Li'l Morpheus Lives!

Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!

2006-11-29T22:27:00.000-05:00

My attempts to make him a cloak were causing me undue stress, so I opted to make him a toga instead. It's not actually out of character, as he wears one several times in the series. The moon-and-star motif is an homage to the cloak he wears in "Ramadan", if you're familiar with the series.

He's really not at all li'l. But I'm still quite proud of him. Wow. I can't believe I actually finished a creative endeavor. This is unheard of.

Anticlimactic though it may be, here's a picture of the blanket I made my mom for Christmas:

Shhh! Don't say anything. It's a surprise, since she's been really cold this winter.

2006-11-28T22:35:00.000-05:00

Well, he's pretty much finished. Except the mouth. I'm leaving that alone for the moment. Unfortunately, my computer is not detecting the thumb drive I use to transfer photos from the camera to the computer, so I can't post the picture. Pity, too. He's very photogenic. And he looks quite fetching in his outfit. You'll just have to wait to see what it is.

Sunday night's all right for stitching

2006-11-12T22:44:00.000-05:00

I don't know exactly when Veteran's Day became synonymous with "giant sale at the craft store", but I'm willing to go with it. I had a truly ridiculous haul for only $30. It's all pictured below.

I now have shimmering thread in four colors:

two spools of tulle:

May I just say that the remnant bin is the greatest invention known to man?

This is a really fabulous sheer metallic fabric in the same shade of purple as the thread above. It also has red notes, but they don't really show up on film. It also looks darker than it is in the photo because it's draped over a black chair.

I also got lavender satin and two spools of satin ribbon in red and black. They're designed to be used as edging for blankets, but I plan to use them to finish some of the rougher edges of my remnants.

How could I ever pass up red taffeta? I also got some nice stretchy billowy black fabric that will make me a lovely skirt when I, y'know, learn how to make skirts.

I also found four long fleece remnants to go with the black one I'd bought on impulse. The hell with throw pillows, I'm making a quinticolored blanket! (Is quinticolored even a word? It is now!)

This was the crown jewel of the remnant bin. God truly smiled upon me. The picture doesn't even come close to doing it justice. It's flaming red satin with a design of black clustered cherries. And there's enough of it to make me a dress! When I, y'know, learn how to make dresses.

We also know I've been dying to hand-bead something for a while now. I found a lovely plain black off-the-shoulder top at TJ Maxx for $6 and have been stitching my leftover black beads onto its borders. It'll match my bracelet and give the top a little sparkle. I toyed with the idea of using brighter beads, but then I figured I'd better see if I could hand-bead without completely sodding up the top first. I'm pleased with it so far. I just hope the beads aren't too heavy for the fabric, thus causing it to droop.

Nearly forgot to talk about the subject of this blog! I've been working on putting a satin edge on his cloak, which I will then decorate somehow (likely with beads to give it a little sparkle). However, I messed up and forgot to keep the rough edges of the satin on the same side of the fabric. Thus, I can either do the other two sides (not a big deal at all) with satin as well and pay attention this time, or use a different piece of fabric and turn this into something else. We shall see.

This crafter's bug is a dangerous thing.

All right, all right! Jesus!

2006-11-05T20:19:00.000-05:00

I'd had enough of being harassed, so I pulled him out of the bag and commenced work. Here's the (nearly) finished product:

And a head shot:

Overall, I'm tickled. His hair has a life of its own, I swear.

I say "nearly finished" because there are several things I'd like to work on. Number one, I think he needs a bigger nose because this one barely shows up at all. Number two, I need to figure out exactly how to do his mouth. I'd like it to be an enigmatic smirk, but I'm not exactly sure how to go about stitching that. But if I leave him without one he'll just look like Dilbert. Also, his head has a regrettable tendency to flop about, so I think I'm going to have to shore up his neck somehow. And of course I need to make him clothes. It would be beneath His Darkness' dignity to be wandering around without clothes on. I plan to make him a cloak and some kind of tunic. Although I haven't given up on the velvet onesie idea. There is much to be done.

I've been encouraged in the strongest terms (ahem) to post pictures of some of the other crafty projects that have distracted me lately. Most of them involve beads. I'm currently fighting the urge to stitch beads onto damn near everything I own. I can probably channel the urge into beading Li'l Morpheus' outfits.

