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March 31, 2006
quickie
Quick note - I will update the FYS page once more today. Camera battery is charged and once I return from the #%@%^#$@ing immigration office I shall shoot mine, if I'm not arrested or anything. Wonder if they'll mind that I'm a couple years late picking up a certain document. *ahem* I am happy to note it is smaller than last year, but that is only due to an extensive Culling of the Crap.
UPDATE: I have returned from one of the most smelliest public offices in town. For the first time in 8 years I now have the "proper document" in hand. Remind me sometime to tell you about immigration in Bella Sicilia (:
Waiting forever and a half was rewarded with a tasty lunch at a tavola calda down the street from the immigration office. The Norma for me and canneloni for The Man.
Still have to update the fys list, you can still sign up today. Speaking of FYS - Marji will be sending out a fiberly gift for a stash in need as well. Very generous of her, thanks Marji!
Off for a powernap before I do anything else.
Posted by zib at 07:30 AM | Comments (6)
March 28, 2006
go look!
Leslie of Whimsy has finished her Roxy. It is gorgeous. Colors are delicious and the handles, the icing on the cake er bag!
Now I really really reeeeally want to give felting in the new washer a go!
More later, maybe. I'm 60% done with something that was due two days ago. A fab! New! Free! Design! Actually it's 3, three designs in one! One part Elizabeth and two parts Wendy :)
Off for some power knitting and a bit of Vin.
Posted by zib at 09:27 AM | Comments (3)
March 27, 2006
siamo quiiiiiii
Yes, that is the little bonker of eyeballs who resides at Casa Zib. The eyeball is back to normal now btw, thank you for the messages/emails and whatnot. As you can see by the photo the bonking didn't put a complete damper on the fiber manipulatin. Kiddo is modelling her new Last Minute "Purled" Beret by Wendy and a modified Gioia. Why yes that is the same wool I'd used for the Froofy Set which has inexplicably disappeared. Photoheavyish inside.
I told her berets were French. She was so impressed she greeted everybody with a hearty Bon Ju! (okay so she keeps doing the Maltese thing) on the way to school this morning.
I did manage to persuade the school principal during a parent meeting (all the parents of the kids going into first grade were gathered for a "voicing of concerns") so I voiced my "concern" when the "English lessons" were brought up.
The other parents complained that the kids were being taught English when they should be learning "their own language" (recent law here in Italia, all the kiddos get mandatory Inglese lessons). What numbnuts I thought to myself, if not when they are little sponges then when? Of course I didn't say that, no idea how to say numbnuts in Italiano. Anyways I asked if the "teacher" was a native speaker because every freakin' time Kiddo has one of those "lessons" she comes home pronouncing words all ESL like. GAH. I told the principal I had to re-teach to fix the "lesson". The other parents had a good laugh then started asking about the teacher's qualifications. Hehe.
After the meeting I lurked so I could bug the bosslady about the language lessons. Kiddo does not need to be learning how to say "hello how are you what is your name I like ice cream" for the next six years in English. Now she gets to learn to say it in Francese from 2nd grade onwards. Ooohlala! Really no other choice, would prefer Spanish/German/Chinese but hey, it's a start.
Lookie what the postino brought! A spindle, a REAL spindle! Along with the spindle were silk hankies too! Mille grazie Amy!
For you spinning types who are going to ask: it's from Kundert Spindles, 1.2oz maple with a walnut whorl and a purple heart (it doesn't really look purple, just an observation) on the bottom of it. LOVE IT. It spins itself! And it has ballast, none of that veering to the left and even better, no sticky tape.
Of course we had to whip out the hankies we've been working on and The Man gave it a go. Wow wow and wow, definitely something to be said for the right tools for the job. Consistent, speedy and none of the funky exaggerated overtwist we got from the Frankenspindle. One night during my eyeball down time between the herding Kiddo off to bed and before The Man getting home from the base I decided to give it a shot. First I did the purples.
