Thinking about the harvest. . .

Today, amidst all of the hubbub of work, I've been contemplating life. No, I haven't figured out the deeper meaning of life (well, I have, but am not ready to share it just yet). I mean that I've been considering hard work and friends and life and basic concepts like that.

This has been a long week. It has been a tough week. Work has been like a roller coaster - one moment it is calm and quiet and the next moment all hell is breaking loose. Home has been my haven and for that I am grateful. Sweetpea and I are living together now and it is wonderful. We've had a week with some bumps but, overall, it has been good. We have been able to spend some time together talking and creating.

With that feeling of sharing and enjoying the fruit of our week's work, we are going out tonight. Bunny is joining us at a local tea house. Bunny is learning to knit and is doing a great job. Sweet Pea has been knitting for a year and a half and is great at it. We are going to enjoy the ambiance of the tea house, each other's company and the tea.

I know that there will be periods of time where we are just listening to the music and are caught up in our creative pursuits. We will be breathing more easily, relaxing in the energy of the space and having a great time being calm and quiet.

Part of the meaning of life is to know that while we work for and with others, it is important to also do some of what we want. Tonight, we will be doing just that. We will be, mostly, enjoying the fruits of our harvests this week. We've been working hard and are going to relax. We've been working for other and tonight we'll be doing what we want to do. It will be good.

Happy Harvest.

The one in which I consider world domination . . .

I think by now we all know that global change happens incrementally and slowly. Just think about it . . . aspects of our 'green' movement began in the '70s with awareness of the ecology and the inception of Earth Day. Creation of workers rights began slowly with protests and then unions and then the creation of laws to support our workers. Civil rights was the same way. People fought their individual battles and then they started talking with each other and sharing their struggles. The media took it up, people organized and laws changed. Even with the legal foundation, there are still folks struggling for fair application of the the rights that we all deserve.

Please understand that I am not equating knitting with the struggle for racial or gender equality or for pay equity or for any of those things that I consider consider struggles for basic human rights. I recognize that I am over-simplifying those intense struggles. Instead, I use them as examples as I propose a more subtle point of view.

We live in a world that is harsh and intense. Our world is fast-paced; it is hard. In order to manage our existance and to get through life with poise, grace and joy, I believe that we each need to find space, time and activities that brings us peace, that make us happy and that help us to be calm and joyous. I believe that this is an important aspect to where we are going as a global society. People are talking about all of these changes that will happen in 2012 - well, I believe those changes to be about an end to a way of life. It would be an end to the erratic, fast-paced, economy-centric world as we know it. I believe that we are moving toward a calmer, more creative way of living.

For many, creative pursuits help us manage stress. They often allow us to slow down and be more calm. Creative pursuits help us to access parts of our brain (right) that we don't use as often as we could. They can help us express ourselves and work through issues. Creative outlets can help us manage our pain and express our joy.

Okay - that's the foundation for what I am proposing. My proposal - well, basically, I believe we should take over the world one knitter at a time. Yep, that's it. Let's aim for world domination!!!

I don't really think that we all need to be knitters or even that we have to work with fiber (although I am partial to fiber work). I chose knitting because I love it and it is an example of a creative outlet. To say "Let's take over the world, one creator at a time." sounds a bit strange so I choose to use "knitter". I submit that that we must (MUST!!) make time for creative outlets and actually pursue them. They must become a priority. Our priorities should be food, shelter, clothing and creation. Of course, good health and family are in there.

I am just saying that I am tired of folks saying "I don't have time for knitting because . . . (insert excuse)." Those of us who knit (or crochet or needlepoint or draw or write) know that it can find its way into the oddest times and spaces. Some of us knit when we are standing in line or are stopped in traffic. Some of us knit when we are waiting for the film to start at the theater. Others knit in bed or at lunch at work or school. Many of us create when we cannot sleep or first thing inthe morning in order to wake up. Drawing or writing or crochet or whatever can be the same way. If you cannot lug around your loom or your easel then plan your projects when you are away from your tools. You don't have to carry around your clay or the chisel you use to sculpt those behemoth statues; you can, instead, carry around your sketch book. You can plan the jewelry that you'll make when you get home. It can be done.

Okay, that's it. That's what I propose. We should take over. Train other knitters! Wear the uniform (which will be handmade and fabulous, of course)! It is time for us to talk and walk the talk. Let's take over the world. It's time.

The one in which I buy (or windowshop) local . . .

You know . . . there is a movement to "buy local". I think this is a great idea and I am examining my shopping and spending (yes, they are different) patterns to see where I can increase my support of the local economy.

I think the movement is called "3/50", although my memory might be lapsed. The concept is to shop at 3 (or more) local stores and spend at least $50. That is at least $50 total, not at each store. That's not too hard to do, really.

