BORED NOW.

i've got a day off and i'm already bored. i bought some alphabet beads off ebay the other day and they arrived today yaye! and i got some plain beads from work yesterday. i need some elastic though.. the set i got from work had some plastic thread but it ain't stretchy enough. think i'll get some from the sewing shop across the shopping centre during my break tomorrow.

i feel a little bit at loss. i had wednesday off too but i had a purpose. i went up to the college to put up posters for typical grrls, and then rochester and i bumped into a bunch of people i know and kinda socialized and all that. woah. but today, i have no such mission. i could tidy and do a whole load of washing but.. that's no fun. i am behind on distro stuff but...... (that's a big long, rubbish but. i apologise to anyone who's still waiting for an order) i've been mostly just watching roseanne on youtube. and pretending to write the ark zine...

NEW YEAR, 'NEW' GOALS.

i was going to write a proper entry with my resolutions / goals / whatever for this year, but to be honest, they are more or less the same as last year. still working on stuff.

♥ write more. zines, stories, letters, blog entries. in both languages.
♥ spend less time on the internet doing fuck all.
♥ eat less frozen crap and more proper food.
♥ finish issue one of THE QUEEN IS FED, my cooking zine.
♥ be more sociable, get out more, see people, hang the fuck out with awesome locals etc etc instead of just sitting home on tumblr, even if carl doesn't want to come along.
♥ knit more, especially finish knitting the blue cardigan with hood / vintage bed jacket that i started knitting on christmas eve. i've done the back so far and i'm about 1/3rd through right front piece, like so:

♥ make more art. take real proper photographs, not just snaps of crap around the house / what i'm wearing. it's a waste of a good camera. even use the film slr again.
♥ find that new job i keep talking about. preferably not in retail, and preferably more money for less hours!
♥ go abroad. and preferably not just to go home.
♥ see the ark one more fucking time before it's too late.
♥ get better mental health.
♥ be a better girlfriend, as per usual.
♥ make that secret exciting project i can't tell you about yet actually happen.
♥ start a grrrl band. (a girl can dream, right?)
♥ finally get that first tattoo i keep banging on about.
♥ skate hard at roller derby and pass minimum skills.
♥ radically reduce my use of oppressive / ableist language (like crazy, mental, special..)
♥ reply to every single letter i get. even if it's just a post card saying "aww shucks." or something equally feeble.

i think that's it for now. still not making a resolution to stop smoking though. i'm going to get off the internet now and watch bruce parry hang out with shamans and knit knit knit. how i've missed that man.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

i've just finished my wrapping par one item i need to finish off! though i have a strange nagging feeling i've forgotten something.. carl made us some nom as fuck chilli con carne with his best ever recipe, which i can't find on the internets anymore but it's in one of my zines. it's been a while since he's made it.

we're going to carl's mum's house tomorrow evening for the weekend. i'm planning to start knitting a proper big project while i'm there. i've just bought & downloaded the pattern for this cute as fuck bed jacket / cardigan from ravelry and i'm going to go buy some wool & possible new needles in town tomorrow before i go meet emma & natalie for coffee in rochester in the afternoon. i think i'm going to go for dark purple. i'm aware i've got a fuckload of wool at home, but not enough of the same colour and kind to make a cardi, they're more for little projects like mittens and berets. we'll see if i ever actually finish this one. i hope so. it'd be my first big thing i've finished knitting.. just need to stick to it whenever bored / watching telly.

y'all have a nice xmas weekend. i probably won't get on the internets again proper til we're back home. unless i manage to sneak on carl's mum's laptop while the boys play their new games or whatever.

HELLO KITTY MAGAZINE MAKER

i bought myself a wee christmas present from work on sunday, the Hello Kitty Magazine Maker, which i think might be the best piece of hello kitty merch i've ever seen. then again, i'm a zinester, i would think that. it's not as awesome as i expected though, the page sheets are made of this horrid shiny paper that smudges really easily cos its high gloss. but i'm just gonna photo copy them anyway for zine purposes / collage on them. and it comes with cute as fuck stamps and LOADS OF STICKERS. like 150, so it's not all bad. probably not quite worth the tenner but who cares. and i got 25% off anyway so not all bad! and there's a cute sticker of hello kitty with a bandage that is so going on my derby helmet, after all i am the injury queen. and i'm kinda tempted use almost nothing but this kit for the layout of YOUR PRETTY FACE #14. best or worst idea ever?

