Lost Domestic Arts in Modern Times

Hair Removal: 21st Century style

2011-03-03T14:23:00.000-08:00

I recently bought an epilator. Wait, let me provide some background. I shave, but I hate shaving. I don't have a light in my shower, so it's hard to see. It really dries my skin out and you have to do it all the time. I prefer to wax. It lasts longer, and the pain really doesn't bother me. The problem is that I got an easy to apply waxing kit, but it takes almost a full hour to heat up and the wax cools so quickly, I can only get half to one leg done.

Anyhow, the epilator I bought was this one:
Panasonic ES2045P Wet/Dry Two-Speed Epilator with Three Heads (Pink)

I bought it on the recommendation of a friend who has used epilators for a long time. This was the exact model she had. I've used it twice. It takes FOREVER and lasts longer, but I miss half the hairs. I don't know if this is because my hair isn't the right length or if it just takes a long time before they all get pulled. My feet were numb by the time I was done in the shower. Not a pleasant experience. I've been shaving as I don't have time to do this more than once a week and you can't do it two days in a row according to the instructions.

So when I was at Sally's the other day and saw they were having a deal on a professional wax warmer AND it came with free strips and wax, I was perplexed. I JUST bought the epilator. I got a decent deal on it, but not so good I can justify not using or giving it away. And I still have the other waxing kit of sucking.

I'm trying to save money, so an extra $30+ makes a difference. A friend suggested I sell the old epilator on eBay. Who would buy an epilator used? Apparently there is a market. I think I may even be able to sell some or all of the old waxing kit!

I go back to Sally's, and the clerk recognizes me. It has only been a few days. It came with an instructional DVD, but it doesn't seem that much harder than my other kit.

The truth of it is that I've spent well over $200 in the past 6 mos to year on hair removal items. (I also tried a Nair solution that just burned my skin and didn't do anything to the hair.) Here's the kicker: my boyfriend would be happier if I never, ever removed a hair again. But I just can't bring myself to that point. I'm not a hairy person, but even if it's only been a couple days since I shaved, I'm the most paranoid person if I go to yoga or expose any sort of non-hair removed surface.

I'm not crazy. I don't wax my arms or anything. So what is it that I just can't get past having a little hair. Why is society so stuck on this? Is it the business of selling these products? Even razor refills are incredible expensive! Part of why I like the waxing is because I've been led to believe that it grows back thinner and lighter, which is actually not really true from a scientific point.

So I'm left to try to recoup some of my costs and hope that there is some other girl who wants to try products where I have failed.

Project starter

2010-11-15T12:40:00.000-08:00

Ever know someone, probably a multi-tasker, who starts projects, but then loses steam and never finishes? Maybe you're one of us...er, them. Why is it that I have no fewer than 6 knit/crochet projects started, which I believe starting is the hardest part of the actual project, that I can't just finish?!

You know, like this blog. Although I think blogs by definition, blog are supposed to be ongoing.

I am obsessed with these 'green' bags. I've sewn my own; I've bought them everywhere; people have purchased some for me. If I really thought about it, I'd guess I own at least 20. More is better. Keep some in the car all the time, etc. I also love bags in general. I have 3 Kenneth Cole tote-ish bags that I bought for no reason at all. They were cute and on sale. Need I say more?

I bring this up because when I start a new project, I generally put it in one of these green bags. I used to keep a 'knitting bag' (purple and also KC), but that grew too small. All my projects would get tangled, so I thought it would be a great idea to have everything in its own place. No, not that I shouldn't start a new project until I'd finished the last one. That would be completely logical.

So now, when I go to the grocery store, I have a maximum of 4 bags with me at any time. Why? Because the rest are holding my other projects! And not just the green bags are guilty of project-holding! The nicer bags from Starbucks, Victoria's Secret, and even Banana Republic hold projects.

