In the last week, I've knocked one movie off my getting-ready-for-the-Oscars movie watching extravaganza. Mad Max: Fury Road is the fourth installment in the Mad Max franchise and apparently, it took many years to get it to the theater. The critics loved this movie. I did not. It had a little plot, but none of the roles were a stretch for the high-powered stars (Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron). The special effects were technically adequate, but nonstop action is not really my cup of tea...not to mention it took a third of the movie for me to figure out who the good guys were. If you're into this type of thing, I can see where it would be entertaining, but for me...no thank you. And I don't know how it got nominated for Best Picture. Oh well.
Concussion is based on a true story of the forensic pathologist who took on the NFL and their deplorable act of covering up the evidence that head hits are dangerous to a person. Will Smith plays the doctor - Bennet Omalu. It was good.
Amy Winehouse had a short, turbulent life - mostly because of the choices she made. Amy is a British documentary that tells her story. It's always a shame when someone so gifted, talented and young dies. I thought it was an interesting look. I liked it.
MK out.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Saturday, January 16, 2016
FO Friday - A Day Late
I really meant to write a post yesterday, even though my FOs aren't really all that exciting. I really did. I guess I lost all track of time working on some super secret Christmas presents...not for the Christmas that just passed, but for the one coming. You know the one...the one that is out there looming in the future, but will be here before we know it.
Back to FOs. It's the middle of the month and I've finished three things already! Actually, I started all three on the first and finished them all by the next day.
Here's the first one:
No...I didn't make a skein of yarn. I just forgot to take a picture, and the next day I gifted it to an adorable little girl I know. What did I make, you ask? I made a boa...something every little girl needs. So, imagine a boa made out of this yarn.
Then, I made these:
I used my favorite pattern and some Encore Worsted and I knocked those babies right out.
So, that's it...that's the list.
MK out.
Back to FOs. It's the middle of the month and I've finished three things already! Actually, I started all three on the first and finished them all by the next day.
Here's the first one:
No...I didn't make a skein of yarn. I just forgot to take a picture, and the next day I gifted it to an adorable little girl I know. What did I make, you ask? I made a boa...something every little girl needs. So, imagine a boa made out of this yarn.
Then, I made these:
I used my favorite pattern and some Encore Worsted and I knocked those babies right out.
So, that's it...that's the list.
MK out.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Movie Monday - 1/11/2016
Did anyone catch the Golden Globes last night? I didn't...
Your Sister's Sister was an alright movie about a guy who hooked up with his best friend's (who is female) sister. Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass and Rosemarie DeWitt starred as the principal players. The critics seemed to like it, but I thought it was okay. Maybe, I need to see it again - or maybe I'm not the target audience.
The Testament of Youth is adapted from the memoir of Vera Brittain, who wrote of her experiences during WWI. She convinced her parents to allow her to attend university, but when the war broke out and her brother, fiancé and other male friends join the fight, she felt compelled to make a sacrifice too. She volunteered as a nurse and treated patients on both sides. It's a good movie.
Michael Douglas, Robert de Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline star in Last Vegas, about a group of friends since childhood who head to Las Vegas to throw a bachelor party for one of the guys. It was pretty funny and entertaining. I liked it.
In The Age of Adaline, Blake Lively plays a woman who has stayed 29 for almost eighty years following a strange accident. Could you imagine? I think that would be awesome, except for the fact that you wouldn't get to grow old with anyone; so, everyone dies on you. And that was Adaline's issue with the whole thing too. But dang...for a while, I'd be game. Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker and Harrison Ford also starred in this movie. It was pretty good.
The Big Short is another look at the housing mortgage collapse of 2008. One guy saw it coming and played it to his advantage. Once again, it exposed the greed of some of the key players from Lehman Brothers and some of the other big investment banks who ruined the lives of many people - many of whom were their own employees. Wow! Anyway, Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt starred in this film. It was good.
Your Sister's Sister was an alright movie about a guy who hooked up with his best friend's (who is female) sister. Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass and Rosemarie DeWitt starred as the principal players. The critics seemed to like it, but I thought it was okay. Maybe, I need to see it again - or maybe I'm not the target audience.
