Mustaches and Spencer Reid

Oh yeah, I am a huge Criminal Minds fan. (Although I am behind on this season, so SHUT UP WITH YOUR SPOILERS!)

and, even more importantly, I am a huge Spencer Reid fan. He is adorable! I just...love him. And I need to.....like....hug him....a lot.

And that's what I am doing this evening, watching Criminal Minds (Spencer Reid, eeek <3) and planning my birthday party. Hush, I know it's five and a half months away. But, I mean, I had this idea and it was just the most amazing, wonderful, perfect theme that I could ever have!

Yes, it does involve mustaches.

Yes, I will be blogging the entire process of planning it.

Because this party is almost entirely crafts and home-made awesome. Oh yeah, I went there. Everything from the invitations to the party favors to the thank-you notes will be made by moi. Which is why I need to get started earlier...I have a lot of making to do!

My Color Scheme: Black, White and Gold


Can you guess what my theme is? I'll show you next time!

Mischief Managed

SANTA'S COMING! SANTA! I know him!

With only four more days until Christmas, I have a LOT to do.

Actually, not really.

For me, the crazy starts the day AFTER Christmas. Can anyone say "road trip?" 

But anyway, as far as blogging goes, I'm on the naughty list. I try to update every weekend, and it hasn't been going so well. Obviously.

Did you imagine me saying the word obviously in Alan Rickman's voice?

Because I  imagined me saying the word obviously in Alan Rickman's voice!

I love Alan Rickman. And Snape. Snape was one of my favorite characters from the beginning, even before all the drama in the last book. He was just like Oogie Boogie for me. That creepy dude who looks like the bad guy that you can't help but like and-wait, this is a blog about geeky crafts. Not my Harry Potter obsession. Oops.

Anyway, now that the wonderful and glorious me has returned, we should get down to business. 

Let's get down to business

To defeat the huns

Okay, before I let my own geekery run away from me, lets get back to the whole point of this blog!

I went to the library! And do you know what I found there? Books of course!

Geez, what did you think I would find? 

But these aren't just any books, these are fun, wonderfully crafty books! With sewing patterns and techniques and all this other fun stuff! I could keep telling you all about it, or I could go finish reading them (and take a nap) 

Besides, this post was just to remind you that I'm not dead.

Happy Holidays! Feliz Navidad! Mele Kaliki'maka!

Updates from the Underworld.....WITH STANLEY! (Hi Stanley)

A few things I want to sort out before we get started.....

1. If you are a fast reader, never, EVER, NEVER NOT IN A MILLION YEARS should you buy a book the day it comes out. Especially if you are a fast reader, like moi. Because, four hours later, when you've finished it, and you want to know what happens next, you will realize that it is going to be another year before the next book comes out.

I know this to be a fact, cuz guys, I read Son of Neptune  by Rick Riordan, and that's exactly what happened to me.


2. I am super duper awesome (for those of you who didn't know)


Now to get started on what really matters! Goldfish crackers!  Crafting!


You may have noticed that I have not blogged about knitting recently. That is because I have not been knitting recently. I know! Shame on me! But, I kind of really love sewing, so I sat aside my knitting and started a top secret project that will require Stanley and I to work together as a ninja team and may or may not involve top secret missile codes, high-tech gadgetry, code names and juice boxes.


I'm sorry, I can't tell you anything, it's top secret.


No use asking, I have an iron will.


Don't beg, it's unbecoming.


Okay, fine, I'll tell you!


I'm making a blanket! With quilt-y squares and fleece and actual love from my heart! It's going to be so warm and snuggle-y and great in every way! It's the kind of blanket every person in the world deserves to own. Except puppy kickers, they don't deserve warm, snuggle-y, love filled blankets sewn with care, they just deserve a fruit-cake to the FACE. 


But why, you may ask, is this relevant to me? Because, silly, I said so. And, if anyone is interested, I may sell my work, to help pay for a rather expensive field trip to Harvard. Yeah, Harvard.


You see, at school, I do Forensics, which is fun. And sometimes we have overnight trips, like the one in November to Asheville, where we will ride in a fancy bus, and stay in a hotel and go to the mall several times to eat, buy things and be our happy, weird, stupid teenager selves. Some of these overnight trips are expensive.


Like the Harvard Invitational in February, that will cost me $500 just to go. Not to mention food and souvenirs! I can't not have souvenirs.


That is when Sam had a wonderful idea. It went something like this.


