Hello. I'm Carrie

2011-11-01T16:58:00.001-06:00

IMG_0998.JPG

2010-08-11T19:13:00.001-05:00

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Originally uploaded by lifelikethis_photos

Outside the apartment.

2009-07-21T12:02:00.001-05:00

I'm pretty sure my roommate drew this. Judging by the chalk on our kitchen counter.

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A down day.

2009-07-21T12:00:00.001-05:00

A Borgia (mocha plus orange peel. iced perfection.) and dandilions after a nice long morning walk.

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Oh Seattle, you're so considerate with your large hills of pain.

2009-07-21T11:08:00.001-05:00

Note the grooved pavement for traction.

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Sorry for the inactivity.

2009-07-18T11:44:00.001-05:00

I've been too distracted by this. Yup, I live here.

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Presenting the Portfolio Cozy!

2009-06-16T12:33:00.003-05:00

What is sure to be all the rage this year in up and coming designers. The portfolio cozy! It's embroidered! It's quilted! It keeps your portfolio hot!

I swear, these will get better.

2009-06-16T02:15:00.002-05:00

I hope.

Annnnd LENS FLARE!

The Ultimate Guilty Pleasure of a Graphic Designer

2009-06-11T00:28:00.003-05:00

PHOTOSHOP FILTERS!!!!

My goal is to do one a day, and I will post the result, no matter how corny and horrible, here. Play along at home if you like!

PLUS they're wallpaper sized!

(Click for full size detail. Damn you blogger platform, and your photo limitations.)

"Space isn't remote at all. It's only an hour's drive away if your car could go straight upwards." Fred Hoyle

And somethign to do in Duvall!

2009-06-10T01:26:00.001-05:00

So I'm making a new portfolio case to amp up my interview presentation, and of course, because it's me, I'm embroidering it. There starts the hunt for transfer paper! So I made my way to Duvall, a town about 7 miles from where I'm staying. I found my transfer paper at an adorable quilting shop, and I found this: the most amazing bookstore I've ever been in. Ever.

There were model dinosaurs, boxes and boxes of old post cards, children's books, and walls of National Geographics. See the old tree stump in the first photo? It has marks on it showing events It was older than the United States when it was cut down. There were encyclopedias on space and aliens, plants, geography, mountains of mystery novels, and a box labeled "nudies" that had old 1950's men's fitness magazines in it. There was even a box labeled "books to make art from" with geographical and botanical drawings in it. *sigh* Oh, Love. I will be back.

I got this atlas for 50 cents. Hurray! I'll be back for a set of encyclopedias some day...

And some portfolio case teasers. My fingers hurt from embroidering....

Something to do when life is making you lonely.

2009-06-05T18:37:00.005-05:00

Take a trip to the Soulfood book and coffee shop in Renton, Washington. (Ignore their papyrus logo)

Get a wonderful and refillable $2 iced coffee from a fantastically new age barista.

Settle into a wonderfully overstuffed chair and read, knit, and sip whilst listening to some calming yet funky, sitar influenced rap. (MC Yogi.)

Browse their selection of new age, religious, and philosophy books. (Found the Te of Piglet!)

And take a trip to the bathroom for some reaffirmation.

I think I forgot to mention the houseboat.

2009-06-04T00:28:00.005-05:00

If you, my friend, did not know this about me; I want to live on a houseboat someday. In fact, it is one of my life goals. (a list which is not complete, and hopefully never will be. one should always have a new goal.)

It's not often, at this point in my life, that I get to be on a houseboat, so when my new friend Zophie (whom I will link to when I finally find her etsy shop) asked if I'd like to hang out with her friends who have a houseboat on Lake Union, I jumped at the chance. (They were very nice people, btw. I very much hope to see them again.) Pictures follow, and they by no means live up to real life. This boat had the most gorgeous view of downtown Seattle, and was right next to Gas Works Park.

In fact if you look here:

View Larger Map
See the left hand dock? Look on the very end, near the bottom of the page. On the right hand side of the dock is a sail boat. On the left hand side, at second from the end, is the boat we were on.

Its amazing what you find when you Google yourself.

2009-05-30T12:51:00.006-05:00

Holy crap! I was google analyzing my website to see if people have been looking at my portfolio. It's a pretty good result, and the most interesting part is the report on how people find you through Google. I am readily accessible when searching "Carrie Phillips Design." Yipee!

I also discovered my humble little quote from Quotes on Design made it onto Design Was Here, a design website I follow. There I am right next to Steve Jobs and Don Norman. I'm so flattered! Really.

Hello world!

Rather Rainbow

2009-05-29T15:50:00.002-05:00

My shawl is finished! I've been a woman obsessed. It turned out a bit larger than expected, but I'm still pleased. It's about three feet by two and a half feet. I’ve affectionately started referring to it as my gay pride shawl.

Seriously. If Godzilla’s mom needed something to wear to her son's gay wedding (c-mon, you know it’s true. He’s just obsessed with pretty ladies cause he likes there fashionable vintage swimming suits) this would be her shawl.

Its laminaria from knitty. Made from 160 grans if Kauni 8/2 weight in colorway EQ. (aka, rainbow madness) Estonian yarn, Estonian pattern with a twist! Perfect.

An Evening of Quotes!

2009-05-26T22:59:00.003-05:00

Greetings blog-o-sphere!

