“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” — Julia Child

“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” — Julia Child

Beautiful New Design

http://blog.sweaterbabe.com/knitting/112-dramatic-lace-top-down-wrap-cardigan/

TV Time

I have been trying to get my family together to watch some special Netflix movies and to catch up on Lost episodes but everyone is busy and not in the living room at the same time. Lost is almost over and we are one month behind. Pitiful and frustrating! Actually, I watched an episode by myself yesterday because I couldn't stand waiting any more. I don't mind watching episodes twice because I'm usually knitting when I watch TV and miss stuff. Also, that show is so crazy, a second viewing can only help.

At the last Project Linus Blanket Bee I attended, I received free yarn to knit blankets. Other members of my knitting guild were able to choose yarn as well and I've been using their stash to make several crocheted blankets. I'll get the photos up as soon as they are finished. I prefer to crochet blankets as it goes so much quicker. I do have a beautiful knitted log cabin blanket on my needles for PL. Those are just fun to make. I'll be casting on for my niece's 16th birthday soon with another log cabin in purples and gray. I'm using a variety of yarns for texture and I know it's going to be fabulous when it's finished.

I'm looking forward to getting back to my February Lady Sweater in a few days when my list of "must knits" has been whittled down. I just completed a Baby Surprise Jacket with a matching Boston Beret for my friend. I really like the way it turned out. Unusual or modern color combinations really make this pattern work for the fashionable baby.

Sense and Sensibility

Would that I had the sensibility to have watched this movie sooner. Perchance I would have been able to love it longer. Alas, I have loved it less than one hour, for that is how recently I viewed this delightful movie by Ang Lee. Did it win a Golden Globe for Best Picture? Yes, it did. And well deserved, too. Of course, I cried at the end. The entire movie was completely wonderful and except for the muddy roads, rudimentary medical care, and lack of indoor toilets, I would like to spend some time there. I would even venture to wear the clothes which, although not completely unflattering, looked a bit cumbersome. Would that we all still had such proper manners and spoke in such delightful manner.

Some Like it Hot. Marilyn Monroe did not wear any sort of girdle in this movie I can tell you that. She was jiggling all the way and that seemed unusual to me for the time period. She was no skinny Minny either. She was round everywhere. I wonder what size she was. Compared to the starving actresses we see now, she was a blimp. Makes me wish for the old days. Except for all the butt pinching women had to put up with. At least in Austen's time period, there was some decorum towards women even though they couldn't own property, etc. I suppose women were treated according to their class.

Born Yesterday was a fantastic movie. I understand that Judy Holliday played the role on Broadway before starring in the movie. She had lots of practice and won that Academy Award. She was wonderful. That movie is a lot of fun. It has a great message about education, the democratic system, and empowering women. Who woulda thought you could get all that in a fun, old black and white film?

And for the record, I'm glad we have universal healthcare and I hope whatever problems come up, we can fix them through legislation the way our forefathers intended.

Blankets for Haiti

I was so happy to meet my goal of making three blankets to be sent to Haiti for the relief effort. I hope that they make a difference. It seems like such a small thing to do when the people there need so much.

Granny square blankets work up pretty quick so it was good choice for blankets that were needed right away. I delivered the blankets to Quiltz where they keep Project Linus blankets for pick up by another volunteer.

This coming weekend is a Project Linus Blanket Bee and I'll be attending that. I always meet new and friendly people there. I am also looking forward to hanging with some knitting guild friends and catching up on how they're doing. It's always a positive experience to knit and crochet with other people who enjoy making blankets for kids.

Now, Voyager

Yup, I've heard of it - but I've never seen it. Until now. TCM is running Oscar-winning movies all month long and how fun is that? I check the on-TV schedule and set to record any movies that I think I'm interested in or maybe should see to round out my movie-watching education. Now, Voyager was a wonderful movie with Bette Davis. The nerdy young woman she is at the beginning of the movie looks exactly like my son's 13 year old friend at school. Yuck. Middle school. Do we ever look worse than we do in middle school? No. It's our transition period. Except for my youngest son who looks cute at every age. Lucky!

