As Nano is slowly approaching its finishing line (and I'm only about 10.000 words behind, hah!), for some reason I've been looking for another silly task to do.
I didn't get to see the movie "Julie and Julia", but I read about it, and the idea of methodically working through an instruction book (be it cooking, sewing, knitting, you name it) highly appealed to me. First I thought I'd work my way through "SEW - Sew everything workshop" by Diana Rupp, but since I am still much more into knitting right now than into sewing, I changed that plan to
Methodically Working Through "Stitch'n'Bitch" by Debbie Stoller
Okay, so I've already knit my way through several scarfes and hats etc, but hey. Practice makes perfect. The idea is to try out all the techniques mentioned in the book, to try the whole variety, to force myself to learn about intarsia etc. and not chicken out anymore when it comes to these things. Hopefully, this will then allow me to look at all the other patterns I see and love with a new eye, a new attitude of "Yes, I can do that! Eaaaaaaaaasy!"
The plan is to knit everything featured in that book, except for the things I've already made (explicitly from the book). The list goes like this:
1. Go-Go Garter Stitch Scarf
2. Ribbed-For-Her-Pleasure Scarf
3. Kitschy Kerchief
4. Coney Island Fireworks Scarf
5. Windy City Scarf
6. Alien Illusion Scarf
7. Hot Head X
8. Sparkle Hat
9. Adults-Only Devil Hat and Official Kittyville Hat
10. Loopy Velez Cowl
11. Chinese Charm Bag
12. Zeeby's Bag
13. Meema's Felted Marsupial Tote
14. Punk Rock Backpack
15. Cricket's Technicolor Techno-Cozy
16. Fluffy Cuff Mittens
17. Pippi Kneestockings
18. Powerful Wrist Protection
19. Big Bad Baby Blanket X
20. Umbilical Cord Hat
21. Skully
22. Under the Hoodie
23. The Go-Everywhere, Go-With-Everything Cardigan
24. To Dye For X
25. Cape Mod
26. Big Sack Sweater
27. Pinup Queen
28. The Manly Sweater
29. Cowl and Howl Set
30. Peppermint Twist
31. Tank Girl
32. Little Black Top
33. Queen of Hearts and Wonder Woman Bikinis
34. Princess Snowball Cat Bed
(I've linked everything to its respective Ravelry site. The X's link to my [completed] projects.)
Several of these I've been wanting to knit anyway, while others I'm really not sure about (like the Howl part of the Cowl and Howl set, no dogs here, nor in my vicinity; or the cat bed - my friends have lots of cats, yes, but they sleep whereever they want anyway).
I've already made Hot Head and the Big Bad Baby Blanket, and my To Dye For is only missing its sleeves, so that should be finishable soon as well.
I'll probably not knit these things in order. I'll probably not knit them in the colours, yarns etc that they are originally made in. I'll probably not knit them exclusively, but alongside other things.
But they will be knit, and they will be presented here (a good idea to make me post more often as well ;)).
Maybe this is silly, maybe this is downright stupid. Maybe it is a complete waste of time, money, and good yarn. Maybe my surroundings will start to hate me when I suddenly gift them nothing but weird scarfs and bags. But what the hell. I'll just do it. :)
Donnerstag, November 26, 2009
Sonntag, November 01, 2009
Donnerstag, Juli 16, 2009
You've read it wrong!
I just found this video, which gives an interesting view on religion/worldviews - maybe not groundbreaking, but it's nicely done.
It came from this page.
While I wouldn't define myself as an atheist, I like to see different and new approaches. (And I just love pretty videos.)
On a completely unrelated note, I talked with some friends yesterday about a possible movie version of Asteroids. Asteroids! Geez. We thought of some movie versions of old video games that we'd much rather see (Pacman, anyone?), but my personal favourite was Pong. So, since I'm already posting videos, here's some Pong.
It came from this page.
While I wouldn't define myself as an atheist, I like to see different and new approaches. (And I just love pretty videos.)
On a completely unrelated note, I talked with some friends yesterday about a possible movie version of Asteroids. Asteroids! Geez. We thought of some movie versions of old video games that we'd much rather see (Pacman, anyone?), but my personal favourite was Pong. So, since I'm already posting videos, here's some Pong.
Donnerstag, Juli 02, 2009
Mhhhh
It's my birthday, and it started with happy wishes (first was my brother at 6.30, like I'd be properly awake at that time - but it was sweet :)), cuddled up reading and listening to my new Tori Amos CD. Lovely. Can I please have birthday mornings for the rest of my life? ;)
Mittwoch, Juli 01, 2009
New approach
I've been thinking about scaling down and using less for so long already that it physically hurts when I think about how little I achieved in that direction in that amount of time.
But this is not going to be a post about getting rid of clutter etc (that's going to come later), it's about Wardrobe Refashion and how I'll try to do things differently this time.
First, I'll do a huge stocktaking of what I already own and have in my closet, whether it gets worn or not. Then I'll take out all the stuff that I never/hardly ever wear, or things which I wore even though they didn't make me happy. I'll put all of these either in some sort of storage container or into my "easy to fix" bag. I'll leave only some basics in my wardrobe: Jeans, black pants, my linen pants for summer, some basic cardis (not that I have that many at all), some basic tops in solid colours (and maybe a few fancy ones).
