Latest Developments at LabLinoleum

Here at LabLinoleum, we take our commissions seriously. So, when Noo over at Spitting Yarn inquired if I, LadyLinoleum, President and CEO of Research and Development at LabLinoleum, could create a creature inspired by a bone, I enthusiastically replied, "You betcha!" So, sprung from the ashes (or in this case, the bones) of the legendary Dr. Frankenstein is his compact skeletal cousin, Dr. Frankenfemur!





Since his creation from a lone skein of Lion Brand Micro Spun, this fanatical femur has been fine tuning his brilliant marrow, sharpening his surgical knowledge and practical skills, definitely thinking beyond the thigh, in order to help LabLinoleum reach it's full operating capacity. Before Dr. Frankenfemur arrived on the scene, LabLinoleum only had four slightly off balance Veggie Scientists, Dr. Manuel Mangoes and Carnivorous Carrots, in our employ, desperately attempting to keep up with the growing workload. Now that Dr. F is here, LabLinoleum will be able to focus more on research and development enabling the Lab to become a force in the areas of Vegionics (Dr. Manuel Mangoes specialty), Veggie Cloning (Carnivorous Carrots to head this project team) and Miscellaneous Creature Creation (Dr. Frankenfemur to spearhead effort).

We are very excited about the newest addtion to our scientific team and are pleased to see that Dr. Frankenfemur has hit the ground running with his very first Creature Creation...Frankenfemur's Monster!





This bone-buddy will be charged with assisting all of our scientists once we figure out how to give his marrow a little smart-start. Frankenfemur's Monster is a big boy. Wonderful when a little heavy lifting is needed (he currently works in our warehouse), but as I just stated he's a little slow upstairs. That's okay though. Dr. F hopes to have the marrowtardation issue fixed by the time he unveils his next creation...Bride of Frankenfemur! Stay tuned folks...

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Copyright 2005 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

Evolution of the Doll - Djinn

13 Artists

13 Dolls

18 Months

2 Gallery Shows

And A Gazillion Bottles Of Wine...

Evolution of the Doll!

This week's doll star is...Djinn!

Base Artist: Stacy

Artist Background: Ceramicist. Stacy is a wonderfully talented craftswoman. Her work is truly a gift to behold. She now lives in Hawaii and we all miss her contribution and companionship greatly. Stacy, come back to LA!

Base Round: In the beginning there was a gorgeous hunk of clay...



Round One: Young

Evolutionary Change: Body art.



Round Two: Stevie

Evolutionary Change: A little reminiscent of MC Hammer, but fabulous nonetheless...Pantaloons!



Round Three: Janet

Evolutionary Change: Hand-beaded vest with hand-made glass ornament...Janet isn't trying to show anyone up with her amazing skills. No, not at all.

AND

Round Four: Bea

Evolutionary Change: Display case fit for a...um, err, Djinn...For a painter Bea, you can really work that wood girl!





Round Five: Jonna

Evolutionary Change: Finally, a pair of arms! Lovin' the Liberace-esque fabric.



Round Six: LadyLinoleum

Evolutionary Change: Chapeau with a decidedly Sherpa bent.





Round Seven: Bee

Evolutionary Change: What would any self-respecting Djinn do without a wand?



Round Eight: Dyane

Evolutionary Change: Light it up!



Round Nine: Stephanie

Evolutionary Change: Pendant.



Round Ten: Laurel

Evolutionary Change: Arachnid.



Gallery View:



Evolution of the Doll!

Only three dollies left folks...

Scaredy Seamus O'Lantern

Poor, poor Seamus. He's scared of his own shadow (heck, he's scared of every shadow), which is difficult for an O'Lantern because as an O'Lantern, Seamus is in the obligatory employ of the family business, Rent O'Lantern, which means he must sit on a festively (or frightfully) decorated porch on all Hallow's Eve. In the dark. All night long.

