Christmas and only at certain stores. For example, Walgreens and Meijer carry it, but Kroger doesn't. It's good for bread pudding with an amaretto sauce (one of two things I make well). So, we head to Meijer. As we get done with the food necessities (Panettone and a banana cream yogurt), I swing by the craft aisle.

While there, I find the glitter (this time the fancy Martha Stewart glitter) I want, along with gems, expensive, use-for-all-your-gluing-needs glue (I could probably glue my fingers together again--bring on the gun cleaner), and glossy sealant. All of this was to be used for the shoes. While I'm there, I get the idea to make hairpieces. I grab some headbands and bobby pins and ready myself to leave. Oh but wait, I should teach myself how to knit. I pick out some yarn and knitting needles. Good thing Meijer has many departments or else Al would have been in my ear urging me to hurry up!

At home, Al has just started a game of tango-sucka and I've grabbed the computer to learn about knitting. First, you have to make a slipknot. Easy, right? Heck no! I must be really dense because I had to watch three different videos to figure it out. Of course, I was getting frustrated, so Alex said, "just give it to me and I'll do it." Well, I'm not going to learn how to do it if somebody always does it for me. So I kept at it and told Alex to go back to tango-sucka. After about ten minutes, I learn the slipknot--VICTORY! Next is casting on, which is simple…picked that up real fast. Too bad I decided to cast on 60 times (probably the wrong terminology there, but don't want to look it up). From there, it's really pretty easy, that is after I watched this one lady (who's teaching kids) do it. Mind you, I had to re-watch her about 6 times. So, I am now in the process of making a scarf or big rectangular thing depending on when I run out of yarn. If I can, I would love for it to be a cowl, but that probably requires some sort of pattern. Not sure I'm ready for pattern, yet!

On Saturday, I started my shoes, made some terrible hairpieces, and used cupcake foils to make a headband. I'm kind of excited about the headband (although you can totally tell I used cupcake foils). Please don't make too much fun of me when I wear it! :)

Merry Christmas!
--Am