Finally feels like winter

Posted on December 6, 2010 by HappyGoth

I had initially intended to go to Magna Faire this past weekend, with the further intention of entering some costuming thing into the regional faire at the very least, but due to a sick child (not mine; my carpool buddy’s) and lack of enthusiasm on my part, coupled with exhaustion from the Thanksgiving holiday, I bailed.

Ultimately, it was a good decision. Thursday night was a long one. I left work at midnight, as sometimes happens in the middle of a project with crazy deadlines, and then went home early on Friday, drinking a beer at 4pm and not eating or drinking anything else. As one might assume, the next morning I felt rotten, so I sort of wobbled around the kitchen in the process of drinking two full plastic tiki mugs of water. The best part of the day was that I caught the last day of the Islamic calligraphy exhibit at the Carlos museum with a couple of coworkers, and ran into Bob and Crystal, a couple of SCA folks also playing hooky from the event (so busted, all three of us).

The exhibit was gorgeous. Not only did we get to see loads of beautiful calligraphy and calligraphy implements, plus samples of practice calligraphy and assorted scripts, but we also got to see some actual books (one of them extant) and I am confirmed that I have been doing things pretty correctly all along. I  need some better leather and there’s this whole tooling business to learn, but I’m not as far behind or off base as I thought, not even in my endbands! My endbands? The exhibits endbands? All the same! Sweet. I’m also on the hunt for good reed pens and some documentation on burnished paper. I think that might also be part of my future artsci effort.

Then I got the really brilliant idea that the perfect time to go to the drive-in was last night, the first night that the temperature got really cold. In theory, it was a great idea, in practice, it was fun but not so awesome, though I made some rockin’ hot chocolate, and we played Fluffy Bunnies afterward, so nobody was permanently frozen (note to self: next time, more layers, as the comforter from the bed is warm but drafty at the edges). WonderHusband won at 5 marshmallows. I had to quit at three. I was laughing so hard I couldn’t keep them in my mouth.

And I’ve downloaded even more knitting patterns, which I will use sometime whenever, since I am so fast at knitting things. (Speedy the Snail!)

I’m trying to figure out what to do with the Christmas season, since I’m currently caught between two things this year. Culturally, Christmas is important to me. However, this year I celebrated Diwali and I’m not sure where I stand on Christmas. I like going to Christmas Eve mass (it’s comforting), but I don’t know how hard I’m going to try to do it. I really like this new place my life is going, but I’m having a hard time reconciling the rest of it – my family traditions, my cultural history, all that. I’ll find equilibrium, but it’s sort of like being lost in the woods right now. (Christmas puja anybody? How weird is that? Really weird, I know.) I suppose on the upside, I get to enjoy being with family without all that extra added stress.

And there may be a train ride in my future! Yay trains! (And also yay no full-body scanners.)

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Woo turkeys

Posted on November 27, 2010 by HappyGoth

Or just one. Or part of one. Well, anyway, turkey.

My parents came to us this holiday, rather than us going to them, mostly because the holiday is short and we like to not fly (no naked parties in public for us, thanks). So I did some frantic tidying and then we had my mom, dad and brother in town for three days, which kinda rocked. We went hiking and braved the farmer’s market on a holiday prep day and ate so much food. I had this new recipe for sweet potato souffle (casserole, whatever, it’s like heaven so nobody’s quibbling over semantics) which has been deemed My Thing in lieu of cheese sauce, which I can make tasty but only ever runny. And in quantity. We’ve been eating cheese sauce on everything for the past two days, but not sweet potatoes, for those were gone nearly immediately despite the fact that I made a double batch.  Something about toasted pecans? Yep.

My dad wanted a pork roast and everybody else wanted turkey, so we got both and some veggies. There was a forgettable pie. We agreed that sweet potatoes were the substitute dessert of choice, plus a tasty homemade chai (I’m getting pretty skilled at that).

And there was Harry Potter and we took the family out to Zyka (yuuuum) mostly because I was really tired of cooking, but also because it is amazing and I was going nuts not sharing Indian things I like with my family. I did really well, actually. I did not parade around in saris or talk in Hindi (too much) or talk about India in every conversation (half of them). I did feel a little like a religious zealot, because every conversation ended up with “well, in Hinduism…” Luckily it didn’t seem to upset people too much.

