Photo-A-Day Catch Up and a Craft Too

I’m back and blogging with a vengeance!

Ladies, when left with nothing to take photos of, will resort to vanity shots. Actually even when we have perfectly good subjects or awe-inspiring views my sisters and I will often still end up taking vanity shots.

12/365 – trying to inspire myself.

Just random shots of the past week since I didn’t have that much time to take photos :p I made up for this by really taking the time to prepare for my photo for today.

To make up for my absence I’ve prepared simple (girly-crazy-cute) tutorial for you. I decided my office would look much nicer with some flowers. But seeing as how my desk is already over-crowded it had to be something small. Something that wouldn’t get in the way. So I decided to recycle an empty mint can and make myself a mini vase.

You’ll need a small container, scissors, double sided tape, pretty wrapping paper and any other embellishments you want to add.

And of course, flowers.

Super simple. Take some pretty wrapping paper and tape it to your container.

Then add a little something-something. I found this long strip of lace I used for an old project that was the perfect size for this.

Add flowers and there you have it. A super simple, cute little vase.

16/365

A little something to brighten up your day plus complete my photo-a-day project. Oh yeah, uh-huh, woot woot! (victory dance here).

-Jack

Crafting Woes

What I've learned so far

Any actual knitting I wanted to do was put on hold when I could not find any of the materials I needed. Craft stores in Cebu are dismal.

First I went to Country Crafts in Ayala, they weren’t very helpful at all. The staff didn’t know anything about their products and we’re kinda rude. So I decided to try Famila House in Colon because they have been around longer and hopefully they’d be better stocked. They were a little bit of an improvement but it was still depressing. Like Country Crafts they only had one kind of yarn.

What kind it was? They didn’t know. How long it was? They didn’t know.

One thing I did find out they were a heck of a lot cheaper!

Familia House: 1 skien of yarn = PhP 8.00

vs.

Country Crafts: 1 skien of yarn = PhP23.30

So I bought a few skiens to practice with and I found out that I really enjoy knitting but I really hate this yarn. It’s so dusty it makes my allergies act up and it keeps frays and falling apart making it difficult to stitch and maintain tension :( I am in desperate need of better yarn. Does anybody know of any well stocked craft stores in the Philippines? Please help :(

So far I’ve learned how to:

1. Make a slip knot

2. Cast on

3. Knit stitch

4. Bind off

Which is all useful for what I’m making. Can you tell what I’m making? I’m thinking… coaster.

Sad crafter,

Jack

Chicks with Sticks

I’ve decided to take up knitting. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for awhile but up until now I’ve been too afraid to try it. I know it sound ridiculous to be afraid of knitting. People (imaginary) ask:

Is it the needles (big pointy sticks/potential deadly weapon/would never be allowed on a plane) you’re afraid of? The yarn? Or do you have a fear of showering your family and friends with unnecessary (read: Philippines daily temperature of 28-32 Celsius) and unwanted itchy sweaters, wool purses, and oh-so-frikkin’ adorable baby hats?

Well it’s none of the above. It’s a much deeper and more substantial (and would make for a good therapy session) fear than any of those things. It’s a fear of failing and flopping painfully unto my face (and pride). I am a beginner, an absolute beginner. I have never knitted a day in my life. I know nothing about knitting, aside from what I’ve seen on TV (i.e. little old ladies on rockers and balls of yarn) which isn’t at all helpful.

I’m just half frightened I will suck at it and end up with many lopsided sweaters (if you ready Archie comics you know what I’m talking about) and half worried I’ll get bored with it and abandon the project (as was proven by project 366).

Today, I woke up feeling brave. I awoke and was filled with confidence in myself. I fought the urge to jump back into bed and wait for those feeling to pass, instead I went out and I bought this:

I was attracted by the pretty bright colors and the cute little chicks on the cover with the iddy-biddy knitting needles. But aside from the outside, I knew this was the book for me when I read this:

Are you destined for knitting? Take this Quick Quiz!

1. Are you looking for something to spark your creativity?

me: Always!

2. Do you have a lot of stress in your life?

me: Yesserie!

3. Do you get stuck waiting in lines with nothing to do?

me: Yup yup.

4. Are you a do-it-yourselfer and love the feeling of making something by hand?

me: You betcha! (looks at broken down lightbox)

5. Do you like to meet people with a passion for the same hobby?

me: I love making new friends.

6. Do you like to make cool stuff?

me: who doesn’t?!

If you answered yes to most of these questions, you are destined to be a knitter.

Did’ya read that? DESTINED! How can I argue with destiny?

So as of June 28, 2009 I am officially a Chick with Sticks. Well… technically that should be: as of June 29, 2009… because really all I did today was buy the book. Then I wasted a good part of the afternoon trying a bunch of ways to take pictures of it so I could blog about it.

But tomorrow I am definitely buying the gear! And then you can all expect more scarfs, sweaters and fluffy things from me!

Chick almost with Sticks,

-Jack

How to: Tutu

Tutu Tutorial

Ever since my sister got knocked up pregnant and I found out she was having a baby girl, I started day dreaming about photographing a sweet little chubby angel in a fluffy wuffy tutu. I knew I could convince my sister to let me use borrow photograph her baby. The problem was finding a baby sized tutu. After looking at a few that looked neither comfortable nor fluffy I was ready to give up. When I realized, I can just make my own tutu! So here it is, my Tutu Tutorial.

First you’ll need:

materials

cut the tulle into strips

I made mine 6″ wide by 12″ long. The wider you cut it the fluffier and poofier your tutu will be. The length should twice as long as how long you want the actual tutu to be.

gather and fold

Cut your ribbon according to the waist line of your subject. I gave mine a few extra inches so I could tie it off at the end. And I have this crazy idea that I’ll be able to add more tulle as she grows older… so the tutu can grow as she does.

This is assuming she’ll even let me put it on her when she learns how to talk… and run away.

loop and pull

and you'll end up with something like this

then just keep going till you reach the ends of your ribbon

Remember leave some ribbon to tie off the tutu. I find a cheery working song helps pass the time (or some caffeine and the latest episode of HIMYM, whatever works for you ;) )

and voila! you're done.

There you have it, a quick and easy way to make your own tutu (and annoy the baby girl in your life). I was able to get about 3 shots of her before she got cranky and ripped the thing off.

Maybe someone out there has a tutorial on how to coerce convince a little girl to wear your new and ridiculously fluffy creation?

-Jack

Betty the Builder

I like crafts. I know that sounds lame but I really do enjoy making things. Sometimes I make really useless things (mini corral for the cow sharpener) but sometimes, I make things that are just… awesome ;) (to me anyway)

Ok, so technically, this wasn’t my idea. I got it from Strobist. I’m just happy I made it and that it works!

Tada! It’s a DIY Macro Studio… kinda.

Ok, so I didn’t technically ”build” anything… I just kinda put holes in a box and put a white muslin cloth over it. But it’s still pretty awesome right? I’ll be posting some shots I took with it next time. I don’t care if I looks like crap, I still love it.

-Jack Kaye