When I began this Erin was napping, and I thought I would finish it, however, that never happened so I will post what is here, then continue this discussion...:
old post started here: so I am going to take advantage of this time to write about something that I have been wanting to write about for a long long time. My latest film project...I have had this one in the percolater for way too long. WAY TOO LONG!!!! I started to think about this and even began some preliminary research before I met my husband... We've been married now for three years. We've known each other for a little more than 3 and a half... okay, that doesn't sound like so much longer, but...
Back in 2002 I saw a film at the Pittsburgh Jewish Israeli Film Festival that changed the way I thought about my own filmmaking. For those of you who have known me for a long time, you may remember that when I was working on my MFA some of the faculty gave me a hard time for doing anything with any religious content, even though it was and still is a HUGE part of who I am. They kept telling me there was no market for it, and not that I only make films for the market, I mean lets face it, the festival circuit isn't exactly about the $ you make on a film!!!
Well, there is a market for what I want to do, and that is what I need to focus on. There is even now a Jewish Television channel, at least in NY there is, and so I need to remember that as I make this next film. I just need to make the time to make the film. It will be about the covering of one's head/hair. Unfortunately while I wanted to write about it now, I need to get some sleep...and so the last thing I will leave you with, other than the promise to write more on this topic, is that we have incorporated and so our business is on it's way to becoming a reality.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
oh my, how times flies...
I can't even begin to imagine where the time has gone. First off, Erin is now almost 8 months old. She is more than 1/2 a year old. CRAZY. A full summer and fall semester have passed since she was born and while before she was born my life revolved around the academic calendar, right now it couldn't be further from my mind. I do wish, in a small part of my mind, that I had been able to accept the fellowship that was offered to me by Drisha as an Arts Fellow. However, we did not have a child to have her raised by someone else, and we recognize that this is a choice we made. Perhaps when she is a little older it is something I can go back to.
Over the last couple of weeks I feel like we have been running from place to place, seeing people and just generally rushing around. Since Thanksgiving we have: had my mother, her boyfriend, his mother and my in-laws and my friend Shaysig for turkey, then the day after we had the GarschBobs for brunch, my dad for that Shabbat, then the following Shabbat we had the Tewners in from Pittsburgh. That was followed by Erin's first Chanukah - she wasn't spoiled too badly - we decided to pass on getting her gifts this year as she will have no idea and we've had to get her stuff since she was born. Perhaps that's lame, but believe me, she got gifts! We did get her a new car seat and an umbrella stroller so we can more easily take the train into the city and explore.
Then, we had holiday stuff... Including David's office holiday party, then a trip up to Hartford where we spent Friday with my mom and Shabbat with my dad and his girlfriend, then dinner on Sunday to celebrate my dad's 65th - my Uncle came, and the GarschBobs so it was a full family weekend. It just feels like we have been running around. I am glad we are staying home right now, and that David is off the next two days.
I finished knitting David's scarf. It was intended for Chanukah, but didn't happen, so I made sure I completed it for his Hebrew birthday. Now I just have to get my act together for his English birthday!
I have been crocheting like a madwoman on the hugs and kisses afghan but haven't seen a hugs amount of progress because I have been doing it in the dark, and Erin seems to be falling asleep more quickly, so I will have to get on this! I also now have even more babies to get stuff done for, and I will have to write up a list because I know someone is going to be missed if I don't!
and, now I want to get a little knitting done before I go to sleep, so I will sign off for now. This might be my last post this month only because who knows what will happen between now and Monday. My only new years resolution will be to blog more consistently - and because I signed up for another swap, I am committing to blogging at least once a week... and I am going to make an ICAL reminder so I don't forget!
let's hope for some snow...
Over the last couple of weeks I feel like we have been running from place to place, seeing people and just generally rushing around. Since Thanksgiving we have: had my mother, her boyfriend, his mother and my in-laws and my friend Shaysig for turkey, then the day after we had the GarschBobs for brunch, my dad for that Shabbat, then the following Shabbat we had the Tewners in from Pittsburgh. That was followed by Erin's first Chanukah - she wasn't spoiled too badly - we decided to pass on getting her gifts this year as she will have no idea and we've had to get her stuff since she was born. Perhaps that's lame, but believe me, she got gifts! We did get her a new car seat and an umbrella stroller so we can more easily take the train into the city and explore.
Then, we had holiday stuff... Including David's office holiday party, then a trip up to Hartford where we spent Friday with my mom and Shabbat with my dad and his girlfriend, then dinner on Sunday to celebrate my dad's 65th - my Uncle came, and the GarschBobs so it was a full family weekend. It just feels like we have been running around. I am glad we are staying home right now, and that David is off the next two days.
I finished knitting David's scarf. It was intended for Chanukah, but didn't happen, so I made sure I completed it for his Hebrew birthday. Now I just have to get my act together for his English birthday!
I have been crocheting like a madwoman on the hugs and kisses afghan but haven't seen a hugs amount of progress because I have been doing it in the dark, and Erin seems to be falling asleep more quickly, so I will have to get on this! I also now have even more babies to get stuff done for, and I will have to write up a list because I know someone is going to be missed if I don't!
and, now I want to get a little knitting done before I go to sleep, so I will sign off for now. This might be my last post this month only because who knows what will happen between now and Monday. My only new years resolution will be to blog more consistently - and because I signed up for another swap, I am committing to blogging at least once a week... and I am going to make an ICAL reminder so I don't forget!
let's hope for some snow...
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
sad... pathetic...
i can't believe it's been so long since my last post... and i can't really write much now... so, hopefully this evening i will be able to write more.... life has been busy, that i can say...
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Knitter Coffee Swap 3 best box...
SO, I received my box yesterday... It was a hectic day, I had a Dr. appt, then running around with Erin, then she wouldn't sleep last night, so there was no blogging going on. No way to tell you all about the best box that I got! At least, I knew when I got up this morning that the box would still be on the counter, that it wasn't a dream!
Because I was opening it with Erin around, I didn't have the chance to take pics as I opened it, but it was wrapped with bubble wrap and pink paper and it was really crinkly and Erin LOVED that!
I loved the contents...
I know that I was a little difficult as a swap partner because of the fact that we keep kosher and part of this swap included coffee, but Mary found some great beans that fit the bill, and a really cool mug (beautiful colors!) to drink it in. I have never tried this brand before, but breakfast blends tend to be my favorites.
Also, any other food included also needed to be kosher and somehow (Mary must have been channeling my husband for this one!) she picked out his favorite kind of packaged cookies... 
and, some amazing chocolate that I may or may not share... we'll see... It looks really yummy...
But wait, there's more... Mary had asked me about my favorite yarns... and I am relatively new at the "good stuff" but one thing that makes it a little more difficult is the problem of something called shatnez. Because of this prohibition between mixing wool and linen there is a concern with some yarns as many are blends. Since I haven't really been using wools before, it hasn't been something I have had to really think about, but knowing that some beautiful yarn was heading my way, I had to bring it up. Mary, again, surpassed any difficulties and found this beautiful viscose yarn, which is apparently all plant based, so there is not a drop of wool to worry about!
And, as an added bonus, for my birth anniversary, in addition to the two hanks that will find their way into becoming a hat for me...at some point... there was a beautiful, extremely colorful skein of sock yarn, that is going to become... well, something... I haven't decided yet.
