and very important: DO NOT do your homework without wearing headphones

Ey up

Today I have been tidying up some photos, my folders were all cock-eyed before and I couldn't find anything. I have had a little trip down a lot of memory lanes. Memories lane. Anyway, I forgot about these, I made them a while ago for someone at work: Bill and Ted teddies, from Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey.

Obviously as I'm sure you can tell I didn't make the actual teddies, I made the costumes. I was pleased with them, I didn't have much time to do it otherwise I would have made some humongous 90s trainers to hide the fact that the teddies have FACES on the bottom of their feet. 

You can just about see that on this picture, weird.

Anyway let's see some backs. Bill.

quite nice interpretation of a flannel shirt I thought. and Ted ted:

Smiley face that was VERY important. PLEASE let me have got those outfits the right way round, I did check but I keep forgetting, how uncool of me.

Anyway that was a fun project which inspired some monsters that STILL aren't finished. Keep an eye out for some nostalgic 90s stuff which I will be doing soon, I promise. I'll do it later mum! stop going on about it.

see ya xxx

Purl-ple rain

I hope you enjoy my pun, but I should tell you at this point that it's inaccurate because monsters are crocheted and there's no purling in crochet. Sorry! I couldn't think of a better Prince/crochet pun, apart from maybe 'U Got the Hook' which is rubbish. If you can think of one tell me and I'll gladly share it. I thought of another knitting one: Diamonds and Purls. There are a lot of purl puns.

Oh yeah! I crocheted a Prince monster.

This was a fun project. I just love it. He's so spangly. After some deliberation, I decided to go with the signature Purple Rain outfit, because it's just so iconic and wonderful. I really wish my monsters had hips and crotches at this point, so I could have given him the high waisted slinky trousers with a million fly buttons, but  never mind. He just has legs fused to the bottom of his big domey torso like the rest of them. Anyway I think I did a pretty good job of this, it looks wicked.

A story for you. I was wondering what to do about the studs/sequins/whatever they are stuck to Prince's right shoulder in the film, and had a brief wander around Fred Aldous on my dinner, but nothing seemed suitable. I was glumly rooting through my supplies, and whoa! I found a pair of fancy dangly earrings from back when I was a fancy dangly earring-type of lady.

Perfect, right? I couldn't believe my blimmin' luck! So here he is with his snazzy shoulder.

Beaut! 

I'm going to start doing a somewhat arbitrary celebrity range and stick them in my Folksy shop, so keep your eye on it. There are already some somewhat arbitrary celebrities in there, but I am going to do more. MORE.

Anyway that's like, all the time we have for now, so here's Prince doing some dance movements. Goodbye. xxx

People I Like Numero Quatre

Ey up, how is it? It is fine here, thanks for asking. I have given up on the binary thing for a moment while I do a few monsters and stuff, and here comes one now.

So you know Adam and Joe? You know Baaaddad, he is Adam's dad who used to do singles reviews on the Adam and Joe Show and they used to send him to Ibiza and festivals and stuff, and he has made an appearance on the radio show at least once, doing this song. My favourite part is 'Yo, yo yo. Whose yo-yo is this?'

Anyway, also, I am quite entranced by Twitter, I love it actually. I would never talk to anyone if it wasn't for Twitter. I followed @baaaddad when he joined and he tweeted me to say my knitting looked ingenious. Aaaahhhh! I threw my laptop on the floor. Then I picked it up and replied that I had made Adam and Joe monsters and maybe I would make a Baaaddad one? He said generous idea. I got so excited about this tiny exchange, you would not believe it, I am so silly.

Right well: enough backstory, here is a picture.



I am calling this ensemble 'Holiday Nigel' since it is quite casual. I was thinking of maybe doing 'Hip Hop Nigel' which would comprise the outfit Coolio put him in that time, but I changed my mind.

Also Holiday Nigel is ready to go to a festival. He is a total raver so I put the smiley button on his hat to remind him.



The hat is meant to be one of those canvas fisherman type ones, that have eyelets in them and possibly pockets, but it looks a bit like a porkpie hat thanks to my penchant for making all hats tiny and crooked (see Adam's sailor hat). He looks like Alexei Sayle. That's okay though.

