string*THEORY

1 :: Track :: Mind

Do you have one too? All this organizing + lifestyle dieting is taking over in a way that is so ridiculously familiar to me. The spurts, you know, of creative energy - in a single mindedness sort of way. Which is why you've seen less and less making around these parts and more and more talk of cooking...and exercising...and other this n' thats.

It's okay to be focused, right? Focused or Obsessive, you be the judge. It's times like this, times where I've found myself without a new made item or book read in over a week when a little dash of inspiration to this giant stew of creativity is in order.

So today will be a day on inspiration...shall we take a walk over to the craft section of my little neighborhood library? Let's see what's in store...

I imagine part of this might be that awkward transitional phase I seem to go through towards the end of summer (but, it's not the end yet, is it?)...the process of spending less and less hours...then days at the sewing machine, as my twitchy little fingers find their way to the thing that comforts me most when the sun begins to set + the leaves turn to gold. Knitting. Perhaps, we're nearing that time. And books. Yes, books, time to tee up the autumn line-up. Tea in hand, I'm ready.

...but until it's official, enjoy the eye-candy inspiration.

{oh dear, did you think I forgot about your recipe? don't you worry one bit, tomorrow will be the day where we talk about food again}

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Photo Credits:

Elephant Pouch by Myra Masuda - The Crafters Companion Ed. Anna Torborg

Scrap Wrap - Quilts by Denyse Schmidt

Mixy-Matchy Napkins - Bend-The-Rules Sewing by Amy Karol

Striped Rug (felted) - The Home Guide to Craft by Katherine Sorrell

Bourgeois Bag Organizer - Simple Sewing with a French Twist by Celine Dupuy

It Is What It Is

My sisters, dad, hubs and I (yes, the WHOLE family) love to tease my mom when she throws that line out "It Is What It Is". It's usually her declaration of "okay, we've been talking about this too long, let's move on"....or "get over it, people"....or "I have no idea...it is what it is".

We usually follow-up with "ooh really, mom? Are you sure It Is what it Isn't?"....or some other smart-ass remark along those lines.

But, really, sometimes It Really Is what it Isn't, isn't it? Are you dizzy yet?

Like Hypercolor T-shirts from the early 90's - remember those? You put the pink shirt on in the morning, and it's blue by the time you get to school. Or Green after you finish playing soccer (but only in the arm-pits and the center of your back.) Why anyone would want to expose their body's regional climate changes like that is beyond me.

Apparently, "Tussah Silk" is also one of these "It Is What It Isn't" types of things. Because IT IS silk when your knitting with it....but then it turns into COTTON after you've blocked it. You think I'm kidding, don't you. Check out the side to side comparison of the yarn before it's been hit by water + then after (click to enlarge):

   

See, told you. Notice the sheen & vibrancy....and then how it magically fades away? Hmmm....It Is What It Isn't.

I'm okay with that. I'm just glad that I finally picked up the needles again and finished something knit. It's been a long time, and for some reason (I'm pretty sure it's the weather) I haven't been in the mood. And for some reason, maybe it's this journal, I've felt guilty for that.

Of course, you know your looking at the Forest Canopy Shawl - again, right? For someone who can't stand to do the same thing twice (patterns, movies, books, places to travel to...), I sure have taken a certain comfort in knitting this pattern over and over and over again. No promises, but I'll say now that this will be the last time. Again, no promises. Ahem...

I love to knit lace, but all the other lace projects I looked at where down-right frightening.

1. I'm not comfortable with casting on 5 million stitches - it needs to be a project that starts at the neck with just a few stitches. This requirement eliminates like 50% of lace projects out there. What's up with projects starting like this?
2. I looked at both Kiri and Leaf Lace Shawl. Both looked easy enough + satisfied my neck-cast-on requirement, but what the hell does this mean?:

"Using provisional yarn, cast on 3-stitches. With shawl yarn knit 14 rows. Using shawl yarn knit up 1 stitch from each garter-stitch ridge".

Arggg....I'm just not advanced enough (or patient, really) to figure that all out. But I will be next time, because I'm determined, damn-it, to knit beyond my lacey comfort zone.

