-吴碧芙
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
"I Got Married (if you can believe that)"
We got married on a beautiful day in October in a small ceremony with our close family and friends in attendance. The weather was cool, but sunny. The leaves on the trees had turned to a range of yellows and reds. Vows and rings were exchanged. The congregation sang "How can I keep from singing?" Everyone in attendance posed for a picture in the sanctuary before we greeted all of the guests, and we took pictures until the reception.
The guests enjoyed a social hour with local seasonal beers, red and white wines, fresh fruit and caprese hors d'oeuvers, and mixed nuts/pretzels/party mix snacks, all hand-picked by the bride and groom. A salad course of romaine lettuce with pear and olives was served, followed by a main course of late summer vegetable succotash. Small cakes were placed as centerpieces on each table--white cake or champagne cake with cream cheese filling & buttercream frosting.
From the whole day, the only amateur photography I could find so far includes a few iPad pictures (first), which were shot in low resolution, so some of the details are not very clear, and a few from my uncle (second). My foster brother's wife helped with my hair and make-up--the hairstyle is a cascade or waterfall braid around the crown of my head. I opted for the veil for the wedding and the shawl for the reception.
(The title is a nod to Jim's Journal.)
-吴碧芙
The guests enjoyed a social hour with local seasonal beers, red and white wines, fresh fruit and caprese hors d'oeuvers, and mixed nuts/pretzels/party mix snacks, all hand-picked by the bride and groom. A salad course of romaine lettuce with pear and olives was served, followed by a main course of late summer vegetable succotash. Small cakes were placed as centerpieces on each table--white cake or champagne cake with cream cheese filling & buttercream frosting.
From the whole day, the only amateur photography I could find so far includes a few iPad pictures (first), which were shot in low resolution, so some of the details are not very clear, and a few from my uncle (second). My foster brother's wife helped with my hair and make-up--the hairstyle is a cascade or waterfall braid around the crown of my head. I opted for the veil for the wedding and the shawl for the reception.
(The title is a nod to Jim's Journal.)
-吴碧芙
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Double Happiness
The Chinese character for "double happiness" (literally "joy joy") looks like two people holding hands.
The people are wearing long robes or dresses and TV antennae on their heads. This is how I describe most Chinese characters that I recognize:
1) xue - "study": A student standing on one leg with a headband and three crazy tufts of hair (学）
2) cha - "tea": A house with a cross and fireplace inside and leaves on top of the roof (茶)
3) zhong - "middle": A rectangle sliced down the middle (中)
4) guo - "country": A drawing or painting of roads like a map (国)
5) nü - "female": A curvaceous person running (女)
6) nan - "male": A person with a big, quartered head and only one arm (男)
7) mei - "beautiful": A caterpillar (美)
This system is probably part of the reason why my knowledge of Chinese writing and ability to learn new characters are quite limited.
At any rate, I bought a "double happiness" pendant a while back, and I have been trying to figure out how to attach it to a heavy chain or beaded necklace without looking weird, and without having to attach it permanently. In this design, the pendant is completely removable.
The necklace is made of three connected strands, which are embellished all the way around, so that the pendant can be removed and the clasp placed at the back of the neck for a plain beaded look. (click to enlarge)
-吴碧芙
The people are wearing long robes or dresses and TV antennae on their heads. This is how I describe most Chinese characters that I recognize:
1) xue - "study": A student standing on one leg with a headband and three crazy tufts of hair (学）
2) cha - "tea": A house with a cross and fireplace inside and leaves on top of the roof (茶)
3) zhong - "middle": A rectangle sliced down the middle (中)
4) guo - "country": A drawing or painting of roads like a map (国)
5) nü - "female": A curvaceous person running (女)
6) nan - "male": A person with a big, quartered head and only one arm (男)
7) mei - "beautiful": A caterpillar (美)
This system is probably part of the reason why my knowledge of Chinese writing and ability to learn new characters are quite limited.
At any rate, I bought a "double happiness" pendant a while back, and I have been trying to figure out how to attach it to a heavy chain or beaded necklace without looking weird, and without having to attach it permanently. In this design, the pendant is completely removable.
The necklace is made of three connected strands, which are embellished all the way around, so that the pendant can be removed and the clasp placed at the back of the neck for a plain beaded look. (click to enlarge)
-吴碧芙
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Adventures in Sock Knitting
I never thought I would actually make socks for men's size 13-14. I finished Sock 2 over a three-day weekend trip to Illinois. I knit from the beginning of the gusset to the cuff in two of the three days.
The gusset and leg portions of both socks seemed like they would never end. The magic of knitting socks is the triumph when one finishes the first sock--the success that it fits and looks nice--drives one forward to duplicate the same masterpiece for the other foot.
