Yesterday evening I finished my first ever crochet project — the Skunk-punk scarf! Behold:

I’m very happy with how it turned out! It’s very soft and warm and thick. For a while now I’ve been yearning for a black-and-white style in my clothes, so I figured this would be a good way to start. I call it the Skunk-Punk scarf because skunks are black and white, and black and white stripes are part of the punk style. (Something I learned from Avril Lavigne.)

The yarns I used were Novita Kaarna and Novita Marjukka, both off production by now (couldn’t even find a decent link to Marjukka), so they were on sale. Kaarna is 50% wool and 50% acrylic, Marjukka 100% acrylic, hence the softness. Plus Kaarna is superbulky and I’ve grown quite fond of bulky yarn. It makes for a very fast project if you need something quick. And I did, since none of my scarves seemed to work with my new winter jacket and its generously opening neck.

I was so proud of myself when I came up with the “technique” for this scarf. It shows I’ve understood the basics of crochet and I can perhaps experiment and improvise more in the future. It’s very simple and obvious: start with a loooong chain of chain crochet stitches, then continue with single crochet stitches and leave fringes at both ends. I know that’s super simple but it was a revelation for me, the n00b crochetress.

I also got this Estonian yarn from Obiskus as a belated birthday present:

It’s Artistic (or similar) by Aade Lõng, an Estonian manufacturer. It’s 100% wool in three colours: fuchsia, burgundy and light purple. The colours don’t change very quickly along the length, so it will be interesting to see what it looks like on a finished project. There’s 250 grams of it!

I have been brainstorming about what I’m going to make from it. It’s a little coarse, so it wouldn’t be nice to spend a lot of time on something I’m going to wear close to my skin and not be able to wear it because of itching. Well, maybe I’ll just knit a gauge patch to get a sense of how it feels against skin.

I finally have time to try out the Wacom drawing tablet that I got to borrow, and learn to use Photoshop in the process.

It’s so, so hard. I used to think drawing with a mouse was hard, but using the Wacom tablet pen is like a whole another level of hardness.

Ok, I’m prone to not a little hyperbole. But still, it’s like when you’re learning to ride a bike, or learning to walk. Wobbly and out of control. Or maybe it’s my hands, or my eye-hand coordination.

This is my first attempt at doodling. It’s a fine example of my painting technique with oils. I go brushing around quite quickly at first, without correcting anything until later. I don’t even feel like I need the Undo function, or the Eraser. I’m painting! You don’t get a second chance! That’s part of the fun!

(You may click to enlarge if you so wish, but it doesn’t get any better than this)

But I’m sure I’ll learn soon enough the decadent ways of Ps. It will certainly be easier and faster to show off my lame pictures when I’m drawing them on my laptop.

I never used Ps before. There are so many possibilities, and I don’t know what half of them will do – even when I try them out! I need Photoshop for Dummies.

Since I updated WordPress, all my previously approved comments seemed to have been moved into the spam folder. Wonderful, huh? Anyway, I went through all the spam and found some funny ones.

Usually it’s just your run-of-the-mill url floods or simply some completely incomprehensible drivel. But some of them are deceptively believable.

Check this one out:

How soon will you update your blog? I’m interested in reading some more information on this issue.

Aww, interested are you? Too bad that the post in question introduced my blogroll, so I don’t see how you could call that one single issue. Spam!

Great post! I’ll subscribe right now wth my feedreader software!

Oh kewl! You’re like, using feedreader software! I’m also using feedreader software! I love saying feedreader software because it’s so clumsy!

The best information i have found exactly here. Keep going Thank you

This was for my Joker clown post. Clearly, information on the Joker and clowns is in high demand these days. Thank you back, I will keep going.

I really liked this post. Can I copy it to my site? Thank you in advance.

I’m flattered that you want to copy my first post ever, where I simply introduce my plans regarding the blog. But I can totally see how that can be instantly likeable.

Can anyone tell me who the hot brunette is that may be a new cast member on Stargate Atlantis?

http://www.koldcast.tv/video/2384

Sorry, first of all I’m not anyone, and secondly I don’t follow up on Stargate Atlantis.

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This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. I’m huge on fast growing free adult porn forums. The name of the website is very inviting, “f*cking for you too.” Thousands of videos are not going to be enough! And thanks for thinking that my blog is a board.

My favourite, however, has to be this one:

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So wonderfully postmodern! Sweet and innocent spam poetry! My heart melted at this.

Unseal known demeanour.

It’s a badge strange to send for the enjoyable misery of that

self-dissected, approaching roomie

Viagra on line!

Rapidly at an end of the hinterlands,

ling confabulation folio destroys the unsuitable purely seemliness

on the correctly-modulated —

mete out.

Beautiful, isn’t it? A couple of grammar errors here and there, so I added definite articles and 3rd person suffixes. I’m so touched by this lovely poem. Keep them coming!