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Spill Guts Here. It's gotta go somewhere, know what I mean? Can you stand it?
purls before swine
Geek Knitting
West Indian Parade
West Indian Parade
Dog/Cat Wrestling
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9.30.2004
Going to Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool on Oct. 16th with the newlywed Cari, and other knitters I haven't met yet, very excited!! Like I need more yarn! But Maryland was so much fun, it's like a day long vacation, the fresh air does me good. Will take pictures this time for those too far away to attend.
9.29.2004
The World's Largest Sweater! This whole site is so woollie, I love the picture of the yoked sweaters on the long blond wood table. {via blogdogblog} Also a Mitten competition. I want more pictures, I'm going to email them {ull@selfoss.is} and request if they could please post more. I don't get to see old-time knitting like this very often, I think the style is really interesting.
How to Handknit RickRack now has it's own page in the Portfolio.
If you're lucky enought to live in Chicago, KnitKnit is having an Issue #4 Launch Party there, October 15-18th. I love how they're always in different cities, but this time I wish it were New York! Woke up late today to discover we lost Geoffrey Beene, only 77. {nytimes, reg. req.} A huge source of inspiration for me, in every way. By inspiration, I mean an amorphous idea of circularity, movement and lightness, mixed with microscopic attention to detail, not a literal "there's an asymmetrical seam here, I can do that too". R.I.P. 9.28.2004
Illegitimi non carborundum. Finally bothered to translate this today. Thank you, David!
Pretty excited to find this today: TiddlyWiki - A Reusable Non-Linear Personal Web Notebook Started thinking about how knitting patterns can be presented, with techniques "imbedded", other info if you need it available buried inside. Will be pursuing this after book is done, ok maybe in the moments inbetween working on it. This has distinct possibilty in my realm. Back to work.
9.27.2004
My most useful knitting accessory right now: a 6lb digital scale. I understand weight better, rather than yards. I love this thing.
 Pornigami. Picture above in keeping with my current dog-focused mindset. Human models available also {not taking a dump}. Happy New Year. 9.25.2004
Making steady progress on webshop design, going to go with Paypal, it's very easy to implement the cart. Lot's going on now. Still negotiating for new shop {this is the exhausting thing}, knitting or graphing every spare moment for my book.
Rmembered I have an 3 drawers full of beautiful yarn from the Maryland Sheep & Wool Fest to knit up for Fall. Put it away after I got it, and forgot about it! 9.24.2004
Brooklyn Knitters, Mark Your Calendars for Sunday, October 10th. Ms. Amy Singer, Editrix of the free and popular Knitty.com and now author of a lovely new book, Knit Wit, will be in Brooklyn at RedLipstick for a book-signing, Mexican hot-chocolate drinking reception. You'll be able to buy her new book at my shop, or if you already have a copy, feel free to bring it by to be signed! Reception will be from 2-4 pm. Here's your chance to meet Amy, and tell her how much you love Knitty! {I know I will}. Pass it on to your knitting pals, you're all invited!.
RedLipstick 64 6th Avenue cross streets Dean and Bergen Brooklyn, ny 11217 718-857-9534 http://www.redlipstick.net/shop Subway: 2/3 to Bergen street, or Q train to 7th Avenue Stop. After that happy news, here's a mild downer: Wow, just took a look at the 8/25 post below regarding my own little plagerism scandal, and it looks like the People who Take No Personal Responsibility have discovered how to leave a comment, sans email or contact info. Brave, and oh how valid. It's interesting to hear that I'm not doing anything new. Drag me down to your level, why don't you, honey, if it makes you feel better about yourself. I do think there is a popular "loving hands at home, we're all doing the same thing" attitude among many of the DIYer's, or "crafters". HOWEVER< You are incorrect if you think I'm part of that "movement", or subscribe to that attitude. Please, in the future, confine any idea copying to each other, not me, if you don't want me to find out about it and call you on it here.
Ok, knitters who use graphs, THIS IS THE APPLICATION OF THE MILLENIUM: Knitpro. Not totally in tune with their politics, but you can't beat the programming elegance on display here. I'd ask for a legend showing each color used to make it easier to match yarn in future updates. WOW. I mean damn it. WOW!
