You know it's been a hard week

when Wednesday felt like Friday, and Thursday feels like is should be Saturday.

Almost done!

Just gotta finish up collection development! Due today! Yay!

New Knitscene Preview Up

But I am mad at them, since it doesn't come out on newsstands until Christmas Day. Lame.

In good news, I have completed my internship (+ all the annoying papers) and just finished my Contemporary Children's Lit Final.

Now, just Coll Dev is left; due Wednesday.

Review of Sensual Knits: Luxurious Yarns/Alluring Designs

For the most part, this is a beautiful pattern book. I love Ramona, by Jared Flood (brooklyntweed.net), the Betty V-Neck Vest, the Transparency sweater, the Sayuri sweater, Multiplicity sweater, the Rosamund Modern Kimono, and the Oversize shrug.

However, there were some nagging things that bothered me:

1. Sizing. The range of sizes are inconsistent. Some of the patterns are XS-XL, while some are XS-3X. I think overall, any knitter could whip out the measuring tape and their math skills, and "make it work" but it seemed a little odd that all the designers didn't comform to a set size-range.

2. Needles sizes. All of the needles sizes are in mm, and while there is a conversion chart in the glossary in the back of the book, it was a little off-putting, not being able to figure out the needle size on the first pass.

3. Fitting on the models. Many of the knits seemed too small for the models, especially the seeded cable cardigan, the joie de vivre cardigan, and the lace panel twinset. It made it a little difficult to determine actual fit, and I'll be checking out finished patterns by other bloggers before I make these.

4. Spagetti straps. Many of the tops and two of the dresses have thin straps. As a busty gal, if I knit these I would alter the patterns to include thicker straps, since wearing strappless bras under my knits does not appeal.

Overall though, I would recommend this to any knitter looking for beautiful, polished deisgns. I was excited that it was released early, and snapped it immediately. It was also nice to see so many bloggers represented.

Check out the pics on Amazon.

Library Project: A Short Investigation into Graffiti Left in University Library Books

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8199762

Damn you Gwen Stefani

From her L.A.M.B line:

Thank you notes are wonderful

From an email I received: "Thank you for the knitting class at the library. Last week, I went to Joann, bought some supplies, and started knitting the ribbed scarf that you suggested. I worked on it all thanksgiving break, and I finished it! I think it turned out pretty well. Anyway, thank you again for teaching me!"

Thank you, Robin, for teaching me to knit.

Must. Force. Myself. To. Study.

As much as I want to go knitting at the pub tomorrow, I really must go and do some studying at school. I have a group project for Tuesday, a paper due tomorrow, a major paper due sometime next week ... yadda yadda, I know The Knitting Bully does not accept excuses, so I will just have to hide in my textbooks.

Have fun without me!

I'm will attempt the Fidget again this weekend ... I started to swatch up a new yarn in seed stitch and it has distracted me a bit.

And of course, there is this timesuck known as Ravelry that I must avoid.

It is official.

I am too stoopid to figure out the Fidget. It is the K1B thingie. Half of them it go the way they are supposed to, and other times, for some reason I've made some twisted bastardized thingie that looks like I've made two stitches out of one.

I will try again tomorrow.

santa monica?

OH! We got a tip from a friend that they are leaving their rent-controlled apartment in Santa Monica because it is getting too small with their two-year old. We asked them to put our name in with the landlady! I hope it works out. We tried to get another rent-controlled unit in August, but lost out against a lawyer.

Doesn't it say something when even a lawyer wants a rent-controlled apartment. *sigh* Ultimately, we need to leave LA.

Submit a Pattern for Chronicle Books

Christina at Chronicle Books writes:

We're putting the finishing touches on our latest knitting book, Picture Perfect Knits by Laura Birek, and want to see your ideas. The book pulls together more than 50 intarsia grids for adding fun designs into any knit project. We have lots of patterns already, but we want yours! This is knitting for the people, by the people. We're looking for the five most creative, most dream-worthy intarsia knitting patterns. It could be anything, from a jaunty anchor to a geek-chic argyle pattern to a killer alphabet. Whatever pattern you would want to see in a knitting book. Five winners will have their name and pattern printed in the book and be promoted here on our Handmade Thursdays. Winners will also receive a free copy of the book when it comes out next fall.

Intarsia knitting pattern contest, deadline November 29th

Further info: http://www.chroniclebooks.com/blog/?p=622

Habitat ReStores

http://www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx

From the website:

Habitat ReStores are retail outlets where quality used and surplus building materials are sold at a fraction of normal prices. Proceeds from ReStores help local affiliates fund the construction of Habitat houses within the community. Many affiliates across the United States and Canada operate successful ReStores—some of which raise enough funds to build an additional 10 or more houses per year.

Materials sold by Habitat ReStores are usually donated from building supply stores, contractors, demolition crews or from individuals who wish to show their support for Habitat. In addition to raising funds, ReStores help the environment by rechanneling good, usable materials into use.

a self-published knitting book

http://www.barefootknits.com/

what do you think?

Call for Submissions: Knitscene

http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2007/10/12/see-your-knits-in-knitscene.html

I must stay that I really like this magazine. I let my Vogue Knitting lapse three issues ago, and have thought about subscribing to this one.