Next, I'll make a list of the things lined up for fixing/mending/minor alteration, and get those done - if I decide I still need/want that item, even once it's fixed. If I decide I don't want/need it anymore, it'll move on to the "charity shop/clothes exchange" bag which I still need to create.
I'll also draw up a list of some basic items which I'd like to own, check whether I have patterns for those, check whether I already own fabric which could be used for them, then make them. I know already that I'd like some basic skirts in a length and in colours that I will actually wear; and I'd love a simple black dress which can be worn through the seasons.
And about the actual refashioning part? I already sorted through my dedicated refashion pile, which has been sitting around (and moved with me) since I first participated, and sorted it into several groups (I have so many t-shirts! And I don't actually need [that many] more colourful t-shirts! O_O). I also managed to drag some items of clothing which never get worn or don't make me happy from my wardrobe, with the definite decision to make them into something else (and I already know what they're going to be, too!).
The best thing? Last weekend I finally made friends with my sewing machine. I will no longer long for my mother's machine, which I knew how to use properly and had already developed an understanding with. Instead, I will deepen my relationship with my own machine - we still have a ways to go, but at least I know how to get it sewing nice stitches by now, know how to change needles etc, and how to fix some weird mistakes which I somestimes make when sewing (since I don't do it regularly).
The made-from-scratch/using-up-stash items will probably fall into the "How to build a wardrobe full of useful, wearable and combinable clothes"-category, while the refashioned items will be the sweet and exciting icing on the cake.
Sounds good? Now I just need to pull it off. ;)
But this is not going to be a post about getting rid of clutter etc (that's going to come later), it's about Wardrobe Refashion and how I'll try to do things differently this time.
First, I'll do a huge stocktaking of what I already own and have in my closet, whether it gets worn or not. Then I'll take out all the stuff that I never/hardly ever wear, or things which I wore even though they didn't make me happy. I'll put all of these either in some sort of storage container or into my "easy to fix" bag. I'll leave only some basics in my wardrobe: Jeans, black pants, my linen pants for summer, some basic cardis (not that I have that many at all), some basic tops in solid colours (and maybe a few fancy ones).
Next, I'll make a list of the things lined up for fixing/mending/minor alteration, and get those done - if I decide I still need/want that item, even once it's fixed. If I decide I don't want/need it anymore, it'll move on to the "charity shop/clothes exchange" bag which I still need to create.
I'll also draw up a list of some basic items which I'd like to own, check whether I have patterns for those, check whether I already own fabric which could be used for them, then make them. I know already that I'd like some basic skirts in a length and in colours that I will actually wear; and I'd love a simple black dress which can be worn through the seasons.
And about the actual refashioning part? I already sorted through my dedicated refashion pile, which has been sitting around (and moved with me) since I first participated, and sorted it into several groups (I have so many t-shirts! And I don't actually need [that many] more colourful t-shirts! O_O). I also managed to drag some items of clothing which never get worn or don't make me happy from my wardrobe, with the definite decision to make them into something else (and I already know what they're going to be, too!).
The best thing? Last weekend I finally made friends with my sewing machine. I will no longer long for my mother's machine, which I knew how to use properly and had already developed an understanding with. Instead, I will deepen my relationship with my own machine - we still have a ways to go, but at least I know how to get it sewing nice stitches by now, know how to change needles etc, and how to fix some weird mistakes which I somestimes make when sewing (since I don't do it regularly).
The made-from-scratch/using-up-stash items will probably fall into the "How to build a wardrobe full of useful, wearable and combinable clothes"-category, while the refashioned items will be the sweet and exciting icing on the cake.
Sounds good? Now I just need to pull it off. ;)
Montag, Juni 29, 2009
Two visits long overdue
There are some things in life that I seem to keep postponing. Finishing my universitary education, getting a well-paid job, meeting up with people I like...
It's something of a minor curse.
Last month, I (uncharacteristically) managed to make two overdue visits in 3 weeks! Utterly amazing, I know. (I also finished some other long overdue projects, but that's something else.)
Happy receiver of visit #1: My (youngest) aunt
My aunt has been living in the beautiful city of Passau, just across the Austrian/German border, for the last 8 years or so. We've been talking about me visiting her for about as many years. But my need for a short time out and my inspirational idea to visit her happily coincided, and so I made my way to this prettiest of towns around the second week of May.
For the weekend, my aunt had time to spend with me, so we went on a boat tour on Saturday...
View from our boat towards city hall
Small castle that could be seen during the trip - there was some story about a goat, but I forgot exactly how it went *hangs head shamefully*
The waters of Danube and Inn mixing, right below Passau.
...and for a walk among the treetops on Sunday.
We also visited Schärding, famous (at least here in Austria) for its cheese.
But it should be famous for its cute houses!
I loved this one, even though my aunt didn't...isn't that green-white just gorgeous?