Yesterday, the orange.
There is one more batch of hankies remaining to be spun from those which have already been colored. It was too late to get into them so I brought out the ball o merino fluff once again. My first attempt was uber-rasta-yarn and good for scaring sheep. Keeping Amanda's words of drafting wisdom in mind and that of the Knittyboard spinning types, I addressed the merino. We communed. I came to realize I don't really like wool. I got all zeniggy with it. I drafted with the hand of a third world lord of war and then I spun.
I was pleased. I still don't like wool that much. I don't know. I'm not an anti-woolista mind you it's just, well... What first peaked my curiosity about spinning was Amy's mentioning of learning to spin silk months ago on her blog. Spin silk, has a nice ring to it no? It got me thinking about pevious spinning ideas. There are these tall reeds that grow at the edges of the villaggios here on the sea. I just know fibers can be extracted. Those will be spun, eventually. The how to spin silk hankies article in the winter 05 Knitty was the catalyst. Yes, I am at the edge of that slippery slope. I believe it is all in the name of survival. Somebody will have to spin fibers to make into nets to catch fish when we are LOST, much rather do that than hunt freaky pigs in the jungle.
Last night I found myself up past my bedtime (didn't really feel late since we set our clocks forward Sat. night) instead of doing my usual stint around the yarn vendors I found myself, yes, looking for roving of the non wooly kind. Shangrilalala, you were right.
An "arrazo" is planned. Something artsy fartsy to adorn the wall. I'm leaning towards another Hamsa Hand. Colorblocks. Just need to find the perfect base to use with the silk. Thinking of the tussah silk noil or the sliver here. Think we'll go with the latter, don't want to detract too much from the color with too much texture. Who am I kidding, we'll get both to play with. These Indonesian silk cocoons are on the list. Looks like something fun to play with. I'd like a bit of camel one of these days too.
I will make an effort to avoid making causing an international incident by dressing up in my ninja outfit and stalking the local sheep.
Karen of Cooknknit went cotton! Her Chakalaka can be seen here along with her lovely entrelac scarf. I really must give that entrelac stuff a gander one of these days.
Our G5 is in a coma :( My email archives are not available at the moment. If you have emailed and are waiting for a reply, question, image to graph, SharonP, please pleeease re-send. This time I have a new Mr. Washie and won't make a big grey mess at least. Need the image per piacere. Signed up for the ReKAL? Please do so again if you haven't been added yet.
P.S. Erica - this is what I was talking about. 7 bigass bags. Months of laundry to get thru considering I can do 2-3 loads a day max before the water runs out (droughts suck) in my BRAND NEW SUPER DUPER washining machine.
New washer at Casa Zib that does not flood the downstairs neighbors, low energy and water usage and I haven't had clothes so freakin' clean since I moved here. Blinding whites with cold water. First load did some of Kiddo's clothes, there's this cotton sweater I'd picked up last year at the market thinking I'd ReKAL it but she liked it so figured I'd let her use it till she grew out of it then ReKAL it. Anyways every single time she wears this particular sweater she gets a huge chocolate stain on the front of it. Even if there isn't chocolate in the casa (rare but happens) she managed to get chocolate on the front of it. 2 washes, hand scrubbing, nothin' doin. One run thru the new washer and it was clean! Clean I tell you! I was so excited I had to bring the wet sweater inside to show The Man. Yes, I'm a dork. A dork with white whites! Can't wait to felt in it! Which I will do just as soon as I finish up the surprise trio pattern for TGB which we gotta have up before the new Knitty comes out and I knit up a big swatch to be sent off, then I shall wind up my Sirri wool for the Mojo Bag.
Speaking of which, hand bag or shoulder bag, which do you all prefer. Which do you use more frequently? Backpack is not an option. Felted, of course.