The plan today had been to go out and participate in some big performance art thingy (+ Big Boi), but I am a lump and have decided to watch Angel on the couch instead. And sort of halfheartedly sew. Hey. It’s coldish outside. I can’t be expected to be productive!

Tomorrow will be knitting. Maybe. (And if I feel really motivated, I’ll post pics of my new garb, which is a Big Accomplishment.)

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Working on it!

Posted on November 23, 2010 by HappyGoth

I have a long rambly post in the works, but in the meantime it’s the American holiday season, and my whole family is going to be in my house for Thanksgiving. On the upside, I get to use my new china service, but on the other side, all in my house for 3 days! And I still haven’t mopped.

Anyway. I like saris, as I’m sure we’re all aware of by now. Since I bought my first one a couple of years ago, an acid green cotton Bengali tant, I’ve been practicing draping. It’s a really tough thing to master as an adult, when your muscle memory takes longer to develop, and you get frustrated faster. Basically I draped that sari every night until I got it right (the first time I wrapped it once too much, which looked great but made it impossible to walk in). Flawed Events got married over the summer, and requested that I wear my blingy designer sari instead of the traditional cocktail dress. So I did.

Believe me when I say that I draped the sari all on my own (I’m particularly pleased with the pallu pleating, which gives me trouble in a way that the skirt pleats never do):

(We bought kazoos for the recessional music, which didn’t happen the way we thought, so we serenaded the bride with them later at the reception. It was very silly.)

I also haven’t gotten anything new posted because all last week was consumed with sewing. I made a new Persian coat and a long Mughal coat (garment thingy). I had intended to do a weird pointy tube hat, but don’t actually know anything about hats. When I get photos, I’ll post them. I’m uber-proud of myself. I’ve sewn variations of the Mughal garment enough that I can knock one out in an evening if I use the machine. The next step is to sew one by hand and enter it in an artsci competition. I am so close to that (just need to do it and pull together documentation). Midwinter, maybe?

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Handspun is useful!

Posted on November 16, 2010 by HappyGoth

I realized after rejoicing in my accomplishment of spinning my first skein of yarn that I had actually only spun up 83 yards, which while it sounds like a lot in fact is not a lot. So I put it into a bag and waited for the opportunity to present itself.

And lo, a friend went through some life stuff, and then she had a birthday, and that opportunity was there.

Behold. Yarn before knitting:

And then yarn after knitting, on a happy new yarn owner:

See, I had enough for about 1/3 scarf, so I made that, created a little pin out of a scrap of leather, and voila! Neck warmer.

Here’s how it’s done:

Take ~90 yards of a bulky weight yarn (handspun is great, but not necessary).

Cast on 25 stitches. I used size 10 needles. Use whichever needle size fits your yarn. You want a scarf about 8 inches wide.

Knit 5 rows in garter stitch.

Knit ~28 inches (or as much yarn as you have so that you’ve got enough to get a final 5 rows of garter stitch plus a bind off) in 1×1 rib.

Knit 5 rows garter stitch.

Cast off, weave in ends.

Now, take a 4-5″ square of heavyish leather (5-6 oz is good, try not to go smaller than a 4 or larger than a 9), and cut it into a circle. Punch two oblong holes in the leather, each about 1/4″ from the edge.

For the stick I used a large-size barbecue skewer, cut down to size and sanded. You could probably use any solid stick-like object (even a stick) as long as the ends are pointed and smooth.

To use with the scarf, you wrap the scarf around your neck, crossing the ends over, and then you thread the stick through the holes in the leather, pinning the scarf under the stick. Nifty! The lady in the photo wore the scarf all day and tells me it is quite warm. I kept a little of the yarn for memory’s sake.

And then today was the big gluttony-fest at work, and in keeping with last year, I wore a sari to work (one I bought at Mirage the day before, no less!):

The girl at the shop was very helpful (if somewhat baffled), and helped me choose some matching bangles. I’m running out of room for bangles. I also have gotten to the point where I’ve worn them so much that I don’t even notice I have them on anymore. I was doing some sewing earlier and only realize they were there when I became aware of an odd jingling noise. Oh, right! Bangles! Silly me.

This weekend is Castle Wars, so for the next couple of days I will be madly sewing. I have no SCA-appropriate coat, and Castle Wars is usually quite chilly. The coat is in pieces in the living room. With any luck, I’ll get it assembled tomorrow and can do finishing Wednesday and Thursday (well, that and if I don’t distract myself in the meantime).

