My friend and fellow knitsib, Lisa, is expecting quads. She's in in her 29th week and in the hospital for observation and will mostly likely remain there until the babies are born. I'm glad that she is close enough so I can drop by on my way home from the LYS.
I enjoy our chats about knitting, Dlisted, the NFL, and the military. She is currently in the Air Force, and I used to be.
The pattern is the Cabled Baby Hats by Julie Hentz. I made these before, and they are crazy quick and easy. I have other knitter friends who are expecting, so I will make more. There's an earflap version too.
I love using Berroco Comfort for baby items. It's nice to work with, very reasonably priced, has lots of nice colors, and is machine washable and dryer safe.
Lady In Waiting
The next thing I'd like to get on the needles is the Lady Eleanor Entrelac Stole. I've been wanting to knit this for years, and just never got around to it. It's going to be a KAL at my LYS, and Lisa(the same Lisa as above) gave me 10 skeins of Noro Silk Garden, color 248.
Hello Birthday!
I got this from my knitsib, Pam, for my birthday.
It's a HK lunch bag. which I'll use for knitting, some bubblegum hand shop, and a HK toothbrush with HK all decked out in her best Western finery. So cute.
Thanks Pam!
Friends Indeed
I'm naturally introverted and reticent about making friends. In addition, I have a bad tendency to not reach out to people when I need them, and I'm almost always surprised when I realize that someone actually likes me.
Since today is Friendship Day, I just wanted to say how I'm
grateful for all my knit/crochetsibs, my blogger, Twitter, Plurk, and
facebook friends as well as my friends that I've known for years and
years.
It means a lot to me. Thanks to all of you for being part of my world!
I finished my Solo Tank at a restaurant in Cheraw, South Carolina on Saturday during a meetup with some of my high school classmates, and I just had to try it on.
It's not the best photo of the tank top, but it fits well, and I'm really pleased with it.
I also had a great time meeting up with my old schoolmates. The big reunion (#30) is next year.
Here's a better photo of the Solo Tank. It was windy, so that's why the v-neck is curled on the right side.
I'm always frightened of seaming. Who wants to waste all that knitting with sloppy construction, but (Knit Clips+reference book-fear)x patience= a good job.
She's almost all done here. I just needed to knit the attached i-cord around the second armhole, and weave in some ends.
I finished it just in time for my birthday which was Sunday. In addition to the mini-reunion, I got to see some family and watch the end of a very exciting Tour de France.
I'm taking it easy today, watching the Tour de France and knitting on my latest project the SoloTank.
The armholes are shapes and I'm working on the neckline. So far, so good. Hopefully, I can get the knitting all done this weekend and start putting her together although I always have seaming drama.
Goodbye Marianne!
One of the things that have been a blessing for me with my knitting and crocheting is the people that I've met (both on line and IRL). I'm an introvert by nature, and it's difficult for me to make connections with others. My needlework has helped me bring something to the table.
One of those people that has made my Saturday trips to the LYS so pleasant has been Marianne. This week, she left Charleston for Tampa, and last Saturday, some of us got together at Social to say goodbye.
Marianne, Me, and Connie
Knit and Purl Tats! That's how we roll!
Hanging with the Knitsibs: Suzanne, Pam, Marianne, Connie. Jean and Sarah in the back.
I started this afghan in February, finished the squares in March, and started sewing them together last week while watching one of my favorite sporting events, The Tour de France.
I'm so in awe of what these elite cyclists can do, and I'm nearly giddy about this particular Tour.
Here I am yesterday at the LYS putting the finishing touches on her.
I just finished her while watching Stage 9 of the Tour.
I'm very pleased with how she turned out. She is so nice and light crocheted in the sock yarns. Yes, I talked smack about the Noro Sock Yarn, and I don't take it back, but the colors are so fab.
I like how the border turned out. Not too much--just right--although I didn't count stitches and pretty much fudged around the corners.
More details on my Ravelry project page. BTW, if you are a knitter, crocheter, or spinner, you need to be on Ravelry. Do not pass go, no $200. Just join!
