Ruby Submarine

Which creature to feature next? Vote vote vote

2012-01-11T12:56:00.000-08:00

I just posted a poll asking crafters far and wide to VOTE on which sea creature they'd like to see next as a pattern. Stop by and tell me what you think!

Click here and scroll down a tad

It's a bebeh!

I am torn between writing a knit octopus pattern (I just have a crochet octopus so far), super-cute amigurumi style baby octopus and squid combo pattern (see above), a crochet seahorse (which I KEEP TYPING as seahore... um), a knit tentacle scarf (see previous post for a taste of that sauce), or a starfish/sea star.

Sea-lady-of-the-night

As always, it will be a blend of anatomically correct/realistic and cute.

There's also a write-in option. What critter are you itchin' to make? Let me know!

a surprise

2011-11-28T18:46:00.001-08:00

This is the beginnings of a custom order that is to be a surprise for a lucky young person with an awesome mom... I don't want to show too much so I don't ruin the surprise (it's very unlikely she'll stumble upon this, but you never know, it IS the internet) but here is a sneaky peaky. I am so excited.

cobalt blue octopus

2011-11-14T18:01:00.001-08:00

Oh my, hello there.

on etsy

Kitefish Shawlette

2011-11-04T13:20:00.000-07:00

While visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific this spring, I was overloaded with inspirations for new projects. The colors of the water, plants, and sea life were just too much for my little brain to handle. I eventually came up with...

This pattern was inspired by a fish (I know, you are simply stunned!) named Monodactylus argenteus. I wanted to name the pattern after the fish, but it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, so I chose one of the common names -- kitefish. With its silvery gray body and vividly bright yellow dorsal fin, it translated nicely into an abstract shawlette pattern using short row shaping.

I have been a little obsessed with the "grellow" combo for a while. I am not the only one. The amazing, hand-dyed Baah! La Jolla yarn was the perfect choice, the colors so closely mirrored the kitefish's coloring I couldn't have dreamed up superior shades. Mira of Baah! was very excited to see what I came up with using her gorgeous yarn.

Since the pattern's debut at the Knit Culture booth at Vogue Knitting Live Los Angeles, I have made another version with another set of bright, tropical colors, using Sanguine Gryphon's Bugga! which is heavenly (colors-- Sea Urchin, Adonis Butterfly and Starry Night Cracker). Ooh la la.

If you'd like to make one for yourself, join the Ravelry Knit-A-Long here!

You can also purchase a kit which includes the pattern and the Baah! La Jolla gray/yellow yarn here.

Kitefish Shawlette Knitting Pattern PDF - $6

Intermediate level (must be comfortable with short rows)

Materials needed

Yarn: Fingering or Sport weight. Approx. 250 yards MC and 175 yards CC

Needles: Size 4 32" (or longer) circular. I used Size 5s for the Bugga! version.

One locking stitch marker and one ring stitch marker

Row counter

Crochet hook

Tapestry needle

Realistic Squid Crochet Pattern is here!

2011-08-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

Blub blub blub...

The tentacular companion to my octopus crochet pattern... It's finally finished! I need a siesta (what else is new??)

Eight arms, two tentacles, head fin and mantle like a real squid.

Horaaay! Happy hookin'

Realistic Squid crochet pattern PDF - $6

coffee table in the city

2011-07-24T23:26:00.000-07:00

This is lovely. Los Angeles, I love you sometimes.

Here is designer Julie Kim's blog post on this project, too.

realistic squid crochet pattern... coming soon!

2011-06-06T18:54:00.000-07:00

It's getting there.

Farewell, original loopy scarf

2011-06-02T23:09:00.000-07:00

This ship has sold. I mean sailed. I mean sold.

It's a SALE, CAPTAIN!!!

2011-05-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

15% off anything in my etsy shop! Why? Because I like you!

Coupon code: SQUIDLOVA

sneak peak

2011-05-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

I can't help it...