Gotta move fast, since the deadline is Nov. 5, but they only want a sketch and swatch.

or maybe I should figure out a way to make a pattern for this

or maybe I should ask Ravelry?

It is funny, I saw a girl on the street wearing this the other day and thought, should I stop her and ask her where she got it?

hmmmm

I'm still cranky, but everything I am cranky about it of my own making, so I should just stop drinking coffee, go to bed, and believe that everything will be better in the morning.

i'm just cranky

i'm going to go self-medicate by buying some yarn.

anyone tried this new knit picks yarn?

http://www.knitpicks.com/Cadena_YD5420129.html

Bohus on Ebay

I believe this is the green mist design. The seller said that it is good condition, but it looks pretty pilled on the body, though that could be shaved down. The wool quality is pretty high on these babies. If any of my size-small friends are interested, this is a pretty good price. Although, there are always those pesky bidding wars in the last hour.

Poems of Color

Just finished reading this book. It is a really neat story about the Bohus knitting cottage industry in Sweden. The author also secured permission to publish the patterns, which were due not to be released for publication for another decade or so. I'm not sure if I'll ever feel confident to do colorwork like that, but it is very inspiring. Looking at the beautiful wool/angora yokes makes me just want to knit a ribbon of the colorwork and then graft it to something. My library system (serving a major metropolitan area) only has two copies, and I have one of them! The other is a reference copy, which never leaves the central branch. I am blown away sometimes at collection development choices. I had to wait a little over three weeks for this copy! I guess I'll get to learn all about that, since I have my first "coll dev" class next week. Thankfully they moved it to Fall from Spring.

P.S. I admit that I am biased when it comes to knitting books. Although, sometimes, knitting books that I consider crap are purchased in bulk, so who knows. I guess they got a high review in Booklist.

Stitches out!

So, I got my stitches out yesterday, and thankfully, I don't need anymore.

To celebrate I went and ate a big salad. Yay, ruffage! How I missed thee!

The whole recovery process was quite painful. Thankfully I had Vicadin, which I really needed at night, since I sleep on my side.

Thank you everyone, for your kind words.

School starts this week, and I am kinda looking forward to it.

So, in knitting news, anyone doing the red scarf project? I've talked my friends Sarah, Amy, and Danielle into doing it, and Amy talked her friend Caroline into it. I mean, everyone is doing it, how 'bout you? I'm midway through my second ball of misti alpaca, and it feels wonderful.

Trash the dress.com

http://trashthedress.wordpress.com/

Hmmm... I think if I wanted to do this sort of thing, that it would be neat to be rising out of a vat of dye, with the color streaming down the satin.

wait, so price fixing is now legal?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/business/28cnd-bizcourt.html?ex=1340769600&en=190350e79de0ed9a&ei=5124

Vicadin is good.

Only lost four teeth, instead of six.

I have stitches for the holes to my sinuses. Hopefully won't need more.

Very tired.

On my third vicadin.

Doctor called me at home to check on me, which is nice.

Peace out.

Jena 6

from the website:

In September 2006, a group of African American high school students in Jena, Louisiana, asked the school for permission to sit beneath a "whites only" shade tree. There was an unwritten rule that blacks couldn't sit beneath the tree. The school said they didn't care where students sat. The next day, students arrived at school to see three nooses (in school colors) hanging from the tree. (Please note, the tree above is not the tree, but a tree at Jena High School.)

http://www.whileseated.org/photo/003244.shtml

CLA?

Anyone going to the conference?

*SIGH*

Good News: I got to see an oral surgeon today, and I am having my wisdom teeth removed Friday, at 8 am.

Bad News: *sigh* I may lose other teeth that were impacted by my wisdom teeth, and I may end up with holes in my sinuses that will need to be surgically closed.

I know that the oral surgeon was being upfront, and giving me a worse case-scenario, since so many ppl in LA sue their doctors, he was letting me know all that could happen, but it just scared the crap out of me. I don't even have pain from these teeth, and yet they are a major problem.

I've never been under (which isn't covered by my insurance!) and the dentist said that since my teeth are fully developed that there will be a lot of bruising on my face and there will be a long recovery period.

Fantastic.

insurance woes - denist fun

First the HMO screwed up the referral, then I get an appointment with an oral surgeon, then they call me and cancel the appointment because they dropped my insurance, now I am waiting for a new list of approved candidates, and now it is going to be six weeks before I see anyone.


Why do I have to beg ppl to pull these wisdom teeth out of my head? All freaking FOUR of them.


So not happy right now.

Wow, it seems like Magknits is back on track

they've begun to hit their target of a new issue every month:

http://www.magknits.com/

Housecleaning, The Closer Marathon, & Yarn Cakes

Hubby and I were remarking upon the fact that this is the first Labor Day in a long time that TNT has done a non-Law & Order marathon. I guess all those Golden Globes and Emmy nominations have pushed The Closer into prime position.

I've been wandering around the apartment, cleaning here, and there. Not very exciting, but it needs to get done. With the marathon on I can take little breaks and watch TNT and work on my scarf for the Red Scarf Project. I've gotten through one ball of the Misti Alpaca.

I broke down and bought a yarn baller a couple of months ago, and I left it set up, so every now and then I make another yarn cake; extremely satisfying.