I'm behind on my Reads as usual, hard to keep up when browsing with the Big Font. One I shall point out that is ignored outright. The Genocide is still happening. By way of Pajamas Media - on A Chequer Board of Nights and Days - Darfur, Still Under the Radar.
No one should be surprised by what happens next.
Now off to update the FYS06 list.
Posted by zib at 08:01 AM | Comments (14)
March 21, 2006
AFK
back friday. got a 5yo fist to the old eyeball.
(it was an accident, really, which makes the kid think it shouldn't hurt because you know, accident)
time for some quality time with the local red.
minkiaveyman.
Posted by zib at 07:51 PM | Comments (12)
Chakalaka
Happy Spring! So I'm a day late, they went and changed the date on me. I fully intended to actually make a real post today (lot of crap going on out there which must be pointed in including the nutjob to the south threatening to attacks in Italy if we don't pay him for damages done by his own people due to a few cartoons) but was distracted by the calorie absorbing properties of cotton.
There are iPod cozies, tea cozies, cell phone cozies, *ahem* cozies so why not a chocolate cozy?
Chakalaka available in the Complimentaries at TGB.
And while you're there be sure to check out Wendy's Last Minute "Purled" Beret! Now off to straighten up the terazza, new washing machine is being delivered tomorrow, oh domestic bliss!
Posted by zib at 10:14 AM | Comments (15)
March 17, 2006
FYS06 update and pretties!
First: Happy St. Patrick's Day!
The Flash Your Stash 2006 update - there is now a FYS page w/ participant's list located - here. MT got overloaded with the last update so switched to a static page blahbityblah. If you would like to participate leave a comment in the FYS info post.
And now, knitter treats. UPDATED: Now with Retsin!
You all have seen my fugalicious homemade sitch markers. I still use them though I a few of you wonderful people have send some very pretty ones over here. But I still tend to reach for the sturdiest least likely to rip apart while zooming down the row markers I see because I don't want to destroy the nice ones. These are the very first markers I've purchased, I usually just get by with what I have but I came across them one day while browsing for some pretties to send to my 1000th commenter and came across these beauties. Sent a similar set to her and one for myself.
I dig that the rings they won't fly apart while I'm workin' the needles. They are pretty, they look delicate but they will withstand everyday use. I admire the workmanship, I imagine Carmen didn't glue her fingers together or to the table once while making them (like I usually do) and the price was right on. Check out her other sets at Girley Purls. (Click thumbs for full image)
And I have just the project to use them with. My Hand Maiden Seasilk arrived the same day the stitchmarkers did. I'll be back with the fantabulous fibers in a bit, the natives are getting a bit restless here and it's time for hugs and tickles.
Yarnography. Handmaiden SeaSilk I'd ordered from RedBirdKnits a while back. Color: Lupins. I do not know why I thought it was going to be hard like merc. cott, I can not explain. It is buttery, smooth and cool to the touch. The color changes are so, well, you look. You know the drill, click the thumbs.
Did I mention it smells like seaweed? In a nice way. Once I noticed I couldn't help but notice. Neat!
Posted by zib at 03:18 PM | Comments (5)
March 15, 2006
Introducing - Ali -
Available you know where.
Baba (get it, AliBaba ha) will be up soon, a delightful, deelightful I say variation for those who do the shoulderbag thing.
And Mille Grazie to Elizabeth for the edits :))
Posted by zib at 12:53 PM | Comments (14)
March 13, 2006
Chag Purim Sameach!
Post Zibeard.
Kiddo walks over by the computers. What's that fluffy thing? I pick it up and hold the beard up to my face. Her eyes bug out. Put it on me! Put it on me! But you have your princess costume on. ME ME ME. Hey, you want to see something?? What? (borderline concern). I pull up the blog. I ask if she's ready, I extend the post, BUWAAHAHAHAHAHA MOMMY BUWAAHAHHAAH, so can I wear it now? Can I?
Yep, she's her mother's daughter alrighty.
Eat, Drink and Be Merry!