Radio Silence

2011-05-21T13:41:00.001-07:00

I'm working on some things and don't want to talk about them yet for fear of ruining momentum so... there will be less content for a little while.

Scaring off the inspiration fairy by oversharing is something I'm trying to avoid. This would happen constantly when I was painting more often. As soon as I mentioned to someone that I was working on a painting, I couldn't look the painting in the face to work on it. I realize this is a bit odd and definitely an undesirable reaction for someone who makes things for a living, but there you go.

Don't look now, there's an idea on my shoulder. Shhh.

Free Scallop Lace Hat Pattern!

2011-05-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Here it is... the perfect use for that single ball of DK-weight yarn that you've been meaning to knit. A classic lace stitch adapted into a slouchy, lacy hat.

This seemed so simple in theory but it took me a while (and quite a few proto-hats) to get the math exactly right.

The ribbing is knit with smallish (US 5) needles and the rest of the hat is knit with larger (US 10) needles for that drapey open fabric look... definitely more SoCal than Snowpocalyspe. Sorry Wisconsin homies, I'll get you next time.

Ravelry link

Free pattern: download now

another one from the vault

2011-04-28T22:11:00.001-07:00

When I was a kid, instead of a lemonade stand I had a handicrafts stand. It was called Rainbow Color Shop and I sold jewelry, friendship bracelets, and occasionally little pots of aloe vera when my mom pruned the houseplants.

The aloe vera always sold out.

I had an advertising plan, too. My younger brother, age 5 (picture a curly-haired cherub with the energy of Calvin and an adorable inability to pronounce the letter "r") would ride his scooter up and down the street and holler "WAINBOW COLOH SHOP! FOLLOW ME!"

Sometimes I would hide under a cardboard box next to my stand and when I heard someone pass on the sidewalk I would sort of rattle around under the box. This inevitably startled the passerby and they would stop and do a quick visual investigation. Then I would peek out from under the box and ask if they were in the market for a pair of peace sign earrings. Worked like a charm!

I was a weird kid.

I remember clearly the most money I made in one day, because it was a very big deal. Four dollars and thirty-seven cents. That bought you a lot of fake flowers back in the day. My bedroom looked like an Italian cemetery.

Color Love

2011-04-25T22:22:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Scarf and Tree.

tastes like purple

2011-04-18T23:34:00.000-07:00

Who dat?

2011-04-17T01:06:00.001-07:00

My grandma knit the hat and sweater. I was 4 here.

My lazy a** is bad at blogging right now

2011-04-15T23:36:00.001-07:00

There will be more to look at soon. Te lo prometo.

Also, my ass isn't really that lazy. I shouldn't spread that kind of libel. When it comes to blog posts, though, the ass could use some hot pokers.

Octopus Crochet Pattern at last...

2011-04-01T01:26:00.000-07:00

Happy April Fools! Um, I wish I had thought of something tricky or clever for this post, but you see, I have been distracted.

IT. HAS. RISEN.

The octopus crochet pattern is here. I didn't sleep much last night, but it was totally worth it. I have wanted to release this for about four years... a sorta-realistic octopus with curly tendril-like arms.

Any weight of yarn can be used for this, it will just change the size of the creature. For an octopus with a large egg-sized head, I used chunky weight yarn, a G hook for the head and a J hook for the rest. Just make sure your smaller hook size is small enough to prevent holes in the fabric so the head stuffing doesn't come spilling out. No one likes to see that.

Please enjoy, and spread the cephalopod love!

Huntington Gardens - fun with flowers!

2011-03-29T23:03:00.001-07:00

marigold tree 2, a photo by leahcoccariswift on Flickr.

A favorite shot taken by my beautiful friend Brooke.

I messed with it a bit, I think I like it.

OMG OCTO

2011-03-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

My friend Tara made the octopus!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(insert Leah's happy dance here)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at eeet!

IT'S ALIVE!

I have never seen it made by someone else, and I am so ecstatic I can barely handle it.

