What's Up?

I have to admit it: I'm doing a poor job of writing on this blog this summer. And last summer I was so good! I have no excuses. So here is what has been going on lately with the Winskyes:

Dr. Doctor Beth came to visit us!

I've created a Pinterest account and it has taken over my life, but it has also been an invaluable resource for researching crochet tips, new recipes and art inspiration for my next tattoo. Want to follow my boards? Come look me up!

I'm also still obsessed with my crochet projects and I still plan on opening an Etsy shop this summer. It will be handmade accessories, plushies, toys and bags, not all crocheted. Here are a few of the highlights from my summer projects so far.

This is the African Flower motif, and I'm almost done making a purse which I will share soon

Joe just finished his inter-island tour with Bento Rakugo. They performed on Oahu, Hawaii (The Big Island), Lanai and Molokai, to the delight of many, many children, librarians and community members. Joe is sure that he broke a few librarian hearts along the way. I'm sure he did.



We've also been on a card playing kick this summer. So far we've been playing Rummy (in many varieties), Crazy Eights, Egyptian Rat Screw, Euchre, Cribbage and Garbage/Spit. We'd like to learn Bridge, but holy cow! The rules look incredibly complicated when you read them online. Anyone on-island want to teach me to play? And can anyone recommend some other good 2 player card games or dice games?

My Life in Hawaii: A Retrospective, Part III

The saga continues!

From January 2012...

Taking our first epic hike up the Old Pali trail

Adventures in cooking with the starfruit tree in our yard in Kaneohe

Exploring the Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden

...To January 2013

Shooting rifles at Koko Head range

Lulu getting her very own box to live in...

...which she's just slightly too big for...

...and never leaves.

From February 2012...

Doing our Indonesian randai show: The Genteel Sabai

Moving into a new apartment in Honolulu during tech week for TWO shows

...To February 2013

Designing sound for Late Night Danny and the Deep Blue Sea

Continuing a crochet obsession born in December

From March 2012...

Creating the set for Ubu Cocu (directed by Tyler and Nicole, with Joe in the title role)

...To March 2013

Attending the USITT conference in Milwaukee...

...And spending an afternoon in Chicago on our way home

Octopus!

This is my latest project, a little guy that I designed today. Joe counted the arms. Definitely not a septopus (but I can make one if you really want).

Oh the Cuteness!

So I've been busy over the past couple of months with my new craft obsession: crochet. And especially amigurumi (cute tiny creatures and dolls). I thought I'd share some of what I've been working on with you:

Rachael requested this little bear with a bow.

A little blue penguin!

His and hers penguins!

Cthulu, coming from the sea...

...to cuddle with you!

And what toy collection would be complete without a rotting zombie friend with his intestines spilling out?

His eyes are coming out and he's missing one arm. What's not to love?

It's not all little creatures, though. I've been into recycling fabric lately as well, for gift wrap, head bands, and now home made rugs.

From a ball of fabric strips...

...to a crochet rug that Lulu immediately claimed.

My current project is a Wookie for Nicole and I'm hoping to get an Etsy shop up and running this summer with a variety of cuteness and some other non-crochet stuff. Until then I'm willing to take requests and work out pricing on a case-by-case basis (or on a barter system). Let me know if you see something you like or have something you want that you don't see here. All of these were by request, so dream big. I make them up as people ask for them.

Green Christmas Wrapping

I decided that this year I'm doing all my gift wrapping using fabric. It started because I've been seeing beautiful furoshiki everywhere as I do my gift shopping. Furoshiki are Japanese cloths used for wrapping and carrying things. They are so versatile! For a great chart on a bunch of ways to use them, look here: How to use furoshiki.

Here is some of my gift wrapping this year:

Using a scarf that I have. It's about 18" x 18"

A Turkish scarf that I've had for many years but only now found a use for. Same size as the first scarf.

I also used scrap fabric that I had around. None if this was square, so the furoshiki ties didn't apply here. This was a little more trial and error than anything else, but I'm happy with how they turned out.

