And Thus Ends a Haunting Chapter of My Life.

So I finally sent off my Zombie Swap Package. I would feel like the worst swap partner ever, except for the fact that everything I made was gold. Here is the completed package, plus black cat for extra spooky goodness:

I made these magnets out of those glass drops sold in mesh bags and little water-colour paintings I did especially for the project. I actually did six, thought I had taken a picture of all six, and then realised that I was missing a set of two after I had packed them up and sent them off. Bummer. They were all different. I drew the faces on with pigment liner and highlighted the white bits with acrylic paint. I totally plan on making lots more for myself! Magnets are glued in behind.

Sorry for the wicked glare. . .

I made these earrings as well. Hoo-Rah for Shrinky Dinks! They are based off of a guitar pick that you can buy from Hotpicks, but who wants to do that when they can make them at home? Earrings, I mean. Not guitar picks. I realise that shrinky dinks are far too brittle to be used as guitar picks. Simmer down.

I really liked the packaged for this. Ziploc Bag, and index card and a sharpie. Oh. . . and staples. Can't forget the staples.

She should receive it Hallowe'en, which I thought was terribly appropriate, however late it may be. I really think that she'll love it. I was so sad to see Gary, my zombie, go. I will miss thee, Gary.

I also sent some Bulk Barn candy (hopefully she is willing to eat bulk candy she received in the mail from a stranger. I just bought it. It's fresh. It's also brain gummies and sour bones. Awesome!

Just in case she dutifully adheres to the lessons of concerned parents/school teachers/scout leaders and is leery of eating unpackaged candy from strangers (though they never mention it arriving by mail, which in my opinion cancels the whole thing out) I also sent her some body parts. . . packaged. . .at a factory. Definitely no poison or razor blades there!

My PC is still indisposed.

And it's pissing me off.

hope to have it fixed in the next week. We are coming up on reading week, and I must say I'm looking forward to it. I need some time to catch up on some work that I've been struggling with. I've decided to really pull up my socks and start taking my courses more seriously. I am considering applying to Fine Art in the fall. It scares the crap out of me: I'm so homesick. We'll see how it pans out. I think it'd be good for me though. Wherever I may go, more schooling seems like the answer for me.

It was Pique's birthday this week (and Cristin's!). Same day. We had balloons and a cake and everythin'!

The Birthday Girls! (We have a newfound tradition in my family to wear this awesome hat I found at the dollar store on your birthday. Pique is not a big fan of hats:

And. . .
PIQUE DEMANDS CAKE!!!
Never piss off a cat with a fork. It's death.

BEST. . . SHIRT. . ..EVAR!

Please don't mind the smushy chin - it's hard to take a picture of choself. . . I found this shirt on Threadless and completely fell in love with it. I think my favourite aspect is that is totally looks like a little kid's shirt until you realise exactly what the cuddly unicorns are up to. My rainbow is a bit wonky - my scalpels were dull (I have since replaced them). Enjoy!

Gainfully Unemployed

I finally quit my stupid awful job.
Rather, the new manager (my old manager was transferred to another store within the company with no notice. . .there's a big long story there that I'd rather not get in to, but let's jsut say that it's not a good scene, and I no longer felt good about the ethics and politics within the higher-ups) called after I didn't show up for a shift. I had already called her and told her that I was sick and unable to come in to work (more on that later) and she demanded a doctor's note. I thought this ridiculous, especially because I have never needed one in the past, it is not company policy and I don't want to go all the way to Angus to get a note for a headcold. So I told her that I wasn't coming in anymore. She got mad - told me that she didn't need this crap and that she doesn't have time for this. . . she's got a business to run. I stayed chipper and friendly and told her to have a good day. And that's that.
I've got to say it's pretty nice to know that you're not selling bedding anymore. I would really like to stay out of that type of retail in the future. The idea of selling people things that they most definately do not need really bothers me. Also the up-selling. I hate how good I am at it.
Aaaaand. . .I'm sick. It's just a headcold but I've very nearly lost my voice. I could only whisper when I awoke this morning, and now I sound like a goose. It should be cleared up in the next few days though, and I get a few days in my pjs playing vids as a result. Not too shabby overall. . .
My computer is also sick, and will be out of commission for a while. There's a trojan virus on there and its hacked my system or some jazz. I can't use the internet or any of my programs. That really stinks. Especially when I'm sick. . . .

What did the Yeti make when he walked through the vegetable garden?

SQUASH!
AHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I drew these for class & thought I would share. I'm eating these suckers for dinner tonight (I mean my reference, not the paper). It's Mayfair paper with some pigment liners ( 0.01 and 0.5 in case anyone cares to note it). Took me about an hour over breakfast.

