Knitty Digital

Communique from the library

2011-02-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

As I lay awake listening to everyone else in my house snore this morning at 5:30am, after pumping milk, I read this blog post on the less-than-ideal aspects of working from home and recognizing some of the benefits of putting your kids in daycare. It was such a nice relief to read some of those thoughts to consider the benefits it will have in my life as well in order to help balance some of that guilt I was/am grappling with. I'm also thinking more of some preventive measures and organizing I can do to make our family's weekend less about doing every single chore we ignore Monday through Friday, so that we can enjoy each other on the weekends and make sure the time that we have together is quality time. More about that when I've thought it through more.

Currently, I'm parked at the public library waiting my turn for free tax preparation. Here's some random thoughts that have been rattling around in my sleep deprived mommy brain:

Note to self: When planning long errands, IE-doing taxes, out side of the home and away from lil man, I should probably start bringing my breast pump along. That breast milk I've been so anxious about saving? Yeah. It's probably about to get wasted a bit and just end up on my shirt before this errand is through.
Baby Signing. Hm. I hadn't really thought too much about trying that before. But it seems like a good idea to try now that I've killed some time browsing in the children's section.
Lullabies- did your parents sing you one/some? My family used to sing "You are My Sunshine" to me. I'm not sure I know all the words to it though. My family probably didn't either, but I never really cared. I tend to sing the baby whatever songs come to mind that I know a decent amount of words to. This has included songs by Mary J. Blige and Florence and the Machine recently.
We are going to be participating in our first CSA this summer through Soul Fire Farm. I'm super excited about it! I would like to be eating more locally & am happy to be supporting these rad folks in their farm.
I miss my worms. (As in, compost worms) I've had intentions of making a longer post about the subject, and even took pictures to do so! Maybe I still will. But after successfully making and maintaining my first attempt at urban compost, my SO talked me into giving them away because those duties unofficially fell on him when I was pregnant and there were some (understandable) doubts about my ability to maintain them with a newborn. I had to pick my battles since he was already doing the cat litter box (after I had to show him some data to prove this exposure to cat poop wasn't just some urban myth I was using to torture him).
Anyway, maybe I'll make another worm bin. Someday. ::Sigh::

There's no good way to tie up a post this random. I have a million other thoughts rattling around in my head. Things about money & debt, doing service work with kids, traveling, things happening in the middle east, and Santa Claus-but my eyes are starting to hurt. Maybe I'll write again soon. Three posts in a week has got to be a record for me! We'll see.

Counting the days

2011-02-03T16:52:00.000-08:00

I'm getting practice trying to be that "present parent" that I so hope to be, as I attempt to enjoy my last few days before returning back to work on Monday.

Even though we began looking at daycares since back when I was about 5 months pregnant (yup, I'm an over planner), we only just officially selected one yesterday (yup, I'm also a procrastinator. A strange mix, I admit). I hemmed and hawed over the merits of daycare centers versus a daycare run out of a person's home. How would this affect our budget? Our vaccination choices? Our commutes to work? What were their philosophies on infant care? (You get the picture)

Then after much evaluation, and re-evaluation...well, I had wasted a lot of time. It came down to me deciding that I was procrastinating at this point, because frankly I just didn't want to leave my kid with anyone else. In the meantime, my top contender for an in-home daycare had filled it's last infant slot.

But in some ways, I think it's best we waited so long to decide. Not only because we've managed to find someone who has a lower child to adult ration, is very reasonably priced and in a more convenient location, but more so because in the few days between that decision and my return to work- I am completely deconstructing this woman in my head!

Perhaps she wasn't as "warm" of a personality as I'd hoped. Did I really check every corner of her house to ensure it was clean? How much TV does she watch during the day? Why doesn't she have a rocking chair? Was she believable when discussing her belief in an infant needing to be held often? Shouldn't I have hooked her up to a lie detector? Why did she have an infant space available anyway? Is that an indicator of something?

Any more time to think about it and surely this woman is going to start having horns and a tail in my mental image. She didn't raise any alarms when I met her at all. And I'm trying to remind myself to go off of those instincts. It's the not knowing for sure that kills me. I'm not good at not knowing. And my kid has no sure fire way of telling me if he's mistreated. Of course, there will be some signals he could give me if the setting is unfit-withdrawn behavior; not being well cleaned or fed; injuries or excessive illness. But it would break my heart for it to ever have to come to that.

The challenge here folks, is how to stay present when anxiety looms. As a therapist it's a question I help others grapple with often. Positive thinking; activities to stimulate your senses and remind you that you are in the current place and time; cognitive behavioral techniques that help identify irrational thinking. It would help me to practice what I preach right about now.

I'm working on keeping that anxiety in check by enjoying the baby's gummy smile, reading about how other mom's make working outside of the home work for their family via blogs of other conscious parents and rad women, and reminding myself to trust my instincts. Those instincts served me well in pregnancy and birthing, and (so far) in realizing what my baby needs. I have to trust that they will continue to serve me well in who I pick for child care.

And if all else fails, maybe I will take a picture of the baby being held by his new daycare provider. Something I can look at during the day at work to re-acknowledge that he's safe in her capable hands. Or, at the very least, something to remind me that she does not, in fact, have horns.

When Breastfeeding Sucks

2011-01-31T12:50:00.000-08:00

I am one of those detestable women who loved being pregnant. While it was certainly not without it's discomforts- I was fortunate enough to have a complication free pregnancy which allowed me to work up until the day I gave birth and gain no more than 35 pounds. And giving birth? Oh my, I'm still in awe at how well that went. Hopefully one day, I'll write more on the subject, but to sum it up quickly-I gave birth at home with no drugs in just a little over 8 hours. (Yes, I know- you want to slap me right now, don't you?)

But breastfeeding? Breastfeeding has not invoked the dreamy eyed state of bliss the books all promise. So I was pretty relieved when I came across this article the other day which critically examines this particular facet of motherhood.

The Case Against Breastfeeding

Waking my newborn up every two hours when he wanted to sleep, I wanted to sleep, and my body was still recovering from giving birth...well, for lack of a better word- IT SUCKED. Constantly considering my wardrobe and destinations in terms of the ease at which I can whip out my boob, in the middle of winter no less- not so dreamy. Seven weeks later, and I still can't figure out how to breastfeed on my left breast as easily as my right. And then there is just the lack of general mobility...

Yes, I have spent countless hours staring into the eyes of my beautiful babe as he fed. But I've also spent many of those hours thinking, "Seriously dude?! Aren't you done yet?!" And lecturing him that I was not a walking pacifier, and that if he wasn't going to eat, he needed to let the boobie go! He's already learned to ignore my lectures.

The best thing to do, isn't always the easiest-I know this. And ideologically speaking, it's terrible for me to think of buying a manufactured mix to give my kid when my body can already produce it. And I'm actually really in awe how amazing it is that my body is capable of producing all of the sustenance he needs at this point in his life. Seriously, that's some kind of magic.

But I miss feeling like my body was MINE. And it's intense feeling so responsible for someone's every meal, comfort and bowel movement. The first time the baby went without pooping for a few days, I was riddled with guilt as if I had eaten (or neglected to eat something) that reduced the efficacy of my milk.

But perhaps the worst part of breastfeeding, in my opinion, has been it's impact on the parenting dynamic between me and my partner. Rosin's article addresses that quite well. Going out for even a few brief hours has meant preplanning so that, in between already frequent feedings, I can pump more milk for his Dad to have on hand while I'm out. It limits G's bonding time with the baby, means I'm the one up with him whenever he wakes in the night, and that he is quickly handed back to me when in need of comfort (read: a boobie). And because I am part of the great American dream, my excessive debts mean I have to return to work next week, so I've been frantically squirreling away every drop of milk I can lest my poor kid starve while I'm at work.

This is a passing phase, I know this. But it's still really effin hard, and not enough people acknowledge that! And our society, for sure, does not account for the time and energy needed to provide this type of care to our children (much like many other aspects of family it doesn't account for either).

We just recently decided that perhaps occasionally we will give the baby some formula if I can't store enough, or if G needs to feed the baby while I'm out or need a rest. Plenty of folks do that. And I should feel relieved in that decision. I want to feel relieved. But I don't. I feel guilty and have in some ways upped my pumping efforts because it still feels like I'm giving my baby crap because I'm being lazy or selfish in some way. Even on the sample formula can we have in the house, it says "Breastfed is Best" for Pete's sake!!

I'm realizing that this is just the first in a long line of situations to come in which as a conscious, feminist mother living in a consumerist, privileged and individualist society- I'm going to feel torn. Like I have to have/do/be "it all". Like nothing I do is going to be ideal, or good enough. These are the battles of motherhood, I suppose. And breastfeeding feels like the first battle that I'm not going to feel like I'm winning no matter what I do.

Don't call it a comeback...

2011-01-28T20:10:00.000-08:00

This is not going to be one of those posts where I solemnly swear to be a more dedicated blogger. It's not-I promise. I will say that I have been thinking about doing more writing in general which I hope to do on here from time to time. I've also been thinking about new ways to nurture creativity in my life which is impacted by several factors.

For one thing, my laptop died somewhere around Thanksgiving. Yes, I have been without a computer for the past two and a half months! ::gasp::

Okay, but not reeeeaaaallly, because I have an iphone so that's kind of cheating.

More importantly, however, is the new arrival of this beautiful lil bean....

Yup, I'm a new Momma. And it's funny to me that only two posts ago I even came out as being pregnant. That feels like a lifetime ago and so much has changed since then. So if I am going to be posting on the ol' blog, it's going to involve mommy things now & also what it means to be creative with my kid as well as stealing moments to myself for creative pursuits. Perhaps it goes without saying that any posts will happen during the baby's erratic and brief naps.

And of course it will include pictures of this cutie in hand knits. So check back in from time to time, wontcha?

I painted this...

2010-09-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

...like, forever ago. The beginning of May I think? At the last minute and in between moving and being pregnant. You know...cuz that's how I do. If you can't tell (or don't know me at all), it's a portrait of my partner. Chasing me out of the kitchen, to be exact.

It was a lot of fun to work on & really reminded me of how great it is to paint. Sadly..I haven't painted anything since (with the exception of the bedroom in our new apartment), but I have high hopes of at least painting a few things for the baby's room. It was also fun to make a painting with such a light-hearted and simple subject & get to display it in a public space where even the kids from the school G used to work at got to get a laugh at it.

The painting was displayed on Madison Avenue in Albany NY, for Grand Street Community Art's Boarded Up Project (which I have definitely mentioned on here before).

And! For the information of all three of you who read this blog, this Saturday is the auction for the 2010 Boarded Up series featuring gorgeous work from local artists with proceeds going to the fantastic programs that GSCA has. I can't wait!

Growth

2010-06-04T19:30:00.001-07:00

Yeah, I still haven't gotten the hang of updating this thing regularly. Maybe one day. But there has been so much life and growth going on these past few months....

For one thing, spring finally arrived! Oh, I can't tell you how happy I was to see those little buds outside my window. And just like that, it seemed like fall weather. And then, just as quickly we seem to have gotten mid-summer type weather. And those little buds have grown exponentially. And my winter blues shrunk in equal proportion.

Yup, those are my first few gray hairs. I turned 30 years old at the end of April. And I would say I've earned the growth of those little gray guys. I've lived a lot of life in these past three decades.

And a baby!!! (Which it clearly says in the caption there) A baby!!! I've been holding on to that news for several months for personal reasons. But I am due December 7th and am feeling good.

So that's what I've been up to between posts- a lot of growth. In many many ways. And hopefully I will continue to share that here.

The Wish

2010-04-17T06:55:00.000-07:00

I think in my severe neglect of this blog, I never posted this painting I did a while back. I want to say I did it in June of 2009 (?) & it was part of the Boarded Up series for Grand Street Community Arts.

It sold at an auction to benefit the art space. I think about painting another one for myself sometimes though, because I kind of miss this painting.

Love Letters to the Universe

2010-04-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

I love this piece and can think of many people this could be written to in my life. Really, I love the whole series. It reminds me that I want to do more art that can serve as love letters to the universe.

2009 knits

2010-01-31T09:59:00.001-08:00

2009 knits, originally uploaded by mslj88.

1. baby booties-close up, 2. Little feet for little foot, 3. "Application Socks", 4. go with the flow socks, 5. roscoe's garden cap, 6. baby blue, 7. smell my feet, 8. comparing stripes, 9. ishbel, 10. amelia front, 11. rainbow socks, 12. cat hat grrrrr

2009 felt like kind of a slack knitting year for me. I had long periods of knitting-less activity. But even for my slump, I managed to finish a nice little collection.

I'm trying to get better at finishing things. 2010 promises to be full of some baby-knitting for dear loved ones.

Re-start

2010-01-31T08:23:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog,

I know it's been a long time since I've written-I haven't been a good pen pal, I admit. And I know one of the last few times I wrote, I promised I'd write more often. Umm...that was back in May 2009.

What can I say? The universe kicked me some hard core hurdles in 2009. I won't get into the dirty details. Suffice it to say, that I've started 2010 with a new job, a new (used) car, and a new commitment to taking much better care of my body.

Hopefully, we can be friends again, dear blog, because I've had a lot of ideas rolling around in my head & some things to share.

Sincerely,
Knitty Digital

on my pod

2009-06-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

In no particular order, here's some fantastic music that's getting a lot of air time. Well...on my speakers anyway. The radio sucks.

The new Decemberists album, Hazards of Love. I just acquired this one, but I am already completely enamored. It has all these peaks and valleys and is enjoyable throughout.

The only other album of theirs I have is Picaresque, but with even that limited exposure I can say that they manage to be exquisite story tellers while simultaneously making fantastic music. Both albums play like a spectacular book that you just can't put down.