IF you live in Brooklyn, you know the proposed Ratner Nets arena and 17 high rise towers issue is still a looming nightmare. Found this excellent site {via Curbed}: Ratnerville.com. Fucking excellent. Telling it like it is. I'm back in overworked hell, for about another 4-6 weeks. Concurrently in negotiation for a specific larger shop. If you ever sent me good wishes, send them now to try and control the landlords greed, so I can afford this new spot. My rent is going to double, at the very least. Let's try to keep it from tripling. *sigh*. The stupid thing is that my studio building contributed to making the spot I want worth more. Thanks alot {to myself!}! 9.22.2004
My neighborhood is really {finally} becoming a happening spot in Brooklyn. Just found out about a vegan cooking tv show that's shot right on St. John's Place! The Post Punk Kitchen. Plan on trying some of the tofu recipes, will go really well with a broiled steak.
I hate politics, but end up talking about it numerous times a day with various people who come in the shop. We have to. I feel, and almost everyone else I speak with about it does too, that our current president is evil, and we don't want him "running" the country anymore. People are scared and nervous that he will be re-elected. I have many reasons why I don't agree with this guy, but this: Put Away Your Hankies...a message from Michael Moore, I do agree with WHOLEHEARTEDLY. Please read it if you are afraid Bush even has a chance.
We had a really great, fun shoot yesterday! All the dogs were excellent models, thriving on the attention, and looking incredibly cute. Sweetpea, Rev, Raleigh, Coco, Toby, Willie, Chloe...Thank you, I love you and your "parents" too! Can't wait till next year when this book comes out so I can share this with you all. In the meantime, I am enjoying myself immensely.
Got home around 8, I had to do some shopping for the store afterwards since I was already in the city. Did manage to find myself a black goatfur on the inside, suede on the outside 3/4 superwarm fitted car coat for winter. For the shop, got a huge bag full of tiny boxes, and more fabulously large jeweled brooches. Walked my own patient dog, ate some sushi, had a fragrant smoke, watched tube for about 7 minutes, then passed out around 9:30. Slept like the proverbial log. 9.20.2004
Yeow! We have a big photo shoot early tommorrow, and I'm still knitting one sweater, two are still wet and blocking, and another needs some handwork finishing. Adrenaline City today in Prospect Heights...
Right around the corner from my studio building, they're shooting some fucking tv home makover show for the next three days. There's a beautiful, small, and decades old barber shop, and the tv crew is redoing the decor completely, essentially ruining the authentic atmosphere. The barbers, one who is a neighbor of mine, are standing around outside looking annoyed, not able to cut hair or give shaves. My 'hood is changing muy rapido. 9.19.2004
Tiny knitting kits. I especially like the knitted lipstick and cigarettes.
9.18.2004
Damn it, the sun just came out. I have to go to work. On the other hand, my friend Ingrid's basement keeps flooding every time there's a downpour, so for her sake, glad it stopped raining. *sigh* HUGE sigh.
It just pouring out...and I'm thrilled! Not only do my flowers need it, but it means I can stay home and work on samples without guilt, instead of running the shop this afternoon. I hope it continues! If it clears up, I have to go open up. It's a free day to work on the book, and I'll take it.
Had a fitting with the SUPER-adorable 5lb toy poodle Toby {belonging to Leigh} yesterday. He's so incredibly cute that I got even more inspired, and expanded his sweater into a postmodern "poodle wig", which takes inspiration from Megan's "Hallowig" seen in the latest Knitty. {also linked to below, directly}. I've also decided to include one mixed hand/machine knit sweater in the book {also knittable completely by hand, of course}. It seems many people are taking the plunge and buying used ones, and why not? So there will be a pattern for them. Please don't stop raining today! 9.17.2004
  I'm sure I don't know. 9.16.2004
R.I.P. Johnny Ramone. I'm starting to really feel old. He was only 55. Damn it. Also cancer, which got Joey two years ago. There can be no replacement ever for these guys. It was an exquisite blip in time.
9.14.2004
Ok, now this is an extremely cool knitted hat. Bravo, Megan!