So just by coincidence, Adam Buxton was doing another BUG show in Manchester last week, so I got the monster ready in time for that. I couldn't actually make the show because I had to get up early and go to London for an Exciting Job Interview, and I was getting nervous by Wednesday night, so I gave it to Maddern to deliver, and he did a good job. I got a nice email from Adam saying thank you. What a gentleman. Hooray! I am pleased with every part of this story.

Right-o, those jobs aren't going to apply for themselves (have I said that before? It feels like it) so I mustache. Byeeeee xx

Monsters On Film

So I have been busy doing various things, half finishing them, abandoning them, and wandering off. That's what I've been doing the last week. How about you?

I made Bob's monster ages ago, and he now lives in a caravan somewhere on the continent so I wasn't expecting this to plop into my inbox:



How exciting! I love it. Music made by Bob as well. What an all round talented dude. Serious.

Oh yeah! I have other things to talk about.

After I posted the Kimya Dawson/Merrill Garbus monsters last week, and plugged it on Twitter, I saw that Kimya had written this:



How good's that? I asked her if she would like me to send the monster somewhere she could get it, and she ignored that. So I guess she doesn't want it. I'm still chuffed with that response though. I am so glad Twitter exists. I'd never talk to anyone otherwise.

Speaking of which, remember how I made Adam and Joe monsters once and met Adam Buxton and gave them to him? I don't think I ever mentioned it here, but he posted a very nice thing on his blog, which I was made up with.

Ugghh, this is really hard to write, I am not good at it. The monsters I've made as part of my People I Like thing are all people who've had some kind of influence on me, or whose work I admire generally, so to get such lovely feedback from them is actually awesome, to me. I'm not just shamelessly self promoting honest! I'm allowed a little show off, once in a while!

(I AM SO GREAT)

People I Like part III (LADIES' EDITION)

Hey. So a lot has happened recently. One of the things that has happened is, I have changed the way my blog looks, you may have noticed that Nic is smiling at you all over the place and the header is LOADS worse than the old one. Do you like it? I really DO. I was trying to get it to look more in sync with my website, with the blue and everything, but my blog is essentially like a scrapbook where I sling everything, so I thought it'd be good if it looked a bit scrappy, too. Luckily, I am very good at making things look scrappy. Result! Also, look over to the right. If you get stuck on here, and you want to go to my website but you've forgotten how, you can click on my fringe there and you'll be transported magically. Hooray! You can just go back and forth all day. But don't, because I don't want you to get the sack because of me.

Another thing that has happened is, I made some stuff. I will get right into this because I think it's going to be a long one. So make yourself a brew NOW, or you might regret it in about three hours.

So all the People I Like so far have been men, that is all right, I like men. I do have a load of women though, that inspire and delight me and make me feel happy.

First up is Merrill Garbus. If you don't recognise her name, she's the singer from tUnEyArDs. This is her, lookit:



I only got wind of tUnEyArDs' music earlier this year, and I was INSTANTLY obsessed with it. It was like, 'this is EXACTLY what I want, it's PERFECT for me, I am so pleased yes'. I went to see them in June and it was fantastic, oh my lord. One of the best things I have ever, ever seen in my life. Merrill looks amazing on stage, she belts out these powerful, crazy, mental noises and loops them and layers them and bangs drums and it's so primal and animal, it blew my mind to bits. I stood there for the whole show practically shaking because I was so overwhelmed, and on the way home I nearly cried because I know that I'll never exude such confidence and power, she is clearly having a great time and she whips the crowd into a right frenzy as well. It's wicked. Argh! I am such a loser.



So I tried to dress the monster like Merrill was dressed when I saw her live, but I couldn't remember really. I know she had face paint like that, and I think she had huge frilly sleeves made out of, like, tulle. Or whatever that stuff is that you make petticoats out of. I used a hyperbolic crochet technique to make big fat sleeves, which turns out to be kind of hard to photograph:



Hmm. It's a cool technique and a really easy way to make something which looks pretty great. You can see what I'm talking about a bit better here. You get a lot of people making coral reefs this way. I think I was also thinking of Bjork's dress at the Biophilia show, which made her look a bit like a coral reef. There aren't any photos of it on the internet, apparently. Oh well!

Also I only made one sleeve, because it took me about three hours. I think it looks pretty good balancing the cascade of hair on the other side.

Okay so that's her. She's wicked.

Another Person I Like is Kimya Dawson. She's an old school girlcrush of mine.