Both Passau and Schärding often suffer from flooding/high tides, since Passau is situated between two rivers, and Schärding is situated along one (big, flat) river. Passau also had several flood marks around town (along the river and on city hall), but this is the one from Schärding, as it was the prettiest.
Lovely door!
The rest of my time (Monday to Wednesday afternoon) I spent simply walking around town, doing a little shopping, eating lovely food, and relaxing by the river.
Passau's Burg (castle/fortress)
Tower of Passau's City Hall
My favourite new place - the Inn embankment...this is looking North.
And looking South(ish)!
Plus some fancy ducks. ;)
The inside of the dome - pretty! This is the main of the five organs which the dome houses.
I got to listen to a concert, which was beautiful...
My aunt is a psychologist, so she managed to break up my problems into manageable pieces with about 3 sentences, and things have been going much better since then. I don't feel so overwhelmed by all the things I need and/or want to do anymore, which is great. I'll just have to keep her advice (and some of the clever things I've read about the impossibility of doing/reading/knowing everything) in mind, and all should be (and stay) well. :)
The house in my aunt's street (Ostuzzi Street), which was built by the architect the street is named after. Looks like shells and glass nuggets and stuff, doesn't it?
Right about the glass, but WRONG about the shells. O_O
Happy receiver of visit #2: My once best friend (and my boyfriend's cousin as well)
There's this girl I once was best friends with. We were really REALLY close for about 3 years, which sadly deteriorated afterwards (due to a somewhat childish boy conflict, and my own later not so childish boyfriend conflicts). After school she moved to Vienna for her studies, and I've only talked to her for about 1 hour total since then (at least it feels that way, maybe I'm wrong - maybe that's just the last five years). I also never visited her in Vienna even once. Strange how things go, eh? Anyway, I first mentioned coming for a visit in September, which (knowing me, knowing my boyfriend) of course didn't happen, but it DID happen near the end of May.
The Secession Building, which I SO love. <3<3<3
The writing says: Each time its art, each art its freedom/Art for the times, freedom for the arts
(it's not that easy to translate, but I think the main point should be clear)
We were able to stay at the place of my boyfriend's cousin, who shares a beautiful flat with his equally beautiful girlfriend. A beautiful couple overall - sadly I've got no pictures of their space, it was really lovely.
We had the Saturday and Sunday to do what we've wanted to do for a long time: Walking around Vienna without anything special that needed to be done. Just walking, looking, maybe checking out some places we'd never seen before. Usually when I got to Vienna, it's always been for a special reason: family get-together's, concerts, informational events - but I'd never been able to just go where the mood takes me. It's what I enjoyed most about my Erasmus stay in London as well - being able to just lazily walk around town instead of always taking the tube, getting a feel for the city.
Museum of Art History (Kunsthistorisches Museum), with lovely dramatic light (I love it when dark clouds and sunsets combine this way)
So, for Saturday, we simply walked around, explored the university (they've got the cutest little courtyard!), took pictures of the city hall, Parliament etc, bought lovely munchies at the Naschmarkt (a market famous for it's cute little restaurants and delicatessen shops). We had dried coconut cubes, wasabi peanuts, dried kiwis, and something else that I don't quite remember. All delicous!
In the evening, we went to a yummy Thai restaurant, tried to get into a salsa club (but the boys weren't dressed nicely enough, at least that's what the doormen claimed - I think the club was just too full), snuck our way into the most stylish bar of the whole inner city (kudos to J's cousin for that!), and finally ended up in an 'in' club where a Russian-style band was just doing their encores. Sadly they simply cleared the dancefloor after that, so we went home. *shrugs*
Fountain between Museum of Art History and Museum of Technics (Technisches Museum Wien)
On Sunday, weather was even lousier that on Saturday. We slept long (since my boyfriend is generally exhausted from his workweek and really needed that sleep), then walked around a bit more, and finally visited the Haus der Musik (House of Music), which was great. There were quite some people, so we didn't get to try everything out, but we nevertheless spent 3-4 hours inside, learning about all kinds of fun things about sound, famous composers etc.
We spent the rest of the evening cuddled up, reading (J) and knitting (me).
Monday was meet-people-day. First we were off to J's uncle, where we surprised his grandmother, whose birthday it was but who didn't know we were coming. Hah! It was nice to see the look on her face when we jumped into the room and handed her the beautiful bunch of flowers we'd bought. :) We got lovely food as well, grilled chicken, yum yum.
Then we were off, going to meet my friend, her husband, and her (yet) unborn little baby. She was the first of my friends to marry, and now she's the first to get a baby as well. It was so lovely to see her! She has the cutest of flats, since she always was into colour coordination and being orderly and stuff (things I only dream about...all the time...), and she makes really great Apfelstrudel. We then went for a walk together to Schloss Schönbrunn, where there is a section of the park where they have several labyrinths - of course we had to take a tour through some of them.
And my boyfriend and I had to let our inner child out at the fantastic playground - he tells me that this is an Archimedian well or something...my research tells me that it uses a principle called Archimedes' screw. :)
When we had to leave, I handed her the thing which I really needed to give her...
...because as soon as I heard she was pregnant, I thought "Must! Knit! Something! Must! Knit! Cute! Babystuffs!"