The Testament of Youth is adapted from the memoir of Vera Brittain, who wrote of her experiences during WWI. She convinced her parents to allow her to attend university, but when the war broke out and her brother, fiancé and other male friends join the fight, she felt compelled to make a sacrifice too. She volunteered as a nurse and treated patients on both sides. It's a good movie.
Michael Douglas, Robert de Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline star in Last Vegas, about a group of friends since childhood who head to Las Vegas to throw a bachelor party for one of the guys. It was pretty funny and entertaining. I liked it.
In The Age of Adaline, Blake Lively plays a woman who has stayed 29 for almost eighty years following a strange accident. Could you imagine? I think that would be awesome, except for the fact that you wouldn't get to grow old with anyone; so, everyone dies on you. And that was Adaline's issue with the whole thing too. But dang...for a while, I'd be game. Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker and Harrison Ford also starred in this movie. It was pretty good.
The Big Short is another look at the housing mortgage collapse of 2008. One guy saw it coming and played it to his advantage. Once again, it exposed the greed of some of the key players from Lehman Brothers and some of the other big investment banks who ruined the lives of many people - many of whom were their own employees. Wow! Anyway, Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt starred in this film. It was good.
MK out.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Movie Monday - 1/04/2016
In Brooklyn, Eilis leaves her home in Ireland to find a better life in America. Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Jim Broadbent, Julie Waters and Fiona Glascott star in this cute film. I highly recommend it.
In Paper Towns, a teen disappears after a night of adventure shared with the guy who lives across the street and is besotted by her. He takes it upon himself to enlist the help of his buddies to find her, while following clues she has left behind. It was alright.
Ian McKellen stars as the famous Sherlock in Mr. Holmes. Close to retirement, he is still plagued by an old case that hasn't yet been solved. Also starring in the film are Laura Linney and Milo Parker. It was very good.
I really don't know very much about the man, but after watching Steve Jobs, I'm not sure I would have liked him very much. The story focuses on his creative accomplishments, achieved at the expense of his interpersonal relationships. Michael Fassbender stars as Jobs. Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen and Jeff Daniels are also in the movie. It was good.
The original players return to reprise their roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. A couple of new characters are introduced, but thankfully, none are annoying like Jar Jar Binks. (Did I say that outloud?) I thoroughly enjoyed this movie - even without seeing all of the previous ones in the series.
MK out.
In Paper Towns, a teen disappears after a night of adventure shared with the guy who lives across the street and is besotted by her. He takes it upon himself to enlist the help of his buddies to find her, while following clues she has left behind. It was alright.
Ian McKellen stars as the famous Sherlock in Mr. Holmes. Close to retirement, he is still plagued by an old case that hasn't yet been solved. Also starring in the film are Laura Linney and Milo Parker. It was very good.
I really don't know very much about the man, but after watching Steve Jobs, I'm not sure I would have liked him very much. The story focuses on his creative accomplishments, achieved at the expense of his interpersonal relationships. Michael Fassbender stars as Jobs. Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen and Jeff Daniels are also in the movie. It was good.
The original players return to reprise their roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. A couple of new characters are introduced, but thankfully, none are annoying like Jar Jar Binks. (Did I say that outloud?) I thoroughly enjoyed this movie - even without seeing all of the previous ones in the series.
MK out.
Friday, January 1, 2016
FO Friday - 1/1/2016
Happy New Year Everyone!!!
Twenty-fifteen ended, and looking over this past year, I sure didn't knit very much. According to my Ravelry page, I made 25 projects. I think my all-time high is 50. Hmmm........
I did complete all my projects for Loopy Academy though. So, I choose to be positive in my outlook and build from that.
In the knitting division, our assignments re to make a pillow, a project with texture and a project with cables. Each project had to use at least 225 yards of yarn. In the sewing division, our assignments were to make a drawstring bag (or bags), a set of four placemats and a seasonal wall hanging. Each project had to use at least 1 1/2 yards of fabric. All supplies had to be purchased from The Loopy Ewe. After much thinking, I decided that my theme for all the assignments was Christmas.