She test crocheted it for me, the pattern is almost ready. I am hoping to release it just in time for April Fools Day. Not sure why, but that seems fitting.

When Crochoctos attack

2011-03-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

Photoshoot today with a VERY difficult model.

I mean, look at her.

I could tell right away that she and the octopus were not going to get along. They made eye contact from across the room... and whew, if looks could kill, let me tell you.

The tension simmered all day, and around 5 o'clock the octopus snapped. He had had quite enough, thank you very much. His fury resulted in the tentacular attack you see here. I think the octopus has been watching too much Futurama.

More silliness here!

pattern before the end of the month...

2011-03-10T23:30:00.000-08:00

Ze octopus pattern is in the works.

It will be ready (I am writing it to help me make it so) before March is over.

Coming soon... the Octopus crochet pattern

2011-02-17T21:45:00.000-08:00

Oh, little curly arms, how you have long haunted my dreams.

I have churned out many hundred -- actually, over a thousand-- little curly arms for the octopodes I have made over the years. I have loved each and every creature I have created... but. But. I am over-the-moon happy that other people will soon be able to make them too.

Finally. I am finally getting the pattern together, four years after making the first cephalopod as a birthday gift for my dad. I have sent the pattern to June Gilbank, a wonderful tech editor over at Planet June, and after she works her magic and I come up with some images, I will release it into the wild.

My experience with crochet is very experimental and free-form (in fact, all the critters I have made were improvised, and each one was slightly different), so nailing down a precise pattern has been a little tricky. I think I have come up with a formula that consistently creates the shapes I want, and I am pretty happy.

Stay tuned!

In the meantime, ghosts of critters past...

Medusa Loop Scarf Knitting Pattern

2011-02-09T11:48:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a flat rectangle just isn’t going to cut it.

This unique piece can be looped around your neck as many times as you like. Worked in the round the long way, using a larger needle than the yarn calls for to get a slightly loose, drapey quality.

Part cowl, part scarf, part tentacle monster, this is definitely an attention-getting accessory.

Medusa Loop Scarf Pattern:

Hello again!

2011-02-03T22:32:00.001-08:00

Well, it appears that I have returned to blog land. A lot has been happening recently with my knitting design, so I thought I should put some stuff here!

I took some great photos of my friend Heather wearing some knits a few days ago. Here are some favorite shots.

This pattern is available at my etsy shop here.

Scarf here

and this one here.

Taking pictures, man, what fun. I am pretty sure this will become a major part of my creative life. There are many more beautiful pictures of beautiful Heather here on the Ruby Submarine facebook page! Also, I am kind of on twitter.

Making some steps towards creative fulfillment... 2011 has been good to me so far!

friends

2009-09-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

It was a lovely day.

Living so far away from my loved ones makes me appreciate ANYONE I recognize so much more--when I go home to Madison and run into someone from high school, even if I didn't know them very well, I get excited and greet them enthusiastically. Oftentimes they won't return the enthusiasm, and it takes me a few moments of trying not to be offended to remember that they see familiar faces all the time. Los Angeles is a sea of self-involved strangers, and connecting with people is difficult. Everyone here feels like an outsider, so there is no one to welcome you to the neighborhood--they don't feel like they belong either.

My mind still travels back to that sunny, pastoral paradise that was our wedding site, especially when I am stuck in traffic. I miss the green hills and the wonderful people that gathered with us to celebrate life and love.

Jacaranda Season

2009-07-07T22:40:00.000-07:00

Taken a few weeks ago now, but they are still happening.

And another

2009-07-01T20:25:00.001-07:00

I am looking through some old photos, which I haven't done in a while.

Winter photo

2009-07-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

It finally got hot here.

This was over two years ago, in Madison, during a snowy part of the winter.

Long time no blog

2009-05-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

This is worth checking out:

The Good Guide rates products on their environmental friendliness, how the company treats their workers and how healthy they are for you to consume or use. I heard about it on NPR and am hoping it's totally legit, because this seems like an incredibly great and needed service.