in other news, me and my dear friend sinikka started a little fashion & stuff blog called HIPSTER MUMMOT, cos that's how we dress. like hipster grannies. it's mostly in finnish but we've decided to include little english translations on the bottom of each entry so less people are left out due to the language barrier. and besides i don't think google translate can handle my finnish anyway. i write like i talk. translating machines can't handle finnish anyway.

in second lot of other news i've been working for four days straight and i've got one more day to go before 2 days off, one day in, one day off and then it's next week and i don't know yet. really hoping for not 5 days in a row. i've still got chrimbo shopping to do and my bank has fucked up my overdraft. but hopefully i'll get that sorted thursday. i'm very very tired. and it's my bedtime. off to fill my hot water bottle again!

ALTERNATIVE PRESS FAIR

Comix, zines, self published art books, poetry workshop, illustration photo booth and over 100 titles from the world of small press. A chance for newcomers to sell their work on a communal table and for those interested to find out what the scene has to offer. Alternative Press will also be announcing details of next year’s Alternative Press Festival.

St. Aloysius’ Social Centre Corner of Eversholt Street and Phoenix Road London NW1 1TA Nearest Tube: Euston 12pm to 6pm

- - - -

I'LL BE HERE THIS SUNDAY. COME AND SAY HELLO & BUY SOME ZINES.

i just finished YOUR PRETTY FACE #12, and finally assembled copies of #13 (i finished & printed it the day before i fractured my damn wrist. what a timing!) oh and i made some more copies of VAMPIRE SUSHI #1 too! i'll bring some pants too.

BUY MY PANTS

SUPER PANTS, originally uploaded by Tukru Loves You.

i finally managed to list some of my awesome hand embroidered pants on etsy! the pictures don't quite do justice to their aceness though. i can also do custom pants if your size or slogan or whatever isn't listed! just message or email me or whatever!

i've also been getting back into knitting, and while re-arranging out bedroom we found loads of wastin my time (carl's fashion label) leftovers. teddy bears and samples. i'll be listing those too as i get a chance, so keep yr eyes peeled.

CULTURE SLUT ♥ ♥♥

culture slut, originally uploaded by Tukru Loves You.

a few months ago i decided to start embroidering slogans on underpants. but as usual i got distracted and only finished about two pairs and ended up wearing them myself like i do. maybe i should start again. would any of y'all want them? + any suggestions on "slogans"? nothing too long though. i only have limited patience.

& these say CULTURE SLUT after manic street preachers AND amber's amazing zine. they're my zine pants (sort of like band t-shirt, i guess!)

SOMETHING TO DO.

top i made ages ago that i need to alter, originally uploaded by Tukru Loves You.

i need to find a big black marker and cross out the BOYS on this top i made about seven years ago, and scribble GRRLS on top, so i can wear this in public again, instead of just when i'm hot & smelly at home.

PS. i just found my new favourite song: DEAD END JUSTICE by THE RUNAWAYS. it's got all the things i like in songs, juvenile delinquents, tough grrls and talky bits! even more so than leader of the pack (that's lacking on the tough grrrls department.)

NEW TYPEWRITER.

last sunday carl spotted a typewriter in the oxfam he works in, and i kinda made him get it for me. he was too knackered to carry it home on wednesday (the next time he was working) but he put it aside, and today he carried it home. the carry handle actually broke half way here and it rolled down the street by sainsburys. it's fine though, and it's quite possibly the best typewriter i've ever had. it's my fourth or fifth one, not including carl's typewriter. the old ones were left back home when i moved here, and i think my mum's got rid of all of them but one, a pretty little baby blue portable one i got at a fleamarket. she's chucked my favourite one though, the electric one i got from my school for free because they didn't use them anymore. i just had to buy a new cartridge for it. i miss it cos it had a different typeface. nice to have a variety. i really want one of those cursive ones though.. i'm sure ciara has one and every time i read her zines i get typewriter envy.

it came with an instruction book, and someone's old practise sheets. ace.

i'm almost finished with your pretty face #10, i'm not sure if she's gonna make its debut until #11. i've got pretty much all the pages planned, i actually did a couple again today, probably gonna continue a bit later.

what should i call her?

