International Bike Show

I went to the International Bike Show in Cleveland over the weekend with Daniel and his father since none of my work friends could come. Everything about it was awesome:  the bikes, the people, and the shows.

The Convention center was huge:  the part containing the bike show, and the parts that were blocked off I bet would have doubled the size. They had this farris wheel in the center of the room all lit up and working. The top went out the ceiling; lucky for the riders and really the rest of us that they built a glass wall around the top to accommodate the breach. Otherwise the freezing wind and sleet would have been raining down on all below.

I'm guessing but at one point I bet they had a carousel. Before walking into the roped off bit separating food from entertainment was this wicked cool armored horse. So of course the horse lover that I am I had to photograph it!

They had this game; a plexi glass box with arm holes like you'd find in a science project only without the gloves, two tubes inside, and a fan that forced these little red and white ping pong balls into the air. The balls were mostly red. The purpose of the game was to reach your arm in through the holes with their little sleeves and grab 5 white balls from the air and put them into a little clear tube before the other person could do the same. It looked challenging and was but I still managed to win a hat very quickly. I vaguely heard the lady's commentary about quick reflexes and strategy or maybe it was study! Before I had worked up the nerve to play I watched some people go at it a few rounds then signed up. The prize was a Yamaha baseball cap and a chance to win an Ipad. Daniel won his round as well and once we walked on he said "I'm glad I didn't play against you!".

Due to the nature of conventions there was a lot of free stuff! I'm a little mad at myself for being nervous to jump right in and challenge myself with their games. I could have gotten myself a green Kawi beanie had I braved the challenge of designing a custom paint scheme for a bike. But no I chickened out and waited till just before we left. So all that was left was a white Kawi baseball cap. I've come to realize that I don't look the best in a baseball cap! I guess it's just another project I'll have to add to the things I wish to knit for myself! I will also add that the lady for this booth also complemented my skill and creativity for the paint job. She's "never seen anyone do the line like that" nor "this that type of precision before". You'd think with all the complements I'd be more confident. *shrug* I must be defective.

There was this brother team of dirt bikers who were stunting. Photographing them was a challenge as well since I had to hold my camera in the air over my head and attempt to aim at them and shoot. Thankfully uncle Ken taught me a few tricks for candid photography that he learned in the air force, they came in handy pointing my lens in the right direction without looking through the view finder. I might just get good at photography! So back to the stunt team. They climbed the blue contraption in the center, doing wheelies and stoppies at the top ( I guess they are actually called back and front wheelies according to these boys.) They had one or another boy laying on the ground and jumped their bikes over said person. The one even used a 1 wheeled bike to jump the guy laying down. I definitely like the parts where they hopped around on their back tires. Though most of my photos for this advent came out blurred I did manage to get a few good ones.

That's about it for the shows and games; that we watched anyways. Mostly we walked around, chatted with some people and ogled the bikes. Some of those customs were HOT! I can't choose a favorite and I can't describe all the different bikes that were there or this would turn into a novel (and considering my following would be pointless to write so much) so I'll attempt to detail the best!

Starting our running was this little green chopper hidden off in a crowd. Fully custom with a dragon head, scales down the back fender and front forks! She was a beauty! All chromed out:  an evil little dragon to be sure. I don't have any specs or detail really about this one since it was hidden away. Just a cool photo!

Another was dedicated to Jack Daniels.  Complete with air brushed portrait and wooden suicide shift topped by a Jack Daniels shot glass. A bar stool seat and a mini wooden barrel (I'm none to sure what that was for besides looks). Slick little bike though probably not street legal!

Then we had one that was definitely not street legal! Slapped to the ground, all steel and hard welding! Shinny to be sure with some questionable components ... like a wrench welded to the frame and a pair of vice grips looking to be holding the tire on. These two were on the other side of the bike then what you see here but trust me they were there! I'm guessing it runs since there was some fluid in the tubes but with such a low center of gravity:  as this poor artsy looking gent found out, hard to balance. I hate pointing out peoples embarrassing moments but the poor thing turned a becoming shade of red! I'll admit I blushed for him! Mainly because I was thinking about sitting on the bike. The sign did ask you to but the seat looked a little ruff.

This one I'm taking home! I can wish right! It's not a custom bike just a newer ninja zx-14r. I tried to get Daniel to text in to win this bike but he wouldn't do it. Probably because he doesn't want me on something so big. It'd really leave his CBR in the dust. ... and probably kill be while it's at it! The think apparently has balls and tries to buck off anyone foolish enough to try to take her out! That's not quite how it was phrased to me but I'm sure you get the picture! A whole lot of power for something so light. Not that it was all that light. I would hate to have to pick this one off the ground when some dumb ass tips it over like seems to happen to Saeorsie. I WANT to kill them when they do that to her ... I WOULD kill them if they did that to this one! Oh and don't be fooled by size. This bike was A LOT bigger than me!

