Sunday, July 29, 2007

Consumable gifts

I am sittin and knittin in the backyard while sippin from a fine wine gifted to me. This past year I have spent a lot of time cleaning ,organizing, purging and dumping Ala Clean Sweep.

To accompany this new found sense of order I started to put out the word for the future; consumables. As in gifts. No more Nick knacks. Consumables are easy. Wine, Chanel mascara, gift certificates, candles, food, and did I mention wine and YARN. The best consumable of all. It's yummy and in the process of consuming it is so satisfying. Not only do you have the joy of the yarn in hand, but you have the pleasure of the knitting process,and then the delight of a finished project for yourself or for another.

That is the ultimate consumable if you ask me. So, here it is in writing folks-keep the consumable love coming-It is great. Thanks to everyone that gifted me, yes even with the non-consumable. The best gift of all is the friend that has you on their mind enough to remember your birthday. With appreciation and love...

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Knitwits Tonight

It is a hot and muggy day here in sunny San Diego. 80 degrees and so still. It makes for lazy knitting. A cotton washcloth or baby bib knits up well on a day like today. I feel the urge to knit a pair of socks with a lovely Koigu from the smallest yarn shop (String) I've ever visited in NYC.

Wednesday night is a favorite time as my fellow knitwits gather to raise a glass of wine and share progress on our individual projects. I am waiting on a shipment of cotton yarn featured this month at Elann.com to make into a pattern purchased at a newly discovered LYS, located next door to a Hooters restaurant. Now my husband wants to go on yarn field trips. I had to buy the namesake pattern for the sweater called "Marsha", it looks like a fun and easy design. The trouble with me today is I seem to have some kind of knitting ADD. I want to work on at least 4 projects at the same time and each one is nagging at me. I'm too hot to make a commitment to any one of them.

Our conversation centered around airport horror stories as many of our group are making sojourns about the world and find themselves at the mercy of the airline industry. American airlines actually canceled a flight out of Chicago to Milwaukee and could not get my friend on another flight until after she was scheduled to come home. But, they did manage to get her suitcases to the final airport. It used to be so much fun to travel. Not just the destination, but the actual process of transport. I would actually get an adrenalin rush if I got near the airport. Now that the airlines are no longer service oriented (understatement) the rush comes if you get anywhere near your destination with your luggage. It is wonderful to live somewhere that can become the best vacation you never took just by your choice of company and the venue.

San Diego is a land full of opportunities and natural beauty. Comic Con is in town and it can be wildly entertaining to go for a stroll downtown. Walking the ocean is a good way to cool down. Or, never getting in the car at all is sometimes the best way to unwind. I'm trying to think of a great charity project that we can knit as a group and use to learn new skills. Any great ideas out there? As the chair of philanthropic knitting for our local guild I have my hand in so many pots. But we are sick of scarves, hats, helmet liners, chemo caps, blanket squares... Let me know if you find something inspiring and I will concentrate on focus. One project, one project ,one project...

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Hello Cyber Knitting friends

Is it to call you friend? I have recently become addicted to reading knitting blogs. In the past I was able to cruise around and visit sights without feeling the need to get involved. However, following the story of my favorite knitting instructor ever-has emboldened me to venture forth myself.

Annie Modesitt has taken the blog and returned us to the magic of the serial stories published in newspapers prior to any form of mass communication beyond books and newspapers. Just as readers couldn't wait for the next installment to be published-I relish each post drafted by the talented and wise Annie. Check her out at Anniemodesitt.com to see what I am talking about.

Technically, I cruise the internet with great results. Creating documents seems to be more difficult, so bear with me. You could say my knitting follows the same course. I am a yarn driven maniac. I love to collect yarn and patterns and fantasize about all of the wonderful things I am going to knit. I even dream about the hand knit items that I gift and the overjoyed recipients. If I live to be 150 years old I will not have time to knit the yarn I own! Does that stop me from seeking out more fiber?!

I love studying yarn of all origins. I once took a 10,000 mile roadtrip with a friend and 2 of my children coast to coast. AKA, from LYS to LYS in 23 states. Some incredible stories were generated on that trip, as well as a green tweed cardigan that remains in the UFO pile. I am prideful of knowing about new fibers and keep up with my research on line, in LYS wherever I go ,with books, and of course keeping up with the "jonesing" knitters. Check out KnittersReview.com. It is so good. I have designed a few patterns and have no idea how to go to the next step. Since I love free patterns, look for some original designs photographed and printed here soon. As soon as I figure out how to do links and photos and ...