The idea of the birth anniversary is intriguing as it is quite true - we are not birthed over and over again each year, but instead, we are celebrating the anniversary of the actual event.
And, there is still more... some beautiful cards with a young woman knitting on them.. trez cool...
Overall I would have to say this has been a FANTASTIC experience. I have made a new friend and I received some awesome treats that I will share with my family. Lucky for me no one else drinks coffee or uses yarn yet... The cookies and chocolate, well they are a different story...Mary, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! This was great. It was my first swap, so there was clearly potential for it to be a bust, but I think we both had a great time.
Because I was opening it with Erin around, I didn't have the chance to take pics as I opened it, but it was wrapped with bubble wrap and pink paper and it was really crinkly and Erin LOVED that!I loved the contents...
I know that I was a little difficult as a swap partner because of the fact that we keep kosher and part of this swap included coffee, but Mary found some great beans that fit the bill, and a really cool mug (beautiful colors!) to drink it in. I have never tried this brand before, but breakfast blends tend to be my favorites.
Also, any other food included also needed to be kosher and somehow (Mary must have been channeling my husband for this one!) she picked out his favorite kind of packaged cookies... 
and, some amazing chocolate that I may or may not share... we'll see... It looks really yummy...
But wait, there's more... Mary had asked me about my favorite yarns... and I am relatively new at the "good stuff" but one thing that makes it a little more difficult is the problem of something called shatnez. Because of this prohibition between mixing wool and linen there is a concern with some yarns as many are blends. Since I haven't really been using wools before, it hasn't been something I have had to really think about, but knowing that some beautiful yarn was heading my way, I had to bring it up. Mary, again, surpassed any difficulties and found this beautiful viscose yarn, which is apparently all plant based, so there is not a drop of wool to worry about!
And, as an added bonus, for my birth anniversary, in addition to the two hanks that will find their way into becoming a hat for me...at some point... there was a beautiful, extremely colorful skein of sock yarn, that is going to become... well, something... I haven't decided yet.The idea of the birth anniversary is intriguing as it is quite true - we are not birthed over and over again each year, but instead, we are celebrating the anniversary of the actual event.
And, there is still more... some beautiful cards with a young woman knitting on them.. trez cool...
Overall I would have to say this has been a FANTASTIC experience. I have made a new friend and I received some awesome treats that I will share with my family. Lucky for me no one else drinks coffee or uses yarn yet... The cookies and chocolate, well they are a different story...Mary, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! This was great. It was my first swap, so there was clearly potential for it to be a bust, but I think we both had a great time.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
It's done...
My partner's box is done, and packed, and tomorrow (Friday) we are headed to the post office. I am very excited to send it, I hope Mary likes it. I had a great time putting it together. This was my first swap, and I will hopefully participate in more in the future. I hope the weather is nicer than today. I didn't go today because it was dark, wet and all around just gross. Not much to add right now as I wrote a lot earlier today. Good night!
wow... it's November... and turkey day is coming...
I can't believe it's already Thanksgiving. No real excuse for not posting anything yet this month other than, well, to be quite honest, I thought I had! I know I did post a picture to my swap site, so perhaps I just remembered incorrectly.
On the fiber front, in the process of putting together my swap partner's goodie box I had the opportunity to visit all of my LYS, including one new one that's only been open a month and one that I had heard was really snooty and so was sort of afraid of... WELL.... nothing to be afraid of - they weren't snooty at all, even when I was pretty clear I was only looking. They have a huge selection and the prices, while higher than your local big box, were what you would expect for the high quality yarn they carry. They even had a nice sale selection, so I will go again. I did fall in love with a skein of beaded silk that would make the most gorgeous anything, but at $35 for 50grams, and no real specific project that I need (or dress to make a hat for or anything like that) it will stay at the store, and I might visit it again sometime!
The new store was an incredible experience. It's a warehouse with closeouts or something like that. WHO KNOWS! All I can tell you is the prices were great, the owner was lovely and the selection was huge. I got one skein for my partner there, a skein of sock yarn to make socks for Erin and 2 skeins to make myself a hat. The bad thing about this place is that if you see and love it, you have to buy it because she doesn't replace what gets sold. Once it's gone, it's gone - hence the sock yarn as I already have a skein waiting to be knit and I really don't like adding to the stash that way, but I am sure Erin will like it and so there wasn't much choice. I also got a skein of a self-striping yarn to make her a simple hat. It was in the clearance bin and was quite pretty. Her hat will be done as soon as a certain secret project is finished.
And, then there was the LYS I found a couple of weeks ago. I got my partner 2 skeins there. They are very nice, but seem to carry a lot of novelty stuff and less just regular yarn - or maybe that was just what it felt like. Now, though, of the 3 stores, it has become my least favorite because of my least favorite retail trick which is to not price anything. You have to ask for a price on everything. That bugs me. Perhaps it's because I like to look and contemplate a lot. Maybe it's because I am very budget conscious, but regardless. I hate being in a store where I have to ask the price on every item I pick up. The only things that were priced there were the sale items.
Anyway, I am really psyched to have found these places as I was getting really tired of crap yarn from the big boxes. My biggest challenge is finding yarn for anything for my mother. She is allergic to wool. All wool. This makes even the smallest amount in a blend impossible for her. That would be why her afghan is being made of a cotton blend.
Also, I frogged the BMC babyghan. I just couldn't get it. I struggled at the beginning of each row to understand how the row began and how it matched the row below. I think it might be sleep deprivation related, but to be quite honest, it's not how I like to work, so because I had already allocated that blanket to be a gift for someone, I had to quickly get moving. The baby it's for could come anytime in the next couple of weeks, as the due date is next week. Instead I am joining the CAL baby blanket on my yahoo CAL group, Kim Guzman's Hugs and Kisses Baby Afghan . I hope to find it a bit easier to follow in the wee hours that are when I crochet.
I will have to update the side bar with my progresses.
In other news... my birthday was last week. I got the coolest Hartford Whalers sweatshirt from my husband. I will have to take a photo and post it here. It's in the laundry because a certain someone spit up on it, and then, when I was doing a midnight (okay, it was really 4am) diaper change, she peed on me. Yep. There I was, minding my own business, trying to get it done as fast as possible in an attempt to get back to sleep, and the next thing I know there is a fountain, and I have to change her pajamas and my sweatshirt. nice. NOT!
In any case, the Hartford Whalers were my favorite NHL team growing up, of course being from Hartford, who else could I root for! They left Hartford in 1996 to become the Carolina Hurricanes. Can't like them. They tore my heart out (only the people of Cleveland who lost their Browns can understand this!) Since then I haven't really picked a new team, although my husband would push me to be a NY Rangers fan. Anyway, in addition to the sweatshirt, I also got on ebay a Ron Francis jersey that we will be hanging in the hockey theme bathroom that we have. I will post pictures here, too. For our anniversary he had gotten me a Whaler's cap so now I have a matched set of Whaler sleepwear!
On the cuteness front, Erin has started solid food. Not really eating meals, but tasting new things. In a couple of short weeks we have added: avocado, sweet potato, rice cereal, banana and yogurt. The next thing to try will be butternut squash. Interestingly, at my LLL meeting yesterday we talked about how even for the next 6 months breastmilk should still be her primary source of nutrition, but if you don't begin introducing new things at around the 6 month mark they become too set in their ways to try new things when they are one. I have to say that just breastfeeding certainly made it easier to think about what to feed her. Now all of a sudden I have to think about it, and plan. Something I have never been good at before for David or myself for dinner, or myself for lunch, so it's a bit of a challenge, albeit a good one.
