Madness In My Method

This is a thing, and it's exquisite. Go do an internet search for yourself and see.

It has over 2 minutes of final credits that are just as fascinating to watch as the video.

Although, I'm not so sure about the tar barrels. That was far from my favorite part.

6:50, though, is a great moment to pause on.

This YouTube channel leads to some fascinating essays on the art of cinema.

Because the usual exposure for this old art form takes around a couple of minutes, Mr. Close used six flash strobes to make the exposure almost instantaneous. According to him, "Your eyes slam shut so fast, it feels like somebody stuck an ice pick into the middle of your eye. If we don't have the shields, you can smell your hair and your face burning."

The last images are NSFW, but artistically done.

I started here, and from there it's easy enough to get into the fractal art, but instead I next clicked here.

Ooh, here goes the journey into fractal architecture with the whole cyber-biomechanical feel!!

Well, not exactly, but I feel about as accomplished as Tom Hanks did in Castaway when he was finally able to conquer the fire-making.

I have conquered the knitting needles.

I was wondering what diabolical enchantment someone had placed on these things which were otherwise supposed to make magic with yarn while I intently and purposely attempted to learn to utilize them when I suddenly decided that perhaps using them as a form of abstract art sticking out of sofa cushions and being done with them forever might make the best use of them in the long run.

I put them away and played some more with the crochet needle making a couple coasters, a cute 3-D leaf, and a short scarf, that will actually do best as a pretty table runner, before finally picking them back up to try my hand at them again. This was a conscious choice, as the sofa cushions in question are not mine, and my abstract art idea would make for quite uncomfortable seating for future movie nights.

My second attempt at forcing yarn to do my bidding with these un-hooked instruments paid off, and I'm finally able to maintain stitches and pretty good string tension. Muscle memory is finally kicking in and I've not only come to terms with the knit and purl stitches, but I've also succeeded in figuring out the English and Continental methods, trying and discarding the German thumb method, and discovering the uncanny similarities between the long-tail cast on method and my needle tatting double stitch method.

I'm now contemplating practicing off-hand knitting, in which the work switches from needle to needle, but the needles do not switch from hand to hand. Instead the knit/purl switches. The idea is that instead of turning the work to then work say a purl stitch, I would instead not turn the work and knit stitch using the off-hand. While I have been practicing the work always going onto the left needle, this would require practicing the work always going onto the right needle (with needle switch involved), and then when I'm ready, mix and match the two without ever switching the needles between the hands. I try to practice ambidexterity in most things I do, and considering I was able to quickly and easily contemplate and utilize the differences between the English and Continental methods, rotating between them every few rows to prevent hand cramping, I think I should be able to quickly assimilate off-hand knitting as well.

This has just become a fun game for me.

Actual "doll" needles and tatting are mortal enemies of each other. The eye is slightly larger than the shaft, which makes pulling a single section of work off the needle take longer than the entire project might take by itself, and the point is a true point that likes to tear open skin a la cat's claws.

I have some actual tatting needles coming in the mail, and I cannot wait to received them with open arms. Why the hell not a single hobby/sewing shop in town can't sell at least one simple set of tatting needles is beyond me. Shuttles I could find, but a single tatting needle? Wishful thinking.

I only saw the first page of Santani's work when I posted that adorable fluffy doll the other day.

This morning I looked further into the gallery.

This person had better be earning a living from these dolls and characters and not be currently selling because they're too tied up in some movie contract at the moment or something.

Regarding the cross stitch frame idea I have...

I purchased this cheap hoop frame that I found in the store by chance. I've priced some cheap neodymium magnets. Now all I need is a metal back to replace the plastic back of the frame. Or, possibly a big magnet sheet, although I'm not fond of the flimsiness of the magnet sheet - however, that might work in my favor. The flimsy/bendy nature of the magnet sheet might allow me to pull it back easily to adjust tension on the project. I already have a package of the magnet sheets, so I can try it out and see how I like or don't like it before looking for a metal backing. I'd also have to make sure the edges of a metal backing are rounded off and aren't so sharp that they cut into the aida, or worse, the string. I'm hoping this little experiment will work out in my favor. I'd love to have a magnetic frame that pulls the aida taught and quickly without my having to tinker so much with it.

Heh - I'm probably about due for a cross stitch tag on these posts.