I can't seem to stop...

I mean.... I just wanted a Sailor Moon wine glass. That's all I wanted. This one wine glass I found on Etsy. If that seller had just responded to my messages and sold me the wine glass, none of this would have happened. I never needed a massive collection of nerdy wine glasses! Even after I did the pirahna plant glass, I felt satisfied with what I'd done, I didn't feel like I needed more. But then the idea of a nerdy set happened and I felt that fire in my stomach of a really good project, and it's really just gotten out of hand. I just lost control of this somewhere along the way.

I have three more glasses to show you. And a fourth in progress. Aaaaand right this second as I type this I just got ideas for like three more that I desperately want. I'm gonna hold on to those ideas though, we're gonna let them sit a bit before moving on them. Let's focus on what's done.

The first two are their own set. I had a set of plain wine glasses I wanted to paint because I really wanted a set of galaxy wine glasses. So while hanging out with Shannon one night that's what I did. Just to be clever I did a layer of glitter paint, a layer of silver and then a layer of black, so the interior of the glass is shiny but the outside is galaxy. You can find a hundred different tutorials online for painting galaxy, I'm not going to go into it here.

When I was done I liked them, but I really wanted them to be nerdy somehow. Suddenly I realized I have multiple fandoms based in space! I looked into the idea of getting vinyl stickers for Serenity from Firefly and the TARDIS. I had some trouble finding ones small enough, since usually people buy these to go on the back of laptops or car windows, not wine glasses, but I found a few I thought might work. Maybe. I did still have concerns about the durability of the stickers on things that were going to be washed frequently, but I figured it was worth a shot.

And then. That moment. You know the one. I realized what I really needed was to sculpt Serenity and the TARDIS out of clay around the base if the stems. It was a risky plan, I wasn't at all certain if I could make something that actually looked like Serenity. I knew I could do the TARDIS, that was easy. So I started with Serenity, figuring if I was gonna fail it was better to fail right away. And things went better than expected!

When making the TARDIS I did my best to keep the clay unattached to the stem of the wine glass, I would have loved it if it could have been loose and spinny on there, just like the real TARDIS travelling through space. But unfortunately it stuck during baking and I didn't dare try pushing too hard on it to get it loose out of fear of breaking something. But it still looks good. There you go:

They're less clay intensive than my others, but I'm pleased with them. They make a nice little set and I'm not unhappy with my slightly awkward looking Serenity.

So, to make up for the last clay intensive wine glasses, I decided to do the MOST CLAY INTENSIVE WINE GLASS YET. The thing was, I'd finally come up with my Final Fantasy wine glass idea. How great would it be if my wine glass was. Moogle, with the glass being his head? I could get a spring to put his bobble on so it would bounce around and it would be so damn adorable. It took one quick hardware store trip to find the right spring, so I went and got me another big brick of white clay.

Stu and I had recently finished the Final Fantasy 13 series, and I loved Mog in that, so I briefly considered making my moogle that specific Mog, but I eventually decided I didn't necessarily want to represent one specific Final Fantasy alone, I wanted a general Final Fantasy glass, so I needed a more generic moogle that would be my Mog. His face took some tweaking to get right, I wanted his round little cheeks and I realized pretty quick he needed a jaw to go with it. 

I made his nose and his bobble out of Sculpey Souffle clay to keep them light and less likely to just droop. I made his body out of clay all the way through, which I knew wasn't a great idea but I was worried about getting the shape right with a foil core around a wine glass stem. And it did give me a nice stab-able object to push the wire I built his wings around into to keep them supported.

I had a little trouble deciding on how I wanted to accessorize him, I couldn't choose between having him hold a book or wear a shoulder bag, so I actually created a Facebook poll to get my nerdy friends' opinions, and book won by a landslide. So I made him a little book, anchored his bobble as well as I could, and he was ready to bake.

Before I put him in, I had this thought. Hey, maybe I should fill the cup with foil to kinda prop up the bobble during baking. And then I dismissed that thought, figuring I was being paranoid. You already know what happened. He'd been in the oven for less than ten minutes and when I checked on him his bobble had completely flopped over and broken off.  So I frantically pulled him out, propped it up, added more clay and propped it this time.