I think she liked it, though it's hard for me to tell - when you haven't really known someone for a while, it's hard to gauge their reactions. But I was promised pics of baby plus blankie, so I guess it was fine. :)
Well, and then it was back to Graz and prepare for another week of work, hah! :P But I'm sooo happy I managed to make these two trips (and that I managed to finish the blanket on time!).
I've got so many pictures left from Passau, and some from Vienna, which are also quite nice, so maybe I'll show them off later...then again, maybe it's enough. ;) I'm glad I could finally write a post with my own photographs again. :)
It's something of a minor curse.
Last month, I (uncharacteristically) managed to make two overdue visits in 3 weeks! Utterly amazing, I know. (I also finished some other long overdue projects, but that's something else.)
Happy receiver of visit #1: My (youngest) aunt
My aunt has been living in the beautiful city of Passau, just across the Austrian/German border, for the last 8 years or so. We've been talking about me visiting her for about as many years. But my need for a short time out and my inspirational idea to visit her happily coincided, and so I made my way to this prettiest of towns around the second week of May.
For the weekend, my aunt had time to spend with me, so we went on a boat tour on Saturday...
View from our boat towards city hall
Small castle that could be seen during the trip - there was some story about a goat, but I forgot exactly how it went *hangs head shamefully*
The waters of Danube and Inn mixing, right below Passau....and for a walk among the treetops on Sunday.
We also visited Schärding, famous (at least here in Austria) for its cheese.
But it should be famous for its cute houses!
I loved this one, even though my aunt didn't...isn't that green-white just gorgeous?
Both Passau and Schärding often suffer from flooding/high tides, since Passau is situated between two rivers, and Schärding is situated along one (big, flat) river. Passau also had several flood marks around town (along the river and on city hall), but this is the one from Schärding, as it was the prettiest.
Lovely door!The rest of my time (Monday to Wednesday afternoon) I spent simply walking around town, doing a little shopping, eating lovely food, and relaxing by the river.
Passau's Burg (castle/fortress)
Tower of Passau's City Hall
My favourite new place - the Inn embankment...this is looking North.
And looking South(ish)!
Plus some fancy ducks. ;)
The inside of the dome - pretty! This is the main of the five organs which the dome houses.I got to listen to a concert, which was beautiful...
My aunt is a psychologist, so she managed to break up my problems into manageable pieces with about 3 sentences, and things have been going much better since then. I don't feel so overwhelmed by all the things I need and/or want to do anymore, which is great. I'll just have to keep her advice (and some of the clever things I've read about the impossibility of doing/reading/knowing everything) in mind, and all should be (and stay) well. :)
The house in my aunt's street (Ostuzzi Street), which was built by the architect the street is named after. Looks like shells and glass nuggets and stuff, doesn't it?
Right about the glass, but WRONG about the shells. O_OHappy receiver of visit #2: My once best friend (and my boyfriend's cousin as well)
There's this girl I once was best friends with. We were really REALLY close for about 3 years, which sadly deteriorated afterwards (due to a somewhat childish boy conflict, and my own later not so childish boyfriend conflicts). After school she moved to Vienna for her studies, and I've only talked to her for about 1 hour total since then (at least it feels that way, maybe I'm wrong - maybe that's just the last five years). I also never visited her in Vienna even once. Strange how things go, eh? Anyway, I first mentioned coming for a visit in September, which (knowing me, knowing my boyfriend) of course didn't happen, but it DID happen near the end of May.
The Secession Building, which I SO love. <3<3<3The writing says: Each time its art, each art its freedom/Art for the times, freedom for the arts
(it's not that easy to translate, but I think the main point should be clear)
We were able to stay at the place of my boyfriend's cousin, who shares a beautiful flat with his equally beautiful girlfriend. A beautiful couple overall - sadly I've got no pictures of their space, it was really lovely.
We had the Saturday and Sunday to do what we've wanted to do for a long time: Walking around Vienna without anything special that needed to be done. Just walking, looking, maybe checking out some places we'd never seen before. Usually when I got to Vienna, it's always been for a special reason: family get-together's, concerts, informational events - but I'd never been able to just go where the mood takes me. It's what I enjoyed most about my Erasmus stay in London as well - being able to just lazily walk around town instead of always taking the tube, getting a feel for the city.
Museum of Art History (Kunsthistorisches Museum), with lovely dramatic light (I love it when dark clouds and sunsets combine this way)So, for Saturday, we simply walked around, explored the university (they've got the cutest little courtyard!), took pictures of the city hall, Parliament etc, bought lovely munchies at the Naschmarkt (a market famous for it's cute little restaurants and delicatessen shops). We had dried coconut cubes, wasabi peanuts, dried kiwis, and something else that I don't quite remember. All delicous!