You know we are ;)
Show and Tell tomorrow.
Oh yes, and she asked me to make a beard in "her size" heh.
Posted by zib at 11:25 PM | Comments (13)
March 10, 2006
How I learned to love
The Fun Fur. It all started with a raised eyebrow. I had an itsy bitsy bit of eggplant colored "fun fur" in a bag somewhere. Just in case Babs needed a boa. First it was the eyebrows. Then I figured I could really use a beard.That horrid little pink mountain on my chin, I couldn't be walking around in public with *gasp* a blemish! Oh yes! A multi-purpose beard I is just what I need. I grabbed a piece of paper from the printer and squished it around my face to make an outline of beard placement. Figuring I would just knit it as the shape of the paper. About three stitches into it I realized I was on crack and there was NOW WAY I was going to knit a whole freaking beard in Fun Fur. I downgraded to a goatee to minimize the torture. So Kids, step right this way to see the ..well..
I know what you're thinking: WTF?
If you laugh, well, I'll do something, you you musthave an embassy around here somewhere.
You talkin' to me?
My eyebrows have Super Powers!
I come in peace. Unless I'm playing that guy in prision then I'm not.
Never underestimate the need for a good roll of adhesive tape.
Yes, I am easily amused.
Posted by zib at 11:25 PM | Comments (39)
The Letter E
For the Knittyboard ABC along, some homegrown er spun Yarnography.
After the silk hankies dried first thing we did was spin up a mixed hank( first three images), a couple hankies from each of the color variations. Second we attacked the first hunk of hankies on the left in this pic.
Click the thumbnails for the full image.
E is for esperimenti
Posted by zib at 03:11 PM | Comments (15)
Zibtwist Pt. 2
Part two. The Spinning of the Colors.
Images inside. Kiddo drafting and The Man spinning with the Frankenspindle. Have to wait for his next day off so we can get some quality silk action a goin' on. Can't make my Fantabulous Thingy with only two little hanks now can I?
I don't think so either.
First things first, refresh Kiddo on the drafting technique.
Searching for fluffy bumps.
The Man and Frankenspindle are ready to go.
Draftees.
Deep concentration, SpinFu is a happenin'.
Mommy look! Mommy look! MOOMMMMMY TAKE MY PICTURE!
And we have yarn.
Next up, the yarnography.
Posted by zib at 02:46 PM | Comments (3)
March 08, 2006
Women's Day
Happy Women's Day. Let us not forget those women who have shaped our lives and let us be a positive force in those lives we influence.
Let us not forget those who live in entirely different circumstances, those which have no voice, those which are not seen. Speak up, speak out, "culture" is never justification for atrocity.
Two symposiums on today's reads:
On NRO - Women The World Should Know
On FrontPage To Rape an Unveiled Woman. Lengthy, in depth, a lot of insight and rather unnerving.
And a reminder, things are worse than, well, just worse. On the Miami Herald - (Of course being an MSM article the obligatory blaming of W is in there) - Face to Face With Genocide.
Posted by zib at 12:48 PM | Comments (5)
March 07, 2006
nothing sexier than
A (The) Man who spins silk hankies for you. Click above for the full pic. More later, off to fondle the silkylove.
P.S.
Thank you thank you thank you for the inspiration.
UPDATE: Photoheavy. Added in pics of painting the silk and results from a few hankies I held aside to practice spinning while the rest were drying.
Silk hankies and dyes from The PaperShed.com.
Kiddo painted, I nuked and rinsed. Part 2, the spinning production will be up tomorrow.
I have no idea what the coconut served aside from making me wondering how I could cut it half evenly so I could have a horsey clip clop sound making coconut set ala Holy Grail.
