Arakne Knits

Dreams Really Can Come True!

So my beloved Barney (my big purple Jeep) finally had to be sent to greener pastures. We had a good 7 years together until this last March when he started to stall inexplicably (apparently this is common with 1997 Grand Cherokees and no mechanic can fix it and if you can get to speak to someone at the dealer they will tell you that they will have to fly someone out from the factory to maybe fix it- Trust me it’s not pretty!!!!)

Well, what’s a girl to do when that happens – um, be sensible and buy an economical new car, take up a lease or think to herself, “Well, if I am going to take on more debt for a new car, why not get what I want?” Yup, I opted for the latter and got myself a 2006 Mini Cooper!!!! My dream car!!!!! She’s utterly beautiful!!!! Drives like a dream!!! Her gas consumption is AMAZING!!! I was getting 9 miles to the gallon in Barney, in Little Prudence (well at least that’s her name right now and yes it came to me when I was driving her one foggy morning and Siouxsie came on the stereo, by the way her new album is AMAZING!!!!) I am getting 23 miles to the gallon and even with having to fill her up with premium gas, it’s still cheaper than filling up the Jeep!!!!!

It was truly fate how I found her as well. I had been researching and looking for about 3 weeks and then one day we decided to go and test drive some because time was getting near to close the deal. So off we went to Santa Monica and saw a few but they weren’t perfect. Thanks to a major road construction in Culver City, we followed a detour (although I am a Hell-A native I am not that familiar with Culver City) and lo and behold what appeared around the corner but a little red Mini with white stripes and the cincher on the deal – Union Jack mirrors!!!!!

Oh yeah and the nice red and black leather seats as well as the amazing stereo upgrade and moonroof also helped convince me!!!!

So I test drove her and she ran great and then the negotiations started. Hornhead was just there for moral support and he was shocked at how I handled the deal and even wished the sales guy good luck and warned him that I had done my research and he pitied him. LOL!!! So there I went in acting like I could walk away at any second if my insane demands weren’t meant (while inside I was cringing because I wanted the car THAT BAD!). In the end, after many men huddled around and discussed how to get the price down (stupidly, they didn’t think that the little girl with the coloured hair would be paying attention to them when they were saying how much they paid for the car!!!) I managed to walk out of there with a price that was THOUSANDS under the MSRP!!!! I am even still stunned that I did it and Paul commented that he had no idea who the person I became was but he was super impressed….

The only little thing I need to change is I need to get my iPod installed because right now I am having to deal with CDs and let's face it I am spoiled. So once we return from our vacation next month (oh yeah only 3 weeks to go until we hit the UK for 3 1/2 weeks) Little Prudence will be completely perfect! Well almost, if I could have Bill Nighy as my permanent passenger all WOULD be very very right with my world!!!LOL

So, if you are driving around Hell-A and see a girl in a red and white Mini hugging the steering wheel at a stop light, that would be me... Yes, I have turned into a car girl. Who would have ever thunk it?

The Algebraic Question of the Day!

So Mike Tyson plead guilty to drug possession and a DUI back in September. The judge ruled that he would have to serve 10 days in prison but instead it was reduced to one day. So  Lindsay Lohan was also found guilty of multiple DUI's and a car accident and possible drug possession and lest we not forget she was underage when these occurred which would make them a much more serious crime as well as the hit and run she had as well and she was sentenced to 4 days yet served 84 minutes. Thus, my question is how long will Iron Mike serve. By my calculations, I believe no more than 21 minutes due to his celebrity status. What do you think???

Get your mini-mohawk.....

Yup my fingers have been busy again making some new mini-mohawks for Blythe...

All available at my Etsy shop, here.

Inspired by Bauhaus, I opted to try a two tone mohawk - one side black with a white hawk and the reverse on the other....

    

And one that I am calling the Sanrio Tribute (Did you know that the official name of Hello Kitty in Japan is Haro Kiti and that she is as tall as five shiny apples, not to be confused by those matte apples ;) and that she has a boyfriend named Dear Daniel.... Who knew, really???