Don't I look happy?

2009-01-30T19:48:00.000-08:00

Charmlee is a wonderful place to get engaged!

yarnballs

2008-10-24T01:29:00.001-07:00

I have taken over as yarn photographer at the store, which has been quite the learning experience and really fun. I love these. That yarn is so soft.

Farewell to critters

2008-10-24T01:06:00.000-07:00

I just sent out my last sea creatures for a while. Knitting is understandably taking over my craft-life and I need a break from repetitive curly arms.

I am down to my last homemade tags so I think that's a sign as well...

what the heck should I do with this gold yarn?

New Apartment?

2008-09-07T16:45:00.000-07:00

Moving!
What fun.

Yes

2008-08-10T20:24:00.000-07:00

Laptop!

Exciting!

2008-07-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

My nearly seven year-old laptop is finally in the throes of death, which accounts for my recently diminished net presence. I am negotiating with my folks about getting a new one, hopefully soon, so I can get back to wasting time on reddit and putting projects on ravelry. In the meantime, I hope you check out the KnitCulture site my lovely co-workers have been slaving over for a long, long time (I've only been involved for two months... we launch on the 31st.)
Fiber!!! It's exciting. To me.

Point Mugu

2008-06-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Katie and I spent one night on Point Mugu. It wasn't the most RV-less place we've ever camped, but you can't beat the view. Our tent site was gettin' ocean sprayed. There are lovely, mountainous hikes in the area, but beware the mountain lions. We saw some caves that looked a little too cozy.

Next time we might try a different campground off the BBQ strip, but this is a beautiful place. We saw two schools of dolphin and some seals. Katie got some mysterious black substance on her foot (oil spill??) and I got my ass handed to me by a few waves I was attempting to wade in. Good times!

Succulence

2008-06-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

I want to trade cuttings with other succulent fans. Mailing a cutting is super easy (they should stay out of dirt for a week so the slice can heal over before planting) and they pop babies out all the time! There is probably a forum or something for this purpose, but I'm lazy. Anyone want to trade?

My little collection is more fun all the time:

This last one is a monster. It's over a foot tall and I planted it when I planted the little ones above, earlier this year. I have no idea what it is. Maybe it's an alien species, and those pink tentacles shooting out of it are going to bore into my skull one of these nights. Ah well, it's been worth it.

2008-05-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

I've been obsessively sending these Lil Green Patch things on Facebook... supposedly I am also saving the rainforest! As you use the application, ad sponsors donate money to the Nature Conservancy's Adopt an Acre program. Here's their website.

The Time Around Scars

2008-05-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

(A Michael Ondaatje poem:)


A girl whom I've not spoken to

or shared coffee with for several years

writes of an old scar.

On her wrist it sleeps, smooth and white,

the size of a leech.

I gave it to her 

brandishing a new Italian penknife.

Look, I said turning,

and blood spat onto her shirt.



My wife has scars like spread raindrops 

on knees and ankles,

she talks of broken greenhouse panes

and yet, apart from imagining red feet,

(a nymph out of Chagall)

I bring little to that scene.

We remember the time around scars,

they freeze irrelevant emotions

and divide us from present friends.

I remember this girl's face,

the widening rise of surprise.


And would she 

moving with lover or husband

conceal or flaunt it,

or keep it at her wrist

a mysterious watch.

And this scar I then remember

is a medallion of no emotion.


I would meet you now

and I would wish this scar

to have been given with

all the love 

that never occurred between us.




(One of my favorite poems in high school)

le sale

2008-04-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Ok so

2008-04-20T10:10:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to jinx it, but I got a job at the Knitter's Studio.

YES !
That sound you hear is me breathing a massive sigh of relief.

My yarn stash is going to get a serious upgrade in the coming months. I start there the day after I finish my temporary stint at Ruth Bachofner.

The Knitter's Studio

2008-04-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

I just visited this place for the first time. Holy yarn heaven!

