- anthony_speaks

Hug a Tree!

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:59:56 -0700

Season's Greetings, Deadlings!

My brain isn't properly functioning, what with all the time zone changes (I'm in Connecticut at the moment, for those of you playing along at home) and the flu and the general insanity of the holidays, so all I have for you this week is this website from The Woodland Trust.

If you've ever wondered how old a tree was, knitting this scarf could help answer that question!

-Anthony

Don't mess with...aw fuck it.

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:40:31 -0700

Howdy Deadlings!

It's official, I've completed my move to Texas. That does not, however, mean I've completed my unpacking. Knowing me, that will never actually happen. In any case, I'm loving it here so far, and it's amazing to be able to wear shorts and flip-flops in December.

My new roommate pointed me in the direction of Cut Out + Keep which is something like Craftster except people submit step-by-step instructions with their crafts. I definitely recommend checking it out!

-Anthony

Muddy Waters

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:20:09 -0700

Greetings Deadlings!

I'm up to my eyeballs in packing and getting ready to move to Texas on Monday, but I still wanted to share this with you:

You may not believe it, but that's a ball of mud. No, seriously! It's nothing more than dirt and water.

It's a traditional Japanese pastime called hikaru dorodango and here are the instructions to make them, if you're interested in trying it yourself!

-Anthony

Cool Crafty Vid

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:38:47 -0700

Hey Deadlings,

No, I'm not dead, but life has been nutso lately, so I haven't posted in awhile. I'm sorry. Anyway, here's a cool video for everyone to watch. Go here (it's nothing scary, I promise) and click on the little roller that says "Enter Key" then type in "sweaterxxs" without the quotes. Anyone who's ever wondered about tiny knitting will finally get to see it in action!

Peace, love, and peanut butter,

-Anthony

Don't call me "pure soul." It irritates me.

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:35:07 -0700

Bright blessings, Deadlings!

It's the Solstice!!! That being said, why are you inside reading my blog?! Go outside and play! I swear this will all still be here when you get back.

Anyway, my new project is learning to embroider. I've been using the videos here (this link was posted in the forums a few months ago) to teach myself, and so far I think I understand the basics, so we'll see.

I don't have much else to say this week, Deadlings, so I'll leave you with that. I'm gonna go dance around naked under the moon...or something.

-Anthony

Qu'ils mangent de la brioche

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:32:34 -0700

Hello Deadlings!

So, my friend Becky and I made an AMAZING cake the other night. At first we though we may have totally failed in our baking endeavor, but the next day it was clear that we had created something incredible.

Needless to say, we're going to try again, write down the method to our madness, and I'm going to submit it for an upcoming issue. Everyone keep an eye out.

-Anthony

Art v. Craft

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 05:45:00 -0700

Hey Deadlings,

Sorry about the lack of a blog last week. I had a great one, but lack of the Internet kept me from sharing. I'm back online now, though, and I've even got something relevant to talk about!

Those of you who hang out in the forums may be aware of a discussion over the difference between art and craft. It's an old debate and one that, I'm sure, won't be resolved any time soon. It does get one thinking, though....

Is there any difference? If there is, who decides? The artist? The craftsperson? The government? I add that last option in because that's exactly what is done in Ireland.

A good friend of mine studied theatre in Ireland for three years. Now, in Ireland there is a tax exemption law applied to artists. More specifically, applied as an income tax exemption for sale of your art.

This law applies to people who are considered artists, like composers, sculptors, playwrights, and musicians.

It does not, however, apply to people who are viewed as craftsmen, such as dressmakers, graphic designers, jewelers, or actors, who still have to pay income tax.

If you ask me (and the craftspeople, if I had to guess) this doesn't seem fair at all. How can anyone, especially the government tell people what qualifies as art and what doesn't? The very definition of a craft is "an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill" so it would seem to me that craftspeople should qualify under the exemption law.

Of course, though, the words of some American blogger aren't going to change anything in Ireland, but it certainly makes one think.

-Anthony

Let the sun shine in.

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 24 May 2008 20:15:46 -0700

Hey hey hey, Deadlings!

So, it's finally gotten warm enough that I can go outside and play and to celebrate, I'm going to help a friend garden this weekend! I've never done this before, so I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be a nice change to make something grow after I have to help tear down the 'Hair' set tomorrow.

I recently stumbled onto a Geeky Knitting website and it's one of my new loves. I'm sure that, by now, everyone's seen the knitted nautiloids and the knitted digestive system, but how many of you would have though to encode the genome for red hair into a scarf? If you're feeling nerdy, go check it out, there's something for every discipline!

-Anthony

One Orange Julius and one wanton!

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 17 May 2008 20:24:04 -0700

Peace and love, Deadlings!

'Hair' has definitely gotten to me. I keep walking around singing "Hare Krishna" everywhere I go. So far I've seen the show four times, since I'm on crew. I hate our fly loft, though, so I usually bring a book to distract myself from the fact that it's so high up.

Anyway, I'm sitting here, eating my ramen (shut up, I like ramen!) and pondering all the different ways to prepare it. Typically, I doctor mine (or my roommates, depending who I'm cooking for) up something fierce. I don't remember the last time I just added the flavor packet and ate it.

I think that's why most people get so sick of it. I mean, with a little bit of added herbs and spices, ramen can be great! Chicken flavored with some garlic powder and a little dried parsley is just Italian enough that I don't feel like my ancestors are spinning in their graves.

Or, Oriental flavor, fried with some soy sauce and some carrots (or any other veggies you like) and cubes of chicken makes a great stir fry.

It's all in what you add to things that make them taste good. That's one of the first things I learned in cooking, so get out there and experiment!

-Anthony

A Mark, a Yen, a Buck, or a Pound....