Wow, this post is long. I guess I need to just post more often. Not that I know if anyone is even reading, but whatever. I post because I have something to say, not because I know anyone is reading! Pictures will be forthcoming. I promise.
On the fiber front, in the process of putting together my swap partner's goodie box I had the opportunity to visit all of my LYS, including one new one that's only been open a month and one that I had heard was really snooty and so was sort of afraid of... WELL.... nothing to be afraid of - they weren't snooty at all, even when I was pretty clear I was only looking. They have a huge selection and the prices, while higher than your local big box, were what you would expect for the high quality yarn they carry. They even had a nice sale selection, so I will go again. I did fall in love with a skein of beaded silk that would make the most gorgeous anything, but at $35 for 50grams, and no real specific project that I need (or dress to make a hat for or anything like that) it will stay at the store, and I might visit it again sometime!
The new store was an incredible experience. It's a warehouse with closeouts or something like that. WHO KNOWS! All I can tell you is the prices were great, the owner was lovely and the selection was huge. I got one skein for my partner there, a skein of sock yarn to make socks for Erin and 2 skeins to make myself a hat. The bad thing about this place is that if you see and love it, you have to buy it because she doesn't replace what gets sold. Once it's gone, it's gone - hence the sock yarn as I already have a skein waiting to be knit and I really don't like adding to the stash that way, but I am sure Erin will like it and so there wasn't much choice. I also got a skein of a self-striping yarn to make her a simple hat. It was in the clearance bin and was quite pretty. Her hat will be done as soon as a certain secret project is finished.
And, then there was the LYS I found a couple of weeks ago. I got my partner 2 skeins there. They are very nice, but seem to carry a lot of novelty stuff and less just regular yarn - or maybe that was just what it felt like. Now, though, of the 3 stores, it has become my least favorite because of my least favorite retail trick which is to not price anything. You have to ask for a price on everything. That bugs me. Perhaps it's because I like to look and contemplate a lot. Maybe it's because I am very budget conscious, but regardless. I hate being in a store where I have to ask the price on every item I pick up. The only things that were priced there were the sale items.
Anyway, I am really psyched to have found these places as I was getting really tired of crap yarn from the big boxes. My biggest challenge is finding yarn for anything for my mother. She is allergic to wool. All wool. This makes even the smallest amount in a blend impossible for her. That would be why her afghan is being made of a cotton blend.
Also, I frogged the BMC babyghan. I just couldn't get it. I struggled at the beginning of each row to understand how the row began and how it matched the row below. I think it might be sleep deprivation related, but to be quite honest, it's not how I like to work, so because I had already allocated that blanket to be a gift for someone, I had to quickly get moving. The baby it's for could come anytime in the next couple of weeks, as the due date is next week. Instead I am joining the CAL baby blanket on my yahoo CAL group, Kim Guzman's Hugs and Kisses Baby Afghan . I hope to find it a bit easier to follow in the wee hours that are when I crochet.
I will have to update the side bar with my progresses.
In other news... my birthday was last week. I got the coolest Hartford Whalers sweatshirt from my husband. I will have to take a photo and post it here. It's in the laundry because a certain someone spit up on it, and then, when I was doing a midnight (okay, it was really 4am) diaper change, she peed on me. Yep. There I was, minding my own business, trying to get it done as fast as possible in an attempt to get back to sleep, and the next thing I know there is a fountain, and I have to change her pajamas and my sweatshirt. nice. NOT!
In any case, the Hartford Whalers were my favorite NHL team growing up, of course being from Hartford, who else could I root for! They left Hartford in 1996 to become the Carolina Hurricanes. Can't like them. They tore my heart out (only the people of Cleveland who lost their Browns can understand this!) Since then I haven't really picked a new team, although my husband would push me to be a NY Rangers fan. Anyway, in addition to the sweatshirt, I also got on ebay a Ron Francis jersey that we will be hanging in the hockey theme bathroom that we have. I will post pictures here, too. For our anniversary he had gotten me a Whaler's cap so now I have a matched set of Whaler sleepwear!
On the cuteness front, Erin has started solid food. Not really eating meals, but tasting new things. In a couple of short weeks we have added: avocado, sweet potato, rice cereal, banana and yogurt. The next thing to try will be butternut squash. Interestingly, at my LLL meeting yesterday we talked about how even for the next 6 months breastmilk should still be her primary source of nutrition, but if you don't begin introducing new things at around the 6 month mark they become too set in their ways to try new things when they are one. I have to say that just breastfeeding certainly made it easier to think about what to feed her. Now all of a sudden I have to think about it, and plan. Something I have never been good at before for David or myself for dinner, or myself for lunch, so it's a bit of a challenge, albeit a good one.
Wow, this post is long. I guess I need to just post more often. Not that I know if anyone is even reading, but whatever. I post because I have something to say, not because I know anyone is reading! Pictures will be forthcoming. I promise.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
baby things...
I will never really understand the term sleeping like a baby... perhaps, could it be because Erin doesn't like to sleep... that the most we have gotten in a stretch was maybe 5 hours. Could a cold be causing her to stay awake, or to awaken every three to four hours... it couldn't be hunger, could it? Could it be her teeth, or lack thereof? WHERE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!! She is so cute... so very very cute... most of the time.
In the meantime... I have begun to discover the world that is ravelry and have begun to realize that I need more hours of the day when I am not either feeding or carrying Erin. Don't get me wrong, I still strongly believe in everything I have read about attachment parenting, and I know that I have to follow my heart in how we parent her, but... I wish I had a couple of more hours a day without her attached... like if she would only nap in her crib consistently... although we do seem to be getting there... perhaps it only takes 6 months for things to fall into place like this. Who knows?!?!
Or, perhaps it's just that I am only now figuring out what I want to do/be when I grow up? NO, it's not that. I just have so many things I want to be doing. Like finishing the garden (no, it isn't mulched yet, nor do we know what plants will end up where and no I haven't ordered fall planting bulbs yet... maybe next year...) Like organizing the basement (yes, it's still filled with boxes...) Like emptying out our stuff from Erin's room (of course, it's not like we decided until the last minute which room was going to be hers, but still...)
More importantly, we need to get our business going, and for that to happen I only need a little more time in the day, or at least a little more time when Erin doesn't need my direct attention... like I said before, baby things... can you tell we are "older" parents... people who already had sort of set routines which are now being totally turned upside down...
In the meantime... I have begun to discover the world that is ravelry and have begun to realize that I need more hours of the day when I am not either feeding or carrying Erin. Don't get me wrong, I still strongly believe in everything I have read about attachment parenting, and I know that I have to follow my heart in how we parent her, but... I wish I had a couple of more hours a day without her attached... like if she would only nap in her crib consistently... although we do seem to be getting there... perhaps it only takes 6 months for things to fall into place like this. Who knows?!?!
Or, perhaps it's just that I am only now figuring out what I want to do/be when I grow up? NO, it's not that. I just have so many things I want to be doing. Like finishing the garden (no, it isn't mulched yet, nor do we know what plants will end up where and no I haven't ordered fall planting bulbs yet... maybe next year...) Like organizing the basement (yes, it's still filled with boxes...) Like emptying out our stuff from Erin's room (of course, it's not like we decided until the last minute which room was going to be hers, but still...)
