The Sweater Project - Post 2

A continuation of the Sweater Project.

Thrifting, Weaving, and Cats

I'm working on some Christmas projects today. It is chilly outside, but it snowed for the first time this winter a couple of days ago and I've been cuddling up on my couch working on paintings and final projects. I'm almost done with everything for this semester. All that is left is some grading of student work, some documenting of my own work, and a couple of critiques.
So today I can indulge in a few distractions. Here are the 'kittens' helping me with my weaving.
Here is my view. It is one of the best things about living in our apartments (along with being able to have cats, gardens, and the large kitchen).
I've been doing some thrifting as well the last few weeks in order to collect sweaters for recycling yarn. I went in last week with a mission. "I am going to find an awesome pair of leather boots." Ok, so I go in with these kinds of missions all of the time, and I never find what I'm looking for. This time was the charm though! They fit pretty good, they just need to be worn in a little bit to fit my feet, but I can tell they are already fit better after wearing them a few times. I bought new insoles for them as well which helped increase the comfort level. Now I just need to find a pair of skinny jeans that fits right....
I also found this little cute owly. I think it is a candle holder (it has a space in the back for a tealight) but for now he resides on my secretary desk, bringing cheer to my work space. I also made some woven coasters from the excess warp yarn from a scarf I was making. They match the colors in our apartment which is mostly greys and yellows. After I took the pictures, I decided to felt them, and now they look more even and less wonky.
I hope you all had a nice thanksgiving! I did, but I forgot to bring my camera, so you will have to trust me on that. :)

Unraveled - The Sweater Project

The beginnings of a long term project I'm just starting to work on.

Sneak Previews, and Brrrr!

Between school and teaching I've been able to sneak in a surprising amount of knits and weaving.
The first is a scarf that I wove from Cascade 220 (weft) and Brown Sheep Nature Spun (warp). I only used about 1 skein of each. I am still amazed by how little yarn I use when weaving!
I am also giving you a sneak peak of some projects I am working on writing up patterns for. The first is a bulky cabled hat. I will hopefully have it written up by Christmas. :) It is a super quick knit, and less thank one skein of either Lion Brand Chunky or Brown Sheep Lambs Pride. This one is knit in Lamb's Pride.Lastly, there is the wonder cowl! I love it. It is the perfect winter accessory here in the north. I am always cold, and it looks cute with a jacket and with a sweater inside.
That's all for now folks. We are heading in to the last few weeks of the semester, so posts may be a little more sparse! Wish me luck!

Yay!

I finally got back home this weekend to visit my family, and look what I came back home with!
Here is a hint...

It's a loom!
My parents got it for me for my birthday. I saw it on craigslist on a whim, and I forced my mother to pick it up for me! :)
When I got it home I took off the project that was on it, and started my own.
As you can see, I started it and finished it within a couple of days. Yay!! Here is Nate modeling the scarf for me. I am amazed at how small of an amount of yarn it used, only one and a half skeins. I love it! I can't wait to get better.

Last but not least, I also got a present that I'd bought for myself on Etsy. It is a gocco print from Julianna Swaney of Oh My Cavalier! If you want to get one of your own, click here. It is residing right above my desk. Did I mention that I love it?Hope you are all having a wonderful week so far!
--Cassie

Taking a Week Off... Sort Of...

Things have been a little bit busy here with setting up and taking down the recurrence show, midterms, traveling, grad shows, and on and on, so I've decided to try and take a little 'break' this week and doing some non-school related things.
One of the things I've been working on is editing photos that I took from my friends Dejan and Jackie's wedding from two weeks ago. They had it at the Algoma Club in Oshkosh. It was beautiful and the reception was great. Here are some of the shots I've edited already, but I've still got a lot more to do! :)Don't they look so happy?I also started a new project. It is a blanket for our couch, and I think the cats approve.

Recurrence - Reception

I thought I would share some pictures of my show that was up this last week with all of you.
Here is a picture of Kim and I before the reception began.Here are some pics of the show!I will post more later, but I just wanted to get a few up for those couldn't make it.
Thanks to all who came out!
--Cassie

Recurrence - One Week Only!

My good friend Kim Strom and I have been working long and hard this semester to put this show together. It will be up all week, and there is a reception on Thursday. Here is our postcard for more details!

The Doily Project, Ikea, and Sunflowers!

I've been working on these the last few days, and just took them off the blocking boards. I used corn starch to starch them, and I really like how they turned out. They are for a painting project I'm working on.
Nate and I went to Naperville this last weekend to attend the Midwestern Electronic Music conference and to Ikea. It was a fun little jaunt, and we came home with some nice stuff from Ikea. My favorite thing is the lamp we got for above the kitchen table and the plates we got for our kitchen. I'm sure they'll make an appearance in some pictures sooner or later.
Yesterday I did a little thrift shopping in between errands, and I came across this awesome purse! I've been obsessed with yellow lately, and it is the perfect size. Oh, and those lovely sunflowers? The Jewel-Osco in town has an empty lot right next to it that hasn't been developed yet, and it is filled with sunflowers! I hopped out of my car and 'borrowed' these.

Bad Dog Gallery Show - Fringe

Last Thursday was the opening for the show Fringe at the Bad Dog Gallery. A good time was had by all, and many people showed up to say hi. Thanks to those who came out!
This was my piece from the show, it is titled 'Three Sisters.'This piece is by Kathie Webb
Brikena Boci
Kristine Chisamore

Birthday Goodness

My parents sent me some flowers for my birthday on Friday which was nice. They are obviously seasonally themed, but also, 'pumpkin' is my nickname from my mother. Well, that and 'poopie'... I'm just glad they came in the pumpkin! haha...
Nate's parents sent me a camera stand (yay!), a picture frame, and a picture album. I don't know how I went so long without a camera stand. I've already used it a ton!
Nate himself got me a gift certificate for a massage! YAY! I am saving it for about a month from now when the show I'm getting ready for with Kim is done.
Here is a little something I've been working on all weekend:
It is a watercolor painting of a doily that Nate's Grandma B made for me. I plan on doing a bunch of these for the show. (Realistically, maybe three or four...)

Bo also says hi. He is doing the best couch backstroke that he can muster up. :P
And yes, I still knit every now and then. Mostly just at the weekly stitch and bitch though these days. I'm almost done with the second front panel, all I'll have to do then is the ribbing around the collar. I have a feeling this will become a wardrobe staple.
Also, thanks to everyone for your birthday wishes you left in the comments of my last post! :)
They give me the warm fuzzies!

Working working working...

Sorry for such a long hiatus, I finally caught the cold that everyone else has already had, and I'm just now starting to feel better.
I've been chugging along on some of my work that I'm getting ready for a show later this month.

I also did some cooking tonight. I made some really yummy chili tonight using ground chicken, corn, and black beans for dinner. Nate had a bowl and almost instantly fell asleep. That's when you know you've made a good chili!
I also made some cupcakes for my birthday tomorrow. They are for my students in my drawing class. I think this should help me win the 'most awesome teacher ever to walk the planet' award. They are chocolate cupcakes with heath pieces mixed into the batter with chocolate frosting that I proceeded to dip into more heath pieces. Yum.
I'll give a more detailed update soon, but I wanted to assure you that I didn't fall off the face of the planet. :)