Will any of us ever get anything done ever again?Â
Dance, Monkey, Dance!
October 2, 2007 by
I first heard “Code Monkey” on Cast-On. It made me giggle like a freak. This movie gave me the giggles all over again.
(Dedicated to Mom, because this is her last Code Monkey day. No more boring meetings! Congrats, Mom!)
Once Upon a Time…
September 30, 2007 by
There was a wee forest creature named Gordon. He was a Woodin, and he was lost. Somehow, he had come out of the deep forest and landed on a porch in the suburbs. He tried to adapt, but sitting in a potted geranium wasn’t the same as climbing the high forest oaks.
Without another Woodin, he felt very alone. Knowing that other Woodins are always attracted by a game, he thought he would cover his eyes and pretend that he was starting a round of Hide-and-Seek.
“One Mississippi, two Mississippi…”
But he didn’t hear the familiar sound of other Woodins scurrying for a hiding place. He was still on his own.
“Pssst! In here!” Gordon looked in the window of the house, and there was the furry orange face of a tabby kitten. “When they open the door, scoot in!”
Gordon was slightly wary, he had heard other Woodins discuss the dangerous animals that lived inside and outside of human dwellings. But he was lonely, and the fuzzy face looked kind. Taking advantage of an open door, he hurried inside and looked around for his new friend, who was sitting a few feet away, at the top of a sofa.
“It’s okay,” said the kitten. “I’m teething, but you don’t look very tasty. I just thought you looked a bit lost out there and might want a cozy place to stay.”
“Are you sure?” asked Gordon. “I have heard that cats can be cruel.”
“Well, that’s true of anyone,” said the orange tabby. “But my name is Milo and you are welcome to stay with me until you can find your own people again. I get fed lots of kibble and have plenty of toys, so I have no need to bite you.”
And so, Gordon hopped on the sofa, and Milo curled his tail around him.
“Hey,” said Gordon, “Would you mind not sniffing me like that? It makes me think you want me for dinner, no matter what your previous assurances were.”
“Sorry,” said Milo. “I was just thinking you smelled like something familiar – you may want to meet my human mommy. She may be able to help you find some friends.”
…to be continued…
A Fairy Tale
September 24, 2007 by
Once upon a time there was a special princess, born on an autumn island, swirling with leaves of gold, amber, and ruby. Her parents, the king and queen, loved her very much (of course they did – this is that kind of story). They watched over the princess, as all parents do, but their royalty lent them charms to give her extra protection.
The queen sent her tigers to patrol the island. Pad, pad, pad, around they went, leaving clear pawprints in the sand.
The king stirred the water around the island, sending waves lapping to the edge of where the tigers stalked.
The princess also had an aunt who loved her. The aunt knew that one day the princess would grow up and leave this protected island of autumn leaves, with its fierce tigers and rippling water. So the aunt knit her a magic shawl, stitching the special magics of the king and queen into the fabric. A drift of falling leaves was surrounded by the imprint of tiger feet and curling waves.
This shawl would be able to follow the princess out into the wider world, bringing with it the special charms of the king and queen. And whenever the princess saw it, she would remember the sound of the rustling leaves, the padding of tiger feet, and the gentle rush of ocean water.
Oooh. Want.
September 19, 2007 by
(Insane, acquisitive moment of the day brought to you by boingboing.)
To get to Omega, it helps to have Alpha
September 18, 2007 by
I was chatting with my mom the other night about simple tasks and the fine line between appealing simplicity and tedium. I think no matter how dynamic a person may be, they will enjoy a pursuit that someone else would label, “Warning: this task is so dull it could put a Buddhist monk to sleep.” Sometimes, the line between the tedious pursuit and the enjoyable one can be so seemingly arbitrary that it baffles. For instance: I hate hand-sewing woven fabric. I’m not good at it, I don’t enjoy it, it bores me to tears. But I will sit and painstakingly stitch a knitted garment together, or kitchener two pieces of lace into a single unit without a shred of boredom. It sends me to a meditative place, alpha waves radiating happily off of my brain until I reach completion.
What is the difference that makes plying a needle so different from… plying a needle? Beats me. What I do know is that my usual stimulus-seeking, “are we there yet?” personality is somehow calmed and soothed by finishing or blocking a piece of knitwear. Similar to walking a meditation labyrinth, the measured pace of these simple activities calms and focuses the mind. Given that I am so often so intent on zipping through, getting to the end, getting things DONE and behind me, it’s reassuring that I have a calmer side.
One blue thing deserves another
September 17, 2007 by
At long last, I have finished the “Print o’ the Wave.”
I blocked it carefully (isn’t my blocking board attractive? Portrait of lace project on trash bag on guest bed…”)
I waited patiently. (Okay, I visited it a few times throughout yesterday). I unpinned it this morning. It was very cool to the touch in the chill morning air.
I’m so happy with it, I went ahead and cast on another blue thing…
Autumnal Felinity
September 16, 2007 by
We’ve had the loveliest weekend here. It’s suddenly Fall: cool, dry, sunny and gorgeous. I’ve made bread, and I’m wearing a homemade sweater and homemade socks, so I’m not sure I could be any happier (well, a fire in the fireplace would also do me some good).Â
The cats have been mellow, also, enjoying the open windows and the fresh air they bring. Simon and Milo are beyond detente, and on their way to a lasting peace.
I caught Dash in a peaceful moment in front of the sliding door, enjoying the setting sun’s rays.
And Milo – sweet Milo had a perfect Miss Lulu Kitty moment on a sunny windowsill.
Damn, but I love Fall.
Another cure for design woes
September 13, 2007 by
Ignore your own process (or lack thereof) and obsess over someone else’s perfect design.
Seriously – does Hanne Falkenberg know she designed the world’s most perfect sweater jacket for me? The woman’s got my number. It’s a lovely colorway, so deceptively simple, structured yet easy, and….
…And I really, really want one of those kits. Santa? I’ve been pretty good this year…
Design Process
September 13, 2007 by
I have discovered that I design the way I write. An idea percolates up, there is a small burst of mental activity. This mental burst may be accompanied by a corresponding activity, or it may just add to a picture of the finished product. Notes may or may not be taken. Brain may be cursed at for deciding notes need not be taken.
Basically, there’s no real “process” at all.
Currently, I have a sweater in mind. It should fulfill the same functions as a sweatshirt – a go-to garment for a chilly day – but the design should be more flattering. Casual, but not too sloppy. Yarn should be soft, but reasonably hard-wearing. Comfy. A color that is somewhat complementary to the usual colors I wear. Collar, cuffs and hem in a slightly unusual stitch to add interest, but lying flat and producing no (or not much) extra bulk. Some ease, not too much. Slightly fitted at the waist.
When I visited New York with my mom, I went down to School Products and bought an enormous cone of their (in)famous cashmere/merino. As advertised, knitted off the cone it was sort of sticky and industrial.
After a couple of washings, it bloomed and blossomed and is generally yummy.
I also swatched for edgings – the one on the right is the winner.
Now I just need to finish my “Print o’ the Wave” stole before I launch headlong into this… That’s pretty much the only process here. Otherwise, it’s just swatch, measure, and jump.