I wasn't going to buy a ball winder, but after my last trip to Wildfiber, I just broke down and bought one. A couples of months ago I got a gift certificate for my birthday for Wildfiber, so I went down there and bought enough Cascade 220 for the boatneck sweater in Fitted Knits. Now, if you've ever bought Cascade you know that it comes in hanks. Well, since I'd just spent around 60 dollars, I expected full instruction and use of their swift and yarn baller combination. Ideally, they would have balled it for me, especially since it wasn't very busy in the store, but I was informed that they would teach me once, and then it was up to me to ball all eight skeins myself. Fine. That is reasonable.

I admit, I have a bit of a history with their yarn baller, since last time I was there I bought two skeins of alpaca that was very difficult to ball, and was given a lot of attitude since the shop assistants didn't want to take the time to help me with it, and even informed me that "real knitters have a yarn baller at home."

Thankfully, Casacade does a really wonderful job when they put up their hanks, so it was easy to get it one the swift in one piece, and to ball it up. However, I still got attitude for just using their ball winder! They began to give me side glances and impatient sighs, even though no one was waiting to use the device. I said to one of the shop clerks, as she walked by, "this is really fun and it makes such a cool yarn cake," to which she replied, "yeah, it can make any yarn look nice." Whoa, I thought, just because Cascade is a budget yarn doesn't mean it should be looked down upon! Anyway, I was willing to concede that this was all in my head, and I was being overly sensitive, when a woman bought three hanks of expensive hand spun kettle dyed stuff. I was shocked when, at the cash register, the staff unwound her three hanks and told her that I would be off in a minute, and she'd get everything balled up in a jiffy.

The women seemed a little sheepish, and she said to me that she had a yarn baller at home, but not a swift. I laughed and said that I had a swift but not a yarn baller. The shop clerk then chimed in and said that I should give my swift to the other lady so that she could have a full set-up at home. Really, I thought, is that really what I should do?

Anyway, I just left. I had five hanks left to go, but I just left. Later in the week I stopped by Stitches of the Heart to pick up some alpaca. There I saw that they had a yarn baller for sale, and I just bought it, still upset at the folks at Wildfiber.

Anyway, I'm really happy with my set-up at home, and it just makes me more determined to not go back to Wildfiber. To be fair, I've had good experiences there, but whenever the yarn baller is involved, it has gotten rude and snippy. I don't feel that I am taking advantage of their resources by wanting to use the ball winder, especially when I have just bought yarn there. If you go to Compatto or A Manos yarn center, they are totally cool about it. Perhaps they have been taken advantage of in the past? Even if that is the case, I don't deserve the residual angst.

Ravelry part two

Now I have "friends" and I am in "groups" and I'm feeling all this pressure to contribute.... hmmm.... that is probably what I need......something to think about.

Ravelry

okay, okay, it is starting to grow on me. If I avoid the forums and look instead at the FOs and all the different permutations of various patterns, then I really enjoy myself.

New Magknits

http://www.magknits.com/

Much better than usual. Feels more like the old Magknits.

Work Wardrobe

Google Book Search

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7s8q9nTQh4

Stash Inhancement

See sometimes a girl has to buy some alpaca when it matches her nail polish. The alpaca is Misti Alpaca, bulky, three skeins for the Red Scarf Project.

Also, you'll notice that two things: one, that I am on a major tweed kick, and two, I'm on a major vintage yarn kick, especially when it is tweed and CHEAP. I bought all of it, since I know that I'll never match those dye lots again. There is no yardage on the vintage yarn, but it says it is 50 grams a ball of virgin wool, on a size ten needle. Is there any way to determine yardage from that?

That's right.

"I'm a big baller baby, when I'm callin' you."

Yarn baller that is.

Pictures to follow. Tomorrow. Promise.

Is there something like this in LA?

http://www.east-bay-depot.org/

Vogue Knitting Anniversary

I was looking through the massive silver issue of Vogue Knitting the other day (no, I didn't buy it, the patterns were hideous) and I started to read the interview with the "old guard" designers. When they got to the part about patterns today, and how Internet patterns are not the same as the pattern that a yarn company puts out (not proof-read, super cheap, etc) one of the designers mentioned that people who have copied patterns from her book in the library have then mailed her 4 dollars with a note saying, "I copied pattern X and here is payment for it."

I found that somewhat astounding, because I had never thought of doing that, and with a library, there is a certain about of fair use, but I'm throwing out the question, should we be mailing payment like that? I mean, from the designer's point of view, if someone just copied a pattern from a library, and doesn't buy the book itself, then they are losing revenue ... I'm not sure, overall, since I have my old weird internal justification system, where, if I like more than three patterns, I buy the book, and if not, I photocopy them from the library's copy of the book. I also buy patterns books, including the new norah gaughan for berroco (backordered for a month!) and I've bought some of the RYC Rowan books, AND subscribe to Interweave and should probably start subscribing to Knitscene since I buy it so often. So overall, I would say that, not counting yarn, a lot of my dollar does go towards the designers themselves ... but should knitters go that extra effort to send those 4 dollars in the mail ?

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

I bought yarn... lots of yarn.

And a ball winder.

That sound? That sound was me falling off the wagon. Hard.

100 Tutorial Websites

It is nice to have one site with links to all the other DIY sites.

