Warming Families Charity organization

This charity has a really good utube video. Very nice idea for giving tribute to their contributors. This would be a great idea that other volunteer organizations (like my own church) could use to "thank" their donors. The Video Has music (by the Osmonds whom endorse this charity) and everything. Has lots of links to patterns and resources. http://www.warmingfamilies.org/donations_scrapbook.aspx Is a "scrapbook" of photos of the items and sometimes the donors. There's a drop down list "Pattern Menu" with what must be hundreds of links to pattern pages all neatly sorted into categories.
The focus seems to be on helping the homeless and those living in shelters of one sort or another. So, there's links to directories of shelters all across the US. Check it out to see what's in your area.
There seem to be Area Volunteers that you can contact about where to take your donated crafts in your own area.
Which works on one of my conundrums: shipping stuff round and round the world.
It really seems to help out the shipping companies: USPS, UPS, FedEx - but doesn't it dilute the actual aid that the end recipient receives? So, if I don't have to pay so much to ship it to the end user, maybe I can give more, give more frequently, give easier? Right?
What ever happened to the saying "Think globally, act locally"? Maybe I had it wrong. That should be my next investigation, shouldn't it?

Buffalo Down at Buffalo Gold

Buffalo Gold produces Buffalo Down fibers. The statistics on this stuff are awesome. The micron count is supposed to be between 11 and 13 (cashmere is 15 - 16) so it should be even softer!
There's wonderful information on the website about how they started the business, and all kinds of Buffalo (American Bison) facts. Great Photo! If you're squeamish, don't go to the part about how they get the fiber. But, really, they're doing a good thing here; if they weren't there to harvest this fiber it would be wasted. So, get over it. I am still, as always, perplexed by the economics of sending this around the world to have it processed. They list where it's "grown", harvested, skirted, scoured, dehaired, and then spun. Man, how much of the cost of this is just in transportation?
Yarn, roving, kits, batts, etc. Leather, other stuff....
Well, it's not really available directly from them .........
They don't sell online. There is a lengthy list of LYS, and most people should have a shop reasonably nearby. I'm just a little deflated. I was really looking forward to ordering a little fluff online to spin on the (still unnamed) Rick Reeves wheel that I'm learning to use. So, I emailed the "closest" LYS after finding that their website only list two small knitting kits. I'm still not even sure what kind of price range I'm looking at for fiber? The known prices that I have are from a different LYS that is far too far to drive to: $45 for 25 g of Lace Weight or $69 for 50 g of Fingering Weight Yarn with patterns for scarves.
So, in my own little ADHD, OCD, way, I'm waiting to hear back from them and then might figure out how to work in a 4 hour round trip excursion into my evening. Then there's the $12 to $15 in gas that it'll take to get there and back. There's a really good restaurant near the LYS. Maybe I can talk the DH into driving me, and I can knit all the way there and back. So, that'll be another $20 minimum in meal cost. So, we're up to an estimated $80 for a net gain of enough yarn to make one scarf. Hmmmm, going to look at the budget before I get too excited about this.

Knitting Daily Poetry Magnets

What do Knitting, Poetry, and Magnets have in common?

Knitting Daily is a very positive and enlightening email subscription newsletter. I love their patterns and information. Although it does concern me that they've "suddenly" started selling some of the patterns. Pretty smart business move, but I didn't think of it. If I remember right, they're the popular ones out of the magazine that is sold out of back issues. So, I guess having to pay for it is better than not being able to get it at all. (Where have I heard that before? Hmmmm......)

Today's had this link to a really cute idea: They're selling those little magnets with words on them. It seems that they might be a lead in to a poetry contest? Maybe? All the words are knitting (or at least crafts) related. So..... you can write cute little sayings on your Refrigerator or file cabinet at work.

I have to admit though I have some issues with this. I know, these phobias are not reasonable, but here they are anyway:
1) I'm always leary of magnets in the mail. I know, people don't mail floppy disks anymore. But, once my sister's brother-in-law's boss' nephew lost a bunch of important gaming information that way.
2) Don't stick magnets to the computer case / box / thingy. I know they're not very powerful. But, I still freak anytime I see magnets on a CPU. It just can't be good.
3) Can't we make these ourselves? Not that I would, but couldn't we just take a sheet of paper and print words on it, cut them up and use tape? Heaven forbid, maybe even write the words on paper with a pen or pencil. By Hand! Yeah, I know, "How Unprofessional !" But, hey How Cheap!

Yeah, I know, I need to get over it.

In Turkey, a Step to Allow Head Scarves

This headline from the New York Times Europe edition online caught my eye.

The photo is by Lynsey Addario for The New York Times

Captioned: Turkish women demonstrated for the right to wear head scarves in government buildings, including public offices and universities.