When I got home Thursday evening, I sat down as usual to the computer and started on Twitter. I expected to read tweets about Farrah Fawcett, since I had heard of her passing earlier in the day.
Instead, I read that Michael Jackson was dead.
WTF! This must be some mean-spirited internet hoax that needs to stop.
I first read a report on TMZ--Not believing that...
When I saw the LA Times report and the crawl on CNN, I felt numbness and the uncomfortable sting of tears. Could this be true?
My reaction surprised me. I'm not one of those people, who weep over celebrities they never met, but I guess, in this case, I am.
Tell 'Em That It's Human Nature...
I fell in love with the Jackson 5 upon hearing ABC. As a child, I remember dancing around my apartment while listening to them on WABC-AM. I couldn't wait for the latest issue of Right On! magazine, so I could put another poster on my wall. Their music made me feel so good, and they were all so cute.
When they were on Soul Train, it was an EVENT. I remember my mother and her friends calling each other to remind them to tune in. Keep in mind that in the pre-VCR days that if you missed a performance, you were totally SOL.
Here they are performing Dancing Machine.
Awesome! I wanted to dance like that. And OMG, Jermaine was so fine!
Blame it on the Boogie is on of my favorite songs and videos by the Jacksons.
I love this song and video so much because Michael conveys the unmitigated joy of music and dance so much better than anything that I can imagine putting together.
Also, MJ's vest and belt are too hot. I need more glitter in my life.
Blame it on the boogie should be my life's tagline.
Rock with You was my favorite song in my senior year of high school.
His Motown 25 performance was one of the most remarkable things on television--ever. We talked about it for weeks after.
Michael becomes iconic at 3:44.
I saw MJ in concert in 1987. It was during the tour for Bad in Atlanta. MJ rocked the stage for over two hours to a diverse crowd. He was amazing.
As we rode back on the MARTA, we sang Michael Jackson songs in unison. It was magical.
Why, Why Does He Do Me That Way?
Soon after, Michael morphed into Wacko Jacko, the celebrity, more in the news for plastic surgeries, bizarre antics, and inappropriate, possibly criminal, behavior with children than music.
I didn't bother with his last few albums, and went into premature mourning for the sweet little brown boy with the Afro and the flat button nose.
His death brought into sharp relief how much his music means to me. He was part of MY generation, a massively talented genius who lost his way.
It doesn't matter that I didn't know him personally or how ugly that the aftermath is going to be.
What matters most is that he helped connect a little projects girl with the music in her heart and the dance in her feet.
For that, I'm forever deeply grateful.
Thank you Michael and rest in peace.
Human Nature (My favorite MJ song) [1st Verse]
Looking Out
Across The Night-Time
The City Winks A Sleepless Eye
Hear Her Voice
Shake My Window
Sweet Seducing Sighs
[2nd Verse]
Get Me Out
Into The Night-Time
Four Walls Won't Hold Me Tonight
If This Town
Is Just An Apple
Then Let Me Take A Bite
[Chorus]
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
[3rd Verse]
Reaching Out
To Touch A Stranger
Electric Eyes Are Ev'rywhere
See That Girl
She Knows I'm Watching
She Likes The Way I Stare
[Chorus]
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
I Like Livin' This Way
I Like Lovin' This Way
[4th Verse]
Looking Out
Across The Morning
The City's Heart Begins To Beat
Reaching Out
I Touch Her Shoulder
I'm Dreaming Of The Street
[Chorus]
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
I Like Livin' This Way
I knew that going back to Myrtle Beach AFB would be interesting. I heard about Market Commons, but I wasn't quite prepared for the total displacement smack I received when I came back there for CREATESouth yesterday.
I was stationed there from 1987-1991, and had you dropped me in some parts of the former base, I would not have known where I was. After the conference, we high-tailed it out of there.
On the way back to Charleston, Patrick and I came back, and took it in.
Wow! It's so well mannered and upscale now. Obliterated are any traces of broke Airmen shuffling for the chow hall, NCO club, or dingy dorms.
Actually, not all traces...
Around the perimeter of the base, especially around the flight line, many of the squadron buildings still stand as well as base supply, but I'm sure those will be gone in time.
