What I’m loving right now

July 11, 2017July 11, 2017 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ 2 Comments

Okay, this is me being a big fat copy cat. 😽 I follow a few other blogs that do this feature and I thought I would get in on the fun!

I usually try to shove the things I love down everyone’s throats on Instagram but here is a consolidated version with some extras I probably haven’t shared!

A Court of Thorns and Roses Series

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I seriously cannot get enough of this series. IT IS SO GOOD. Honestly, one of the best series I’ve read in a while. I’m a huge fantasy fan so this meets the mark with Fae Realms, supernatural powers, and conquering your own demons. The entire series is amazing each book better than the last. At the end of book 2 I got up, walked over to the dude and said ‘THAT BOOK WAS SO GOOD. OH MY GOD, OH MYYYYY GOD” I then proceeded to tell him the plot, but I couldn’t there is just so many backstories, and the book unfolds with them all. It’s just great. This is going down in my hall of fame (my place for books that get read over and over).

GAH I JUST LOVE IT.

Ello Camping Mug

This is the second year that Target has carried this mug from Ello. Last year I treated myself to a pink version and use it all the time. I went back a few weeks after the initial purchase to get another, since I now have reached the stage in my life where I buy multiples of things I love, and they were gone. I was sad, but eagerly awaited this summer season to see if they would return. THEY DID!

Keeps things cold or hot for hours. Plus the handle is made from cork. The top never leaks and I love the camping enamel finish. Got the teal the second time around.

MillaMia Yarn

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Lois introduced my to MillaMia last year (she made those amazing Christmas ornaments for everyone) and then got me a bunch of it to make cowls for shopghostfaceknitter.com. I had a bunch left over from then and am now making the So Faded sweater with the surplus I had. But I LOVE this yarn. I’ve found it on loveknitting.com for $3 a skein and bought a whole bunch more in green, purple, and grey to make another So Faded sweater in the near future. They have a bunch of free patterns available here. Try not to giggle like an idiot at the baby stuff.

Vintage Pattern FREE-FOR-ALL

I’ve been getting tagged a lot lately (thank you for those who have) in the huge public online release of both vintage knit and sew patterns. SO AMAZING. Especially considering that people ask for a lot of money for vintage patterns.

South Hampton’s Knitting Reference Library

Free Vintage Knitting

Vintage Patterns Wikia

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CHIA + FLAX SEEDS!

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The dude brought home this chia + flax seed mix a while ago and I have since re-purchased multiple bags of this. I just love it. It feels like a treat! It’s been a huge staple for me since giving up processed sugar for good plus with the Omega-3s! It’s a great treat.

What are some things that you have been loving?

1947 Vogue V9126 Dress Pattern

June 22, 2017June 22, 2017 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ 2 Comments

I did a little selfish sewing last week. Finally caught a tiny respite from the great baby making of 2017 😉 JK I love that all of you are having babies because baby stuff is my favorite kind of crafts to make. However, I had another 1940s ball to attend so instead of buying my dress this year I decided to make one that was more traditional (less ‘retro’ stereotypical). This is the Original 1947 Design of Vogue V9126 Dress Pattern. Available at Vogue Patterns or Joanns. I picked up this pattern for $5 on one of the ‘sale days’ at Joanns.

I know that Joann’s is sort of the anti-craft movement for a lot of people. I happen to find it really convenient, affordable and they do have a pretty nice selection of fabric, yarn, supplies. Plus and this is why it’s so hard to say no to Joann’s they always have a coupon(s) to use.

But I digress. I found the pattern and the Fabric (50% off that) at Joanns and decided to make this for the ball.

Specs on Time/Cost

Total Time: 7 hours including finishing
Toal cost: $45

Supplies List:

Gütermann Polyester Thread – CA 02776
Bright Red Tropical Hawaiian Chiffon Fabric (4 yards)
Fusible Interfacing
V9126 Pattern from Vogue Reproductions Collection

Random Comments about pattern:

The collar took quite some mulling over. It was not easy to create shape for that just from ‘folding it over.’ I ended up hand sewing the lapels to each other in the front to give it the shape I wanted.
The waist was too small for only a short bodice zipper – I had to let out the waist by 3 inches to get the waist over my shoulders (I’m not that big there). If I make this again I will put in a zipper that extends down thru the waist so that I can just zip it up and keep the shape once on.
Bust was taken in considerably. I used the 36in bust – (I’m a 34in) and it was like a burlap sack – I ended up taking in the pleats so significantly it was starting to distort the shape on the bodice. If I make this again I will use smaller bodice all together and then gather skirt in back if necessary.

