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Copyright 2006

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May 11, 2006

Weird day

This was the oddest day, so odd that I cannot resist noting it in my blog.  First thing every day, I turn on my computer.  Ok, after the bathroom and letting out the dog, I turn on my computer.  Today it did not boot.  It fizzled.  I dressed and dashed to the computer service.  I came home and daydreamed about how different things were for the early feminists; mimeo machines, postage stamps and weeks for information to travel.  Now we can reach millions of people with email, the internet and even watch congress on TV.  How different it all is now.  For good or bad, how different.

Fortunately for me, the PC problem was the video fan and it was easily repaired.  I picked it up by 5 and stopped at the grocery store.  Upon parking the car, I saw the strangest event.  There was a muscle man in a sleeveless T-shirt and tiny gym shorts screaming  at the top of his lungs at a gray haired short woman and a 10 year old cub scout.  As I got my cart, he was demanding to speak to the manager.  He wanted the store to remove the den mother and scout immediately.  He walked inside.

I just could not resist asking the woman if she was okay and was there anything I could do for her.  She told me that this man was screaming because scouts won't let gays be scout leaders.  She then began to state the position of the Boy Scouts of America and defend it.  I stopped her and said, "Well I am gay and I know that this is not the place for such a discussion.  It is an adult discussion and not appropriate with scouts or in parking lots. 

Then I went inside to get my groceries.  When I was done, she was standing outside waiting for me.  She thanked me for being nice to her and wanted to debate the issue with me.  I told her it was an adult discussion for concerned adults ~ not for either side to debate in a parking lot. 

It felt like I was in the Twilight Zone.  Of course recovery was swift as my computer is fine!  I celebrated with my new diet sensation.  Organic, of course. Ccakes

March 04, 2006

Oscars

A little diversion.Oscar2  Red velvet cupcakes with chocolate buttercream icing.

John Stewart.  Dolly Parton singing the song she wrote for Transamerica.  And let's all sing along to Its Hard out Here for a Pimp.  This could be fun.

February 26, 2006

Finale! Flame is passed

Bob Costas is on his way home and my felted bag is drying.  I am exhausted!  This bag was a big time challenge because the side pockets were almost as many stitches as the bag itself. Handles The handles were a breeze but I lost a day looking for 13 double pointed needles. 

So standing at the washing machine I could hear Ricky Martin singing La Vida Loca!  Loca should be loco.  I mostly watched Dancing with the Stars and American Idol this week - but my knitting was Citius, Alitius Fortius!  All in all, the Turin Olympics weren't half as much fun as reading all of the knitting blogs.  Here is my lotus pink bag - drying as the NBC credits rolled.Wet

February 23, 2006

Balance, one stitch at a time

I am never going to stop my vigilance about women's rights but I am old enough now to fight for balance.  Knitting, crocheting, quilting and sewing create a fantastic oasis for me - my rest, my holiday, my vacation spot.  Right now I am working on my personal best for the Knitting Olympics.  I finished my initial project way too fast - it just went fast - I did not know that a moebius basket would be so easy. 

So I started a felted bag that I had been dreading.  It is in Lamb's Pride Bulky Lotus Pink.  The pattern is a sheep tote by Bev Gelaskes of Fiber Trends.  My fear was dropping stitches on purpose - can you imagine?  At the 4 corners you drop a stitch down all 64 rows and then crochet back up 2 strands at a time.  Here is where I am - When does the flame go out??   Pink_lotus_prefelt

PS gotta say how much I LOVE the new regulations that women skaters can wear pants!  Gorgeous!

February 20, 2006

No I am not kidding!

This weekend I was told by several people that they thought I was joking about the Knitting Olympics.  Now really, that would not be right.  Click this map and you can see for yourself.

Check out our Frappr!

February 17, 2006

The Felted Rings

If you were born a Virgo, with Mercury in Virgo, you know that we are quick; accurate AND quick.  What can I say? - except that it is in the stars, Dear Brutus.  So in record time, I threw the knitted woolly mess into hot water; making my offering to May-Tag, Goddess of the Washing Machine. 