Specs if your interested:

• Needles: Size 4 bamboo straights (I know, I know, not the best choice for this project. Circulars would have been much more practical).
• Yarn: About 250 of the 650 yards from a skein of Tussah Silk purchased from Yarn Barn of Kansas at Stitches West. (Yowza, they're selling this for $73.05 on their site, I bought mine for $30 at the stitches market).
• Pattern: Forest Canopy Shawl by Susan Lawrence Pierce
• Time to Knit: On + Off for a month.
• Dimensions: 58" along the top (neck + shoulders), 37" along each side of the triangle, 25" down the middle of the back.
• Modifications: Besides the yarn + needle size, I did 3 more pattern repeats, I should have done an additional 5, it's a little small.

~Enjoy your weekend, people. It is what it's going to be~

Seven Random Facts

I'm usually not a huge fan of meme's just because they remind me of those spammy-chain letter thingy's people used to forward back in the mid-90's when email started to become really popular. This one is different though, it's very personal, & some of the responses I've been reading are hilarious! I was secretly hoping that someone would tag me. Thanks, Laura, for making my secret dream come true.

Rules: Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag 7 others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

[one]

I'm a very very loud sleeper. I talk a lot and grind my teeth - very very loudly. I had a friend in junior high who's parents made me sleep in the far corner of their house when we would do sleep-overs, so not to disturb the rest of the family. So so sad.

[two]

I'm very indecisive. I went to 5 different colleges (and I don't even have a Masters). I've lived in 7 different cities within 3 states and 2 countries.

[three]

My ear's are strange. If I get too hungry (especially if it's the first meal of the day), I loose hearing in my left ear. I won't get it back until about 4 or 5 hours after I finally eat. I can also wiggle my ears without moving my face. And, if I get too tired, my right ear turns bright red and gets really hot.

[four]

I'm really sensitive to music. I become fixated (almost angry, it's weird, I know) if the music doesn't fit the environment. One of the worst most irritating offenses (in my dysfunctional eyes..or ears, rather) that a business owner can make is to put the radio (with commercials) on in their store. I've been known to walk out of a restaurant due to irritating radio commercials. I know, super-irrational, see number three. On the other end of the spectrum, I get fixated to songs or albums. When I find something I like, I'll listen to it on loop for hours. Annoying for my passengers or house guests.

[five]

I've never ever lived alone.

[six]

I spelled my name wrong for the first 14 years of my life. No one (not my parents, not a single teacher, no one) thought to correct me. I realized this when I was required to hand over my birth certificate when I registered for high-school.

[seven]

(Hubby wanted me to put this one in): I have an "uncanny" ability to monitor & report on several conversations in a room while actively maintaining my own. Restaurant conversations are my favorite. Perhaps this is why I can't stand commercials ? It gets in the way of my eaves dropping.

Ok, I've said too much. I just realized that most of my facts have to do with my ears. Strange, very very strange. I tried my best not to get too personal as my husband put it "do you really want that on the Internet?". Well, yes...I mean no, I guess. So if we ever meet, ask me, and I'll tell you the other seven random things I couldn't publish.

I'm tagging: Nico, Cynthia, Maritza, Lolly, & Beth.

*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----

Last thing, the contest for Madame Mannequin's name is still going on. I'm willing to consider names outside of the French or Italian languages, as long as it's something good...and, uuhm fashionable.

*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----*----

One more last thing, those photos? Yeah baby, I picked up the needles again last night. First time after an 8 week break. My longest eva'. Guess what I'm knitting though....kinda embarrassing.

Happy Happy Day!!

I have some happy happy HAPPY news to share with you...but not until Thursday. I know, I'm an extreme tease. Sorry. You'll understand why on Thursday. I found out about it yesterday, but I have to wait...I know, makes no sense. But you'll see.

The news that I received yesterday sent a jolt of energy right through my crafty little fingers. I sat right down at the sewing machine....and made...and cut...and sewed...all day long. I was totally exhausted when I was done and happily curled up in the fetal position with my dear sis for some good ol' trashy television in the form Entourage & Desperate Housewives. I'm constantly amazed at their ability to balance "brilliance" with "trashy". I loved every minute.

The up and downness of my moods these days are making me feel a bit manic. And knowing how I am with change, I bet it has to do with the weather & the adjustment to Spring. To that note, I've been trying to "welcome" Spring, more then "adjust" to it. It's a mindset thing. And I think that getting out the sewing machine and adding some inspiring books to my collection has done a lot to help the process along. In a positive way. (Thank you, Susan, for the suggestion!)