While they dried I showed kiddo and The Man how to draft them, with the how to do the hankies article up of course (so they would believe me). After a couple were drafted out came Frankenspindle. I did two, offered The Man a go at the spinning and haven't touched the spinning since. 10-12 hankies and approx 22 yards later we had a hanklet. See how not smooth those top couple rounds are on the swift? *Ahem* those are the ones I did, after it was set and dry I wound it into a yarn cake. I couldn't help but note how freakin smooth The Man's spinning was compared to mine. Which is okay, really, the point to this exercise was to have an inhouse spinner of silk for ME. I must must must have energized singles like Jillian. I can totally see a knit vase using that technique.
The spinning production pics will be up later. Time to knit up that first silky yarncake.
Posted by zib at 09:18 PM | Comments (7)
March 05, 2006
Zibtwist
This is what happens when I'm home alone on a Sunday afternoon. Too many things I could do, should do, so what do I do? Something else.
I was eyeing the silk hankies and tubes of color still parked on the book case and though hey perhaps I should color the silk. Then remembered I was going to do that with The Man and Kiddo. Then though hey, perhaps I should actually practice spinning so by the time I get to the hankies I have a CLUE.
So off I go, downloaded the how to make a cd spindle from IK. I see that following the instructions would actually require me to be able to enter The Closet. The Closet which is currently being occupied by evil agressors of the dirty laundry kind. So I immediately went to Plan B which involved channeling Chuck. I gathered, scissors, napkins, a 9mm plastic straight which I only use to poke things, a roll of electrical tape and two cds that Kiddo claimed didn't work the last time I asked her about them.
I cut one of the napkins in half then folded it in half lengthwise. Taped it to the needle with a piece of the black tape. I couldn't remember if the CDs were supposed to be 2.5 inches or 2.5cm from the end so I used inches. After taping the napkin I would it tightly around the needle, cut the excess then taped it down. Then a bit of tape on the edge of the napkin so the works wouldn't slide down the needle. Then I scooched the two CDs over the mound of tape and napkin. And I had spindleage!
Dig that fine workmanship.
And then I realized I needed a hook dealie on one of the ends. I had to look up spindles again to see what end the hook goes on, apparently either/or. Knowing we have no hooks (in easy reach) here I did the next best thing, cannibalized one of my gorgeous stitch markers. I know, I know, but it was a small sacrifice in my grand experiment.
And then I had hookage.
All set. Ready with my new spindle, a bag of squishy soft merino that Patti sent me eons ago and the computer to look up How To Use A Spindle.
My eyes glazed over as I read all those big falutin technical terms for the spinning stuff. Draft (we don't need no stinkin draft!) and this z and s thing. Z it was for obvious reasons. I tied on then taped into place a piece of yarn as instructed then started on the counter clockwise adventure. Once the yarn piece grabbed the hunk of wool fluff and started spinning I had to grow a third arm to scroll down in the instructions to see what exactly I was supposed to do with the "yarn" I was "spinning". Yes, those are sarcasm quotes, what's it to ya.
I made my way thru 3 big globs of the wool. Splitting it so the yarn wouldn't require those giant needles which incite penis envy to knit it up. I pffted and the big whoop spinning was supposed to be after a perfect 6 inch strip was spun then awed at the skill of those who manage to spin gorgeous yarns that are eeeeeven. Once done I made a hanklett.
Post hankage I dropped the works in a bowl of water with a squeeze of 2 in 1 to tame the spin. Once it's dry I just might have to knit it up, should take all of one minute considering there are approx 3 meters and frame it.
Word to the wise, holding the end of the yarn in your mouth while you pick up another blob to draft is a REALLY BAD IDEA.
I feel like I've been licking sheep.
Baaaa.
Posted by zib at 04:56 PM | Comments (13)
Green Roots
The Man, the roots. Green.
About time motek,
about time.
Posted by zib at 12:21 AM | Comments (1)
March 04, 2006
Flash Your Stash 2006
The Second Annual Flash Your Stash Day is April 1, 2006!
Spread the word!
Yes! It IS that time of year once again for the great Flashing of the Stash.