Each year Seamus attempts to call in sick on the morning of Halloween. And each Halloween morn Seamus' mother, Siobhan O'Lantern, drags the lad by his stem from beneath his coverlet and rolls him out the front door to join his father and brothers as they ready themselves for the evening's work. Seamus' unsuccessful calls are a direct result of the fact that he still resides at home with his parents and hollering at the top of his seeds that he is feeling a bit under the weather never seems to fool his old orange-hued Mum.

However, this year Seamus was feeling a little better about the whole idea of his employment at the family-run Rent O' Lantern, as his Da told him that he wouldn't be sitting on a porch at all this Halloween. In the dark. All night long. No, his Da explained to Seamus that he received a call from a wonderfully witty lass, LadyLinoleum, who wanted a Rent O'Lantern to sit happily on her coffee table during the Halloween celebration. Well, Seamus was ecstatic at the prospect of being inside. A well-lit home. All night long. For the first time in his rental lantern career, maybe he could be the happy Halloween pumpkin companion his family (and customers) hoped he'd be.

As is customary the week preceding Halloween, the O'Lanterns go on a series of job walks to better prepare themselves for their night o' work at their various contracted locations. On his job walk, Seamus was calm and collected as he took in the surroundings at Chez Linoleum until he spotted this...



Poor, poor Seamus O'Lantern. If he's not to be terrorized by sitting on a porch, in the dark, all night long this All Hallow's Eve, then his seeds are surely to be shaking in their orange skin at the prospect of having to spend his least favorite night of the year on a coffee table. Next to the horrifying Turkeyzilla. By the glow of the television set. All night long.

Seamus' Crochet Stats

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (Sacre bleu!)
Color: Carrot, Brown, Black
Hook: I
Eyeball Thread: DMC Perle Cotton Size 8
Eyeball Hook: US B1
Pattern Design: LadyLinoleum

Copyright 2005 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

Pressies!

I am the very cheerful receiver of gifts from locales near and far...

First up, Elspeth Elizabeth! Elspeth set out from her country of origin and the only home she knew to travel across the Atlantic to the United States eventually reaching my home in Los Angeles. Looking splendid in her lavender, plum and tangerine garb, Elspeth gracefully sprung from the confines of her cardboard travel coach and took stock of her new digs.



She asked me to give her a boost to the top of my yarn empire (read cabinet) so that she could survey her new home. And there she remains, writing poetry and calling out to me to refresh her supply of sherbet lemon sweets. A request I do indulge.



Elspeth Elizabeth is handcrafted by none other than Jane over at Yarnstorm. If you're not familiar with her lovely ladies then you've been missing out. Not only are they a visual wonder to behold, but Jane has concocted amazing stories for each one. If you've not done so already, you may read about Elspeth here.

Thank you Jane! I love Elspeth (and I do believe she feels affection toward me as well)...Onward!

Secret Sistah revealed...Again!

I knew from package one who my Secret Sistah was for we inhabit the same wacky world in many respects. Call it intuition. Call it creative connection. But yes, I knew my Secret Sistah to be none other than the Mother of all Shrones...Lori! And just look at what the High Empress of Shrones ordered the USPS to bestow unto moi...



Skellies and eyeballs and yarn, oh my! Creepy Cebolla made off with the bag of Funyuns directly following this photo shoot.

Does this woman know what I like or what?

Question. Do you believe that eyeball lights would be too much as year round decor? Hmmm...

Thank you Lori! You are near and dear to my heart woman.

And last, but certainly not least I received my Back-Tack II bag from my partner. All I can say is girl, you definitely did your homework! Not only did my wonderful partner over at Finny Knits create this lovely chicken bag (yes, I said chicken bag) for me, but she filled it up with enough embroidery paraphenalia to get any novice such as myself started.



My new chicken bag completes my Poultry-inspired Halloween garb for this year and it's also just amazing, don't you think? I love it! Thank you so much Finny Knits!

In closing I just wanted to say that craft bloggers are the most amazing group of people in the entire world. Thank you all so much for swapping with me, looking my wacky junkola every week, leaving so many wonderful comments and finally, for allowing me to be a member of this very intriguing, smart and creative group. Smooches all around!