I am so full of food.

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Another milestone

Posted on November 9, 2010 by HappyGoth

Of sorts.

The Diwali celebration at the BAPS mandir was lovely. I didn’t get photos of the fireworks, but I did get one of the mandir, all lit up afterward:

(Makes me wish I had more stairs.)

A day late, but still sort of during the holiday, I went shopping and bought a new outfit, my very first patiala suit:

(Like, whoa, Scoob – I need a new camera in the worst way.)

Now Diwali is over, and close on its heels was my 29th birthday. In usual me birthday tradition, I decided to do a weird, monumental-ish thing, and got my nose pierced:

Not a bad iphone photo, either. It took all of 10 minutes, and feels the appropriate entry into the last year of my twenties. When it heals, I’ll change it out for some fancier jewelry (I wanted a little gold stud, but alas there was none to be had at the piercer). I feel obligated to say that Psycho Tattoo 2 in Sandy Springs is completely awesome.

And if it wasn’t, well, we (Jennie, the CG and husband, and WonderHusband) ate ourselves silly on bibimbap at Stone Bowl Cafe (yay for Grandma!)

(yeah, Grandma! She came by our table a few times, and was so sweet!)

and then cake

Jennie decided we shouldn’t spell Happy Birthday, if we didn’t need to, so I had a very Hippy Bathday, and many giggle fits.

Here’s to the last year of my twenties (which may actually be the first year of my thirties, but who’s counting)!

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Diwali

Posted on November 4, 2010 by HappyGoth

Since I didn’t really know that I was going to be celebrating Diwali this year, I totally didn’t plan for it, and so there was a brief panicked period of about six hours when I realized that I had (a) nothing new at all to wear and (b) no idea how to celebrate Diwali. This led to me celebrating in a haphazard fashion two days beforehand, and then realizing that no image of the Goddess Lakshmi exists in my house (I have since remedied this, in time for the actual holiday). Aamba has been a kind (if long-distance) point of support, and so I feel a little less lost.

In honor of doing things (sort of) right, I have both organized an outing to a local temple to attend the Chopda Puja and the Diwali fireworks (possibly in sarees if it is not stupid-cold) and also created a rangoli outside the side door, using a leftover bag of rice flour and some turmeric:

(Sorry about the photo quality – way-lame iPhone photo is better than no photo at all, as far as I’m concerned.)

And then the CG brought me a lovely diya, which I lit two days ago out of sheer excitement (and have since refilled with ghee and cotton wicks):

So pretty. I bought some tea lights and have lined them up in rows of 20 (as one is apparently supposed to do in anticipation of Sri Ram’s return from exile) and have saved some teeny chocolate cupcakes to share with the husband.

This has been the most delightful discovery. I’m not a big fan of regular old New Year, and lately the Western trend of starting Christmas sales in October has started to grate on me, so this is completely awesome. The preparation in advance has a purpose! It means something real, not just broken resolutions and a champagne hangover! (Apologies to those of you who really do enjoy advance Christmas sales and New Year’s celebrations; I am super-glad somebody enjoys the things I seem to have trouble with, because those things should be enjoyed by somebody somewhere, and I mean no offense).

Tonight I am going to savor a long, cleansing bath in preparation for tomorrow.

Anyway, Happy Diwali to everybody!

(And if anybody wonders where this is all coming from, it’s been coming down the pipeline for a while, but I had a conversation with my father. Previously a stalwart and immovable influence on my religious life, he has opened up to new ways of thinking and has proven himself to be very accepting, and so I am feeling that with the new year comes time to stop being so shy about the whole thing, and be cool with who I am. I may even join a study group!)

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Real baby!

Posted on November 1, 2010 by HappyGoth

In real knitwear! My sister-in-law sent me photos of my niece in her knitted duds.

Socks:

Ack. So cute. I must knit more.

And also, sweater of gigantic-hoodedness:

Aaaand you don’t really see the sweater because it has an adorable baby inside it. Which is cool. I’m so excited for our visit to Baltimore over Christmas, because WE GET TO SEE HER IN PERSON. Wheee! More knitwear to come.

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Well, isn’t that special.

Posted on October 29, 2010 by HappyGoth

In my usual tradition, I dressed up at work for Halloween. I’ll be something else on the day itself, but today I have a funeral-themed party to go to, so it was church lady all the way. I feel that I have a particularly good footing for this, as there is a long and venerated line of church ladies in my family (my great-grandfather was a priest). Anyway, I think it works:

I even found a styrofoam cup! I have an extra that will be what I drink out of at the party.