 

Pretty Vacant... Pretty Pathetic More Like

Now I am the first one to admit that I have a tendency to be classed with the punk/goth label. Yup have the coloured hair, yup have some piercings, tattoos - check, published designs in Punk Knits - CHECK, fashion sense - check, generally wear all black - check, tend to see the darker side of things _ CHECK!!!! etc....But all of these items do not make one punk. It's an aesthetic and a way of life.  To quote my absolute female idol in this world, Siouxsie : "The moment punk was commercialised, she says, “it lost its teeth. People forget it was an attitude, a mindset, reacting to what was going on in the world, in music, at that time. You can’t take that and place it now: that would just be mimicry." It's the common feeling amongst most subcultures that if you have to label yourself than right there you are not what you think you are. Sure I work in corporate America, some would say that right there is a cardinal sin but I need to eat and not all of us can just flip two fingers to the man all of the time but I can put my hand on my little black heart and say that I never don a suit! LOL

But please for the love of all things on this earth - do we need yet another reunion by the former boy band known as the Sex Pistols!!!! Enough already please. Yes I did get to see them on their first reunion tour a few years ago (I was only 3 during the "punk" revolution of the 70's) at that shithole called the Palladium (worst live venue in all of Hell A - and make sure you not only check your guns, chains and cigarettes at the door but most importantly don't even think about bringing in chewing gum!!!) And yes I was bored beyond belief at the gig but then again I was never a huge fan in the first place.

To quote Anthony Bourdain, one of my favourite realists, from Octobers Spin magazine: "The official face of "punk" became the Monkees-like industry creation the Sex Pistols. They looked like an update Bay City Rollers or a proto-'N Sync. Same template. It was all about the clothes.

 

Don't get me  wrong - I am as we all know a big supporter of The Rolling Stones touring even if they are all grandfathers. But The Sex Pistols!!!!! It's not an age thing, it's a "I'm so anti-establishment yet my bills need to be paid so let's do a gig" thing.... Not to mention the fact that Johnny Rotten who is the first one to admonish anything that he thinks isn't rock'n'roll enough, has been featured in several reality shows  as well as a children's science program. (I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here or his stint as a wanna be Simon Cowell on Bodog's Battle of the Bands (where he contradicted himself by telling a teenage garage band that they were too young and to come back when they were older - um, they were the same age as Johnny and Sid were when Malcolm McLaren created the whole marketing mission that was the Sex Pistols - Mr. McLaren was indeed a commercial genius who really did put together nothing more than a boy band, down to even picking their wardrobe (and what great clothes they were !!!!!)  and co-writing  most of their songs Yes, Steve Jones is a great DJ on our local Indie 103.1 radio station. Paul loves his show and tunes in all the time. Not to mention Steve Jones also served as executive producer on the aforementioned Bodog show (I'm a reality tv junkie, I admit it) But please do we really need to see them spit on their cult like followers (who themselves are more than likely businessmen who think that they are out for a wacky night. At $75 a ticket, not much chance those "true punks" will be queuing up to splash out the dosh) while pogoing up and down with their canes....

Not that I am that fond of the Clash (yes, this has been a bone of contention in my house for years as Paul followed the Clash across the UK in the 70's and ranks them among his top ten bands of all time)  but in true honesty they were the true essence of punk, who not only sang about the political climate that initiated the punk movement in 1970's Britain but they also explored new avenues and opened up audiences to the likes of reggae. But they called it a day with grace and dignity.

So please Johnny and company, please make this your final farewell show (let's face it the last tour was called the Piss Off Tour so please listen to your own words, boys!) What next The Pistols sign a residency playing a Vegas lounge alongside Celine Dion???

Mini Mohawk Cap For Blythe - Hot Pink and Black

What's more punk than a mohawk? And better yet - no need to shave your head!!!!

Handknit in 100% Peruvian highland wool, keep your Blythe warm this winter and add a touch of rebellion to her!!!

Custom colours available. Please email to discuss.

Item ships within 2 days of payment. Ships internationally

New Stock for Blythe at my Etsy Shop

Inspired by the runway shows of Marc Jacobs and Armani, here is a hand knit 100% wool seamless oversized beanie for Blythe.... Sporting a double cuff to add girth and uniqueness to the beanie, watch her strut the catwalk in this must have item (even Keira Knightley was donning one of these for the autumn). Top of the hat resembles a star through its decreases.....

Other colours available upon request.

All items shipped 2 days after payment is received.

International Shipping Available

See my other items at: http://arakneknits.etsy.com

      

My Etsy Shop is finally open for business (albeit limited business)

Well after months of talking about it and planning for it, I finally managed to list my first item on Etsy. It's my own pattern which I have decided to call The Rasta Redemption Cap after my favourite Bob Marley song. So without further ado I bring you Persie donning her Redemption cap.... My store can be found here if you are so inclined to visit......