Here are some design related quotes you might enjoy from Quotes on Design!
(If you search really hard on that website, you'll find something from yours truly.)

Have a beautiful evening!

2009-05-26T22:46:00.002-05:00

Hello all! Things are going swimmingly. Hunting for a j. o. b. and enjoying Seattle Summer. Over Memorial Day weekend, I went to the San Juan Islands with the relatives I'm staying with. Unfortunately, I'm not much of a picture taker, so I don't have photographic evidence. I do have the beginnings of a farmers tan. I fixed my pretty blue bike today. (Schwinn Sprint in bright blue. Pretty sure he's as old as I am, if not a couple years my senior.) Planning on taking a trail ride with him on Thursday.

I have a job interview tomorrow at a paper store. (Hurray! More retail...) And if things go well, you all can read about my apartment hunt/decorating adventures!

In crafting news, my rainbow shawl (which I refer to in my brain as my gay pride shawl) is almost done! Pictures soon! The pattern is lamanaria from knitty.

In the meantime, here are some pictures!

This is my mom. This is also the first picture I took from my iphone. I know this'll embarrass her, but it makes me laugh. I love it. Love you mom!

These are California Poppies, a weed flower that is blooming right now. I think they are the perfect shade of orange. They are beautiful mixed with the purple lupins that grow along the roadside.

Tyssa, the last night I saw her in Minneapolis! I miss her so much!

Think about it.

2009-05-22T11:53:00.003-05:00

via swiss miss
by Jennifer Daniel

Thoughts on New Glasses Take Two?

2009-05-19T22:42:00.001-05:00

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The Great Puget Sound LYS Tour

2009-05-18T13:30:00.009-05:00

For the past 4 days I've been doing the Puget Sound Local Yarn Store Tour. The goal is to visit 23 (countem, 23) local yarn stores and obtain a stamp from each. See those ones on the top left? The northern-most one is about 2 miles from the boarder crossing into Canada.

(I did them all!)

You are then entered in a drawing to win FABULOUS PRIZES! You also get a free pattern from each yarn store and sometimes other loot.

(the loot)

Nerdy? Yes.
Mountain Drives? Yes.
Ferry Rides? Yes.
New Friends: Yes.
Fantastic? Yes.

Yesterday I went to Bainbridge Island to Churchmouse yarns and Esther's fabric with a fantastic new person. It was gorgeous. I think I have the beginnings of a sun tan.

The rest of the tour was unbelieveable too:
Thursday I went to almost Canada and waded in Puget Sound during low tide.

(So)

(Beautiful)

Friday I took the bus to the University district, Ballard, Green Lake and Queen Anne, walked many hills, ate Sushi and made new friends.

Saturday, I got lost in West Seattle, drove up the steepest hill I've ever seen in my life and found Issaquah, where I have an interview on Wednesday.

(My spoils and the start of an Estonian shawl made from Estonian yarn. Oh, love.)

I pretty much need to be making these soon.

2009-05-18T13:08:00.001-05:00

via twig and thistle

Oh look: I'm on a ferry.

2009-05-17T12:30:00.001-05:00

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Forget Me Not!

2009-05-15T14:34:00.001-05:00

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Bus Stop Inspirstion, Woodinville, Wa.

2009-05-15T13:01:00.001-05:00

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Done Manifesto

2009-05-13T01:18:00.002-05:00

1. There are three states of being. Not knowing, action and completion.
2. Accept that everything is a draft. It helps to get it done.
3. There is no editing stage.
4. Pretending you know what you’re doing is almost the same as knowing what you are doing, so just accept that you know what you’re doing even if you don’t and do it.
5. Banish procrastination. If you wait more than a week to get an idea done, abandon it.
6. The point of being done is not to finish but to get other things done.
7. Once you’re done you can throw it away.
8. Laugh at perfection. It’s boring and keeps you from being done.
9. People without dirty hands are wrong. Doing something makes you right.
10. Failure counts as done. So do mistakes.
11. Destruction is a variant of done.
12. If you have an idea and publish it on the internet, that counts as a ghost of done.
13. Done is the engine of more.

via kit sune noir

I got plugged!

2009-05-12T23:07:00.003-05:00

I forgot to mention! While I was on my cross country trip, the dear owner of Lunalux wrote about me! Well, specifically my series of letterpress posters.

See the first three of the series here.

There's two more: the one featured on the lunalux blog (below) and
"What to write about,
Antidisestablishmen-,
Wait, that doesn't fit."

Read about it here!

Woods IV

2009-05-07T23:18:00.001-05:00

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Woods III

2009-05-07T23:17:00.001-05:00

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Woods II

2009-05-07T23:16:00.001-05:00

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Woods

2009-05-07T17:18:00.001-05:00

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New Glasses!

2009-05-06T20:35:00.001-05:00

I need opinions! You see, I can bring them back if I decide they are horrible.

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Oh yes, I'm still alive.

2009-05-05T16:39:00.003-05:00

So I forgot to mention: I'm still alive and well. Settling into my dear aunt and uncle's home in Woodinville, WA where there are many places to walk and bike. I've replaced my broken glasses, and am hard at work updating the resume and website. One of these days, I'll make the 20 mile bike trek to downtown Seattle.

I'm trying to decided if I should hold out for full time employment and hope it's in an area I like, or find some sort of retail job in Seattle Proper and go from there.