So, I was thinking about how the movie ended. I don't think it would have ended the same way if the story were re-made. We have really relaxed our morals in current times. I suppose there was a certain strength of character to be admired in Charlotte. I think it's interesting how now, I have observed, if you want to look frumpy - like a before and after - the girl has curly and usually frizzy hair to begin with. Then she gets all this product and blow drying and irons that tame her hair and she's transformed into the "swan." Ex: The Princess Diaries; Pam Beesly on The Office; I even saw it on one of the women in the show Mercy. She usually has made-for-her curls anyway, which are gorgeous. She has "black" hair, so who knows what it looks like when she lets it go. Black people are always having to treat their hair to fit in it seems like. Michelle Obama and her girls do it most of the time and then sometimes they get to just let their hair be. Why do we have to do these things to fit in? Even my 15 year old son fights against his gorgeous curls to flatten them out and have straight hair like all the other guys.

Embrace what's yours. I guess that's all I can say.

Crochet Queen

I can crochet really fast. I made this afghan in record time. I really like the way it turned out. I used the stitches from another pattern that I like to use to make large blankets. I basically didn't do the double crochet rows and the blanket looks a bit lacy but was super fast to crochet. I've already started a granny square blanket with lots of greens in it.

Of course, now I've been sidetracked by my need to finish the scarf I was working on to teach a class. Also, I just had to try out a new stitch for a baby blanket and have that started. I'm also knitting up a quick baby hat for a gift. Actually, I need to make several more for gifts. I can make them for gifts now that I have perfected the pattern and am selling it online and at Knit Happens yarn store.

Listened to a bit of Ray Bradbury reading his own tales and I'm not sure that I love him reading his own stuff. I did listen to him read Fahrenheit 451 and I guess I got used to it. It's just cool that he's still alive.

Finished reading The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher and now on to Barbara Kingsolver's The Lacuna. I just found out that a friend read it and loved it. Also, just found out that it has Frida Kahlo, et al in it and I am very interested in reading this book. Going to download Infidel too since that's my book group's next pick.

Hmmm. Been watching a lot of TV lately. There are reruns but Damages is new and so is Big Love. Got the Grammy's on DVR for my son. Heard they weren't that fun to watch so glad I can speed through it. Still watching American Idol try-outs. Those shows are really the best part of the entire process.

We all watched Super Size Me last weekend and my disgust with fast food lasted about 4 days. I grew up on fast food. What are you gonna do? Still trying to avoid it as much as possible. Time watch the latest episode of House and knit!

Blankets for Haiti

One of the many reasons I love Project Linus is that when there is a crisis, they put the call out for blankets for the cause and I can make something that will make a difference. We have until Feb. 27th to make blankets for Haitians who have so little. It's hard to imagine one of my blankets helping very much but I hope that it does. I hope all of the blankets we send will be used well and will let the people there know how much we care. Handmade items are so very personal. I have made so many blankets and hats and scarves in my lifetime and given them away - it's hard for me to imagine how it feels to most people to receive a handmade item. I have given items to people who have NEVER received a handmade gift. It's true! Sometimes my baby blankets are the only handmade gift a new mom receives. In times like these, I remind myself that I have something special to offer even though to me it is as simple and necessary as breathing. My handmade blankets can make a difference to someone who needs some warmth and love. Project Linus blankets are handmade hugs. Now that's special.

Movies

Thank goodness for TCM. I can watch old movies and expand my film repertoire. Wild Strawberries was one that I knew I should watch but wasn't sure I could be patient enough to get through it. It's subtitled, of course, but I managed that while crocheting at the same time. Am I awesome or what? Anyway, the movie was good. As I age, I understand older characters and their perspective in a way that I couldn't when I was young. As an older person, your perspective changes and you see the world differently. I understand why I couldn't understand MY parents all the time. It's just the linear experience of living that makes us wait for that comfortable settling in of our personality.

It was just me so I watched The Other Boleyn Girl. Didn't think I would be able to sit through that one either but I was knitting and waiting so it worked out fine. I actually enjoyed the history(?) of the movie. Not sure what was true and what wasn't but I still liked it. It certainly made me feel how scary it would be to live at the whim of the king and his crazy mood. Off with her head!