Paris Hilton was my alarm clock

I guess it helps living just off the Sunset Strip and a few blocks away from Paris Hilton. Turns out our electricity went out in the wee hours of the morning which meant that we had no alarm clock this morning and as Paul has to get up at 5, we rely on it. Well, by some stroke of luck Paul and I were awoken by the media circus that was at Paris' house this morning awaiting her to go back to court. Yes you could feel the helicopters making our floors shake as they circled above. Without them, we would have slept in and been really late. Only in Hell A, huh????? I say let the poor girl do house arrest. Paul thinks that all of the shops on Robertson should pull together and petition that she be let out because frankly they are the ones who are truly suffering. Sales at Kitson I am sure are plummeting. The Beverly Hills economy is at a standstill what with all the "it" girls heading to prison or in rehab..... Stop the madness...... (Yes I am a tabloid whore, I am not afraid to admit it)

I'm finally out of hiding.....

You would think I would have been posting here sooner what with my first 5 published designs being unleashed upon the globe in the new book Punk Knits but as with anything else in my life, with the good comes the crappy. First my car, Barney, breaks down in rush hour on Sunset at the 405. Not a good experience but I did learn that there are nice people in the world like the homeless guy who came out of thin air and pushed my car out of traffic and then disappeared just as quickly when I turned around to give him some cash for his help. Also the cops that helped push the car a little further out of the way and told me to stay in the car and ignore all the people screaming at me for having the audacity to break down. Well the car was in and out of the shop for 7 weeks!!!!! It's better now (fingers, eyes and toes crossed) but it's back in the shop getting a couple of little things fixed so I haven't driven it in the last 3 weeks but then again I have also been in bed for the last 3 weeks thanks to having to have my third laporoscopy in 7 years for endo..... The true bane of my existence. Good news is that there were no adhesions this time. The bad news they had to remove 4 cysts and I have a new  problem but I am trying not to dwell on it. Should be returning to work this Thursday. Let's just see if I can stay the entire day.

As to the book coming out. We had an awesome book launch party in the valley at the Stitch Cafe. There were bands playing, hair and nails to be rocked out and a fashion show. Hell the cops even came because there were some complaints from the neighbours. A great time had by all and I will get around to uploading the photos one of these days. Thanks to all my friends (Maren, Pauline, Sabrina) for coming down and supporting me despite Laurel Canyon being closed and it being one of the rare days when it actually rained in LA.

So here are my babies from the book. Let's start with the Banshee Over the Knees. This was the very very very first piece I ever designed and was inspired by of course my idol, Siouxsie.

Then there was the idea for the top hat that both Share and I had but both of us were like, "How the hell are we going to make it stand up on its own as well get the shape?" Well after much deliberation and consultations and even the use of applied mathematics (yes I googled the formula for the circumference of a circle so I could figure out how wide to make the crown) I solved it and managed to get it on the first try...... Thanks to Alice Cooper's daughter, Calico for modeling it for us and helping to give it its name.

Then of course no book about punk knitting would be complete without the mandatory stripey Dennis the Menace sweater and the reason I picked up needles and string in the first place. We actually made two of these - the pink and black one as well Share asked if I could try and squeeze out one more for the photo shoot in the original Sex Pistols colours of pink and green (yup, those colours weren't always associated with preppies you know) If you have any doubts about this sweater and time, let me tell you that you can whip it up in 12 hours if you are on a rush.

And finally the Pixie Shoulderette (my friend Stef came up with the term shoulderette as none of us are that keen on the term shrug.) I came to find out that shoulderette was a term used in the early 1900's for a shrug. Who knew???? I was never too sure about this design. I thought that most people would think it was kind of too out there but the few times I have worn the prototype out people have asked me where I bought it. So it just be me. Note: I had absolutely NOTHING to do with the choice of the yellow ribbon yarn that it ended up in. I had chosen the yarn just not the colour but I think it works and I have made this shoulderette for a couple of people for Xmas without the runs in the arms and it can be very versatile and perfect especially in Hell A. So here is my darling friend Share modeling my baby......

I also contributed the idea for Lenny's Locks which are not a knit pattern but a fun alternative to dreadlocks, something I have always wanted to have but can't make the commitment to. And yes, people do pay good money for yarn falls like this, just check out Ebay if you don't believe me.