Rent game

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5112728

The DOBAG project

http://www.returntotradition.com/html/dobag_project.html

Farmer's Market Fun

The hubby and I went to go check out the new Farmer's Market near our apartment. It was pretty small, but since it is a month old, I'm hoping it will grow with time. They had a DJ from a local station playing some tunes, and we were rocking out to Prince while sampling some berries.

We got some amazing fruit. White peaches, blue berries, black berries, ruby red grapefruit, avocados and strawberries. For produce, we got four different types of lettuce, some okra, and a pound of heirloom tomatoes.

Then we hit up the supermarket for some ground turkey, and also some sliced deli meats for sandwiches. If we could find an independent butcher nearby, we'd totally go.

Hubby was remarking that the fruit was pretty expensive (in some cases) compared to the supermarket prices. However, you don't get fruit picked yesterday at the supermarket, and the taste is just so much better. He agreed.

I guess if the supermarkets do go on strike again, we'll have the farmer's market to rely on.

All in all, a good day.

and the plastic bag crafting continues

http://www.craftzine.com/pub/nl/62

cool craft challenge

too bad all the entries are due tomorrow!
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=180658.0

here are the entries themselves:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?board=371.0

It is a reusable bag challenge on craftster. More and more I've been thinking that reusable bags are a good idea. The Knitty surprise was a knitted hemp shopping bag. I guess San Fran is getting rid of plastic bags as well? I've been going around the apartment collecting all the canvas bags that I've accumulated over the years. We get about six bags of stuff when we go grocery shopping, so with the three canvas bags I have, I could make another three and then just keep them in the trunk. A new farmer's market is opening this Sunday by our apartment, so I'm looking forward to shopping locally and using reusable bags!

in honor of Caroline

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=184688.0

claims to be easy - V8411

wish the pattern came with those knee-high boots...

Happy Birthday to Me

My first action as an older person was to get my big toe caught on the edge of the bathtub as I was getting in for a shower.

As a mature older person I did not yell "M*****f***!!" That hurt!" I just checked to make sure that I hadn't broken my toe, and was thankful that I had health insurance so that if I had broken it, I could go to the doctor.

I'm having a bit of a quarter-life crisis (to use a hip new term) because I had some milestones set out for myself by the time I was 26 that I have not accomplished, so I am having to re-adjust some views/plans that had become pretty firm in my mind. I do not have a child, I am still living in an apt, I am still in school, etc. Life is pretty great though, and that, I guess, also bothers me, because my life is good and I didn't meet some target milestones. The earth didn't shake, etc. Overall, I guess that is a good thing.

Today is also the anniversary of the moon landing!

new norah gaughan for berroco

some beautiful interesting designs.

i love love love that white coat

I've been thinking a lot about sewing lately. I have some Built by Wendy patterns, which are supposed to be good starting patterns. I have some Simplicity easy as well. *sigh* I wish I had a sewing mentor or a little sewing fairy to sit on my shoulder and say "it is ok, you can do this. It isn't like you are taking the GRE or anything, it is just needle and thread."

Free Burda Patterns

vintage touch

This top from Banana Republic echos some vintage knitting patterns, with the buttons going down the side around the stomach area. Is that 1920s? or 30s?

Exhausted.

Did a full day of reference at my FILL site today. This internship is super cool, but I was freaked out for the first half of the day. I had about a hour of training on the database, and then I went on desk with two other librarians to watch my back. Well, if Mondays are this crowded then I don't think I could take a Saturday just yet.

I helped a WWII vet today. He was 88 years old, and his doctor has just given him clearance to travel to see two of his best friends, one in Ca and one in NV. He said he was the veteran of two world wars, so I am guessing WWII and Korea? He was one of three brothers, and they all went into the Army and they all came back healthy and whole. All I could think was that doesn't happen anymore. I mean, I was happy for him, and he was clearly proud that he was still capable of doing what he wanted. He came up and asked for the Thomas Guide, and I showed him the routes, but then I pulled up Google Maps for the NV trip, and it was pretty amazing. He was like, "why would you need a thomas guide if you had this?" So I printed out a bunch of maps and highlighted the routes for him, and he was pretty happy. But in the back of my mind I was thinking of the Washington Post stories of Walter Reed hospital and just trying to keep a smile on my face. I hope those Google Maps get him where he wants to go.

I also saw Pan's Labyrinth last night. Sad but beautiful done.

tutorial on making your own duct tape dressform

it's a video: http://whipup.net/2007/06/14/create-your-own-dress-form/#comment-134045

hmmmm.... a media oportunity

they take submissions on how to do crafty stuff.... perhaps we should document something that we do during one of our craft days?

http://www.threadbanger.com/

SWEET!

It looks like part of my YA services/Reference internship might be helping with the Teen Knitting Club. SO PERFECT.

More info to follow....

To wear at the reference desk

http://www.threadless.com/product/696/Interpretive_Dance

Wow, I think that I could be done

with my Spring quarter. I finished my paper on Subject Classification... I'll proof in the morning, but I think I'm done.

Some things I've learned:

1. No matter what, I will NEVER EVER take four classes at one time. NEVER. EVER. Plus a part time job and volunteering. Enough!

2. My health is more important that school. I'm going to stop abusing my body with caffiene and lack of sleep. Although, I have learned to appreciate Peet's coffee.