BEDTIME STORIES.

5 am, originally uploaded by Laurence 2.

i forgot to set my alarm last night. 'luckily' i woke up and rolled over & looked at the time at 8.59am, when i usually get up if i manage. of course i couldn't get up rightaway, it's just not possible, but i was at work on time and all. i've already set my alarm for the morning. i did it when i got home. tomorrow i finish at 3pm. yaye. i've got pizza in the oven for my lunch. i've watched three hours of twin peaks again. maybe i should eventually have a day off. still somewhat freaked out by the end of the last one i watched. not surprised, just creeped out. screaming girls aren't exactly the best mental image to have just before bed.

i was trying to think of my playlist for girl germs on the 10th afterwards but i'm suddenly drawing blank again. boo. i've been writing a letter during lunch. tomorrow's lunch is only fifteen minutes though so it will be straight up eat & smoke & go affair. i think i'll take the grape soda the boys brought me the other day with me. i've got pizza in the oven that will be my lunch.

i've got plans to make an epic fascinator to this tutorial. but i'm still looking for toys to make it epic/special. i'm somewhat tempted to put luna and her thestral on top of my head but i think that might be a bit.. big. and overly epic. if there is such a thing.

but now it is time for bed.

I MADE SOME (VALENTINE'S DAY) CARDS.

tuesday at work i had this magnificent idea to make some cards for the crafty deaf cat last night. so i did. i don't really like etsy anymore, so i thought i'd post them on my blog instead! i'm gonna buy me a book of stamps so any uk orders made before 9pm next friday should be with you in time for the big V day. any overseas ones.. order by saturday morning. europe should be fine, rest of the world.. not sure. fingers crossed?

for some reason i feel i should mention that in finland, valentine's day is ystävänpäivä which means "friends day". which i think is much nicer. more love to spread. love for your friends, not just lovvers. (and besides not everyone has a lover)

they're all hand coloured by moi (so they might be a bit messy... my crayons are getting blunt from too much colouring!) and come with envelopes.

BAD ROMANCE
hand coloured a6 card.

SISTERS BEFORE MISTERS
hand coloured a6 card.

oh and then, add postage according to your location! or you can just buy some stuffs from VAMPIRE SUSHI to go with them!

I'VE GOT A TIN OF HAMA BEADS AND I'M GONNA USE THEM!

+ today's post:

"tukru, are you vampire sushi something?"

doris #15 - the anti depression guide
mend my dress #5 - girl love, girl revolution, stories of friendship
tuff town #1
mend my dress #1

from RIOT GRRRRRR DISTRO

in other news, carl has abandoned me for the night. he's gone to his brother's house to do boy things (drink & watch things in HD) so i'm home alone, with celebrity big brother in the background cos feck, what else can i do? not complaining though. besides, i'm abandoning him for social shit tomorrow, going to moogie wonderland with emma, and i think he should get out of the house more often anyway. so good. and i'm going to watch the hairspray remake in a bit and get really angry cos they've ruined it, probably. thought i might as well watch something carl will definitely not watch with me. and get crafty while i do it. there's another crafty deaf cat on WEDNESDAY and i have nothing but zines! i've got two doctors appointments tomorrow (well, the first one is a general health check up, with a nurse, but still) one at 11.40 and the other one at 1.20 (apparently it takes a while to get the info from nurse to doctor) but i don't mind, i'm gonna walk to rochester for a crafty hunt in the meantime. i've got plenty of crafty ideas, me!

CRAFTY DEAF CAT

tomorrow night is the night of the first ever CRAFTY DEAF CAT, a little craft fair at the deaf cat coffee bar (Penfold House, 10 High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1PT) from 6pm til 8pm. VAMPIRE SUSHI DISTRO will be there (well, really is just me with the zines & some of my crafty bits and bobs..) as well as few of my friends with their fancy crafty things! there will be coffee, cake and fairylights too. i'm rather looking forward to it. a little nervous though, i'm going to leave certain issues of your pretty face at home.. i should go and knit & embroider like mad, right now! get the fuck off internet. i just need to put some more harry potter on the ipod (and maybe sneak in some miley cyrus..) and i'll retire to knit in bed. also, must get distro orders ready. i've been very naughty with them..