Anyways enough of my bemoaning about having a small bust and big shoulders 😉

35301122126_0254b40115_z — the bodice and skirt connected by front feature

All and all it was a super fun, cute dress. I’ll be making more in the future!

Bathroom Before & After

July 6, 2016 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ Leave a comment

So this is A LONG TIME COMING I’m pretty sure I’ve been promising the before and after here for months…. well it’s FINALLY HERE!

Boy oh Boy was this bathroom a project. When I first started this ‘mini-refresh’ I thought it would be new paint and a shower curtain………

Here’s what I really ended up doing:

Removed shower stall
Re-did all caulking
Restored Window
Restored Medicine Cabinet
Painted walls
Painted vanity
painted heating vent
Replaced toilet
Deep Cleaned
Changed cabinet hardware
Replaced broken soap dish tile
Repaired vanity drawers
Lined vanity drawers

It took ~30 full hours to restore all these items over the course of 4 weeks. I had to sand and strip almost every surface to remove rust, paint, caulking, and calcium build up from the untreated well. Well enough chit chat – PICTURES!

BEFORE:

25848671566_f49876bb2d_c — just grimy – shower stall covered in calcium – toilet filled with rust and calcium

25245861813_779f71b2ea_c 25245829913_89d99fac48_c

25241865514_247f6170fd_c — mmm moldy calcuim

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26011362786_dea681c986_c — rusted out window in the shower

Please feel free to go shower now after you’ve looked at all of those grimy/nasty pictures.

and now…. drum roll please!

AFTER

27526319493_094d630fbd_c — I made the shower curtain from IKEA fabric.

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27525808233_a1ca344129_c — I chose a light mint green and I love it.

26293058961_b9039d646c_b — this cabinet is one of my favorite things.

26570339975_48eb9afedb_c — I worked so hard on this damn rusted window – just need to fix the cracked sill.

Ghostface Get-ups…

October 28, 2013October 28, 2013 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ 4 Comments

The Blog challenge: Outfit post! Show us your favorite or your usual get-up!

I guess I have a unique style. Some say retro/rockabilly/vintage I say it’s a ghostface thang. Here are some of the latest outfits/looks I’ve been sporting. I feel like Beeker… memememememememememe.

some hair.

anti-hair/coldweather meanmuggin ghostface

Photo BLAST Weekend Update

October 28, 2013October 28, 2013 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ Leave a comment

Jeez I didn’t blog for 2 days and I felt like a ‘blog-poser.’ BUT I was super busy and honestly, I didn’t want to write about what the daily blogs were. I’ll post another later Monday to get back on track with the October Daily though.

So if you follow my Instagram some of these will be familiar, but there’s some newbies in here too.

I bring the ghostface to ghostfaceknitter - pre-Michael's run. — I bring the ghostface to ghostfaceknitter – pre-Michael’s run.

If you're not playing Bitstrips....this photo should change your mind. — If you’re not playing Bitstrips….this photo should change your mind.

The best Ginger Ale I've had. Brunch at Lula's — The best Ginger Ale I’ve had. Bruch at Lula’s

Boris and my KVLT hoodie. They regrammed it on Instagram and Twitter!

Put up retro/vintage curtains - the Controller okay'ed them. — Put up retro/vintage curtains – the Controller okay’ed them.

I’m going to make this with it:

Also you can download this pattern and more FOR FREEEEEEEEE here.

My DH4L homegirl's tribe. And KVLT hoodie. — My DH4L homegirl’s tribe. And KVLT hoodie.

Saturday Morning face rubbing on my new Orange Goblin tshirt.

Then my buddy Ronnie Baker (instagram: ronniebakertattoo) started my giant General Cos portrait on my leg.

WHERE’S THE CRAFT?

October 18, 2013 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ 4 Comments

I know what you’re thinking… where are the crafts?!

Well oddly enough I have been covert-crafting. This means I’m making gifts! Therefore I cannot post what I’m up to on here as it would ruin the surprise! Duh!

