Thursday Art Walk 217: Logos Rising

Good morning/afternoon/evening all!

I just finished preliminary inks on my potential logo sheets today!

Here we see my potential Daily Logos (not sure how that'll work...)

My future blog header! I hope...

So, what do you guys think? I'm probably going to do a couple of bigger versions of the Dailies in the future, just so I can get more detail. I mean, my Sakura Pigma Micron is a nice, small-tipped pen, but... it's maybe not "picture the size of a silver dollar" small.

Today, the plan is to actually go outside once or twice, since it's finally sunny in this godforsaken midcoast swamp, but not too often, since I need to keep up my artist's pallor.

How else are people supposed to identify me as an artist if not via my messy hair and lack of skin pigment?

But yeah, today seems pretty decent so far, and I'm actually looking forward to doing things.

Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to cook today, since the kitchen is going to be occupied, but that's just how life goes :)

That'll about do it for me, today, guys!

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Wednesdaymania 217: Updating

If you watch WWE at all, you were probably getting a bit concerned for Bray Wyatt. The weird puppet, the children's show stuff... uh... this is not the Bray we've become used to.

In my opinion, this is much more interesting.

The manic, cult-leader-turned-children's-show-host thing is really interesting. It's upsetting, unsettling, and eerie. Also, watching Bray cackling while holding onto a chainsaw is pretty awesome.

Speaking of awesome!

Z & I have been watching more stuff on the WWE Network. I know, it's not exactly the most cutting-edge idea, but we've been watching more Mid-South and WCCW shows, and it's really, really fun. There's a shocking amount of Lucha, and I got to see Scott Irwin in one of his last matches. If you were wondering, Scott Irwin was Wild Bill Irwin's (The Goon's) brother. He played The Super Destroyer, and I hate to say it, but I think he would've had a much better and cooler career than Bill, had he not died of a brain tumor in 1987. He only had ten years in the ring to show us what he could do, and he did a lot of cool stuff in that time!

So, aside from some cool southern stuff, Z & I have also been talking a lot about the unfortunate Von Erik family. I've talked about them before, I'm pretty sure. Fritz was a monster. The kids were not alright. If you want to make yourself very unhappy, read up on the whole miserable history. Yikes.

Meanwhile, on MLW, we've had some real whoppers in the ring lately, and the ongoing feud between MJF's resurrection of the Mean Street Posse and The New Hart Foundation consistently outshines the main-event-gangwar between Team Filthy (lead by Filthy Tom Lawlor) and CONTRA (with Simon Gotch). I mean, don't get me wrong, the guys in CONTRA are pretty dang cool, but...

The New Hart Foundation has it

MJF's Dynasty has it

MLW has it

It's good to be a wrestling fan, guys. It's a great time for it. We're coming up on a new age of competition and it's going to ROCK.

Now, I do have one complaint about the WWE Network: Autoplay. I know they're aware of the issue and trying to fix it, but it's really frustrating to try to figure out what we're supposed to watch next when half the time the autoplay won't work. And then it does. But then it doesn't. It's annoying.

Honestly, though, I'm pretty sure that's a Roku problem, rather than a Network-wide issue. Roku has been having an... interesting time with its apps.

Just look at the massive downgrade to the Roku Shout Factory App. Ugh.

Anywho, wrestling's great, and I like it!

Also, Kota Ibushi has signed what he's calling a lifetime deal with NJPW. He's exclusive, now. Wow!

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Talk About Tuesday 217

Good afternoon, people!

I'm... tired. I dunno. Maybe it's the endless rain. Maybe it's the pigeons on the roof above my bed fornicating at 6AM. Maybe it's just leftover sleepiness from the marathon bunny session this weekend.

Whatever the case, I mostly just want to curl up in my flannel owl sheets and sleep for a month.

I can't do that, though. There's too much to do!

• Wednesday will involve a lot of cool stuff in the AEW world, a lot of niftiness from the Network, and an annoyed observation or two
• Thursday will have me making more art! Maybe some inking? Maybe some colors?
• Friday will likely be about the movie Z & I saw not too long ago.
• Saturday will probably involve a casual game or two. Maybe the second part of Survival Island?
• Sunday... I don't know yet. Maybe breakfast again. I'm not sure...
• Next Monday will be an overview of some books I found & maybe a little experimentation
• Next Tuesday should be another blab-fest :)

Here's a few random thoughts that've been popping into my head, lately:

I should eat more pickles. I love pickles. They're good for you.

I should make more bread. Maybe some cornbread. I like cornbread.

I should get my watercolors out and play around with them some. I haven't done that in years.

I want to make more clothes, both sewn & crocheted. I'd like to be better at making things.

I should read more. It's been too long since I finished a book.

I like how much I've written in my blog this year!

I think that's going to do it on this gray and drizzly day, folks!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday 217: Hoppy Easter

Hooooooo boy. I made a very big mistake this weekend. I wanted to make my own stuffed animal for Easter, so I designed this pattern, crocheted it, photographed it, and wrote it up over the course of a night. It took. Six. Hours And that's not even counting assembly & decoration. That was another hour & a half. Yikes. Now you know why handmade items cost so much, guys. The crafter is just trying to get something for the hours of their life spent making the thing. 

My back hurts, lol.

Oh, also, there's over 100 photos here. Sorry.

First, I put six sc in a Magic Circle.
You could make a round chain and sc into it six times, but this is how I do it.

Then I increased to 12 sc around
(2sc) around

Increase to 18
(sc, 2sc) around

Increase to 24
(sc, 2sc, sc) around

Increase to 30
(2sc, sc in next 3) around

Sc around

And again
Sc around

And again
Sc around

And again
Sc around

And again
Sc around

Decrease row!
(sc2tog, sc in next 3) around (24 sc)

Another Decrease row
(sc, sc2tog, sc) around (18 sc)

Decrease again
(sc2tog, sc) around (12 sc)

Add your eyes, stuff

Decrease one last time
(sc2tog around) (6 sc)

I finished stuffing here.