Evolution Of The Doll - Siren

13 Artists
13 Dolls
18 Months
2 Gallery Shows
And A Gazillion Bottles Of Wine...

Evolution of the Doll!

This week's doll star is...Siren!

Base Artist: Ladyolus Linolimus (my Latin name), Regina (also my Latin name), or your Monster Crochet hostess with the mostess.

Artist Background: There are seven months worth of blog posts for you to peruse should you need a LadyLinoleum refresher course.

Base Round: Beautifully handcrafted (if I do say so myself since I did the handy crafting) from recycled cardboard, this shapely damsel is masked and ready to "become" herself.



Round One: Laurel

Evolutionary Change: Using Laurel's words, "Oh, I just carved some feet..." Yeah, like we all can whittle up a pair of amazing wooden feet (talons really) at a moment's notice. I know that's in my current skillset...Not.

In addition to the wooden talons, this sculptor extraordinaire also added the legs which employ more cardboard in addition to feathers and steel rods.

Do you think Laurel was channeling my inner-poultry self while working on this doll???



Round Two: Jonna

Evolutionary Change: Wings of course. And they flap! Jonna also added a tail for balance.




Round Three: Young

Evolutionary Change: Pasties! Oh, and some flora round the hips.




Round Four: Stacy

Evolutionary Change: Face and quills applied with hot...red...wax. Ouch! Or maybe, ooooh! Depending upon your perspective.





Round Five: Janet

Evolutionary Change: Baby on board...Wait make that three babies on board (see itsy bitsy glass nest and eggs below).

In the words of Janet, "Ted left a feather in my bed." I'll say!



Round Six: Bea

Evolutionary Change: Backdrop.



Round Seven: Dyane

Evolutionary Change: Now, back to Ted...Who knocked this stylish chick (pun intended) up? Could it have been Ted Kennedy (nope, too pickled), Teddy Roosevelt (um, too dead), Ted Knight (also too dead), Ted Kaczynski (um, too unabomber)? No, it has to be Ted Nugent...Still trying to figure out the attraction there. Nonetheless, our gal has portraits of all her Ted's, past and present, adorning her walls.

Please note that Dyane also included a spotlight for our damsel's home recitations of her "Ode to Ted" poems of which there are many.



Round Eight: Bee

Evolutionary Change: A veil (inspired by all the Ted's) for her shotgun wedding.



Round Nine: Stevie

Evolutionary Change: A cozy little home fit for a Siren complete with cliffs and water...also good for calling out to more men named Ted passing by on ships.



Round Ten: Stephanie

Evolutionary Change: One of the Ted's sprung for a nest...Child support.


Gallery View:

Evolution of the Doll!

Four more to go peeps...

I wanted to thank everyone for their comments about Turkeyzilla, The Tote Bag. I am overwhelmed. You guys are wonderful!

Back-Tack II - Turkeyzilla, The Tote Bag

This is what happens when I attempt to make a third functional item (thank you very much) in a month...



Scary eh?

No, not the model! That is THE wonderful MK who came to visit our Stitch 'N Bitch last Thursday while in Los Angeles to shoot an episode of Knitty Gritty. MK graciously offered to model Turkeyzilla, The Tote Bag while Ellen snapped the photo. Thanks to MK and Ellen for helping me out!

So, back to the Poultry Purse, Turkey Tote, Chicken Whatchamacallit...Okay, maybe it's not scary, but it's definitely different. Yeah, it's unique! This chickadee on a strap is modeled after the original Turkeyzilla and like it's predecessor, this Hen Of All Bags is crocheted from Lion Brand Homespun in their Harvest colorway.



Notice the drumstick pouch?



And pretty little rooster button...



And it's lined! Yep, lining is entirely crocheted in Homespun's Ranch colorway. Oh yeah, functional, fun AND sturdy!

Please note that this um, err, interesting creation will be going to my Back-Tack partner who is, yes, a bag designer! If you were her and Turkeyzilla, The Tote Bag showed up in your mailbox, would you freak? Be honest...