3. If I want, it is now possible for me to graduate early. I really want to take collection development though, and it is only offered in the Spring. *sigh*

Now to do some laundry and sleep. Peace out.

Midnight yell

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

my upstairs neighbor

likes to dribble a basketball back and forth across his floor.

He also likes to do this late at night. Like now.

Hubby went up once to talk to him. Apparently he has no furniture in the apartment, only a big screen.

Hubby said, "Are you playing basketball up here? Could you stop, it is really loud."

To which neighbor responded, "What, no, there is no one here," and then shut the door.

There was about a hour of silence, and then it resumed. That was a couple of months ago.

I've learned how to block it all out, but tonight he is doing it right above my head. Fabulous. Someone call the NBA, I've got their next dribbling maniac.

Baby Got Back!

Congrats Robin!

Wardrobe Refashion

Cool Idea. I like the pledge aspect.

http://nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/

keep on truckin'

turned in my last paper of the quarter. 4 of 4.

now I just need to finish up my reflective journal.

I have two take homes that I won't get until next week.... so maybe this weekend will be fun-filled for once.

After being made justificably guilty for not always having some knitting in my backpack (thanks FLiCKs gals) I am now carrying around the hat I am making for Justin. I pulled it out during an informational panel on the thesis process yesterday, and distracted one of the presenters from what she was saying. People around me were looking, and I was like, yeah, that's right, I'm knittin'.... I wasn't making any noise or anything, but I guess it is still considered odd to knit in public? I'm glad I did it though. I'm using 100 percent alpaca and it is so soft and soothing. Actually helped me concentrate on the presentations because I was so relaxed.

So, so far for craft day the suggestions are:

Ultimate Knitting Machine
Travel Wallet
Unravelling sweaters

Well, I'll bring my knitting, no matter what.

Another thing I want

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190117737246&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:12

Papers

Three down, one to go.

Craft in America on PBS

I don't have time to watch, but I'm going to record these for later.

Craft in America: Memory
Sunday, June 03, 2007, 9:00 PM

Craft in America: Landscape
Sunday, June 03, 2007, 10:00 PM

The third installment is about community, with a highlight on quilters, so I am looking forward to that one. These other two deal with metalworkers and potters. Anyway, here is the lowdown: http://www.craftinamerica.org/

Another idea for craft day

I forgot to mention that I had another project idea for craft day.

I bought Adorn magazine to read on the plane, and fell in love with their "travel wallet" seen in the middle pic.

I thought we could pool our resources and we could share out the cost when we buy the plastic for the id and the snaps and things. Maybe even go in for some super-cool Japanese fabric.

Anyway, just a thought.

Here is the template from the Adornmag website.

this one goes out to Ivy

It was nice to have lunch with my knittin' ladies. Thanks for meeting me. I was really touched that everyone came out.

I'm researching resources for one person/rural libraries for one of my papers, and I decided to see if any of said librarians have blogs, when I came across this blog, which of course I had to post:

http://www.sonic.net/~erisw/bdlib.html

Enjoy.

argh

I have four papers due next week, I did two presentations yesterday, and I am tired just thinking about all of it.

Went to Houston for Memorial weekend to see my little brother graduate from high school. He is off to Texas Women's University (yes, they take men too) to study occupational therapy. There were terrible thunderstorms on Monday, so all flights were delayed, and we didn't get home until Tuesday morning at 2 am. Ahh, life. It was so much fun getting five hours of sleep and then getting up to give those presentations. From all accounts it all went well; I don't really remember. :)

My family is moving to Moscow June 1. My step-father agreed to go on a four-year posting. The one hitch it that the ONE international school in Moscow may be too full to make my little sister, so if she doesn't get in, my mom and sis will stay in Houston for the school year. That would suck, so we are hoping a spot opens up soon.

Two more weeks of school... and then hopefully an internship and two summer school courses. Taking four classes this quarter has been a ... challenge... I've learned how to make Sangria, and have been making it by the pitcher.....

California Materials Exchange

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/CalMAX/

From the website:

"CalMAX ... a free service designed to help businesses find markets for nonhazardous materials they have traditionally discarded. CalMAX helps businesses, industries, and institutions save resources and money."

blogs get ISSN numbers

Is Blogging Serializing?

Posted on: April 26th, 2007 by Matt Raymond

I got an email this morning from a colleague in the Office of Communications, who said that she was speaking to our “guru of ISSN numbers.” Here is the upshot:

Today she told me that after much debate, catalogers had decided that corporate blogs published regularly are in fact serial publications and therefore should have an ISSN number. The Library should be a model for all catalogers, she said. She promised to read and assess your blog and communicate further. Many bloggers have been requesting ISSN numbers. You may already have an ISSN number.

I thought it worth throwing this one out to the larger community, especially given our growing librarian and cataloger readership.

Should this blog and others have an ISSN number? What are the pluses and minuses?

I can certainly see the pride of having an official “number.” But I also know the blogosphere is, by and large, a notoriously independent — and sometimes cantankerous — place. Would bloggers chafe at such an identifier? What guidelines should govern who does or doesn’t get assigned an ISSN? Do any blogs already have an ISSN?

from http://www.loc.gov/blog/

crazy cool

http://www.craftzine.com/blog/archive/2007/03/plastic_grocery_bags_into_knit.html?CMP=OTC-5JF307375954

When sheep go BAAAAAAAAAAAAAD

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/blacksheep/internationaltrailer/


It seems that in New Zealand, the scariest animal around ... is a sheep.

