Thursday, March 27, 2008

Samurai Warrior

It is truly regrettable that a person will treat a man who is valuable to him well, and a man who is worthless to him poorly.

One should have insight into this world of dreams that passes in the twinkling of an eye.

Hojo Shigetoki (1198-1261)


The idea that a samurai came from the elite families did not stop their warring. I wonder if our military would even exist if it were that our military emanate from our elite?

Folding

Folding

Amazing! I want the bag! Check this out.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Now, you have time to stop and smell the flowers


Happy Birthday Donny!

Monday, March 24, 2008

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Felted Ladies Ready for Easter Parade


Basket weave hats of linen threads.
Felted wool bodies and heads are hand dyed.
Sculpey arms and legs

You Can Book On This

Spiral Jewelry Easter Morning

Silky Iro Shrug

OK Show Your Stripes

Saturday, March 22, 2008

FLY BABIES

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Knit Picks Knitting Room » Episode 40

Knit Picks Knitting Room » Episode 40

Wow KNITKNIT

KnitKnit, Profiles + Projects from Knitting’s New Wave, a book by Sabrina Gschwandtner, is the latest addition to my knitting library. Gina showed this book to me because she understands my style and sensibility. I found this book VERY inspiring. In it I found Risto Bimbiloski who designs men’s knitwear for Louis Vuitton and his own label of knitwear for women.

I discovered his sweater, The Paris Jacket, which is based on the same idea as my origami shrug; however, he takes his to the next most perfect level. I love the simplicity of his design. I am anxious to buy the yarn he uses to try this sweater/jacket. One problem I encountered with using Noro is the matching of the stripes. As of yet, I am unable to do that, so it is a case of it is what it is.

His sweater has a very nice collar instead of ribbing all the way around. I love this treatment. Now, I am off in a new direction. Sculpture for the human is what I believe this sweater brings and this is what attracts me to this particular design.

In Anna Bell, blog name, Amelia Raitte, I find an inspiration for detail. I love what she does that is hidden in her sweaters. Her closure on the sweater, DAISY, is very beautiful. This is why I say, “God Is in the Details,” which someone else has already said.

Gina, at Mosaic, really talks and listens to her customers. I am lucky to have this shop near where I live. Thank you, Gina!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

HERSTORY

Once upon a time, I suddenly realized that it is possible to create an existence tailored to my every need.
I always loved the Arabian Nights and especially Scheherazade. She managed to change her world and her life, simply by telling stories. The thought of living a story that one told oneself compelled my waking thoughts and crept into my dreamtime, as well.
I wondered. What if I could actually live a story? What kind of a world would this story take place? Where? When? Why? Gosh, I wonder how long I would have to wait until. . .

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Cooking Shows on Pay TV

Cooking shows on pay TV have brought access to lively flavors and more developed palates. What is so funny about this is that if you take a walk down the isles of grocery stores there are more and more convenience foods. We learn how to be gourmet cooks and then marketing targets us with stir fry vegetables pre-packaged meals that all you do is throw in some sort of protein.

My idea of fun is to go to Wegman's in the DC area and check out the price of truffles. My grandchildren keep me updated on the price of truffles when I am at home. To them it is a matter of greater importance than their mother's concern over the price of oil.

I think there should be a Trader Joe's brought to every small neighborhood. Where I live it would be one of the most amazing things ever done. What will happen when it is so expensive to drive to a grocery store? Whoever figures out how to capitalize on the gasoline crisis by filling our soon to come needs will be the next Sultan of Brunei, or Bill Gates. The internet is wonderful to shop for those who live far from stores. But, hey lets face it, frozen foods for everyone? Imagine the size of truck that would take.

It is 2008, and I do not have an address. Really, I am not kidding. Lucky for me I have a PO Box. This is a problem because UPS does not ship to PO Boxes. It is 13 miles to the UPS store. The truck would never find this place because, again, I do not have an address.

Maybe we should bring back the milk man and the bakery truck and the ice cream man and make the US Postal Service accept packages from UPS?

I am tired of sending money to Iraq to build their infra-structure so they can blow it up. What about The United States of America and our infra-structure? What about all the junk we are forced to buy from China?

This is one reason why I knit. It is made by me. It is soft, not like my keyboard. But PLEEZE don't take away my high speed internet access! At least, I do have a virtual address.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Saturday, March 8, 2008

The NORO Origami Shrug

CLICK DRAWING TO ENLARGE

Ok, I have been getting quite a few requests for the Noro Origami Shrug that appears on Skein Cocaine blog site. This is really not a pattern. It is a sketch I did for Gina when I tried to explain to her about this thing.
First of all, it is very simple, it folds into a rectangle(great for travel) and is super easy to make. Most days you will find me folding origami stuff and I love Noro. I play around with ideas of what to do with this yarn and how to take advantage of the unique properties hidden within the fiber. I love the tweedishness (ala American Idol) of the color.
At the moment,I am making one in Silk Garden, and am trying some of the "Jared" color work that he did in his Noro scarf; which, by the way, seems to have taken on a huge life of it's own and good for Jared. I am taking one of his classes at Purl Jam in June and I c a n n o t wait. But, back to the Noro Shrug:
I have tried making it 60 inches long instead of 64 and it fits nicely.
This shrug is an experiment. Please feel free to try different things. That is all this is. Please share your results so we can all see what happens.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Saturday, March 1, 2008