Sew Dance

Let's see... my goals for 2016. Turn yarn/fabric stash into finished projects. I figure I should cut down my stash in my closet. Yarn/fabric is bulkier and heavier than my cross stitch so I may concentrate on those. Get back to dancing. Which should help improve my unmet goal (2) from last year. I will get back to insanity. But the height of my bed plus my new lamp hasn't made working on GK's easy to use the magnifying glass. Learn to knit.  Yeah, didn't happen. I did this for about 9 months. Then I bought the apartment and couldn't afford both. Not quite. My new stitching place is the right height, but I need another pillow to keep my from sliding away from the arm. Nope. Didn't have the time. I have all the materials I need but never quite got around to it. I did however finish 12 crochet projects, 4 cross stitch projects, and 2 I'll categorize as other. Not bad for having a full time job again. For 2017 my goals are: Work on a GK/HA...

So I managed to finish the presents I was making. don't have a finished picture of my dad's basketweave blanket although I finished that while at my parent's house. My mom's angel . My boyfriend's Ninetails. Merry Christmas. Onto my next project.

I spent the week working on the angel in thread crochet. Today I worked on a lapghan in blanket yarn. Big difference in size.

In the Garden is finished! And I decided to take a picture of my new craft closet (of doom). Not everything is in there. There's still a few boxes on my floor and the various bins that were in other closets at my parents. And all sewing patterns are elsewhere.

I did not get to stitch as much as I would like during this extended weekend. I ended up with too many things to do and weird timing. Also trying to write for NaNoWriMo killed some possible stitching time. So close to finishing page 15/16. Early in the week, I took advantage of a 30% off sale and flat rate shipping on two items that were already on sale. That should be my last purchase of anything new for a while. I'm well aware I have enough stash to last me for years. I might buy things to finish up a few other projects if the need arises. I kind of gave up on writing today. My brain was blanking and I was getting too distracted by the internet. I'm 2 days ahead and if I write during my commute I'll be fine.

We've reached the end of the journey once more.   Cute opening. Saw some faces I forgot were on this season. Haha. They turned a golf cart into a sleigh. James. I didn't feel like that performance was as good as the original. He looked tired. That was a fast dance to Andy's song. Alison looked like her feet were going to slip out from under her during some of those spins. Calvin. Still a weird song choice for a Argentine tango. Maureen. She still walked through that. And what was the point of Ryan and Babyface? I love dress rehearsals. So funny. Maks! And samba! Sexy dancing skittles. Haha. Laurie. So glad they picked this one. Loved the switch up at the end from the original. Bad hair clip. Bad number. But funny. Vanilla ice really doesn't do ballroom well. Why was Rick Perry his DJ? Very pretty foxtrot and loved the green dress. Babyface, please stick to singing. And Rick Perry can play the drums? Ooh hot men. Tha...

It's the finale! 1st round: judges pick/redemption dance Calvin. Nice. His footwork was a bit sloppy at times. Arm was a little high in hold at the beginning. I'll agree with the scores. Jana. It was danced well, but I found it very repetitive in the moves. Her feet did some funny things when not on the floor. Too long in the platform. Tango is a traveling dance. I agree with the score. Laurie. That was a fast song. She looked like she slipped a tiny bit at times. I agree with the scores. A little low. Why does trains new song have the melody to chopsticks as the chorus? Lucky Cheryl regardless of the song. James. Very nice. Just a little trip up near the end. Cute concept. How do they get glasses to stay in during spins? Mine would fly off if I danced with them on. I agree with the scores. Round 2: the freestyle Jana. I'm glad they didn't fall during that one carry. Other than that it was interesting and pretty. I'll give her ...

I've officially moved in! I didn't get too much stitching done this week and almost none this weekend. Way too busy. I'll catch up over Thanksgiving. But here is my lovely apartment. Things still need to be put away. I will get you a picture of my new craft closet (of doom) as soon as I feel it's the way I want it. But this is the last photo of Onyx I have on my phone. I wonder if she knew I was leaving her. My parents say she keeps laying outside the door to my room. Poor kitty. I've been barely getting my daily word count done lately. Eep.