If you don't have scrap fabric laying around you can create some from old bedsheets, pillowcases, t-shirts or other clothing. Anything you don't use anymore is fair game. It doesn't need to be a perfect square. Study the furoshiki ties and then improvise. You can make almost anything look great by wrapping and tying very tightly and then tucking in any stray bits that you don't like the look of.

Happy wrapping!

Top Secret

I don't have a lot I can tell you about today because I've been super busy and we have a lot of projects in the works. I'd tell you about them, but then I'd have to kill you.

Ok, I'll tell you a little, but only enough to make you desperately intrigued.

We are developing a board game, and tonight is our big test night. We've had some folks helping us with play testing for a couple of months now (thanks Nicole, Brie, Andy, Tristan, Elise, Evelyn and Gerkmeister D!). I can't give away all the stellar details, but I can let you know it is both farm and devil themed and there are plenty of puns for both. Also, there is a chicken and lots of dice.

Another project that has been in the works for the past year is a novel that Joe and I are co-writing. I'm hoping that as we near the finish I'll be able to post some sample passages here. Writing a book is simultaneously incredibly frustrating and incredibly rewarding. Much like any time I'm working on a script. I'm a very reluctant writer, even though I love it once I get going. The key to success (for me, anyway) is to have a writing partner (luckily I married a wonderfully creative guy who loves to write and who shares my passion for telling cool stories). I wish I could say more about the book, but we are almost done with the first draft and I'll be able to say more at that point. What I will say is that it's a Young Adult novel in the Supernatural genre (it's what all the cool kids are reading these days) and we hope it will make us enough money to pay off all our grad school debt. We're very optimistic people.

We are also working individually on secret projects, but I can't tell you anything about Joe's because it is a secret and he won't tell me about it. I can't tell you about mine either, because Joe reads this blog and I can't let him know. Our anniversary is in a few weeks and we can't spend a lot on a trip so instead we got creative (cue ominous music). Whenever the Winskyes get creative the world runs for cover. I understand, but here we are.

So that is the state of things I can tell you nothing about, but we are very industrious and with a little luck will actually finish some of these projects. Updates forthcoming...go do something creative of your own, and then tell us about it (or don't, we probably deserve that).

Since I told you basically nothing, I offer this stunning view as recompense:

View from Koko Head

Still Redecorating!

We've been slowly re-arranging the furniture and reorganizing since we moved in. Last month it was the bedroom, last week the living room, this week the corner that we had begun to call "the pile." Now we have a much tidier living situation, and much prettier as well. Here is my latest craft project:

Top

Side

Front

To brighten up the bedroom I covered my dull night stand with some of the vintage images I used for the wall plates, and added a few of our own photos from our time in Hawaii.

Supplies used:
X-Acto knife, self-healing cutting mat, metal ruler (for cutting things to size)
Vintage images
My photos: matte photo paper and printer
Elmer's Spray Adhesive (to affix images to surface)
Mod Podge- gloss (used as sealant after all images are adhered)
3/4" wide paint brush for applying Mod Podge (wash thoroughly when finished or soak in water immediately)

If anyone is interested in step-by-step instructions for this or any other DIY projects I post, leave me a message in the comments and I will post them for you.

Redecorating!

Our apartment is lovely, but it has one major flaw (well, two: we have no oven, either):

Joe, being from Massachusetts, cannot abide having this in our home

There were two of those; one was in the bedroom and the other in the bathroom. They were invading the private, safe spaces of our home. Something had to be done:

Bedroom

One by one, I began recovering all of our wall plates with vintage Hawaii photos found in an old guide book that I got at a Friends of Kaneohe Library sale. Helping the community and ridding our home of the Yankees at the same time? Yes, please! Here is how the rest turned out:

Bedroom

Bathroom

Bathroom detail

Lava flow!

Ancient and clunky fixtures in Joe's workspace...

Are replaced with images of young tribesmen..

...helping a chief with his ceremonial dress

 By my desk

The living room

Kitchen counter

Yes, this is supposed to be sideways- refrigerator plug

Kitchen light detail

See how this livens up our kitchen?!