Summer Project Two: Glass Bottles -- Recyclin' Fever

My friend Mark reignited my passion for making cute shit. I had been on a bit of a hiatus after coming to Vietnam, and though I tried to pick up knitting again a few weeks ago, I got distracted and would take naps instead. However, whilst perusing Go-Go Godzilla! (thanks Mark) I was reminded of a little hobby I used to have freshman year at Swat.

It all started in Japanese class when I started drawing little cartoons of Godzilla and trying to make all my essay and speech assignments about her. My final project was a crudely animated (read: photos of my drawings edited together and not really animated) but was a huge hit with my class and professors. I will look for it on my old computer -- but after the fry-scapade last year, methinks I may have lost it -- but no matter, that is not the point... I took the Godzilla cartoon I made and taped it onto a glass bottle of tea I had recycled. When the bottle would get grotty, I just use another bottle, peeled off the label and stuck my infinitely better more cute more fabulous one onto it. And they'd last a while--you know, if I didn't get water or juice or tea dripping down the side, or if I was actually paying attention to the water jugs in the library and not leaking a mess on the carpet, well... They'd last for about 3 weeks.

I had even made a bottle with a cartoon of myself.

And just a little while ago I got to thinking: Why don't I make those little cartoon bottles again? And I have plenty of doodles to spare, and there's lots of glass for recycling. And you'd totes-mc-goats be the koolest kid on the block if you had one of my bottles...




And so commences the crafting :D ...just as soon as I get back to the U.S.

Down Memory Lane

As I reflect on these past few months, I find that I am incredibly blessed. Not only am I doing so well in school, but I am traveling in an amazing country, and will soon come home to my awaiting family and the arms of my wonderfully sweet boyfriend (Hello Ted, honey!).

This evening, as I enjoyed the gentle sounds of The Four Sisters' "Shima Musume", I decided to revisit the photographs I took from this past summer 2010. I was feeling nostalgic, as my anniversary with Ted is coming up in the next few weeks--and being in Viet Nam--was just a bit homesick, longing for my familiar comforts.

Perhaps one of my favorite memories I came across this evening was of the crocheted amigurumi I had made for Ted's birthday in July. Being a huge fan of the Mother/Earthbound games, Ted expressed to me his interest in a Mr. Saturn plush toy. Given my skills in crocheting, I thought, "Well... That shouldn't be too hard! And if I mess up, well... I'm sure cookies will make a fine substitute." I found a pattern online and within two days of dutiful crafting, I had created a Mr. Saturn plushie! But for Ted's birthday, I felt I should make more--I couldn't just give him that. So I decided to crochet a little cat, a cuppy cake, a bowl of sushi and rice, a Totoro (My Neighbor!), and Link from the Legend of Zelda. I was so happy and proud of my work that I almost didn't want to give the plushies to him! But come the weekend I went to visit and celebrate his birthday--his reaction had made it all worth it. He absolutely loved them! And I was so glad that they would have a nice and safe home on top of his bedroom bookshelf.

I have more ideas for stuffed crocheted toys--and this summer will be the perfect opportunity to sit down with some yarn and craft up some cute things. Ted's collection is sure to grow!