thrum thrum thrum thrum!!!

These mitts... let's see. They were among the first of the knitting projects I attempted. I believe they got started about this time last year. Or was it two springs ago? Been so long, I can't remember. It was gangbusters for the first one but the second really dragged me down (it was after this that I decided to do knitted pairs simultaneously). In flurry of knitting-resolution and work-procrastination I ploughed through the second one last night and got it done. They aren't the prettiest - especially the rushed one - but it is nice to have them off the needles. Will I ever wear them? Who knows... probably.


Now a question to you knitters. I am looking to try a sweater and I have my heart set on "minimalist cardigan" from the fall 2007 interweave knits. I don't want to screw up with the yarn choice. Many people on Ravelry (oh yeah - I'm on ravelry now but I will probably only use it to check out patterns - so no need to add me as a friend there) used Knitpicks Wool of the Andes... which is very affordable and probably a safe choice... but I'm willing to go a little more luxurious than that I think. So I guess I'm wondering if anyone has a yarn they just adore for sweaters that is worsted weight or a little bit lighter. The stuff they use in the mag is "Lily Park" merino/alpaca. Someone used Cascade 220 and it looks good too.

Tails of 58 Years

When Andy's Grandpa and and Grandma got married (they were both named "Anne" coincedently ( - actually "Ane" and "Anje" )) in 1949, they invested in a set of woolen "tails" and pants. If you've heard of the "sisterhood of the travelling pants" books, this is kind of the male equivalent... the "brotherhood of the travelling tails" perhaps.

The jacket has probably been back and forth across the ocean more times than I have and has been worn for various functions - mainly weddings - for 58 years now. It seems to fit almost everyone who wears it... well... anyone between 5'11 to 6'4" at least. It's last wedding use was for our wedding 4 years ago (see below) and I think it is about time for someone in the family to use it again (hint hint Ruth or Hannah or Emily... just teasing!!).

I was dusting off these photos for the upcoming 50th anniversary of one of the wearer's (the brother of the man in the upper photo) and its such a neat story, I thought I should share...

Above is a preview of another awesome thrifted item from my local Salvation Army ... I was going to save this gem for Halloween but given that the 80s have come back hard and I was going to see "city field" at indie-kid-mecca (Gus' Pub) on Saturday, I decided to just bust it out early. I also wore heels (or rather "pumps") out in public for maybe the third time EVER. I had forgotten how much joy can be derived from wearing out-of-the-ordinary outfits. I felt like a million - it must have been all the sparkles on the sweater ... like diamonds.

And finally, here's a picture of the Turtleneck Shrug (from Scarf Styles) that I finished a couple of weeks ago and have been wearing around town a bit. I do like it but I find when its actually gets cool enough to wear it, my back gets cold - because really, its cold enough to be wearing a full sweater. soooo... maybe not as practicle as I though it would be. I'll have to wear more layers below I guess...

Sock update: both socks have toes and heels now. The heels are a little wonky and I seem to have done things differently on each sock... but I'm not going back... they will just stand as a testiment to first-sockdom... i'll still wear 'em.... but I'll have to get more guidance on the next pair.... and summon up more patience.

cool thrifts

I thought this was a pretty sweet chair to find at my local Sal.Arm. I brought it home, threw on a new seat cover (made from an old bed sheet that was hiding in my fabric bin), put some extra screws in for stability and there it is! A nice addition to my "kitsch-in"!

Pretty much everything in the kitchen (and the rest of the house) is "kitschy". I didn't set out to be this way - it just comes naturally - and cheaply! Sometimes I find it slightly embarassing when people come over... but I genuinely like/appreciate the tacky things I live with.

It came from Denmark... if that means anything to anyone... not to me really... i do like how the sticker looks though...



... And then there were these things. Not sure of their true, intended propose but I have stuck them in with a rather ugly-but-beloved plant that I am nurturing along. It really jazzes up the plant. I should take a picture of it.

I particularly like the fish on wheels and mustaschioed-guy.

just a wee baby stash

This here's my "stash" of yarn... a pretty minor, baby stash compared to some I think. My goal is to keep it fairly small and to try to buy only as I knit. I am already failing at this of course and I can hear many knitters laughing at me right now. Yarn: so addictive.


