Yarn Ball Winding

Do you ever get yarn in hanks like this, and find that it's impossibly difficult to work with?  All you need to do is wind it up into balls!

You'll need two things. First, this is called a swift.

And second, this is called a yarn ball winder. You can buy them at craft stores.

You use these tools to make nice, neat little cakes of yarn so that you won't end up with cranky, tangled yarn as you use it.  

Nobody's got time for that!!!

Attach the yarn ball winder to a steady surface. Put a book under it to add stability if needed.

Put the hank on the swift and find the loose end.

Put the loose end into the winder and start winding. 

Sometimes you may find that you grabbed the wrong loose end and the yarn will get cranky as you wind, and fall off the swift. But just put it back on and try to untangle the problem, or you can pull the yarn off the winder and start again with the correct end if you weren't too far along yet.

 As you wind, the yarn will look like this.

 Ahh! Isn't that much better? Insert something like a carboard toilet paper holder through the center when you remove the cake from the winder, to keep it separated properly inside.

And now you can use your yarn without spending time to untangle and tame it.

Now, visit some other neat blogs!

Dark Angels

It's time to go thrift store surfing for cheap angels!

http://www.theanticraft.com/archive/samhain08/dollarstoredeath.htm

Time to make some lovely dark angels. >:)

Update: Saturday, December 27, 2008, 11:31 AM

Angels: found. 1/2 price post-Christmas sale at the thrift store, haha.

My total cost was.... $6.67, heh. (Also got a shirt I just had to have for some reason.)

Oh yes, what lovely dark beauties you will soon become.

Bonus features! The two tall ones have a battery-operated light. One cherub hangs and has a golden trumpet. And one has a handy catch-all cup thinger attached.

Update: Monday, 12/29/08

I almost hated to paint over its pretty little pink flowers... until I started painting on the red paint, over the black. Oh, how much lovelier they have started to look! The base work is done. Over my holiday break time this week, I'll be working on the other details.

Piano

Well, after several years, I finally found the inspiration to start playing again. When we went to the Video Games Live concert the other night, I was so totally inspired. I haven't played piano in years because I was so utterly bored with everything. So this was a rare event!

<-- album link

What did it was the girl there was jamming on the piano
<-- click if you want to enlarge photo

After years of lessons starting at age 5, around the time of high school I got thoroughly bored and quit playing entirely because I didn't see it going anywhere, and felt like it was a waste of my time to continue. It has taken until now for me to find a way to enjoy this talent again as a hobby. I'm so glad I can make use of that digital piano my folks got me now.


I say talent and not skill because later if I remember, I will insert a recording here that mom made of me at age 3.... I always begged her to play her piano, but she was afraid I'd just bang on it. When she got brave and finally let me try, I sat down and played her a song. ;)
It was something pretty natural to me. It's probably because she played a lot while pregnant, and throughout her life. Genes are funny things, aren't they?

But anyway, yeah, I realized that playing video game piano songs is perfect for me! I've started small for now but I have my ear on a few pieces to work my way back into. It's amazing how much sheet music you can find online.

Maybe, just maybe, if I get brave enough, I'll record some audio from my piano soon. I almost have To Zanarkland ready.

Updates on stuff

At Ravelry, I have been an editing fool.

In the Crochet world, I finished a blanket for James, then Tijuana, and now I'm working on edging burp/bib sets for Chad and Erika. Whenever I get done with those, I might feel compelled to make something for Suzi too, and then maybe Samantha too if it's before I go visit her. Sheesh, it's baby season!

Whenever I get done with those, I will finally begin working on my Moonlight Sonata cardi I've had my eye on for a while now, since Leslie got me the yarn I wanted for it for Christmas.

In the Knitting world, I've had to table project #2 for all the baby crocheting! When I am finished with that, though, it's on to the Gorgonian Shawl, and/or the awesome sleeves that I'd love to make to go with a vest that's included in my sewing pattern #2 above, to become another cool costume piece.