Me: I wanna go to Harvard soooo bad!
Sam: You have a blog right?
Me: Yeah
Same: And you make things on that blog right?
Me: Yeah
Sam: So why don't you sell the stuff you make on your blog?


And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why you should always befriend a genius. So here we go, I'll post pictures of my project as I work on it some more (right now, it mostly consists of squares and several pins) 


NAP BLANKET INFORMATION! 
* I am currently working on a red one, which I will post pictures of in my next update.
* However, if I decide to sell them (which I might, because, A. I need the cash and B. they are looking mighty  spiffy and C. if you use spiffy correctly in a comment on my blog that has this ~ in the title, I may be willing to give you a dollar or two of your purchase.) then they will be available in all the basic colors of the rainbow as well as a few other designs.
* Over the next few weeks, please vote in my poll at the top of my page, because feedback is important, and with feedback, I can see where my readers (all six of you) stand and what you want to see happen!
* If they do go up for sale, they will be available to you in two sizes. 60 inch by 40 inch or, a little bigger, with 60 inch by 60 inch




Stanley and I really should get back to work, those encrypted codes don't break themselves.

Mischief Managed 

The Life and Woes of Jeff

Just felt like blogging a little early this week :)

So, besides learning to knit, I am also learning to sew! I'm enrolled in an apparel class at my school and as much as I love it, I am not getting along with Jeff.

Jeff is my sewing machine.

Yesterday I got to use a really awesome sewing machine and we are great friends and life was fabulous. Today, not so much. Because Jeff is a dummy. I was doing so well, my lines were neat, my stitches were even and I wasn't going too fast or too slow. It was a beautiful thing.

And then Jeff came along.

Jeff goes WAY too fast for me! He shakes and the pedal is too sensitive. It's like a car where you put your pinky toe on the pedal and ZIP, off it goes. My lines are no longer neat. My stitches are no longer even. And WHAT IF I SEVER MY FINGER OFF!

In short, today I had a bit of a disagreement with Jeff the sewing machine. It involved some angry fist shaking on my part and lots of whirring on his. This is so not over Jeff.

In other news, I believe that I really should get my mothers sewing machine out and practice with it. I think I'd call that one Carl. Or Stanley.

Yeah, Stanley.

-Mischief Managed 

You really should be knitting by now...

I am a bad, bad blogger :(

But this won't happen again! I promise that I will post regularly and not slack. And I have a brain full of fun craft ideas that we can do together. Granted, I borrowed a few, for the most part they're all mine!

So we all know that I am a super geek. So a little hint of whats to come: Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Star Wars, Disney before it sucked, Halloween, and Christmas all year round! Okay, maybe not all year....but pretty soon!

Because, you know, I love Christmas.

So here's the deal. Once I get needles and yarn the next thing you want to do is find a good pattern. There are a lot of fun  cute patterns but for some reason, craft stores are pretty much stocked with only afghans, hats, socks and anything baby related. So instead I check out the books on Amazon!
Like this one!
http://www.amazon.com/Charmed-Knits-Projects-Harry-Potter/dp/0470067314/ref=sr_1_29?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316372942&sr=1-29  oooohhh yes, I really want it! It's an entire book of Harry Potter knit projects. You'd be crazy NOT to want it!

http://www.amazon.com/Creepy-Cute-Crochet-Christen-Haden/dp/1594742324/ref=pd_sim_b43 I am all about things that are super creepy and cute at the same time. Just ask my Cheshire Cat doll!

http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Christmas-Knits-Twenty-Make/dp/1844487229/ref=pd_sim_b1  It's little bitty snowmen. Need I say more?
http://www.amazon.com/Yummi-Gurumi-Gourmet-Crochet-Treats/dp/B004WB1A70/ref=pd_sim_b7 Maybe you really like food. Then this is a great book for you! There is also books that show you how to make fruit, vegetables and fast food...like pizza. I love pizza.

And just to prove that there is a book of knitting out there for everyone,
Twilight: http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Knits-Projects-Knitting-Twilight/dp/030758660X/ref=pd_sim_b2  Just as there is a Harry Potter book of knitting, Twilight had to come along and do the same. Uh, whats that Twilight? Harry can't hear you over his THEME PARK!

The Royal Wedding: http://www.amazon.com/Knit-Your-Own-Royal-Wedding/dp/1449409245/ref=pd_sim_b6  I did not watch this. I did not care. I roll my eyes when I see Will and Kate on the covers of magazines. And I swear, if I hear the name Pippa one more time I might explode.