Knitting the second sock proves that the first sock was not a fluke and brings out the reality that the knitter is capable and that the knitter has skill, instead of a single strike of luck.
Knitting socks is an achievable goal. After telling yourself, "I could never knit a men's size 13-14 sock, let alone two; And how much yarn would that take, anyway?" finishing one of the socks feels like accomplishing the impossible, and beginning work on the second suddenly is within the realm of possibility.
Socks take a long time, and they're tedious at many points. Yet, when I finish a pair of socks, I don't know what to with myself. All tied up in sock knitting is the satisfaction of finishing the first and the anticipation of starting the second. It seems like such a large project (actually two large projects) that it seems like you will never have to think about the project that will come after. Until both socks are done too soon. I must say, I'm feeling ambivalent.
(And although I had 4 skeins of this yarn, it only took 2.5 skeins, with just enough left over for a "hers" pair that matches.)
-吴碧芙
The gusset and leg portions of both socks seemed like they would never end. The magic of knitting socks is the triumph when one finishes the first sock--the success that it fits and looks nice--drives one forward to duplicate the same masterpiece for the other foot.
Knitting the second sock proves that the first sock was not a fluke and brings out the reality that the knitter is capable and that the knitter has skill, instead of a single strike of luck.
Knitting socks is an achievable goal. After telling yourself, "I could never knit a men's size 13-14 sock, let alone two; And how much yarn would that take, anyway?" finishing one of the socks feels like accomplishing the impossible, and beginning work on the second suddenly is within the realm of possibility.
Socks take a long time, and they're tedious at many points. Yet, when I finish a pair of socks, I don't know what to with myself. All tied up in sock knitting is the satisfaction of finishing the first and the anticipation of starting the second. It seems like such a large project (actually two large projects) that it seems like you will never have to think about the project that will come after. Until both socks are done too soon. I must say, I'm feeling ambivalent.
(And although I had 4 skeins of this yarn, it only took 2.5 skeins, with just enough left over for a "hers" pair that matches.)
-吴碧芙
Monday, August 29, 2011
I figure it out...
...So you don't have to.
I decided to make socks in men's size 13, using the toe-up construction. I've had some yarn set aside for this project for over a year, a very nice Patons Kroy Jacquards called "Country Jacquard" of browns, blue, and grey & white. Here is the formula:
1. Knit a gauge swatch in the round or observe the gauge on a sock previously knit using the same needles, yarn type, and stitch pattern as you intend to use.
2. Measure foot circumference. Look-up number of stitches needed in a chart, such as the one in Charlene Schurch's More Sensational Knitted Socks. Note that an online Sock-u-lator originally told me to cast-on 90 stitches, but Schurch's chart said 72 stitches. I cast-on 72 stitches, and the sock fits quite well.
3. Choose a toe from Tiptop Toes on Knitty, which includes good directions and pictures for three types of toe-up toes. I tried the Short Row toe, but eventually frogged in favor of the Figure Eight toe. Note: When the pattern says "k1, make 1" or "make 1, k1," I did "kfb (knit front and back)" instead, since I find make 1 to result in larger holes than I prefer. I also disregarded the dpn business and just did kfb at the beginning and end of two circulars.
4. Knit the length of the foot to "the front of the ankle." It is about 2/3 of the total length of the foot from toe tip to the back of the heel. This video is useful.
5. Knit the gusset increases and heel "patch" from Fleegle. Note that when the pattern says "k2, increase 1" or "increase 1, k2," I knit "k1, kfb" and "kfb, k1" instead.
6. Knit the leg of the sock as long as you desire.
7. Bind off using Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind off. Toe-up socks need a good stretchy bind off at the cuff, and this one is easy to follow. Note that you should "keep things loose" somewhat, otherwise you will have problems passing the stitches over one another.
-吴碧芙
I decided to make socks in men's size 13, using the toe-up construction. I've had some yarn set aside for this project for over a year, a very nice Patons Kroy Jacquards called "Country Jacquard" of browns, blue, and grey & white. Here is the formula:
1. Knit a gauge swatch in the round or observe the gauge on a sock previously knit using the same needles, yarn type, and stitch pattern as you intend to use.
2. Measure foot circumference. Look-up number of stitches needed in a chart, such as the one in Charlene Schurch's More Sensational Knitted Socks. Note that an online Sock-u-lator originally told me to cast-on 90 stitches, but Schurch's chart said 72 stitches. I cast-on 72 stitches, and the sock fits quite well.