More importantly, we need to get our business going, and for that to happen I only need a little more time in the day, or at least a little more time when Erin doesn't need my direct attention... like I said before, baby things... can you tell we are "older" parents... people who already had sort of set routines which are now being totally turned upside down...
Thursday, October 25, 2007
RAVELRY!
I just got my invite... will slowly get onboard with everything... very very exciting!!!! My name there is hockeyrachel... had to come up with something quick and rachelb was taken...it's okay - because it's something I will remember!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
covering my head...
I plan on fully adding to this at a later date, and I have much more to say on the subject, however... since Erin has chosen to sleep for at least the moment... I will be brief. I cover my hair. It is for religious reasons which I will get into more later, but really what I wanted to say here was it's difficult once you have a child. B.E. (before Erin) I could put whatever I wanted to on my head and it didn't matter. There was no one pulling at my hair, no one pulling at my hat, no one trying to stuff my face/hair/head into their mouth and so it just didn't matter. I matched my head covering to my outfit (although that is clearly not the case with the one picture on this blog so far, but seeing as our daughter had just been born and the head covering in question there was chosen knowing we were going to the hospital, with contractions 6 minutes apart, and that I needed comfortable and something that would stay on.. well, I think that can be forgiven - plus I had no idea what color the hospital gown would be...that and probably 90% of my hats are either black or gray...
Anyway, now I have a new reality. I wear what little hair that sticks out below my hats in a ponytail that gets constantly pulled, so I am actually starting to stick the hair all up into the hats... but some of my hats don't fit with a ponytail, some don't fit with the hair stuck up inside... some are, well, a little dressier than staying at home to do laundry in. SO, I have been wearing a lot of bandanas... and been thinking that once I get through my list of WIPs that I should make myself some hats. Someone's up.... this is getting posted now.
and now a little addition - the hardest thing is that when I was teaching and moving around a lot in the classroom I was always warm with the wool/heavier hats... I am thinking perhaps the new reality is to make myself some berets... I have one I made, I will photograph it and post it here soon. Perhaps little beanie types hats, both crochet and knit with different yarns running through - coordinating colors - maybe I should branch out from black and gray... stop laughing.. it's possible!
Anyway, now I have a new reality. I wear what little hair that sticks out below my hats in a ponytail that gets constantly pulled, so I am actually starting to stick the hair all up into the hats... but some of my hats don't fit with a ponytail, some don't fit with the hair stuck up inside... some are, well, a little dressier than staying at home to do laundry in. SO, I have been wearing a lot of bandanas... and been thinking that once I get through my list of WIPs that I should make myself some hats. Someone's up.... this is getting posted now.
and now a little addition - the hardest thing is that when I was teaching and moving around a lot in the classroom I was always warm with the wool/heavier hats... I am thinking perhaps the new reality is to make myself some berets... I have one I made, I will photograph it and post it here soon. Perhaps little beanie types hats, both crochet and knit with different yarns running through - coordinating colors - maybe I should branch out from black and gray... stop laughing.. it's possible!
picture this...
my undergraduate degree is in film, photography and visual arts, and yet, I have no pictures on here! Pretty sad, huh! Well. That is about to change. For now, and just because I am still learning this blog thing, I am going to post one photo. And, it's an older one... ok, not so old, but it's almost 6 months old. WOW. I can't believe Erin is almost 6 months old...
Now that I have that taken care of, I have to admit that 95% of all of our pictures are on our business computer, and need to be shrunk. I had one lesson that, but need a review. don't worry. There will be more.
Now that I have that taken care of, I have to admit that 95% of all of our pictures are on our business computer, and need to be shrunk. I had one lesson that, but need a review. don't worry. There will be more.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSTED LONG AGO!!!!
When I began this Erin was napping, and I thought I would finish it, however, that never happened so I will post what is here, then continue this discussion...:
old post started here: so I am going to take advantage of this time to write about something that I have been wanting to write about for a long long time. My latest film project...I have had this one in the percolater for way too long. WAY TOO LONG!!!! I started to think about this and even began some preliminary research before I met my husband... We've been married now for three years. We've known each other for a little more than 3 and a half... okay, that doesn't sound like so much longer, but...
Back in 2002 I saw a film at the Pittsburgh Jewish Israeli Film Festival that changed the way I thought about my own filmmaking. For those of you who have known me for a long time, you may remember that when I was working on my MFA some of the faculty gave me a hard time for doing anything with any religious content, even though it was and still is a HUGE part of who I am. They kept telling me there was no market for it, and not that I only make films for the market, I mean lets face it, the festival circuit isn't exactly about the $ you make on a film!!!
Well, there is a market for what I want to do, and that is what I need to focus on. There is even now a Jewish Television channel, at least in NY there is, and so I need to remember that as I make this next film. I just need to make the time to make the film. It will be about the covering of one's head/hair. Unfortunately while I wanted to write about it now, I need to get some sleep...and so the last thing I will leave you with, other than the promise to write more on this topic, is that we have incorporated and so our business is on it's way to becoming a reality.
old post started here: so I am going to take advantage of this time to write about something that I have been wanting to write about for a long long time. My latest film project...I have had this one in the percolater for way too long. WAY TOO LONG!!!! I started to think about this and even began some preliminary research before I met my husband... We've been married now for three years. We've known each other for a little more than 3 and a half... okay, that doesn't sound like so much longer, but...
Back in 2002 I saw a film at the Pittsburgh Jewish Israeli Film Festival that changed the way I thought about my own filmmaking. For those of you who have known me for a long time, you may remember that when I was working on my MFA some of the faculty gave me a hard time for doing anything with any religious content, even though it was and still is a HUGE part of who I am. They kept telling me there was no market for it, and not that I only make films for the market, I mean lets face it, the festival circuit isn't exactly about the $ you make on a film!!!
Well, there is a market for what I want to do, and that is what I need to focus on. There is even now a Jewish Television channel, at least in NY there is, and so I need to remember that as I make this next film. I just need to make the time to make the film. It will be about the covering of one's head/hair. Unfortunately while I wanted to write about it now, I need to get some sleep...and so the last thing I will leave you with, other than the promise to write more on this topic, is that we have incorporated and so our business is on it's way to becoming a reality.
thoughts on fiber...
I am very excited about this. Combining two things I love - coffee and yarn! I have to admit I am a little intimidated by the luscious yarns I see out there. I have only recently become more particular about what I have on my needles/hooks. I was never a fan of the straight acrylic, but knew very little about LYS (local yarn stores) and only purchased yarn at big box craft stores... until... well, I am not sure exactly when it happened, but first I started looking for really soft/different acrylics, mainly because a lot of what I was making was for babies, and, well, let's face it, babies make messes. I didn't really know how much, but now that we have a baby, I am now really glad that pretty much all of the baby gifts I ever made prior to knowing anything about fiber were either 100% acrylic, or mostly acrylic because it makes care all that much easier.
HOWEVER...I have now seen the light and even the acrylics made by the smaller yarn companies are SOOOOOO much nicer that I can't use just a big box acrylic anymore! Take the car seat blanket I am working on (all that's left to do is weave in two ends) It is a 75% acrylic 25% wool blend and is really nice to touch and can go in the regular wash! As a new parent I am realizing that you don't have the brain capacity to remember what the different materials your handmade beautiful things are of and how to specially care for them without destroying them. And I want to use them. So, the challenge has become to find some really intriguing, beautiful, easy care yarns to make these baby gifts from.