Got the SAG awards on the DVR so will catch up with that on Monday. Love to fast forward through those commercials! Makes the show nice and quick.

Golden Globe Awards

Yes, I watch awards shows. I like to see what dresses the women are wearing. I judge from a design perspective and get ideas. Also, I like to see actors as "themselves." I don't know. The whole thing is just kind of fun. Being an avid movie fan and TV watcher, it shouldn't be surprising that I like to see what's going on. I jotted down the titles of several movies that are now in my Netflix queue including all of the nominated foreign films. Movies and TV on DVD have COMPLETELY changed our ability to see good programming. I don't get Showtime, but I've got The Tudors and The United States of Tara in my queue. When will I get to them? Who can say? No matter how much time I spend watching movies and TV, I just can't catch up to all that there is out there that I want to watch. I suppose it's better than having nothing to watch or nothing to read. I am grateful.

And, I've begun a red and white granny square blanket for Project Linus that I really like because Valentine's Day is just around the corner and this blanket reminds me of that. It's crocheted so I can take a break from knitting and work on it. I'm on the home stretch as I knit the first of a pair of socks for my husband. His first pair! They are brown, kettle dyed from Knit Picks. Thank goodness Knit Picks offers solid color sock yarn. I cannot see my husband wearing variegated socks. At least not some of the crazy yarn I've seen out there. I like variegated, of course.

I started another ruffled scarf so that I can knit along with my students in the class I am teaching tomorrow. I am very excited to teach my first class at Knit Happens. I'm looking forward to many more teaching opportunities at this store and in a private setting.

I'm also getting my latest baby hat pattern ready to submit to Knit Picks for consideration into their Independent Designer Program. This seems like a great opportunity to reach more knitters with my designs. I'm really enjoying designing and getting ready to try some new techniques as well. I've got several movies waiting on the DVR, so I'm ready to work and watch.

Designing

I've been having fun designing knitted items for sale and submission. I've figured out how to get my items on Ravelry - although it takes a long time sometimes to get it all coordinated. I've been spending time knitting and trying out different yarns and making small changes. I started on Ed's brown socks that I IOU'd him for Christmas. I always enjoy knitting socks. More information about my knitting exploits can be found at CathyMacKnits.com.

Let's discuss Olive Kitteridge. I really did like this book. Olive was not an easy person to like. Every story has her in it, but they are not necessarily about her. Her husband was quite likeable and I suppose we like Olive well enough since her husband loves her. I got this idea from watching The Simpsons 20th anniversary special last night. Someone commented that people like Homer because Marge loves him. That makes sense to me.

The characters in Olive K. were vibrant and the language was quite wonderful. I didn't spend time pondering over the writer's words because I was listening to them but I could hear how they flowed and sparkled. Reading out loud gives your words a different sense. Something should be added, not lost, by reading aloud.

I'm reading The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher now and this book is quite fascinating. There is plenty of historical information about how detective work began in England. I will be eager to read Sherlock Holmes after this.

I did not get to see Sherlock Holmes, the movie, this weekend. Next weekend, I will for sure. My husband says he never wants to go to the movies again due to people talking through the movie. I admit, I usually have to ask people to be quiet whenever we are in an audience situation. Everyone thinks they are sitting at home and that it's okay to talk. It's never okay to talk. No matter what you think, I CAN HEAR YOU. So, perhaps I will rant about that another day.

Also, my older son is reading MacBeth in Honors English. I haven't read that one so will no doubt give it a go.