If I were to make this again, I would've made the neck 12 sc wide instead of 6, but I didn't.
Sc around (6sc)

We've now started the body!
Increase round
(2sc) around (12 sc)

Increase around
(sc, 2sc) around (18 sc)

Increase around
(sc, 2sc, sc) around (24 sc)

Increase around
(2sc, sc 3 times) around (30 sc)

He's going to be a little tubby
(sc in next 2, 2sc, sc in next 2) around (36 sc)

Sounds tubby enough for me!
Sc around (36 sc)

Sc around (36)

Sc around (36)

Sc around (36)

Sc around (36)

Sc around (36)

Is this tall enough? I think it's tall enough.
Sc around (36)

Let's give him a butt, now. He's gotta sit down somehow!
Decrease row.
(sc in next 2, sc2tog, sc in next 2) around (30 sc)

Decrease Row
(sc2tog, sc in next 3) around (24 sc)

Decrease Row
(sc, sc2tog, sc) around (18 sc)

Decrease Row
(sc2tog, sc) around (12 sc)

Stuff that body nice & full!
And then decrease for the last time!
(sc2tog) around (6sc)
Fasten off.

Bunny's gonna need some arms.
Sc 4 in magic ring (or sc 4 into a chain ring...)

Increase Round
(2sc) around (8 sc)

Increase Round
(sc, 2sc) around (12 sc)

Sc around (12 sc)

Sc around (12 sc)

Let's give him a hand!
Decrease round
(sc2tog, sc) around (8 sc)

And now for his arm
sc around (8 sc)

sc around (8 sc)

Stuff the paw/hand, then keep making that arm!
sc around (8 sc)

sc around (8 sc)

sc around (8 sc)
You should have 6 total rounds of 8 sc apiece from the decrease.
Fold the top of the piece in half, then sc straight across to seal the arm
This means less sewing later, trust me.
Leave a long tail for sewing.
Make another arm (unless you've got a tripod bun)

Legs are also necessary for bunnies! Unless your bunny is legless. That works too.
You'll make 2 of these.
Sc 4 into a magic ring

Increase round
(2sc) around (8 sc)

Increase round
(2sc, sc) around (12 sc)

Feet are bigger than hands.
Increase Round
(sc, 2sc, sc) around (16 sc)

Sc around (16 sc)

Sc around (16 sc)

Sc around (16 sc)

Sc around (16 sc)

That's a long enough foot for bun-bun.
Decrease round
(sc, sc2tog, sc) around (12 sc)

Decrease round
(sc2tog, sc) around (8 sc)

Let's give him a proper leg!
Sc around (8 sc)

And again:
Sc around (8 sc)
Stuff at this point - his leg will be hollow from here on out.

And again:
Sc around (8 sc)

And again:
Sc around (8 sc)

And again:
Sc around (8 sc)

And again:
Sc around (8 sc)

And again:
Sc around (8 sc)

And again:
Sc around (8 sc)

And again:
Sc around (8 sc)

Fold the top, sc together (4 sc)
Fasten off & leave a long tail for sewing.

Let's give him some glorious ears!
Sc 6 in magic ring

Increase round
(2sc) around (12 sc)

Sc around (12 sc)

Increase round
(2sc, sc) around (18 sc)

I've folded it in half to show you how it'll look flat, you can do that at the end.
Sc around (18 sc)

Sc around (18 sc)

Increase Round
(sc, 2sc, sc) around (24 sc)

Sc around (24 sc)

Sc around (24 sc)

Sc around (24 sc)

Sc around (24 sc)

Decrease round
(sc, sc2tog, sc) around (18 sc)

sc around (18 sc)

sc around (18 sc)

sc around (18 sc)

Decrease Round
(sc2tog, sc) around (12 sc)

Sc around (12 sc)

Sc around (12 sc)

Sc around (12 sc)

Sc around (12 sc)
continue until you've got 6 rounds of 12 sc each after the decrease
Fold in half until flat, then sc across the top (6 sc)
Fasten off, leave long tail for sewing.

Tail time!
sc 6 in magic ring

increase
(2sc) around (12 sc)

Increase
(2sc, sc) around (18 sc)

Sc around (18 sc)

Sc around (18 sc)

Sc around (18 sc)

decrease round
(sc2tog, sc) around (12 sc)

Stuff & decrease
(sc2tog) around (6sc)
Fasten off, leave long tail for sewing

If you're going to give pause to your project, put everything you'll need in one place.
Here's a project bag I use. It's the clear plastic bag from a sheet set!
I've put my hook, my needles, my thread, my pieces all in one place.

Sew your ears on first. I wanted mine floppy, but they'll stand erect if you want that!
Don't be too worried about what stitch is what. You just want these to stay put.
If it looks good and holds fast, you did it right.

I sewed one side of loops down before circling back and sewing the second set down.

It wasn't perfect, but it got the job done.
Then I pulled the yarn through the body and snipped it where it came out!

Mr Bunny with his ears done!

Do the same for all the limbs & the tail!
I weave the yarn through some of the body stitching before I pull it through and cut it.
Just a little extra support, I guess.

Here we see Mr Bunny with a nice bow and a finished face!
I used a very light crochet thread I had laying around and threaded it through his face multiple times until
I got the size & shape desired for his nose. I free-handed all of that. If I can make it look right(ish)
then you can, too!

That's all from me today, I think.

That was exhausting!

Go Enjoy Something!!!
FC