Dice Bags!!!

How to start out this story? One day a nerd girl meet a nerd boy and he asked her to listen to some nerd music? She wasn't sure at first but always willing to listen to new music, she was directed to a site. The nerd girl listened to everything she downloaded and fell in love. She then went out in the world to tell her other nerd friends about this amazing nerd music. The rest is history?

I have listened to a few Nerdcore artists through out the years but really had no idea how big the music was. I think my fellow nerd friends failed me? Pete within the first month of meeting him, had me downloading music from Scrub Club Records. Being a fan for a number of years and knowing several of the artists personally and attending a lot of there shows, Pete was happy to share several stories with me. It's not really shocking I fell in love (both with the music and him). Also, now that I have meet a few of the artists both in person and through the wonderful internets, they have my nerd love even more.

If you love music that has themes from all kinds of different fandoms( Ex: video games, doctor who, comics, harry potter, etc) then I highly recommend you check out  Scrub Club Records. Seriously, I doubt you will be disappointed and I really think you can find at least one artist you will love.

Taken from Scrub Club Recrod's Website:

Not only are we independent, we're also not-for-profit. Yes, you read that right - the label itself gets zero cut of the money! We release and distribute albums, promote our artists, book events, direct street teams, and offer awesome merchandise all by the power of donations from supporters and cash from our own pockets.

All of our albums are available for free so that there are no barriers in the way of a potential listener. The whole world is welcome to check out our music and other projects for free, and if they dig it enough, they are welcome to give a few bucks. If they can't, that's all good - we make our art to entertain and enlighten, getting reimbursed is not our focus.

I have no idea even how the idea came up but I wanted to donate something besides money. Maybe the fact, I always like to be different? The thought originally was going to be a couple of knitted items that they could sell. Course, I can never do a couple of "simple" things so it exploded into a number of dice bags that you can see below. It was insane work for me and trying to get it all done. I enjoyed every minute of it even though I wanted to pull my hair out at every dice bag. I think everything that went into the dice bag; knitting, crocheting, felt design, and embroidery took about 10 hours to each one.

Not hard to guess what these diced bags were made after? My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I couldn't help it. A few of the artists in Scrub Club Records are big fans of the show as well. I think, these dice bags were my biggest pain. I'm not sure if I will ever agree to do them again but we will see.

The rest of the dice bags! Here we have Zelda, Batman, Mario, and finally Scrub Club Records symbol. These guys weren't that difficult to make. I had to do a Batman themed dice bag since I'm such a huge fan. I can't wait to see all of these sold and used for nerd gaming.

Roller Derby: Part 2

Something I forgot to mention in my last post! I actually am starting this journey with a friend I've know since High School. We have always wanted to do roller derby and we both actually moved back to IL this year. Can we say fate? I am excited that she is doing this with me. Not only can we share car pooling but we can support one another.

She has also been going skating a lot with me at the local roller rinks around us. We try and go at least once a week leading up to official practice. We have talked about outside skating once she gets her own Roller Derby Skates. I can't wait for that!

(Photo taken from C.C.R.D.)

Both of us attended the first meeting. I am so happy they had a package to hand out because I was still out of it from GenCon! After reading over the package and talking to a few ladies that night I became more excited to start. There is a few weeks between that meeting and the official practice date(next week). The league wanted to give everyone a chance to get everything together. 

I loved the meeting and the no B.S. conversation they had with us. That we will go home for awhile after practice and pretty much fall into bed to pass out. That it's not the question of, "Will I get hurt?" but "When I get hurt?" I also found out another usage for Maxi Pads - they are good to stuff in the back of your shorts for spin/butt padding. The ladies in the league also brought up another good point - buying cheap will not protect you in derby. After pricing all the equipment I would need, it can be really expensive but I want to make sure I am well protected so it's worth it to me.

I also found out awhile ago and it was brought up in the meeting that there is a official rooster for Roller Derby Names! I already have mine picked out so I am hoping I get it. Not going to share it yet, until I know for sure I can have it. 

(Picture taken from C.C.R.D.)

Something else I have learned - It's better to buy all your derby gear from a shop that is owned by someone that did/is currently doing Roller Derby. You attempt to go into a sports store for example and try to talk about what you need? That random person will have no clue. It makes sense and that means the shop owner will know everything about the equipment she is selling.

I actually purchased all of my equipment from Roller Girl Skates.

I loved all the videos on the website which made it so much easier for me to figure out the sizing and what I needed. Also, the owners are currently doing Roller Derby so they supply gear that they can back and currently are using. I love the reviews they give on what they like and customers can leave there own reviews on products.