I made three pillows to fulfill all the knitting assignment requirements. I made them in the colors I use to decorate for Christmas - cream, red and teal/turquoise. Two were finished just in time to use this year for Christmas:
The cream one was for texture:
I used Cascade 220 Super wash, in the Aran colorway. The pattern is Independence Pillow.
The red one was for cables:
I used Cascade Superwash in Really Red. The pattern is Smushion.
I finished the third after Christmas. It's the pillow, for the pillow assignment - aka the official pillow:
I used Cascade Superwash in Deep Ocean. The pattern is Delightful Diamonds.
The Christmas theme continued in the sewing division.
I had enough fabric to make three drawstring project bags using selections from Moda's Be Jolly line. I used this tutorial, except I used the accent fabric at the bottom of the bag. It's a great tutorial for drawstring bag first timers!
For placemats, I chose fat quarters - a variety of batiks in reds and teals. I made eight, because four are not enough at Chez Merry Karma.
I had seen some horizontal stipend ones and decided to make mine in vertical stripes instead. I decided not to bind them. I backed them in a beautiful red batik...they're reversible!
Finally, I used red, cream and teal fabrics from the Andover Dimples collection to make my wallhanging:
Except for all the cutting and the HSTs assembled, I made the entire thing between 10:45pm Wednesday night and 7:00am yesterday.
And then later, I boarded a plane and jetted away.
Off to the Rose Bowl today. Go Hawks!
MK out.
Twenty-fifteen ended, and looking over this past year, I sure didn't knit very much. According to my Ravelry page, I made 25 projects. I think my all-time high is 50. Hmmm........
I did complete all my projects for Loopy Academy though. So, I choose to be positive in my outlook and build from that.
In the knitting division, our assignments re to make a pillow, a project with texture and a project with cables. Each project had to use at least 225 yards of yarn. In the sewing division, our assignments were to make a drawstring bag (or bags), a set of four placemats and a seasonal wall hanging. Each project had to use at least 1 1/2 yards of fabric. All supplies had to be purchased from The Loopy Ewe. After much thinking, I decided that my theme for all the assignments was Christmas.
I made three pillows to fulfill all the knitting assignment requirements. I made them in the colors I use to decorate for Christmas - cream, red and teal/turquoise. Two were finished just in time to use this year for Christmas:
The cream one was for texture:
I used Cascade 220 Super wash, in the Aran colorway. The pattern is Independence Pillow.
The red one was for cables:
I used Cascade Superwash in Really Red. The pattern is Smushion.
I finished the third after Christmas. It's the pillow, for the pillow assignment - aka the official pillow:
I used Cascade Superwash in Deep Ocean. The pattern is Delightful Diamonds.
The Christmas theme continued in the sewing division.
I had enough fabric to make three drawstring project bags using selections from Moda's Be Jolly line. I used this tutorial, except I used the accent fabric at the bottom of the bag. It's a great tutorial for drawstring bag first timers!
For placemats, I chose fat quarters - a variety of batiks in reds and teals. I made eight, because four are not enough at Chez Merry Karma.
I had seen some horizontal stipend ones and decided to make mine in vertical stripes instead. I decided not to bind them. I backed them in a beautiful red batik...they're reversible!
Finally, I used red, cream and teal fabrics from the Andover Dimples collection to make my wallhanging:
Except for all the cutting and the HSTs assembled, I made the entire thing between 10:45pm Wednesday night and 7:00am yesterday.
And then later, I boarded a plane and jetted away.
Off to the Rose Bowl today. Go Hawks!
MK out.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Movie Monday - 12/14/2015
Goodness - I have a long list of movies I've seen and haven't mentioned, and the list will only get longer. Maybe, I should get busy and start knocking them out in the next few weeks to catch up, while I occupy myself with watching Countdown to Christmas on the Hallmark Channel. It was a favorite of my mom's. Continuing the tradition makes me feel closer to her now that she's gone. So, on to the movies.
