Peter Pan Collar Chainmail Necklace

This necklace came about in a roundabout way as it started out as a bracelet. I’d wanted to try a simple chainmail pattern that used two different sized jump rings and that wouldn’t take too much thought to put together. Yet after I finished the bracelet, I looked at it and was left unexcited; it was just too plain. Unsure of what I wanted to do, I put it away and came back to it months later, deciding to change it into a necklace.

Watch Choker

Once I’d disassembled the watches from my Jar of Junk, my eye was automatically drawn to one of the glass external pieces that protect the watch face (it was only one that was in decent condition). I really liked the simple shape of the piece and thought I could use it to create a piece of jewelry; I decided to make a choker.

Jar of Junk

I like figuring out how to use items in different ways (especially if they’re items that might be considered junk). I picked up this jar at a vintage shop; it was sort of a “grab bag” in that the jar was pre-filled with stuff. It was taped at the top so I didn’t open it, but I could see that there were keys and watch faces inside. While I didn’t need any of it, I still couldn’t resist getting it; I thought that I could use what was inside in some way (though I wasn’t exactly sure how yet).

I Hope for Rain

As a child snow was an exciting novelty. It was a welcome surprise that generally meant school was canceled. It meant playing outside and perhaps an attempt at making an anemic snowman. It meant wrapping my hands around a mug of hot chocolate to help warm myself up after a cold winter’s day. Snow was almost magical in its quiet beauty that easily brought a smile to my face.

Yet as an adult the novelty is gone. I like snow…unless I have to deal with it. It hardly snows in the Portland-Metro area; we get a few flurries here and there that may or may not stick, but whenever it does snow, chaos ensues. It barely takes an inch before the news has its “Storm Watch” stories, schools are canceled and car accidents accumulate. Every year this happens because we’re just not equipped to handle any amount of snow.

Earlier this week came our first snow of the season, and as a beautiful blanket of snow covered the rooftops, dread filled me. Snow brings inconvenience, whether it’s the stress of driving in slippery conditions or avoiding it altogether and remaining housebound, it just throws everything out of whack. A couple of nights ago snow was falling silently down, but then in the midst of sleeping that night I heard the pattering of rain on the roof and relief filled me. Rain was washing away the snow.

So when winter comes and temperatures drop, I hope for rain. Yes, I know I may complain about the rain and often wish for sun, but I’ll take rain over snow any day of the week.

Sometimes Ignorance is Bliss

With only a few notes into a song, sometimes I automatically know if this is a song I want to listen to (and subsequently stop on whatever radio station it happens to be playing on). I unconsciously bob my head and tap my foot whenever I hear the song and it can make any day seem a bit better.

However every so often with a song I like (after listening to it numerous times), I finally hear the words being sung and disappointment fills me. I can’t help but think, “Really? Couldn’t you have put a little bit of effort into the lyrics? You had the entire English language at your disposal and you chose those words to sing about that?” [Sigh.] I may try to overlook the utterly lame lyrics in order to enjoy the song (even though it’ll never be the same), but sometimes it’s just a lost cause and I can’t help but be annoyed with the song from there on out. Uninspired and stupid lyrics are an oversight that’s not easily forgiven.

When this dismay sets in, I feel almost betrayed with the song that had had me at the beat and lost me at the lyrics. It makes me wish that I didn’t understand English so I could continue to enjoy the songs I once liked. But I do understand English, so ignorance is not an option. [Pause.] However, I can listen to foreign music where I will be ignorant of the lyrics. Then I can just enjoy the beat of the song and the singer’s tone of voice without being bogged down with lyrics that make me cringe. Sadly, sometimes ignorance really is bliss.

DIY: Paper Chain Banner

I thought using paper circles and jump rings together could create a cute banner that could be hung on the wall for any event (e.g. birthday, baby shower, congratulations, etc.).

Folded Rectangle Sweater

Since I continue to be lazy and avoid many of the more complicated stitches, I thought I’d try making a sweater using basic knit stitches in a simple rectangular shape.

I Can Read…Really

I had bought this cheap fabric and wanted to make a skirt with it. Simple enough. Except that I made a fatal mistake: I cut the fabric incorrectly. [Sigh.] I suppose it was bound to happen eventually, but it was still utterly painful to realize that I didn’t have enough fabric to cut the piece again.

Book Attack!

A love of books was ingrained in me at an early age. I read often and enjoy going to the library or bookstore and discovering new books. I admit that I often pick up books with pretty covers (I just can’t seem to help it—its allure lures me). But then I’ll skim the first few pages to see if the content and writing appeals to me before taking it with me or returning it to the shelf. Usually at worst a book can do is bore me. [Pause.] Usually.

Recently, with a hardcover book in hand, I was reading in bed. Normal enough. And then I somehow lost my grip of one side of the book and the corner of the book smacked me in the lip. It hit me hard enough that it not only hurt, but it also made me bleed. That’s right, a book gave me a bloody lip. How sad is that?

I didn’t see it coming (literally). I expect to accidentally bang my knee on a table or prick myself with a needle, but getting hurt by a book? No, a book is not a weapon (unless wielded improperly as I did). It was totally lame to get hurt by such a normal and benign object. [Sigh.] Lame enough that I could see it as a B-horror movie: Book Attack! (It would have a simple plot of a young woman librarian who stumbles upon a magic book that brings all the books in the library to life. Perhaps the books grow teeth to eat tasty humans or maybe the book characters become a part of the real world and zany horrors ensue.) It would be a fine cheesy film.