mellowbeing - crafty, geeky and a new yorker.

Book Review: Picture Perfect Knits

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:25:00 +0000

Picture Perfect Knits, originally uploaded by mellowbeing.

About 2 months ago, CraftyPod held a giveaway for 2 copies of "Picture Perfect Knits". Til then, I hadn't won a single online contest... but this time..

I won!!! I want to say THANK YOU (again and again) for the book! It's got some awesome projects I want to tackle soon. I've got my eye on the cupcake pillow case and the argyle vest.

Sorry it took me so long to update about this book. I was hoping to actually start a project and report on how it was going but considering holiday knitting projects, that won't be happening soon... I give it a couple of months..

FO: Eton's Light Grey Scarf

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:53:00 +0000

Gray Scarf: Front View, originally uploaded by mellowbeing.

I've been working on this scarf for nearly a month now (has it been that long?!) It's a very simple pattern - I like how it's classic, clean and yet still stylish.

Pattern:

Yarn: Cascade 220 (100% wool yarn)
Needles: Size 8
Dimensions of finished scarf: Appox 5' long and 6" wide.

Cast on 36 stitches.

Row 1&2: (K2, P2) 9x
Row 3&4: (P2, K2) 9x

Repeat til happy with length of scarf.

Pretty simple, eh? It makes for some great train knitting while listening to music and/or podcasts.

P.S. Thank you to everyone out there who's been reading my blog this year. You guys definitely keep me writing - it's nice to know you're not writing into the ether...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fake July 4, 2009 New York Times

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:31:00 +0000

Fake July 4, 2009 New York Times being handed out on the street. Very well done, originally uploaded by fredwilson.

I got one of these walking to work this morning. It's a really well planned out prank. Amazing work!

Finished Objects: Wristwarmers & Neckwarmer

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:58:00 +0000

I kind of fell off the knitting wagon for a while there. But I am back! And with full force.

A custom pair of wristwarmers in a two-tone fashion. These are made of 100% alpaca yarn with bronze buttons. They are definitely one of my favorite pairs of all time that I've made so far. *And* I knit them from my current stash.

This was an experiment using size 17 knitting needles with double strands of worsted yarn. It's acrylic but incredibly warm.

I've already gotten compliments on this!

I have a 3rd project I've finished but I can't show it since I know the gift recipient reads this blog ;)

Election Day Victory!

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:58:00 +0000

For the first time in my voting experience, I feel that my vote counted. I'm happy to say that I voted in 2008.

It's a new start for America. And hell, it's a great birthday present! (My birthday was Nov 3rd).

I'm still in semi-shock and semi-speechless so more to come later.

Craft & Politics Collide: Candidate Finger Puppets!

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:41:00 +0000

(Photo courtesy of (How About Orange)

Check out folduscandidate.com and make your own candidate. I find it to be a humorous way to grab people's attention about the upcoming election. If you make one, let me know! I may give it a go this weekend.

And don't forget to register and vote on November 4th. This is going to be, as Senator Joe Biden said at last night's VP debate, "the most important election you'll ever vote in your entire life".

Hope you guys have a good weekend! Until later.

How to Blog: Merlin Mann Style

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:32:00 +0000

Why does Merlin Mann absolutely rock? Because he does. Not to mention, he writes amazingly profound bits of advice such as the one above. It is concise, motivating while not being preachy, douchebaggy "motivational speak", funny and Twitter friendly - under 140 characters!

I feel like just the first and last bits "Find Your Obsession / Get better" are the perfect pair to apply to life in general. I'm currently working on being more efficient, getting my priorities straight and having things set to prepare myself for a good future and an enjoyable today that allows for the madness that everyday life brings.

Watch the entire talk he gives on "How to Blog". The man is quite the genius when it comes to getting things done.

More crafty programming coming after the break.

Finished Object: Scarf from Ukranian Mohair

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:09:00 +0000

A few months ago, my friend Kat returned from the Ukraine after visiting her family. As a souvenir, she gave me the most beautiful multi-colored skein of authentic Ukrainian mohair yarn. It was so soft and wispy and I had to come up with just the right project for it.

What could I come up with that would use up one skein? That would show off the yarn's details and colors just in the right way?
At my local knitting group, I was patiently taught how to double and triple crochet and I quickly put the new skills to good use. This is using the same pattern as the previous scarf I posted. This scarf is using a 3c and 1c in rows whereas the other used it the long way to create columns. I actually finished this one first but photographed the other one quicker since I had to give it away and therefore had to get a photo-op in.
This was a superfluous artsy shot. Isn't it purdy? I love how it looks as if you are walking in the clouds, looking up at the sky...

Hope you're all having a great beginning to the week! (Despite the economic turmoil lately..)

Urban Dictionary Addition

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 03:17:00 +0000

A few months ago, I decided to test Urban Dictionary and see if I could get "mellowbeing" added as a word to their database. The approval process takes longer than a couple of days so it sort of dropped from my immediate attention span. While doing a Google search today, I found out that the entry had been added! Talk about a double whammy on one day :)

mellowbeing on Urban Dictionary.

P.S. Hope all you New Yorkers out there are staying dry this weekend. It's a bit misty out there.

Celebrity Status: Etsy Front Page!

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:42:00 +0000

So I went to check my Etsy shop this morning and noticed something odd..

The listing for the Olive Wristwarmers went from having 40 views to 347 views and 35 people favoriting it!!!