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 10 May 2008 15:51:13 -0700

Hey Deadlings,

For anyone who's keeping score, everyone in the menagerie that is my apartment is still alive. Though the roommate and I have tried to dispatch each other several times so far.

Anyway, on to more topical subjects. Mother's Day is tomorrow and I'm six hours and a couple hundred miles away from mine. Not that it would matter much anyway, as I have no money to get my mother a gift this year. It makes me long for the days when I could just make something in art class or slap some glitter on a card and it was a heartfelt gift. Now that I'm in my 20s, it's not so acceptable to give my mom a pretty picture I drew.

I wonder why that shift happens. Shouldn't any handmade gift, regardless of what it is or how badly it's made be a good gift, as long as the intent was pure? I mean if I were to make her a card instead of buying one, I'm not saying I'd want her to hang it on the fridge (she wouldn't be able to anyway, her fridge is wood paneled) but there's always that fear that something store-bought would be better.

I suppose it all goes back to our society being so monetarily driven. Making something is nice, but buying something is better. The more money you spend, the more you're showing your love. Fuck that noise.

-Anthony

We're all mad here....

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 03 May 2008 21:46:27 -0700

Ho, Deadlings!

So, for anyone who's keeping track, I have moved. Not too far, only about fifteen minutes from where I was living before, but rent is tons cheaper, I have more space, only one roommate, and it's right across the street from the place I do summer theatre.

Lately, I've been reading about how to make perfume. I know, I know, we went over how I'm ALWAYS reading about how to do something new, but I like to learn. In any case, I think my summer project (along with getting in shape and learning to be a tumbler) is to start making my own perfume blends. It's a fairly straightforward process, it just takes a bit of time...but most things that are worth it do. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on how things go!

I've also been on the "chain mail as jewelery" train lately, and am almost finished with a necklace I'm making a friend for her birthday. It's very calming to make chains. Almost...meditative, in fact. Of course, I'll get into my Zen groove and then my roommate's bird will squawk because I'm not paying any attention to it and scare the crud out of me.

I hate that bird...maybe I should start looking into how to do taxidermy?

-Anthony

Movin' right along...

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:14:42 -0700

Hey Deadlings,

You never truly realize how much stuff you have until you're packing it all up to move. So far it's been a Rubbermaid tote and a garbage bag full of knitting stuff, another tote full of fabric and more yarn, a tote of costume pieces, my sewing kit (which isn't a kit, it's a toolbox), my make-up kit (another toolbox), two guitars, and more clothing than I can even contemplate. And there's still more.

I don't know what it is about us as crafters that compels us to buy crafting supplies, even when we have more than we could possibly need already. Maybe, deep down, it means that we're all hoarders. Throwbacks from Ancient Egypt when the Pharaohs were buried with their possessions so they would have them in the Afterlife.

Or, maybe we're all just reincarnated rats and spiders and magpies, endlessly weaving and accumulating until, one day, we're found amongst our various tools and supplies, in the middle of making that one last scarf or winding that one last ball of yarn.

From now on, I'm going to make a real effort to bust my stash. I have too many unfinished projects that are longing to see the light of day.

Sorry to get depressing on everyone, but I looked outside and it's snowing again after a week of wonderful sunny weather. I'm more than ready for summer.

-Anthony

Masquerade, paper faces on parade....

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:25:44 -0700

Hey Deadlings,

I know it seems like I'm onto some new craft project every time I post, and this is no different. Every year, the theatre departments hosts a formal for all the theatre students, and this year's theme is "A Midnight Masquerade." Of course, us being theatre kids, none of us can resist dressing up and we've all been hard at work on our masks.

All, except me, that is.

I'm stuck. Totally and completely stuck. I have no idea what to do, where to go for inspiration, or even what shape to cut my mask in. I wish I had finished my face casting from make-up class, then I could do something crazy that was specially fitted to me. At least I have another week before it has to be done. Hopefully I can pick up some supplies tonight and play around. I love having a Michael's within ten minutes of my house.

-Anthony

I can't think spring any harder, damn it!

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:12:07 -0700

Allo, allo Deadlings!

So, we just got a bunch more snow here. Like, enough that we had a snow day on Friday. A day I don't have classes, of course, but still. A snow day. In fucking April. It's begun to melt some, but it feels more like February than April. So, what's a starving actor to do but knit!

I've been had at work on finishing up the Big Bad Wolf Pullover from "DomiKNITrix" and I've got the sleeves and almost all the back finished. Soon, I'll have to start on the front, and I've never successfully done intarsia before, so I'm a bit nervous. I'm definitely one of those people who likes to get things right the first time or I say "fuck it" but I've put so much time and energy into this damn sweater that I'm worried I'm going to panic if something goes wrong.

In any case, I'm pretty damn proud of what I have so far, and I'll be sure to post some pictures once I'm finished...no promises that it'll be anytime soon, though.

Anyone have any intarsia disasters they want to share?

-Anthony

You can't solve me so easily!

anthony@theanticraft.com (Anthony Ascione) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:01:35 -0700

Hey there, Deadlings!

It's been awhile since I've blogged, I know. I'm bad, punish me for it later.

I've recently taken up the hobby of making chainmail. I've been practicing with some finer gauged (24 instead of 12) wire, just to get the feel of how things go. Yesterday I decided that I was ready to try with the heavy duty stuff so I went to Menards to get what I needed. It was, quite honestly, the first time I ever walked into a hardware store knowing EXACTLY what I wanted.

Apparently, Menards doesn't carry 12 gauge galvanized steel wire. After being redirected to two different departments, I eventually had to give up because no one knew what I was talking about. And you can just imagine the weird looks I got when I told them I wanted it for chainmail.

The moral of this story, dear readers, is: if you can just as easily order it online, that's what I'd recommend. Sometimes, it's the better option.