After Christmas

I slowed down on my knitting a bit to get ready for and enjoy Christmas. As we have watched movies as a family, I've been knitting on my latest blanket which is a log cabin pattern for Project Linus. It's easy to knit; I don't even have to watch while I make my stitches. I now have at least three people to knit socks for so I am working on the second of my pair of purple socks for myself. I received a gift certificate to Knit Picks (yay!!) for Christmas, so sock yarn will definitely be on my next order. I've designed a cute, little baby hat which I will make a few of and then put the pattern up for sale on ravelry. I needed to create something very small and clingy for a newborn. The hat I had been making with cotton yarn was too big for a tiny baby and it was rather flimsy. That's one thing that I really like about wool - it has spring and body. Maybe some more of that Spud and Chloe would be great for a baby hat. I wish I could find a LYS that carries it though. I would like to see it up close. I have two skeins each of the bulky and sweater but would like to see the dk or baby size. Probably will have to buy it online sight unseen as I did the others.

Getting excited about teaching my first class after the holidays. Next week I will get down to business and put a list together of stuff to bring, then pull my materials together, write my patterns, maybe even practice my teaching skills on my family. Should be pretty easy and straightforward project; just haven't taught to strangers in awhile. I'm thinking about new classes I can teach during the summer. I think I'll design a Christmas stocking and ornament. Summer is the time to get those holiday gifts made before you're too stressed and busy to finish them.

Looking forward to watching some new movies - Dark Passage and Revolutionary Road. We watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince last night which was a present from Santa. That's one of my favorites of all the HP movies. I really like the sweeping camera work in this one. So many wonderful shots around the castle and especially looking up in the Weasley's home and the Hermione and Ron are looking down. Also watched several Sherlock Holmes movies with Basil Rathbone yesterday. Very enjoyable. Back to knitting....

Knit Frenzy

I have been knitting almost nonstop due to my knitting class schedule coming up in January. I'm teaching a short class where we make cup cozies. I've made several in different yarns and designs trying to see what looks good and which ones I want to use for display. I'll be taking those to the store tomorrow. I love the new yarn I just bought at Knit Happens and used for my new Boston Beret. It's called Alpaca With a Twist and the colorway is orange tweed. I used the leftovers for my display cup cozy. I love how soft the yarn feels and the stitch definition is perfect.

Later this morning I will be back on track with my latest Baby Surprise Jacket. It's about halfway done. I had to put it down to get the cup cozies ready when I found out my first class is January 4th. I have at least 3 patterns that students can choose from to make in class.

Last night we watched the extended version of The Return of the King. I'm working on a yellow cotton baby hat and then will try out my own smaller version of that hat. It turns out newborns have much tinier heads and the pattern I've been using works better for older babies. I might try my own design for a baby hat too.

Also on my knitting list is tiny ornaments. I'm going to try a top down sweater but I may end up with just a tiny round ball depending on the difficulty level.

Scrappy Granny

This is one of the blankets that I just donated to Project Linus. My knitting guild had a holiday party and I saved all of my recently made blankets to donate so that our fearless Project Linus leader could take tons of them home for the kids.

I've been working on samples for the classes I will be teaching starting in January. I'll post some photos of those items so you can see what's in store for my students.

I'm not making Christmas gifts this year which is a good thing because I am so busy knitting samples and crocheting baby blankets and knitting baby hats for the many, many friends who are having grandchildren or in the case of my son's strings teacher, her first child. Lots of new babies in the world...I'm looking forward to holding some of them.

Back to work...

Lemon Sky

This was a film but originally was a play by Lanford Wilson. It had Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick in it. I wonder if this is when they met. They were quite young. Casey Affleck played a young boy. I knew the boy looked familiar; then I had to watch the credits to see who it was. He even sounds like he does now and moves his head and laughs the same way. And I must say, even then, a better actor than his brother, Ben. As with many plays, it takes awhile to get going and for the audience to begin to relate to the characters. This was a touching play about a moment in a young man's life. It was so well written and performed. I highly recommend it. I would go see it on stage if I could.

I've decided to create a list of favorite Christmas songs because I want to. Check it out on the right side of this blog where all of my lists are located.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I am listening to a Christmas CD - A Charlie Brown Christmas. There is no music that makes me happier. Why is that? Has this music made me happy since childhood? Charlie Brown and the gang are in the back of my mind as I listen, but mostly it's the happy piano notes that I like. It's just happiness in musical form. My son can play Linus and Lucy on the piano and it's a difficult piece. I'm so glad he likes it as much as I do. Just hearing that rolling beat makes me want to get up and dance!