After asking around the Etsy forums, katrinbird told me that my wristwarmers had indeed made the front page and found a screenshot on Copabananas Flickr account. Whoo! I'm SO flattered :D

TV Show: History Hackers

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:51:00 +0000

Bre Pettis from Etsy/Make has a new show pilot out:

"The pilot is all about Nikola Tesla and the war of the currents between Tesla and Edison. In the show I learn how to blow a neon tube, explore wireless electricity and build an AC generator from a bike. I also go to Boston to visit an MIT space lab to see how the principles that Tesla pioneered are being applied to space propulsion."

Sounds like an amazing show. Check it out tonight on the History Channel at 8pm and midnight.

And don't forget to spread the word! Read more on Bre's blog.

FO: Birthday Present

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:08:00 +0000

After thinking of what to get my friend Pam for her birthday, I decided that I'd get her 2 somethings - 1 something small that was bought and 1 handmade something.
Voila! It was received with much appreciation. All in all a good out come :)

Shop Update: Notecards!

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:59:00 +0000

Yummy Cupcake Cards

Never too early for holiday cards

The flower notecards make a comeback.

Sweet! Shop is just about done. You may have noticed that there is a Scarves section now too. The next shop update will bring something new to your eyes.. mini-scarves! And plenty of more wristwarmers. It's going to be a cozy Fall season.

Shop Update: Wristwarmers!

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:10:00 +0000

Check them out.

17BFB: Gladiator Edition

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:49:00 +0000

A great little fashion blog called 17 Blocks from Barneys is now in print version. Kara, its editor, has decided to venture into the offline world and make a zine for all to enjoy. Being a New Yorker at heart and a fashionista, she does a great job at writing about recent trends with a sense of humor and spunk. Just my cup of tea :)

Other fashion blogs that I've been reading are The Sartorialist, Altamira NYC, and Flying Saucer. It's a nice mix: what's happening across New York City, Paris, Florence and the UK in different styles. Each blogger offers his/her audience a distinctive perspective, commentary and tips.

I'm looking forward to the fall. It's all about wooly knits and tweed - which means.. plenty knitting in store ;)

Sneak Peek: Wristwarmers

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:57:00 +0000

These and many more coming to the shop soon...

Shop Update: Cozies!

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:53:00 +0000

iPhone Cozy?

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:10:00 +0000

I've been dabbling with the idea of making more crochet phone pouches for the new shop.. then I started to think, why not iPhone cozies? Would these be useful? This is the first prototype mockup - call it v 1.0. It's still up for improvements.. any feedback?

And as I said earlier to BananaBoy since this is still under wraps, "Don't go leaking this to Gizmodo." ;)

Atheist Symbol

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:43:00 +0000

Atheists now have a logo to represent themselves - sweet!

UPDATE: Logo is the official version that was voted on recently. Read more here.

Why I Started to Drink

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:08:00 +0000

"This is a story all about how I started drinking."

Another reason why I say I *must* meet Randall Munroe at some point. He just reads my mind.

C'est Moi a la Anime

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:17:00 +0000

This is the closest to a photo of myself with my new haircut. Make your own.

Shop Update: Pins!

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:11:00 +0000

Instead of launching the entire site all at once, I've decided to put up merchandise in stages.

Today, I present to you - PINS!

On a Reading Streak

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:39:00 +0000

And in today's episode of the MellowBeing show, we're here to talk about books and the joys of reading. Yep, this post is non-craft, non-NYC and non-geek related. Oh, the surprises I have for you guys sometimes..

(please forgive the obvious over-Photoshopping on this image.. I had a bit too much fun with it)

The reading streak started when my coworkers and I rediscovered GoodReads and started to obsessively add all the books we've ever read to the list. I mentioned to EchantedDroppings that I'd be hitting the triple digits of books read by year's end. So far, so good.

A few weeks after declaring this, I was reading on BoingBoing an article about how Art Garfunkel has read over 1000 books since 1968. I looked at the detailed list he has listed on his site.. pretty impressive, I must say. I then stumbled onto the list of "1001 books you must read before you die" and quickly found a group on GoodReads which is dedicated to accomplishing just this.

I wanted to end the post by showing a photograph of the amazing bookmark that Jessica from LostButtonStudios had made me during a bookmark swap but I recently lost it :( I feel pretty awful about it - I lost it in the most ridiculous way and it was such a one-of-a-kind item customized for myself. Sigh.. I will be posting later on the gorgeous earrings she included in her package as a separate entry.

Well, that is all in this episode. Stay tuned for more!

Green Wristwarmers

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:24:00 +0000

Several months ago, I made a custom pair of wristwarmers for Enchanted Droppings. It's my first pair which are textured and long with buttons.

Here they are posing with Mang's pig stapler:
And here they are being modeled by Enchanted Droppings herself!
It's a bit too warm in the office lately to wear them around here.. guess next time, I'll finish them before summer is around the corner ;)

Owl-E

noreply@blogger.com (mellowbeing) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:27:00 +0000

A little while ago (read: a long time ago) I wrote about my part of the Crafty Daisies Swap I had participated in. It took quite a while for my softie to come in the mail. My swap partner Lusterbee was getting worried that it had been 2 weeks since she'd sent out the package and I still hadn't gotten it. In the end, I did get it! The box looked like it had been stepped on, thrown about and punched at. It was a pretty amazing sight.. The USPS had carefully put the beat up box in a plastic bag with a message of "We're sorry. Blah blah blah. We apologize for the inconvenience.."

In any case, here is the Owl-E! I've kept him at the office so I thought it'd be appropriate to take the photos while at my desk. (not to mention that it was a summer Friday yesterday and I had some time to kill before heading out).

Isn't my little owl adorable?! I love the handsewn beak and the button eyes the best. It's all very cute. The note that came with it - figured you guys might want to check out the blog and tutoria l it came from. Lusterbee is a pretty cool chick and we've kept in touch. This has been a great experience. I think I'll be participating in more swaps now :)