My current holdings:

I made myself a bracelet last night (sadly, I couldn't seem to get the picture in proper focus):

I plan to make another in order to match this pair of shoes:

It doesn't really show up that well, but the straps are beaded in gold, slate blue, purple, and grey. Good times, noodle salad.

Yes, yes, I know.

2006-10-30T21:43:00.000-05:00

Look, people, you KNOW me. If I could actually finish the creative projects I start, I'd live an entirely different life. Likely it would be filled with champagne and cabana boys. I WILL work on him when I have a bit more time.

2006-10-12T21:55:00.000-04:00

My, my, it has been a while. In my defense, I've been swamped with work and personal issues.

All right, if I'm truly honest, I got distracted by something shiny. But he shall be finished eventually. Thus do I vow. Sorta.

2006-09-18T21:10:00.000-04:00

If I'm honest, work on the project has been stalled because I'm so disturbed by his large-ness. If I do the NaNoWriMo this year, it may be a story about how I set out to make Li'l Morpheus and adult Morpheus formed beneath my hands instead.

DISASTER (okay, not really, just shock and awe)

2006-09-13T22:28:00.000-04:00

I know not what I have wrought, but somewhere along the way he ceased to be anything remotely resembling "Li'l". He's bloody HUGE. I'm going to finish this one, but he's not at ALL what I had in mind. Still, I shall reserve judgment until he's all finished.

Put [his] head on [his] shoulders

2006-09-12T22:39:00.000-04:00

Yep, he definitely needs a neck. And I might have to redo his ears. I'm trying to reserve judgment until he's stuffed. With luck, this will occur some time tomorrow night.

Armed & dangerous

2006-09-10T22:39:00.000-04:00

You can get a lot of sewing done during a conference call. Except now I've got a kink in my neck. Oh, well. At least I've got one, unlike poor Li'l Morpheus.

Is it wrong for me to be amused by a headless doll residing on my futon?

Snagfu

2006-09-10T14:12:00.000-04:00

I attached his legs to the body the other night, but was too sleepy to do the arms and stuffing. I also realized that I forgot to give him a neck. This will have to be rectified somehow. I'd like him to look as little like FrankenMorpheus as possible, so I'd rather not have rows of stitches around the base and top of his neck. However, if I cut out the neck and head as one piece, he'll wind up looking like a thick-necked chinless frat boy (equally unacceptable). FrankenMorpheus is clearly the lesser of two evils. I can always cover up the stitches with the ruby necklace I plan to dig up for him.

In other news, I think I may be mildly allergic to peaches, as my lips have developed some rather attractive bumps and peaches are the only thing I've changed about my diet recently. Either that or I've developed an allergy to Häagen-Dazs English toffee ice cream. Say it isn't so!!

Mini-update

2006-09-06T18:16:00.000-04:00

Work on the project has been stalled for a couple of reasons. Number one, I've been out of town. Number two, my car was vandalized, thus putting a damper on trips to the craft store as well as making me so angry that it seemed inadvisable to handle sharp objects such as scissors and needles. I hope to soldier on later in the week.

I was recently chastised for having the blog locked to anonymous comments. I apologize; that should since have been rectified if anyone wants to weigh in. All suggestions are welcome.

Durrr

2006-08-30T22:21:00.000-04:00

I was asked today why I didn't simply cut him out as one piece. The short answer is that I'm not too bright. In my defense, I was impatient to start and didn't have access to a large enough piece of cardboard to make a full-body stencil. Since I am as tenacious as I am dim, I shall soldier on with the existing design.

Afterward, you'll tell me what his nose looks like...

2006-08-29T20:25:00.000-04:00

Technically I could claim overtime for my trip to the craft store today, as I was primarily there to get some things for work. However, that seems dishonest.

I'd been a little worried about how to handle his nose. I'd rather like him to have a slightly snub nose, but I had no idea how to go about setting that up without having stitches on his face. However, ask and ye shall receive inspiration:

I figure I can put one of these behind the fabric, then stuff his head liberally and it should snub out. That's the theory, anyway. It may not work in practice. I'm also going to have to experiment with sizes.