Which leads me to 100% cotton. I am currently knitting a sweater for our daughter. I am making the 18 month size in the hopes that I will finish it before she outgrows it. Her Nanna bought the yarn and it is GORGEOUS!!!! I was first introduced to Manos de Uruguay in a LYS that has since closed. I picked up a skein of their kettle dyed wool. I made a scarf for myself. It was one of my first ever knit projects last winter. I LOVE IT!!!!! The color is gorgeous (when I learn to post pictures I will post one here) And, it's soft, not scratchy on my neck. When we (Erin and I) were in West Hartford, visiting Nanna we took a trip to the LYS. I think Nanna must have thought I was a crazy touching everything, but I had really only ever been in one or two LYS before and one was the place going out if business which was a mess as a huge sale was in progress and they were anti-crochet which ticks me off, and the other place was also anti-crochet and before I started knitting at all so I couldn't even fake "walk the walk, talk the talk..." Now that I can knit I feel a little more comfortable in those situations, but it still ticks me off!
Anyway, we went to Sit-n-Knit so I could check things out in a LYS and found the Manos del Uruguay yarn in cotton. I love it so much. The same kettle dyed variations, but the ease of cotton care. I think pretty much all of my baby gifts, once I work through the small stash of yarn I have is done, will be in either cotton or superwash wool. I haven't tried any yet, but have read so much about how great they are. The biggest challenge I have is finding a good LYS. One would think that here on Long Island, or as my SIL calls it, Strong Island - Shopping Capitol of the World, it would be easy to find one, however, I have located only two relatively nearby that are still open, and I haven't been able to get to either of them since Ms. Erin has entered this world. I know the internet has everything, but there is something about feeling the fiber that is very important to me.
However, I know of two LYS near Nanna, so we've been to one, and hopefully next visit we will try out the other one. And, in the meantime, I will use up what I have and go from there. I know I could recycle some of the acrylic I have, and I have done some of that, and I might do more. First I have some projects to finish. I have promised myself no new fiber projects until I have gotten the list under control and we have gotten some more stuff completed for our business and in the house. More on that later...
HOWEVER...I have now seen the light and even the acrylics made by the smaller yarn companies are SOOOOOO much nicer that I can't use just a big box acrylic anymore! Take the car seat blanket I am working on (all that's left to do is weave in two ends) It is a 75% acrylic 25% wool blend and is really nice to touch and can go in the regular wash! As a new parent I am realizing that you don't have the brain capacity to remember what the different materials your handmade beautiful things are of and how to specially care for them without destroying them. And I want to use them. So, the challenge has become to find some really intriguing, beautiful, easy care yarns to make these baby gifts from.
Which leads me to 100% cotton. I am currently knitting a sweater for our daughter. I am making the 18 month size in the hopes that I will finish it before she outgrows it. Her Nanna bought the yarn and it is GORGEOUS!!!! I was first introduced to Manos de Uruguay in a LYS that has since closed. I picked up a skein of their kettle dyed wool. I made a scarf for myself. It was one of my first ever knit projects last winter. I LOVE IT!!!!! The color is gorgeous (when I learn to post pictures I will post one here) And, it's soft, not scratchy on my neck. When we (Erin and I) were in West Hartford, visiting Nanna we took a trip to the LYS. I think Nanna must have thought I was a crazy touching everything, but I had really only ever been in one or two LYS before and one was the place going out if business which was a mess as a huge sale was in progress and they were anti-crochet which ticks me off, and the other place was also anti-crochet and before I started knitting at all so I couldn't even fake "walk the walk, talk the talk..." Now that I can knit I feel a little more comfortable in those situations, but it still ticks me off!
Anyway, we went to Sit-n-Knit so I could check things out in a LYS and found the Manos del Uruguay yarn in cotton. I love it so much. The same kettle dyed variations, but the ease of cotton care. I think pretty much all of my baby gifts, once I work through the small stash of yarn I have is done, will be in either cotton or superwash wool. I haven't tried any yet, but have read so much about how great they are. The biggest challenge I have is finding a good LYS. One would think that here on Long Island, or as my SIL calls it, Strong Island - Shopping Capitol of the World, it would be easy to find one, however, I have located only two relatively nearby that are still open, and I haven't been able to get to either of them since Ms. Erin has entered this world. I know the internet has everything, but there is something about feeling the fiber that is very important to me.
However, I know of two LYS near Nanna, so we've been to one, and hopefully next visit we will try out the other one. And, in the meantime, I will use up what I have and go from there. I know I could recycle some of the acrylic I have, and I have done some of that, and I might do more. First I have some projects to finish. I have promised myself no new fiber projects until I have gotten the list under control and we have gotten some more stuff completed for our business and in the house. More on that later...
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
dreams of coffee...
so the impetus to start this blog was two fold, one was all the reasons I mentioned in the first post, the other was that I had seen (via someone else's blog and the button) the opportunity to participate in a swap of fiber and coffee... ok - so it was (is) called the knitters coffee swap and my first fiber love is still crochet, but still, it's all the same in this great big fiber world... I would imagine that spinners and weavers would be just as welcome to sign up... only I found the blog too late to participate, so I waited and waited and was very very patient, and hoped they would run another one and so they did... http://coffeeswapthree.blogspot.com/ and I am hopeful that I am in... I sent in my info and am now playing the waiting game to receive my invite. In hopeful anticipation, and because Knittymama said so, I am going to post and answer all the questions on the swap list.
The funny thing is that I was going to blog mainly about fiber today as I had a dream about wool last night, but instead, while sweet little teething Erin is sleeping I am going to answer these questions....
SWAP QUESTIONS
Here are the questions:
QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground? whole bean - to me, part of the coffeemaking process/experience is grinding the beans... unfortunately Erin doesn't seem to be so fond of the sound the grinder makes- hopefully longterm exposure will temper that
2. Fully-loaded or decaf? fully-loaded - not that I have anything against decaf other than the decaffinating process is chemical laden for the most part...
3. Regular or flavored? usually regular, but every once and again I will taste a flavored coffee that I would consider drinking again
4. How do you drink your coffee? preferably with half and half, although if I have had a meat meal I would prefer black with sugar over the fake creamers... there is just something about them that makes me feel like I am drinking plastic and soy and rice milks don't do it for me. Recently I have tried two different varieties of almond milk to see if I like that any better... and the answer is no, not really - just doesn't do much for me!
5. Favorite coffee ever? pretty much anything I ever got at the Coffee and Tea Exchange in Chicago when I was living there.. it was right around the corner, most amazing aroma ever when you went in, and, there was a huge goldfish named Mary who lived on the counter and was like 10 years old or something amazing like that that made it, well, just like home... Strange thing, when I was in Havana three years ago I was hoping to have a "coffee nirvana experience" and while the coffee was good, it was served more like the bitter coffee I have had in Bedouin tents than what I had anticipated. Delicious, just not what I expected, now the ice cream... WOW!!!!!!!!! that was amazing... and the mangos......