In the evening, we went to a yummy Thai restaurant, tried to get into a salsa club (but the boys weren't dressed nicely enough, at least that's what the doormen claimed - I think the club was just too full), snuck our way into the most stylish bar of the whole inner city (kudos to J's cousin for that!), and finally ended up in an 'in' club where a Russian-style band was just doing their encores. Sadly they simply cleared the dancefloor after that, so we went home. *shrugs*
Fountain between Museum of Art History and Museum of Technics (Technisches Museum Wien)On Sunday, weather was even lousier that on Saturday. We slept long (since my boyfriend is generally exhausted from his workweek and really needed that sleep), then walked around a bit more, and finally visited the Haus der Musik (House of Music), which was great. There were quite some people, so we didn't get to try everything out, but we nevertheless spent 3-4 hours inside, learning about all kinds of fun things about sound, famous composers etc.
We spent the rest of the evening cuddled up, reading (J) and knitting (me).
Monday was meet-people-day. First we were off to J's uncle, where we surprised his grandmother, whose birthday it was but who didn't know we were coming. Hah! It was nice to see the look on her face when we jumped into the room and handed her the beautiful bunch of flowers we'd bought. :) We got lovely food as well, grilled chicken, yum yum.
Then we were off, going to meet my friend, her husband, and her (yet) unborn little baby. She was the first of my friends to marry, and now she's the first to get a baby as well. It was so lovely to see her! She has the cutest of flats, since she always was into colour coordination and being orderly and stuff (things I only dream about...all the time...), and she makes really great Apfelstrudel. We then went for a walk together to Schloss Schönbrunn, where there is a section of the park where they have several labyrinths - of course we had to take a tour through some of them.
And my boyfriend and I had to let our inner child out at the fantastic playground - he tells me that this is an Archimedian well or something...my research tells me that it uses a principle called Archimedes' screw. :)When we had to leave, I handed her the thing which I really needed to give her...
...because as soon as I heard she was pregnant, I thought "Must! Knit! Something! Must! Knit! Cute! Babystuffs!"
I think she liked it, though it's hard for me to tell - when you haven't really known someone for a while, it's hard to gauge their reactions. But I was promised pics of baby plus blankie, so I guess it was fine. :)
Well, and then it was back to Graz and prepare for another week of work, hah! :P But I'm sooo happy I managed to make these two trips (and that I managed to finish the blanket on time!).
I've got so many pictures left from Passau, and some from Vienna, which are also quite nice, so maybe I'll show them off later...then again, maybe it's enough. ;) I'm glad I could finally write a post with my own photographs again. :)
Mittwoch, Juni 24, 2009
And...
A: Words of wisdom
B: By the way, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?
A: Go ahead.
B: OK I will.
A: So, ask me your question.
B: Excuse me! OK, "What is my question ?".
I think I prefer conversing with real people. ;)
B: By the way, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?
A: Go ahead.
B: OK I will.
A: So, ask me your question.
B: Excuse me! OK, "What is my question ?".
I think I prefer conversing with real people. ;)
Computer wisdom
My friend Kris posted this link to a page where you can chat it up with a chat bot and check out whether it's answers are filled with intelligence or not. After some rather uninteresting stuff, this exchange took place:
A: It's raining here.
B: Do you experience any effects of global warming there?
A: I think so.
B: I think so too.
A: Do you experience any effects of global warming?
B: happy. Emotion is a human quality. I am a super computer.
A: that was a weird answer
B: A weird answer is a terrible thing to waste.
True, true.
A: It's raining here.
B: Do you experience any effects of global warming there?
A: I think so.
B: I think so too.
A: Do you experience any effects of global warming?
B: happy. Emotion is a human quality. I am a super computer.
A: that was a weird answer
B: A weird answer is a terrible thing to waste.
True, true.
Montag, Juni 22, 2009
Beautiful pictures
A) I finally downloaded the photographs of the last two months from my camera, so there *should* be some massive posts coming soon.
B) By chance, I got to see the movie "Aeon Flux" last night. I knew about the animated series (which has been on my Amazon wishlist for ages, even though I've not seen a single episode - the online recommendations somehow seemed good enough reason to put it there), but nothing of the plot etc, so I watched the movie from beginning to end. I don't want to talk too much about the plot (which is good enough for a sci-fi movie, even though I guess it doesn't even come close to what the series offers - I'm again guessing from what I read about the series on the net). What I do want to talk about is what a beautiful beautiful movie it is. Costumes, set decoration, special effects....sooooo pretty! I gathered a few screenshots from the internet, but they just don't to the whole thing justice.
This is Aeon and her sister, Lux. Look at those costumes - Aeon's violet and grey, which, if they were mixed, would probably be something close to Lux' lavender. Pretty. :) The background light is just an example of how the atmosphere is just really rich and stunningly beautiful.
My favourite place in the whole movie, beautifully organic...nicely suited to the purpose it fulfills.
Even a so called tyrant can have a beautiful home...and this is just the outermost layer. (Or was it the place where the government held court? Either way...niiiiiiice.)
Here's a few more shots...not all so brilliant, but they give a good impression, I think.
While I do like good plot, sometimes, at least in movies, pretty 'language' is enough. Quite enough*. Can I watch it again please, ignore the dialogue, and just wallow in its beauty?
*As I said, the plot isn't too bad either. But nothing too special.