Copyright 2005 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

Tagged By Nancy While Wearing A Chicken

Tagged by Nancy, I was to go to my 23rd post and to count the fifth sentence. Here it 'tis:

Oh well, I am having fun and hopefully I won't bore you all TO DEATH with my web
construction sloth-fest.

Well, if that didn't amuse you, this is sure to do the trick. Or not...



I had to make this chicken hat to go with my chicken apron as I've decided to wear the whole poultrylicious ensemble on Halloween! And yes, that is me modeling the hat as my fellow SNB-er, Ellen, snapped the pic while I was crocheting...yes, poultry. Are you sensing a theme in my work as of late??? I know, I really need to make a veggie...But can you all give me a round of applause for making not one, but two functional items in one month!!!

Would anyone be interested in making a chicken hat? If so, I will write up the pattern.

Speaking of patterns and THE TESTERS...Eyeball Pattern Testers please send me your feedback as soon as humanly possible. Thank you for helping me out!

Copyright 2005 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

Evolution Of The Doll - Paperdoll

13 Artists
13 Dolls
18 Months
2 Gallery Shows
And A Gazillion Bottles Of Wine...

Evolution of the Doll!

This week's doll star is...Paperdoll!

Base Artist: Lena

Artist Background: Lots to say about this creative prodigy as she is my one and only child afterall. I am incredibly proud of her and find great pleasure in being her mom. Lena has been fully submerged into the art world, the process of making art, showing art, living-eating-sleeping-breathing art since birth and she's taken to this lifestyle like a fish to water. Lena is able to speak to anyone, and very intelligently I might add, about any work of art she comes across and knows more about the commitment to the process of art-making than most BFA students out there. She is truly an articulate, creative, beautiful and amazing young woman. Did I say that I am incredibly proud to be her mother? LOL

From the moment Lena spied me crafting my doll base for this project her interest in doll- making was immediately peaked and she gave me not a moment's rest until I acquiesced and allowed her to join our then infant art collaboration. I figured I would have to sell a 10 year-old's membership to our very adult consortium. However, these women, my friends and colleagues, had known Lena and her capabilities since our stint in grad school (she was only two years-old when I began my MFA program) as she accompanied me to my classes and studio much of the time. In fact, it was decided that Lena would be considered a full-fledged member of the group and treated as any other artist in our collaboration for as long as her then decade-old temperament could endure it. And endure it she did with little prodding from me to get her monthly doll assignment done. Did I tell you yet how proud I am of this amazing child?

Base Round: Lena drew the image of her doll on salvaged cardboard, I cut it out for her on the scroll saw, she then painted the form. Her doll is quite lovely, don't you think?



Round One: Jonna

Evolutionary Change: The Centaur and the Siren...sounds like a romance novel.

AND

Round Two: Stacy

Evolutionary Change: Shell bra and embellishments, taking this romance novel inspired heroine down to a PG-13 rating.

Round Three: Laurel

Evolutionary Change: Accessorizing is definitely the key to this dual-persona's lifestyle requirements.





Round Four: Janet

Evolutionary Change: A girl's gotta eat! Fishnet anyone? Check out this crocheted wire wonder...

Janet also crafted this dolly's necklace which can be seen in the Round Six pics.



Round Five: Bea

Evolutionary Change: Fresh catch...definitely time to entertain!



Round Six: Dyane

Evolutionary Change: Animal companionship. Who needs a dog when one has access to a pet bird and jellyfish...



Round Seven: LadyLinoleum

Evolutionary Change: Weather strip the gal! Shells just don't provide enough insulation for those cold nights on the sea or in the stable for that matter.

AND

Round Eight: Young

Evolutionary Change: A journal for her memoirs. C'mon, she's paper, 1/3 horse, 1/3 fish, 1/3 human and likes to entertain. Who wouldn't want to read about her adventures?



Round Nine: Bee

Evolutionary Change: Will fan dance for food...



Round Ten: Stephanie

Evolutionary Change: Creature comforts = dressform for the dressing room.





All together now!



Gallery View:



Evolution of the Doll!

Counting down...5 more delectable dollies to go!