There really is something out there for everyone. So why aren't you knitting? Huh? Psh, loser.

Just kidding, I love you. I really do!

My Project is almost half way done! Yes! In other exciting news, I might get my wonderfully octagonal 
friend Sammi to put together a knitting circle type thing. What are they called again? Anyway, do you think she'd go for a cool Harry Potter name? Because I've got a great one in my head!

-Mischief Managed 

Flash Blog (mini blog with a big impact)

1With Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 just around the corner, there are only a few things left to do. One thing that everyone must have is this handy dandy survival kit.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1.       Water: Depending on where you are, you’re going to be waiting a while. As always, you’ll need to stay hydrated!

2.       A snack: Like I said with water, you may be waiting a while. So something small like a granola bar to hold you over until you can get your hands on popcorn is perfect!

3.       A light jacket: Because Movie theatres are cold.

4.       A Harry Potter Tshirt, Jacket, or costume: Because you have to show your love for the boy who lived!

5.       Something to occupy your time: If you’re waiting, you’ll at least want something to do. I suggest a card game, Harry Potter trivia or knitting!

6.       Your best friend: I mean, SOMEONE has to be there to laugh, cry and witness the end with you. You can’t go through something this emotional by yourself!

7.       Some extra cash: Snacks are a must. And maybe your local theatre will have a great deal

8.       Tissues: Because you will cry. Yes, for those who haven’t read the books (losers) there are sad parts. Extraordinarily sad parts that will rip your heart to pieces,  and bring tears to your eyes. And even then, if you’re like me, the mere fact that it is the final movie will cause your emotions to run haywire.

Prepare yourself for the emotional journey that is the final Harry Potter installment. For many people, myself included, there is a lot of sentimental value that we associate with Harry Potter. It feels as though you are saying goodbye to a good friend, to someone you’ve grown up with. And for most of us, it’s really too much to handle.

-Mischief Managed

I solemnly swear I am up to no good (The introduction)

I’m Gabi, and I love Harry Potter. I mean, I REALLY love Harry Potter.  I also love animated Disney movies, goldfish crackers, pillow pets, robots, ninjas, turtles, narwhals, superheroes, zombies, and all things Christmas!  And this summer, I am learning how to knit!

                In fact, it is my goal that all the Christmas gifts I give this year will be homemade projects! What I’d love to do is learn how to knit a legendary Weasley Sweater! Anyone who has read Harry Potter knows that Mrs. Weasley knits a sweater for her children and Harry every Christmas. And every year, Ron’s is maroon. Who wouldn’t want one?

                But why knitting you ask? Because….

·         I can already crochet (I chain stitch like nobodies business)

·         Because all the coolest people ever know how to knit, like Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid, and Mrs. Weasley

·         There is a book of Harry Potter knitting patterns

·         Extreme Origami didn’t work very well

·         Knitting is cool

My adventure begins when we arrive at Jo-Anns fabrics to buy yarn and knitting needles and I realize just how little I know about this stuff. Here in front of me, is about six aisles of yarn and a wall of needles that come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and colors. I have no idea where I’m supposed to start.

The logical answer seemed to be to ask one of the employees who happened to work in the sewing area, you know, the one where they cut fabric for you, and show you what sewing machine works best. I turn and spot one when I realize a major problem.

Even if I do ask her, she won’t understand a thing I say, because I have lost my voice. How on earth am I supposed to ask which needles to buy if I sound like a broken rubber ducky?  What is this madness? Just as I thought all hope was lost, something catches my eyes.

It’s large, bulky and awkwardly packaged with several small, shiny pointy things encased in plastic. Is it what I think it is? Could it be? It is! It’s a beginners knitting kit

It even comes with the correct needles

With the kit in my shopping cart I had a new found confidence. I browsed several books containing knitting patterns for things like hats, scarves, socks and even sweaters. Finding a few I liked and buying one that shows the knitter how to make stuffed animals I decided it was time to choose my yarn.

Little Knitted Creatures: 26 amigurumi Designs by Amy Gaines

The thing about yarn is that some of it is really soft, like little bits of cloud that you can weave, knot, twist and tie into anything you want. And some of it is about as soft as a lumberjack’s beard, which is to say, isn’t very soft at allI found some yarn that I liked, and we left. And so, as I finish writing this post, which is much shorter than I anticipated it would be, I contemplate my next great challenge: getting that annoying plastic of my beginner’s kit and teaching myself to knit!

My Beautiful new yarn!

                                

Wish me luck :)

                         

~Mischief Managed