I almost bought the new Interweave today but decided that since I already have 3 unfinished things on the go, I would hold off. I'm looking for something amazing to do with the italian silk (bottom of picture with tag) and the Mrs. Moe handspun darlin' (just above the silk).

Until inspiration strikes, I think I'm going copy a friends' recent scarf efforts with the yellow cotton stuff (after I finish the other 3 things!! really!!) She assures me this is OK with her. I'm becoming a total copy-knitter though... the thing I'm making right now was something I saw someone wearing the first night I went to KOL (turtleneck scarf). I suppose most knitters are copiers since most follow patterns... but I seem to do my copying real close to home.


Here's a progress report on turtle-neck scarf/shrug business:

I've actually got both sleeves to their full length now and am ready to join them for the neck. It may actually be ready for fall!

Lastly, here's a knitting-related Sal.Army find that most will find tacky but I think cute. It looks real swell beside my Japanese ceramic dogs with the faux fur hair (yeah, that's right, I said Japanese ceramic dogs with faux fur hair - you got a problem with that?!?):

kninspiration (or: new addiction)

So, I didn't know much about Stephanie Pearl-McPhee before Tuesday but she is one funny/cool lady! It was a very enjoyable/ engaging / enlightening / all the good "e" words really...

I think I understand why so many knitters are also bloggers. Its because we are "super-responders"! SPM learned me about the term in her talk - it was in the context of fundraising but I think maybe knitters are also just super-respondery in general... so we like to show and tell and get and give comments. Cyberspace also enlarges the group you have access to. Really, I wouldn't know how to knit without the internet to begin with but it is also the way I found out about KOL... and without KOL, I'd be knittin' alone.

So I just got my first pair of "real" socks (as in, made with actual sock-weight yarn) under way. I cobbled together information from Wendy Johnson's toe-up sock pattern, the Knitty Universal Toe-Up sock pattern, and some site (I forget) that showed how to do a provisional cast-on. I've learned a lot from starting this project and I have to say, I think knitting socks this way is likely to become a new addiction!! Its faster than I thought, the architecture is magical/fascinating, and I know I'll definately wear them!

Here's the "Crazy" (that's what its called) Opal stuff on my kitchen scale. I made two lovely center pull balls... because pre-fondling the yarn is part of the fun for me.


Yep! That's my foot! PLUS my first provisinal cast on, first short rows, for sock yarn, first toe-up EVA!! booyaa!

I like to make things that come in twos at the same time - for fear I'll never make the second. So here's my two toes. I bet your wondering what that space-debris-looking-thing in the background is! I'm just going to leave you guessing.

So, I officially feel like a real part of this "creepy sub-culture" (SPM 2007) now that I have posted a picture of my foot!

Frankly, I'm happy we actually got the full word "culture" in there... some may have stopped at "cult".

helmet bust rant

Above is "ghandy" demonstrating the use of our home-made "skateboard". It was created very spur-of-the-momently with some old office-chair wheels. It was broken shortly after we took this picture; never got on the road.

Last night we went out on our real skateboards and were having a grand ol' time cruising the smooth streets in our neighbourhood. We don't move very fast. We skate at off-peak car times and move off the road when cars come. We don't really know or attempt any tricks... We just like to feel the wind in our hairs and enjoy the feeling/freedom of transporting our bodies in a manner less common to us than the usual ways: walking/biking/car-ing. So when we were approached by the police and told we need to get helmets I was annoyed.

I wasn't annoyed at the cop - he was just doing his job. Also, he was probably amused that the two young "skate-punks" he had come across turned out to an old, nerdy, married couple. He treated us very politely.

I'm also not annoyed by helmets in general. They are great for protecting your head in dangerous situations. I wear one when I snowboard or when I mountain bike on rough terrain or busy roads. If I had the skill to go in a skatepark, I would wear one there.

I am really just bothered by the laws that make you wear a helmet while using any wheeled vehicles at any time.

I understand that it is easiest to make these board, blanket rules because they are easier to enforce but honestly, I really think that an adult person should be allowed to use their discretion in helmet use (and other matters).