I think I'm establishing a new policy where every time I think, "Hey, maybe I should..." I'm just gonna do it and see what happens when I actually listen to my intuition.

This time, I wondered if I should build a foil seat under Mog to keep his body from sliding, but what was definitely crazy, right?

So he went back in the oven. The bobble was propped, but when I went to pull him out of the oven, his body had detached from his head and slid to the base of the wine glass, which had also caused his legs to snap off. Abso-fucking-lutely perfect. He'd also formed a few cracks in various places, which didn't really surprise me based on the thickness of the clay in certain places. That's why you're not supposed to have such thick clay spots. So, I pulled Mog out, let him cool, and used super glue to put him back together. I then spent some time carefully smoothing fresh clay over his cracks to cover them. I was super meticulous while smoothing on the fresh clay, I wanted my patches to be as invisible as possible, but I figured I'd have to paint him to really cover them. I figured I'd have to do that anyways, it's so hard to work with white clay and not get it all linty.

So I rebaked him with the fresh clay. Nothing terrible happened this time aside from a few small reappearing cracks. I had to sand down the patches a bit, but otherwise he seemed okay.

The next step was painting him. I've been using acrylic enamel paints on my polymer clay lately, it seems to hold up better and still gives me a bit of gloss like I want. So I gave Mog a nice bright coat of paint and he looked great. I needed to put him back in the oven to bake the paint and I figured that wouldn't be a problem at all.

Sigh.

I open the oven when he's done and his damn cute little butt is back on the base of the wine glass and the bobble is 100% broken off and dropped into the glass. The only thing I can do is pull him out and wait for him to cool. I managed to tip him upside down and get his body slid back into place so that it would cool in the correct shape and I just set the bobble off to the side. When he was cooled his body was stuck in place again, but the lump of white clay at the base of the bobble had cooled in a bad shape so it wouldn't fit neatly anymore. I managed to solve that by heating the bobble up again and then mildly burning my fingers as I pressed the piece into it's spot on the back of Mog's head to make it cool back into shape. I then nearly super glued my fingers to Mog's head when gluing the bobble back in place, but I finally got it there. It wasn't perfectly neat, but I put a few thick layers of paint over the seam and figured I'd just leave it. Ladies dig scars, right?

I had no intentions of baking him again for the fresh paint. I figured it is possible to air cure the paint, and I don't dare put him in the oven again. His body seemed stuck in place, but I ran a ring of super glue over where I knew the crack was anyways just to be safe, since I knew it wasn't actually attached, and called him done.

He's perfectly darling, and I love the way his bobble actually bounces around because of the spring, but I do know that thing is going to dip into my wine all the time. I'll just have to make sure it's nice and clean. I've already dropped my Scuttle into my wine with my Little Mermaid glass, so it's just more of the same.

Like I said, there is also another glass in progress, but you're going to have to wait to see what that one is!

River's Sweater

 

So, I finished River's sweater.  first of all, the damn thing was huge. I knit it in the large size, aiming for a loose sweater, but I overdid it a bit.  So once I got it put together I actually had to put it through my sewing machine for the side seams and about halfway down the arms just so it would fit better.  That also means the neck is a bit wider than I wanted, and you can see the shoulder seam slides down my arm.

I had a slight moment of panic while knitting this.  After looking at the pictures I realized that River's sweater does not have a visible knit pattern, which made me wish I'd knit the thing in garter stitch.  However, upon completion of the pieces, I realized I was being silly and I could just use the purl side of the fabric and it would be fine.

I added about 5 sm of length to the body, and about that much to the sleeves, plus a little more on the tops.  I added a u-shape to the tops of each sleeve so they would hang over my hands. I don't think that's quite right for screen accuracy, but from what I could tell, the sleeves on her sweater are weird. My yarn is a bit too heavy as well, so my sweater's thicker than hers. but it's very soft and warm.