So there you have it. We have gotten some great reviews from Knitty, Yarn Market News, Sydney Morning Herald in Australia, Amazon. Sure some people don't care for it, but that's the beauty of this world, everyone is entitled to their opinion.

What am I up to now, you might ask? Well, I am considering taking up knitting fun little items for Blythe dolls. Yup, who would have ever thought that me, little hardass, might go into doll clothing. I did buy myself my model whom I have named Persey (short for Persephone, my favourite Greek goddess) and have already started on a few items. So we shall see where this will lead.

I am also toying with some ideas for human sized goth knits but that's taking a backseat right now while I work on the smaller items for the doll. Nothing says challenging like knitting with fine mohair on Size 2 needles but I'm getting there.

So there you have it your bimonthly update......

Birthdays, Books and Tattoos

Yup it's birthday time again. This year I decided to treat myself to a new tattoo. I have been toying with it for long enough and decided it's now or never. So I shall be getting myself a tramp stamp (you know the one, lower back) It will be a bluish purple ten petalled lotus with a silhouette of a man and a woman holding each other. The people part of if, I traced out of an erotic art book when I was 17 and have been holding on to the little scrap of paper for far too long. Funny how there are just some things you don't lose when you move. So tonight me, Paul and two of my best girls will be going down to have pre-ink mojitos and then getting the deed done. My friend Pauline aka lil P or the five foot fury (she might be lil but she's beyond fierce) is going to have her ankle done as well tonight.

Also on the birthday plans, when we got back from our trip in January I got a presale email from Ticketbastard that Billy Connolly was finally going to play Hell A and it was just in time for my birthday. So I called Paul up and said I need your credit card. He said I don't think so and asked why and sure enough once I explained that I could get 7th row tickets to see Billy he gave me the magic digits. So next weekend we shall fine dine pre-show and then off to laugh our asses off with my favourite Scot.

Alas, the book, Punk Knits (did I really need to remind any of you, there's only one book that I have designed for) was slated to come out March 1st. Well apparently the publisher had some issues with printing and now it's slated to ship mid-March or early April. I had been so excited that it was coming out my birthday week but hey I can wait a little longer. And of course to coincide with the book coming out, HGTV is re-airing our episode of Knitty Gritty on Monday morning at the ever coveted time slot of 4am PST!!!!! I am dreading watching it because I am not a) photogenetic b) very shy c) I was at my heaviest when we filmed it (since then I have lost 15+ pounds - sorry no secret to tell you of on how I lost it - havent' dieted or exercised it's just come off itself which is even better) But still one more extra cool thing for my birthday week, huh???

Other than that just the normal work - home - sleep routine. On the knitting front, not much to tell you about. I am still making loads of UGG baby booties for people at work and friends of friends. I am still working on my hat design for the billionth time as well as another hat design based on the oversized beanie that Marc Jacobs had in his collection last fall and that was sported by Keira Knightley

My TV addiction has officially taken over my life. American Idol this season is blowing. Unfortunately my first pick, the bearded guy in military-style clothes was booted in Hollywood, so my runner up favourite and still the one to beat is Lakisha, followed by Melinda. Yes they are amazing but nothing is saying wow to me. They desperately need to work on their shyness and self-esteem issues. They are damn good and should have the personalities to match.

I am still hooked on Survivor, The Apprentice (even though I think it might be jumping the shark this season - come on people get rid of the stupid tents), Real Housewives of Orange County (and they wonder why we call it Kansas with Palm Trees and dread ever having to go behind the Orange Curtain, plus Jo needs to be shown the door as anyone can see she's a total goldigger and no better than a prostitute), The Amazing Race All-Stars (I will confess, I am kicking myself for just having gotten into this show last season, I keep trying to get Paul to audition with me because we would be fucking hysterical - I can't swim, I don't run, He's terrified of heights, does no physical exercise - we would make awesome tv), Jericho (I have a feeling it's slowly jumping the shark but nonetheless not bad) Ugly Betty (love it even though it's my guilty pleasure), America's Next Top Model (thank god for Tivo because my Wednesday nights is jampacked), Top Design (our friend Kathryn Ireland was the guest judge on the cabana episode, how cool is that) Yup I have issues lots of issues.....

So there you have it a quick run down of my comings and goings.