More notes soon!

Pacific Time Zone & Idaho!

2009-05-02T20:57:00.002-05:00

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Taped glasses.

2009-05-02T20:56:00.001-05:00

They look much worse now, after a second layer of tape applied in Cor d'Alene. I went there next in search of new frames. It was very pretty, but I will say no more. My experience was not good.

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2009-05-02T20:51:00.001-05:00

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Superior, MT

2009-05-02T20:50:00.001-05:00

I woke up and my motel was on the side of a mountain! In you are ever in need of a place to stay in Western Montana, do consider the Hilltop Motel.

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Almost to Superior, MT

2009-05-01T21:30:00.001-05:00

I might be in love with Montana.

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Oh. My. God.

2009-05-01T20:35:00.001-05:00

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This is a frozen lake.

2009-05-01T20:25:00.001-05:00

I may me in the mountains.

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Anaconda, MT no joke

2009-05-01T20:01:00.001-05:00

On scenic route 1. Have passed Wisdom and Opportunity. Also a hot springs and a warm springs. am hoping for a cool springs next...

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This is why Montana doesn't need the worlds largest buffalo.

2009-05-01T19:39:00.001-05:00

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See what I mean?

2009-05-01T18:54:00.001-05:00

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Uptown Butte

2009-05-01T18:37:00.001-05:00

It really is up. NOTHING is open.

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1000 mile mark

2009-05-01T16:57:00.001-05:00

I hit the 1000 mile mark while going through these mountains. Montana makes me a little teary. Quick stop in Bozeman to check the bike and off I go!

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Prairie Dogs!

2009-05-01T15:18:00.001-05:00

You can't really see them, but those two lighter tan specks are lounging praire dogs. They were all cherping like birds. Alas no better photos, but I'm more a believer in an experience than a picture.

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On my way!

2009-05-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

I survived the cheap hotel. Prairie Dogs next!

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Theodore Roosevelt National Park

2009-04-30T23:45:00.001-05:00

It was AMAZING here. Sadly, the light was bad for more photos. Really great painted rock plateaus.

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North Dakota is really beautiful.

2009-04-30T23:42:00.001-05:00

I could totally move here one day and paint rolling hills.

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Somewhere in North Dakota...

2009-04-30T20:07:00.002-05:00

Carrie runs out of gas because the scenery was more interesting than her gas gauge. She runs 2 miles on fumes to Hebron. A tiny town with a very large graveyard.
Creepy.
Also entered Mountain Time Zone.
Music: The Eagles

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Just east of Bismark.

2009-04-30T18:21:00.001-05:00

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North Dakota is perdy.

2009-04-30T16:33:00.001-05:00

I'm really enjoying this part of the drive. Much better than the Fargo area. There's still some snow and lost of rolling hills. I think I'm up for a time change soon. Off Bon Jovi and I go! Next stop: Bismark.

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World's Largest Buffalo!

2009-04-30T16:31:00.001-05:00

Amazing! I could see him from the highway.

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Jamesville, ND

2009-04-30T16:25:00.001-05:00

What's this? Must see!

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North Dakota!

2009-04-30T14:30:00.001-05:00

It is very windy here, but they have Space Aliens who serve you food. I very much enjoyed the magical change of licence plates from Minnesota to North Dakota.

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Music Starts

2009-04-30T12:52:00.001-05:00

Everyone needs some Paul Simon in their life.

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It sure is pretty.

2009-04-30T12:15:00.003-05:00

Now I find the lakes. Right as I'm leaving the state.

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I am here.

2009-04-30T12:15:00.001-05:00

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First stop.

2009-04-30T12:13:00.001-05:00

Somewhere west of Avon. Listening to Ella Fitzgerald on AM radio. It must be said: this is hilarious.

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The Car

2009-04-29T14:40:00.001-05:00

You can't quite see it, but it's STUFFED. Do you like my pot that wouldn't fit? It may ride with me in the front.

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On the Road Again

2009-04-29T10:32:00.002-05:00

Hello faithful followers! As if I haven't mentioned about 50 times, I'm moving to Seattle! Which means ROADTRIP!!!

I'll be posting photos from my new fancy phone for you to follow along. There will be rolling plains, mountains, tourist attractions, and hopefully some prairie dogs.

Enjoy!

Swap package of cuteness!

2009-04-27T18:45:00.001-05:00

Hurray! Just sent by a fellow ravelrer and pushing daisies enthusiest. Perfect!

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My life in boxes.

2009-04-27T09:08:00.001-05:00

iPhone test

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Help the cats!

2009-04-13T21:25:00.001-05:00

As most of my (few) readers know, I'm moving to Seattle at the end of the month! Huzzah!

Unfortunately, my plan for my cats has had to change recently. So I need a home/place for them. I hate to give them up, but I may have no choice. Anyone have any ideas! They are very good boys!

Immigration on 30 Days

2009-04-05T23:49:00.003-05:00

If you have some time, give this a watch. It made me very happy and very sad at the same time. Well worth it.

A man who has staunch anti-immigration views and is a member of the Minutemen lives with a family of illegal immigrants.

2009-04-04T21:34:00.001-06:00

via swiss miss via platform 21

Error Message Haikus!