One piece of the fruit of yesterdays labor is shown here in this little bitty zippered pouch. It's a simple bag, no pattern, but just your standard zippered fare. I'm trying to incorporate my new embroidery skill in other areas of craft, like sewing, and I like the look of this pattern-less embroidery design. Simple & clean.

P.S.

And...because I feel like I owe ya'll some knitting inspiration (It's been absent from this here blog, so my apologies for that) - I wanted to tell you about Alyssa Ettinger. She makes, easily, the most amazing ceramic pieces inspired by knit wear designs. Absolutely stunning.

Little By Little

Little by little, the sunshine and peacefulness is steaming back towards me. I'm starting to feel normal, and I'm realizing now, that I was really just overwhelmed and distracted with work & the obligations of keeping up with the house and you know, life in general. And now that I have that under control a bit, I can re-visit the other things I love & need in my life to feel balanced and relaxed. It's amazing what a week of vacation and relaxation will do to make you feel chaotic and overwhelmed once returning. Is it supposed to work that way?

Another reason I'm feeling normal? Why the return of my camera, of course. My unfortunate luggage-losing experience found me without use of my camera. I didn't realize how attached I was to that thing until I lost the ability to use it. So, it's back now (not the luggage, buy my ability to charge my camera and upload the photos) & was able to set free these photos for you.

I've been nervous & twitching, waiting, ooh so impatiently to show you these photos - my finished  Forest Canopy Shawl - Part III. I wasn't able to gift this to my grandmother myself due to the blocking taking longer then expected. But my parents, sent in as the delivery ambassadors, reported that she was so happy and proud that she didn't take it off for the remaining week my parents spent with her. Some people really are so easy to spoil.

This was created using Lorna's Laces, Lion & Lamb (50/50 silk & wool) in the Lakeview colorway. This was my first time knitting with silk & I absolutely loved it - this fiber with it's complicated hand-dyed charm kept me entertained during that massively long journey across the Atlantic. Using size 8 Addi Turbos, I knit until I completely finished 2 full skeins - a total of about 400 yards. I knit about 3 or 4 extra pattern repeats and was happy with the finished size.

I won't go on and on about the irritating mishap involving running out of yarn during the cast off row and having to rip out like 10 rows to re-knit and bind-off, mostly because this is the 2nd time I've done that & I feel like a ding-dong for not learning my lesson the first time. So there you go....we live and don't learn. Over. And. Over. And. Once. Again.

Workings of the Day (& Night)

It's Santa's work shop around these parts, I'm telling you. I've been buzzing about at a few projects that will be soon be hand delivered to my family next week in Toledo (I'm still trying to get used to the idea). Above you see (besides those cheeky little birdies that seem to sneak their way into all my pictures these days), another  Forest Canopy Shawl. Yes, it's my 3rd. I know, I know, there are millions of lovely lace patterns out there, why is it that I keep making the same one over and over again? The pattern has become a security blanket to me. I know I can knit it, in just a few days, with relatively no pains or headaches. And best of all, I know it will look nice. Can you tell I'm trying to convince myself that this is okay? I'm obsessive compulsive, I'm beginning to realize...

And lookie here...is that another bird I see? It really is spring, isn't it? This is the beginnings of what may become an apron...or a coin purse perhaps...I'm not really sure to tell you the truth and suggestions are welcomed. I was feeling uninspired and over-stimulated with ideas last night and just started cutting and cutting and sewing and cutting and this is what I came up with. Sometimes I have to give into this way of creating I think. It's usually a sign that I'm overthinking and over-doing it, and often, I'll just let go. And give my hands a turn to do the making.

...and because any crunch-time-rush-about is not complete without some random time-consuming procrastination. I've started on my embroidery hoop kitchen decoration. It's absolutely important that this is done and my kitchen is decorated with lovely fabric before I leave...I must not board that plane before...my.kitchen.is.pretty...so so important...ahem.

...okay...and back to the procrastination work shop.

Von 4 is Moving Along

Well, what can I say about this project but that it's coming along. I'm having to get quite creative with the photos here, since as exciting as stockinette, it's....just stockinette. Have no fear, though, I have help! Those sweet little birdies up there...yes, the sweetest little things, a small memento I picked up in Portland this weekend. They're supposed to be the official keepers of salt n' pepper in casa string*THEORY (is this becoming an habit?), but instead have been traipsing about everywhere I go...in various pockets or tucked away in my sleeves.

