March 11, 2006

A Whole Lot of Knitting Going On



I have gone sock crazy! I have been knitting the Thuja sock for my mother and I am hooked. First I had to add to my stash ( any excuse to buy yarn. I really hit it big on Ebay by buying the Artyarns Supermerino and Lorna's Laces from Yarnbow. I also bought some handpainted sock yarn from Robin Pascal. I was thinking about knitting Pomatomus with the Lorna's Laces. What do you think? With the yarns from KnitPicks, I am going to knit the Jaywalker sock by Grumperina. I would have loved to use Socks that Rock yarn, but I fell in love with Flower Power and my cousin fell in love with Pansy. I can't wait to start them.
Here is the first of the Thuja. I am loving the way it is turning out. knitting with the Supermerino makes it so lofty and soft. My mother should love them. All that is left to do is knit about four more inches and then finish the toe. I don't want to get bored with the pattern so after I finsh I am going to start on either one of the Jaywalkers or the Pomatomus. I figure this is somewhat of a cure for my KADD .... and socks are small enough for instant gratification.

Which brings me to a quick knit. Because of last weekend's arctic blast, I was inspired to make a hat for my nephew. It is so cute. I used a soft acyrlic yarn. The pattern is 1x1 rib paired with stockinette stitch. Once knitted it is folded, the sides sewn and tassles (or pom poms) added to the corners. I am going to hold onto it and knit a matching pair of mittens and / or scarf. This will be one of his gifts from his Auntie.


Yep, that's right, I am on a knitting roll. I started my sister's Irish Hiking scarf. Her favorite color is pink and I love this color. It is a soft acrylic by Bernat. I am in love with the stitch definition of this yarn. I bought it at Smiley's. It's not too hot yet funky enough for a teenager. I started to use Cascade 220 but i know my sister. She needs something that can be thrown in the washing machine without a second thought. I would like to pair it with the Irish Hiking hat by Nik, but she has been oohing and aahhing over fingerless gloves. I will play with the cable to come up with a pattern later.

March 08, 2006

Wow . . .


"I look back now and I'm in wonderment, really." Parks says when asked to reflect on his accomplishments. "I'm not sure I know exactly why and how I did it. I didn't just do it for black people, I did it for people, for human beings."

Gordon Parks - 1912-2006

(wikipedia)

Through his camera lense,
he told our story.
I am speechless.

March 01, 2006

A Note ...


Octavia E. Butler 1947 - 2006
(She died outside of her home on February 24, 2006, at the age of 58. She died of head injuries after falling and striking her head on her walkway. wikipedia)

You called to me on a day that I needed to escape. A day filled with the hustle of corporate life and the concrete jungle; my only solace to be found between the aisles of the Queens Central Library. I hesitated for a moment wondering if I was ready to receive the gift you were about to bestow. Taking the chance, the wrapping and bows came undone and was I transported ... (first trip) back to a time before Emancipation to understand the dynamics of slavery and what it actually took to be a slave ... (second trip) lightyears into the future to a world devasted by a nuclear holocaust and aliens that travel in a self sustaining ship needing to breed. Ironically , it was up to a black woman to repopulate the earth ... (third trip) Vampires. I hung onto your every word, always ready to discover new worlds . . . .over and over.
Today, it seems for young people to discover you, we have to sort through the bins piled high with "ghetto fiction" in order to discover your literary gems. I have no problem being a gatekeeper to your literary world. All it takes is one.