I went to see New Moon with my youngest son, his friend, and her mom. I liked it! It was better than the first movie, I think because there was more action - just more happening, generally, in that story. The effects are great. The movie works for guys because there was wolf fighting - my son's favorite animals are wolves - and vampires fighting, which face it, you never get to see in real life. Seeing that movie was an indulgence for me because I never go to see "girl movies." Having all boys in my family, we save our movie dollars for Harry Potter, Iron Man, etc. Speaking of Iron Man - we can't wait to see Robert Downey, Jr. in Sherlock Holmes. Yowza!! When literature and hunkiness get together, I swoon!

Watched Frost/Nixon - finally! Soon, it will be time to watch the contenders for THIS year's Oscars. I am so far behind on my movie watching. Still need to see The Reader, Revolutionary Road, and The Wrestler. The last one I just recorded, so that's up for today, I hope. Frost/Nixon was good. I'll bet it was a compelling play. I always liked Nixon. I never saw the original interviews. I relate to Nixon because he was an introverted thinker. He didn't appeal to the masses. He should have been a behind-the-scenes kind of guy. But, he was also paranoid and aggressively pursued "his enemies" while in public office. He had weaknesses. David Frost was interesting to watch because he really was just a talk show host and here he was interviewing a fallen president for ratings and publicity. The two hours went by fast, I can tell you that.

Finished listening to The Wee Free Men. I think I have a soft spot for Scottish stories. The wee men in this book are crazy and delightful and ye cn hardly unnerstand a werd that's sed by them. I should buy the book and see how Terry Pratchett writes their dialogue. Listening to the story is fantastic because the narrator does all the amazing voices and pronunciations and it's like a play. Very fun fantasy story - not just for kids. And the best part is - there are two more books with the same characters! I may listen to those again too.

David Cross' book This is Why I Drink is freaking funny. Not everyone would like his humor probably, but he is a funny guy. I'm looking forward to 5-1/2 more hours of hilarity.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Yes, I watched it even though Keanu Reeves was in it. I figured, hey, he's robotic in most of his roles; this role is perfect for him! Turns out he was fine in the movie. However, the writer did not finish the job he started. There were so many questions by the end of the movie! I love science fiction and this movie could have been so much better. It didn't help that Will Smith's son played the cute little boy that no one watching the movie liked. Who made the choice that the cute kid should be a jerk? You're supposed to have sympathy for your protagonists. Anyway...rent the 1950s version and you'll like it, I'm sure. It's kind of slow - not like movies today - so you can knit while you watch it.

Can't wait to listen to David Sedaris' Holidays on Ice. I just downloaded it from audible.com and it has 6 new stories. It's a holiday tradition!! Tomorrow on Thanksgiving we will be watching Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Another tradition. If you haven't seen it - where you been at? It's a really funny movie and when you're home cooking in your own kitchen, it makes you happy that you didn't travel to get your turkey dinner.

Just finished knitting a purple sock and already started the second one. Wearing the second pair I ever made right now. The socks that felt too hot in the summer are deliciously warm in the winter. They feel perfect on my feet. No seams rubbing anywhere. Knitted socks are the best!