B) By chance, I got to see the movie "Aeon Flux" last night. I knew about the animated series (which has been on my Amazon wishlist for ages, even though I've not seen a single episode - the online recommendations somehow seemed good enough reason to put it there), but nothing of the plot etc, so I watched the movie from beginning to end. I don't want to talk too much about the plot (which is good enough for a sci-fi movie, even though I guess it doesn't even come close to what the series offers - I'm again guessing from what I read about the series on the net). What I do want to talk about is what a beautiful beautiful movie it is. Costumes, set decoration, special effects....sooooo pretty! I gathered a few screenshots from the internet, but they just don't to the whole thing justice.
This is Aeon and her sister, Lux. Look at those costumes - Aeon's violet and grey, which, if they were mixed, would probably be something close to Lux' lavender. Pretty. :) The background light is just an example of how the atmosphere is just really rich and stunningly beautiful.
My favourite place in the whole movie, beautifully organic...nicely suited to the purpose it fulfills.
Even a so called tyrant can have a beautiful home...and this is just the outermost layer. (Or was it the place where the government held court? Either way...niiiiiiice.)
Here's a few more shots...not all so brilliant, but they give a good impression, I think.While I do like good plot, sometimes, at least in movies, pretty 'language' is enough. Quite enough*. Can I watch it again please, ignore the dialogue, and just wallow in its beauty?
*As I said, the plot isn't too bad either. But nothing too special.
Donnerstag, Mai 07, 2009
Bad morale :P
Here's the résumé I just posted on the WR blog...I do SO suck at taking part in this challenge, but I'm hopeful for the next time I'll sign up...which will be with the next signups, probably starting July.
Anyway, here goes:
Even though my 2 months are technically over, I would like - since I am always so bad at posting regularly - give a sort of summary of the experience this time round...
1) As usual, I didn't do a lot of real refashioning, but at least got some much needed mending done.
2) As is not usual, the whole WR period I kept on thinking of the things I needed to buy once I was once again allowed to (some basic colourful tops in colours I would never find in the thrift stores round here etc), and now that it's over I keep on thinking of all the great refashions I will be doing soon...or at least could be doing soon, if I get my sewing machine into gear.
3) I bought one load of things at the thrift store, and all of those were nice to wear as they were, so there was no refashioning needed => I definitely need to change my mindset when going to those stores and see things in a new light.
4) Also, I failed on almost all my pledges once: I should have posted a "Get out of jail free" card, because in the middle of April I noticed that a store I'd loved since my teens was to close at the end of April, so I rushed inside and bought a beautiful dress and a beautiful shirt. I also failed on my personal "Buy no new yarn" pledge, because I found some beautiful stuff on discount...so the only thing I didn't do was buy new fabric. Meh.
4) Of the refashioning things I started, nothing is finished: I count one failed t-shirt refashion, one started but unfinished t-shirt refashion, and two pairs of jeans taken apart to become a skirt, but no further work done. Grrrr. What's wrong with my morale?
5) But at least I made myself a new necklace from my craft materials. And started refashioning another necklace into something new. Maybe I should do something called "Jewellery case refashion"?
6) And I won something. Which was great. It feels a little undeserved, looking at the work I got done (or rather not done), but it still felt great, and was a beautiful package, and generally made my day (twice!). So thanks again, Nikki! :D
I'll sign on for the next period again, I guess it will start July? In the meantime, I'm currently sorting my things into several piles (mending, simple alterations, major refashioning material), and will be looking through my fabric stash to assign to certain things what they will become. Oh yeah, and I will finally get my sewing machine working, since I can no longer simply borrow my mum's. (One of the downsides of moving out and becoming independent, I guess.)
Anyway, I'll keep on reading, I'll keep on watching what great things other people create, and then, maybe next time, I'll also have some nice pictures to show. *fingers crossed*
Montag, April 27, 2009
Blue
Somehow, things are not going as they should...
Or at least something still feels weird.
The weekend before last, we finally fixed up our balcony and had a party to celebrate the event - the balcony is ours again, goodbye pidgeons! I finally have my own herbs and especially my very own lavender (how I longed for that all these years!). Two different kinds of it actually. I go out to smell and stroke them every day (no kidding - I love my herbs and lavender).
I was sick for about 2 weeks, but since then I went to my one uni course, I spent a nice weekend in Carinthia with friends, I did some knitting and did some video gaming and had lovely sunshine streaming in through my big windows...
...but still something isn't right.
I even won a prize on the WR site (more about that later, when I have my camera back), and it arrived today! Yay! Beautiful!
But still, I'm really feeling blue. Confused, somehow. Something is missing. It can't just be that I need holidays, my job isn't that demanding after all. And it isn't just feeling lonely either, I suppose (lonely because the boyfriend is away from home for approximately 12 hours of each day, and even longer on Mondays ie today), because a) I could easily change that but don't seem to want to and b) even with people around me it doesn't properly go away.
