October 2008 Archives

I don't think I've taken a craft class EVER, unless you count the popsicle & glitter crosses that we made in Vacation Bible School.  A couple of days ago, Elsie blogged about an online class that she's offering for 6 weeks running up to Christmas.  Her art is so whimsical and inspiring, and I'd really like to catch that creative spark for the holidays again... I had to sign up.  I think it will be really fun to try some new crafts, and hopefully come out with some decorations and gifts for Christmas.  Plus, she's set up a blog just for the class participants, so I think I'll get a chance to get to know some new crafty friends.  

Can't wait!

Seriously.... another lose would be BAD. Plus, I'm going to the game so I'd really like to see them play well!

M-I-Z!

Z-O-U!

Goooooooooooooo Tigers!

This is the best book I have read in a long time.   I read it as part of a book club that I've been in for about the past 2 years.  We have gone through a lot of changes - new jobs, new babies, etc.  Our common thread is our church, but we come from really different faith backgrounds so we have some pretty interesting discussions.  Each month we take turns hosting, making dinner for the group, and the host gets to pick the book.  

This book is not for the timid - while reading it, I was trying to figure out if the authors supported anarchy or a neo-Amish movement.  The basic premise is that the empire - Rome in Jesus' day - isn't that far off from America today.  We've turned patriotism into a new religion (like the emperor-worship of Rome) and forgotten about Jesus' teachings of peace, love, and caring for the poor. The authors are really out there - I'm pretty sure they're living near the povery line in a semi-monastic commune - and I don't agree with every point they make, but wow did it make me think.  And that, chicas, is the sign of a good book.

I am not normally a plan-ahead kind of person, but I am in full holiday gift-making mode already! I don't have tons of free time, but I figure if I do a little bit whenever I have a chance, I'll have lots of stuff ready when Christmas finally rolls around. For the past couple of years, I have been disturbed with all the consumerism of Christmas, and I really want to try to give thoughtful, useful, handmade gifts whenever possible this year.

(Just in case any of my family members are reading this - the photo is just a placeholder - don't want to ruin any surprises! But look - I taught myself tubular cast-on. Neato, eh? Yeah, you don't care. But the knitters will think it's nifty.)

Lookin' good, right?  That's what I thought, too.  Then I put the thumb on and triumphantly pulled on the finished glove...

WEB-THUMB.  

 

I don't know how well you can see it in this picture, but somehow I wasn't sticking my hand all the way into the glove when I knit the fingers, so the thumb is super short -- giving me a webbed thumb.  

Riiiiiiiiiiip! 

I knit a reusable shopping bag - isn't it cute? It was really fast - I think it took about 4 days, and that includes having to look on Ravelry for instructions on every complicated stitch. In case anyone is dying to make it (or - more likely - when I make it again) here is everything you need to know:

The pattern (free! Thanks Ann and Kay!)
That tricky twisted cross stitch (Ravelry discussion thread)
Crazytime veil stitch - yes, you actually wrap the yarn around both needles - watch Ann demonstrating on video!

This was a fun little project - a nice break from some bigger thing I'm working on (cough cough Matt's sweater cough) and also a nice segue into an update from last time.  I've decided that part of my problem of feeling overwhelmed is that I have a tendency to see everything in long-run/big-picture sort of terms.  It's a bit much, you know?  Plus I'm always looking ahead to the next thing - next week - next month, etc.  I need to just slow down and enjoy the day-to-day.  Not to contradict myself, but I'm really looking forward to my vacation next month (San Fran & Napa - yay!) because I think it will be a good opportunity for Matt and I to both just take a few days out of our normal routine and relax.