2009-04-03T12:22:00.002-06:00

I spent today working on my haiku posters at Lunalux. In my interweb searches, I found Microsoft error messages in haiku form! Here's a sampling. It made my day:

In Japan, they have replaced the impersonal and unhelpful Microsoft error messages with Haiku poetry messages. Haiku poetry has strict construction rules - each poem has only 17 syllables; 5; syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, 5 in the third. They are used to communicate a timeless message, often achieving a wistful, yearning and powerful insight through extreme brevity. The essence of Zen:

The website you seek
Cannot be located but
Countless more exist

Your file was so big
It might be very useful
But now it is gone

Chaos reigns within
Reflect, repent and reboot
Order shall return

Program aborting
Close all that you have worked on
You ask far too much

Windows NT crashed
I am the Blue Screen of Death
No-one hears your screams

Yesterday it worked
Today it is not working
Windows is like that

First snow, then silence
This thousand-dollar screen dies
So beautifully

With searching comes loss
And the presence of absence
"My Novel" not found

The Tao that is seen
Is not the true Tao until
You bring fresh toner

Stay the patient course
Of little worth is your ire
The network is down

A crash reduces
Your expensive computer
To a simple stone

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes and lost data
Guess
which has occurred

You step in the stream
But the water has moved on
This page is not here

Out of memory
We wish to hold the whole sky
But we never will

Having been erased
The document you're seeking
Must now be retyped

Serious error
All shortcuts have disappeared
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.

I'm pretty sure the opening paragraph is a bunch of crap, but I love the idea. So much more peaceful than normal, scary error messages.

Wine FAIL

2009-04-01T21:18:00.001-06:00

So Mandi's parents gave her wine. We tried to open it today. FAIL.

That is all.

2009-04-01T19:39:00.004-06:00

Inspired by this, I made my own list of life lessons.
(Click image for a closer view. Blogger won't let me make it larger)

Including a preview of new knits! It's Lonco Multy in the seafoam stitch pattern. I plan to make it into a shrug. Hopefully, it'll be my first free pattern!

Little Bits I

2009-03-30T21:17:00.004-06:00

Promised Knitting

2009-03-27T22:35:00.005-06:00

Recent knitting:

Clapotis out of some beautiful Noro Cotton

Owls Sweater out of Cascade Eco Wool and buttons from Crafty Planet. I'm very pleased. The pattern was a little wonky, but luckily I modified it better. Hoot!

And finally, a garter stitch cowl. Worsted handspun by a girl in my knitting group, doubled on size 13 needles. CO 30 st. Knit away!

More non-recent knitting soon. I finally got photos off my camera!
I'm also planning a photo series I call "little bits" to commemorate my last month in Minnesota.

New Website!

2009-03-27T16:00:00.003-06:00

I forgot to mention! I have my new portfolio website up! Check it out at carriephillips.net. I still need to get one link worked out.

Food for thought

2009-03-26T23:00:00.006-06:00

"Only when the last tree is cut down;
Only when the last river is poisoned;
Only when the last fish is caught;
Will we discover that money cannot be eaten."
-Cree Prophecy

Also, my dear Mandi told me of Academic Earth today. You can watch lectures from Berkeley, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale online. I'm starting with Civil War history.

Chomp Chomp says my brain.

Knitting photos soon, my pigeons!

Just a little something I've been working on. Enjoy!

2009-03-19T11:39:00.008-06:00

Also, click here for something somewhat embarrassing.

Letterpress Letterpress Letterpress

2008-11-03T09:56:00.013-06:00

(As if you all didn't know) I love letterpress printing. So much. I love the impression it makes, I love the process, I love how the type looks etc. etc. etc. So it makes me wonderfully happy that I'm interning at Lunalux Letterpress Studio. And then to add to the happiness, I did some holiday cards for the shop! You can check them out here: Lunalux Blog. I'm really excited about them. I printed a few sets of three on the same paper as well, and I think they work nicely as a set. It was a lot of fun to run the Vandercook Press, and I'm hoping I can find the time to print some things for myself on it with Lunalux's collection of wood and lead type. I'd love to make my snarky holiday cards happen. (Worst Wishes, Merry Who Cares and Happy Whatever)

In other Lunalux/letterpress news: I will be at the Walker on Thursday, November 6th for Lunalux. They are screening a documentary about the Hamilton Wood Type Museum. More info at the Walker Website. I'm really excited to see the movie and talk to letterpress people. Plus, Bill, the fantastic person who organized my trip to Europe earlier the summer, is speaking. If you're there, come look for Kitty and I!

Lastly. Letterpress as furniture!? Please consider: The coffee table

and the spice rack (made from a lead type tray)

I'm alright with the spice rack, but the coffee table strangely bothers me. One, I feel like real wood type should be used to print things, and two, The Crate and Barrel imitation is just sort of ugly. I am not a fan. I may try to make one the spice racks though.

Symmetry

2008-11-03T01:59:00.005-06:00

Right

Left

I SHOULD be asleep, but I'm up watching movies and thinking about symmetry. Yes, that's right SYMMETRY. They say that, biologically, one measure of human attraction is how symmetrical one is. However, if your face was perfectly symmetrical, you'd actually look a little strange. And like an entirely different person. So I give you the symmetry experiment.

Original

I'd love to post a few more of these. Send me some suggestions for famous people or a photo of your face!

...