Yarn Shop Directory

http://www.dailyknitter.com/shops.html

Commerical Pattern Archive

http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/COPA/about.html

the Husband thinks these are ugly; I disagree

Wanna enter a pattern contest?

http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/freePatternContest.asp

sometimes we work at work, and sometimes we POMPOM baby!

Pilates update, just for Caroline: my lateral abs hurt like a mother. Those pulses are what'll kill you.

check it

2nd Time Cotton is created from new textile waste originating in the apparel and textile industry. This 8 ply yarn is spun from this recycled cotton contributing to the conservation and global re-utilization of products. 2nd time cotton is made in the USA.
Content: 75% Cotton/30% Arylic
Weight/Yardage: 180yd/100g ball
Gauge: 4.25 sts/inch on #8
Knitting Weight: Worsted
Price: $6.50/ball, discountabl

from:

http://yarn.com/webs/0/0/0/0-1001-1294-1323/0/0/3590/

i have a pilates appointment tonight

I have a pretty sweet deal regarding pilates. My Hubby's boss' girlfriend (see, I can network) has completed her pilates training, but before she gets her certificate she has to do 50 hours of teaching to finalise her course. Guess who she is doing these hours with? Me! For free! And it is machine pilates, not just mat! (Machine is usually 50-75 bucks an hour.)

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to meet her for pilates for the past two weeks (finals and papers) so tomorrow I am going to be a little sore. To put it mildly. The thing is though, it leaves you with this great stretched-out feeling.

I'll be sad when it is all over though. Do you think I could barter knitting lessons with pilates lessons..... ?

thoughts that have been rolling around in my head

... got Saturday Night Hat from ILL yesterday. Only took a month, but I get to keep it until June, so I guess it all evens out. The asymetrically feather cloche blows me away, as does the little barrette beret. The fedora looks dead sexy. Dead sexy.

... working on the cookbooks at work has made me think about cookbooks in general. I wonder if it would be neat to put together a book called "Knits and Bits" with knitting patterns and recipes for what to eat/drink while knitting. Robin's mint chocolate espresso would top the list. I don't know though; I have seen recipes in other knitting books and thought, "how stupid" but I guess I should re-adjust my opinion... unless I'm stupid? Hmmm.

... I'm working on the report for my group project. We are using OCLC's Condentdm, but because it is too expensive to actually use the real version, we are using the web-based demo version which is clunky and horrible. We've been informed in class Condentdm is used by anyone who is anyone in the library world, but I have yet to be convinced.

... a couple of weeks ago a co-worked "dragged" me to A Mano Yarn center on Venice for their big yarn blow out sale, and I was "tricked" into buying some Southwest Trading Company Bamboo for the Green Tea sweater in the Spring IK. I swatched it, and then my work really ramped up, so my poor little swatch is calling out to me, "Measure me, measure me!"

... I have jury duty next week and the VERY FIRST THING on the dangerous item list are knitting needles. I guess I'll have to crochet if I'm called up.

... I've been eyeing knitpicks to see which new dyes I want to buy. I'm torn between going really sunny, like gold and burnt orange, or all moody with burgandy and purple. Free shipping doesn't kick in until you hit 45.00, so if anyone looking to buy something for knitpicks soon? We could do a combo deal.

Sign me up!

http://www.taxonomybootcamp.com/

New Knitty!

What do you think?

when the Hubby is away, the cat thinks about buying yarn

Click on photos for fun.

tired. *sigh*

I'm nearing the home stretch. I have two HUGE papers due next Friday, and then a group project due the Friday after that.

At work I am working on putting together a Gertrude Stein exhibit as well as digitizing our California Cookbook collection. I pulled some photographs of her from the collection today, including the famous Man Ray with her in a leopard skin hat. Pretty neat.

Hubby is going away tomorrow for the whole week, and then he is back for a week, and then he leaves again for four days to give a guest lecture at Carnegie Mellon (his alma mater) on in-game physics and the mechanics behind the clambering system he build from the ground up. He is a smartie pants... I guess it is good timing, since I'll be busy too, but I know I'll miss him. *sigh*

I worked some more on my Calorimetry but with the weather warming up my heart isn't in it.

I guess today is the day for blahs.

I opened my big mouth to my cataloguing teacher that I've studied a fair amount of Spanish (ie four years) so now she has me cataloguing in Spanish. *sigh* On the flip side, since she doesn't read Spanish, she'll have to take my word for it.

Off to do homework.

I think I need to carry my alpaca swatch around again.

Mood fabrics now has an outlet in Los Angeles

6165 W. Pico Blvd. LA 90035 – (323)653-MOOD (6663)

It looks like they also have an online store: http://www.moodfabrics.com/

Not as good as kitty photos, I know. :)

This one goes out to all my knittin' ladies

For Robin

This doesn't have a lot of patterns with handspun, but it does have some.

Maybe give ya some inspiration...

For Ivy

Something for Burning Man?

For Ms. Transientmusket

Its this or Happy Hooker.

Too bad there isn't a library out there that believes in buying lots of knitting and crochet books....