No matter how many times this is done, it still requires pacing, lots of pacing.  It is part of the ritual.  Truth be told, my felting always takes 20 minutes.  I may peek at 19, but it is never done and nothing more seems to happen at 21+.  Also every book I have read about felting says: STOP - ALERT - DO NOT LET THE MACHINE SPIN.  Needless to say, I pay no attention - I love that most of the water is spun out - then the shaping is really effective.  Now comes the part that never ceases to amaze me - SHAVE it.  As the book, Pursenalities says; yes, you read that right, SHAVE it.  So there I am with a Bic - shaving it.  It is something you either get or not. 

DryingHere is the bowl unside down and wet.  I pulled it over my trifle dish to bully it into shape.  Shaping is definitely a full contact event.   

Voila! Gold_skater    Here it is!  Sitting on top of the Russian's gold medal program. 

and here is the bottom. Bottom

Just in case any one might think for one minute that I could be resting, (Virgos never rest) while the bowl was drying I started a lotus pink purse. 

See, the madness starts again.   The race is on. Dscn0677

February 15, 2006

Pre-felted Olympic Rings

Dscn0654 Inside out and upside down.  Here are my Olympics knitted rings.  The Moebius band was easy - I am really getting the hang of the moebius cast-on.  The Cat Bordhi book is clear; it just requires faith.  While casting-on you could think that it is all going to unravel - but it doesn't.  You knit around and around as the stitch marker finally surfaces, proving the continuity of the circle and rows.  It is the attached I-cord that really takes an infinity.

I am worried that the Olympic rings basket could be mistaken for a Rasta hat for Shrek.  I used Lamb's Pride Bulky - the best for felting!  I love it.  And here is the loosey - goosey pre-felt edition with all of the ends woven in.  Now to stand guard at the washing machine.  Dscn0655

As with most fun things in life, it is going all too fast. 

February 10, 2006

Let the Games Begin

It is just past midnight in Turin, Italy.  The opening ceremonies are over!  You can see images on the web.  I am looking forward to knitting and felting a bowl in the colors of the Olympics.  Begin_games

Best of luck to all of the entrants; over 3,800 and rising.  I will keep you posted on my progress. 

You might find it crazy interesting that there are arguments about the name of the city in Italy.  Over these 16 days, we will hear and see both Turin and Torino used.  For now, English-language media covering the games, which open Friday, are split over what to call the city.  Among those going with "Torino" are television networks NBC and CBS, and the newspaper USA Today.  NBC, which has the U.S. broadcast rights for the games, reportedly thought "Torino" sounded more exotic than "Turin," a name more closely associated with heavy industry than with winter sports.

Kinda makes you wonder if we just can't agree on anything.  I like Turin.      

P.S.  Thought you might enjoy a picture from previous games - Here are Jackie Joyner Kersey & Surya Bonaly at a Halloween party.   Olympians

February 04, 2006

My Olympics

I heard a show on the radio today about the Knitting Olympics.  This just strikes me so funny - I can't stop thinking about it.  I found the Knitting Olympics website where the rules are posted and anyone can enter.  As of today there are over 2500 entries which is more competitors than the Olympics coming up in Turin. 

All you have to do is cast on the stitches after the flame is lit and be done by the time the flame goes out.  That gives a knitter 16 days to make something.  I have been thinking about entering and making a moebius scarf - now that is really complicated - it is intergalactic!  Pink_moebius_1

Here is a moebius basket I made for Valentines Day.  It is so complicated, I can't even explain it.  Just know that it is magical.  I found it in The Second Treasury of Magical Knitting.   No -- the handle is not twisted - it is one contiguous flowing bit of felted magic. 

So look out Michelle Kwan and Bode Miller.  Picabo, I am available for interviews.  I may be an Olympian.  (how do you feel about knitting a shroud?)

Knittingolympics1 16 days, many knitters, one dream. The Knitting Olympics.

Citius, Altius, Fortius

December 31, 2005

It is not a hat.

Bowl_1

Merry Christmas!

I have been waiting for everyone to open their presents before I post anything about what I made this year.  Now that the last one is open, I can write about my felted bowls.  Since I could not find a pattern I liked, I wrote my own.  I made 8 and really had fun with it.  Most people immediately put them on their heads insisting that they are hats.  They are BOWLS!

Here are the directions:

Download small_bowl.doc