Welcome to the semi finals. James. Good for them in getting through the lifts when Sharna couldn't see. Interesting end pose. I'm used to seeing more leg hooks. I'll give him the scores. Terra. I saw hips! It was good. Rumba is very focused on lines which she is unable to do properly, but she tried. And it wasn't walk and pose like most. I'll give her the scores but a little high for me. Jana. A few bobbles. They looked too close in hold. A little high for me. Calvin. Footwork was sloppy and rushed. His knees were too far apart at times. Too high. Laurie. I have no idea how she was able to dance after that package. It was a little fast of foxtrot. I agree with the scores. The trio round is back! James. Very good. They really all matched during the side by side kicks and flicks. I agree with the scores. Terra. She got into the character. Artem is always sexy. Very well choreographed. She walked through it a bit. A little high fo...

Getting closer to finishing both In the Garden and my apartment. With all fingers crossed, I should be in Friday. And if anyone feels like sending telepathic threats to my contractor, be my guest. Now to make today's date turn from yellow to green.

Show stoppers night. Aka broadway night. Ooh, Maks in a tux and Idina Menzel. Two rounds tonight. Marilu. Odd song code. Not actually samba. There wasn't much bounce and there were entirely too many swivel steps. She didn't have the right action in her legs and I didn't really see any hips. I'm not sure what the judges saw. Too high. Calvin. The package was funny. Pretty but it felt more like a Viennese waltz. The rise and fall was somewhat missing because of it. Too high. Haha. Sharna and the glitter as Glinda. James. Fun. But I thought he looked slightly restrained by his pants. Maybe because they were shiny. I agree with the scores. Terra. Fun. She managed to pull off what you did but it was a reserved Charleston in movement due to size. Easy to lift. A little high for me. Jana. The song started in an odd place. She gave herself over to the emotion. The choreography feel just a little flat for me. A little high for me. Laur...

I've finished the 14th page. One more mostly full page then the sliver that is the 16th. I've bought some more stash. I seem to have caught the small window where the sale that ended on the 5th was still active and the coupon for 25% off had just started. Additionally, my countertops and sink are still not installed. So you all get a picture of Onyx as I'm still with my parents. Isn't she cute? And I'm participating in NaNoWriMo once again.

Welcome to the spookiest theme night of the year. Cute opening. Terra. The song isn't really a cha cha. Very slow. I found it hard to concentrate on the dance. She tried to keep her knees straight. A little high for me. Laurie. I had a smile on the entire time. Very nice. Lost a tiny bit of body contact but they were moving quickly. I agree with the scores. Marilu. Clearly missed some connections and footwork. She seems to be going downhill. Too high for me. Calvin. He didn't hunch over this time. But he kept his knees bent to compensate for the height difference. It was a fun dance. I'll give him the scores. Ryan. Well, he had to move. He walked rather than straddles through the dance. His shoulders were forward. Who keeps coring for him? Too high. Jana. Well danced, but other than the flower shop, didn't invoke little shop of horrors to me. Didn't feel like jazz either. A little high but I'll give it to her. James. I ...

I seem to have run out of two colors. I have more of them, but they're all at my apartment. Somewhere. I bought stash this week. I stayed away from Herrschners sale, but I got some of the ones I was looking at on better sale from 123 stitch. My cute, festive, kitty.

Take a trip through the decades. And a second (team) dance Laurie. They lost some of the body contact I usually see from them in hold. But it was fun and entertaining. A little low. Ryan. She danced around him. Why were promenade runs and viennese crosses involved? It didn't match the music. I saw no rumba or hips. Way too high. 5s is generous, 7s are blatant overscoring. Marilu. She couldn't match his energy level at the beginning and it just got worse the farther it went. Too high. But she still did more then Ryan. Calvin. Pretty good. I saw some basic jive steps. Technique wasn't perfect but it was fun. I'll give him the scores. Maureen. That dance felt too slow and soft for the song. Also last time they used that song I think it was a paso. Too high. Terra. Cute. The dress made it difficult to see her footwork and lines. I agree with the scores. Jana. Fun. But her footwork was sloppy during the actual samba steps. A little high for m...

Inching closer on to the finish line on this piece. Still haven't moved in. Final major pieces are the kitchen counters and the blinds. Spent the afternoon putting my TV stand and desk together. Had a headache so stopped before getting the drawers in the desk. I did however put my storage drawers in my closet to prepare for putting my stash away. Herrschners buy 3 get one free cross stitch kit sale is tempting me. I just need to cull my list and figure out how to maximize the savings. My initial 27 was costing me 800+. Oh boy...