I also love when an artist/group manages to evolve in their music while still retaining their own unique sound (this is why I still listen to Ani Difranco even after a bajillion albums). And the Decemberists have absolutely done just that in Hazards of Love. There's nothing more tragic than when an artist has a successful album and then just continues to put out reincarnations of the same damn thing.

Abdulla sent me The Last Internationale as a belated birthday gift, and it was a pleasant surprise in more than one way. Half of the self proclaimed 'radical folk duo' is a good friend of ours from college, Edgey.

I think I was mostly expecting some politically conscious hip-hop because that's more in line with my musical association with Edgey. Instead I found myself listening to a well produced album of bluesy, protest music, that is remnicient of the 60's but with a distinguishable contemporary edge. I don't know Delilah (the other half of the duo) personally, but she's got a great voice with a Joni Mitchell vibe to it.

I listened to the whole thing twice on repeat during my rather long commute to my fourth job. And yes, I recognize the irony of listening to protest songs on my way to my fourth part-time job. It was a paradox that I couldn't reconcile, but I would imagine that's exactly the kind of response that Edgey would be happy with.

And last, but not least, Bon Iver. ::Le sigh::

Holy hell, I am loving this music. Wise old wikipedia is telling me that the album For Emma, Forever Ago was self released almost two years ago so I guess in some ways I'm late to this party. But when I tell you that it's been on near-constant repeat since I got it last week, it's no exaggeration. My favorite songs are "Skinny Love" and "Re:Stacks", but really just the whole album is excellent.

The front man, Justin Vernon (shown above), is exactly a year younger than me & while he's off recording incredible music in secluded cabins in the woods of Wisconsin to work through his depression, I am doing....well..far less cool things with any of my bouts of sadness. But I would happily embrace life's downfalls if they all yielded creativity like this.

Really, just stop reading my rants and go listen to these albums. And....go!

The Knitter Returns

2009-05-31T16:56:00.000-07:00

About two weeks ago I received the news that I would be getting laid off from my counseling job at the end of June. I have been less than thrilled with the job & had been trying to bring myself to leave it for quite a few months. It struck me that perhaps the universe was doing for me what I hadn't been able to do for myself.

That sounds rather Zen and all, but don't congratulate me just yet for this stroke of fortune. It also quickly struck me (oh, about 10 minutes later) that it was also my major source of income, that this isn't the best economy to be looking for a job in, and that having to sell myself to prospective employers is a loathsome task that brings up all those icky self confidence issues. Needless to say, I was stressin'.

It was then that it hit me. The sudden, irresistible urge to knit. All this tension came tumbling down my shoulders and needed to spill out by creating something with my hands. Something that allowed me to thrum out my stress through relatively mindless repetition.

I picked up some socks that rock yarn from Rhinebeck's past & got going on some socks. And boom! My knitting mojo was back!

It seemed fitting that I should come across the "Go With the Flow" socks from Favorite Socks in my "to-be-knit" binder. I mean, I was going to lose my job regardless of how stressed I was going to be about it.

I could freak out and worry about it (which I still do at times) or I can just go with it. It, being the flow. Take it as a positive opportunity to leave guilt-free in search of better opportunities. And be thankful I'd be taking my knitting mojo with me when I go. I told myself that I would make the best of it, and when I got a fantastic new job, I would knit the "9 to 5" socks to complete the knitting metaphor.

And here I am two weeks later with a sock & a half completed, the urge to knit more, my resume sent in to be considered for quite a few great positions, and a back up counseling position that just landed into place which I have already begun.

Of course, that doesn't mean everything is perfect. Having started another counseling position while finishing up my former one means I am theoretically working four jobs at the moment. And changes like this always wear on my over-planning, stability-loving personality. But I'm still looking at the brighter side of things, and knitting away all the rest. The rest will just have to fall into place on it's own.

love.

2009-05-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

I realize that this is old news, because there's arguably already a cult following just considering the sheer amount of blogs I've seen this posted on. However, I had to post just to gush about how much I love this freaking preview.

Like, seriously, it makes my heart hurt a little bit-that's how much. I hope the movie lives up to the preview.

New Start

2009-05-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

Hello internet world!

You probably assumed I had abandoned this blog. Well..I kind of did. More out of neglect than a conscious quitting though. You may have even thought in your wildest dreams, that I had stopped being crafty all together. Well...I kind of did that too. Before about two weeks ago, I hadn't knit in months! I can't tell you how long it's been since I picked up a paintbrush. And sadly, the only reason my sewing machine isn't covered in a thick layer of dust is because I've been lending it out to other people.

I don't know why I'm always so surprised when I recognize (once again), how closely my creative process is connected to my mental health. The word "duh" seems appropriate here. But here I was in a hating my job, hating where I'm living, winter (carried over into spring) rut that I just couldn't shake. I knew doing some art work would probably help me through some of this, but at the same time I just couldn't muster up enough motivation to pick up knitting sticks, let alone think about creating something.

And then there's this blog. I created this blog thinking it would be a nice little compartmentalized showing of all the things I created, with some lofty diatribes about the creative process, which would simultaneously omit 80% of any information about my real life. My real, messy, not always feeling immensely creative or inspired life. You see, I've been burned by you before, internet world. Or rather by people who would misuse my relationship with you, and I just wasn't ready to go down that road again. I still may not be. But I know this-if this blog is going to be at all helpful or relevant to me, or to anyone else for that matter, I need it to be real.

I need it to include shit I make, but then hate. Pictures of my messy craft room, which often resembles more of a junk room. It needs to include the books I read, my writing, the music that inspires me, my new ventures into gardening, sustainable living and cooking. I need it to include my feelings, insecurities, loves, and all the other things that actually drive my creativity (and occasionally hinder it). Otherwise, it's just fluff. And let's face it-I'm too old, too busy and too wise to invest my time in fakin' it.

So, here's to a new start, internet world. Let's see what we can learn from one another.

2008

2009-01-10T19:18:00.001-08:00

2008, originally uploaded by mslj88.

So, 2008. It came. It went. I knit a lot of stuff- mostly socks & hats. I hope 2009 is the year of the cardigans. There are a lot of kick-ass cardigans that I want to make, three of which I have the yarn already for.

1. Amelia, which I have already begun in a lovely varigated green yarn that I aquired two Rhinebeck's ago.

2. Brompton, which I have a gorgeous blue yarn to do.

3. The Garter Yoke Cardigan, which I have been coveting for quite some time. I'm thinking of doing it in this mustard-yellow yarn that I have.

And of course, it would be nice to finish off that tangled yoke cardigan I started, oh..a year ago. And there is about a bazillion other things I would like to knit.

And then there were my "creative ambitions" for 2008..

1. Creating a cohesive art show in March (done!)
2. Experiment with spinning on a wheel
3. Play with color work more in my knitting
4. Do more paintings and drawings again (did a little bit, particularly for the show)
5. Get "finished" sprays of my stencils (done!)
6. Experiment with quilting
7. Make a shirt using a sewing pattern
8. Finish old projects that have been lingering (*I think I am officially changing this goal to feeling comfortable frogging some of my old abandoned, or unused projects, to make something different with the yarn)
9. Print some of my photographs (done!)
10. Incorporate more of my creations into my everyday life and wardrobe (started)
11. Learn more about different yarns

..but, this year I also did things I didn't dream I would have been able to...

1. Graduated with my Master's Degree

2. Traveled to 4 different countries

3. Went back to do work in New Orleans

4.Painted a mural

5. Had a joint art show

6. Fell in love

7. Organized a Craft Fair

8. Sold a bunch of things at said Craft Fair

9. Got my own tags & started an Etsy shop (though I haven't stocked it with anything yet).

10. Taught English & learned Spanish.

All & all, not too shabby. So I don't feel the least bit bad that I didn't do all that was on my list or blog more. 2009? Bring it on..

Finito

2009-01-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

So, uhh..long time, no blog- again. What can I say? I'm not a very committed blogger. And I make no pretenses that that's going to change. Fortunately, I am a committed crafter, however, so I have lots of finished knits to show to wrap up 2008.

Name: Hailey's Stripey Hat
Pattern: Norwegian Sweet Baby Cap
Yarn: Red Heart Designer Sport
Thoughts: Adorable & fast knit. Hopefully it fits Hailey's recently enlarged noggin' (I'm sure she'll grow into that head). Believe it or now, this project was the first occasion I've had to do an i-cord, which was fun.

Name: Striped Mits
Pattern: Thumbless Mitties from Our Yellow House
Yarn: Red Heart Designer Sport
Thoughts: Fun & quick! Made to match the hat; added an i-cord attachment so they don't lose one another. Leah, who designed the pattern, was one of the fantastic creators I had the occasion to get to know better during the course of GSCA's Give Handmade! events.
This set was one of few things that I was able to knit for the holidays. I completed it in time for christmas, but have I actually mailed it? No.Name: Tres for Karen
Pattern: Yup, that's right. Another Koolhas (ravelry link)
Yarn: Some left over Karabella Aurora Yarn. Hooray for stashbusting!
Thoughts: What can I say? I love this hat & it's so gratifying to make. I'll be making another one in the near future for Karen's partner as soon as the yarn arrives in the mail.
Who knows? Maybe I'll make one for myself one of these days. It does look kinda good on me ;)Name: Kednel's Noggin
Pattern: Thorpe
Yarn: Some leftover Elsebeth Lavold yarn from my Ms. Darcy cardigan & a smidgen of navy blue yarn that I got as a freebie at the ravelry party.
Thoughts: Kednel specifically requested this hat. This is a terrible picture of it, but it looks adorable on him.
Name: Jenny's Gray Foliage
Pattern: Foliage
Yarn: Some leftover Montera, Classic Elites yarn that I've had in my bin for ages.
Thoughts: Yup, third time making this one too. But Jenny requested it after seeing the one I made for Rachel. I did one less repeat than the pattern called for in order to size it to her specifications. I didn't love it in this yarn initially, because there is less stitch definition, but all & all I think it looks pretty good.
And lest you think that I'm only knitting hat these days, I also finished a pair of socks..
Name: Purple Express
Pattern: Express Lane
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Socks that Rock-light weight. It's some mill end yarn I scored at Rhinebeck.
Thoughts: I like them. I don't love them. But I insist on buying multi-colored yarn, which I later fret over the pooling and pattern definition of. Meh.

I have intentions of blogging again soon with a 2008 project mosaic. Plus I already have a finished knit for this year, some stuff in the works, and other craft stuff to blab about. We'll see how that goes.

A day of rest

2008-11-28T17:20:00.000-08:00

Hello blogging world! Long time, no speak! Err..or type, rather. I write to you the side of a warm fireplace at my mom's house where I'm spending the holiday weekend. I've been incredibly busy organizing our Give Handmade Crafstravaganza! It's been a lot of fun & given me an opportunity to work with a lot of great folks & network with almost 90 incredibly inspiring artists. We also started a new blog, 518handmade!, to continue to nurture the culture of DIY & handmade in Albany.

That being said, I'm freakin' tired people. And I can't wait until the days are actually here, when it's less about organizing logistics & more about getting to meet all these folks in person & peruse their art.

At times like these I find I'm so busy I can hardly remember whether or not I've brushed my teeth. And yet..I somehow seem to knit even more when I'm busy & stressed. I'm currently working on socks, a sweater vest, a hat, and a coat for my niece. And I think I finished the Ms. Darcy cardigan in about a week.

Name: "Bronzed Darcy"
Needles: US9
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Classic AL in "Bronze" (purchased at Rhinebeck 2007)
Thoughts: It's a little short for my preferences. And if I did it over, I would've done it in the round. But overall, I still love the sweater & the look of it.

I should have more finished work to show soon. Including stuff I've been working on to sell at our show. I'll be teaming up with Corinne and sharing a table with her & her kick ass art.

Project Spectrum- Water Element

2008-11-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

So I was a pretty lax project spectrumer, but I did it consistently throughout. But you know, more time for life, less time for blogging.

The theme for August & September was water & the colors were blue, purple & black.
These shots are from my trip to California in September. (I was in the San Francisco area to attend the wedding of my uncles)

pier 39

kissy face

And then of course there was the project spectrum knits..

I love this combo & have already been wearing it a lot.

My midnight cowl
Pattern: modified version of Ilean (ravelry link)
Modifications: Button band instead of joining. Added silver vintage buttons
Yarn: Purple merino from morehouse farm (which sadly no longer has a booth at rhinebeck)

The hat is another foliage, which I had knitted last year for a friend & had intentions since of making one for myself. I've been wearing it kind of beret style, which i prefer.

Here's detail of the top. Though for some reason it looks really pointy in this photo.

I also made a painfully plain hat for Gustavo. But it was "plain, black, fitted and folded" just as he requested (as modeled here, sticking out his tongue with his goofy self)

Pattern: Seaman's Cap, made in size large (which was too big)
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Sunsette
He also wears his kind of beret-style, but that's probably more so he can show off his twists.

But I felt obliged to add a little bit of a detail. A signature if you will..

way delayed

2008-10-31T22:17:00.000-07:00

Here I go cheating again, but I did not get to finish this post yesterday. There was just too much other running around.

So here is another delayed post, about another thing in my life that almost seems like it happened in another lifetime, it was that long ago.

This, my dear readers, is the mural I painted on the wall of a community center in Guaimaca, Honduras.

It says"...your seed of solidarity gives a new hope to our community".

The wall is to thank & commemorate people who have significantly contributed to the community center, many of which were based out of Berkshire County, MA.

Therefore, one of the mountain ranges represents the mountains of the berkshires, the other the mountains of Honduras.

This is lil ol' me with a close up of the mountains.

And this is a close up of the hands which is my favorite part.