I found a booth with some pretty cool patches. It was a very popular booth. Lots of trouble with personal boundaries! There were a few that I would have liked to have had, however, I ended up purchasing this purple phoenix with bat wings that said lady rider on it's center. The stitching though mainly purple does have some pink but I'll live ... even if some of the pink are rhinestones. >.>; I also purchased a few for Daniel, I let him pick them out with only a few suggestions from myself. Of course the one I thought was perfect for him wasn't part of this deal of 3 for $10 so he ended up not getting it. Perhaps I should find a way to make it for him instead. Oh, it was an eagle with it's wings spread wide and perched on a rectangle with "Ireland" spelled out. One of the eagles wings was colored like the American flag and the other the Irish flag. Very well done I thought! Perfect for my redheaded, Irish boy!

Wow! Okay so what else happened?! I met some models and photographers and may have gotten myself some jobs. The one model lives by me (small world) and is looking to build her portfolio so I passed along my info and can't wait to hear from her. I've been looking for people to model for me besides my sister for some time. If this girl contacts me I no longer have an excuse not to do it. (mostly it's my friends excuses!) Then this other booth was for calendars and the gent their asked "are you a photographer" and I said yes and he's like "we're planning a guys calendar ... [and] I'm not shooting it!" We all got a chuckle out of that. I got his card so I'll have to look into it. I'm not sure how Daniel will feel about me photographing half necked men though! We'll see! It does appear as though he's more than just photography so I could potentially work with him on a number of fields.

And on a final note:  apparently I'm hippy-ish! So says a model! I can dig it!

Sliogáin

My newborn hat is complete! Now I just need to type up the pattern for other people should they be interested in this little lovely!

I've got it posted on my facebook for peoples enjoyment. Of course I hope someone buys it but as long as they are enjoying it I don't care too much. Stacy will be using this prop as well as another one in grays for her photography session coming up. I can't wait to see how they turn out. I'm imagining cuteness but they might just look like poo on an actual baby. Cross your fingers for me!

Ducati Beanie

I finished knitting the beanie for my newest commission and I don't like it. It looks too big and the closure at the top just bugs with me. So with that in mind I think I might either unravel it or ... *tears* toss it. Oh the horror! That doesn't even take into account embroidering the logo and fleecing the inside. *sigh* I wonder if I shall ever finish it on time.

After discovering this problem yesterday I set it aside and starting crocheting another hat. This one for an infant. Turns out my sister loves it and will be using it in her photography. Since she's not paying for it she can't lend it out to her other photography friends. I feel like I'm being mean but a girls got to make a living some how. I can't wait to get some photos of it and get the pattern all sorted out so I can put it up for sale. It's very pretty!

Besides that I'm becoming very board without babysitting my niece and nephew. No little monsters to keep me active and in a shape I like to look at in the mirror. Plus car pooling with my boyfriend I tend not to have a car to even go to the gym. Am with this cold, wet, Ohio weather I am not walking 6 and 1/2 miles just to work out.

It seems that it's been quite some time since last I blogged. What with my Deviantart and Facebook accounts I just don't have that much time to log on here.

I guess I'll start off with my crafting. Thanks to the holidays I've been knitting a lot. I've gotten a few commissions and done some things for family. The first on my list was a smocked dress for my niece. It was a quick knit but I think it turned out nicely! She loves it and I of course had to take some photos of her in it. It's like a mandatory Aunt thing!

Now that I'm no longer babysitting this will be difficult to accomplish since I won't be seeing them as much.

Another project I completed recently was a knit hat for my dear Uncle Ken. He claims to love it! Which makes me very happy! This was my first time knitting in the round:  I think it came out quite well. I've got another hat commission for a fellow motorcyclist and can't wait to start on it. That hat wont be a Watch Cap like the one I made Uncle Ken but rather a beanie.


I knit a pair of fingerless gloves for but I forgot to photograph them. However because I liked them so much I plan to knit another pair for myself and so shall photograph those when they are done. The only problem with that is that it might take some time before I can get to starting them.

I've also knit a few props for Barebaby Photography. A lace wrap and a matching cap! The yarn was a bitch to knit with and my stitches kept falling off my needles but I do like how they came out. They are so soft!

I can't wait to knit more for Stacy from Bare baby! I'll try to keep posting here but if I fail please check me out on my Deviant and Facebook pages!

Also I have done a few things with apples! Aren't they just the cutest! I crocheted these mostly for the craft fair that I went to. People liked them and I managed to sell a few things:  mostly jewelry!

My father found a filly for me recently however when he went to visit a friend who had purchased one of this persons other foals the poor thing was majorly shy and spookie. Plus when this man attempted to contact the seller he was unable to. That just doesn't sound like a good start for the little guys and since I'm not all that experienced in raising a foal I figure I'll pass. I hope they do find good homes I just think I wouldn't be one of them! Granted I could be wrong and might just turn out to be an excellent home for half wild foals! :3

In the mean time I shall just keep searching for a small farm, a better job, and keep my old man (Trouper) in good shape so that when I get said farm he can come with me. Since I'm sure it'll be years before I can get it and he's already 26! Old for a horse I hear ... just don't let him know that! ;3 Trouper definitely had gotten ornerier in his advanced years. I went out one night to visit him and after a  little while he started to bite at me. Then attempted to herd me when I told him I was fed up with his violent behavior and started to walk towards the gate. I swear I think he would get away with murder! That's one reason he's coming with me when I finally get my own place. The other, more obvious reason is that he's my big brother and has been with me since we were both 6yrs old. What can I say ... only an other brother is able to get away with this behavior he's exhibiting!