How to play:
Sign up in this post (leave the URL where your stash pics will be located). Take a pic or 10 or more of your stash. The works, some favorites, get jiggy with it. Show off those mad yarnography skillz!!!1eleven1!@!
On April 1st Post the photos to your blog, or image host, share with the rest of us. Go stash hopping. Enjoy the Yarrrrnography.
This year there will be a special fiberly prize for the hottest YarnPr0n.
Q&A:
Do I have to be SABLE to play?
Remember kids, there are no small stashes, only small knitters. Or uh, it's not the size of the stash! It's what you can do with it *insert other applicable adages here*
What does SABLE mean? Stash Amassed Beyond Life Expectancy.
Can I see an example about what the you're blithering on about Zib??
Soitanly - Elizabeth's stash album from last year is here. My entry is here. Googling "flash your stash" will give you other fiberlovin examples.
What's the prize and who descides on the best pic?.
A hank of one of my favorite fibers and me. (unless somebody wants to donate to the prize stuff then they get to decide too, if you want to add to the excitement message me).
I don't have a blog, can I play??
Sure you can, just post your url where your stash will be posted on April first in this thread and I'll add you to the list.
Button button who's got the button?
Note: Buttons must be saved then uploaded to your own server
Last years generic FYS button is here.
Domestic Overload er lord has whipped us up three fantabulous buttons to choose from and one from Penny_Karma and one from aquaknits!:
More blog bling is welcome, if you want to make one for the occasion feel free to do so then send me the link or button and I'll add it to the list (:
Last year we had approx 60 participants, and thousands and thousands of hunky hanks to drool over from a distance. So who's in?
"Life is too short, buy more yarn."
Post a comment here if you would like to be added to the participants list or to the Flash Your Stash thread on the Knittyboard (registration is required to post there btw).
List of Participants
NOTE: Participants list has moved to it's very own page. MovableType got overloaded round 140 flashers hence the new html page.
For the Flash Your Stash Participants Page click here.
If you would like to play, just leave a comment, I update the list - daily(ish)
Posted by zib at 11:20 PM | Comments (311)
March 02, 2006
ulai ulai!
Today we have our first full fledge day of false hope. The promise that summer will return and the natives will be scantily clad once again. Hot and sunny, both balcony and terrazza doors open to air out the casa. Sun I tell you! Sun! But it's March which means more rain is in store for us. More wet shoes and wet feet inside of wet shoes. BUT it's almost sticking to your WIPS time!
Speaking of WIPS, it was time to kill some off.
WIPS not dead but and that I'd really like to get to:
1 & 1a: WIPS neither lost nor forgotten but at least in the same room and not sequestered in the closet. Which reminds me I now have three spring/summery tops I MUST get outta the closet and actually finish, the FdC Phildar inspired tank is in there (needs 2 seams, that's it, 2 years for two seams), the Comfort tank, think I have to do sleeve caps, can't remember on that one and the uhm one with the German yarn, sleeves or something are needed, think it's off the needles and am pretty sure I didn't hold 'em on "waste" yarn. Don't really want to look in the closet now.
2: The Not so stripey Essential Stripe by Wendy. Frankly I should stop posting, grab the WIP and just finish it up. Had a running out of yarn ripping back issue, think it's under control.
3: The Olympic Wrap aka Shelagh (no, it isn't a saddle, that's for another post anyways). It will be done, hopefully before the next olympics, or at least the World Cup. Which reminds me of the fact that Skippy bought the rights to all the WC games but the National which will be on RAI so either we have to fork out the money for a sattelite (dish not the thing up there in outter space) or get a lido so we can watch the games on the big screen during riposo time when it's too hot to be in the sun anyways. I'm leaning towards the second option frankly. Sports bars are not really to be found here but lidos we got.