I'll be sleeping with a smile on my face

Project Runway's Jay has a line coming out at Urban Outfitters.

You'll have to get through all the drama to get to the clothes. *sigh*

'night

blocking blocking blocking

I swatched the alpaca in st st and 2 x 2 ribbing. It is blocking in the bathroom as we speak.

Hubby : "What is that smell?"

Me: "Wet alpaca."

Hubby : "Ah, ok."

Me: *smile*

Yummy yummy alpaca

This is the alpaca I bought at Wildfiber. There is info on the new owner on their webpage too. Also, when I looked them up on Google.com they had a link to a review site where Wildfiber gets slaughtered regarding customer service.

*sigh* I have had horrible service in the past and I've also found great deals in the clearance section. Saturday, when I bought the alpaca I experienced a little good and bad. Overall, when people ask me about Wildfiber, I say that you should go once, just to see the great selection, but don't be surprised at the mark-up (hefty) and sometimes rude service.

That being said, I fell in love with this 100 percent Peruvian tweed alpaca from Henry's Attic. I've known about this manufacturer for a while, but they hardly ever keep any stock on their on-line site. I felt like the price was somewhat reasonable; I a little over 600 yards for 66.50 and I am currently swatching it up on 9 needles. (The other two huge balls are still in the bag.) Feel free to let me know if I got shafted on price though, since that will teach me a lesson about giving in to temptation.

Because of the texture I was thinking of doing something really simple. I've been starting sweaters off and on for about two years, but I've always lost interest and gone back to hats and scarfs (and mainly as gifts). But this fiber feels so good!

Oh, I also figured out what I am going to do about my dyed yarn; more on that later.

Back to swatching.....

Just some links for today

http://www.brooklyngeneral.com/classes.htm

This is one of the more reasonable prices I've seen for beginning knitting. 100 bucks for four 1.5 hour sessions. That is about six hours of instruction in class sizes limited to six. It seems like the material might be included too. That being said, I think knitting stores should offer free classes, with the caveat that you buy the materials in the store. That way if the person hates it, it isn't a huge waste of time, and if they really get into it, then they'll keep coming back to your store.

I took a four hour nap after church today. Feel a lot better; got up and made Cornish Game Hens with Garlic Aoli and brown rice and broccoli with red flakes. I will definitely do it again. Now that I know that my local public library lets you check out old magazines, I've been trying out more recipes from Gourmet magazine and Cook's.

I taught a co-worker how to knit awhile ago, and she asked me to go along to help her pick some yarn to help finish off her scarf. The story on her scarf is that she went to the Taos Sheep Festival a couple of years ago to support another co-worker's partner that entered the weaving contest. (Yes Robin, the dyeing teacher - he took second place). Anyway, while she was there she bought a hank of pretty orange/pink chunky handspun (you would have loved it Ivy). Anyway she only bought one skein....... so I helped her find some coordinating colors for some longish fringe. I'll take a picture once she adds it on.

Anyway, it took us six hours and four yarn stores to find the right colors. We met the new owner of Wildfiber and she was very nice. She just took over ownership about two weeks ago, and there are already some changes. She is stocking more organic/natural stuff, more than just the usual Blue Sky Alpacas and .... *sigh* that is where I fell of the wagon big time. I'll post pics tomorrow, (yay for holidays!) but let me just say I fell in love with some alpaca..... some yummy yummy alpaca.

Here is at least one pic:
This is a felted cupcake pincushion from

http://www.betzwhite.com/

and this is her blog: http://www.betzwhite.com/blog/betzblog.html

she takes wool sweaters, cuts and stitches them up, and then felts them. Very cute.

More tomorrow, promise.

Final Draft Title

Not Quite Google: An Analysis of the UCLA Library Online Catalogue

off to sleep.....

Current title of my midterm

A Database Only a Mother Could Love: An Analysis of the UCLA Library Online Catalogue

Enjoythishistoricalcostumelink.

and they are mistaken about the "analysis" portion being for university access only. I clicked on them and they worked. There are some pretty cool pics there as well.

More later. Life crazy.

Feeling like crap today

Called in sick to work and am going back to bed. Hubby has had a massive nasty cold/sinus infection for the past week, and there is a nasty stomach bug going around at school. This sucks.

Wadda think? Big or small?

waiting for the swatch to dry

last night I was tired, but not tired enough to be fully asleep... I feel like, with this crazy quarter system, that everything is just non-stop, which it is, as all the coursework is packed into a ten-week sprint, and then you get like three weeks off for the holidays, and I think something like two weeks off between quarters.

I miss the semester system, but at the same time I can't deny that there is this tremendous synergy that goes on within my brain once I realise how interconnected everything can be. This quarter I am taking Information Structures, Issues in Information Technology, and Descriptive Cataloguing. I actually jumped the gun and took Metadata before Information Structures, and while that was a struggle, now I feel kinda ahead of the game concerning the whole metadata issue. Someone asked me today what a controlled vocabulary was and I was off and running.

I was ready to tear my hair out last night because I couldn't find the AARC2 rule for two publishers on a title page, where neither was given prominence. I finally I catalogued them both as equal publishers. We'll see what my prof says.

