T3R2 - Not the droids you're looking for...

So I've accomplished a lot in the last couple of days. Knitting-wise, anyway.

Since I finished the legwarmers, I blocked the Pembroke (as always, yardstick for scale):

...I finished my third of five dissertation projects (my mid-point for the end of the month check-in):

Note how this shawlette takes up considerably less space than the gigantamous one above it. Two blocks barely covered vs. three above. Still, very pretty :)

I also made two blanket squares for our team unity project. One of our team members is assembling the squares into a blanket to donate to a veterans' charity. Anyway, the pictures are really dark because the yarn is a maroonish brown and it's kinda hard to see the patterns. We'll give it a go anyway:

This one's supposed to look like flames, and the one below is a repeating leaf pattern.

Finally, I cast on a basic pair of toe-up, two-at-a-time socks for my Nerd Culture crossover challenge. I bought some Knit Picks Felici in the colorway Time Traveler and I'm making these simple socks to show the colors inspired by the scarf Tom Baker wore as his tenure as the fourth Doctor. Even though these socks are bare-bones, I think the self striping and the colorway's inspiration will make them my favorite (and most wearable) socks to date. Granted, that's not saying much since I've only ever made two pairs previously.

Overall, Nerd Wars has been a great motivator for me. I love being on the Browncoats team. Not only is it nice to be doing as well as we are in the game (second place as of right now!) but the sheer enthusiasm of all my teammates for the game, for each other, for what the show means to so many people; it's really amazing. Also, for the crossover challenge this round, we're all exploring nerdoms that are unfamiliar, and it's quite extraordinary to hear from people who are just discovering the show and loving it. 

I could pontificate for hours on why Firefly means so much to me, and what it means to so many people, but I think I've probably been sappy enough for now. Suffice it to say, this new-re-found passion for fiber arts of mine has only been fueled by this silly game I love so much and encouraged by all the people I've met while doing it. I haven't been passionate about anything, really, since I graduated college jaded about academia and my area of study. This creative outlet has been an incredible boon for me, in filling my days and giving me purpose, to create things that can be appreciated by like-minded (dare I say?) artists. And the "deadlines" of this game help set structure for my left brain, making sure I get it all done in a timely fashion.

Phew, that was long winded. For that, I offer you David Tennant:

Big Damn Heroes!

So my team for Nerd Wars is in second place after the first round of play, trailing by only 16 points (which is pretty durn close). I'm super stoked.

Also, I finished my second of five projects for my dissertation (see previous post here for more info about my dissertation). I just have to finish one more by the end of the month (the pink shawl one) for my mid-way point. It's super exciting to be on a team that's doing so well!

Anyway, here's pics of my most recently finished projects (pop over to ravlery for pics from October...that stuff was sooo last month)

 

Love this tournament :)

Team BROWNCOAT!

Looks like I'm a big damn hero for this nerdwars tournament. Update to come soon for my dissertation...but for now I have to get ready for work.  Grr, arg!

Get ready for LOTS of pictures

I think the reason for my seriously lacking blogging skills is that my life is incredibly boring. Let's talk about the upcoming Nerd Wars Tournament.

I put in for Team TARDIS, Team Browncoats and Dumbledore's Army, but I'm on a huge Dr. Who kick right now, including the original series, so I'm really hoping to get that one. Regardless, I planned out my dissertation for all 3 teams, and I've already swatched. I'm just waiting until tomorrow to see which one I'm on before I write my proposal. I had a bag full of Knit Picks Stroll that I wanted to stash bust, so I'm planning 5 projects. I tailored my project choices so I could use them for any of my three team choices.  And presenting:

Giant stash...

First project: Froot Loop Gloves

So this project will represent one of three characters. I'm not going to go in depth about my reasoning, a) because I haven't really planned it all out yet and b) because I'm not going to work three times as hard as necessary. I'll find out what team I'm on tomorrow. I'm being zen, cool, not being a hugo nerd.
Amy Pond

Inara Serra

or Ginny Weasley

Project Two: Alpaca Sox Legwarmers

Three characters:

Martha Jones

River Tam

or Neville Longbottom (going a completely different direction with this one, but I couldn't exclude Neville)

Project number three! Ginkgo Shoulderette Shawl

Which will represent:

Rose Tyler

Kaylee Frye

or Luna Lovegood

Righto. Moving right along to project number four...Coupling

For:

River Song

Yosaffbridge

Ron Weasley

And the last project: Hourglass

Who will be:

Doctor Donna (Noble)

or Zoe

or Hermione Granger

Also, if I get on the Harry Potter team, of course I'll have to do a project for Harry, but since it's the only contingency for which I'd need a sixth project, I haven't swatched it.

Owlie Socks

Alright, that's the plan, now I just need to find out what team, write out my justifications and get started on the knitting! Super excited (if you can't tell).

On another note, I took this really awesome nerd test, which makes me pretty durn happy. I'm a highly dorky high nerd.

Summer's over?!?

I can't believe it's already the middle of August. I haven't posted since...well since my last day at USEF, so what does that tell you about the difference in my lifestyle working there and working exclusively as a waitress?

Anyway, a lot has happened this summer, including NERD WARS! As I wrote before, I'm on Team Bite Me, which is showing impressively around the middle of the table. Instead of recounting all of my projects for the tournament (some of which are pretty pathetic), I think I'll just share the highlights. (If you're unfamiliar with the tournament and want to learn more about it, check out their website).

Tournament 2, Round 1
For the 3D challenge in the Technical Category, I made an anatomically correct heart:

It was a really quick project that turned out very well. Project page here.

For the Team Spirit challenge, I made my first ever pair of socks, entitled My Vampire Boyfriend, in honor of my vampire boyfriend, Spike:

Mmmmm....man candy.

I completed three other project for that round, so if you're really interested, you can find them here.

Tournament 2, Round 2

This round, I managed to complete all six challenges and my dissertation mid-point check in. 

The Nerd Culture challenge was to show your love for another nerdom. I had just gotten a Kindle for my birthday, which I named the TARDIS (it's bigger on the inside, and it allows you to travel in time and space). With that kind of name, it needed an appropriate cover:

The Scientific challenge asked us to create an experiment and use the scientific method to report on the results. My experiment answered the age old question, which is cooler, sparkly vampires or sparkly socks? The socks won:

The last highlight I want to share didn't fit into the challenge very well (I didn't get a lot of bonus points), but the result is super cute so I want to share it anyway:

Isn't he adorable? I'm going to put him up for sale on etsy.

Tournament 2, Dissertation Mid-Point Check In
This was the halfway point for my Gwendolyn Shawl, until I decided that I wanted to do the big version after all, since I hadn't even used one ball of yarn by the halfway point. So now this more like the 1/3 check in. It's still pretty!

Alright folks, that's my link- and picture-heavy check in from the last days of summer!