We've taken to shopping a bit more at local markets. Sure, we still go to some of the warehouse stores, but we are trying to buy produce and other items more locally. I'd love to buy all organic but right not, it won't work in the budget so we do it where we can.

I am looking for a local, independent book store. There used to be one in Royal Oak but it is long gone. I can (and do) buy used at John King books. I love that place (both locations). Although I love books also, I buy more than that.

That gets me to my real idea of shopping, yarn stores! I buy little, if anything, at the big chain stores. Firstly, they have very little that I want. Unless I am making something for someone who won't appreciate finer fibers or something that needs to be indestructable (acrylic and hard-wearing), I shop at the independent stores. I go to Ewe-Nique Knits in Royal Oak, MI as much as possible. If I am unable to make it there, I go to . . . have you any wool? in Berkley, MI. When I am working at the local base, I shop at Crafty Lady Trio in Sterling Heights/Utica area. I do my best to spread my money around to other shops as well.

Lo and behold, I find out that I am going to be spreading my money a little thinner. There is a new (or newer) yarn shop in Clawson, MI and it isn't that far from me. It is PK Yarn Over Knit and is close by. I am hoping to get there soon. Who knows what I'll find that I 'need'? Okay, maybe I won't 'need' anything, but I can look, can't I?

Don't judge my shopping habits (or my yarn stash)!! Just buy local!

The one in which I'd like to party like it's 1599!

Hail all!

I am headed to the Bristol Rennaissance Festival today. Yep, it's a bit of a drive but we are going to see some wonderful friends and have a great time.

I've spent the last few days wondering what to wear. Every year I have this vague idea (or plan or concept) that I will make new festival garb outside of the festival season. Does it happen? Of course not! Do I do things at the last minute? Of course I do! I suppose that the vendors count on people like me, don't they?

I did get some mending completed. It wasn't my mending but I got it done. I also threw together a pair of upper arm cuffs. If they work, I'll post photos. If they don't, then forget this was ever mentioned and we'll never see the photos. I spent some time last night trying to put an outfit together and therein lies another issue.

I've got to get my festival clothing organized. I was running amongst the various closets, dressers and storage bins. I still cannot find everything but I've got enough for a decent faire outfit. Of course, I've been chanting the resolution about getting organized for days. We'll see what happens for next year.

I am, also, getting together a couple of knitting projects to take along. I've got a few hours in the car with my girl and plenty of time to knit. Also, we are meeting up with some dear friends tomorrow. One is a knitter so we'll have some time to revel in the various completed projects.

I do plan on looking for some neat hand-made goodies at the Faire. We'll see what I can find.

Until then . . .

The one in which I try to see the future. . . .

Yep, it's that time again . . . it seems that I update annually now. Cripes, time does fly. Who knew? Well, I sure should have.

Loads of stuff has changed and much of it has stayed the same. I've divorced, I've moved, I've found love again. I've sewn, I've knitted, I've done nothing.

Right now, I am trying to work on unfinished objects (UFOs). It's like other aspects of my life. I'm trying to bring some old issues to closure before I being new parts of of my life. Anyway, last week, while I was sick, I finished a triangular shawl for myself. It is a simple shawl with random eyelet rows amidst the garter stitch. It is knit from Yarn Hollow (www.yarnhollow.com) yarns and it is the yarns that are fascinating about the project.

For my lightweight knitting (something I can carry around outside the house), I am working on my Frog socks. These are a generic pair of socks made from SWTC's soy-based chitin yarn. They are in green with a bit of gray and white. The green runs from a soft spring green to poisoned apple green. They are a 2x2 rib on the leg and a rib/stocking stitch combo on the foot.

For the heavyweight knitting (something that stays home and required concentration), I am knitting or rather trying to knit on Betty's afghan. This is a project for my BFF's mother. Betty is 92 this year and I need to get it done. I may have written of it before (there aren't so many entries - I suppose I could look). Betty has done an afghan for all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This is the last and she cannot do it anymore. I received 1 (of an eventual 9) panel, partially finished. The pattern was typed on a manual typewriter on a slip of a piece of paper. It had a name akin go to "Marquise Afghan". Of course, I've lost the pattern. I've got to try to 'read' my knitting to figure it out. I think it is the Feather and Fan stitch - at least, that looks good so far. I made all the panels and when I was piecing it for final assembly, I realized that the original panel was too short. Even though I'd added to it, it was still too short. Sigh. So, I only need to add to that (without the pattern) and assemble it.

I am not sure what I'll do after this; who knows what the future brings. I am itching to start something new but I am so enjoying cleaning up projects. I do believe the next UFO-to-FO stop on this journey will be the sweater for Thomas. Thomas was born in March; I've still got time.

Blessings to all.



Dianne