If I am taking a leisurely bike-ride around Point Pleasant Park on a hot, sunny day, there is no need for me to be wearing a heavy, sweaty helmet. Similarly, if I am skateboarding casually on an empty side street, I don't need a helmet. Having to be shackled to a helmet in these situations is uncomfortable, excessive, and annoying. I just feel like I should be allowed to make the choice of when/where I need a helmet. The fact that I can't choose and have to lug around a helmet really dampens the fun of going out for a quick bike or skate tour.

Maybe senior citizens who have wheels on their walkers should wear helmets too. Oh! And joggers! No wheels but if they went over on an ankle - by geez, they could crack their skulls! And helmets for winter-joggers should be mandatory - all that ice! Dog-walkers too!

I know all the statistics they use to defend the helmet law but I have made it to age 29 using my own discretion about helmets and I've never contributed to the stats. I feel like I should be allowed to continue in this manner. Honestly, this law is one thing I seriously hold against staying in Nova Scotia. That probably seems extreme but it sticks in my craw!

Rant over.

get your craft on...

Workload permitting, I'm planning on checking this out on thursday night: "spins and needles". (that there in quotes should be a link - otherwise just google it.)

I'm a sucker for a punny name and it seems like an interesting concept. I'll probably be the oldest one there and the least "scene-ster-y" but whateves... hopefully the people there are nice to outsiders.

This post is mainly directed at the people I told about this yesterday. Hope to see you there!

"zeitgeist"

Zeit·geist (tsīt'gīst', zīt'-) n. The spirit of the time; the taste and outlook characteristic of a period or generation: "It's easy to see how a student . . . in the 1940's could imbibe such notions. The Zeitgeist encouraged Philosopher-Kings" (James Atlas).

diamonds are the new deers

All the cool kids are drawing/wearing ironic diamond/bling drawings these days. Have you noticed?

Not to rank myself amongst "the cool" but I have a super-great shirt from threadless by ray fenwick (I think he is from Halifax?) with a HUGE, multi-faceted diamond that says "more more more". Not only does it remind me of that Billy Idol song but I think it is a cool commentary on the ever-increasing desire for ever-increasing bling. It might be easy to say this applies mainly to the hip-hop types but I think all types are prone to it. I bought it as a reminder to myself to curb my material appetites (yep, that noise you just heard was the hand of irony slapping me across the face again; buying something that reminds you to stop buying stuff!! sheesh!! but it does work actually...)

Anyway, this post is not about my t-shirt - though it is awesome.

It is supposed to be about how it is hard to resist the desire to do/draw trendy things in trendy ways. I try not to but sometimes the quest to try to be original feels way too much like putting a big, greasy damper on the fun of living in the moment - the zeitguist (if I'm going to use these words I should know how to spell them - but oh well!!)

I'm not actually very creative or original considering I'm a "working artist". I consider myself more of a visual problem solver. I would like to free up the creative side a little more but I always tend to get into these absurd conflicts with myself about what to do ... then I proceed to do nothing ...

I have trouble "doing my own thing" - even though I am a full-fledged adult. I thought I would grow out of caring about what people think of what I'm doing and be a really bold, brave person by this age. I don't really mind standing out in a crowd/standing up for what I think; the issue seems to be that I still don't know what I think about most things.

I think I don't think much at all.

I feel a bit brain-dead most of the time ... to tell the truth.

Hair Redux

Here is a hair-update for anyone who was wondering.

rolosketch returns

I bet you thought I fogot about these... I have a good excuse, I've been away. Anyway, here's number 4. Inspired by a walk past the new skate park last night. I want to learn to skate. Is 29 too old to start? It seems like it would be almost meditative to go back and forth in a ramp. I was impressed by the diversity of the people at the park... there were even a bunch of "olds" representing. It gave me hope.

"we are going on a summer holiday..."

I didn't take out the camera much on the weekend so this is the only evidence of me having a wonderful time at the beach with my sister and friend.

Today we leave for Ontari-ari-o!! We are going to a friend's wedding (where A will be debuting his new suit!! HOT!!) and then visiting with friends and family. It is always a little nerve-racking to leave town/home when you are a freelancer; "is that 'big job' going to come in while I'm away?!?!" I almost always have to turn something down right before I go away so that I always leave feeling slightly deflated. This time it was for a new magazine I would have really like to work with... sigh...

I would like to confirm that The Rolosketches didn't die after 3 days. I just haven't had time to scan them. I will do a bunch when I get home.