Accompanies an article by Sabrina Tavernise - http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/t/sabrina_tavernise/index.html?inline=nyt-per

It had never occurred to me that scarves would be Forbidden. There are so many shades of Covered. The women in this photo certainly don't seem to be unhappy in their scarves. It's a long way from the Burqa or Purdah. Look those up in Wikipedia - awesome descriptions.
I mean, I know I don't really understand the covered women concept. But, there are truely American and Christian versions of the Covered Woman ideal.

In many places in the USA, there are groups of Christian women that practice a form of the Covered Women thing. They wear caps of a type and never go anywhere with their hair down or uncovered. Their age, or their group, seems to determine whether their cap is black, brown, white or otherwise. Some of the younger women have a kind of white net cap that is somewhat translucent. So, through those caps you can see, kind of, what color their hair is, and a hint of what style bun they've got it up in. I have great respect for these women and their faith. But, honestly, some of the older women are still wearing a style that is very Covering. There isn't any veil component, but the cap is a very deep bonnet style that conceals their faces from view in every angle except straight on. I cannot imagine our government telling these women that they are Forbidden to wear their caps.

So, why does it surprise me that there are other women out there in this great world of diversity that want to be modest in their dress? On the one hand, I understand the security issues. There are schools that don't allow hats to be worn inside by the boys to discourage Gang Behavior and who knows what else. I wonder if they have exceptions for Chemo Caps for kids, or teachers, or employees that are fighting cancer? On the other hand, who are we to judge what women choose to do? Isn't the Choice the important factor?

When you are knitting a scarf or hat, or shawl for that matter, do you ever think of these things?
What does your love incarnate in wool "mean" to another culture? What is that string in another context?

Warm Up America

Earlier in this Blog, I had promoted the Caps to the Capitol campaign. They have posted on the Warm Up America site that they have received caps: 281,000 for the Caps to the Capital Campaign. It was an overwhelming success thanks to your generosity. The caps are being distributed to Save the Children's health facilities in Bangladesh and Malawi. For detailed updates at every step in the journey, go to www.warmupamerica.org site. They still have patterns available: Newborn Cap Patterns and Links to Technique Information and encourage you to knit caps for your own local neonatal unit of your local hospital.

If you want to keep on helping through the Warm Up America and be sure that your efforts are going to a good cause: visit their site for "directions" on making 7" x 9" rectangles that you can either put together yourself and send in, or send in the rectangles for their volunteers to put together into afghans.

The Warm Up America group does encourage crafters to donate their work locally. They seem to have lots of resources available so you can find a place near you to give. This seems to make a lot of sense in that it would be better to not spend the resources on shipping knit items around the country any more than necessary. Locally / Globally .....

Which brings me to one of my more persistent conundrums: Shipping: Why can I walk into any local store, and buy an item that comes from half a world away so cheap? How can it make sense to ship fruit here from, say, New Zealand? If energy is so costly (on so many levels), how do we keep this up? The raw materials come from one place, ship to the manufacturer of the base materials, ship to the fabricator, ship to the finisher, ship to the packager, ship to the importer, ship to the warehouse, ship to the distribution center, ship to the distributor, ship to the retailer, then maybe ship to me at home? It's just amazing to me. How many people (or conveyors or robots) handled that little bag of grapes that I bought at the store? Grown in Chile'. Why? How does that make any sense?
OK, I know. Enough already.

Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Wow, You Rule Stephanie!
I've had this book for quite a while, and had looked up some specific, and very helpful, tips in it.
But, until this weekend, I had not actually tried to read it cover to cover.
I couldn't put it down. Well, except to knit.
My bedmate got pretty peeved over my laughing in bed (at the book). And I'm sure that having to move the knitting needles to get into the bed hadn't exactly set the mood.
I just couldn't help it.
Now I know that I'm not alone.
I'm not the only one that is this obsessed with knitting.
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee know what's in my heart and soul. She writes what I wish I could express to those people that look at me "that way". I wish my significant other would read this and understand. But, Stephanie's right, non-knitters just don't get it.
According to her statistics though, about 15% of the population is a knitter to some degree - so they should "get it". I think a lot of them are just afraid to admit that they wish they were brave enough ( or ADHD enough ) to knit everywhere they go too.

Something to Investigate

I need to investigate this more. Looks pretty interesting. And, I'm posting it here so I don't loose the "code" and I can edit the HTML later. Thank you for your patience.