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I am pretty open to trying any old bean, however, usually my preference is to go back to what I like afterward, although I will say that most beans I have tried from Trader Joes have been to my liking in terms of relatively inexpensive bean fixes.... in the cupboard to try now is a bag of organic coffee (breakfast blend, I believe) from our local health food store
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? mmmmm....treats.... well, I am kinda a baked goods snob - really prefering only my own, but after that... chocolate.... the scones from Trader Joes are kinda nice as well - and since they are kosher it works for me if I have not baked in awhile - really like the lemon ginger ones and the blueberry
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? I forgot to mention the rest of the experience above... it's all about the process... perfect morning is as follows... put up the water to boil, grind the beans, rinse the press (usually still filled with last pots beans...) put the new beans in the press, after the water is just beneath boiling so it doesn't burn the beans, pour away, let it sit 5 minutes... if my husband is home I let him know it's time, if not I do the pressing. He has a "patented swirl" method that he loves to do - doesn't drink coffee or any other hot beverage, but likes to press, and who am I to complain! Then, pour it in the cup, smell and savour the aroma, add the half and half and enjoy.
Erin just woke up so the fiber questiosn and the like will be in part two of this post...
The funny thing is that I was going to blog mainly about fiber today as I had a dream about wool last night, but instead, while sweet little teething Erin is sleeping I am going to answer these questions....
SWAP QUESTIONS
Here are the questions:
QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground? whole bean - to me, part of the coffeemaking process/experience is grinding the beans... unfortunately Erin doesn't seem to be so fond of the sound the grinder makes- hopefully longterm exposure will temper that
2. Fully-loaded or decaf? fully-loaded - not that I have anything against decaf other than the decaffinating process is chemical laden for the most part...
3. Regular or flavored? usually regular, but every once and again I will taste a flavored coffee that I would consider drinking again
4. How do you drink your coffee? preferably with half and half, although if I have had a meat meal I would prefer black with sugar over the fake creamers... there is just something about them that makes me feel like I am drinking plastic and soy and rice milks don't do it for me. Recently I have tried two different varieties of almond milk to see if I like that any better... and the answer is no, not really - just doesn't do much for me!
5. Favorite coffee ever? pretty much anything I ever got at the Coffee and Tea Exchange in Chicago when I was living there.. it was right around the corner, most amazing aroma ever when you went in, and, there was a huge goldfish named Mary who lived on the counter and was like 10 years old or something amazing like that that made it, well, just like home... Strange thing, when I was in Havana three years ago I was hoping to have a "coffee nirvana experience" and while the coffee was good, it was served more like the bitter coffee I have had in Bedouin tents than what I had anticipated. Delicious, just not what I expected, now the ice cream... WOW!!!!!!!!! that was amazing... and the mangos......
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I am pretty open to trying any old bean, however, usually my preference is to go back to what I like afterward, although I will say that most beans I have tried from Trader Joes have been to my liking in terms of relatively inexpensive bean fixes.... in the cupboard to try now is a bag of organic coffee (breakfast blend, I believe) from our local health food store
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? mmmmm....treats.... well, I am kinda a baked goods snob - really prefering only my own, but after that... chocolate.... the scones from Trader Joes are kinda nice as well - and since they are kosher it works for me if I have not baked in awhile - really like the lemon ginger ones and the blueberry
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? I forgot to mention the rest of the experience above... it's all about the process... perfect morning is as follows... put up the water to boil, grind the beans, rinse the press (usually still filled with last pots beans...) put the new beans in the press, after the water is just beneath boiling so it doesn't burn the beans, pour away, let it sit 5 minutes... if my husband is home I let him know it's time, if not I do the pressing. He has a "patented swirl" method that he loves to do - doesn't drink coffee or any other hot beverage, but likes to press, and who am I to complain! Then, pour it in the cup, smell and savour the aroma, add the half and half and enjoy.
Erin just woke up so the fiber questiosn and the like will be in part two of this post...
the fiber questions...
More Swap Questions...
9. Yarn/fiber you love? I am really starting to prefer natural fibers - I very much like cottons for their easy washability, however I haven't really begun to explore the superwash wools. I have used a few wool/acrylic blends and have liked them - I just worry about their itchability... You know - how itchy they make you feel, plus my mom is allergic to wool, so I worry that gift recipients might be as well.
10. Yarn/fiber you hate? RED HEART ACRYLIC... okay, so maybe that makes me a yarn snob, I don't know but it just doesn't feel nice no matter how many times you wash it. I know a lot of crocheters use it and swear it's all they can afford in order to do larger projects - I say wait until good yarn is on sale or clearance and use the better stuff.
11. What's on your needles? WAY WAY too much - all of the actual projects are correct in the sidebar, just the percentages completed are off (except for the Mom's dishclothes - those are actually done!)
12. Favorite colors? greens and blues, although deep reds as well.. not a big fan of pastels or pink - purples depend on the shade. I received a skein of self-striping sock yarn as a gift and am really looking forward to using it - haven't had a chance to yet - am not starting any new projects right now - not until I finish some stuff!
13. Allergies? no allergies - important to know for this swap that I do keep kosher, so food products need to be marked that they are kosher. If you are my partner and don't know what this means, I can send you a list of what symbols to look for - even if you aren't my partner and are curious, I can still send you a list of stuff to look for...actually, this link is probably all you need.
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? I am REALLY excited about this swap. I have only been knitting for a short time, have fallen in love with EZ's writing - although can't say I have the courage to start any of her projects yet. I have been crocheting for a million years and am looking forward to one day teaching my daughter how to both knit and crochet. I love the sound of metal knitting needles as they click. I don't like the feel of plastic knitting needles - I also don't like the way plastic crochet hooks feel on the yarn...
And, now, since for some reason my daughter went to sleep somewhat "early" I am going to take advantage of that and get a couple of rows done on her sweater.
9. Yarn/fiber you love? I am really starting to prefer natural fibers - I very much like cottons for their easy washability, however I haven't really begun to explore the superwash wools. I have used a few wool/acrylic blends and have liked them - I just worry about their itchability... You know - how itchy they make you feel, plus my mom is allergic to wool, so I worry that gift recipients might be as well.
10. Yarn/fiber you hate? RED HEART ACRYLIC... okay, so maybe that makes me a yarn snob, I don't know but it just doesn't feel nice no matter how many times you wash it. I know a lot of crocheters use it and swear it's all they can afford in order to do larger projects - I say wait until good yarn is on sale or clearance and use the better stuff.
11. What's on your needles? WAY WAY too much - all of the actual projects are correct in the sidebar, just the percentages completed are off (except for the Mom's dishclothes - those are actually done!)
12. Favorite colors? greens and blues, although deep reds as well.. not a big fan of pastels or pink - purples depend on the shade. I received a skein of self-striping sock yarn as a gift and am really looking forward to using it - haven't had a chance to yet - am not starting any new projects right now - not until I finish some stuff!
13. Allergies? no allergies - important to know for this swap that I do keep kosher, so food products need to be marked that they are kosher. If you are my partner and don't know what this means, I can send you a list of what symbols to look for - even if you aren't my partner and are curious, I can still send you a list of stuff to look for...actually, this link is probably all you need.
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? I am REALLY excited about this swap. I have only been knitting for a short time, have fallen in love with EZ's writing - although can't say I have the courage to start any of her projects yet. I have been crocheting for a million years and am looking forward to one day teaching my daughter how to both knit and crochet. I love the sound of metal knitting needles as they click. I don't like the feel of plastic knitting needles - I also don't like the way plastic crochet hooks feel on the yarn...