I'm glad to see the area thriving, but I'll always miss my stay there.
Warbird Park
Entering from the front gate (Business 17 side), I was also glad to see a nod to the past.
The F100D Super Sabre.
This plane used to be in front of the Commander's office. I used to
cut grass there, and nearly ran over the commander one day because I was learning to operate a riding lawnmower and didn't know how to stop very well.
I took a well-deserved Friday off, and headed up the coast to the CREATESouth Conference in Myrtle Beach.
It was a gorgeous day for a yarn crawl, and Patrick didn't seem to mind as we stopped by Joyfilled Gifts in Georgetown and took a walk along the Riverfront.
All the photos in this post are Patrick's since I never got around to putting fresh batteries in my camera (duh).
In Pawleys Island, we stopped by Island Knits, and in Myrtle Beach, we chilled out a spell with the wonderful staff and my new knitsibs at Knit N Purl. Thanks so much ladies!
I had been a bit concerned about Knit N Purl since it was in sight of the Myrtle Beach wildfires, but was relived to know it it was okay.
Create, Converge, Community--Again!
Ever since I returned from CREATESouth last year, I wanted to return. This year, it was held at Horry-Georgetown Tech's conference center on the site of the old Myrtle Beach AFB.
I was stationed in Myrtle Beach for four years, and it closed in the early 1990's, and I hadn't been there for a while. Now it's filled with shops, houses, and condos.
It was a bit shocking to see the change, since I barely recognized my old stomping grounds, but it felt good to see the area so vibrant. There had been so much uncertainly when the base closed.
There's even a lake where the dorms used to be--a move in which I believe has its own form of poetic justice.
The conference was so much fun. There was a nice sized Charleston crew.
I thoroughly enjoyed the keynote speakers, Tiffany Trent, who spoke on building creativity, and Tee Morris, who talked about social media.
It may seem bizarre that someone who a blog dedicated mostly to her crafting life would have difficulty in seeing herself as creative, but I do.
So many times, I just see my knitting and crocheting endeavors as slavishly following directions and not creating something. I see "creative people" as something else. While I know this isn't true, it's often the was I feel, and I know I need to step away from those feelings and wrap myself in what I know to be true, that I am creative.
Tiffany gave some wonderful talk, and later, referred to Patrick as an "idea guru, " which he liked very much.
Tee's talk got me thinking as well. I'm in a full-frontal embrace of social media with Twitter, Plurk. My Space, Facebook, and Ravelry. Lately, there's been loads of hand wringing with celebrities on Twitter and some early-adopters being put off by it.
To me, the bottom line, for a celebrity or anyone else, is to be real. It's not about having tons of followers, it's about having real content. It doesn't matter if you've been with Twitter since the beginning or just came on because of Oprah.
It's all about making real connections.
At CREATE South, there were a few "tracks" to follow. I chose the writing track. Marsha Guerard, with the Post and Courier talked about the writing process and steps to take to become a better writer.
The second session was canceled, so Dan and Janet lead a informal discussion about social media, hashtags, and civility.
For the last session, we were treated to a poetry reading by Katherine Williams. I adored her poem, Jubliate Louie, an ode to her first dog--just beautiful, and funny and reverent and delightful.
Katherine and Dan
After the conference, some of us met up at Bummz and I took in some of the first round of the NFL Draft.
In another life, Patrick and I used to live in walking distance from Bummz.
Ah, nostalgia.
Great job from Dave, Paul, Andre and everyone for putting this FREE event together. Looking forward to 2010!
R.E.M.: Out of Time i hadn't listened to this CD in years, and I was recently reminded how good it was. There are few pop songs more perfect than "Near Wild Heaven."
U2: No Line On The Horizon I was fearful that I wouldn't like this album, but surprise, I did. It's pensive and beautiful, and my current favorite is "Breathe."
Scream Chris Cornell: Scream On the first listen, I found the whole "Chris Bringing Sexy Back" vibe really weird, but once I settled down really listened, it's not as bad as the critics say, and there are more than a few songs I like.