Musk Ox down - Qiviut from Native Alaskan Co-operative

A cause to support:
"Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers' Co-operative
The Alaskan co-operative that has brought exquisite Qiviut items to you as a unique northern gift since 1969. Qiviut (pronounced "kiv-ee-ute"), the downy-soft underwool from the Arctic musk ox, is shed naturally each year during the spring months. Eight times warmer than wool and extraordinarily lightweight, Qiviut is one of the finest natural fibers known to man. The Co-Operative is owned by approximately 250 Native Alaskan women from remote coastal villages of Alaska who knit each item by hand. Each village has a signature pattern derived from traditional aspects of village life and the Eskimo culture; they may come from an ancient artifact or a beadwork design. "

http://www.muskoxfarm.org/ Has really cute photos and lots of information about the Musk Ox, that aren't Musky, and they aren't related to Oxen. I was so relieved to find out that they don't actually try to shear these critters. It's a great cause.

That said: what's the down side? Outrageously expensive!

You can get a DIY Hat kit with 2 ounces of yarn for $80. They don't sell fiber to spin or bulk yarn, because there's such a limited supply. And, the "value added" part is their real income, if I understand this right. They'll knit their yarn into a scarf or shawl that will sell for hundreds of dollars. And, in very specific designs by their village. Very cool, but very expensive. If I ever make it to Alaska, this is very high on my list of gotta go to places.

I'm sure it's worth it though.

"Companion Cashmere"

The most interesting site I visited today is VIPFibers
Very Interesting. I think we definitely need to do more research on people that wear their pet's fiber.
Of course, that's coming from me, that wants to have an alpaca. Wasn't Mary's Little Lamb a pet? No one would have given her a hard time about wearing a wool sweater. Right?
I've visited alpacas. They're pretty friendly little guys.
And, Angora Rabbits - now that's a cuddly little fiber factory right there, let me tell you.
So, why do we have a problem with Dog Yarn, or Cat Yarn? Haven't I been seeing adds for Yac fiber and even Buffalo?
We will definitely be exploring this more and soon...................

355 Woodview Drive, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Toll-Free: 1-866-PET-YARN
Specializing in Mail Order Custom Handspun Yarn from Your Very Important Pets!

Why not? Our clever ancestors didn't have a problem with it. As a matter of fact, centuries ago, it was considered that good luck was brought to anyone wearing a garment spun from dog hair. And we all could use a little of that! Home spinners like to refer to their handspun dog yarn as "Chiengora" (pronounced she-an-gora). Chien is French for dog and gora is derived from angora, the soft fur of a rabbit. We, here at VIP Fibers, like to refer our handspun yarn as "Canine Cashmere" or Feline Cashmere" and to cover all basis "Companion Cashmere"

I AM Impressionism

And, it would be interesting to knit in an Impressionistic way. Don't you think?

You Are Impressionism

You think the world is quite beautiful, especially if you look at it in new and interesting ways. You tend to focus on color and movement in art. For you, seeing the big picture is much more important than recording every little detail. You can find inspiration anywhere... especially from nature.

What Art Movement Are You?

Blogthings web personality quizzes

Well, you've really gotta love these online personality quizzes. I couldn't pass this one up...... What Drug is your Personality Like?
I remember the '60's : therefore, I must not have really been there.
So... Where was I then? The mysteries of the universe are compelling.

Your Personality Is Like Acid

A bit wacky, you're very difficult to predict.One moment you're in your own little happy universe...And the next, you're on a bad trip to your own personal hell! At your best: You understand the world completely, and every ordinary experience is sublime. What people like about being around you: You say and do the craziest things. You're very entertaining. What people dislike about being around you: You're unpredictable. Your mood swings are quite intense. How addicted people get to you: They pretty much don't get addicted to you.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatdrugisyourpersonalitylikequiz/">What Drug Is Your Personality Like?

But, you see, I've been told that I have an Addictive Personality. Really, I didn't imagine that. Did I?

Patterns that make you go OOOOhhhhh

One Of A Kind:

Well, it is colorful.

And Interesting.

I'm sure it was a challenge to knit.

Do you think they looked at a picture, or graph, or something first?

Is it like one of those Georgia O'Keeffe anatomy as art things?

Or a Rorschach test?

If I see things in this, do I need counseling?

Tired of Holiday Sweaters? Try a Cruise Sweater....

This Cruise Sweater is available right now on eBay.
Direct to you from Florida. Cruise capital of the world, so they should know cruise fashion. Right?


Black probably wouldn't have been my first choice for Cruise Wear, but what do I know. Maybe it's to take advantage of the slimming effect of black. But, no there's that huge white, and red, horizontal stripe accross the belly.
Maybe the black is because it's a
night-time scene? Then, what's with
all the sunglasses and tanning?
And it comes complete with sexy lounging sunbather knit right into the back ( or should I say butt) of this size Large sweater. Just what I would want on my size L butt, a skinny, almost naked intarsia woman!

Just what you need for that cruise with your "Fat Fighters" weigh in group.
Hey, my Mom would have worn this!
She was that cool kind of little old lady,
after she lost 100 # with her Fat Fighters
(her pet name for her gang, not mine).

And it's 100% Cotton - that'll look good wet. Right?