This shot is really just for the purpose of scale.

For the most part, I painted this mural independently. (Shantell helped me fill in the green for the mountains.) I had hoped to do mural projects with children, but they had testing for school around the time I was there so it just didn't come together fast enough. I hope to go back to continue that project.

In total the mural took me about a week to paint. It was an interesting challenge to get paint and materials for this- I had my first hitchhiking experience as we had to go into the capital (about an hours car ride or so) to get affordable & appropriate paint.

The mural is right across the street from my friend Eddie & his families house. (They built the building & run the project there) And it's the first thing you see when you walk out of the door in the morning. It's also visible from the dirt road that passes the center.

It was a tremendous honor to be allowed to leave behind such a lasting mark and it was a great learning experience. It was the largest scaled piece I had ever painted, and the first time I had made something so publicly accessible. Although I had participated in the boarded up project, that piece itself had been created at home. I painted the mural at all hours of the day when people would watch from the road or come up and discuss it with me- what it looked like, what it's message & intent was. It was a gratifying process and I am very proud of the results.

Rhinebeck, revisited.

2008-10-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

Oh Rhinebeck, how I love thee. This year was the third annual pilgrimage for me, Meaghan & Heather. As each year has progressed we have become more experienced, and thus more intent-full shoppers. We know where our favorite alpaca yarn is- Times Remembered. We know to get to The Fold for socks that rock yarn first thing on the first day- otherwise, forget it. But there is something about it that still makes me giddy, as though it's my first time going.

Along the way, more people have been added to our brood. Greeley came for the second time this year, which I was really excited about. She's an amazing knitter and always gives good advice when mulling over measurements and substitutions when buying for projects. My friend Laura came as well. She's from the UK & a beginning knitter-which was awesome because it was all so new to her.

Anyway, on to the photos!

I love the llamas & alpacas. They seem to have so much character. Every year I daydream about a romantic lifestyle of owning land with my own animals whose fur I spin.

Me & Meg soaking up the sun. (Luckily there was some sun, because it was mighty cold this year compare to last)

This little lamb was only four days old! It was so cute, I wanted to put it in my pocket.

I love this shot because it looks like the guy in back is laughing.

Another lovely benefit to Rhinebeck is seeing all those skilled folks doing things that I can't venture into in my life, like spinning...and sickly thin lace knitting!(Though I gotta tell ya-lace knitting is not high on my "to do" list.)

And then there was the Ravelry after party. Ohhh, the after party!

Laura really had no idea what she was in for here. She just kept saying she couldn't picture what a "knitting party" would be like. Unfortunately I have no photos that accurately convey the magnitude of this awesome-ness. But there was free food and drink, lots of giveaways, lots of raffle prizes, and LOTS of amazing knitters from all over the place.

We were a bit gitty when the Yarnharlot & company asked to join our table. Well, "we" with the exception of Laura. I think she thought we were just being crazy americans exclaiming to her that we were sitting with a knitting celebrity.

Bob, another knitting celebrity, was there. But figuratively.

He got eat-ed. He was delicious.

The sky was absolutely gorgeous. (By the way, you know you are knitting obsessed when you think to yourself "that sunset would make an amazing colorway for sock yarn")

Two days of Rhinebeck glory.

And this is Rasca saying, "Um, yeah. It's cool Ma. You could put the yarn back in this bag. I''ll take care of it for you..."

And of course, here are photos of just some of my spoils...
Ah, the sock yarn.

I also got a little bit of Alpaca, the pink bamboo blend I mentioned in the last post, and an awesome ceramic mug with an Alpaca on it.

Plugs

2008-10-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

So, part of the reason I have been super busy lately is because I've been working with GSCA to organize a winter craft fair for this December! We are calling it "Give Handmade". It's going really well and we've got dates going for both Troy & Albany!

If you or anyone you know is interested, go here!
I'll of course be updating my blog as things progress as well. You know, for all three of you who read this.

On the knitting front, I've started a sweater vest (the Honeycomb pattern) with this awesome bamboo & merino blend yarn I scored at Rhinebeck.
It's coming out great & I'll be geeky sheek for the new job(s)!

Foiled & Finished

2008-10-29T15:39:00.000-07:00

I've already been foiled on just day 2 of my attempt to blog every day this week. However, it gets to a certain point in my day that I just have to cut myself off from doing work, errands, or being on the computer in general.

However, today I'm going to try to do two posts. One now, one after my evening meeting. Maybe that's cheating, but who's to judge?

Here are my completed "Farmhouse Nutkin" Socks!

I actually finished them about a week ago, but haven't been home during day light hours to photograph them. But I love them! The pattern is simple enough that the pooling stripping of colors still looks good & doesn't take away from the design.

Here's the Specs:
Pattern: Nutkin
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock (Medium weight) in colorway "farmhouse"
New Techniques: This was my first time doing short row heels, which I liked. However, on the purl side, my increases create too much of a hole (which you can kind of see on the next photo). I think I just have to practice making it tighter.
I scored a bunch more sock yarn at Rhinebeck last weekend, but that's for another post.

Personal Challenge

2008-10-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

In this act, Lauren will attempt to update her blog once a day for a week in order to update about all the amazing happenings in her life. We'll see how it goes.

This weekend, I had the pleasure of being in New York City. A friend and I caught the Banksy show "The Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill". If you're around, I'd recommend it. It's free & open for the rest of the week everyday until midnight.

Here's a list of thoughts & photos about it in no particular order...

1. The place is pretty discreet, and if you didn't know what you were looking for you might just miss it. I really appreciated that because there were people that seemed to just be stumbling upon it and talking about it without having the "Banksy" context to it.

2. Notably, there is no graffiti in the show, but it's mostly animatronics. Hot dogs sipping water in animal tanks and fish sticks swimming around in a tank and the like.
3. Having a context of what Banksy has done in the past, it was interesting to consider what this show was saying considering he has used animals in the past in manners such as this.4. Who knows, maybe it's not saying anything at all. Especially considering he was quoted as saying, "New Yorkers don't care about art, they care about pets. So I'm exhibiting them instead."5. Regardless of what he is or is not trying to say with this exhibit, it was very stimulating visually and intellectually. The "animals" looked extremely realistic and just made you rethink your environment, your food, your pets.

Easy Breezy Air

2008-10-14T11:51:00.001-07:00

I find myself feeling anxious about not having my blog up to date. I'm not really sure why. It's not a detrimental thing in my life, and it's certainly not something I started so I could feel like I had another chore. I have to remind myself of these things.

Though it's coming in late, here is my wrap up for the June & July Project Spectrum which had an air theme (with gray, white & yellow as the color theme).

Air Element, originally uploaded by mslj88.

I got quite a few knits done- a hat, a pair of hand warmers, socks and a cardigan for my baby niecey. Well, technically the cardigan isn't actually done. I haven't found buttons for it just yet.
And in terms of skies, I was lucky enough to see many gorgeous skies over three different countries. And after all this air time, I've been spending my non-blogging time getting my feet back on the ground.

catching up

2008-09-14T15:11:00.000-07:00

It's only been a few short days since I returned from my adventures in Central America and I'm still getting used to my new skin (figuratively and literally). Figuratively speaking, I'm still enjoying the new found novelty of hot showers, toilet seats, my very own apartment, not returning to school, being unemployed and speaking English. Literally speaking, I actually have new skin as I'm peeling from a sunburn I caught on the Caribbean side of Honduras.

I have a ton of things to update about, but expect them to come gradually over the next week or so. I figured I'd start it off with a finished project though.

Pattern: Leyburn socks by MintyFresh
Yarn: Socks that rock- 24 Karat

As mentioned in previous posts, this was my first time doing toe-up socks. So I learned some new techniques, but the basic pattern repeats were easy to remember which made it an interesting, but still accessible, knit.

Aside from these socks, I have some photos too that will have to serve as a belated project spectrum wrap up for the June/July Air segment. Perhaps tomorrow.

A saved post.

2008-07-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

(My crafty-self saved these pictures in order to post them later so there was no gift-spoiler). Regardless of the date on the post, however, I am writing this from Costa Rica. There is so much to say about this trip even after a week and a half, but I feel like it´s still just the tip of the ice-berg in terms of experiencing the visual elements of this culture. Unfortunately, I opted not to lug my laptop around so I can´t upload pictures until I return, but I´m hoping to have a lot of artwork to show for this trip after my time in Honduras.

Here´s what I was toying with before I left for Central America...

Shrinky dink jewelry!

Now in my recent obsession with this craft, I´ve encountered many children of the eighties who were not enlightened to the joys of shrinky-dinking. Here is a link, people. EDUCATE YOURSELVES!

This particular one was made for Rachel (of Rachel´s Fist Throwing Circus infamy) for her birthday.

This one I made for myself, because..well, you know, every gurl needs a name plate to bling out.

And this one was made for Kerigirl.. The picture is not so great, but it´s Pippi Longstocking.

These are super easy and fun to make and I´m sure I´ll be making more of them. But for now, my focus is centered on murals in central america and improving my "spanglish".

Rochester, NY

2008-07-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

Although I've been blogging a lot more lately, I still feel behind because I've been taking a lot of photos and have had a lot of things I'd like to write about.

A few weekends ago, I went to Rochester, NY to visit a friend and she was kind enough to cart me around to see some street art. Most of these photos are from around one building, but this whole block had a lot of stuff going on.

This one reminded me of New Orleans..

These are from one wall & were done by the folks who did the awesome mural up at the Spectrum Theater in Albany.
I really wish there were more murals in Albany in general. They really change the feel of a neighborhood and it would be a good use for all of those abandoned and boarded up buildings in the city. I've asked to do some mural projects with the neighborhood kids while in Honduras and Eddie said we could hook something up, which I am really stoked about.

stay golden

2008-07-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

I've been really getting my knit on lately. After finishing the button tab hat, I decided a pair of hand warmers would be nice to match. I knit them literally in a day. One of them was knit entirely while in a work meeting. I had been meaning to blog about them, but was having a hard time getting a good photo. These ones are still a little too overexposed so the color doesn't translate as well. As per usual Rasca is in the shot. What can I say? My cat loves the camera.Project: "Golden Warmers"
Pattern: Emerald Green Handwarmers by creativeyarn
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Cotton Patiné in that mustardy yellow color that I can't get enough of right now.

I also started some socks that are proving to be an exciting challenge for me. I'm using the Leyburn pattern for my very first venture into toe-up socks. This will be a useful skill since I'm notorious for under or over estimating sock yarn.

The pattern also required learning the provisional cast on method, how to "wrap" a stitch and a new way to create a short row heel. Learning all these new techniques has actually made it a more intriguing, and therefore quicker, knit. I'm more than half way done with the first sock and I just started the project three days ago.

I'm also excited that these knits coincidentally go along with the Air theme for the project spectrum june/july.

I've also been a lucky duck in terms of fun mail lately. Rachel sent me this amazing yarn from Asheville, NC that her friend spins and dyes.

It's an Alpaca and wool blend that's dyed with copper, black-eyed susans and marigolds! It smells like working in the garden (in a good way). And if you are interested in scoring any for yourself, she can be contacted at wildbergamot@riseup.net

the generosity of knitters

2008-06-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

I recently read Things I Learned from Knitting (Whether I wanted to or Not) by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (AKA the YarnHarlot). My supervisor got it for me as a parting gift when I completed my internship which made total sense since she begins the book by comparing knitting to Cognitive Behavioral therapy, and since I would knit during many a meeting in which we were discussing the clients we would do CBT therapy with. The book was a good, fast, and light hearted read- perfect for easing my way back into the shock of being able to do actual leisure reading after completing my masters.

Anyway, the book has a tidbit in it about the generosity of knitters and I've been thinking more about that and examples of it in my life (of which there are many). From sharing skills to sharing supplies (ahem, thanks for those needles meg!)- ask and you shall receive in the knitting world. And sometimes, you don't even have to ask, as is evidenced by the following examples...

A dear friend of mine recently traveled to Turkey and shared my humble blog with his hostess who was an incredibly crafty knitter and crocheter herself. She sent him back home with some beautiful hand knit slippers to pass on to me, just because.
Unfortunately, they do not stretch enough to accommodate the skis I like to call "my feet." Regardless, I was very touched by the gesture and the thought that there was this woman across an ocean who I could relate to in this way. I'll be going to Costa Rica and Honduras this summer, and I plan to take them with me and pass them on to someone who can fit into them, and hopefully who can appreciate how far this gift has traveled.

Two months ago, I also received this in the mail...
An umbrella swift! My very own umbrella swift! Now I know there are some fancy pants knitters out there who might gawk at the very idea that I didn't already own one of the contraptions- but I am a humble-recent-graduate-student of limited means. It was just a purchase that I couldn't justify (although I was considering trying to justify spending some of my stimulus check on one anyway). I've wanted one for a very long time, and was kind of kicking myself for not investing in one this past October at Rhinebeck. So you can imagine how excited I was to receive one in the mail by complete surprise! It turns out my fantastic roommate knew how badly I wanted one and mentioned it casually to his extremely generous knitterly & crafty mom, who mailed me one that she just happened to have laying around the house. She's also sent me knitting shows from the DIY channel and some awesome Ravelry swag. Rasca is less than impressed by the umbrella swift. She knows not of these human toys nor of the generosity of knitters. She just wants to eat the yarn.

little bits

2008-06-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

I have more new little things to post about! As I mentioned in my last post, life has been very busy lately. As school culminated, I had the urge to knit something little, quick and gratifying & I've been dying to use this yarn...

So I knit a hat. At the beginning of the summer. Not the most practical of knits (even if it is cotton yarn), but it quenched my thirst at the time.
Pattern: Button Tab Hat
Yarn: Cotton Patiné in "Color 10." It's really a mustardy yellow color that I've been obsessed with lately.
Button: given to me by Alan who found it amongst a bunch of other fantastic buttons that some fool was getting rid of.