2008-10-28T11:58:00.002-06:00

Very busy life. Too much work. Will change soon. Am keeping a record/dumping ground of inspiration here: crazy-carrie.blogspot.com

Things that have happened and are in store:

1) SCARF

2) Fancy Cable Mitts for Mel. Should be done tonight!

3) Homemade reusable napkins!

4) Circle Cape Projects

5) No more JoAnn! New full time job (with benefits) at Thymes.

6) New sewing machine!

Bright Lights, Big City

2008-08-07T19:41:00.006-05:00

So, I know there has been inactivity recently, but I've been busy. Both crafting and otherwise.

I'm working at the Thymes and now at JoAnn Fabrics, so combined it's almost full time! I'm also still working at Lunalux, (Look, I'm famous again!) and I've started volunteering again at the Textile Center. All is well, and crafty and designy in my life. Thus, I'm happy.

I've got a few online discoveries that make me glad inside that I'd like to share, and then I will follow with my latest project. Go!

The Noisy Plume simply makes me happy. She is a metalsmith I found on etsy, and her blog is artfully written and whimsical. It makes me smile to read it, and I'm determined to save up for a custom ring from her like the one below.

Also these. They pretty much speak for themselves in their amazingness.

And finally, in knitting news, I've been seaming the Knit for Obama afghan. We're (a knitting group on Ravelry) raffling it off as an Obama campaign fund raiser through his website.

We did an afghan for the primaries that raised $8000, so we're hoping to get at least that if not much much more!

A Few More Things I Love.

2008-07-15T11:58:00.003-05:00

These are worth looking at...

Tempest

Renegade Craft Fairs

The Bubble Roome

American Face

Look, Ma! I'm Famous!

2008-07-09T19:36:00.002-05:00

Lunalux

Good News Everyone!

2008-07-07T16:22:00.003-05:00

Job! Huzzah! I'll be interning at Thymes. Mostly, I'll be kerning things and going on press checks, but everyone needs a start somewhere, right?

Here are some long awaited photos from Europe also.

(Yes, that is a Futurama reference. I was unimpressed with the new movie, sadly. Also Hancock kind of sucked. Sad, sad times.)

Recipe of the Week 002: Fried Cous Cous with Bok Choy

2008-07-03T00:02:00.003-05:00

Well looks like these aren't going to be weekly. ^_^ Also, regretfully, no photos this time again, cause my batteries aren't working at the moment.

Without further ado:

-1.5 cups cooked cous cous (Day old, chilled works best, but whatever you have to work with. This is about .75 cups uncooked.
-5-7 stalks of Bok Choy
-1 can kidney beans (or whatever kind of beans you have laying around)
-3 eggs
-olive oil
-5ish cloves of garlic, crushed
-spices & salt to taste (I used "Old Bay Seasoning" which appears to be some sort of secret recipe involving celery salt, mustard, pepper, ginger, cloves and all spice.)
-Large frying pan or wok

Chop bok choy into bite size pieces. Cook in frying pan with a little bit of oil for about 10 minutes.

Add cous cous, beans, seasoning, and a little bit more oil. Stir occasionally for about 5 minutes over medium heat. Cover and let cook for 5 minutes. The cous cous should be beginning to brown slightly and the oil should be gone at this point. If not, simply cook longer.

Add eggs. Do not stir. Cover for 5 minutes, until eggs are partially cooked. Stir over heat until eggs are fully cooked. Add seasoning as you go to taste.

How do I even do this?

2008-06-25T21:27:00.012-05:00

Graduation proofs. Could my hat get any more crooked? And what's with the double chin action? I swear, I have a turtle reflex whenever I see camera in my peripherals. I don't even know who that old man with the blue beauty queen sash is either. And they expect me to PAY for these? Only $39.95 for 2 5x7's!

Also, I sort of look like I'm drunk and balding....

Beer on a Bike

2008-06-24T21:22:00.006-05:00

Today I figured out how to fit a 12 pack of bottled beer in my messenger bag and bike home with it.
In a skirt.
That's right.
Who's awesome? I am.

In other news: 100purewool updated their website and got branding! It's not particularly spectacular, but they were working off a basic html site before. I'm super happy. It's actually user friendly now. If you knit/crochet, you should really consider ordering from them. Reasonable, fast shipping, (especially from S. America) pretty damn good price for what you get, (seriously, the softest yarn I've ever knit with.) plus, order from them once, and you get monthly discount emails! I just got one for $6.00 skeins! Not only all that, but the wool is all hand dyed and they sell for sheep co-ops in Uruguay. No joke.

I'm knitting this shawl with this pink stuff right now.

Recipe of the Week 001: Oatmeal Banana Pancakes.

2008-06-22T10:11:00.002-05:00

As a new feature on the Carrie Phillips blog, I'm putting up a recipe every week! This week: Banana Pancakes.

Those aren't actually mine: I ate them all before I decided I should take a photo.

At any rate, here's the recipe. It's actually healthy! Look how little sugar and butter is in it! I got about 15 pancakes out of one batch. Best served with nectarine, a little bit of margarine, and cafe con leche.

1.5 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick oats
.25 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
.5 tsp baking soda
.25 tsp salt
1.25 cups milk
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas, mashed
3 tbsp butter, melted
2 tsp vanilla
1TB cinnamon (optional)

Mash bananas and melt butter.
Mix bananas, milk, eggs, vanilla and butter. Slowly add the dry ingredients until you have a pancake batter consistency. Add more cinnamon and vanilla to taste. Cook on an oiled skillet over a medium/low heat: the insides of the pancakes take a while to cook. Enjoy!