I don't know what I was going to write about Kimya Dawson because I made this monster ages ago. I've been listening to her for years and reading her blogs and stuff on the internet for slightly fewer years. She seems like a nice person and she does a lot to champion people with problems, addicts, shy people, people who don't fit in very much. I find her tremendously inspiring. She looks amazing as well. I think I'm drawn to women who find their own style and who embrace this sort of colourful DIY, punk aesthetic, because that's what I like as well (says the woman who wears the same hoodie every day).

This is how I chose to represent her tattoos:





What a copout, eh? This is supposed to represent an inner lip tattoo: it says '2 LEGIT'.



Thundercats T-shirt:



Uh huh. Aaaand, these are the ears from my Superted costume that I wore once. I doubt I will wear it again, so Kimya can have them.



Anyway so I guess I will post those monsters off, to frighten and confuse some people who I have a great deal of respect for. Yesssss!

Aaahh. The third thing that happened was that I finished my job at the Arts Council. I was absolutely gutted to leave and I was really touched by all the lovely comments from everyone there. I never realised I had made any kind of impression on anyone, I hardly ever even spoke to anybody. So that's the end of that chapter, I will be looking for a job from now on, AGAIN. I feel pretty okay at the moment. Hopefully I will stay like it.

All right guys, phew! My mega-post has come to an abrupt end. Hope you weren't too bored. Take it easy and see you again soon, x

People I Like part II

How do, how do you do? I do knitting. I thought I'd tell you something even though it is kind of a crap story. No it's good! It's good.

I went to see Jeffrey Lewis and the Junkyard today in Preston, it was super fun and very exciting, as always. I love Jeffrey Lewis. When I was a bit younger and a bit less sure of myself, I listened to his songs about being an artist with no confidence and no money, and thought, this boy is singing about ME and MY FRIENDS! Listen to 'Seattle' off of his album The First Time I Did Acid I Went Insane and Other Favourites, and it is pretty much a description of me (or what I like to think of as a description of me, the reality was probably a bit less romantic and more... pathetic) aged about 22. I don't know, he just sums up the hollow feeling of failure and terror I felt throughout my early and mid twenties, in such a warm and humourous way that floors me. It made me feel like it was okay that I was so lost and that everything would be all right eventually. I like to listen to 'Moving' every time I move house (in which he compares a now-empty flat with the empty vessel of a dead body). It's great. Now that's enough gushing.

So as part of my People I Like series, I made a Jeff monster and I wanted to give it to him after the show today. In the event, I bottled it and gave it to the drummer, realised I hadn't left my name or anything, shoved a Garth flyer in the bag and made a sharp exit. Ohhhh, oops! I would've liked to have spoken to him a bit and given it to him and explained what I was doing, but I was too shy shy. I hope he received it and that he likes it and that he didn't think it was stupid. Here he is, by the way:



Just realised I was rambling on and on and hadn't shown you any pictures! How very rude.

This is the t-shirt I gave Jeff monster, which isn't too different to the one he was actually wearing today, cool.



So the most distinguishable thing I can think of about Mr Lewis on stage is that his guitar is plastered in stickers, so I made him a little guitar and adorned it too:



That's that then. I am making a few other ones but I defo need to be less afraid of talking to people, don't I? It doesn't really matter to me as long as the person gets it, though. It's just a gesture, a slightly OTT and creepy one, but I only want to say thank you for providing me with something that affected me, and I can do that without having to SAY anything OUT LOUD.

Hey this blog is turning into a right therapy session. You guys don't mind if I do some introspective shit from time to time, I hope. Okay, bye now! Same time next sometime.

'Hello. I hope you don't think I'm insane.'

Ey up, me again, just a quick one with some NEWS.

As I mentioned before, I wanted to make some monster versions of famous, or at least semi-famous, or demi-semi-famous, people I like. Just for funsies really, as a token of appreciation, if that doesn't sound too crap. I started doing it and then felt a bit like a weirdo, so I stopped again. HOWEVER. I DID make Adam and Joe monsters.



I used to watch the Adam and Joe Show when I was a young stupidhead, and tape it so I could see the fast bits. I've still got a video of it somewhere, which would be fun to watch actually because it would have 90s adverts on. I had no clue about anything when I was 15 but obviously I had SOME taste. What I'm trying to say here is that I like them, and also I feel like I've known them for years. I think everyone who likes them understands what I mean. I'm being a bit vague so perhaps not.