On that weekend in Carinthia I was told that I needed to stop living to fulfill everyone else's expectations, and just live instead. This keeps bugging me. Since then, I keep on thinking about what it is that *I* really want, and trying to differentiate it from things other people might perhaps be expecting from me...which isn't all that easy. Currently I'm trying to recall things that, at some stage in my life, I really wanted to do, but didn't, because I thought (or knew) that someone close to me wouldn't like it. The best I've come up so far is that additional earpiercing (besides the two 'normal' earholes) which I thought I'd like to have 7 years ago...and never got. Would that be a good enough start?
But the question is, what else is there? Is it just other people's expectations which might be 'unhealthy' in some way, or my own as well?
And is that really all that is worrying me?
I guess it's just one of those phases.
Then again, there is so much I want to do, and so much I want to be.
Yep. Just one of those phases, then. :P
Or at least something still feels weird.
The weekend before last, we finally fixed up our balcony and had a party to celebrate the event - the balcony is ours again, goodbye pidgeons! I finally have my own herbs and especially my very own lavender (how I longed for that all these years!). Two different kinds of it actually. I go out to smell and stroke them every day (no kidding - I love my herbs and lavender).
I was sick for about 2 weeks, but since then I went to my one uni course, I spent a nice weekend in Carinthia with friends, I did some knitting and did some video gaming and had lovely sunshine streaming in through my big windows...
...but still something isn't right.
I even won a prize on the WR site (more about that later, when I have my camera back), and it arrived today! Yay! Beautiful!
But still, I'm really feeling blue. Confused, somehow. Something is missing. It can't just be that I need holidays, my job isn't that demanding after all. And it isn't just feeling lonely either, I suppose (lonely because the boyfriend is away from home for approximately 12 hours of each day, and even longer on Mondays ie today), because a) I could easily change that but don't seem to want to and b) even with people around me it doesn't properly go away.
On that weekend in Carinthia I was told that I needed to stop living to fulfill everyone else's expectations, and just live instead. This keeps bugging me. Since then, I keep on thinking about what it is that *I* really want, and trying to differentiate it from things other people might perhaps be expecting from me...which isn't all that easy. Currently I'm trying to recall things that, at some stage in my life, I really wanted to do, but didn't, because I thought (or knew) that someone close to me wouldn't like it. The best I've come up so far is that additional earpiercing (besides the two 'normal' earholes) which I thought I'd like to have 7 years ago...and never got. Would that be a good enough start?
But the question is, what else is there? Is it just other people's expectations which might be 'unhealthy' in some way, or my own as well?
And is that really all that is worrying me?
I guess it's just one of those phases.
Then again, there is so much I want to do, and so much I want to be.
Yep. Just one of those phases, then. :P
Montag, März 16, 2009
Not a good start
So, I fell ill last Wednesday evening. Wednesday afternoon I had given in to the lure of visiting the one 2nd-hand store I'd ever been in, and I found a number of lovely things (though apparently thrift stores aren't as thrifty here as in other parts of the world...); and there's actually not much I want to change about them but maybe a little...
But I can't, because I'm supposed to stay in bed, drink lots of tea, and give myself some rest.
So, WR, not a good start.
Missing first class of my one uni course this semester, not a good start.
At least I found a new doctor closer to my new home than my previous one, and she was really nice and lovely too.
Back to bed now, and back to my book.
But I can't, because I'm supposed to stay in bed, drink lots of tea, and give myself some rest.
So, WR, not a good start.
Missing first class of my one uni course this semester, not a good start.
At least I found a new doctor closer to my new home than my previous one, and she was really nice and lovely too.
Back to bed now, and back to my book.
Dienstag, März 10, 2009
Random Acts of Mending
The beginning of this WR run was, for me, marked by doing some mending (3 pants fixed and once again wearable! Ditto one jumper and a dress) and some finishing (weaving in ends on two scarves I knit, sewing the perfect button to my Calorimetry 2). I also pulled a few more refashion-designated items from my wardrobe.
What's on the line right now:
- Fixing, or having fixed, the very ripped and sad-looking lining on my once-and-for-always-favourite jacket
- Deciding about a couple of unplannedly felted wooly things
- Fixing the pocket on my winter coat (and anything else I might find wrong with it before putting it away - it's getting so much warmer!)
- I'd love to make a few simple headbands, if I find the right materials in my stash.
- And, of course, to continue knitting!
Not included in WR per se is jewellery, *but* I've finally begun to take apart the big bag of cheaply-sold beaded things which I got on Etsy more than a year ago, which I want to remake into things more suited to my taste (or that of my friends, whichever). I also grabbed a couple of necklaces (my own) which I had designated for remaking but now decided I still want to wear them as they are.
I wanted to write about something else, but forgot what it was. If a new post follows minutes after this one, so be it.
What's on the line right now:
- Fixing, or having fixed, the very ripped and sad-looking lining on my once-and-for-always-favourite jacket
- Deciding about a couple of unplannedly felted wooly things
- Fixing the pocket on my winter coat (and anything else I might find wrong with it before putting it away - it's getting so much warmer!)
- I'd love to make a few simple headbands, if I find the right materials in my stash.
- And, of course, to continue knitting!