I made a double batch and have been eating them for breakfast for the past 3 days.

Cool Cool Summer.

2008-06-20T11:16:00.005-05:00

Well I'm back from Europe! It was amazing and full of typography and fantastic cheese. Well, I only had two kinds of fantastic cheese, but I'm assuming there was more about.
Stories and pictures soon.

Currently, I'm a crafting/cleaning/cooking maniac. I'm taking until Monday to look for a job; I sort of need a break. My first stop is going to be the area yarn stores. Yes.
Design-wise, I got an internship at lunalux letterpress studio in Loring Park, Minneapolis. I start Tuesday.

I'm really excited for the internship. My Adventures in Typography trip gave me some perspective on design, I think. I've been so wrapped up in frantically finishing projects and feeling pressure to find a "good design job," that I forgot why I started going to school for graphic design: because I love it. My tastes have changed a bit from what I though I would want to do when I started school, but I still love parts of design. I love things that are handmade, unique and not corporately mass produced. I will be far more happy working for a place like lunalux or a small design firm than I would at a larger firm. I want to see where the wind takes me, and I'm sure I'll be able to earn a living doing it. Of course, ideally, I still want to make yarn porn for a living, move to Seattle, and go to grad school.

At any rate, will post Europe photos later when I sift through them. Only the best for my neglected blog! Also photos of my new baby: His Lordship Scottford W. Oslo the Illustrious. (new best friend to Archduke Remmington T. Paws the Third) And finally, knitting photos: socks, a new hood, and wips.

I leave you with a short hairvolution of Carrie (The past 2.5ish years.) I'm off to make oatmeal banana pancakes and finish knitting a neon turquoise sock!

Valentines 2 years ago.

Undocumented Brief Short Brown Period.

January 07

March 07

February 08

April 08

June 08

It just hit me.

2008-05-15T10:18:00.002-05:00

No more class! Well until grad school, but there's a lot I want to do between grad school and now. Not much knitting going on, but I've got a large stash to whittle down over the summer, and lots of friends who simply need knit goods before I move. Which I'm going to. I refuse to spend another winter here. I simply won't do it. I'm thinking West. Perhaps Seattle, Portland or something like that. I decided I belong in the Pacific North West.

So instead of knitting news, I'm going to make a knitting list.
Gretchen: stripey multi colored Noro scarf. (3/4 done!)
Tyssa: "Scarf Scarf Scarf" scarf in black and white.
Mel: white fancy cable mittens
Meg: peasant cap
Katie: Undecided, perhaps mittens: she looks adorable in mittens
Elisa: Undecided, perhaps a scarf: she's been wearing the same one for 3 years
Viv: Undecided, but no worries: the girl looks good in everything.
Michael: Yup, he needs knit goods. What? I don't know. Something black.
Sarah: Not sure. hrm.
Jodi: Stuffed animals! She's due in 6 months!

Busy Busy Bee.

2008-04-30T12:11:00.005-05:00

Holy balls, I've been slacking. It's been a crazy semester. I'll be done in two weeks, then jetting to Europe for Travels in Typography. Excitement!

View Larger Map
map

itinerary

In design news I've been working all semester on branding Portland. Examples below.

Knitting: I knit a sock! That's right. Just one. The other one is going to have to wait until the end of the semester. Also half a sweater. I've misplaced the back at the moment. I'm thinking its buried in the living room. Meg is living in the living room until Thursday; it has to be in there.

Ohmigod pretty!

2008-02-26T00:50:00.002-06:00

Personal Identity (2)

2008-02-25T12:37:00.001-06:00

This is the personal identity I'm working on for myself as a graphic designer. Here's the letterhead and bus. card so far. Much too busy to write more!

It makes me smile.

2008-02-11T10:38:00.000-06:00

Car! Yay! I drove to work today! Yay! Yayayaya!

Alright, that shenanigans done, I have a car! Will post pictures when I, um, clean it. Also, I have pictures for y'alls.

This is my roommate. This is what she gets for using my computer and leaving pictures behind. ^_~

Also, cats!

This is Ada. She is adorable and soft.

This is Ada and Remmy. This is the closest they can get to each other without much snorting and hissing.

I'm not much farther on my sweater, sadly. The back is about 5cm from being done.
As for class, I'm working on research of Seattle for a giant branding project. Did you know it has the second highest GLBT population per capita after San Francisco? Cause I didn't. Also, I found that out about a week and a half ago and nothing sense. I have been procrastinating just a little bit. Also, still saving trash for Jasper and keeping up the spending journal. Not well, but keeping it up. I'm a little disgusted with how much politics/religious views get brought up in that class. I shouldn't matter in the working world, so it shouldn't matter in college.

I'm working on a few small ads too: here's one for Socktopus for Ravelry. (best. website. ever.)

I'm also doing some work for JollyJumbuck and a supersecret project for my boss at Bootleggers.

Class, Eddie Izzard and Urchin.

2008-01-26T10:37:00.002-06:00

School has started, there are flurries outside, and I'm back at Bootleggers. Mental state back intact. Success!