The Martian, starring Matt Damon, is based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir. The movie is set on Mars in the not too distant future. One of the crew (Damon) of a manned space mission is presumed to have died while the astronauts abort and evacuate during a severe storm. He soon comes to and discovers he's been left behind. He has to figure out a way to survive. Some suspension of belief may be required to watch this film, but it was good. Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels and Chiwetel Ejiofor also star in this movie. I liked it.
Tom Hanks stars in Bridge of Spies, based on a true story and set during the Cold War. Attorney James Donovan (Hanks) is hired to defend an accused Russian spy. Later, Donovan is tapped to obtain the release of an American pilot shot down and captured, in exchange for that same spy. Amy Ryan and Alan Alda star in this movie. It was pretty good.
During World War II, the Nazis were busy stealing art and important artifacts. A group of art history and various other experts were put together to find items before the Nazis stole or destroyed them. The Monuments Men is the true story about these brave, non-military folks. George Clooney, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Matt Damon, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and Cate Blanchett starred in this movie. It was very good.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is a documentary based on the book by a similar name by Lawrence Wright. A brief history of Scientology is presented. Several people who were former Scientologists were interviewed about why they first joined or why and how they got out. It was very interesting.
That's all for now...
MK out.
The Martian, starring Matt Damon, is based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir. The movie is set on Mars in the not too distant future. One of the crew (Damon) of a manned space mission is presumed to have died while the astronauts abort and evacuate during a severe storm. He soon comes to and discovers he's been left behind. He has to figure out a way to survive. Some suspension of belief may be required to watch this film, but it was good. Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels and Chiwetel Ejiofor also star in this movie. I liked it.
Tom Hanks stars in Bridge of Spies, based on a true story and set during the Cold War. Attorney James Donovan (Hanks) is hired to defend an accused Russian spy. Later, Donovan is tapped to obtain the release of an American pilot shot down and captured, in exchange for that same spy. Amy Ryan and Alan Alda star in this movie. It was pretty good.
During World War II, the Nazis were busy stealing art and important artifacts. A group of art history and various other experts were put together to find items before the Nazis stole or destroyed them. The Monuments Men is the true story about these brave, non-military folks. George Clooney, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Matt Damon, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and Cate Blanchett starred in this movie. It was very good.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is a documentary based on the book by a similar name by Lawrence Wright. A brief history of Scientology is presented. Several people who were former Scientologists were interviewed about why they first joined or why and how they got out. It was very interesting.
That's all for now...
MK out.
Friday, December 11, 2015
FO Friday - 12/11/2015
Lordy, Lordy...a month since the last post. Well, finally, I have something to show everyone.
Loopy Academy is quickly drawing to a close and Momma needs to get with it. One of the assignments in the sewing division is a drawstring bag or bags. Here are mine:
I used fabrics from the Moda Be Jolly line and the solid red Kona Cotton. I used this tutorial. I made two of the bags using the dimensions given in the pattern. I made the third as big as I could to maximize fabric usage to fulfill the fabric yardage requirement. The only modification I made was using the accent fabric at the base of the bag. I figured since the Kona is just a touch heavier than the other fabric, it should be at the bottom. I so liked the snowman print and deemed it the main fabric.
Hopefully, I'll finish my other assignments soon.
MK out.
Loopy Academy is quickly drawing to a close and Momma needs to get with it. One of the assignments in the sewing division is a drawstring bag or bags. Here are mine:
I used fabrics from the Moda Be Jolly line and the solid red Kona Cotton. I used this tutorial. I made two of the bags using the dimensions given in the pattern. I made the third as big as I could to maximize fabric usage to fulfill the fabric yardage requirement. The only modification I made was using the accent fabric at the base of the bag. I figured since the Kona is just a touch heavier than the other fabric, it should be at the bottom. I so liked the snowman print and deemed it the main fabric.
Hopefully, I'll finish my other assignments soon.
MK out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