Our trip to Portland was so relaxing and inspiring (more photos) and now, I'm almost done with the nauseatingly intense ribbing section (54 rows of like 360 stitches - yikesy!). You'd think I'd be jumping for joy to start on the next section. But I'm not. It's because I'm too busy being excited about something else....

I'm going to Spain on Saturday!!! It's a surprise to me too...and I'm absolutely beside myself with excitement. The week will be spent soaking up some much needed quality time with my beloved grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncle. It's been a couple years now since I've seen them, and I'm constantly amazed at my ability to live without them on a day to day basis despite the steady longing I feel to be near them.

The next week or so will be filled with much scurrying about the house, preparing for my voyage. The gathering and making of treasures is part of the heartbeat and ritual that usually takes place before my trips "home". I'm not going to pretend not to be a bit overwhelmed (the family explicitly expressed their preference for handmade gifts), so I'll start slow, and I'll start with this...for just one more of these. I hope my abuela will love it.

Help Me Understand

Now, let me preface this by saying, "I am not a mother". So my lack of understanding (or appreciation) for the new "Baby Romper" in the Spring/Summer 2007 edition on Vogue Knitting might be because I don't have a little tike to torture.

It does'nt, however, mean that I can't have an opinion on this. Why on EARTH would one make their child wear this??? Why on EARTH would one take the time to knit this hideous thing?

This horrifying "romper" is right on par with this horrifying romper, and I'm pretty sure your kid will run away and then sue you for therapy charges if you make them wear either.

Just sayin'.

Happy St. Crafticks Day!

May you find the perfect shade of green today...

Today, I'll be wearing these socks that I still have from high school, a "gift" from a very persistent recruiter. Can you imagine ME in the Army??? That wouldn't make you feel very secure, now would it?

Speaking of something else green, I realized that I didn't provide you with any closure after seeking your advice and opinion on the Balthazar vest...so rude, I know. Sorry about that. *blush*. I will be wearing that baby, but only under very certain circumstances (that bulk, ooh that bulk, hard to reconcile it). Work? No. Sunday morning brunch, hanging out in the city? Yes! Weddings or funerals? No. Rolling around in the snow? Most definitely. Thanks again for all the advice, I really did appreciate it, I wasn't being sarcastic, I swear.

G, Thanks!

Honesty you gave. And, thank you for that. I know it can be a little risky exposing your true opinions sometimes, so thanks for taking that risk and the time to comment for the sake of fashion! Reading through the comments made me feel like I was in a room full of girl friends, bantering about while sipping on martini's. Fun.

 

Photo courtesy of gm tv.

That raw & candid honesty is totally neccessary sometimes you know. And it reminds of my time living with my best-friends in college. Honesty was always looming about. Every morning when you stepped out of the bathroom and every night when there was nothing else to do but pick on eachother. This one morning in particular comes to mind. I thought I might try out that cutesy look of sweeping my bangs to the side, clipping them back with little drugstore clips. Reminescent of that femine (and maybe even babyish-obnoxious) Abercrombie & Fitch look of total hippie whimsy. Thinking I looked pretty urban-bohemian, I stepped out of the bathroom and on my way to school, before my best friend stopped me with a burst of laughter and the announcement to the rest of the house "ooh no....no way!! You look like a 3rd grade little shit!!!".  Ooookay, uuhm, so your saying you don't like it?

Brutal honesty and a total bow of appreciation from me. Because as much as the initial blow stung a bit, it paled in comparison to potential sting of "walking out like that".

There are some situations, however, when you need that (knowingly) lying validation. You know, the "noooo your ass doesn't look huge AT ALL!" And I may just use one of these passes for my next finished knit, projected to be completed some time next century. I am, of course, referring to the Lopi Von 4 sweater/dress. Remind me again who's bright idea it was to knit a whole entire dress in relatively small guage in the #1 most boring stitch ever created? It's strange to think that the cuff on one of the arms took longer to knit then the entire Balthazar Vest. I wish I was kidding.

This thing better look good when it's done, and it if doesn't, I would appreciate if you lied to me about it.

*That mini quilted number up top is a little postcard I whipped up for a little guy named Gio. He's participating in a Jog-A-Thon soon and needed a little "good luck charm". It was also a nice little knitting break for me.