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

I just finished reading this book. I'm going to talk about the ending, so don't read any further if you haven't read it. Epiphanies have happened to me during my lifetime. Profound ideas about literature, the world, what it means to be alive. I have often worried that just when my life has reached the peak of satisfaction, when everything comes together in perfect harmony and bliss, that is moment when it will all be taken from you. My reason for being on this earth has been completed and I immediately move on. So, perhaps it is better to circle around that attainment of  perfection. Or does something magical keep us from reaching perfection? And is our death merely random? Am I only trying still to find meaning in everything that happens on this earth? Achieving a profound revelation and then dying, or being killed, is a tragedy. I suppose that's all it is in the end. I always think of John Lennon. I never thought much about him at all before he died but now I always think of him and the way he died and wonder if he found harmony and bliss and then was shot dead. He'd done what he came here to do. And I suppose many more people think of him now in a profound and positive way than they would have had he lived. There's something quite compelling about a martyr. That's the main thing that makes Jesus so popular to most people who base their religious beliefs on him. He died for them. What is the meaning in Madame Michel's random death? If it is random, can there be meaning? Yes. For Paloma, it was a lesson in why we should hang on to life and hold it dear, no matter the problems we see in the world; the larger world or in our own small world. Of course, I knew beauty would be the author's reason for living. It may sound simple but it is true and real. Stop and smell the roses. Cliche, but apt. Yesterday, my oldest son said, I love you. I was preoccupied and his words seemed a bit intrusive, but I thought of how other parents don't hear these words from their teenagers and I felt grateful. I went over to him and said, thank you, and gave him a hug. If he never said it again, I would have that memory, that moment. I try to live in the present even as I go along thinking of my next project, my next shopping errand, our next family event. This idea of beauty - noticing it, seeking it, surrounding oneself with it - it's a good one. I'm going to pursue it.

An Hour Before Daylight

I finished listening to this book this morning. It was nice to listen to as I went to sleep...and also in the middle of the night when I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. Jimmy Carter evokes his life growing up on a farm with plenty of detail...smells, sights, and sounds that I have only read about. His stories about his mom and dad and family were interesting and although I didn't get a lot of insight into who he was as a president, I think I have an idea of him as a person. It's funny how he reflects on his family being a bit eccentric...and then the sadness of all of his siblings and his dad dying of pancreatic cancer. My dad had that and died from the surgery that would have removed the cancer. I have admired Jimmy Carter for a long time because he has gone beyond his role as a president and created a fantastic legacy, including Middle East negotiations, memoirs, and of course, Habitat for Humanity. I am looking forward to reading his book about Christmas memories this season.

   I am working on EZ's baby surprise jacket. I started on two different kinds of yarn and ended up with Knit Picks' Wool of the Andes that I have left over from another project. It's a very nice yarn although I don't like wool for a baby sweater. Might be too itchy. It will work for this project though. When I go back to the knitting store where I hope to teach this class, I will purchase a yarn that is cotton and something else for ease of care and wear.

  And also, I think EZ could have done a better job of writing instructions for this garment. I'm working on improving the directions.

Quiet

I was watching the British version of The Office last night. It was fun because I haven't seen the episodes in a long time. I watched these episodes before the American version was on the air and Ricky Gervais makes me as uncomfortable as ever. You can really despise David Brent but Michael Scott - well, you have to love him. Perhaps it was only serendipity but I think it was the genius of Steve Carell that made his character lovable. That's why our version of the show works...the characters have become lovable. Crazy...but lovable. Like a family.

     I have lots of leftover balls of yarn from all of the blankets that I make. Recently, some friends and I made a Log Cabin blanket that is destined for Project Linus. I still have more yarn, so I began and finished a Granny Square blanket with each round a different color. Using 12 blocks, it is a respectable size for a toddler or young child. I saw this simple scarf on Ravelry and happened to be at a yarn store yesterday and bought yarn to get it started. I was going to make the scarf just by looking at the photo but I ended up buying the pattern. I'm glad I did because now I know how the short rows work and I'm supporting another designer. The yarn I'm using is a lesser weight but I think it will still be fine. I'm using handpainted yarn so I hope to see a nice variation of color when it's finished.

    I listened to The Marriage Bureau for Rich People which I truly enjoyed. It was fun to listen to and I liked the different Indian voices. It had plenty of Indian customs which is always interesting. Not sure what I'll listen to next. I'm catching up on podcasts but will eventually turn to another book. I know I have Wishful Drinking on my iPod which is Carrie Fisher's new book. She is so funny and talented...I'm sure it will be another great listen.

    Really enjoying The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. So much information about the Hmong people. Stuff about the Vietnam war that I didn't know either. Makes me want to listen to A Bright Shining Lie. 

   I suppose I should watch a movie this weekend. Everyone's been busy and we haven't watched anything as a family. My son wants to see Twilight...I've already seen it...and maybe I'll try getting a movie from Netflix directly to my TV. Saves time not having to watch what we have and waiting for the next disc.