As promised, here is the link to Sheron Goldin's "2 socks on 2 needles" tutorial: http://www.socknitters.com/2circs/index.htm. This is the technique I used to make my legwarmers and the sleeves of the shrug I am currently working on.

Lastly, for the knitters that heard my hair horror story last night:

The crazy case of "hat"head" actually IMPROVED the look of the haricut! ...but you can still see that the bangs were completely jagged (unintentionally) and there is waaaay more hair on the left side than the right (that's NOT just from the hat!!). When it wasn't smushed flat by a hat, it looked like a helmet. It was really horrible... so now I have short hair.

first 3 days
Originally uploaded by rho rho

Once upon a time, in a frenzy of office-supply-shopping, I bought a rolodex.

I used it for about two minutes ... but I always liked its looks.

I decided, in an effort to overcome my latest creative slump, I will do some kind of drawing/ collage/ doodle/ painting/ thing on a card per day. A sort of alternate sketchbook and probably an interesting archive/object in the end.

We'll see how long I can last.

I'm not promising that all of them or ANY of them will be good or pretty... that's not really the point.

This project is actually finished now but I haven't taken pictures yet (bad knitter/blogger bad!). They are leg warmers. I know I am jumping on a dying/maybe-soon-to-be-dead trend but I think they are cute with flip-flops and a skirt... plus, it just isn't that warm here on the east coast!

What I wanted to show here is that this was a bit of an experiment for me. I made both leg-warmers at the same time on two circular needles. (I found out you can this from an online tutorial which I know I should credit but I don't have the link handy - I WILL do it though!!)

Anyway, the process worked well but was hard to get used to at first. I don't think it is necessarily faster... it may infact be slower because of the fiddling you have to do with the needles. The great advantage though is that you end up with BOTH things done at the same time. This is good for me because I have a really hard time making the second thing in any pair. I am trying it again with the arms of a shrug. It isn't working as well - I believe it is due to the fact the they are ribbed and ending on a purl causes the yarn to be in an awkward place.

Hmmm...
I just viewed my blog.
The posts about the 3 bears below make A LOT more sense if you start from what appears to be the 3rd/last bear. (I couldn't find a way to re-order them.)
Forgive me, its my first time in a long time.
I'll get better.

This cute bear couple went to friends as part of their wedding present (the bulk of their present was that I made their invitations for them - they can be seen at my flickr site in the "craftiness" set - just click on the picture to go there).

Anyway, the plan is to add to this bear family whenever they start adding to their human family.

The girl bear is knit on a half size smaller needle - it made a big size difference though! I was surprised.

I just remembered that there is another baby-gift bear out there somewhere. I don't think I have pictures of that one. Sad.

I like sending arts and crafts out into the world. When I was in highschool I drew tattoo designs for a lot of people (maybe 10?) and they actually GOT them. In recent days, facebook has reunited me with most of these people. It has been a decade since I talked to most of them (not because of ill-will, I'm simply very bad at staying in touch). Anyway, it got me thinking about the fact that these people have walked around with my drawings on their bodies for the last decade. It's a pretty unique bond. I wonder if the tats reminded them of me during that 10 year gap?

Anyway, I don't know if the bears will last as long in the world as the tattoos but its nice to know they are out there - hopefully being loved... but at least know as a token of my affection.

bear couple
Originally uploaded by rho rho.

another bear
Originally uploaded by rho rho.

The second bear - this time with the Jess Hutch pattern. I made up the scarf and hat though.

I have given all my bears away. This one went to a friend's baby who wasn't yet born when I made it (hence no monogram).

I decided to start posting at this blog again. I think it will be mostly crafty/arty stuff. I'm starting by posting some bears I knit last year. These pretty much mark the beginning of my knitting career.

Not sure I really love this blogger interface - it seems clunky... but maybe I just don't remember how to work it very well... having troubles getting pictures in which is why I posted these 3 bear pix individually.

So here's the first bear I made. At this point I had Jess Hutch's book on backorder but I managed to find a "bowling pin" pattern that I thought I could use because I reeeeeally wanted to make the bear!!

first bear
Originally uploaded by rho rho.

He turned out pretty cute and I gave him to a friend. Looking back I notice my mistakes a lot more but I was very proud of him at the time.