Anyway, the monsters. I am particularly pleased with Adam's hat. I couldn't figure out how to make a tiny sailor hat, because it's not just a flat cap, it needs to be round, with a raised front bit and a peak. I find it hard to think in three dimensions sometimes. I thought I'd just wing it, and it turned out splendidly if I may say so, and I think I may. This photo doesn't really do it justice.



I think this hat is LITERALLY one of the best things I have ever, ever made, ever. It just turned out so perfect.

Ermmm... what. Oh yes. So there I was, poised to send the monsters off to the BBC, and then I got a ticket to see Adam Buxton do BUG at the Zion Centre in Hulme. Wow! Then my friends convinced me it would be super if I took the monsters to give Adam in person. All right.

So. How laboured is this story! BUG was last night, it was fantastic, I did a lot of shrieking laughing as I am wont to do. Then I practically had a nervous breakdown because I didn't want to give the monsters in person, it's too scary, I can't I can't! If you know me, you know that is my attitude towards most things.

Anyway... skip to the end... I plucked up the courage in the end and Adam is a lovely fellow and seemed happy enough with them, and he signed some stuff:



I got this for Christmas or something when I was a young'un, apparently they go for a mint on Ebay! Cripes!

And this is my Favourite!



Hooray! I didn't want to update this last night when I got in, as I was really overexcited and I thought I might sound too demented. I'm not sure if I sound any better this morning, but I can't keep it in any longer! Ha. I have just babbled on and on about it to the security man next door who clearly didn't care at all. And I now feel like I might resume the famous monster making, so look out. Oh and also, Zoe didn't snog him, she was worried she might cause a scandal and end up on This Morning.

Yessssssssssss

Elvis and Shirley

Hey. It's been AGES since I posted anything, nearly a month, what a complete waster I am! You must be famished for some stupid crochet. Well, here's some.

Remember I made an Elvis monster? He has been on some adventures since I last saw him! What a crazy guy. Here are some of his snaps (courtesy of Shirley). I will attempt to caption them even though I don't know who, or what, a lot of them are. I think this will add a certain dimension to the piece that it was lacking.

Road trip time.

This person is something to do with Cokey Cola, I suppose.

Ridin'. I love this photo.

'Pardon me boy, is this the cat who chewed your new shoes?' Ha ha

This says 'Sippin' to Saddles'. I do not know what that means. It sounds exciting though, something to do with horses I should expect.

Elvis was an American person.

Erm... a conflagration. Elvis looks so happy doesn't he? Wheee!

Hey it's Shirley! Let us have a look through your specs, willya.

The painting of Elvis has a black eye.

I love this. I want one in my house. I would drink Pepsi-Cola if I had one of these.

This is so very cool, me gusta.

I think this is at Elvis' grave. I thought it was the world's most wrecked piece of paper but I now think it's a rock.

It appears that people enjoy erecting guitar sculptures, Elvis monster likes sitting on them.

According to another photo which I haven't posted, his mother took Elvis to this shop to buy a bicycle. Then he wanted a gun, but she wouldn't let him have one, so as a compromise he got his first guitar. Hang on, what happened to the bicycle? I don't really understand this story, but I guess Tupelo Hardware has been doing well off it for a few decades, so everything's all right.

Elvis monster meets melancholy-eyed Elvis aged thirteen.

Hello receptionist.

When he was alive, Elvis enjoyed sitting on top of a cup and eating a plant.

This lady has very frilly sleeves and therefore I like her.

Elvis contemplates what to have for his tea.

Can you spot him?

Oh there you are, hello!

Okay this is probably bad taste but Shirley took it, so blame her. I guess he is just doing a make-sure before they set off again.

So there we are! I enjoyed that, did you? I have a few friends travelling about at the moment, with monsters about their untrustworthy persons. If you are reading this, travelling friends, please can you do me a flavour, and take a few snaps for me? I love it, I really love it. My silly little monsters going off all over the place, they are so flighty.

Anyway. Oh! Just to let you know, I have a stall at the Chorlton Arts Festival craft market on Saturday (the 21st). It's at 11am til 4pm and at St Clements church on Edge Lane, come down and high five me. I have some fairly all right stuff to sell. Not only that, but there will be other stalls (I know!) and some other shit too, I don't know what, music and cake and ales and Chorlton hippy stuff I should think. It's always a nice day out so just bloody come, will you. Have a look here for other Arts Festival stuff. I need to stop saying 'stuff'.