Not included in WR per se is jewellery, *but* I've finally begun to take apart the big bag of cheaply-sold beaded things which I got on Etsy more than a year ago, which I want to remake into things more suited to my taste (or that of my friends, whichever). I also grabbed a couple of necklaces (my own) which I had designated for remaking but now decided I still want to wear them as they are.
I wanted to write about something else, but forgot what it was. If a new post follows minutes after this one, so be it.
Montag, März 02, 2009
New Outfit
In my bid to finally get a three-column-blog, I found this beautiful template (via the usual internet routes...WR-other blog-nice template). I will probably customize it to death once I know how (different header, maybe different background, different colours etc), but the most important thing right now are those columns. :-*
[No idea why only a few links are displayed in beautiful purple and not all of them, I'll hopefully get it fixed somehow.]
Anyway, thanks go to these people:
for their beautiful (free!) blog templates.
On another note, the fates are laughing at me, at least a little - yesterday, my 2 month pledge began, and yesterday I go home to my parents and find the new Boden catalogue waiting for me. ;-( With 10% off until March 17. ;-(
Oh well.
Will meditate on this.
[No idea why only a few links are displayed in beautiful purple and not all of them, I'll hopefully get it fixed somehow.]
Anyway, thanks go to these people:
for their beautiful (free!) blog templates.
On another note, the fates are laughing at me, at least a little - yesterday, my 2 month pledge began, and yesterday I go home to my parents and find the new Boden catalogue waiting for me. ;-( With 10% off until March 17. ;-(
Oh well.
Will meditate on this.
Sonntag, März 01, 2009
WR Pledge
I pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings!
I pledge in addition that, for the term of my contract, I will not buy new yarn or fabric, unless needed to finish a project.
***
List to get me started:
1) Mend some clothes (already put in a messy pile, waiting for needle and thread, and sometimes buttons)
2) Look through wardrobe for things to give away or refashion (already a few candidates)
3) Continue knitting like a war heroine!
I pledge in addition that, for the term of my contract, I will not buy new yarn or fabric, unless needed to finish a project.
***
List to get me started:
1) Mend some clothes (already put in a messy pile, waiting for needle and thread, and sometimes buttons)
2) Look through wardrobe for things to give away or refashion (already a few candidates)
3) Continue knitting like a war heroine!
Donnerstag, Februar 26, 2009
Old news, new things
Old news are good news?
- I won Nano again. I even finished my story. And a couple of nights ago, my head solved a problem I had with the ending of the story, so I'm all motivated to go through the wholething again and make it a better one.
- I spent most of the time since Christmas which I was not working or lazing around moving in with my boyfriend. By now, all my stuff is here, my room at home has been taken apart and painted afresh so that my brother can move in, and I have finally MOVED OUT completely.
Now I just need to find a way to store all my craft supplies... :D
New things:
- I just messed around with my blog a bit, since I want to change things a little in the future, and while looking at my links, I decided to sign up for Wardrobe Refashion again. This will include:
Sorting through my wardrobe for things to give away
Sorting through my wardrobe for things to redesign
Finishing some of my knitting projects, which I was already trying to do anyway
Using up some of the fabric which I have amassed (people with *real* fabric collections would smile at my pile indulgently, but it's still too much for my current storing capacities) over the past few years
- I finally signed up for my PhD. :D I'll begin work as soon as my workspace here is cleared up, which will still take the putting up of a shelf and some serious reduction and sorting of paperwork. But - excited!
- My best friend, who finished her studies in October and has been searching for a job ever since (and received nought but nays) finally got a job she really wanted yesterday! I felt so happy for her, I spontaneously made her a pair of celebratory earrings, photos of which will appear soon.
- My head is simultaneously playing around with 3 or 4 story ideas, and has been thus for the last few months. In a time not too far away, I will start to put them onto paper.
- I won Nano again. I even finished my story. And a couple of nights ago, my head solved a problem I had with the ending of the story, so I'm all motivated to go through the wholething again and make it a better one.
- I spent most of the time since Christmas which I was not working or lazing around moving in with my boyfriend. By now, all my stuff is here, my room at home has been taken apart and painted afresh so that my brother can move in, and I have finally MOVED OUT completely.
Now I just need to find a way to store all my craft supplies... :D
New things:
- I just messed around with my blog a bit, since I want to change things a little in the future, and while looking at my links, I decided to sign up for Wardrobe Refashion again. This will include:
Sorting through my wardrobe for things to give away
Sorting through my wardrobe for things to redesign
Finishing some of my knitting projects, which I was already trying to do anyway
Using up some of the fabric which I have amassed (people with *real* fabric collections would smile at my pile indulgently, but it's still too much for my current storing capacities) over the past few years
- I finally signed up for my PhD. :D I'll begin work as soon as my workspace here is cleared up, which will still take the putting up of a shelf and some serious reduction and sorting of paperwork. But - excited!
- My best friend, who finished her studies in October and has been searching for a job ever since (and received nought but nays) finally got a job she really wanted yesterday! I felt so happy for her, I spontaneously made her a pair of celebratory earrings, photos of which will appear soon.
- My head is simultaneously playing around with 3 or 4 story ideas, and has been thus for the last few months. In a time not too far away, I will start to put them onto paper.
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