And speaking of other little things...remember those ruby red booties I knit a while back? I distinctly remember as I was completing them thinking to myself, "These are so teeny tiny! Do humans even come this small?" I shrugged it off, reminding myself that knitting stretches anyway. Well...apparently they DO come that small. And even smaller! This weekend I met the littlest Jacobs ever-Ms. Hailey Grace. But hey, maybe those booties will fit by Christmas.

An actual update.

2008-06-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

A lot of life has happened in the the two months since my last post. I turned 28; finished my masters in social work; went to a prom; had a mini road trip to Boston; and became an aunt again. Impressively, art has still been happening through all of that. I have a few knits in progress and a piece for the earth portion of project spectrum that is actually on display.

I have actually been meaning to write a post dedicated specifically to the Grand Street Community Arts, where my piece is on display. For now, suffice it to say-it's right around the corner from me and I'm really excited about the potential it has to offer. I was given the opportunity to participate in the June showing of their "Boarded Up" project, and the painting I had in mind happens to go beautifully with the project spectrum theme of earth. Oh, synchronicity, how you awe me.

Here are some photos of my piece...

Title: Sacrificio
Medium: Acrylic Paint and Pastel on ply wood

If you are in the Albany area for the month of June, you should really come check it out. For one, the pictures don't do it justice. Two, you can see the other pieces up as well. The pieces will be auctioned off in August, with the proceeds going to support the community center. Here's a photo of one of the other ones up this month that I really liked..In terms of my own personal evolution embracing my art, I feel like I've grown tremendously these past few months. I also contributed to an art auction to raise money for students to go on the Africa trip that I had the privilege of going on last year. Both of the things I donated sold and one of my photos went for $75, which was cool to see. I also did some networking there and made some future contacts for showing more art. It's a big deal for me still to be putting my stuff out there and I was really happy with how this recent painting came out.

I keep telling folks to go see it which feels a little weird for me, but I make myself get over it by remembering how much I appreciate it when my friends share their talents with me whether it's through their music, writing, painting, cooking, whatever. I feel less odd talking about what I'm showing when I think of it as just contributing and giving back some of the inspiration that others share with me.

Now that school is over and done with, there's so much promise of art and inspiration. I will begin a figure drawing class of sorts tomorrow. I've been really itching to do some sewing again. And this summer I have trips planned for both Costa Rica & Honduras, which I'm sure will yield a lot more photos. So hopefully, this blog will be full of a lot more updates.

Being a joiner

2008-04-08T19:54:00.000-07:00

It's funny how things work out sometimes. I had just recently read about Project Spectrum and decided to join at the very beginning of April. Despite showing up late to the party, it turns out all my knits in March & February went along with the theme anyway! It was fate.

I feel like I've had these knits done for a while, but things have been too busy to get pictures and all that jazz. But without further ado....

Project: Jaywalker socks for Ms. Dolan
Pattern: Jaywalker Socks
Yarn: Opal in Flamingo
Needles: size 2dpns

I really like the way these came out. Much better than my first pair by sheer fact that they're all of the same yarn. Which by the way, I really like the yarn too.

And now..oh, the baby knits. I am expecting a little niece in June.

Project: Ruby Red Baby Booties
Pattern: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Booties
Needles: size 5
Yarn: Knitpicks Shine Sport in Cherry
Alterations: I did a ssk, rather than the sl1,k1,psso that the pattern calls for. That method looked neater to me.

I had to take a picture on my hand for scale so you can see how teenie tiny & cute this things are. Freakin' adorable.

Project: Cherry Baby Sweater
Pattern: February Baby Sweater, from the Knitter's Almanac
Needles:
Yarn: KnitPicks Shine Sport in Cherry

I actually bought this yarn for another project entirely, but it wasn't the shade of red I had in mind. It's rather bright, which you can kinda tell from the pictures. But babies need bright colors.

Again, for scale. I can't believe there's going to be another person in my life this little again.

Many more baby knits to come, I'm sure.

sweets for the feet

2008-03-14T17:54:00.001-07:00

Pattern: Sweetheart Socks in Interweave Knits, Holiday2007
Yarn: by Ancient Threads
Needles: size 2 dpns
Thoughts: I love the color & the way it worked with this pattern. The yarn is super soft & there was enough in the skein to make them 8inches above the heel with some still leftover to spare afterwards.

Exhale

2008-03-11T07:58:00.001-07:00

So the art show opening came & went. Despite the fact that it was pretty cold & that it started raining precisely at 5pm- we had a damn good turnout! A lot of folks from my program at school came to show support as well as some co-workers, professors & some loved ones from New Paltz. Plus there were folks from the community as well.

My amazing friends contributed some amazing food. Kerri made the most delicious vegan potatoe salad EVER. Alan made some awesome Roti & green & black mini pies. He's so incredible, he's even kind enough to share his recipes on his blog.
Meg & Gregory sent me a beautiful & delicious "edible arrangement". As you can see, it was very popular...Here's some quick shots of Milez's side of the room, but you should really check out his flickr page for better shots. I chose to show five photos from my africa pictures. Here's some of the other things I showed besides the photos, but you'll have to excuse the poor quality. The weather has not been very conducive to good art pics."Breathe": Acrylic & paint markers on canvas

"Defend New Orleans": spray painted stencil & acrylic paint on found wood

"Frida": Spray painted Stencil on found wood

"Llama Love": Water color paint

"balance": watercolor & pen & ink

"the taking": watercolor & pen & ink

"knitting is love": spray painted stencil on wood
and....
so exciting! I sold a piece! And not even to anyone I am related to!
I was honestly not going into the night expecting to sell anything. And that's not even self-deprecation. I was just genuinely focused on the huge step it was for me to just be putting myself out there & I'm very proud of myself for that.

All & all it was a great show & I'm really glad we did it.
By the way, if you didn't get to the opening, the show will still be up at CDFI for the rest of the month.

P.S.- You can read more snippets at the CDFI blog & see more photos at their flickr page.

a busy silence

2008-02-24T21:20:00.000-08:00

Things have been quiet on the blog because I've been really busy. Well, with a lot of things actually- but artistically it's been all about getting things ready for our art show. Less than a week until we start setting up!

I've had a hard time finishing things and an even harder time quieting my voices of self doubt. But that's what this show is about for me. I haven't even really been thinking about actually selling anything. It's just a big progression for me to be putting my stuff out there. Because of that I'm now grappling with what to offer as prices. Any tips from you business savvy crafters & artists?I hope you'll be there because it would mean the world to me.

Opening Show is March 7th at 5pm
art by me! and the fantastical liberation please!

2007

2007-12-30T23:06:00.001-08:00

Apparently 2007 was the year of socks and hats for me. It was kind of neat making this collage because I had forgotten that I hadn't even started making socks before the beginning of this year. They were really daunting to me initially, and now I've made 5 pairs and am whipping them out like nobody's business.

I also think I've done more sewing than is reflected here, and noticed that I haven't really reached a place with my stenciling where I would consider any of these really "finished".

Thus far, my creative ambitions for 2008 are:
1. Creating a cohesive art show in March
2. Experiment with spinning on a wheel
3. Play with color work more in my knitting
4. Do more paintings and drawings again
5. Get "finished" sprays of my stencils
6. Experiment with quilting
7. Make a shirt using a sewing pattern
8. Finish old projects that have been lingering (gloves for dulla, log cabin pillow)
9. Print some of my photographs
10. Incorporate more of my creations into my everyday life and wardrobe
11. Learn more about different yarns

round up

2007-12-30T10:38:00.001-08:00

So the holiday craziness is just about through. It's been a lot of traveling for me & I'm finally home long enough to make a quick post before I head out again.

Surprisingly, I didn't do too much crafting for gifts. Between school and work, there was just no deluding myself into thinking that there was enough time to do much of that. Hopefully I will next year.

I did make this hat for Abdulla's brother Meshari, but it's being modeled by my lovely roommate, Milez.

Name: Swampy Green Reasonably Hip
Pattern: Reasonably Hip, Magknits Dec 2007
Yarn: Lion's Brand Vanna's Choice in Olive

I'm not extremely thrilled with this knit. The pattern was a bit confusing to me, but was useful in giving me a template for the short rows of the visor. I increased the amount of stitches I cast on, because the amount called for in the pattern was way too small. The end result was a bit roomier than I intended but I think still works for the style of the hat. Whatever qualms I have about though are pretty irrelevant, because the recipient loved it.

And Milez looked so damn good in the hat, I decided to make him one too for his birthday. (Modeled here by me with Rosca serving as backup cuteness)

It's another heavily modified version of the Reasonably Hip, better fitting, but the real "flare" is in the back...I put the single cable strip and the rest is reverse stockinette stitching. It's sort of a blending really of the Reasonably Hip and this Owl hat pattern.The embellishments, however, are inspired by this version which I love and came across on ravelry.

I love it. Hopefully, Milez will too.

I've done some more work on my tangled yoke, but nothing that will make for interesting pictures. I have one sleeve done & most of the body. I put it down because of the holiday madness and finals, but hopefully I'll pick it back up next week.

I also started the Sweetheart Socks, from Interweave Knits (Holiday 2007).

I was just SO excited to start using this beautiful yarn I got at Rhinebeck from Ancient Threads Farm

They are coming out beautifully. And I can't wait till they are done.

finishing things

2007-12-04T11:20:00.000-08:00

This month has been a time of finishing for me. Finishing up my semester (thankfully). Finishing up on some old and neglected projects, as well as some new.

Unfortunately, the piece that I was most excited about finishing is also the crappiest picture I have to share, since I didn't have my camera at the time. I plan on taking a better shot when I get the chance.

It's a Zapatista girl, which I have had intentions of making for a long time. Milez encouraged me to enter it in an art show over in Troy at the Kismet Gallery. If you are in the area, I really recommend checking out that gallery, by the way. It's a great space & the plush, clay & vinyl show they have up right now is really cool. (And I'm not just saying that cuz me & Milez have stuff in it)

Perhaps more so then the end result, making this doll was really an accomplishment for me because I often get these ideas in my head and plunge into them. And if it doesn't materialize the way I've imagined (which it often doesn't), I get discouraged and often abandon ship (though I tell myself it's just on pause). So it's really great to be moving into a space in my life where fellow artists and friends encourage me to move past my barriers.

It's also really exciting for me to be working on our March art show. It's an opportunity to finish more work and create new things as well as further explore my personal style and aesthetic as an artist which is something I have not committed too much to in my life thus far.

Other things I've finished...

Project: Purple Minimalist
Pattern: Minimalist Cardigan from Interweave Knits- Fall 2007
Yarn: Filatura Lanarota Chaco
Thoughts: Sometimes I think it needs a button or something. But I'm not completely sold on that idea either. But I am really happy with the way it turned out.

Project: Koolhas, Take 2
Pattern: Koolhaas, from Interweave Knits- Holiday 2007
Yarn: Leftover Karabella Aurora 8 in "Rust" (I LOVE this yarn)
Thoughts: I made it longer than my last attempt and got better at memorizing the pattern. I liked this one a lot better than my last. Too bad it was a gift for someone else.

And I started the Tangled Yoke cardigan using some beautiful alpaca yarn I got at Rhinebeck. It's actually progressed a good deal since this photo too..

Now is the time when I should just be doing holiday knitting, but I'm not knitting for too many folks this year. So, instead I'm trying to rationalize casting on for some new socks instead.

Don't be fooled.

2007-11-11T11:21:00.000-08:00

I know what this looks like. This looks like I am updating my blog. But don't be fooled- this is actually just me avoiding another paper for school. But while I'm procrastinating I have some photos to share.

This is most of the "minimalist cardigan" from interweave knits, fall 2007...
I have the back done as well as the two front panels and most of one sleeve. It should be done soon. Especially since this is the one I knit mostly during my looooong classes.

This is a much more accurate depiction of the color...
plus you can see how beautiful the moss stitch is coming out. It's such a simple stitch pattern, but gives such gratifying results. I'm making this out of 100% wool Chaco brand yarn that I bought at Rhinebeck. I was pretty ambivalent about the yarn when I bought it & will still admit that it was my least exciting purchase. Really I just bought it because I liked the color and it was hella cheap. But it's knitting out a lot nicer than I expected it to.

I also completed a Koolhaas hat (Interweave Knits, holiday 2007).
I made it with this cascade yarn that I've had around FOREVER. I'm pretty happy with the color. However, I did make it too short. I did one less chart repeat than the pattern called for. Right now, I want to say that I'm going to redo it. But let's be honest here- there are so many things I want to knit plus the holidays are coming up. It's low priority.
Also, while I love the results of cabling work (and this hat is no exception!), the actual process of cabling is kind of annoying to me.

Other notable things happening in the knittydigital studio:

I casted on for the tangled yoke cardigan!
I met with two new knitting friends from ravelry, which was awesome.
One of said friends showed me how to knit socks on two circulars. A process that I was first hesitant about until I considered it's application in knitting two socks simultaneously.
Milez has convinced me to submit work for an art show at the end of this month. I'm super intimidated by this idea, but I'm doing it anyway.
Milez and I are also currently negotiating doing a joint art show at CDFI in march. Also intimidating and exciting.
I am collecting lots of potential baby knit patterns to do because I'm going to be an aunt(again).
Two more of my amazing friends from new paltz moved in downstairs. Between us we have about 5 sewing machines, 1 serger (!!) and a WHOLE lotta yarn. This winter is going to rock my socks.

happy halloween

2007-10-31T19:07:00.000-07:00

Pumpkins by me & Kate.