But I will share the next big knit project I’m about to start. It’s 100% selfish knitting. I found a marvelous pattern book of vintage knits a few weeks ago and have been going gaga over this sweater. The Perfect Christmas Jumper by Susan Crawford. You can buy the pattern for exclusively this, or her book Vintage Gifts to Knit is available for purchase and download.

The reindeer body is worked in intarsia whilst while the legs and antlers are done in fairisle.

You know GFK will pop this pose the ENTIRE time I wear this. — You know GFK will pop this pose the ENTIRE time she wears this.

I know isn’t it AMAZING? I’m going to do a ‘plain’ version without the reindeer to start. I got all the supplies and am ready to start it probably this weekend. I always enjoy ‘working’ the pattern first before I dive into the ‘real project.’ Kind of like a Muslin for sewing. I’ll post progress here. I’m hoping to bring this with me to the MIDWESTKNITFEST – who knows maybe I’ll go full on knitter-machine and be able to work on one with the reindeer pattern there instead. Basically Susan Crawford is a vintage knitting GODDESS. Check out more of her work on her website.

Would you wear a Christmas ‘jumper’ like this? What does everyone think about the sleeves/shoulder area on this garment?

DUN DUN DUN.

xoxo
GFK

Car Shows, Coffee, Trinkets, Knitting OH MY.

October 13, 2013October 13, 2013 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ 2 Comments

So yesterday’s blog challenge was to post your day in pictures. Yesterday was an awesome photo day for me. I went to the Iron Invasion classic car show in Woodstock, IL. It was so fun, plus I surprise ran into some great friends and spent the day walking, talking, and staring at vintage cars. Here we GOOOOO.

Some more coffee with a stop at Intelligensia.

This way my favorite car from the show - I have a thing for station wagons. — This was my favorite car from the show – I have a thing for station wagons.

They had a swamp meet so I bought the Heart Princess/Shirt/Earrings.

I used the camera on the bottom left to shoot a roll of 120mm film. It was fun and carefree. I did not use a light meter etc. so we shall see if the photos come out like dark blobs or if there are some awesome gems among them. I also came home to some Halloween cards which I LOVED. I love ‘real mail’ and I send a lot out, so it’s nice to get a few back in return every once in a while.

Some more purchase items. — Some more purchased items.

This babe tried to hold me up for all the trinkets I bought!

Then of course I knitted. With my peeps.

I was tired at the end of the day. I looked like FRANKENKNITTER.

It was a fun Saturday with a surprise friend day and all the things I love. I really enjoy getting to do the things I want to. I spent a lot of the last few years waiting around for things to come to me or to ‘get better.’ I can assuredly say I am in charge of my own life now and am having an ATOMIC BLAST!

xxxx
GFK

Finish Chevron Meh Cowl – Sewing Projects On Deck

September 24, 2013October 1, 2013 ~ ghostfaceknitter ~ 2 Comments

Another craft update! I finished the Chevron Pop Cowl. I’m not sure if it’s the colors or what, but I feel ‘meh’ about it. I wish the yarn was a little more structured as well, so I’ll try that with the next one I make because I loved the pattern it was so simple and fun to knit. I’m wearing it today to work. I would say that would tell me what people thought, but my co-workers are not really observant about this kind of thing.

Last night after I finished the Chevron Cowl, I took Mister Lee out and saw that I had several goodies arrive! First, I got a Starbucks Gold Card – which is long overdue, but I only started registering my gift cards a few months ago! (D’oh!) Second, I received a BUNCH of patterns I ordered on Thursday from McCall’s because they had a $2.99 pattern sale last week. (I HAD TO HAVE THEM!) Third, I ordered the most adorable ‘cut and sew’ witch named Winnie from Ebay. I’m excited to put her together – I love little cut and sew panels they are my favorite – check out a bunch here on Etsy. I laid all the flare out to get a picture and of course my Baby Boris got right in the shot – how cute! He’s like “MOM! I’m new and fun too!” I have noticed I’ve had to spend extra time loving on each of them, because they let me know when I’ve been crafting ‘too much’ for them.

I have a few other small sewing projects I’m going to do this week that I am excited for. I need a few hours away from knitting just to re-charge. I still need to finish the sock portion of my baby moc-soc set that I have in progress. I just needed to step away from that little project though. It’s really small and I kept dropping 1 tiny stitch over and over and over. I hate when that happens!

Anyways – what are you all working on? Any holiday/season inspired crafts?