And, now, since for some reason my daughter went to sleep somewhat "early" I am going to take advantage of that and get a couple of rows done on her sweater.
Monday, October 8, 2007
some fiber talk...
okay - since it seems like it has been awhile since I mentioned anything really fiber related... all I can say is I love working with manos del urugual cotton stria yarn!!!!!!! It just seems to glide on my needles like I can't describe... uh - I can hear the baby fidgeting and it's time for the 11pm "dream feed." this was much shorter than intended... perhaps more later...
Sunday, October 7, 2007
another week gone by....
This is going to be really short, but soon, I hope I will be able to fill in the blanks. I am exhausted. There is no reason in particular, other than having a 5 month old, and the string of Jewish holidays that have just concluded. This week is the first "full" week we have had in the last month. This last month has been rough, between Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shmini Atseret and Simchat Torah, mixed in with the regular weekly Shabbat, well, it just makes it down right crazy running from holiday to holiday. For the totally un-initiated, we celebrate our holidays fully, we don't use electricity, but no, we don't sit in the dark (we use either timers or leave lights on) we don't cook if we can help it (although on the holiday we can cook, on Shabbat we can't - we try to do all the preperations before hand) we spend a lot of time in the synagogue, with friends and family, and it makes it a full time/day.
However, it is now 10:24pm and I need to get some sleep... more later... and hopefully this will all make more sense as time goes by....
However, it is now 10:24pm and I need to get some sleep... more later... and hopefully this will all make more sense as time goes by....
Sunday, September 30, 2007
delinquency.... shocker!!!!!
So, I am still developing my thoughts for what I truly want to include in this blog. I know I want to use it to organize myself, I want to be able to share what's going on in our world, but I don't want to bore the world. Part of this is just to track my days as I become more adjusted to raising a family versus it just being me and my husband, and also, I want to keep my brain active. In the interest of actually making this a full view of me and our family, it is not going to just incorporate the fiber world thoughts I have, but also include the important things in our world, like the fact that we are Modern Orthodox Jews and that we are trying to start a business as well. Some posts are going to be about fiber stuff, some will be about the time of year it is, some will be about our business venture, and some will just, well, be.
On to the topic at hand... every year this happens. School starts and with it all the reminders of fall. I know that every fall the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah comes, and every year I feel like it is either too early or too late. This year, of all years, where it falls in the calendar actually feels just right, but perhaps because of Erin I feel like I have not been prepared. In addition, this year is what we call three day yom tovim, where a bunch of the holidays which are celebrated for two days butt up against a Sabbath and thereby create a situation where we end up celebrating for three days, which isn't inherently a bad thing, it just is, HOWEVER... It does create a situation where it feels like all we do is eat, sleep and go to synagogue.
What it really creates is a backlog of laundry, mail, and other things that need to get done. And, it prevents me from writing regularly. I will be writing more about the holidays in a little bit - not today - today is laundry day - particularly because Erin chose to poop all out her diaper and onto the blanket that she loves to lay on on the kitchen floor.... so that had to get done. But, I was inspired to write a little to share to anyone that might be reading this, that my good friend who is living as an ex-pat in Japan started her blog and she is an amazing author, so if you are interested in reading about life for an American living in Japan, check out aimeeweinstein.blogspot.com - you won't be sorry! enjoy!
It also means that not much knitting or crocheting gets done - although between my mother in law and sister in law and myself it does get discussed. In addition, the new WEBS catalog just arrived, so it's in our thoughts. Just a few words on this - I am almost done with the knit sweater for a friend's baby, I finished the carseat blanket, except for weaving in the ends, I have been getting a little done on the "to be felted" diaper bag and I did 4 rows of the new sweater I am making for Erin... so a little has been accomplished, just not as much as usually gets done.
And, as if that weren't enough... Erin is teething so instead of giving me nice big 4 hour blocks of sleeping, well, lets just say it's "sleepus interruptus" but we're working on it.... more on the holidays and how teething and lack of sleep plays into it all... see - I am not intending to be a blog delinquent... it's just sort of happening....
On to the topic at hand... every year this happens. School starts and with it all the reminders of fall. I know that every fall the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah comes, and every year I feel like it is either too early or too late. This year, of all years, where it falls in the calendar actually feels just right, but perhaps because of Erin I feel like I have not been prepared. In addition, this year is what we call three day yom tovim, where a bunch of the holidays which are celebrated for two days butt up against a Sabbath and thereby create a situation where we end up celebrating for three days, which isn't inherently a bad thing, it just is, HOWEVER... It does create a situation where it feels like all we do is eat, sleep and go to synagogue.
What it really creates is a backlog of laundry, mail, and other things that need to get done. And, it prevents me from writing regularly. I will be writing more about the holidays in a little bit - not today - today is laundry day - particularly because Erin chose to poop all out her diaper and onto the blanket that she loves to lay on on the kitchen floor.... so that had to get done. But, I was inspired to write a little to share to anyone that might be reading this, that my good friend who is living as an ex-pat in Japan started her blog and she is an amazing author, so if you are interested in reading about life for an American living in Japan, check out aimeeweinstein.blogspot.com - you won't be sorry! enjoy!
It also means that not much knitting or crocheting gets done - although between my mother in law and sister in law and myself it does get discussed. In addition, the new WEBS catalog just arrived, so it's in our thoughts. Just a few words on this - I am almost done with the knit sweater for a friend's baby, I finished the carseat blanket, except for weaving in the ends, I have been getting a little done on the "to be felted" diaper bag and I did 4 rows of the new sweater I am making for Erin... so a little has been accomplished, just not as much as usually gets done.
And, as if that weren't enough... Erin is teething so instead of giving me nice big 4 hour blocks of sleeping, well, lets just say it's "sleepus interruptus" but we're working on it.... more on the holidays and how teething and lack of sleep plays into it all... see - I am not intending to be a blog delinquent... it's just sort of happening....
Sunday, September 9, 2007
FO and UFO (Finished Objects and UnFinished Objects)
Well, I can't believe I actually finished one project... the last dishcloth of the set for my mom... however, I did forget to include what was going to be a nursing poncho for me in the list of items of startitis... (I have to figure out how to link to previous posts stil...) Anyway, I found this gorgeous yarn, started a poncho intending to be able to nurse under it and still have the baby breath freely, but have privacy...however... you knew there was a however coming, didn't you... Well, the yarn sheds. really sheds.... a lot. It's still gorgeous, but every time I take it out to work on it (all knit) I am covered with mohair. There is no way Erin would be happy under there.
The silver lining to that cloud, though, is it is still totally unfinished, and I believe the dimensions will enable me to make a shrug for myself following the directions on the DIY page from the show Knitty Gritty (didn't see the show - my mother-in-law did). All you need is a rectangle...My plan was to knit a rectangle and sew it into a poncho. While I am not really a shrug kinda' gal, I am much more of a shrug gal than a poncho gal. I still love the yarn and am hoping that it will stop shedding once it's washed.