99 problems, but a stitch ain't one.

2007-10-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

Just in case anyone ever reads this that doesn't know me personally, I guess I should explain that I am a graduate student in my last year of a social work program. So lately, my average week generally amounts to this: 16 hours in field + 9 hours in class + 8 hours doing research for my graduate assistantship + about 10 hours of my part time job + schoolwork...well you get the point. It's easy to burn out fast. And that's precisely how I've been feeling lately. So Rhinebeck came at juuuuussst the right time for me. It's a little ridiculous how much it did for the benefit of my mental state.

This is me & ms. meg with ridiculous grins on. We are smiling that hard cuz we did TWO days of Rhinebeck. TWO GLORIOUS DAYS!!

The first day we met up with h-bomb & greely which both made for excellent knitting geeky buddies. There were also fantastic animals to ooh & awe over. Meg & I were talking about sharing custody of an angora rabbit. But really, if this social work thing gets old, I could always be an Alpaca herder.

There were tons of people spinning incredible yarns. I definitely want to learn how to spin & maybe this will be the year to learn. There is a woman in my neighborhood that has agreed to teach me & I can't wait.

There was delicious food and of course, there was tent upon tent full of amazing yarn. Meg and I made it our business to spend the first day indulging in every color and fiber we could touch. I got some fantastic colors in socks that rock yarn.And, because I am all about knitting socks these days, I also got some super soft merino sock yarn from Ancient Threads. I can't wait to knit with it.

And after much searching, I also got a sweater's worth of this beautiful green yarn from Brooks Farm in order to make this version of the wicked cardigan that I am in love with.

I got more yarn then that, but I just photographed a few of the highlights. I also got some gorgeous brown alpaca yarn that I'm going to use to make the Tangled Yoke cardigan, some more purple merino yarn, some purple wool that I've started using for the minimalist cardigan, and some Classic Al yarn that I'm not sure what I'm going to do with yet.

In short, I am in yarn heaven. And just in time too, because the weather's getting cold & I've just finished a pair of socks:
Name: I'm calling these my "Watermelon socks", because if another person asks me if I'm knitting Christmas socks, I might poke them with my DPNs.
Pattern: Charade Socks
Yarn: Cranberry Bog from ThankEwe. The yarn is super comfy to wear & her prices were very reasonable. I highly recommend it.

With all this new yarn, I should have more posts coming soon.

Street Art Kids

2007-09-23T20:23:00.000-07:00

I am so impressed with myself that I've kept up with these "Street art Sundays" posts. Sure a month of Sundays isn't really that long to commit to posting, but it's still big considering how busy life feels for me lately. I wish I had more stuff to show from other places, but I guess your own neighborhood is always a good place to start.

I like to think of this piece as "the girl that lives next door". She's on the Free School & I really love her.

I also forgot to mention in my earlier post that I've been working on doing some pieces for an art show in Portland, OR. The work is all supposed to be on records. I don't know too much about it, but Milez encouraged me to participate. So far I've made this one...

I'm not totally happy with it & will probably try to re-spray it. I'd also like to put my knitting stencil & my frida stencils onto records too. It's exciting to be working on stuff for a show. Who knows if it'll actually get in or not, but I figure rejection feels safer from the other side of the country.

finished knits

2007-09-23T20:01:00.001-07:00

Would you believe I actually have TWO finished knitting projects to show?

These are my finished "Monkey" socks, done in Knitpicks Essential Yarn in "Peacock Multi". I really love the way Cookie writes patterns. For some reason these are a little bit snug getting on, but I'm not exactly sure why. I also think these would have looked nice in a solid, but slightly variegated, yarn in order to show case the pattern better. Maybe I'll do them again, but probably not for a while because there are so many other things I want to knit right now.

I didn't use all of this yarn either. I still have the better part of a skein left. I have no idea what I'll do with it.

I also whipped this up last week...

It's the foliage hat from the new knitty. I used some merino yarn that I bought at Rhinebeck last year. I finished it really quickly, but then decided it was too long & ripped it back a bit. I hadn't accounted for the difference from me using slightly bigger needles.
This was a quick & fun knit & I'm really happy with the end result. Since this is actually a birthday gift for a friend, I'll probably knit another one of these up for myself too.

SAS-Take 3

2007-09-16T17:46:00.001-07:00

much ado about WIPS

2007-09-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

I've already got one monkey sock done & the other well on it's way. It's such an easy & fun pattern.

After a bit of help from Ms. HBK, my backyard leaves scarf is also progressing, but much much slower. The chart is not very intuitive or easy to memorize. And right now, the project doesn't even look like much. I'm hoping it turns out very nice though, as it's supposed to be a birthday gift.

I also juuust cast on for the fiery bolero last night. I'm doing it as something to throw over my shoulders for an October wedding. I've made a considerable amount of shrug-like projects in my short time as a knitter. I've decided recently that's because I'm not much for shawls- they just don't really appeal to me.

Ravelry is facilitating an out of control queue for projects to knit.

Despite having 3 projects on the needles, I've also been wanting to do other art things. There are stencil projects I'd like to clean up, sewing I'd like to do, new mediums I'd like to explore. I've also been aching for a museum visit. I'd like to go back to the Mass MOCA, but I'd also like to just go up the block to the Albany museum with some paper & colored pencils and get lost for a few hours.

Art is a huge comfort for me. I want to do it when I'm feeling lonely- it's like having company in my own head. But I also like doing it as a means for socialization. Speaking of which I made it to, not one, but TWO knitting groups this week, as well as a brief knitting breakfast with Ms. Megs. I also have a craftin' date on Sunday with my roommate. I have to get these things in now before the semester gets too busy.

More S.A.S.

2007-09-09T20:45:00.001-07:00

As much as I love large murals, I also really appreciate little bits of art that you find in unexpected places. This bird is from my block & I always love walking by it.

On a roll

2007-09-07T14:11:00.001-07:00

I've got the knitting itch again. I mean the kind where the second you finish a project you are eager to have another one in your hands again. I recently finished these:

Pattern: Roza's Socks, from Interweave Knits Spring 2007
Needles: Size 2dpns
Yarn: Rowan 4ply Cotton in "Ripple"

They were really fast & a straight forward knit. I wasn't crazy about them at first, but they've quickly grown on me. I think they are simple & elegant.

I've already started some Monkey Socks with new yarn I ordered from Knit Picks. I loved Cookie's "Hedera" pattern so I'm hoping these will be just as enjoyable.
I also started the "Backyard Leaves" scarf from Scarf Style. I'm already confused by the chart though. I think I'm going to need some feedback from my other crafty friends on this one.
This will be for a friends birthday. It's been quite a while since I've knit for other folks. But the nice part is that I'm also using up yarn from the stash leftover from my bonsai tunic. Sweeeet.

PS- I also have the library itch lately. I love the library. I'm all about taking out knitting books & books on CD (to knit to!)

Street Art Sundays

2007-09-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

I love street art. It's inspiring and surprising. I love finding it in unexpected places or at times when I'm not even looking.

I've decided to do a little "series", if you will, on the blog. One piece of street art every sunday. My goal is to do it for at least all of September. I figure it will get me exploring my new neighborhood in an interesting way.

This one is from my street...

Going Green

2007-08-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

It must seem as though I've abandoned this blog. But I like to think of it as just a long sabbatical. A lot has happened in my life. For one thing, I moved. This is exciting because now I've got my own craft room! It's a little porch that gets a lot of sunlight. Consider these the "before" shots because I plan to paint it & spruce it up a lot.

It's not much, but having any sort of space for my art is really exciting. I was also away in Africa for about 3 weeks which was an all around life changing experience. You can see my pictures from that trip on my flickr account. But for the trip I splurged on a new digital camera which should mean nicer photos on this blog too. For example...
I love this camera & it's made me want to play with photography more again.

In all of this busylifestuff, I had also taken a knitting sabbatical of about 2 months! TWO MONTHS!!! But, of course, once I picked it up again about a week ago I was instantly addicted again. I finished the Bonsai Tunic from Spring 2007 Interweave.
I used Karabella Yarn in Aurora "Green Leaf". It's a much heavier yarn then the pattern calls for, but it's what I had in the stash. Now it'll be a suitable layer for winter too. But I loved knitting this & I love the way it looks on. Our new kitty, Rosca, approves.
I've also become quickly addicted to Ravelry. It's like a way to fine tune your knitting addiction.

Anyway, now that things have settled down a bit, I hope to get this blog back in gear with tons of inspiration.

Lil bun

2007-05-26T21:20:00.001-07:00

Two views of the same cute lil bun. I made this for a friend of mine who had a baby using the free download from wee wonderfuls.

I always love making dolls, but I never want to give them away. This is problematic, them being gifts and all. I'll have to make some dolls just for me.

This project also made me want to experiment with embroidery more. (You know, cuz I need another craft obsession) But I see a lot of potential for stencils with some embroidery accents.

A variety to share

2007-05-23T20:05:00.001-07:00

I came across this post the other day which really spoke to a lot of my thoughts and feelings about owning the label "artist". It's way easier to say I'm a social worker, or at maximum for me to say "I used to be an art major". But it's something that I'm working on, because I really can not imagine my life with out art, so I should not be insecure about asserting it's prominence in my life.

In my quest to own being an artist, it's been vital to surround myself with people who nurture my artistic endeavors. Miles is definitely one of those people. I love when he comes to stay with me and we can bounce ideas off of each other & motivate each other. He finally lit a fire under my ass to finish some stencils that I've had laying around the house for, no joke, a year.

"Knitting is Love"
I am not completely satisfied with this piece yet. I think it still needs some fine tuning. But I had to share it because I loved the concept of it so much. It's from an original sketch I did.

I'm pretty happy with this giraffe too. It just needs a better spray. I'm envisioning it on skirts in the future I think.

"Frida"
This is the piece I've had laying around my house for a year. Or more accurately, two homes, since I've trudged it along. I've had it about 85% done for the majority of that time and then I just got sick of looking at it & decided it was going to come out bad anyway (hello self deprecation). It drove Miles nuts. So he finished the last bit, and voila! It's gorgeous!! What the hell was my problem? Now I think it will stand as a reminder for me of how much I hold myself back artistically because I can't own my talents.

I think those are the first stencils projects I've shared on this blog. I haven't been doing too many lately. But after spraying these, I've been re-inspired.

I also realized that I never posted about this fantastic shirt I refashioned. I got it from a dear friend at a clothing swap. It's just a plain ol' striped shirt that I was going to cut into strips & make fabric yarn out of.

(I can't believe I actually remembered to take a before picture)
This is what it became instead...

This is a not-so-great photo of what it is now. I really love it and these photos don't do it justice. I used the sleeves to make pockets too, because I am a firm believer that everything should have pockets.

Last, but not least, a new knitting project! I've been so bogged down with school, my internship, and doing fundraising so I can study abroad this summer that I've had zero time for knitting. Most of my crafting has been sewing, and only things that I think folks will buy. It's nice to be doing something more frivolous.
This little green thing has aspirations to one day become the bonsai tunic from Interweave. The yarn I'm using is a super soft wool blend, which isn't necessarily the ideal for a spring project. But it's what I have in the stash & I'm broke, so whatevs.

Geez, stenciling, sewing and knitting projects to show! I'm practically a Renaissance woman!

A lot in progress.

2007-05-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

I've been waaaaay lax on the updates lately. That's mostly because I've had way more things in progress than I can keep up on!

In the knitting department....
Finished Jaywalkers!!! For those who are observant (or not completely blind) you might notice that the toes do not match in color. That's because, in true knittydigital fashion, I ran out of yarn. Not just any yarn. Yarn from my beloved, but now closed, local yarn shop. Yarn that is no longer being produced in this color variation. So what you see above was my attempt to substitute similar colors using Rowan 4ply cotton. Not the greatest, I know. But I don't care. I love them anyway.

Things have been quiet on the knitting front since the jaywalkers because I have been sewing like a MAD woman. I have been making various crafts & selling them to raise money to study abroad in Africa this summer. So far, I've tabled twice & these pictures are just a teeny portion of my first sale.

Tote bags,

Check book covers..

& fabric bracelets.

I've also been making small fabric pencil case/makeup type bags too. My sewing has really greatly improved. I learned how to put the zipper foot into my sewing machine & the iron has been used more than...well, ever. I'm making a whole big batch of more stuff for a fundraiser this week too, so hopefully I'll have even more pictures to share.

Putting myself out(side) & out(there)

2007-03-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

I finished my Hedera socks! I love them so much that I braved the freezing temperatures to get some half decent photos of them..

Yarn: Rowan 4ply cotton in "Bloom"
Needles: size 1 bamboo dpns
Knit time: about two weeks. Once I got the pattern down, the second sock was a breeze.

I loved that these were a stashbuster too! Although I still have one ball left, I'm thinking it will go into making some striped socks at some point. I also love that these are cotton so I can put them in the wash. I have much respect for you fancy-hand-wash-yarn sock knitters. But I am not the one. That's too much maintenance for me.

In keeping with my recent sock kick (ha! get it?), the minute I finished this pair I felt a great sense of loss. So, I cast on some Jaywalkers.

Also, I'm thinking about participating in a "Craft Derby" this weekend. I really want to start putting some of my original work out there. I'm also needing to raise money big time for this summer. So I'm trying to spray some stencils (new & old) and do some sewing. But I'm also trying to be realistic about what I can get done in 3 days while still allotting time for school, sleep and eating. ::Sigh:: If only I could do nothing but craft.