Latin night. Let's see who can bring the sexy. Ryan. He could've used a lot more hips and he was too straight. I don't think it was that impressive. Too high. Terra. Didn't feel the anger too much. Hard to see her stomping on the floor. A little high. Amber. Her leg action was a bit off. Locksteps were odd. Could've used her hips more. Too careful. I'll give her the scores. James. I saw nothing rumba relayed from him. No hips, no basic steps. He ran or hopped between poses. What were the judges looking at? Too high. Marilu. Still felt careful and proper to me. Once again locksteps were odd. Not enough hips. Too high for me. Jana. That was interesting. The heavy downbeat in the song wasn't really Argentine tango. It was sexy. A bit high for me but I'll give her the scores. Maureen. Where were the hips? Where was the bounce? Ana Artem was taking more steps than her in parallel step patterns. Too high. Calvin. Another ...

Finished another page. I moved the majority of my boxes into my apartment. But couldn't really unpack anything as it's still a construction zone. I've been assured the kitchen and everything else will be done by Friday. Hopefully that's the case and then I can give it a thorough scrubbing.

Two of the right people went home last week. Now, prepare to cry, for it's 'most memorable year' night. The entire orchestra was in ballgowns and tuxes? Maureen. She looked to be leaning forward when in hold. Also didn't look much like a foxtrot, too much on one level. It was pretty, but not what I was expecting from a foxtrot. A little too high for me. Calvin. Cute. Sometimes he bent over to partner Lindsay. The lifts sometimes made me think she was going to end up on the ground. A little high for me. Jana. Cute kid. I liked it. I'll give her the scores. Ryan. Kinda the same thing over and over. Dance by the numbers. Too high for me. Laurie. Intense but not stiff. I liked it. She had a little trouble with some of the turns at the beginning. I agree with the scores Marilu. Very pretty, simple. I like the dress. I'll give her the scores. Amber. No hips, no bounce, barely a samba. Too high for me. James. First off, o...

I've reached the bottom left corner of In the Garden. I also have managed to pack 90% of what I'm taking with me. 90% of these boxes are craft supplies. I still have a few things upstairs, including the majority of my cross-stitch and the storage drawers most of this will go in. It will all be moved Saturday to my new place.

The correct person went home last week. Now onto Cirque Du Soleil night. Calvin. That was fun. They didn't always match. There were some pauses to make sure he didn't stop her. Props to the steampunk theme. I'll give him the scores. Maureen. The bird was distracting. It felt too careful for me. She looked like she was concentrating in the steps to much rather than dancing with Artem. I don't know what the judges were seeing. Too high. Jana. Pretty. A little lacking for me. I guess I'll give her the scores but a tad high. But still better then Maureen for me. Marilu. She didn't have the posture in the hips correct. A bit too paso by the numbers for me. Too high. Amber. That's the most comfortable I've seen her. It was also a connected argentine tango. I agree with the scores. Ryan. Probably his best dance. But his feet still need work. Posture slumped a bit at times. Viennese waltz is very simple so it's easy to work on...

Final row for Into the Garden. Didn't have much time to stitch this week. Too busy getting new clothes for work and putting my bed together in my new apartment. I'd show you a picture, but it's not quite finished. And the rest of my apartment is a bit of a construction zone. ;) Fun fact, I started this 4 years ago. My first post about this piece came up in my facebook memories.

Odd formatting, but okay... Babyface vs. Jana Babyface. He looked stiff. Stepped through the routine. I agree with the scores. Jana. I liked this one better. I actually saw triple steps. I agree with the scores. I agree with the decision.   Rick vs. Vanilla Ice   Rick. Paso by the numbers. I like her dress. Too high. Vanilla ice. He was more into the dark vibe of the song. Had posture problems. Too high. I agree with the decision. James vs. Ryan   James. Not too much content. Needed more hips on the Cuban breaks. I agree with the scores. Ryan. He walked through it when he did move. I agree with the scores. Neither had much cha cha, but James did the technique better in what I did see. I agree with the decision. Terra vs. Calvin   Terra. Pretty. I agree with the scores. Calvin. He moved. More than some other male contestants. I agree with the scores. I have to give the round to Calvin. They were put...

Finished row 3. Only one more to go. I broke down and bought things this week. Figurines for my collection and new stash because Herrschners had things on sale I couldn't pass up. First my stash: Now my figurines: