It’s time to temporarily deactivate my large blankets from Etsy. Don’t worry, they’ll be back in time for the holidays. I have to focus on our wedding plans and all the events leading up to and after. I’m hoping to take the time to create some special edition blankets, fingers crossed. Maybe even a few new friends will come in Autumn… sadly, no promises there (this wedding stuff is super time consuming). You can still order some of my little guys, the throws will be hanging around until shop closing day.

I will be closing the shop some time in June and keeping it closed until after my honeymoon; reopening in October.

I will also be opening my Store Envy shop in October, for anyone that doesn’t have an Etsy account, this will make it easier to shop without having to sign up for anything.

Temporarily removed items include:

Donkey Kong Blanket, The Barrels Level
Price: $300
Size: 5′ 9″ wide and 6′ 1″ long
Materials: Wool and Acrylic Yarn
May be fully customized.
Takes up to 10-12 weeks to make and ship.

Space Invaders Blanket
Price: $225
Size: 5′ 1″ wide and 6′ long
Materials: 100% Acrylic Yarn
May be fully customized.
Takes up to 10-12 weeks to make and ship.

Galaga Blanket
Price: $250
Size: 5′ 1″ wide and 6′ long
Materials: 100% Acrylic Yarn
May be fully customized.
Takes up to 10-12 weeks to make and ship.

The Legend of Zelda is by far and away my favorite video game series of all time. The fact that I can finally say “I have some Zelda in my shop”, makes me all sorts of squishy inside. I recently shared that I’ve been staring at a partially started Triforce throw since Autumn and how much I’d love to add Zelda to my shop. Thankfully someone asked for one, and I got to take a break from barrels and aliens for a couple of days to produce this new friend. I’m filled with exclamations points and Terrence is, of course, jealous he doesn’t get to keep it. We’ve only ever kept one of my replications in the house, Donkey Kong, and then he has his Space Invaders blanket that started it all. He’s just greedy.

This isn’t it for the Legend of Zelda, I still have many others planned… its simply a matter of finding the time or a nice customer to request a custom order. Maybe soon enough I’ll finish that Triforce or start an adorable Link and Zelda in love throw… I can’t wait. Welcome to the family Link, we’re happy to have you (well, pictures and the math to replicate you… which is enough for now).

xoxo,
Ana

Nothing really comes out in December, I feel like everyone tries to get their music kicks in before then, this way they can make all the year end lists. So picking a song for December is always difficult. A lot of times I b***s*** with an ok song, rather than one I really love… but I actually really love this song. I don’t usually listen to Memory Tapes that often, I always forget about them. Although I feel like they always have one stand out track on their albums that I love and play on repeat. This is definitely that song.

Another thing about listening to music in December. I’m usually taking advantage of the brief window I have to listen to all the classic holiday songs that feel weird to hear outside of December. Not so much the Burl Ives or Bing Crosby’s, but the Waitresses, Kinks and Pogues… ok, I might listen to the Pogues’ Fairytale of New York outside of December. It transcends the holiday season. I also just like to listen to a lot of oldies during the holidays, it makes me feel warm and cozy inside its familiarity.

Memory Tapes, Shelia

Other notable songs, (throwback edition)
George Harrison, Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp
The Velvet Underground, Oh! Sweet Nuthin’
Pogues, A Fairytale of New York

Riley’s soundtrack, Year 4.
October | Anything Could Happen
November | Wrath of God
December | Sheila

Amanda is one of my closest friends (she’s also my maid of honor), I talk to her everyday. Our communication often flows towards outfits and shopping. We exchange countless text messages and emails filled with pics of which to wear with what, or links of should I buy or isn’t this cute. Recently Panda asked my advice on how to wear heels. She’s always been more of a ballet flat or ugg boots gal. She’s previously made the classic error that a lot of girls make when buying heels, too tall. This is especially bad for women that don’t usually wear heels. I can’t tell you how often I go to parties where the ladies are running around in slippers or with bare feet. Its because of this infatuation with super tall heels instead of cute comfortable heels. My advice to her was to look for a heel between 2-3 inches. Tons of cute shoes come in this heel height and they’re comfortable enough to walk around in all day.