And speaking of me trying to put my stuff out there, I realized today that on the 24th of this month, this blog is officially a year old. That's crazy. Time flies when you're having fun! Looking back at my entries though, I've mostly just shared things I've knit that were other people's patterns. And while I enjoy doing that, I think I have more in my repertoire to share. I've made a mental note to work on that.

sew what

2007-02-26T16:49:00.000-08:00

I ran into my former sewing instructor this weekend, and when she asked me the inevitable "have you been sewing anything?" question, I hung my head in shame and mumbled something about my whole ridiculous pile of intended projects. It inspired me to get my butt in gear & do some of the small projects that have been on my "to do" list.

This long tubular thingy is a plastic grocery bag dispenser ala Dioramarama....

It's so simple, but genius. I made it with this vintage fabric that I scored in New Paltz. In hindsight, maybe that wasn't the best idea since I intend on making a skirt out of it too. And it's maybe a little weird to have a skirt that matches your grocery bag dispenser, but whatevs.

I also made this draft-keeper-outer (which I'm sure has a much more official name) for my friend Doc. It was just the perfect project to use the sock monkey faces on.

I also finished knitting one of my socks, which I will not bore you with. It's a bit anti-climactic to show one finished sock when you still have a whole other one to make.

be still my heart.

2007-02-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

Sorry to be cliche, but a knitted sock in progress always looks best next to a purring kitty. And since I don't have one at home, I had to take this opportunity.

You can see how impressed Snagglepuss is with my Hedera.

I also finally got around to getting a snapshot of this beauty...

I acquired it a few months ago & I'm still in the process of cleaning it. (Just taking it out of my trunk took me a good two weeks) My brother found it for me in a garage full of things to be disposed of at my grandparents house which was up for sale. It was my grandmothers.

I have no memories of my grandmother as a crafter but my aunts show me pictures of them in dresses she had sewn. I have no idea how the mechanics of it work but I'm not even sure I'll ever actually use it. I just think it's magnificent to look at & it holds some magical quality for me. I imagine it holds some of my grandmother's secrets.

the hits just keep on coming

2007-02-17T14:26:00.000-08:00

When I said I was using my snow days to do knitting, I was NOT messin' around. I finished another stashbuster by way of knitting "Matador" from Knitscene, Fall 2006 issue.
This should have been a reallllly quick knit, except I took it apart one and a half times before deciding I wasn't just crazy & the pattern was missing something. So if you are thinking of knitting it, may I strongly suggest you check the corrections?

I used a vintage button for the closure that I got from Year of the Goat. I wish my digital camera didn't suck so bad so I could show you all how beautiful this button is.
Right after the seams were sewn in, I cast on a pair of Hedera socks from Knitty that I am lovin'. I'm using up some of the left over yarn from my Orangina. They've grown a great deal since this blurry attempt at a photo.

At present, I've already turned the heel on the first sock. I really did not ever expect to become a sock knitter, but after making my first pair I discovered that I loved wearing them soo much, it was starting to get unhealthy to wear them as much as I wanted to. I blame my friend Heather for starting this addiction. And now I find myself mulling over several sock patterns.

I have a lot of other things on my mind & in the works, so I expect to be having more of these regular updates in the near future.

Snowy day is a crafty day

2007-02-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

It's a snowy day here in Albany & I am loving it up! No school plus I find myself being snowed in with some of my favorite people- being Abdulla, Doc & Milez. Of course, hilarity and crafting ensued. And I have another finished project to share!

This is my version of the "Dogwood Donna" pattern from Knitscene Spring 2007. I love love love it! I think it's got a vintagey(?) feel to it. As I think I already mentioned, I only wish I had made it a bit longer, but oh well.

(Excuse the blurry picture by the way. The bathroom was the best lighting I could get.) This was a pretty quick knit. I'm not sure exactly how long it took me because I just worked on it here & there in classes, but no more than two weeks at that pace.

The back is without a doubt my favorite part of this sweater. The finishing required a little bit of crocheting and it has been a long time since I've picked up my hooks.

I'm also going to gush about the color for a minute here, which is pretty damn accurate in these photos. I LOVE this yarn. I scored it at the Rhinebeck sheep & wool festival with intentions for a different project. I still have a bunch of it left to make something else too.

And last, but certainly not least is this piece of amazingness...

My friend Milez made it for Abdulla & I for Valentine's Day. It's pretty much the best gift ever (aside from the gift of being snowed in with both Milez & Dulla). Just about anyone who knows me knows how much I love trees & images of trees. And Milez is one of my favorite artists.

I'm a lucky gal.

Slow on the uptake

2007-02-09T21:44:00.000-08:00

So remember these socks that I started in November? Yeah, I know. Not so much. Well, anyway, I finally finished them!! Ummm..about a month ago (there hasn't been much blogging time in my world).But weeeeee!!! First pair of finished socks!!

And then there is this work in progress that I planned to show you all about two weeks ago...

...but now I'm pretty much done with it. Just gotta sew on a button & take some pictures. Hopefully it won't take me a whole month to post the finished product. But it's way cute (although a little shorter than I'd prefer) and I didn't put that big ol' flower on it cuz that's just not how I roll.

The Art of New Orleans

2007-02-09T13:51:00.000-08:00

Ever since my friend Max moved to Cali, he's been posting awsome tidbits on the happenings around his way-the hip hop, the food, the events. But I think I appreciate the posts of random graffiti he finds the most. I just love graffiti. And I love getting to know a new city by checking out what it's street artists have to say. So I decided to share some of what I came across when I was in New Orleans last month.

This is the shoe of one of the cats from ACORN. He thought I was crazy for taking a picture, but I just thought it was awesome.

There was pretty good representation going down on the trains that were nearby the place we were staying. Unfortunately we mostly saw them at night though, so I don't have many pictures of that.

The factory across the street from the one we called "home" for the week.

Bathroom of the coffee shop we would frequent. It made my heart swell up to see this a bit. I don't know; there's just something so child-like and honest about it.

This was posted on a board in the Bywater section & I thought it was interesting for two reasons. One-the only other stencils I saw were in the Bywater neighborhood & they said things like "U.S. out of the Bywater." Second-everyone we spoke with hated Nagin at this stage of the game. From what we were told he sold the people down the river & has instead used his re-election to focus on corporate interests. You know, that old dumb rationale that "what's good for the economy is good for the people."

These pieces were in the St. Bernard Parish. They were especially poignant because right now, like many other neighborhoods in New Orleans, people are fighting for the right to return to their own homes. Over 5,000 units of public housing are due to be demolished despite the fact that many of them are repairable & so many people are still displaced.

This one in particular shows the St. Bernard projects, where families are just now starting to be allowed into their apartments to salvage some of their belongings. After the evacuation, large barb-wired fences were put up around the entire complex & families were not allowed to return. On MLK day, hundreds of people occupied the complex & protested for their right to return.

There really wasn't half as much graffiti as I was hoping for. The people of New Orleans have a lot to say and it's mostly being ignored. My mind was racing the whole time I was there with visions of how their emotions could be expressed visually. But mostly every where you went the only spray paint you came across was grimly reminding you of the search parties that came way too late.

Regardless of whether or not they were currently occupied, just about every home & building had these X's sprayed on them. A reminder of the date a crew finally got around to their home. Or TFW for "toxic flood water." Or 2 bodies found. Or dates almost a month & a half after the storm, where animals were found DOA (Dead On Arrival).And pleas. Soo many pleas just saying, "we are coming back," "this is still our home," or "we will rebuild." And I guess, in some ways, that was their graffiti. Their decleration of a community worth fighting for. No fancy colors needed.

Hello, stranger.

2006-12-28T11:18:00.000-08:00

My my, it's been a long time. My first semester of grad school took up a whole lot of my time. Oh, I still crafted. But there was no time for a proper blogging about it.

I finished my 6 week sewing class. The projects I have to show for it seem kind of plain and minimal in comparison to all of the things I learned. I learned some great hand sewing techniques, which actually greatly improves my enjoyment of the task. (If I can manage to take better pictures, I'll share the techniques I learned for those interested) I learned a great deal about my machine & a whole lot about the magic & importance of prep work in sewing.

Our first project was a pillow & pillow cover. Simple, but enjoyable.

Then we did a lined tote bag. The end result is pretty nice actually, but I wasn't a fan of the project. It was a lot of work to get it to fit properly & I'm not enough of a fan of bags to justify that kind of work. But I must say, I still learned a lot & have a great appreciation for those that do make bags so well.

Our last project was a wrap skirt. And thanks to my fabric purchasing, I learned about the skill of making the most of a piece of fabric when you've bought juuuuuussst enough (but barely). It's a little big, but I love it anyway. And as silly as it sounds, my favorite thing about it is that it has pockets. I think everything should have pockets.

Note: you'll have to excuse my picture taking. You should know that I don't even own a full-length mirror. Thus, photos like this need to be taken in the laundry room of my building in quick spurts so as not to appear like a crazed ego maniac to the other tenents.

This is a better shot of the colors though...

...with my new boots, which by the way..ahem, also have pockets.

Of course there was also holiday crafting to be done. I started making fabric ornaments like the ones my mom made for our tree when I was a kid. I always liked those best. But for reasons I won't go into now, I didn't end up giving them to anyone this year. So instead they are going into the fund of christmas crafts for next year.

But I did make myself some fabulous soft trees for my apartment, using the pattern by Little Birds. I love everything this woman makes. They are so simple, but beautiful & gratifying.

I also knit my brother a cabled hat around thanksgiving, as modeled below by my nephew. It's the "Basic Cable" hat from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation. You can't even really see it very well in the photo, but seriously..with a face this cute, who cares about a damn hat?!

knit this.

2006-11-10T11:21:00.000-08:00

Some log cabin knitting (which seems to be all the rage these days):

It's quick & fun & is using up spare bits from a baby blanket.

A second attempt at making socks....using yarn I got at Rhinebeck.

And speaking of Rhinebeck, here's a blurry picture of some of my spoils.

Oh the things I shall knit!

I also started my sewing class. I was pretty darn sure of myself thinking I wouldn't really be learning anything at first since I've managed to make a thing or two on my sewing machine already. Turns out I wasn't threading it properly! Well, that explains why my bobbins weren't filling tightly.

I'm also learning how to do some cleaner techniques & finishing as well as the importance of doing the prep work (a lesson I so desperately need to learn). We're only making the insert to a pillow right now, so I don't have much in the way of photos to share. But needless to say, I'm still very excited about the possibilities this class has to offer.

An alarm keeps going off in my head that says I better start thinking about holiday gifts ASAP, but umm..I'm hitting the snooze button.

first cables!

2006-10-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

I just finished this cable knit sweater & I absolutely love it. So excuse me while I gush about it a little bit.

Pattern: a modified version of Platinum, from Knit Scene Fall 2006
Yarn: Karabella Aurora 8 in Rust color (just a little over 6 skeins)
Knit time: Done in about a week and a half (and during midterm week no less!)

I just loved knitting this! It was my first time knitting cables. I was rather intimidated by cables. I'm always intimidated by the idea of something & then find in actuality it's really manageable, & cables were no exception.

There are some imperfections on one side of my cabling, but I kept them in there cuz I loved the imperfections too. Plus, there is definitly one specific cable that commemorates my attempt to cable while watching an amazing CSI:Las Vegas episode directed by Tarantino. Geeky? yes, yes it is.

I also absolutely love this yarn. In case there was any impression otherwise, let me declare that I am no yarn snob. I picked it up because I loved the color, it was super soft, and on sale for $3 a skein. I had never even heard of Karabella yarn until Heather identified it for me. And now that I am so smitten with it, I discover that it usually retails for $8.50 for a 98yd skein! Yikes!! I don't know about you, but that's expensive for me. Now I shall be scouring sale bins with direct purpose.

It's really nice to feel good about the things you make. And I think I'm a bit addicted to recreating that feeling as well.

oh me oh my

2006-10-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

Sooo, Rhineback sheep & wool festival was fantastic. It truly was an indulging of the senses. I got to go with two of my loves, Heather & Meaghan. We haven't hung out all together in almost 2 and a half years. So, that in it's self was a treat. But oh wait, my friends...there is more.

Like gorgeous foliage because the hudson valley was in it's prime..
And magnificent yarn that I was allowed, no encouraged, to fondle. (Yeah, I'm still bitter over that Italy experience) It was just tents and tents full of colorful yarns in varying textures..

and there were adorable angora bunnies, leading me to add "start a llama & angora bunny farm" on my to-do list...

and cutsey sheep...

and lots o llamas!

Oh, but it was so much more than that! It was delicious food! (Lamb ravioli, who knew?) And beautiful spinning wheels, and hundreds of people who make crafting & fiber arts a vital part of their lives, and cute fat headed babies wearing hand knits, and recognizing peoples sewing & knitting before realizing that I was looking at people whose blog I read. Ugh, it was just so damn good.

For the most part, I only allowed myself to buy yarn that I had specific projects in the near future for. I'm making that my stash goal. But I indulged in a tiny bit more than that too. I got some very soft and luxurious alpaca to knit myself a peak cap. And some sock yarn, because I'm determined to learn how to knit socks. And I got some merino wool in an amazing turqoise color to make myself the hot lava cardigan. I also got my self some rasberry colored merino, that I have no idea what i'm going to do with, but needed anyway. I was hoping to take some photos of all of this yarny goodness, but alas..I am back to my regularly scheduled program of interning & classes & not seeing very much daylight.

Besides living it up in Rhineback, I also taught myself how to cable knit one sleepless night.

It's a little wonky on the bottom left side. I figured out what I was doing wrong though. Maybe I should've gone back to fix it, but I wanted to keep it as a signature or something. Who knows, maybe it's just the novelty of accomplishing it & as I get better at it this sweater is going to annoy the hell out of me. But I'm willing to take that chance.

The final product from the pattern I am using it actually intended to look like this, but am extending the length. The color of my yarn is actually a rusty orange brown too. I'm just loving it. After only a little over a week I'm about 85% done & I can't wait till it's finished.