Anyway, back to last night. I had that tired but cranky thing going when you've been working hard all day, and you know you should go to bed, but darnit, you haven't done anything fun all day, and don't you deserve some fun? So I started swatching the yarn I dyed, first as one strand, and then as a doubled strand. I'm blocking in right now, and it should be all nice and flat for its portrait tomorrow.

I showed up for an 8 am study group today to discover that the person who asked for the meeting to be that early couldn't make it. *sigh* Well, the rest of us still discussed the upcoming midterm. My group then dragged me to a videoconference at the graduate library. It was all about the generational issues going on in the library world. This woman was the main speaker. She's made a career out of writing books about librarian issues, and is the founder of LISjobs.com.

Basically her argument is that there tension because Gen Xers think that Boomers should retire and free up jobs, and Boomers don't want to retire and entrust their libraries to techno-hungry youngsters that don't respect their authority. She says that managers should make all generations work together on committees and in their daily jobs so that everyone can learn and appreciate everyone else's strengths.

I think that there is something to be said for generational issues in any field, but what I found interesting, and what she didn't address, is that isn't just the librarians that are changing, the field itself is in flux. The next version of AARC2 is coming out next year with its big Dublin Core/digital material bent, libraries are competing with Google and the Internet in general in terms of the way users now want their information, digitazation is really booming (and grabbing a lot of the funding) and overall a lot of things are changing because the nature of information is changing.

*sigh* Yes, a lot of it is academic, since the world isn't going to end with these questions, but these are the things I think about.

There was a really funny bit where they showed a "vignette" where a Gen Xer goes into a job interview and to make her seem "young" the costume designer put her in a hot pink jacket, frosted pink lipstick, and permed blond hair. Hmmm.... seems kinda 80s to me.

Picturepalooza

Some of the dye washed out a little, so it is a little more faded than this, but still nice.

Also, the found needle roll.

I need to find a way to downsize all my photos so that I can post a bunch at one... *sigh* gotta run.

So, now that I think about it

the Walker project is antithetical to what Barbara Walker was all about. In her introduction she says that everyone should have a box full of swatches that they make themselves, so that they can learn how the stitches work, and eventually, I guess that would lend itself to would-be knitwear designers. So make your own swatches!

Any feedback on the new color scheme for the blog? I was going for some color....

I got the new IK Spring '07 yesterday, and I am in love. Anyone else feelin' it?

Walker Treasury Project

http://thewalkertreasury.wordpress.com/

I am super busy, but will post more tomorrow.

Robin, you put me to shame!

Ivy, I used the Fairchild's Dictionary for the backbone of the thesauri that I had to design for the slide project, so I know what you are talking about.

Cheers.

Computer issues

Husband has a sinus infection, to he is stuck at home, sick sick sick. Yesterday he decided to run a diagnostic check on my laptop, and what was supposed to take three hours took the whole day. So there was no posting for me.

I have some actual knitting to report, so I will try to post some pics tomorrow. I knit Husband a ribbed cap for Christmas, and my brother and sister both want one. We went to a yarn store and they picked yarn and I've gotten around to swatching it up.

how would I make this anthropologie sweater, I wonder...

Knit Bloggers who have published or are about to be published

www.glampyre.com Fitted Knits

http://wendyknits.net Wendy Knits

http://www.domiknitrix.com/ Domiknitrix

http://thriftyknitter.com/ Naughty Needles

These two have books in development:

http://knitandtonic.typepad.com/
http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/

and finally, she doesn't have a blog, but she runs her own pattern and yarn business online, and she has a book coming out:

her business http://www.whiteliesdesigns.com/
and her book http://www.whiteliesdesigns.com/books/kls.html

beautiful yarn, great prices, from a women's co-op in Uruguay

check it out:

www.handpaintedyarn.com

Virtual craftyness

I'm becoming a big fan of virtual exhibitions. So are the people at the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They have a quilt of the month virtual exhibition where you can sign up and they will let you know when their next quilt is on "exhibit." I often think that I could be a quilter, and more accurately, I wish I could be, since I am in love with the use of color and patterns that go into quilts. I first fell in love with quilts when I ran across an article about the Gee's Bend Quilts. I love the USPS for making some of them into stamps. I used them on all my Christmas cards.

And not to leave out the fiber crowd, the Yarn Museum has handspun skeins on display. It is a quick yarn fix, unless of course you are like me, and link back to the spinners' website and get mesmerized by all the fun.

Premiere of Crafty Thinking

When Robin announced her 30 crafty things in 30 days, my response was, "well, maybe I'll manage just thinking one crafty thought per day."

Tada, a blog is born.

I'm a big fan of bookmarks, and my drop-down tap is a highly organized system of folders and links. I guess if I had a filing cabinet, that would be it. (We actually do have one, but not-so crafty things like tax forms are there.)

So, the first crafty thought ...

Here is a blog by Fable Handknit's Andrea Tung. Andrea is cool in that she does Q & A from various knitters looking to get that fashionable knitted look without looking like a mangled wreck. Besides the obvious of plugging her own yarn line, her answers are usually worth a read.

Also, DH got a Nintendo Wii last weekend and it was almost too much fun for me to handle. After almost running into the tv while playing an excited game of Wii bowling, he pointed me in this direction.

Cheers. Off to read one of the best books ever.

Seriously, I love this book. Anyone interested in cataloguing or information science should take a peek.