Reading the Lord’s word:

And greeting a “parishoner.”

(he just happens to be a pirate)

“I think Pastor Davis’s sermon was just so inspiring and motivational, don’t you?”

All photos courtesy NaugleWorks.

Anyway. I can’t wait to see what everybody else came up with for the party. I love costumes! The best ones are the ones you put together from stuff you’ve got. I’ll post day-of costumes later.

Go easy on the candy corn, folks.

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Wait, this is a craft blog.

Posted on October 26, 2010 by HappyGoth

Right? Aha. Yeah.

So I really have been doing things. In fact, lots. (Which is why I haven’t been blogging).

Thing one:

This is really what’s been taking up my time. I’m having company soon, and my house needs cleaning, and so this is sort of where it’s been for a few days, for there is a lot to do and I lack motivation.

Another thing (thing 2) is the thing that is distracting me from thing 1:

I did a lot of it at the Stone Mountain Highland Games, wherein I dressed in 14th century French garb, was mistaken for a nun, ate a lot of fish and chips, and spun a lot of wool. It was a big draw into our tent, as was the giganto loom Beldthora brought. People are so amazed when they see you making something by hand! Seriously! I think we’ve gotten so used to things being mechanized that to see someone doing things the “old fashioned” way becomes a novelty.

I find it very soothing and satisfying. I spun a whole bobbin full and am now starting on a second bobbin, which at the moment looks like weird alien cotton candy:

And then there’s the matter of another reason I knit, which is that I am personally amazed at the development of a pattern in a knit piece. There’s something about the translation from a gridded (or even typed) pattern to actual yarn that’s always surprising. What? You mean it actually looks like that? Wow! That’s totally awesome!

At the moment I’m doing my second piece of colorwork ever, and it’s wondrous. It’s only simple zigzags (Ziggy, from Knitty), but it’s a whoa moment every row.

You can’t really see it, but I’m sure you’ve got a good imagination:

There’s the zigzag, just starting at the top! Colorwork! I feel like a magician.

And in addition to all of that, there’s the 64 Kalas project, which so far has had me learn a song in Rag Bhairav (Jago Mohan Pyaare) and one in Rag Nava, and now will have me learning tatkar, which is the rhythmic foot portion of kathak. I have no idea how I will communicate it to the rest of the group, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out! I have a (crappy) digital camera and a tripod! There has to be a way.

The next task is vacuuming, sweeping and lots of deep cleaning. If I can get that floor tidy.

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I can’t sing.

Posted on October 20, 2010 by HappyGoth

(Photo by flickr user fofurasfelinas.)

This is a complete surprise to me, actually, since I was in choir in junior high.

Anyway. As part of a 64 Kalas (the 64 skills laid out by the Kamasutra as making up a fine lady/gentleman), I am learning a Hindustani classical song, and it’s going poorly, mainly because:

(a) I can’t sing.

(b) I can’t sing.

Now, these things may seem to  be the same, but they are not. (a) refers to the fact that no matter how many breathing exercises I do, or how hard I concentrate on opening my throat and producing a round, full sound, I sound like I’m six years old. Or maybe twelve (and now that I think about it, that’s just fine for a junior high choir). I suppose this is probably related to the fact that I do not speak loudly and have difficulty shouting unless I think about it. (b) refers to the fact that I’ve only ever sung Western ecclesiastical music, plus what I sing along to in the car and also the Beatles, so there are parts of Hindustani (and by extension the rest of Indian) music that I can’t reproduce. Like the trills and quarter-notes. I sort of sound like I have the hiccups.

Lovely.

I won’t post what I posted to the kalas list, because it’s embarrassing. As a result, the next part of the first kala may be me reproducing tempos and basic modes (this one is Rag Bhairav).

I practiced a long time last night, and now my throat hurts, and I’m really ready to move on to the next bit, which is rhythm and musical instruments. I can do rhythm and musical instruments! That won’t require me to have voice lessons.

I suppose this is a good ego-jolt, and is likely intended to keep me humble. Thanks, God.

(On a more positive note, maybe, I learned that I’m totally obsessed with video blogging, so beware, and also possibly expect a vlog in the future, because I’ve discovered my iSight and PhotoBooth, and also iMovie. Be very afraid.)

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