Looking at my Ravelry page, I have the following wip (work in progress).
A toy dragon
A toy alligator (which I was supposed to bring to Puerto Rico last month)
A kitchen witch
A bag (yes, I make bags to put more projects in!)
A toy monkey
A belly dancing hip scarf (not that I've been back to belly dancing in months)
A baby blanket (don't ask which child this was originally intended for)
A toy flying spaghetti monster (I even begged floral wire off a friend)
A meditation shawl
A mohawk hat

The sad thing is that these are just the ones I bothered to put up on there! I'm pretty sure I have at least 2 pair of socks in progress as well. Come to think of it, I've never completed socks. Or a full pair of mittens. I've made plenty of single mittens. In fact, I wear mismatching mittens because they're made of the same color yarn, but one has a flap that pulls back and the other is a regular mitten. It's actually kind of convenient, but I probably look slightly retarded. When don't I though?

Am I the only one who does this?!

Another day: another dollar

2010-06-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

Because I'm always making something for friends, they're always telling me I should make things to sell on the internet. This has always been an odd concept. Part of me is frightened that making a hobby into a job or chore would take the joy out of it, but mostly I'm pretty sure that I'm not good enough.

Sure, my friends like their loot and often pay me via meals or various alcoholic beverages (I'm easily bribed), but would you buy a silly little ninja from someone you don't know off the internet? It seems so impersonal.

The real confession I have to make is that I hate sidewalk art festivals. I feel like I see a bunch of generic, overpriced, "mommy" feeling items that I don't consider art. Once in a while you'll stumble upon a decent artist, but it's rather rare. I'm sometimes tempted by the jewelry, but even that seems to be mostly imported from Asia. Perhaps part of the problem is that I live in Florida, so it's usually close to 100F during these events. And my friends like to stay for hours and hours.

My grandmother used to make monkeys. That sounds odd, but even more so when you realize that I have started to make monkeys. I have made mostly knitted sock monkeys though, but I have fond memories of having a "family" of monkeys. Anytime someone had a child in our family, she would make a monkey. The name was stitched on the hat it wore (of course they wore hats!), and it would hang from some odd object. But a handmade monkey is not an item I would purchase either online or at an art festival.

Slightly off topic, I'm working on my first crochet monkey. I've just learned to crochet, so I'm hoping it turns out ok. It will be larger than I originally hoped since the yarn I'm using is thicker than called for. The pattern is here. I'll post it below as well. Mine will be pink and creme with hot pink mouth.

Monkey Toy

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Monkey measures approximately 16"/40.5 cm long

MATERIALS
Caron International's Simply Soft (100% acrylic; 6 oz/170 g, 315 yds/288 m skein):
#9750 Chocolate (MC), 1 skein
#9703 Bone (A), 1 skein
#9730 Autumn Red (B), 1 skein (small amount used for mouth)
#9727 Black (C), 1 skein (small amount used for eyes and nose)

One crochet hook size US G-6 (4.25 mm), or size to obtain gauge
Polyester fiberfill
Stitch marker
Yarn Needle
Row counter

STITCHES USED
Chain (ch)
Double crochet (dc)
Half double crochet (hdc)
Single crochet (sc)
Slip stitch (slip st)

SPECIAL TERM
sc2tog: Single crochet 2 together – Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, (two loops on hook), insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over and draw through all three loops on hook.

NOTES
1. Work stitches tightly so that the stuffing will not show through.
2. Firmly stuff the pieces of the monkey as you crochet.
3. Monkey is worked in the round. The rounds are not joined.
4. Place marker to indicate beginning of round. Move marker up as each round is completed.

HEAD & BODY
With MC, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in second ch from hook—6 sts.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around—12 sts.
Round 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—18 sts.
Round 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; repeat from * around—24 sts.
Round 5: Sc in each st around.
Round 6: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—30 sts.
Round 7: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—36 sts.
Rounds 8 and 9: Sc in each st around.
Round 10: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—42 sts.
Round 11: Sc in each st around.
Round 12: *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—48 sts.
Rounds 13–16: Sc in each st around.
Round 17: *Sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—42 sts.
Round 18: Sc in each st around.
Round 19: *Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—36 sts.
Round 20: Sc in each st around.

