3/01/2011 Progress Report

I got a lot of stuff done this past weekend, even though I spent a good deal of Saturday and Sunday laid up like this:

I', starting to develop some RSI in my wrist from computer work and knitting. This particular flare-up was brought to you courtesy of knitting for six hours on Tuesday. =(

Anyway, I took the opportunity this presented to use my sewing machine instead, sewing up 75% of the Thief costume I'm working on and getting started on the embroidery that I want to add to it.

Blanket stitch courtesy of Stitch School, done in variegated yellow DMC floss.

Since I've had some problems in the past with ironed-on applique, I decided to stitch down all of the applique on this particular project. I like the look so much that I'm looking for other places to add it, especially for my Adell project. Large stitches like this just make it look kinda rustic, like it comes from the countryside that the game takes place in.

I also started receiving the packages that I ordered last week. I'm done to some last-minutes items and the wigs to order and then I'll have all of my supplies!

Enormous Shoes

Geek Accessories: On the Town

As I mentioned in my last post, and the reason I only posted once last week, was Video Games Live. Its a live symphony performance of classic and modern video games, and it hit Seattle on Saturday. I went with a group of fourteen people, and it was a total blast. Nothing is better than hearing lovely orchestral music accompanied by thousands of screaming fans.

But, to keep this blog on topic, I'm going to show you the geek gear I took for the concert.

First up is my first embroidery project:

Shadow of the Colossus is the best game ever.

I seem to have misplaced the tutorial I used for the bag, but this is the one I'm going to use next time. I did the embroidery myself by hand, and just sort of winged it. I used a combination of satin stitching and back stitching with a loop of two differently-colored threads. I used stabilizer on the backside, and traced the pattern onto the front with an embroidery pencil and a picture of the symbol I managed to find.

But what's that other thing in the picture?

Well, I guess I'll let you see....

The Super Mario 1-up mushroom!

Its the first project I've completed using my new membership! I've taken some classes at a local jewelry shop, and I bought some hours from them so I could use their shop during Open Studio. It was a bit of a rush to get into the shop before the concert, but I managed it! I am pretty pleased with myself. I didn't coat it with anything, so I'm looking forward to how it looks when the copper acquires a bit of patina, I think it will look quite nice.

Now you may be wondering where that pretty background came from. Well, the place I was staying had this nifty little set-up I spotted while I was using their sewing machine. I just had to take advantage of it for my photos!

I've seen something like it before, on the Strobist blog, but I hadn't managed to make one for myself that was sturdy enough or portable enough for my needs. Since they've left the bottom on this one its far more sturdy, which means you can store it more easily as well. Taking the top off also means that you can stick props in there more easily, like that lovely branch of flowers they had in there.

I may be taking apart a box this week to make myself one!