4: The first one hank project, that's the Lorna's Laces in Shadow. It's goin, slowly but surely. Question: The design can be written out in 10 rows if people are capable of understanding the fact that the stitch markers have to be moved 2 sts to the left on every WS row for the RS instructions to work. Otherwise there will be a 10 page (instead of row) set of instructions which only have the row number and 2 other numbers increasing. What to do, what to do. If I include 'move the st. markers like so' AND a row stitch count, that'd work yes?
5: The UnderWIPeverse. Three plastic bags filled with things to write up. The Hipknits shawl pattern will actually be out at the end of the Month/whenever the new Knitty comes out. Something special for those of you who can find it, not for the general public. Special Stuff I tell ya! Middle plastic bag filled with the lacy hat and scarf set in both a FdC Primo version and a HPY.com version showing what you can do with one hank of Ejido 160 wool. One hank! And the bag to the write with the blue print on it is Ali. Ali Ali Ali. She's a bag! She needs to be written up and shot!
6: The Woosta bag. Made some progress on it yesterday while watching Mad Max 3 with hubby while he was working. Here.. MM3 is just ties right in with the whole MinkiaMan the 80s are back! Rather fitting all the pigs considering yesteday was National Pig Day in the states. Oink! You can shovel shit, can't you?
7: Designs that need to be knit up, some waiting for yarn to arrive others waiting in line, patiently. Do be fooled by the patient one. Don't mistake the quiet and compliance for patience, there could be some major plotting going on. Here, a song. Hubby don't dig reggae but then I don't really dig the industrial/noise stuff so we balance out somehow. Kiddo certainly has a weird er ecclectic taste in the muzak suffice to say.
8: Something Red but it is't that something red. More Brilla by FdC. Picked it up at the LYS round the holidays for me. Ruby red, destined to be a wrap and now it's on the way to being just that. Will dress up the basic black of summer beautifully. Brilla *sigh*.
9: Because I have to have the proper sweater to chase down the Bad Guys in..the sleeves for Starsky. Had to drop what I was doing and on my third set of sleeve increases thought it best if I write out the Checkovs and marked prev increases. Using a deep dark purple with a gorgeous crepe texture wool which makes it a bitch to count how many rows since my last increase, best mark, don't want to end up with bat wings. I'm convinced I should just avoid KAL threads altogether. First up. OOH gauge! Lable says one thing pattern says another! Was like with the Ella KAL, somebody posted they thought I stated the wrong needle size because the suggested needle size for the yarn was completely different. If I roll my eyes any more they will fall right outta my head. The wool I'm working with has a row gauge of 24 / 10 cm so adjusting on the fly. Is it really so hard for people to THINK? It's basic numbers, stuff you should have had a grip on by oh second grade, or third. C'mon people it is NOT rocket science. Now watch, after that said I have one of those FO's that would only fit a 5 foot wide 2 foot tall person with 4 foot arms. HA.
10: There is no ten but it's nice to end with a number that ends with 0 no?
Earlier: How do you spell George Washington? Uh why? Because I want to name my horse George Washington! He was our first president! G-E.. Who was Italia's first president? I don't know, probably some Commie, before that it was the king who sold everyone out to the Nazis, O-R.. The Bad Guys? Oh yeah, G-E...I like George Washington, he is a good name for my horse. Space, W-A... mommy, when I am the president I want to be George Washingtina. Tina? Ton is for boys, Tina is for girls. Okay, S - H - I..but mommy, huh? First I need to go to dancing school and then I will make sure everybody has to work so daddy does not need to give them his taxes.
That's my girl.
Reads/links dump, it's about time no? The folder is getting too full and I have to scroll which means dump time.
Not knitting but dig her paintings - Libra Art Woman.
Corsair the Rational Pirate shares his photos from the Protest in front of the Danish embassy in DC a few days ago. Notice the burning of flags and general mayhem. Vital Perspective has more pics. A Carlsberg sweatshirt and a Danish Flag much cooler than those common "death to America, death to infidels you're ALL gonna die!" placcards me thinks.