Proudly knitted, by hand, With TWO Needles, in Uruguay. Wow!

Did the designers give women what they wanted this fall?

Let's look back to the Fall 2007 Fashion week reports: "Designers are still making the case that fall is about chunky knit sweaters, but they have slimmed down the overall silhouette after a few seasons of over-the-top volume."

Do you think that's what we got?

It really sounds great when you read it though, doesn't it?

Carolina Herrera had some great stuff out there.

The Worst Direction

It is time to admit, to my chagrin, that I wasted time reading a book.
Contrary to my nature, I know. Usually, I consider any book that I have read to be a gainful experience on some level. But not this one. I wasted several otherwise lovely evenings reading "The Golden Compass". I don't even know where to start a diatribe against this book, it's writer, and his publisher!
I was really trying to give it the same chance I did with Harry Potter, and a lot of others. But this one goes in the same category with Ayn Rand. What a waste! With all the hazardous toys being recalled, I think this is a hazardous book that should be recalled.
First: It's not even a Compass; it's a glorified Magic 8 Ball.
Second: This is not a book written for children. And I resent that it has been made into a children's movie even more than I resented Gremlins in 1984. I would have been really ticked if I had shelled out the cash to see this in a theater.
Third: I guess the movie is reasonably successful, more's the pity. I thought with Nicole Kidmann, it might be a good movie. I always liked her. But, then I used to like Tom Cruise too, before he took a ride on the hopping couch. So, I guess it shouldn't surprise me that She's turning out to be spiritually flaky also.
Fourth: Any writer that was bashing any other race, creed, or belief would have been censored and politically corrected out of a job, or contract as the case may be, long before this. What were they thinking to publish such rubbish?
My recommendation: spend your money on something more enjoyable, like a root canal. This Gold could lead to Lead Poisoning. My children know that I won't spend my money on Bratz Cr_p, and now they know I won't be spending it on Golden Compass BS either.

Gave away Stash Yarn!

I think I may have started my New Year's Resolutions early!
I sent home a whole bag of yarn with a SIL after Christmas!
If you don't understand what a breakthrough this is, you just don't understand.
And, in the meantime, I have found Clutterer's Anonymous. Or at least their website.
Hi, my name is Ruby and I have a Clutter Problem.
Anyway, I'm not sure how, but giving away a bag of yarn for a church ladies' group that makes prayer shawls has got to get me some kind of points, doesn't it?
And, in the process, I got rid of a box of yarn that was trashed by mice and who knows what else. It was pretty icky. There was a part of me that really wanted to find a way to salvage even that yarn. Dusty, dirty, mouse goop, mouse skeleton, and all. I guess that's one of the ways that I should know that I have a problem. No one in their right mind would have any doubt, and would have torched the whole shebang at first discovery. But no, I'm still agonizing about what I should have been able to save.
But, I did it, with some help and encouragement. And hopefully, I will continue on into the New Year.........

Finished a Hat for a Nephew

I made a hat similar to the hat in a Spin Off magazine for the youngest nephew. He happens to love hats at the age he is right now. I'm sure he will outgrow it though. Right now, he's the only person that will wear my knit hats. I wonder why that is? People used to wear hats. They wear hats on TV. I see other people wearing hats in my geographic area. Just not my family, and no one I know. Hmmmmmm........

The Christmas Gift

Ok, we opened gifts with the MIL. And she seemed to be very pleased with the hand spun hot pad, pot holder, place mat thingy. I have to admit, I was nervous about felting (or fulling) it, and put that off till the last minute. I tossed it in the washer on hot with a bunch of socks. It seemed to shrink up more in the center than on the edges or ends. That will take more research. Anyway, it was fun.

The Harry Potter Scarf that started it all

This is the first Harry Potter scarf that I knit for John, obviously. I think it was in 2004, or may be 2003, or sometime in the haze of time before now but after 2002. It was from the first generation movie. The pattern was a free one from the Wal-mart yarn section. And, yes, it's good old reliable Red Heart yarn. It really has held up pretty well for the use it has had. I know it's been washed (and dried) in the machine several times.
Flaws: The duplicate stitch is atrocious. The color change has a dramatic jog each time.
Highlights: Done on circular needle, it was fast and easy. It was my first circular project.

Spinning Wheel Update

I got the new bobbins for my Reeves spinning wheel! I finally got to ply two together. It was sooooooo cool! The DH has not finished fixing the treadle for me, so it was kindof interesting. He did spend most of a football game sitting with me and spinning the wheel (by hand) for me. It was so cute! It was so much fun.
So now I'm making a hotpad for my MIL out of the first yarn. It's plain unbleached, undyed wool. The plan is that it will felt just enough to be thick, but not so much that the stitch pattern is lost. We'll see. What if I accidently used the "super wash" roving instead of the plain?
Life is an adventure!