In my package from C.C.R.D. was a ton of information on the equipment I will need and what I should look for which made it even easier to find out what I wanted! Also in the package was the Newbie Training Plan! I will actually be practicing in a green shirt when I first start. My friend and I have already decided it will be fun to get a couple of shirts and decorate them together. Something to remember the pain and fun those first weeks of practice. Once we are done with that level, we then move on to gray t-shirts which means we can start doing the contact part of practice/derby. At the final we can start wearing the league colors and scrimmaging. I can't wait to work on all of this!

Hopefully I won't be too sore next week to make a post! 

Guinea Pigs and Cross-Stitch

Realizing today that I have been cross-stitching for about 22 years now is just amazing to me. I never thought something I picked up as a child would stay with me. After school daycare really worked out well for me, huh? A lady that worked there actually taught me how to cross-stitch and I loved every minute of it. It's funny because I never thought cross-stitch or embroidery is something difficult to learn. I think, having patience to do it, is what really makes it difficult. 

I also love picking bigger projects like this Epic Mario/Nintendo cross-stitch I am working on. This piece will be HUGE and it will take me forever I'm sure to complete it. The fabric count is so small, I can only work on this piece for about a hour or so before my eyes start to cross. I can't wait thought to get this done and find a place for it in my home.

(Guinea Pig: Ann Marie)

Oh! and to make this a little longer post I wanted to show off a few of my favorite pics from the summer. I never had a real chance to take Ann Marie and Abby out into the grass where I lived in PA. The back yard didn't have a fence and I didn't know what kind of chemicals/etc. my landlord put on the grass. Currently living with my parents, I finally got the chance to take them outside and they loved it! They pretty much had their heads in the grass the whole time munching away. It's suppose to be cooler this weekend so I'm hoping, I can take them out again before Fall weather starts to hit.

(Guinea Pig: Abby)

Roller Derby Friday: 1

It was suggested to me that I start blogging about my Roller Derby experiences. I am completely new to this sport and have been wanting to do it for years. While I have been to bouts over the years I guess, I never really had enough guts till this year. As my mom would say, "Either shit or get off the pot Jess!"

So every Friday, you guessed it! I'll be making a post for Roller Derby Friday. It will be my progress, buying gear, bouts, pain/bruises, teammate experiences, and whatever else that has to do with derby. I don't start official derby practice till the 2nd week of September but I have a few ideas to post about that will cover Roller Derby Fridays up till then. So yes, if you want to read about my blood, sweat, and tears then come back again!

Roller Derby is something I have been wanting to do for years as I've said before. I have had a number of friends tell me I should do it. I have no idea if it's because in the recent years I have become healthier or I'm getting older? Maybe it's the fact I moved up in my job so I have the money to buy equipment/etc? That or maybe it's because I have Pete that's pretty much become my number 1 fan in supporting me through this. He even has gone roller skating with me at a local rink to practice.

The only sports I have ever really done so far in my life is Softball for a number of years. I was very active in it through middle school and high school. Most people think it's not really a contact sport but I made it one. For example, if a unlucky girl was covering the base a bit too much. Yet, I have never done a full on contact sport so Roller Derby will be a bit of a change. I'm still ready to do it and I have a friend that will be starting from the bottom - up like me. I have know her since High School so you will see me mentioning her in my posts as well.

How did I find a team? A few months ago in July, I was randomly in a clothing store and started talking to the sales lady on the floor. I'm not sure if this was fate knocking on my door but Roller Derby came up. She told me about a new local league called Confluence Crush that just started up and was a little over a year old now. Also, that try outs were coming up. Pretty much anyone could join as long as you were willing to work your butt off. I am ready to do that and ready to have my butt handed to me. To me everything was falling in place and just that week I was thinking about Derby again.

So I went home and did a little searching around the internet for the league. I also started looking up equipment and prices which I'll discuss in a later post. I found the league on Facebook and of course they have there own Website. I think this team is for me and the fact they are taking women that could have no experience at all. I have nothing against the leagues that don't do this and have real try outs but Confluence Crush is for me considering they will take a "newbie".

(Take from C.C.R.D.'s website)

More info about C.C.R.D. taken from there website:
"Confluence Roller Derby exists to provide women in St. Louis and the Metro East unique opportunities to play flat track roller derby within a welcoming community that both supports skaters in their development and as well as challenges them to realize their potential as athletes. The league offers competitive team opportunities for skaters who desire greater athletic advancement, and who seek to win, rank, title, or achieve against opponents on a regional or national level. The league also provides recreational team opportunities for new and alumnae skaters to learn and play flat track roller derby in a safe, fun and social environment without the level of commitment or skill required of derby athletes at a regionally or nationally competitive level. Confluence Roller Derby was in founded in 2011 on feminist ideals, a DIY attitude, and a desire to grow the derby community. The league is operated “by the skaters, for the skaters,” and the time, talents, knowledge, and contributions of all league members are valued and respected."

That's it for Roller Derby Friday! Post next week will contain getting ready for official practice with the C.C.R.D, buying gear, and the get together C.C.R.D. had a few weeks ago for new people.