I'm taking Senior Seminar, Graphic Design 4, and Portfolio this semester. It's gonna be a rough one, but it's the last one, so I think I'll live. I'm planning on taking a study abroad class in Mayterm for my last 4 credits. I really hope the trip happens. I kind of ... need it to happen.

The only thing going on with classes as of now is garbage collecting. That's right. You heard me. Garbage collecting. It's actually a project for Senior Seminar dealing with consumerism. I'm pretty excited about it. We're collecting our trash and documenting our spending for the next 2 weeks. (I think it's two weeks.) You can see my progress here: Carrie-Consumer.

Also, I need to come up with a city to brand for GD4. I'm thinking Seattle cause I'm going there over spring break. That means tomorrow is a research day! Yay...

On a knitting note: have half a back for the Cap Sleeve Cardi done. I made a modified Urchin out of bright purple cotton the other day too. It probably wasn't the best choice for a hat, cotton that is. It didn't take the shape well, but the crown has a nice little start on it. I'm going to try it again with some Malabrigo I have left over from my Lady E.

Will post photos tomorrow if I get enough Seattle research done.

Oh! Also, saw Across the Universe last night for free at Coffman! Amazing! Trippy! Beautiful! I'ma be running on the inspiration for a WHILE. Also, there was Eddie Izzard.

I really need to update this more often.

2008-01-26T10:37:00.001-06:00

Photos from a REAL Graphic Designer (almost)

2008-01-11T10:14:00.000-06:00

Here are some photos from the final fair isle cafe stationary system. I think it turned out pretty cute. ^__^

Also, I have design prospects! Some adverts for socktopus, and some other misc. hopefuls. Yay! I'm a real designer. I|Ravelry. That's where are the connections are coming from.

Fair Isle Café is an independent coffee shop and yarn outlet. It is a two-part store, with the yarn selection in a separate room from the coffee shop, yet the employees work both counters.

The goal of Fair Isle Café is to provide a sense of a community and welcoming environment for knitters of all skill levels and income. It seeks to promote an atmosphere were creativity thrives, of friendliness, and handmade, non-coorperate ideals. It provides a calming setting that not only knitters, but average coffee shop drinkers seek in a place to relax, read, study or craft. It is a warm environment that makes it’s customers feel at ease and comfortable. The café offers a place for knitters of all skill levels to find help for knitting needs without worry of unhelpful or rude staff.

The café is an eclectic atmosphere. It has hardwood floors, mismatched couches and chairs, and random artwork covering the walls. The yarn shop is piled high with multi-colored yarn covering dressers and shelves, none of which match. The colors are rust, chartreuse, navy and browns. It is a kitschy, crafty environment kept up to date with contemporary color schemes and young, stylish spirit. It is not your grandmothers’ stuffy yarn shop.

The logo and identity exemplifies these ideals. The logo speaks to knitters and coffee drinkers. The textures used appeal to a crafty, kitschy, almost rural attitude. This feeling is pulled back to present urban life with tones of orange and yellow that manage to be cool; yet they were chosen for their warm meanings and relation to welcoming, coffee and creativity.

Shown here is the letterhead system, business card, and selected pages from the style book. The letterhead is a small size; the edges must be trimmed. The resulting scrap paper can be used as book marks; knitting patterns are printed on one side. Note: the style book is intended to be printed on brown paper.

It's an internet and knitting day.

2008-01-01T16:10:00.000-06:00

Okie Dokie. Updates!

The foot is broken, I'm in a cast and crutches for about another month. It's always adventure with me, huh? I'm hoping against hope I'll be in a walking cast by the time school starts, January 22.

Here is my final from Computer Apps. It takes FOREVER to load, so be patient with the knitting website. I finished out the semester with a 3.3, I guess that's not too bad, but I'm kind of disappointed. I don't have photos of the other projects cause I can't quiet figure out how to photograph a stationary system and applications effectively. That and I'm cripple. You wouldn't want a cripple hurting herself taking photos, now would you?

I finished Mandi's scarf before she left for Spain. I miss her already! No pictures cause I literally was pulling it off the blocking as she got back to move. The new roomie moves in January 10th, so I'm on my own for about a week and a half. Remmy and I will enjoy it; we used to live alone, you know. ^___^

The new roommate (Elissa) is bringing her cat, so it could get entertaining around here. Pictures to follow.

I finished the scarf that's in Remmy's picture. It's a Lady Eleanor, and it is gigantic and yellow. I love it! I was about a third done as of before Christmas, and we had a Packer game to go to at Lambeau, and it's December. What better than a Lady E to keep me company. I finished it the night before. That is a lot of knitting folks. Will post photos later.

Go Pack!

P.S. This guy's name is Atari Digby. Anyone but me notice that he's named after a video game system?

Broken

2007-12-12T12:52:00.000-06:00

So I managed to break myself Monday night. I fell in my parking lot and hurt my foot. I'm currently at urgent care waiting for the doctor. I was told "We're busy today, it'll be a while," so I decided to update the blog.

I checked in, waited in the lobby as per usual at urgent care. Then the head RN lady brought me in for the little "so what's wrong with you" pre doctor session. Now, it's important to note, I'm limping like I've got a club foot right now and my top speed is like 1 mph. Being the good tempered girl I am, I'm trying to keep a good mood/ sense of humor about me while in lots of pain. I made a joke about being slow today, and she rolled her eyes at me.

