Escapism

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

I want to take a year off to travel around in a redecorated 12 foot trailer, like these folks. This trailer will do fine.

Let's buy a nice digital camera, and maybe a Holga toy camera or two.

Let's take a year off, and see the country.

Grand Canyon, by Al_HikesAZ	Preston, Idaho, by ryansharich
Valley of Fire State Park, NV by Dave Toussaint	Muir Woods, CA, by SollerPhoto

Found in Pittsburgh: Singer Sewing Machine

Monday, November 23, 2009

Walking home from the grocery store, I saw this 1971 Singer Custom Zig-Zag Sewing Machine (Model 737) with a "free" sign on it, along with a little bag of related accessories (manual, various feet & throats, bobbins, etc). After adjusting the pressure dial, it seemed to actually work!

Now I just have to find somewhere to put this beast...

Newly Designed Hardcover Penguin Classics

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Original photo from Design*Sponge
I am currently in love with these hardcover, fabric-bound Penguin Classics that have been recently released. They remind me of the old books we found in my parents' house when we moved in 22 years ago. Amazon.com currently stocks them.

Lino-Block-Printed Christmas Cards

Thursday, November 19, 2009

I decided to make paper Christmas cards this year. I need to use up my linoleum blocks before they expire, plus, people so rarely use paper invites these days (even though mine point you to a URL, haha).

That, and I needed an excuse to use my [awesome] gold sealing wax from here.

Pattern: Crochet Octagonal Granny Square

Friday, November 13, 2009

I saw a garland of cute granny squares somewhere on the Internet, and whipped up this pattern to put it together. There's basically three stages: the octagon motif, the square frame, and the thicker frame. You can stop at any of these stages, as needed, but for the garland I recommend all three. (Maybe for an afghan you wouldn't need the thicker frame)

Please do not redistribute this pattern without author permission.

[Crochet] Octagonal Granny Square

(Pattern also available as a .TXT file, here.)
(See this pattern on Ravelry, here.)

Difficulty: Easy
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver Worsted/Medium
Yardage: 17.5yds/16m total (12.5yds for the octagon motif, 5 yards for the thick frame)
Hook: G /4.25mm
Gauge: I recommend using this hook+yarn, but if the motif is too "ruffle-y" then go up a size hook and if it's too "bubble-y" go down a size hook.

Pattern:
R1. ch4 and join into a loop.
R2. 3ch, 15dc in ch4 sp, join in 3rd chain. {16dc}
R3. ch6, 1dc in same sp. *skip next dc. 1dc in next dc. ch3. 1dc in same sp* repeat between * until end. Join in 3rd ch.
R4. sl st into ch3 sp. *1sc, 1dc in same sp. ch3. 1dc, 1sc in same sp. skip next 2dc* repeat between * until end. Join in first sc.
The Square "Frame":
R5. sl st in next dc, sl st in next ch3 sp. ch 3. 1 dc in same sp, ch4, 2dc in same sp, ch4. *2sc in next ch3, ch4, 2dc in next ch3 sp, ch4, 2dc in same sp, ch4* repeat between * until end. Join in top of ch3.
Optional "Thick Frame":
R6. sc in next dc. 5sc in next ch4 sp. 1sc in next dc. 1sc in next dc. 4sc in next ch4 sp. *1sc in next sc. 1 sc in next sc. 4sc in next ch4 sp. 1sc in next dc. 1sc in next dc. 5sc iSn next ch4 sp* repeat between * until end. Join in next sc and bind off.

Key: I use the common crochet abbreviations here.
ch: chain the given number of chains
dc: double-crochet the given number
sp: space
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single-crochet
Enjoy!


© Iris. Please do not redistribute this pattern without author permission.
http://byov.blogspot.com/

How To: Make Your Own Starburst Mirror

Thursday, November 12, 2009

I did this project awhile ago, but a post on Steeltown Anthem inspired me to finally post about the mirror here. I keep moving it around my apartment (and it gets beat up each time), but here the starburst mirror is, in its current condition. The instructions are fairly simple, enjoy.

Step 0: Materials
Bamboo wooden dowels (the kind you use for shish kebabs)
Circular mirrors of assorted sizes (one larger than the rest)
Silver spray paint
Hot glue gun and/or duct tape

Step 1: Spray paint the wooden dowels silver
Self-explanatory. Spray paint one side of the dowels, flip over, spray paint the other side, let dry.


Step 2: Hot glue & duct tape dowels to the back of the large mirror

Step 3: Flip mirror over to the "right side" and attach smaller mirrors to dowels with hot glue

Step 4: Hang your new starburst mirror on the wall, you're done!

Third Most Romantic Spot in the Country

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

According to MSDN, the Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh is the third most romantic spot in the country. As the clip says:
"So romance isn't the first word that pops into your head when you think of Pittsburgh? Then you need to take a ride on the Duquesne Incline cable car (in operation since 1877) to the observation deck with spectacular views of the Ohio and Allegheny River Valleys and downtown Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle."

I took these photos a month ago, and it's funny how close this top one resembles the shot from the article (unbeknownst to me).