Creatures Across Oceans

2008-04-12T18:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when I'm crocheting an animal, I wonder about where it will end up. There have been orders from Australia, Denmark, Mexico, Belgium, England... I'll tie a little tag to its leg, wrap it up and place it gently into a box, never to see it again. This has happened over a hundred times.

Recently, fortune smiled upon me and this pattern was not repeated when the lovely Ami (a fellow cephalopod nut) received her carrot octopus and yellow squid:

There they are, in Singapore! Hurrah!
The visual closure makes me as gleeful as she looks in the picture.

Ami, if I ever figure out a way to make a cuttlefish, you'll be the first to know!

Ruby is 1

2008-04-10T18:45:00.000-07:00

One year Etsyversary sale!

peruse here.

In honor of the day, here is the first octopus I listed on Etsy. I originally made one for my dad's birthday, thinking that he needed an awesome cephalopod friend. It was very similar to this one, the second I made.

1100+ crocheted tentacles and two carpal tunnel braces later...

No regrets!!!!

tree tree tree

2008-04-09T22:55:00.000-07:00

New banner...

2008-04-07T23:26:00.001-07:00

eh?

Neato!

2008-04-06T17:44:00.000-07:00

I got my !free! copy of

in the mail recently, it's really cute.

This guy o' mine was included in the gallery:

Hrmm

2008-04-02T15:12:00.001-07:00

I am struggling with the nature of this blog. What is it? Why do I have it? It's not a diary, not self-promotion (well, exclusively anyway), and definitely not how I would chose to present myself to the world (OMG PICTURES OF MY GUINEA PIG AND FLOWERZZZ!!!).

So, why?

To answer this question, I would like to know who YOU are, any why you are reading this RIGHT NOW. If you would be so kind, please leave a comment and tell me how you found me. If I already know you, just tell me who you are. Please? and Thank you.

Nuevo

2008-03-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

even when blurry

2008-03-27T23:48:00.001-07:00

too cute.

Le tired.

more flowers

2008-03-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

I know, totally original.

They are still pretty.

The Leelou tour of the LA area!

2008-03-26T12:25:00.001-07:00

Eilee visited in early February.

Sophia in mid March.
I miss you girls.

I hated this at first...

2008-03-11T14:03:00.000-07:00

Not done yet, but it's getting interesting.
I still don't love the colors. Oh, and it's five feet long.

HAL

2008-03-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

I'd been passing this spot a few times a week and had been meaning to get a photo. This is the building where the original Zephyr skate shop was located (that would be the Z in Z boys) and this message has been on the wall since shortly after Heath's death.

Productivity

2008-03-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

...is a funny thing.

I've been painting almost every day, getting my etsy store back up and running,
and eating lots of homemade sushi.

Los Angeles doesn't seem so bad right now.

An unexpected full-time job

2007-10-26T23:01:00.001-07:00

Is now mine! I work here, and check out the cheese list.

autumn

2007-10-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

It can be found in southern California!

mossy green

2007-10-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

My favorite color.

Check out more pictures on the etsy page.
Love to AMJ's painting.

My Ludo poster

2007-10-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

... makes me happy.

I got it a few years ago here, which is an awesome site. If you have a few minutes, poke around and try to find your favorite movie.

The visuals they came up with are sometimes pretty astounding. Check these out:

Blade Runner
The Muppet Movie
8 and a Half
The Shining (yikes)
...and here's my Labyrinth poster

2007-09-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

The lovely ladies at Rare Bird Finds wrote a little review for my shop. They feature unique ansd awesome stuff daily, take a look!

l'hippocampe

2007-09-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

I made a seahorse

Starting again, again

2007-09-13T11:30:00.001-07:00

I recently realized that my previous blog's location had
been a disastrous mistake, so I'm trying again.

One two three

2007-09-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

I'm working on it, I promise!

For now, just look at my critters.
Click the octopus, if you please!