I go back out to the lobby, and shortly (like 4 rows of knitting) later, another nurse comes back out to get me. She makes a few weird comments about my knitting and does the whole weight (yuck, well I was wearing my big coat with full pockets and snow boots, so we can safely take 5 lbs off that number, right?) blood pressure, pulse thing.

I ask, jokingly, "Am I normal?"

She says, "Well your pulse is."

Now what the heck is that supposed to mean?! I guess I've got a weird sense of humor and can be a little off-kilter sometimes, but really. Am I that abnormal? Is there something wrong with my blood pressure? Does she think I'm obese or something? There must be a real case of the Tuesday Blues around here, cause no one seems to be in a good mood.

And people wonder why I hate going to the doctor.

In other news, I'm done with two classes! Yay! I turned in my style book for the Fair Isle Cafe today, and the See Phillips Design campaign Monday. Pictures are in the last post. I'm really pleased with both of them, but the pictures for See Phillips didn't really turn out as planned. I went to the Imaging Lab on campus and used their fancy lights, but the pictures are really low contrast and bright yellow. They looked amazing on my camera. I don't know what happened. Kind of worried about how that's going to look in my portfolio. I'll have to ask my Portfolio teacher how to fix that next semester.

Beyond that, I have 2 websites due for Computer Apps on Monday, 4 parties to go to this weekend (whoo!) and a day of relaxation, knitting, and Christmas shopping planned for Friday.

See Phillips!

2007-12-09T20:17:00.001-06:00

One class down, 2 to go.

Bootlegger Tales of Wonder!

2007-12-02T23:32:00.000-06:00

The conversation went like this: (paraphrased from my memory and embelished, of course)

Super-Bad Boss Lady Lynnette: "We need an add for City Pages."

Amazing Designer For Hire Carrie: "Ohh! Pick me!"

The next day...

SBBLL: "We need something that will appeal to a younger audience. Something funny. I'm thinking a series of weird things sold on ebay for a lot of money. Like: believe it or not?"

ADFHC: "Like Ripley's Believe It or Not?"

SBBLL: "E-Cauldron's Believe It or Not?"

*pause for peels of laughter*

ASFHC: "Bootlegger Tales of Wonder!"

*pause for extended peels of laughter*

Later that day...

ADFHC: "So I found some weird things sold on ebay. How about the meaning of life?! Can we use the meaning of life?! It sold for six dollars and fifty-six cents!"

SBBLL: "I found these." *shows ADFHC stock pictures* "Ghost in a Jar and Taxidermy Animals."

ADFHC upon see a really hilarious picture of a ferret: "Omg! Can we do the Ferret! We have to do the ferret!"

*further peels of laughter*

Result:

Coming! In your next issue of Citypages!

I did Mom proud.

2007-12-01T14:10:00.000-06:00

Here's my Thanksgiving feast. Well, Thanksgiving and the day after. I didn't actually eat any of the banana bread and chile until a couple days later.

It is chile, with corn, 4 kinds of beans, and 2 kinds of tomatoes; cinnamon banana bread; and a square apple pie. Tasty.

Also, here are some delayed pics from the Artwear in Motion show.

Look it's Mom!
And me in a hat by Candy Kuehn, the artist in residence at the Textile Center.

Projects are on hold for now to make time for Project Projects. I'm almost done with the "see phillips" campaign. I'm holding off on putting pictures up, because it's not that impressive unless you see it on the products. Never fear! They will be up eventually.

I made a stationary system for Fair Isle Cafe, but this also does not look that impressive until printed on the brown paper I got for it. When I get the assignment back, I'll scan it and post photos.

The good times are killing me.

2007-11-29T23:17:00.000-06:00

Oh the stress! Only two more weekends until everything is due!
List:
Carina:
8-9 items
poster
style book

Nicole:
3 applications
style book

Frichie:
FLASH (big, gigantic, scary flash)
website

In other news. I'm in love. Again. I got Norah Gaughan Vol. 1 in the mail today. I basically want to make everything in it. AMAZING knit design. Also, Amy lent me her Craft magazines, which are SO cool. This is why the gift set for the first year is now listed on my wish list. I might make my (girl) cousins the homemade brown sugar face scrub for christmas.

(If you love me you'll buy me something off of it.)

(If you know me, you know I'm joking on that one.)

What's Yellow, Pink and Wool All Over?

2007-11-17T18:42:00.000-06:00

It's time to post some knitting pictures. Ok, really. A lot of knitting pictures. I couldn't find the cord for my camera, so this is what I've been doing for about a month.

Here's Lady Eleanor: I've got 10 tiers done as of today. My goal is to have it done by the Packer game December 30th. That's a tier once every two days. Doable. Totally doable.

Next is Fletching by Red Corset Designs. I'm making it out of the 100purewool.com worsted Marino. I love this yarn. It's some of the softest I've ever worked with. The colorway is Giotto.

Lastly, my next stuff after these two are done will be made out of some Noro I found on sale from Woolgirl. I'm really excited about this stuff. It came with a little package of loot too. Body wash, yarn cleaner and a flier for a "Seven Deadly Spins" knit along. I thought that was so funny, until I realized it's all done in Papyrus.

Very Carrie.

2007-11-13T10:56:00.000-06:00

So this is my personal identity system. So far anyway. I'm pretty giddy about it. It's Very Carrie.

This is also Very Carrie:

Thanks Mandi!