Spent this am ordering deerskin driving gloves for the shop, American made and grown. I love deerskin! Knitting for a few hours, then errands for a few. Then knitting again till dinner. Dinner, then knitting again. Too exciting. The dog sweater I'm working on now uses my favorite colorwork pattern that I ever designed, modified a bit for HK. Second photo shoot is next Tuesday. Have a crew of very pretty/unusual amateur Brooklyn dogs modeling. Mr. Murphy will sit this one out. If you haven't seen them yet: Bush in 30 Seconds. Please vote him out! As I read somewhere...If you're not appalled, you're not paying attention. 9.13.2004
What to Wear, Fall 2004:
 Cranking out work today, I did just need to vent. What better place than this? Saves me boring all my dear meatspace friends, although they've been hearing it also. Now I can bore the blog world as welI. love you all for listening! Got faboo yarn in from the excellent sponsors of my book, and am knitting it today into gorgeous samples. Done running errands now, got the jammies back on and fashion week coverage on the tube.... Exciting local Brooklyn news: my friend Maxcine just opened a lovely new yarn shop in Park Slope, called Stitch Therapy! It's right across the street from Ozzies on 7th Avenue, on the Lincoln Place side. Violated my no-retail-yarn rule, because she stocks the most luscious alpaca...oh...feels like cashmere. Got two skeins today, like I need more yarn. heh. The usual complement of classes, etc. are offered.
Actually felt much better after the last post, I think I just needed to articulate it. Had a productive day, anyway.
9.12.2004
I think I'm having a functional nervous breakdown complete with brand new ulcers. It's been about 4 years since I was able to take a real vacation, and my workload has just been overwhelming this summer. It's my own fault, I made this bed, and am now uncomfortably wallowing in it.
Finally bit off more than I can chew. Realized this yesterday, while knitting and watching a horribly sad tv program on Animal Planet about a 6 year old child with cerebral palsy. The story was about her new service dog, and how it helps her. I lost it, big time. Have been having bizarre and deeply painful gastro problems. Have no time now for a doctor. I'm not a happy camper. I'm starting to hate handknitting. It's slow. I want to get on a plane with my dog and go to Mexico. I'm positive my tune will change drastically in a month or two when this is over, but right now.... FUCK THIS!!!!! FUCK ALL OF IT!!! ALL OF IT!!! Back to your regulary scheduled whatever. God damn it. 9.09.2004
Alternating handknitting dog sweaters with making knits for the shop, it's fall, and I need to crank! Using the sale industrial WEBS yarn, I don't think I've ever used anything as greasy/waxy/ It's just gross! There's a certain amount of hand manipulation of the yarn involved, even on a machine, and I feel disgusted by the feel of this stuff. The cardigan is one end merino/cash, one end superfine Jaggerspun merino and one ultrafineend of silk. Same with the wrap. Although I tried to do most everything on the machine, I still have a few seams that must be crocheted by hand. Truly dreading touching this to do it. YUCK! Results {which will be gorgeous} whenever I have time to finish. Also did a dress, yesterday, pale sea green. No lumpen, greasy pile pic of that.
 9.06.2004
Went to the Annual West Indian wingding on Eastern Parkway today for a few hours with Pirco, here are some beautiful costumes. {thanks to Jen from Gothamist for the link!}
Got the oddest complement ever...a guy asked about my heritage, where my ancesters came from, so I told him Latvia, Romania and England, and he said "That makes a nice mix". I had a laugh. I like to look at things as a mixture of their chemicals, it was great to have someone do that to me for a change. We got out of there before it got too crowded. Recommended, if you go early, like around 11am, for the incredible food, island showgirl costumes and eardrum rupturing beats. Nice article about the festival. 9.02.2004
Artful Yarns has signed on to be a yarn sponsor for "Knitting for Dogs". {no link yet} Thank you! Shop is closed today so I can work on the book. Shortly taking my patient dog model to the park to run around, while I knit some lace. Multitasking & Focusing.
9.01.2004
My kitty is too well fed. Formerly a brazen mouse killer, last night I heard her jumping around, so I took a look at what she was doing. She had caught a fat mouse, and was carrying it around in her mouth like a baby. It was not struggling, just blinking, very much alive. She kept putting it down, and looking at it, then picking it up gently again. I didn't want to get near it until it was dead, so I just watched.
She let it get away! Completely unharmed. Damn it! Half rations for you, you softhearted puss! Now I guess the mousies are her friends. :-< Based on my washed swatches, I ordered another round of cones of merino/cash and lambswool/alpaca. Cardigans, wraps and ponchos will appear in it. Some of the lighter colors wil get dipdyed in skein. There is more lambswool/alpaca it's not sold out yet. Highly recommended. |
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