Amanda is my youngest gal pal, just having turned 24, she wants to start exploring a more ladylike sense of style. She would also like to keep her childlike sense of self. This outfit is all about exploring both sides.

Get used to this face, she’s gonna be helping out a lot while we plan the wedding. She’ll probably also stick around after that. Maybe I’ll even let her write one of her own posts so she can explain her thought process while shopping.

Bow/Claire’s, Cardigan/Forever 21, Dress + Shoes/Modcloth, Earrings/Betsey Johnson, Tights/Express

I made the username iamduckydale back in 2003. It was the best/worst year of my adolescence. I always refer to being 19 as my favorite age, despite all the angst and poor judgment in haircuts. I went out with friends almost every night, and survived on 20 minute power naps and cherry pop tarts. It was my first year living without my mother, my first time being single since I was a freshman and the year I got my first computer.

MySpace was where I first started blogging. A ton of immature rants could be found there if “New Myspace” didn’t wipe out the old system. Which may or may not be a good thing… still thinking it over. Eventually I moved on to blogger, where… to be fair, you can also find immature rants. In 2009 I arrived here, where hopefully my rants have matured. With every new URL I’ve always thought about changing my username, but after exhausting my brain trying to come up with a new one I’d give up.

I hate iamduckydale. Its like that bad haircut ^^^, but this one won’t grow out. Terrence has repeatedly told me that I can’t change it because its how the internet knows me, its my brand. I don’t know, I think redirecting will help the internet adjust. Once I can figure something out that has an open domain and shop on etsy, I’m gonna make the move. Its been ten years now, its time for a change.

I remember when Crystal Castles’ first self titled album came out, it was start to finish awesome. Anything chock full of video game noises is alright in my book. But with each self titled release, they’re growing a bit lacking. This third album has, in my opinion, two really good songs. Unfortunately that might be all it has, I don’t know… I may have to listen to it s’more. This doesn’t take away from the merit of Wrath of God, when I first heard it I was jazzed, I listened to it over and over. Good times, noodle salad.

Crystal Castles, Wrath of God
(Video by Ivan Grbin)

Other notable songs,
Sharon Van Etten, Tell Me
Crystal Castles, Plague

Riley’s soundtrack, Year 4.
October | Anything Could Happen
November | Wrath of God

In September when I released my last big shop update, I still had tons of things I planned to make. So far I’ve been staring at a partially started Triforce throw and a list of unfulfilled ideas. Thankfully this isn’t entirely disappointing, I’ve been busy earning a living. Which is much better than procrastinating or being plain lazy. So far the only way I’ve been able to expand my shop has been through special requests from buyers. Thank goodness for you guys, you keep me interested. That’s how this new Galaga blanket came about.

Making Galaga fills me with happy, I really love the rainbow of colors involved. I’ve recently gotten a couple of fun requests that I can’t wait to knock out. Some are going to be a major challenge, but that’s what makes it fun. One of my new projects isn’t even arcade themed, crazy… I know. Still nerdy though. Never forget your roots.

Read on to welcome Galaga to the family.

You can find this guy and his little brother at my etsy shop. If anyone wants to peak my interest with a special request I’d be happy to entertain any new ideas. Or maybe even if you’d like to suggest a nice Triforce throw, I have 6 inches already in the bag. Its silver and black, if you like that sort of thing.

I’m going to be super busy again for this last stretch of winter, so I apologize in advance for disappearing. If anything, you can always find me randomly posting pictures of my cat on instagram.

Sometimes when I’m so behind on these I double or triple up… but this time I decided to go along as normal… just REALLY behind. Maybe I’ll catch up one day, although with a fairly busy crochet schedule and a barely planned wedding looming… I doubt it. Take me as I am ghost readers! I love every one of your silent eyes! Also, I’m totally sneaking this post out today, I should be working right now… I’ll be doing that for weeks to come.

Hello, my name is Boring.

One thing that always comes in handy while I’m hooking away on my couch… music. It just occurred to me that you think I’m a prostitute, I assure you I’m not, hooking is fancy talk for crocheting.

Hello, my name is Fancy.

I miss this.