The skirt's not entirely perfect, the ruffle bother's me a bit, but I tried to make my own skirt and failed.  I can do it and will probably try again, I just don't want to buy more fabric right now.  This is two Goodwill finds that I messed with.  Originally I bought a dark blue and a bright green skirt.  they were cotton, so I knew I could mess with the colors.  So I bleached the living hell out of them.  However, I forgot to account for stitching, which does not change color, and incomplete color fading.  The green one, which I thought I would use for the white layer, faded to a pale lemon yellow, with green stitching all over.  not gonna fly.  However, the blue one actually faded to pink, and I figured as the bottom layer the blue stitching wouldn't be too bad.  The white skirt that I'm actually using was another Goodwill find, just had to clean a small stain out of it that wasn't a problem.  I don't really like to ruffle for what I'm trying to do, and I feel like the white skirt should maybe be slightly pink, or at least a little more sheer so the pink shows through. but that's mostly nitpicking.

anyways, there it is. I like it, mostly.

What I'm doing now and later

So, right now I'm finally, FINALLY working on River Tam's sweater from the episode 'Safe':

I've never knitted a sweater, so I figured if I'm going to learn I might as well make it nerdy. So I found a pattern and yarn and this is where I'm at:

yeah, it kinda looks like a mess now.  but I have faith that it will all come together.

As soon as that's done I'm going to start on a set of little Sailor Moon dolls (like the princesses I made) for Shannon for her birthday.  and once that's done.... oh man.  I have the coolest project lined up.  I'm super jazzed for this.

I found this picture ages ago and fell in love.  I saved it thinking maybe I could figure out how it was done from the pics.  Unlikely.  and then, just recently, I discovered the creator actually put out a pattern for it.  I had to buy it,which I hate doing, I think charging for patterns is mean, but whatever.  If it's something I want bad enough, I'll pay.  (I mean, I paid for the patterns for those princess dolls...)  so I did.  I'm super excited, I think this thing is amazing.  I had trouble picking yarn, the yarn used in the picture is this super special hand painted yarn that would have cost me like $400 to get enough for the jacket.  yeah, not happening.  I went for knitpicks.com, and actually ended up going with the same brand I used for Rinoa's jacket.  I just like the look of that stuff.  I put together a bunch of color schemes and posted them on Facebook to get votes from friends and family on what I should do.  after weighing the options and deliberating for ages, this is what I picked:

a bit different, still bright but not quite as rainbowy.  I like it.  I can't wait to get started on it.  just got to get through the other things in line first.

additionally, I'm creating this outfit right now:

Usagi's outfit, of course.  I've got the shirt almost done, and I already own white shorts, I'll post pics when it's done. (Those are shorts, I promise.  the line dividing her legs is just missing in this shot. it happens.)

and that's what I'm working on.

A Different Project- River Tam's Vest

So, I watch Firefly.  I adore Firefly.  I cry into my pillow every night that there isn't MORE Firefly.  if you haven't seen Firefly, quit reading this and go watch RIGHT NOW.  It's on Netflix streaming.

This is River Tam.

I love River Tam.  Smart, crazy, ass kicking little goddess.  And she wears this outfit in two episodes of the show.  Very cute.  and then I found this.

http://dragoncrafter.livejournal.com/20094.html

this, my friends, is a step by step crochet pattern for that gorgeous vest River is wearing.  now, when I found this, I didn't know how to crochet.  but I'd always thought I should learn, since I love knitting, and love learning new things.  At first glance at the pattern, I despaired of ever understanding it, and considered asking my mother in law to make it for me.  but I perservered.  My job is utter bullshit, and I literally do NOTHING. (Not exaggerating.  I love my job.) So I got a hook and some yarn and hit up Youtube.  successfully taught myself to crochet.  It wasa bit difficult without someone there to show me and for me to ask questions, but I got it.  I got more comfortable by getting in to making amigurumis, which are super cute and super fun, I may make some posts about the adorable things I've made.  Basically that helped me understand how to read a pattern, and really make sure I knew what I was doing.  I'm gonna go ahead and put my process in here now.


