Candy Corn Earrings

Probably the easiest thing in the world. And so cute!

They are really lightweight earrings, so they are great for sensitive ears/children.

Materials
Scrap yarn in Yellow, Orange, and White (I used worsted weight)
Size 2 dnp
Tapestry needle
Earring Hook

Important things to note: When changing colour, make sure the tails point down. Its get messy otherwise.
These are 'stuffed' with the knots of the colour changes. No filling needed!

Cast on 9 stitches in Yellow across 3 dnp.
Knit 2 rows.
Change to Orange yarn.

Make sure to pull the colour change ends down!!

[k2tog, k1] 3 times. (6 sts)
knit 3 rows.
Change to White yarn.
[k2tog] 3 times. (3 sts)
Knit 2 rows.
Place all 3 stitches on one needle. Purl all three together. Hook onto earring hook. Break yarn, knot, and pull though the bottom of the corn.

I didn't have any earrings on my when
I  made this one, so I put it on a needle.

Weave starting tail into bottom stitches; cut all ends so none show.

Viola!

Office Space Hallowe'en Decorations

Paper, highighters, some paperclips, a rubber band...

We're gonna make some decorations out of office supplies.

If you're one of millions of Americans that work desk jobs, you probably hate your job and everything about it. You probably need a break from the long, monotonous hours of looking at a computer screen.

I have your solution!

Inspired by Shelterness, I decided to make my own paper pumpkins, in the office.

Step one: Cut paper into long pieces.

Step two (optional): Colour said paper pieces. Your interns will love this--colouring at work! Highlighters and sharpies are your friends.

Step three: Punch holes in the ends of the paper pieces.

Step four: Tie a knot in the end of a piece of string, or a rubber band, or else chain several paper clips together and unbend the end of one of them. Thread though one of the (set) of holes. Thread end through the other holes. Pull until there is about 2" of string/band/chain between the pices of paper. It will kinda look like a lute. Tie off.

Step five: Spread the pieces out, to form a ball!

Accessories:
Cut a thin strip of paper. Colour both sides (I chose black).
Twist tightly, holding for about 5 seconds. Release, and gently loosen. Tape to top of pumpkin.

Cut a small piece of paper, colour, and tape into a ring. Tape to top of pumpkin.

And you're done!

Totally Awesome Witches Hats!

My mother posted a picture of these on my facebook wall, I have no idea where they came from. These were not my idea!

Step 1: Buy Keebler Orginal Fudge Strip Cookies, frosting (orange is optional. I had to use food dye to make it so), and Hersey's kisses.
Step 2: Turn a cookie upside-down.
Step 3: Place small ball of icing in center.
Step 4: Smash unwrapped Kiss onto icing.
Step 5: ???
Step 6: Profit.

I think I'm going to make these for a Hallowe'en Party. They are really too easy not to.

Helpful hint: If you're using frosting from a jar (as I did), I found that scooping some up intoa teaspoon measure, and then collecting that on a knife in a circular manner, then placing on the cookie gave it a more uniform ball. Pain in the ass otherwise. 

These are really delicious! The orange isn't as bright as I would have liked them, but next batch will be better.

Happy Hallowe'en!

AMC's The Walking Dead

From Robert Kirkman's popular graphic novel comes a television show not quite like the dramas we've seen before.

Rick Grimes wakes up in a post-apocalyptic world were the the dead Walk once again.

Sounds like a pretty normal Zombie set-up to me. But the Walking Dead features something far greater than a gory love story. Because in this universe, the greatest enemy isn't the slow, shambling UnDead, but rather the Walking Dead--the people who attempt to survive.

Season Three started this Sunday, bringing new characters that make the reads of the comic both cheer and cringe. 

While the television show does now follow the book exactly, both hold common themes and major events that focus on the reactions of the Group and those around them.

Oh, and its not available on Dish anymore, but you can watch it online on AMC's website the day after it airs. Myself, I don't have cable, so this is a very wonderful option for me.

*Spoilers after this point*

This weekend, we got our first look at the jail. The Group fashions a home from Cell Block C, attempting to cure their exhaustion and prepare for Lori's baby. We must note that she is farther along in her pregnancy than the comic had at this point, which leads us to believe that this will be a main problem of this arc. Rick and Lori seem to be on rough terms, and have not truly discussed the possibilty of the baby being Shane's. In my own opinion, this is the least of their problems, as Shane is double dead and Rick has a sort of male-lion claim to all the children of the heard. We can also see that Carl is starting to favour his Dad. This relationship, and Rick's distancing from Lori, leads me to believe that Lori is not long for this world. Rick will soon develop his passion for saving Carl above all others. Oh, and their medic lost a leg. Lets hope he's still around to deliver.

Micchone is taking care of a feverish Andrea. Still separated from the group, an extremely well-cast Micchone insists on staying while Andrea plays the martyr. We can safely assume that a reunion will be soon.

We found the alive prisoners. I hope they cast well and kept the same characters. I really do. Hopefully it will give Andrea a chance to redeem herself as a badass, I'll be very disappointed otherwise. 

I feel like the major arc will be Lori-Baby-Rick, Rick's judgement being questioned (after chopping off Hershel's infected leg with A HATCHET), and what to do with prisoners in a world where crime is survival. Some great moral issues. And, of course, the ultimate question of morals... The Govenor. I love this show. Makes you think.

Overall, this is a refreshing look at the Zombie story--where its not about fighting zombies, but about surviving with humans.

Hallowe'en Preparation

Fall is my favourite time of year.

I freakin love Hallowe'en.

Pumpkins
I've tried out a few pumpkin knitting patterns. I feel like its the simple ones that work the best.

I've been using this pattern, from Ravelry. Even if you don't make the arms and legs and face, its a really great pattern for pumpkins. I've made about seven of them now, for various people and reasons.

Apple Cider

I made apple cider. Turns out--super easy. Sorry, no pictures--camera was acting up. If I do a second batch, I'll update.

For the experiment, I took one apple, and sliced it. If you have a mandolin slicer, that would make things super easy. Or, you can core the apple, and slice the pieces into chucks. Oh, and I used a Gaia apple.

In a small saucepan, I put about 1.5 cups of filtered water, and the apple slices. I covered, heated to boil, and then let it simmer for maybe 45 minutes. Systematically, I pulled the lid off and mashed the apples with a potato masher.
When it smelled good and apple-y, I took it off the heat. I put a large funner into a jar, threw a coffee filter into the funnel, then poured my mashy-juice mixture in batches. I threw out the mash, but you can use this for applesauce! And its delicious!

After I filtered the juice, I rinsed out my pot and poured the juice back in. I heated it to a simmer, and added about a tablespoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of nutmeg. You can also add ginger and other assorted spices.

For a hard cider, I recommend adding Captain Morgan's, or another spiced rum.

There is plenty of information on the internet from more informed people than I. But seriously, try it! Its delicious!

CANDY CORN.
Pattern Here
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/happy-candy-corns

Frankly, I hated the little faces on the original pattern, but I love the little corns! So cute!

Turns out you can MAKE candy corn yourself. The eating kind. I must try this.

Bowl Cozy

I have bright orange, square bowls. Pretty Hallowe'eny to begin with. But I decided to make a striped cozy for it anyway. I eyeballed it, and missed a bit--its a bit large--but the effect is the same. I feel like if I had ribbed the cozy, I would have fit very well.

I'm thinking that I'm going to make some cute little bows.

The image quality of pictures I post should rise in the near future--Friday I will be purchasing an Asus T300 Tablet (Like the one boyfriend has). No longer shall I take pictures with a 1.3 megapixel phone! And I can update more often.So excited!