MUSIC. I freaking love this song. I love any tune that forces my hindquarters to inadvertently move in a quick paced sided to side motion. Its true. The video however, I really don’t like it. It reminds me of when I was in middle school and I watched entirely too much MTV. I remember how a music video could make or break a single. Sometimes I would fall in love with a mediocre song because of its great video and other times I would change the channel if a horrid video came on, despite the songs merit. The point being… this video made me change the channel. Don’t worry Ellie, I have iTunes.

Ellie Goulding, Anything Could Happen

Other notable songs,
Sky Ferreira, Everything Is Embarrassing
Tame Impala, Elephant
Bat For Lashes, A Wall

Riley’s soundtrack, Year 4.
October | Anything Could Happen

This is my first time sitting at my computer for more than 5 minutes in over 2 months. It feels pretty great, although the screen in giving me a headache, I’m not quite used to this anymore. I’ve missed you guys! I know we don’t usually speak, but I feel your presence through my views counter, so I know I’m not talking to myself… which is nice. I’m behind on so many aspects of my life. I’ve had to come up with strategies for surviving the holiday season as a microscopic business owner, hopefully next season won’t include a life altering natural disaster. Fingers crossed.

I have a wedding to plan. Every time I see people, which (trust me) has been very rare lately, they ask about how my wedding plans are coming along. I have a dress, a venue and a 9+ hour playlist of love songs… as for everything else, I have slightly over 8 months to plan for. Ahh!

I mailed out my last holiday order today. It was the most amazing sigh of relief I’ve felt in over 10 weeks. I have several more orders to fulfill, but there’s something about that devilish holiday title that adds so much pressure. If I’m a few days behind schedule now, I know its not the end of the world. But, I just mailed my last holiday order… 6 days after Christmas. It felt horrible. I’m a douche, I hate me. I have a pretty good excuse, that no one on the receiving end of a week late present is gonna care about, but I do.

This guy had a very special birthday, lets just say he turned 29 for the second time. He’s still a bit sensitive about aging. He’s been so patient about losing me to crocheting. For two months he had no couch snuggling partner, had to cook all the meals and do all the cleaning (our apartment was pretty messy) and he had to go to bed alone every night and get woken up between 3 and 6am by me climbing in to sleep. I owed him, so I promised I would take off for his birthday weekend and we’d go away to celebrate, just us. We went up to Hudson and had an amazing time… unfortunately the night before we left for home, Terrence got the flu. And the next day he gave it to me, but I got it a million times worse than he did and wanted to die for about a week and a half. That’s my excuse. I was sick for Christmas and the week leading up to it, it was miserable. I tried several times to sit up and crochet but my body laughed at me and patted my head so I had to lay back down. The worst.

It seemed like the holidays, although I’d been a slave to them for over two months, never came for me. Halloween passed us by because of Hurricane Sandy, Thanksgiving snuck up on us and we just barely caught it, and Christmas did the same. I actually had to go out and shop on Christmas Eve… devil. I kind of want a do-over. Which is ok, since my family celebrates Three Kings Day, I still have one last chance to do something right. Maybe.

Even this lead image up there… we took that about 30 minutes to midnight on Christmas day and emailed our loved ones with 5 minutes to spare. I was working on our costumes during drinks after Christmas dinner. Turned out ok though, I think. We went for a Zissou Christmas theme this year, theirs a story behind it… but I may have blabbed enough for one post so I’ll tell you about it later.

Happy New Year! We’ll catch up some more soon, promise. For now I have a little music to catch up on, I owe Riley a few months of soundtrack.

I thought that by now I would have added loads more items to my shop, but sadly I’m a bit behind. I did however manage to sneak these two guys through in time for the holidays. I wanted to be able to create something small to help raise funds for hurricane relief efforts. This is what I came up with…

Heart Container Ornament

Red Invader Ornament

Hopefully more small projects will emerge soon.

25% of the proceeds from these small friends will be donated to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy Relief.

*******

Yes, I’m still here.

I apologize for the radio silence as of late. I don’t want to go too much into it but my mothers home was flooded in the hurricane. Thankfully she was safe with us during the storm and although she lost almost everything we’re extremely thankful to have her. Life has been a bit upside down for my family in the last few weeks and I am very much delayed in my work. I’m crocheting round the clock to fulfill all my orders in time for the holidays so you won’t hear from me much until after.

I hope everyone is doing well and have plenty to be thankful for this holiday season.

xo, Ana