I'm also EXTREMELY excited about the 6-week sewing class I signed up for. It starts in the beginning of November. And I have a feeling you are going to see more from me in the way of sewing.

notions

2006-10-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

These photos are rather blurry, but you get the general ideas. I'm starting to think it's a combination of a sucky digital camera & poor natural lighting in my apartment.
I finished the Ruby pattern pretty quickly. Then I tried it on and realized even quicker that I'm going to have to frog & redo the front. Even though this is a layered piece, it emphasizes my boobs waaaaayyy too much. I didn't think it would so much. It's just not my style.
I finally finally FINALLY finished the Pinwheel Baby Blanket. It feels like I've been working on it for a life time. It was a boring knit. In hindsight I would have used a yarn with variated color to make it more interesting. I didn't realize until I uploaded this photo that it has a stripe around it from when I used a skein from another dye lot. And all and all I'm just not all that crazy about it. I liked the idea of a round baby blanket, but now I just kinda feel like the baby is gonna be wrapped up like a burrito in it. But you know what? What's done is done. (Um, excuse the crankiness, people. It's midterm season.)
This little fella makes me feel more at ease with sending a baby blanket I'm not crazy about. Cuz the zebra is the other part of the gift and I just LOVE him. In fact, I'm having a bit of a tough time with the idea of parting with him.
Quick knit, stash buster, and a cute smile to boot! Made from Fiona McTague's Knitted Toys.
I think I need to make more toys in my crafting.

urban romance

2006-09-22T22:13:00.000-07:00

I suspect that if you are reading this blog, you probably know me already. But, in the off chance you don't, I'll tell you something about me...

I have a deep deep love for street art. It's a serious romance. And I pretty much look for it wherever I go. Some of the best pieces are the ones that find you though.

This is a random little something I found in Italy & liked a whole lot for no particular reason. I think it might have been in Florence. It sounds strange but things like this renew me, especially when I start to feel weighted down by a city.
I saw a ton of other amazing graffitti when I was in Italy this summer. I didn't really get pictures of it though because I usually found the best stuff when I was on a moving train or speeding boat.

When I was in New Paltz this past weekend, I was standing around waiting & looked up to see a post-it note on the remains of a phone booth. It said something to the effect of.."It's perfectly okay to be lonely." It was definitly one of those things that finds you.

a resurfacing

2006-09-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

Don't believe the rumors. I have not been swept up into the bermuda triangle. Nor have I run away with the circus. I'm not ruling out these opportunities to disappear, but maybe I'll hold off till spring at least. No, folks..I've just been....without internet. (insert collective gasp here)

Despite the lack of communication, classes & sifting through a sea of boxes, I have managed to craft. I even finally finished Diamonique!!! Albeit with some mistakes here & there. The most annoying of which is the front armholes. As was instructed for the back, I was supposed to knit on both the "wrong" & "right" sides so the armhole didn't curl & I neglected to do that. I'm the type of gal who needs to be reminded of such things once I get to a new section. Anyway, I had to go back & pick up stitches to do some minor ribbing. I'm hoping it won't stick out so much once I've layered clothing underneath it.
Now I'm working on the Saunshine pattern that came with the Diamonique pattern. I didn't initially have intentions of making it, but decided to in the interest of using some of my yarn stash. However, the problem with my stash is that I don't have enough of any type of yarn to complete a project. It's just a large assortment of one or two skeins of random things. So sometimes I end up collecting more yarn to be able to finish "stash busting" projects. It makes no kind of sense, I know. But I don't really want to have a stash! I really need to get in gear & have a craft swap.

Aside from that, I'm still working on a baby blanket which continues to be the bane of my existence. I also knit a stuffed zebra that I'm quite proud of, but I'll post pictures when I get around to giving her eyes. It will be soon though. For real, it will! Baby shower is next weekend so it's gotta be done.

I also recently attended the NYC Knit Out & Crochet. I had a great time, but the event itself was kinda...ehh. I think it always sits so warmly in my mind since it's an excuse to hang out with one of my close friends from college. Sitting on a park bench in NYC, knitting & catching up with Meg= awesome. Large yarn companies trying to give me advertisements for their overpriced yarns & books= eh..not so much. Plus, there's always the risk of getting trampled by a stampede of aggressive old ladies when they are giving out free stuff at a booth. But I must say, I did also see some cool stuff & learned intarsia knitting.

On another note, I took this random shot on the way out to school the other day because I realized I hade made most of what I was wearing. And I don't think I can really describe how amazing that feels. I knit that top, made that skirt out of a pair of old jeans, and sewed pieces of one of my favorite shirts to that canvas bag. Yay me!

also..

2006-08-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

I got this delicious handspun yarn, made from recycled silk scarves, at YOTG. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it just yet, but I'm in love with it all the same.

welcome back

2006-08-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

My goodness. It's been over a month since I've posted!Life has just been busy busy busy. Quiting my job, moving, starting graduate school, going to Italy. I feel lucky to have snuck in any crafting at all!

Italy was beautiful & there's a lot to be observed in the way of fashion, crafting & trends. I could usually pick out who was American by their shoes & accesories alone. Sick, I know. There were countless gorgeous knitted pieces in the new fall lines in the windows. Mostly, knitted dresses.

I was overjoyed to find a yarn shop in Florence, only to be instructed by the owner, "it is very important not to touch the yarns". What?!? Don't touch the yarn?! Surely, I had to have heard her wrong. Maybe it was a language barrier. But no, she was speaking in english & there was no mistaking the scowl on her face as she eyed the skein I had just picked up.

That's like inviting kids into Willy Wonka's chocolate factory & then telling them they can't taste the candies! I just don't get it. And I left the shop flustered, dissapointed, and yarn-less.

Anyway-I did a lot of knitting on my diamonique. In fact, I'm almost done! But in true knitty digital fashion, I ran out of yarn. Go figure. But now I have a good excuse to go back & visit Year of the Goat. My favorite yarn shop. Where they let me touch the yarn! (Okay, I promise I'll stop harping now)

I managed to do a few other minor crafty things before packing all my stuff up in boxes. My favorite of which was making shorts out of these oh-so-unflattering long capris to your left. I used to love these, though after trying them on again I had a hard time remembering why.

A little snip here, and some added fabric in the waist, and they were liberated into comfy long shorts (to the right) that have again become my favorite thing to wear. Now that I can breathe in them, I can appreciate how comfortable the fabric is as well.

I also finally found my halo fauna patch while packing, and used it to cover a hole in a shirt. Simple alteration, yet very effective in making the shirt wearable again.

I was also doing silly little things. Like gluing pins onto big buttons to make..well, a button I guess.

Even the smallest of "crafts" or alterations keeps me sane.

Seasons change

2006-07-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

Despite all of my stress lately, I suppose my disposition has improved more than I've been willing to give myself credit for. I came to that realization after flipping through my journal quickly. Here's a collage I did sometime in February....
And here's one I did earlier this month...
Ahh, expressive arts.

sew what

2006-07-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

My life has been devoid of knitting lately. It's not even the sweltering heat that's kept me from it either. I've just been too busy & stressed. But I'm making a date with my knitting needles this weekend, and that's for sure.

This evening, I did make a little time for some sewing though. Right now it's all just reconstruction work, which I think makes pretty good practice since I'm such a newbie at it. I feel a bit impatient though. I want to be making things from scratch. Simultaneously, I really appreciate being able to utilize garments at hand that would otherwise go unworn.

I made these denim capris from old jeans I had lying around from heavier times. I really like them EXCEPT that the crotch bugs me. It's too long & baggy. Unfortunately, I don't know enough tricks of the trade to fix that just yet. Luckily for me, long tops are in so I can cover the long crotch.
This is (obviously) a skirt from old jeans too. I really love how this turned out.
And last, but not least, I reconstructed this vintage skirt I thrifted. The picture doesn't really do it justice at all. But I lovelovelove this skirt. Luckily, the blunders from the last skirt I made, taught me how to enlarge this one. It's got this spanish style to it, but the pattern on the fabric seems more nordic to me. Makes me feel like a fancy lady. And in fall, I'll throw some tights on under it, and it will be perfect.

apples & oranges

2006-06-30T18:35:00.000-07:00

I never feel more complete than when I make certain to incorporate art into my life. I've been doing that more lately, and it feels fantastic. I've also been inspired by a lot of fantastic work by folks I come across on the internet as well, and they inspire me to push my work further & to make it more frequently.

I've always done drawings of some sort for expression. Occasionally I'll make collages or sketches in my written journal when articulating things through words feels too heavy. Recently, I came across this livejournal which reminded me how good it feels doing those types of sketches. These are just two random ones I've done lately...
So I don't really ever drink anymore at all. I've never been into drugs, and I don't even like taking asprin unless I have to. But after taking Vicodin for my wisdom tooth removal...well, it's was just nice to have an excuse to feel so mellow after all the stress I've been under.
I did this the other day. It's just a question I've been asking myself. Maybe I'll color it. Maybe I won't.

And while I've never considered myself particularly fashion savvy, knitting has really allowed me to admit to myself how much I love the "fiber arts" (as Melissa would say). What it comes down to is- I really do love fashion (shhhh...don't tell). I'm getting better at admitting that to myself by learning that fashion doesn't have to be just a rich person's passion.
I've been reading blogs like this one, and dress a day (on top of all the knitting blogs, that is).

Yesterday, I thrifted this amazing skirt. I love the fabric. With my new found confidence after making that skirt with Moira, I bought this even though it's got a 26inch waist (pssshhh, yeah, as if). Luckily, after the last resizing, I know precisely how I'm going to resize this one.

And this (scary) beauty on the left is the dress form with the additions I mentioned in my last post. She freaks people out whenever they walk into the room. Some call her terrifying. I think of her as my watch dog.

I've also been painting, though I have nothing finished to share right now. Miles & I spread the paint supplies all over the living room floor and just play. It's really refreshing to have a friend that I am comfortable enough to paint with & enjoy their company even if we aren't talking at all.

And, of course, there's still knitting going on here & there.

when you're living in the ghetto it's do or die

2006-06-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

So I have been slacking, yet again, on the blogging. But believe me, it's not for a lack of artistic explorations. You see...it's the picture taking that's getting to me. Whatever photography skills I may have once possessed have been allowed to settle in the dust, so to speak. My digital camera's not that great. And last, but not least on the list of excuses, is the lighting. Of course natural lighting is best for picture taking of this sort. Problem is- there's none to be had! It's been rain, rain, rain here. To make a long story short- pardon the crappy pictures folks.

Diamonique has been restarted for the...um...I don't know. I forget how many times I've taken this puppy apart. But somewhere along the way I made the decision to switch yarns. Perhaps it was the color. Or more likely, the comfort in knowing I had enough of that last yarn. I just have to make things difficult for myself; knit on the wild side.

The piece has grown considerably. I have most of the back done. Along the way, while decreasing for armholes and whatnot, the diamond pattern got a little mish-moshed. But I've decided it's just going to be one of those unique quirks that makes this garment a lovable hand-made. (read: I was going to poke my eyes out with the knitting needles if I frogged it again)
I also painted this picture about 2 months ago. The photo does the colors absolutely no justice. The background is a royal purple, and the flowers are gold. Apparantly, I'm in a purple phase. But it's a simple painting based off something or other that I had come across and decided was better to make myself than purchase.
In the world of sewing, I finally got over my anxiety enough to attempt making a garment from scratch. So with much help & guidance from the illustrious Ms.Moira, I made this skirt. I am super super proud of it. I resized it twice and even put a zipper in!

The skirt is also a great accomplishment because it fulfills the goals of my challenge. And the challenge is this- I will probably need professional type clothing to wear to my field placement for graduate school. However, I am pretty damn poor & just added another $18,500 to my current debt. Thus, I am going to attempt to compose a small, modest, professional wardrobe full of things I have either made, or aquired second hand. The Diamonique project is included, as is the black jacket I'm wearing in the above photo ($4 at a yard sale).

I don't know how well it's going to work out. I'm a very novel sewer, but I'm going to try. It's very possible I've just overestimated what is feasible after watching too much "Project Runway", but wish me luck anyway!
Last, but not least, in blogging news- I got myself a dress form! I've been wanting one cuz I think they are cool & have high hopes that I'll one day do so much sewing that owning one will be an absolute necessity. I found her on the side of the road as a tailor was disposing of her. The old gal looks quite good for having been made in 1960. In this photo she is modeling items for sale at my recent yard sale.

Now that she's been in the house for a bit she's really been evolving. She has since aquired more attire, as well as a paper face & a hat that sits properly. My house guests like to debate her name & set her up with the single fellas.

Babies, babies everywhere

2006-06-13T15:02:00.000-07:00

I've sort of been on hiatus. Luckily, I haven't accumulated too many readers just yet, so not that many people have been affected by this knitting drought.

I finally, finally finished Wild Stripes. I am a reluctant sewer so this puppy was completed the morning of the baby shower. I was happy with the finished product & I think the Momma liked it.

The baby Pinwheel blanket is growing, but continues to be the bane of my existance. It's cute, but terribly boring to knit. Also, in hindsight, I wish I would have done it in a varieted yarn or something. But oh well. You live. You learn.

Also, I recently discovered that one of my closest friends from high school is also pregnant. Needless to say, I'll be making her something other than a damn blanket. But this new development leads me to an ultimatum: you people need to stop. Stop having babies! There is only so much baby stuff I am willing or able to knit. So if you are having a baby in the near future, we might have to stop being friends. So consider that before you decide to conceive.