Begin firmly stuffing head and body and continue to stuff as you go.
Round 21: *Sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—30 sts.
Round 22: *Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—24 sts.
Rounds 23 and 24: Sc in each st around.
Round 25: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—30 sts.
Rounds 26 and 27: Sc in each st around.
Round 28: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—36 sts.
Rounds 29–32: Sc in each st around.
Round 33: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—42 sts.
Rounds 34–36: Sc in each st around.
Round 37: *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—48 sts
Rounds 38 and 39: Sc in each st around.
Round 40: *Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * 2 more times, sc in next 24 sts—51 sts
Rounds 41 and 42: Sc in each st around.
Round 43: *Sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * 2 more times, sc in next 24 sts—54 sts
Rounds 44 and 45: Sc in each st around.
Round 46: *Sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * 2 more times, sc in next 24 sts—51 sts
Round 47: Sc in each st around.
Round 48: *Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * 2 more times, sc in next 24 sts—48 sts
Rounds 49 and 50: Sc in each st around.
Round 51: *Sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—42 sts.
Round 52: *Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—36 sts.
Round 53: *Sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—30 sts.
Round 54: *Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—24 sts.
Round 55: *Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—18 sts.
Round 56: *Sc in next st, sc2tog; repeat from * around—12 sts.
Round 57: (Sc2tog) around—6 sts.
Round 58: *Skip next st, slip st in next st; repeat from * around.
Fasten off.

FACE
With A, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in second ch from hook—6 sts.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around—12 sts.
Round 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—18 sts.
Round 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; repeat from * around—24 sts.
Round 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—30 sts.
Rounds 6 and 7: Sc in each st around.
Round 8: Sc in next 15 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts; repeat from * 2 more times—33 sts.
Round 9: Sc in next 15 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts; repeat from * 2 more times—36 sts.
Round 10: Sc in next 18 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts; repeat from * 1 more time; sc in last 4 sts—38 sts.
Round 11: Sc in next 18 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts; repeat from * 1 more time; sc in last 4 sts—40 sts.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

INNER EAR (make 2)
With A, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in second ch from hook—6 sts.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around—12 sts.
Fasten off.

OUTER EAR (make 2)
With MC, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in second ch from hook—6 sts.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around—12 sts.
Lay inner ear on top of outer ear.
Round 3: Working through both thicknesses (inner and outer ear), ch 1, (dc, hdc) in next st, sc in next 7 sts, (hdc, dc) in next st; leave remaining sts unworked.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

ARM (make 2)
With A, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in second ch from hook—6 sts.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around—12 sts.
Round 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—18 sts.
Rounds 4 and 5: Sc in each st around.
Round 6: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; repeat from * around—24 sts.
Rounds 7 and 8: Sc in each st around.
Round 9: *Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—18 sts.
Rounds 10 and 11: Sc in each st around.

Fasten off A. Begin firmly stuffing arm and continue to stuff as you go.
Round 12: Join MC with sc in any st of last round, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog, *sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * 1 more time—15 sts.
Rounds 13–16: Sc in each st around.
Round 17: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—18 sts.
Rounds 18–34: Sc in each st around.
Round 35: *Sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—15 sts.
Round 36: Sc in each st around.
Round 37: *Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—12 sts.
Round 38: Sc in each st around.
Round 39: *Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—9 sts.
Round 40: Flatten opening; working through both thicknesses, sc in each st across.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

LEG (make 2)
With A, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in second ch from hook—6 sts.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around—12 sts.
Round 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—18 sts.
Round 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; repeat from * around—24 sts.
Round 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around—30 sts.
Round 6: Sc in next 6 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts; repeat from * 2 more times, sc in next 6 sts—33 sts.
Round 7: Sc in next 6 sts, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts; repeat from * 2 more times, sc in next 6 sts—36 sts.
Round 8: Sc in next 6 sts, *sc2tog, sc in next 6 sts; repeat from * 2 more times, sc in next 6 sts—33 sts.
Round 9: Sc in next 6 sts, *sc2tog, sc in next 5 sts; repeat from * 2 more times, sc in next 6 sts—30 sts.
Round 10: Sc in next 6 sts, *sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts; repeat from * 2 more times, sc in next 6 sts—27 sts.
Round 11: Sc in next 6 sts, *sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts; repeat from * 2 more times, sc in next 6 sts—24 sts.
Round 12: Sc in each st around.