3. Choose a toe from Tiptop Toes on Knitty, which includes good directions and pictures for three types of toe-up toes. I tried the Short Row toe, but eventually frogged in favor of the Figure Eight toe. Note: When the pattern says "k1, make 1" or "make 1, k1," I did "kfb (knit front and back)" instead, since I find make 1 to result in larger holes than I prefer. I also disregarded the dpn business and just did kfb at the beginning and end of two circulars.
4. Knit the length of the foot to "the front of the ankle." It is about 2/3 of the total length of the foot from toe tip to the back of the heel. This video is useful.
5. Knit the gusset increases and heel "patch" from Fleegle. Note that when the pattern says "k2, increase 1" or "increase 1, k2," I knit "k1, kfb" and "kfb, k1" instead.
6. Knit the leg of the sock as long as you desire.
7. Bind off using Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind off. Toe-up socks need a good stretchy bind off at the cuff, and this one is easy to follow. Note that you should "keep things loose" somewhat, otherwise you will have problems passing the stitches over one another.
-吴碧芙
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Lovable Socks
With more time on my hands, I decided to take on another round of socks. This time I used my favorite top-down basic pattern, with XO cable added on the outside of each sock. I worked the pattern myself by parsing a single XO cable from a scarf pattern and knitting it on the right or left edge accordingly.
They are a gift, so I only modeled them for pictures. I also apparently can only make socks for people with the same size feet as mine, but I'm planning to add more sizes soon.
-吴碧芙
They are a gift, so I only modeled them for pictures. I also apparently can only make socks for people with the same size feet as mine, but I'm planning to add more sizes soon.
-吴碧芙
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Owl done...
I have been looking for an owl cookie jar, having seen them basically everywhere except in stores lately: (1) in a collection of American Bisque cookie jars in the Waverly Bakery, (2) on the show Modern Family, (3) American Bisque, again, in a patient's apartment (right there on top of her fridge). These owls have been taunting me. Vintage owl cookie jars sell on Ebay for $40-$180, and the non-freaky, non-ugly ones happen to be more expensive.
A week ago, we were in the mall, on official wedding business, when something caught my eye in Macy's. At first, I just saw a rather cute owl-shaped serving tray...then some salt & pepper shakers...then a piggy bank...then a COOKIE JAR! On top of that, there was some kind of sale starting a few days later, and they would pre-sell it to me, to be picked-up on the sale start date.
Now, if you have an owl cookie jar, what kind of cookies would you put in it? I thought so too, but owl-shaped cookie cutters are (1) generally only vaguely owl-shaped, and (2) probably only available at specialty stores and online. An exhaustive search revealed some very cute options: one person used frosting to decorate cookies that she cut out with a tulip-shaped cookie cutter, but I can't find a tulip cookie cutter either. Other options are focused on shaping the dough. As soon as I saw one of those options, I remembered my Grama making them when I was little. Seeing the picture of them took me back to my exact feelings about the cookies when I first saw them: I refused to eat them because they had one cashew, standing for the owl's beak. I was convinced that the cashew meant that the whole cookie would taste like nuts.
The cookies are actually made with vanilla and chocolate dough, rolled into a cylinder and sliced. The eyes are peanut butter chips, although I considered using light-colored M&Ms. The beak, as I mentioned, is a whole cashew.
Having finished my last exam on Saturday (hopefully, provided I pass), this is how I celebrated the end of my academic obligations and my birthday, free of exam stress.
-吴碧芙
A week ago, we were in the mall, on official wedding business, when something caught my eye in Macy's. At first, I just saw a rather cute owl-shaped serving tray...then some salt & pepper shakers...then a piggy bank...then a COOKIE JAR! On top of that, there was some kind of sale starting a few days later, and they would pre-sell it to me, to be picked-up on the sale start date.
Now, if you have an owl cookie jar, what kind of cookies would you put in it? I thought so too, but owl-shaped cookie cutters are (1) generally only vaguely owl-shaped, and (2) probably only available at specialty stores and online. An exhaustive search revealed some very cute options: one person used frosting to decorate cookies that she cut out with a tulip-shaped cookie cutter, but I can't find a tulip cookie cutter either. Other options are focused on shaping the dough. As soon as I saw one of those options, I remembered my Grama making them when I was little. Seeing the picture of them took me back to my exact feelings about the cookies when I first saw them: I refused to eat them because they had one cashew, standing for the owl's beak. I was convinced that the cashew meant that the whole cookie would taste like nuts.
The cookies are actually made with vanilla and chocolate dough, rolled into a cylinder and sliced. The eyes are peanut butter chips, although I considered using light-colored M&Ms. The beak, as I mentioned, is a whole cashew.
Having finished my last exam on Saturday (hopefully, provided I pass), this is how I celebrated the end of my academic obligations and my birthday, free of exam stress.
-吴碧芙
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