That is all. Carry on.

pinwheel

2006-05-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

Don't be fooled by the calendar. I'm not counting down the days until I finish this; I actually only just started it yesterday. Eventually, it will be a Pinwheel Baby blanket, & it's coming along quickly (and beautifully I might add).

This is actually a picture of me looking longingly at my knitting that I could be doing instead of the paperwork I am drowning in at work. Ho-hum. It's a hard knock life.

Fini!

2006-05-07T14:26:00.000-07:00

So I did it! I finished Orangina (again!).

Ammunition: Rowan, 4 ply cotton yarn in Bloom 132

Weapon: Crystal Palace, Bamboo Circulars, size US3

Battle time: I don't know. This time around? I'm thinking maybe it took me 2 & 1/2 weeks while doing other projects? I'm not sure exactly. But it's done and I love it a lot. Except maybe Ill sew up the sides a bit more? I still feel like it hangs off of my shoulders a little more than I'd like it to.

I have a lot of this yarn left now, which I suppose is something new & different for me since I always seem to be running out of yarn mid project. I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet. Maybe I'll eventually make another one as a gift.

Other exciting things- I made over $50 yesterday tabling at Take Back the Night. I sold two sewn bags that I didn't even really like at all. (I almost felt kind of guilty taking money for something I didn't have pride in.) I also sold, and gave away, a whole bunch of zines AND sold one knitted piece and was asked to do commissioned pieces by two people. It was a little bit of amazing. That money will be put away to go to Mexico and learn spanish. And I'm glad I told people that is what it would be going to, because now I feel I need to uphold the promise I just made to a bunch of folks.

And on a related note, one of the bags that I sold was just a canvas bag that I had thrown a patch on. (Not a lot of work at all on my part) But it was a fantastic take back the night patch made by my very talented friend Milez. Check out some of his work!

progressions

2006-04-25T21:16:00.000-07:00

I've been a busy little bee...and yet I have no pictures of finished goods to show you. How can that be?

While held up in a New Hampshire hotel during two days of rain, I managed to finish knitting the "wild stripes" baby blanket. I also had time to sew in all of the edges & cut off all of those nubby leftover bits. It kind of looks pretty all on it's own, doesn't it?

The required piping & gingham backing has been purchased. Personally, the stripes & the gingham pattern are a little too busy for my tastes. It didn't seem that way in the pictures. I keep wondering if the mother is going to think I am crazy, or think I am trying to hypnotize her or something. Oh well, too late to turn back now.

This project was my first experience in blocking. I doubt I did it the proper way, but it worked which makes it good enough for me. I just kinda sprayed the hell out of it & pinned it down into my carpet with whatever pins I could conjur up. At some point, I need to invest in some non-rust blocking pins.

Blocking is kind of weird. I felt like I was setting up my cute little blankie for dissection. I was having visions of that poor little adorable frog in Ms. Goldstein's science class...

Speaking of frogging..what I ended up actually dissecting was my way-too-large-orangina. Even though I've already started version 2.0, I had been using spare yarn. But I decided it was time to let her rip.

[WARNING: The proceeding images may be too painful for some. Those with heart problems or weak constitutions are not recommended for further scrolling]

Going...
Going...

Going...Gone.

Truth be told, it was actually kind of fun & liberating to take it apart. When I first started knitting (not even a year ago!), I collected the orangina pattern as my "someday" project. I imagined that at some point, maybe years and years from now, I would be skilled enough to knit such a garment. I pictured myself as a sassy old(er) woman wearing this shirt. And here I am just a scant 7 months later with enough confidence & skill to create this shirt, not just once, but twice!! I think that's something to be proud of.

I have more than half of my new one done already. I'm optimistic that I'll be able to complete it in the next two weeks, if not sooner.

In other knitting related news, I received my "Denise Interchangeable Needles" in the mail today! wooha, I am going to be on fire! Mostly this will enable my wandering eye when it comes to knitting projects, which is good because a) there is another baby on the way that I must begin knitting for & I only have about 2 and a half months to do it! (It's a long story why that's so last minute notice) and b) I have just formed a new love for Interweave magazine. My to-do-list has just doubled in size.

Also, my mom got me Mason-Dixon Knitting. I haven't read it all the way through, but I'm really enjoying it thus far. It's got me thinking about breaking out of certain knitting conventions, such as the "preciousness" of everything. So I have a rug in mind & some dish towels planned for some of my cotton stash.

Last, but certainly not least, my partner got me an easel for my birthday! I know what you're thinking-"what the hell does that have to do with knitting?!" My answer is, absolutely nothing. But I plan for this blog to go beyond just knitting & I've been really missing painting in my life.

So the point is- I may not have much in the finished category right now, but keep your eye on me. I'm a gal with big plans.

little ms. fickle

2006-04-14T17:18:00.000-07:00

So I took Diamonique apart...two times. One of which was after I had knitted about 14 inches of it. I can't tell if I'm just a lunatic, or if I just don't care for how this pattern is written. I am willing to accept that it could be both.

After the second deconstruction, I decided to hold off on it for a week or so. One, because I got the yarn I was waiting for & need my #5 needles to finish the baby blanket. And two, because Heather is fantastic & will be sending me more of the yarn for Diamonique so I don't run out mid project (as I so often do these days).

The baby blanket is so close to being done, I can almost taste it! Of course, then there is the sewing...

Also, Orangina v.2.0 is back on the needles. I've decided to make it two sizes smaller than my first. I'm determined to complete this in under a month. My last one I managed to do in that time, so this one should be manageable considering it's smaller.

Hopefully, I'll have photos of finished products to post soon.

Rinse, Wash, Repeat

2006-04-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

Alright, now the baby blanket & the zapatista doll are on the back burner for yarn supply related issues. (I really need to learn to plan those things ahead of time) I don't have it in me to re-start orangina yet, so Diamonique has been put on the needles.

Actually, to be acurate, it's been re-added to the needles. I started it sunday, then took it apart sunday night after I realized a mistake made at the beginning. I was too afraid it would mess with the pattern if I forged ahead. I even checked my guage on this one! That's a first. (I think that means I'm becoming one of those fancy knitters.)

In the interest of stash busting, I'm knitting this pattern in Caron "Super Soft". It's a cheap yarn, but really soft. Besides, my wardrobe is severly lacking in the electric blue department.

In other knitting related news, my mother is getting me Denise Interchangeable needles for my birthday! I will definitly miss knitting with bamboos. However, the biggest benefit of this, as I see it anyway, is being able to snap my needles off the cords and just pop it onto another cord while I put projects on hold. Anyway, my birthday needs to happen quicker for this reason & this reason only.

New Projects

2006-04-01T22:32:00.000-08:00

I got to knit with Heather this evening & I must say it was quite lovely. There's something more enjoyable about knitting with a friend. I was quite happy with the amount of knitting I completed today on my zapatista doll. I'm getting really anxious to get it done because I want to use those needles to get crackin' on my orangina v.2.0.

I don't know what my problem is lately though. I've become a rather restless knitter & four projects in the works seems boring to me.

I know what you're thinking- I need to get out more, right? Well I've thought of that too. And I've also thought about what fabulous knitted pieces I want to be wearing when I go out in this lovely spring weather.

And here's what I've got my eyes on...
.Cleo, which is more of summer wear but might as well get it done in time to be able to wear it.
.The Lelah Top, which to be honest I wouldn't have thought of doing if I had seen how beautiful this version was. Besides, it would be a really good stash buster.
.I am also just a few clicks away from breaking down & buying the jems patterns. I haven't purchased patterns in quite some time, so I think I'm due.

Also, picking up stitches is my least favorite thing to do in knitting; hands down.

plain janes

2006-04-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

So I finished my plain janes! I really liked this pattern. Besides the end product being really cute, I used some of my leftover stash & I learned a few new techniques along the way:
1. This was my first time turning a heel. Easy as pie!
2. I finally tried the technique where you slip the first stitch of each row so your ends come out straighter. Heather is always telling me to do it, but I always forget. (I'm a creature of habit) But I really liked how neat the edges came out, so I'll have to get in the habit of doing that.
3. I learned the "three needle bind off". Crazy Aunt Purl has a really good tutorial for it.

Knowing these techniques will make my zapatista doll a hell of a lot easier. Oh, and I used these duck buttons I've had lying around for quite some time too.
I couldn't get a good picture of them. I'm not sure if it's my camera that sucks, or my photography skills. But hopefully this is something that this blog will inspire me to improve.

Speaking of things that I've had lying around for some time...I'm trying to be good & not buy crafting materials unless I have a specific project in mind for the product. I find cute & beautiful things, and they accumulate in my house. This is why I have an entire drawer full of fabric that I have to find ways to use. Who am I kidding? I have drawers (plural) full of a lot of stuff that I need to start inventing uses for. I got a wake up call on this when I cleaned out my crafting stuff. And my partner keeps yelling at me for stealing all of our bowls, which I place all over the house full to the brim with parts of my yarn stash. Apparantly, these bowls are intended for cooking or some such nonsense.

April & I have had talk of doing a "craft supply swap" in the near future. I think that would be a hell of a good time. Also, there is talk of a garment construction class at Year of the Goat which I am pretty pumped about. (And by the way, if that class sounds like something you'd be down for, let me know or stop by the shop & talk to Melissa)

So much knitting, so little time

2006-03-28T16:39:00.000-08:00

Day two of being back to work, and oh how I miss my vacation. I even got the opportunity to re-organize my crafting stuff. It's not much, but I'm pretty happy with it in my humble abode.

I actually had to do a major dust-off of my sewing machine. Oh, for shame. When I got it about a year and a half ago, I swore I would sew constantly. Truth be told, I'm kind of intimidated by garment construction. But then again, I used to be super intimidated by knitting, so I really just need to dive in.

Speaking of sewing, I am about 2/3 done with the knitting for wild stripes and then it's on to detailing, blocking, and sewing on the back. However, I've sort of put the project on the back burner for now. Partly because I'm just sort of sick of stockinette stitch, but also because I'm going to see about getting more of that yarn I had run out of. Whatever man, the baby isn't due till July. I've got time.

Instead, I've been working on my Zapatista doll. This is her back and one of her legs. Whilst reading ahead on the pattern I am modifying for it, I realized I'm going to have to "turn her heel." Being a relatively new knitter, this is unexplored territory for me. Sometimes I get lost in my own ambitions. I kind of felt as though I should have made socks first or something. But the wild woman in me says that's just silly and people learn steps in a different order. We shall see, I guess. It's always the idea of things that intimidate me, not the actions themselves once I get to them.

Bearing that in mind, I also cast on some maryjane slippers today too. It's not that I need more slippers persay. It's my partner that needs his own slippers, because he's always swiping mine. But I found this pattern before I came across a set for him that I really liked.

And finally...there's the orangina situation. This was my first lace knitting project, and I was really proud of how quickly I completed it. Trouble is, I somehow managed to make it about two sizes too big! I blame this not only on my skewed body image perception, but also on my resistance to being one of those knitters who does practical things- like checking their guage.

I asked for feedback from an on-line knitting community, and the overwhelming response was that I should leave it as is and embrace the off-the-shoulders look. But it was just way too big for that & slipped off entirely too much. I also tried sewing up some of shoulders a bit, which made it stay on more, but I'm still not thrilled with it. So I am again considering starting it over. In fact, I feel certain that's what I want to do. I know that sounds crazy, but I'd rather do it over then do a piss poor patch up job & then never really wear it. It's too beautiful for that!I need a living situation that allows me to pay my way in knitting.

a crafter's dilema

2006-03-25T12:27:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I obsess. I am knitting this baby blanket for a co-worker. The colors aren't entirely accurate in this picture. It's bright & beautiful. (I hate when people overload babies with pastel crap. Kids need color in their lives.)

Trouble is, when I ordered my yarn from knitpicks they were out of the "asparagus" color, so I substituted it for a very similar yarn from my local yarn shop. Problem is, I'm pretty sure I am not going to have enough of this particular yarn to finish the project. The shop is out of this yarn & does not expect to get it in any time soon. Because I choose to purchase locally, it's not a yarn that is available over the internet or at a chain store such as Michaels. I could very well just order the asparagus from knitpicks, because now they have it. But here's the crafters dilema...

Do I start using this new yarn knowing that it will be different from the yarn I've been using thus far? Because that would bug the crap out of me. But as is most often the case, I'm making it for someone who's not a crafter, and would probably not even notice the difference!

But once I gave it to them, I just know that every time it's referenced or shown I will have to point out the discrepency like a forming pimple that I am just sure everyone is staring at. People who don't craft don't have these problems! But me, I lay in bed at night playing this stuff out in my head.

So even though this blanket is a boooring knit, I've been working on it obsessively so I can come to a conclusion about this dilema. Also, I have about 4 other knitting projects that I have lined up for those size needles. (Now that is when you know you are obsessed.)

Happy Spring Knitting

2006-03-24T14:34:00.000-08:00

So my new knitting related obsession is knitted toys, and this little guy was my first experiment.

I made him using scrap yarns in just a few hours, with a pattern from Knitted Toys, by Fiona McTague.

I have several other things on the needles right now, including two blankets and a zapatista doll so hopefully more pictures will be coming soon.

Stepping up

2006-03-24T00:44:00.000-08:00

I've finally decided to start a blog on my exploits in knitting, sewing, painting, and other creative endeavors.

I was/am quite hesitant about it because 1) I by no means consider myself an "expert" in any craft, 2) I don't have a great digital camera, 3) there are sooo many amazing craft blogs out there. I should know, I probably read a good portion of them. so why would anyone wanna read mine? and 4) I don't even have a cute pet to model my creations!

Despite all of that, I've opted to go for it anyway. Hell, even if it's not useful or entertaining to anyone else, it'll help me motivate to do craft stuff all the time. Cuz really, that's when my life makes the most sense.