IMPORTANT: this pattern was not written for a size small or medium.  KEEP THAT IN MIND.  YOU MAY NEED TO ADJUST FOR SIZE.

for the record, not to offend anyone who's done it this way, (do what works for you, this is just my opinion)  but I do not recommend changing the triple crochets to doubles and the quadruple crochets to triples.  it seems to take away from the open look of the vest and you end up with something thicker and heavier.  you just don't get the same look.  just change hook sizes to get what you need to fit you.  the 2.0 mm hook was perfect to me, and I'm generally between a small and a medium.  also, for accuracy, the fingering weight yarn is important.  www.knitpicks.com is a great site for yarn with fantastic prices. the smaller hook and the fingering weight yarn alllow you to include all the edging rows so your vest is as screen accurate as possible.

11/11/11 yarn purchased. I’m so excited!

11/20/11 All right, it’s official. I’m five rounds in to the first square. here we go.

11/23/11 So, halfway through the first square and I’ve come up with some upsetting math. on a C hook with fingering yarn, this square will likely turn out around 15 1/2” across. way too much for my little rib cage. So, after some experimenting and swatching, I’m going to undo everything I’ve done sob and restart on a 2.0 mm hook. Math says that should be 14.2” across, but this is not accounting for the smaller first three rounds, so probably more like 13”. which is only slightly bigger than my goal, which is 12”. probably an acceptable margin. we’ll see. sigh…
math says my current square should be 17”, but it’s an inch and a half smaller. so this should be right.

1/15/12 took a bit of a break for my Christmas projects, but I’m back in. almost done with the first square.

3/22/12 took another break to finish my husband’s socks- I don’t like making socks, so I made myself focus on only that project and nothing else, or I knew I’d never get done. back on track again. I finished the first square, it came in at about 12 and 1/4” across. which is absolutely perfect. I am pleased. the 2.0 hook was a good switch. also it’s nice that I got it right on my first try with a different hook. I thought it was going to come out an inch bigger, but I guess my gauge was smaller than I thought. I’m okay with this. On to the next square!

7/24/12 yay motivation is back! those tedious socks kinda killed me for a bit. but I’m back in the game now, started again yesterday and now on round 10 of the second square. just used up my first skein. hoorah!

7/26/12 the squares are done! now to make it actually look like a vest…
I messaged another member who made this vest to get some help on finishing, who was fantastic about it. http://www.roguebibliophile.com/2011/12/04/river-tam-vest-finishing-notes/  very much better.  the notes on the original pattern were way too vague for a brand new crocheter.

7/29/12 added some progress pictures. I have shoulder straps now! it seems to be going well, I am very happy with it. incidentally, definitely see biteyfish’s more detailed instructions for finishing the vest. very clear and very helpful.
this is for my own reference: someone who created this outfit and did a great job on the dress: http://jj9437.livejournal.com/80028.html



7/30/12 a few notes- out of sizing paranoia I left off one row on the back, between the squares. should not have done that. It still fits, I just think it would fit a bit better if I still had that row. It’ll still be okay though. also, I went back and added a few rows to the shoulder straps- I did 15 instead of 12, as biteyfish’s instructions said. I will also probably add some rows to the bottom panel of finshnet as well. Keep in mind, though, I’m 6’ tall with a freakishly long torso, so I need the length. I stuck with my 2.0 mm hook for the rest of the vest, but part of my is wondering what would have happened if I’d gone up a size to try to get a looser look. Too late now, but worth pondering if I ever redo it.

8/2/12 all done! I’m so happy with it! the fit is fine, despite my worries. I added a picot stitch in between the two tr in the last row of the edging along the bottom and down the front to make it more accurate, and the tie is just a double stranded chain laced in the spaces in the front. I used very nearly three skeins- like literally, I had a few feet left- of my yarn. the ivory color I got is perfect, I think. I love it, and I’m very happy. Gigantic thank yous to Ariel Barton for coming up with the pattern in the first place and biteyfish for helping me with the finishing.

and yes, I did go on an epic quest to all the nearby thrift stores to find a dress somewhat similar to River’s to go with the vest.

There you are.  The whole thing.  I completed the project I learned to crochet for.