Also - a page by the name of www.last.fm has very recently come to my attention, and . . . well . . . I just think it's fantastic! Check it out if you haven't already - I was ever so sad when Pandora went American-only (as if I needed more reasons to glare at our neighbors to the south - though this is probably the first time it has been a jealousy-fueled glare) so I was super-duper happy to stumble across this gem! I'm on there and . . . appropriately. . . "sydmore". If you'd like to add me as a friend, then by all means do so. Because if you read this blog, then baby, you're not just my friend but my hero.

Sketches and Stitch Markers

I drew these for Fundamentals of Drawing - charcoal on big paper and all that jazz. The berries were done in like 15 minutes because I was tired and wanted a beer - but everyone seems to like it so. . .here it is. . .

The tree took about an hour - it was windy. That squirrel there? Scared the crap out of me when it ran down the tree I was leaning against. Then it ran into view. So I drew it. I have others, but I'm not confident enough in them to show them proudly. So I shan't show them at all.

I also made John some stitch markers. . . .

Glass beads and earring backs. I thought they were pretty. I hope he likes them. I also plan on making up a little pouch for them to go in, but I haven't had a chance yet.

Re: Your Brains

So apparently blogger doesn't want me to put these in any apparent order.
I made this zombie!
He's cotton with a poly fill. I gessoed over top of the crummy lookin' doll I made, and painted him with acrylics and turned him inta THIS:

It's quite possible the coolest thing I have ever made. I plan on making OOAK dolls like this and selling them on etsy. Seriously. Pretty awesome, don'cha think?

He's for a swap, so I really hope that my swap partner isn't reading this a spoiling the surprise. It's in the mail.

*long relaxed sigh*

Today was my very first day off in 18 days.
I did. . . nutthin'. . . .
Oh sure - I slept in, I had a big pancake breakfast, a lesiurely shower. I talked to John and cleaned up my room (which has been even more neglected than usual) to make way for my brand spankin' new drafting table. I then bought the drafting table (which, during assembly, I found out is missing a rather important piece - I'll have to go by Curry's tomorrow and grab 'er up), had a big, deliciously starchy dinner with a big, deliciously fatty desert. And that's right. . .I made whipped cream. It was awesome. After dinner I worked on G's birthday scarf and watched Brisco County Jr. (which, for any of you whom are not familiar with this fine fine show - seriously check it out. It's a western/comedy/sci-fi starring Bruce Campbell. . . almost too good to be true, no?). All in all, a relaxing day.
Nevermind the fact that in 12 hours I will be at work. Nevermind that I have projects due on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. . . Nevermind that I still have to finish up a project for my Zombie Swap (due out on Monday). I drank tea and sat in my pyjamas and couldn't have been happier to do so.
That having been said - I have been thinking more and more about quitting my job. For good. For ever. So long bedding! Adios crappy retail! It has long been in the works for me to sell a line of crafts on Etsy, and I think I may get to it! Work has been giving me more hours lately than I can handle (even after many discussions with my boss as to why I cannot handle more than 10 hours per week and her agreeing that this is acceptable. I would very much like to not go any more. Ten hours a week at minimum wage isn't going to pay out much more than selling crafts online anyways, and I bet the latter would be a lot more fulfilling.
It's been nice to have a day to chill out and not have anything stressful on my mind. I'm bummed that I wasn't able to go and visit Cory and Robyn, but I needed a day at home to get some stuff organised (not to mention I don't want Robyn getting sick with this head cold after all of her health issues lately - that would suck!).

Stitch Markers and Evil Villian

I made these for a swap:

I did 18 in total, they are not all shown here. I used an earring kit, some colourful glass beads, and some cool charms I have been holding on to for a while. I will have to make some more for the knitters in my life.

Also, further proof that my sister is awesome:

I recently attended a moustache party (it is what it sounds like, people). G decided to try out my trial moustaches. Immediately after this picture was taken, she robbed a bank safe using dynamite before tying a young girl to to some train tracks. . . .

Yarn Pron

I bought enough of this candy in Bancroft during my camping trip to choke a horse. It's a wool/nylon blend from New Brunswick. I got 1300 yards of the brown, and 200 of the blue/violet. . . . enough for a pullover or cardigan. . . perhaps even a hoodie?!. I haven't decided what exactly I'm going to do with it yet, but boy do I like looking at it!

I think, due tot he fact that I worked up my gauge swatch in a tent, and lovingly wound the balls near a campfire (with my little brother's patient help), it should only be made into an Elizabeth Zimmermann inspired garment. It seems only fitting. I think I may try and buy yarn as a souvenir more often - it truly is a wonderful thing to remember an adventure by!