On Opinion Journal we have a featured article - Democracy Angst What's the alternative to promoting freedom in the Middle East?
"For some, the promotion of democracy promises an easy resolution to the many difficult problems we face," says Illinois Congressman Henry Hyde. "But I believe that great caution is warranted here."
Yet simply because it took centuries to establish a liberal-democratic order in Europe, it does not follow that it must take centuries more to establish one in the Middle East. Japan took about 100 years to transform itself (and be transformed) from a feudal society into a modern industrial democracy. South Korea made a similar leap in about 40 years; Thailand went from quasi-military dictatorships to a genuine constitutional monarchy in about 20. As the practice of liberal democracy has spread, the time it takes nondemocratic societies to acquire that practice has diminished.Ifs ands or buts, read it all.
A couple pieces, deeper reads pulling from history on the Israelis and what the hell is amatterwithyou. From Steven Plaut - The Rise of the Hamas and the Decline of Israeli Determination.
Despite the long track record of military successes, the new generation of
Israelis lost its willingness to fight and resist. It convinced itself
that capitulation and appeasement are the only paths to peace. It decided
that self-abasement is the key ingredient to good relations with its
neighbors.
And it gets worse - Sultan Knish on The Perpetuating Cycle of Abuse in Jewish History
When we look at the panoply of Jewish history, time and time again we see Jews inexplicably turning on Jews. Whether it's in the earlier times of Hellenists or early Christians collaborating with the romans or in the 20th century with the Kapos or Messianic Judaism or Jewish liberals who hate Israel or the metal batons falling at Amona, they all have one thing in common. A segment of the Jewish people empathizing with their oppressors so much so that they do everything in their power to become the oppressor.
On Jihad Watch, Hugh Fitzgerald on What Israel and the world owe the "Palestinians". Personally I don't owe them a thing. Not a thing I say, unless it involves frogs, a lot of frogs.
Disengagement: What exactly did giving 60% of the fertile land to the neighbors prone to explode get? Nada, wait, they were kind enough to share a few of their missles. On Smooth Stone we see 450 missles. Apeasement does not equal peace. It's not that hard of a concept to grasp. Yet there are still kick the Jews out of their homes plans in the works. Heads out of the collective ass! Pronto!
Speaking of the Holy Land, More than Bombs has just that, photos, more than bombs.
Fluff! By way of Habsgirl - # 1 Song on This Date in History. Want to know what the #1 hit was per Billboard Magazine on a particular day? Take a look. Bday song for moi is "It's Too Late/ I Feel the Earth Move" by Carole King. It could be worse.
UPDATE: They SO SUCK! Iranian police attack female soccer fans. Because girls can't watch because they are girls. GAH.
Posted by zib at 11:50 AM | Comments (6)
March 01, 2006
Hand Maiden / Fleece Artist 20% off
A deal too good not to blog about - Red Bird Knits is having quite the sale - 20 % off of everything in celebration of their 5th year in business. Back in Jan I was a kvetchin' about the lack of online retailers that both carry Hand Maiden/FA and accept Paypal AND happens to have Silk Stream in the Mermaid's Hideaway color. So, didn't quite get that, I ordered the Sea Silk in Lupins.
ANYWAYS. It's a DEAL! And the prices are in Canadian so if you're thinking in Euros it's even a bigger deal! Last day of the sale is March 2nd.
While we're enabling, you must take a peek at Sundara's Yarn (spied by way of Eunny's post with a most gorgeous lace shawl! ). Those Multi-color hanks are jumping up and down screaming MEMEMEMEME. First zoomed in on the Black Lagoon color, then realized it's very similar to the Lady Godiva I used for Ella. Love the saturation of Cirque (at least on the monitor here) is belliiiiisima, and the Sunny Day silky merino , swoon worthy! Fine, a new entry on the Covet List.
Anybody know of a hand painter/dyer who does cotton by chance?
Posted by zib at 06:51 PM | Comments (8)