Fasten off A. Begin firmly stuffing leg and continue to stuff as you go.
Round 13: Join MC with sc in any st of last round, sc in each remaining st around.
Rounds 14–37: Sc in each st around.
Round 38: *Sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—21 sts.
Rounds 39 and 40: Sc in each st around.
Round 41: *Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around—18 sts.
Round 42: Sc in each st around.
Round 43: Flatten opening; working through both thicknesses, sc in each st across.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

TAIL
With MC, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in second ch from hook—6 sts.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around—12 sts.
Round 3: Sc in each st around.
Round 4: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st—15 sts.
Round 5: Sc in each st around.
Rounds 6–15: Sc in next 8 sts, hdc in next 7 sts.

Begin firmly stuffing tail and continue to stuff as you go.
Rounds 16–21: Sc in each st around.
Rounds 22–30: Hdc in next 7 sts, sc in next 8 sts.
Rounds 31–39: Sc in each st around.
Round 40: Flatten opening; working through both thicknesses, sc in each st across.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

EYE (make 2)
With C, ch 2.
Round 1: Work 6 sc in second ch from hook; join with slip st in first sc—6 sts.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

FINISHING
Sew arms to sides of body. Sew legs to bottom of body. Sew tail to lower back of body. Using photograph as a guide, with B and yarn needle, embroider a mouth onto the face. With C and yarn needle, sew eyes to face and embroider nostrils. Sew face to front of head. Sew ears to side of head.

Using yarn needle, weave in ends. (I hate weaving in ends!)

It ALWAYS comes back around

2010-05-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

I spent more than the first half of my life fighting to not become the traditional soccer mom. I tried to move away from the small town I grew up in. I always said I would just make enough money to hire help to cook and clean for me. I fought because I was tired of seeing girls pregnant all too young, which was always a death sentence. Any hope of finishing school was gone; any desire to travel was squashed; any new adventures permanently put on hold. I knew that was not the life for me. I always knew I wasn't meant to have kids. I don't coo when I hold a baby: I never have.

But my parents and grandma refused to raise a child, male or female, that did not know how to cook, clean, and do basic repairs. My grandma was a seamstress for a time and taught me to sew and knit, even though I was TERRIBLE at both. I was a tomboy. I wanted to be outside on my bike or playing soccer or climbing trees or reading a book or writing a letter, so I fought these things.

But what I failed to recognize was that just because I don't want kids, I can still partake of the domestic arts. Not to mention that living in the US, it's pretty costly to have hired help. And it really is a different world. I know more couples with a father that stays at home with the kids than the mother, and they do a fantastic job.

The problem I have now is not being mistaken for a crazy cat lady. I have cats, but I just sorted of "ended up" with them. They were old when they were dropped off, so they're pretty low key. I have a live-in boyfriend, who has been staying home since he got laid off. He does the majority of the cleaning. Well, he does a lot of the cleaning. He does some of the cleaning. We're working on it. Really, he does keep up with me because I'm the kind of person who is a cyclone of messes that always moves things and buys new things for projects and has no where to store any of it. And we live in my grandma's condo (she died a few years ago).

So I'm back in the small town I grew up in. I live a quiet domestic life with a long-term partner and two giant cats. We don't go out every night. We traveled before he got laid off, and we will again soon. For fun, I knit, crochet, sew, bake, cook, and take belly dancing classes. I have a yoga habit, which I'm sure my friends are sick of trying to get talked into. I have a beautiful Trek WSD 7000 complete with rack and basket. I even ride it to the grocery store if I don't need too much. I've become almost everything I've tried to avoid becoming. Maybe even worse since I don't even have the excuse of getting knocked up to get here. At least I lived before I got sucked back.

We're not traditional or boring. We play a lot of video games. We're kind of nerdy honestly. But I've come to accept that there are some things you just can't fight.