The pom poms came in so many colours that I was suddenly seized with the urge to make dozens and dozens of Weeples. Does anyone else remember Weeples? Those guys were great.

2006-08-28T23:58:00.000-04:00

No work on Li'l Morpheus tonight, as I have been out for girls' night. Martini, manicure or massage, and a movie, all for $20. I'd post a picture of my manicure for you, except that I didn't get one. I've never had one and see no reason to end a winning streak.

2006-08-27T21:13:00.000-04:00

Dear Syphilitic Glue-Sniffing Whoresons Driving Carelessly In Rainy Conditions On 91 South This Evening:

Kindly allow someone else to take your worthless lives, as I'd rather not be accorded that particular privilege.

Love and kisses,
Me

Honestly. It is neither necessary to drive 40 mph on a wet highway, nor is it advisable to drive 90. And hand signals are NOT an acceptable substitute for turn signals, especially when I know that your turn signals are functioning properly. And for God's sake, GET OFF THE CELL PHONES!!

Sorry. Back on topic now.

I've finished his legs:

One is slightly longer than the other, to the tune of approximately 0.5 cm. The shorter leg is also slightly fatter than the other. There was a time I'd've attempted to even them out. However, of late I've been availing myself of my dearly departed father's advice to "make peace with imperfection." It's not about having a perfectly symmetrical factory-style doll. I'm simply enjoying the act of making it. He shall be lumpy, misshapen, and 100% MINE, dagnabbit. He's turning out to be a bit more spindly than I'd planned, but that's more in keeping with the character than chubbiness.

Off to work on his arms. Part of me is tempted to carry the collection of limbs around propped over the edge of my purse. But I get enough strange looks as is.

Irritation and accomplishment are old bedfellows

2006-08-26T14:18:00.000-04:00

Had an upsetting experience at the liquor store. The clerk completely failed to card me! For God's sake, I'm not even dressed like a responsible adult today! Cheer Bear t-shirt, HELLO?

This is how it starts. First they don't card you at the liquor store. Next thing you know, Boy Scouts are offering to help you across the street. I might as well just roll around in Ben-Gay and begin offering small children melted peppermints. Hmph.

In other news, the trip to the craft store (and subsequently Wal-Mart) was a resounding success. I got thread, pins, and a cute little tomato pincushion, as shown below:

I also managed to find some sparkly felt for his eyes, which I was excited about. I'd planned to triple-layer sparkling black tulle over plain fabric, but I hadn't found anything suitable. I was actually on the verge of buying a child's tutu and cutting down the skirt, but that would have been a waste. It's blurry because it's a very close shot (and I couldn't get my flash to shut off), but from far away it doesn't look like anything at all:

Total costs: $17.96. That's not including the buck I spent on a fleece remnant that will make me a nice set of fuzzy pillows. Oh, this crafter's bug is a dangerous thing...

Slight snag

2006-08-26T12:18:00.000-04:00

I can't seem to find my spool of white thread, and I've exhausted the supply from the hotel sewing kits I've yoinked over the last few months. To the Bat craft store! I have to get beer for a barbecue this afternoon anyway, and the liquor store is right next door. Something for everyone, I suppose.

You know, "Beer and Thread" would be an excellent name for a debut album.

In case anyone was wondering what the budget on this is like, I've spent a grand total of $12.76 so far. It would have been even less, but the sparkly blue yarn wasn't on sale. Hooray for remnant bins!

For those not familiar...

2006-08-25T23:04:00.000-04:00

...with the Endless, here they are. This is an original image by Jill Thompson. From left to right: Desire, Despair, Delirium, Dream (Morpheus), Death, Destiny, and Destruction. All with the prefix Li'l, of course.

2006-08-25T22:42:00.000-04:00

A shot of the raw materials. They include hand-drawn (so no mockery, please) patterns, the actual fabric cutouts, the sparkly yarn for his hair, black for part of his eyes and robe, and the polyester fiberfill that will make him squeezable.

I'd say I need to get out more, but that's what got me into this state.

The funny thing is, I'm not at all artistic. It's just that working as a tech the last couple of years has really improved my problem-solving skills.

Testing, testing...

2006-08-25T22:09:00.000-04:00

I've nearly finished his left leg. This isn't the best picture, but it'll do for the moment.