In other late breaking news, the sweater I am knitting which initially had no one specific that it was for, is now assiged. Yet another friend had a baby boy. And, of course, the pile of boy gifts had been depleted (this sweater was intended to at least start to refill it) but now it has two fronts to go with the back and the beginnings of one sleeve... it will eventually be completed... and the swatch for Erin's sweater is done. The yarn for that is gorgeous, feels beautiful, and will make her one fine sweater courtesy of Nanna... beautiful yarn - Manos del Uruguay cotton stria... I have now used their wool and their cotton, love both - they are kettle dyed and absolutely wonderful. I have promised myself, though, that I will not cast on the sweater until I finish the other baby sweater. I must get the list of unfinished objects whittled down. And I must figure out how to post pictures!
It's been awhile since I last posted and while my intention was to post several times a week, I think it might have been about a week since my last one. Why, you might ask.. well, Erin has taken to waking about every hour or so and to be quite honest I don't do so well without sleep. I have trouble remembering things, it takes all of my concentration just to get through the day, and so, that is the answer... long and short!
The silver lining to that cloud, though, is it is still totally unfinished, and I believe the dimensions will enable me to make a shrug for myself following the directions on the DIY page from the show Knitty Gritty (didn't see the show - my mother-in-law did). All you need is a rectangle...My plan was to knit a rectangle and sew it into a poncho. While I am not really a shrug kinda' gal, I am much more of a shrug gal than a poncho gal. I still love the yarn and am hoping that it will stop shedding once it's washed.
In other late breaking news, the sweater I am knitting which initially had no one specific that it was for, is now assiged. Yet another friend had a baby boy. And, of course, the pile of boy gifts had been depleted (this sweater was intended to at least start to refill it) but now it has two fronts to go with the back and the beginnings of one sleeve... it will eventually be completed... and the swatch for Erin's sweater is done. The yarn for that is gorgeous, feels beautiful, and will make her one fine sweater courtesy of Nanna... beautiful yarn - Manos del Uruguay cotton stria... I have now used their wool and their cotton, love both - they are kettle dyed and absolutely wonderful. I have promised myself, though, that I will not cast on the sweater until I finish the other baby sweater. I must get the list of unfinished objects whittled down. And I must figure out how to post pictures!
It's been awhile since I last posted and while my intention was to post several times a week, I think it might have been about a week since my last one. Why, you might ask.. well, Erin has taken to waking about every hour or so and to be quite honest I don't do so well without sleep. I have trouble remembering things, it takes all of my concentration just to get through the day, and so, that is the answer... long and short!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
startitis....
I think I have a disease....You may have it too.... I can't only have one project going at a time. It doesn't seem to matter if I have a deadline (self-imposed or not) or if I really just want to finish something... I just seem to need to pull out a new project to work on.. as if the pile of projects in bags wasn't staring me in the face. I have tried to reel it all in and have a little control - right now knitting is downstairs, crocheting is upstairs, and I try not to move the bags from their spots next to my nursing stations... since that seems to be the only time I have to work on my projects.
Currently I have the following projects in progress: a crocheted afghan for my mom, a knit dishcloth for my mom (luckily I finished 2 of the 3 in the set), a crocheted car seat baby blanket for a friend whose baby was born in July, a graphed crochet lapghan for my husband, a crocheted and to be felted bag to be used as a diaper bag for me, a crocheted babyghan for a friend who I think is due in November, a crocheted shawl for no one yet - just had the yarn and wanted to try the pattern, a knit baby sweater for whomever I might need a baby gift for, a crochet with beads bracelet, and two items that I have the yarn ready to go, one that has been swatched but needs to be re-swatched with a smaller needle, and one that needs to be swatched. Oh - and a cute little purse that my best friend has been patiently waiting for... for a year! All that is left to do is finish sewing in the lining, then add a button and loop... do you think I could get it done...
And, this is not just my crochet and knitting problem... My poor husband, we have curtains in our dining room that need to be hemmed and trimmed out with some beading. I didn't do it initially because I had trouble finding trim I liked. Now I haven't done it because there is a little one around who somehow seems to take up a lot of my time... Hmmmm... and now, for the past week and a half a friend is camped out in my sewing room/spare bedroom, while she waits for her lease to begin. I think the curtains need to be the next "nighttime b/c the baby is sleeping project" It shouldn't take too long to sew a straight hem on four panels and then glue gun on the trim.... yes... maybe the beginning of next week....
I don't know what it is, what causes it, or perhaps it's the thought that if I keep starting things I must be very industrious... I have been really trying to finish things. Right now I have the most gorgeous yarn and a pattern all picked out to make a sweater for my daughter... it's the one that is ready to be swatched, but I have promised myself that I must complete at least one of the above, prefereably two before I swatch it and make it... It's going okay so far, except now I started this blog... but I have been wanting to do this for a really long time, so I think it will be okay. I do have to figure out the picture thing, because I would like you to see all the almost finished things... or maybe just the finished ones... don't know yet. I'll have to think about that. Meanwhile, my daughter is napping in my lap... perhaps I can knit a row or two on Nanna's dishcloth....
Currently I have the following projects in progress: a crocheted afghan for my mom, a knit dishcloth for my mom (luckily I finished 2 of the 3 in the set), a crocheted car seat baby blanket for a friend whose baby was born in July, a graphed crochet lapghan for my husband, a crocheted and to be felted bag to be used as a diaper bag for me, a crocheted babyghan for a friend who I think is due in November, a crocheted shawl for no one yet - just had the yarn and wanted to try the pattern, a knit baby sweater for whomever I might need a baby gift for, a crochet with beads bracelet, and two items that I have the yarn ready to go, one that has been swatched but needs to be re-swatched with a smaller needle, and one that needs to be swatched. Oh - and a cute little purse that my best friend has been patiently waiting for... for a year! All that is left to do is finish sewing in the lining, then add a button and loop... do you think I could get it done...
And, this is not just my crochet and knitting problem... My poor husband, we have curtains in our dining room that need to be hemmed and trimmed out with some beading. I didn't do it initially because I had trouble finding trim I liked. Now I haven't done it because there is a little one around who somehow seems to take up a lot of my time... Hmmmm... and now, for the past week and a half a friend is camped out in my sewing room/spare bedroom, while she waits for her lease to begin. I think the curtains need to be the next "nighttime b/c the baby is sleeping project" It shouldn't take too long to sew a straight hem on four panels and then glue gun on the trim.... yes... maybe the beginning of next week....
I don't know what it is, what causes it, or perhaps it's the thought that if I keep starting things I must be very industrious... I have been really trying to finish things. Right now I have the most gorgeous yarn and a pattern all picked out to make a sweater for my daughter... it's the one that is ready to be swatched, but I have promised myself that I must complete at least one of the above, prefereably two before I swatch it and make it... It's going okay so far, except now I started this blog... but I have been wanting to do this for a really long time, so I think it will be okay. I do have to figure out the picture thing, because I would like you to see all the almost finished things... or maybe just the finished ones... don't know yet. I'll have to think about that. Meanwhile, my daughter is napping in my lap... perhaps I can knit a row or two on Nanna's dishcloth....
Monday, August 27, 2007
the first one...
It's late. My daughter Erin is asleep (I hope for more than 1 hour... oh - it's already been an hour - perhaps she'll sleep for a few... and I just couldn't wait any longer... I have wanted to do this for a really long time... so, here I am... Creating a place to post about my crocheting, knitting, and more importantly, my newest challenge, as Erin's mom...alright,k this is enough for now, I need to get some sleep, but there will be many more postings here...
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