Ready, Willing, and... Cable?

This weekend, I spent more time than I would like to admit surfing through free online knitting patterns.  I love what can be created though knitting, and even though I only have basic skills, I love clicking on the photos of finished projects and looking at them dreamily, with the thought that "one day I could tackle you".  I am still learning, but that doesn't mean I should be intimidated by abbreviations I don't know or techniques/tools I have never used before (I'm looking at you circular needles!).  Even though I still consider myself a beginner, with each new technique I learn, the more capable I become to tackle complex patterns (I'm looking at you fancy design charts!).

I am a little intimidated to take on big projects when I am learning something new.  I like to have some sort of grasp of what I am doing before I commit to a giant project, so I'm not just free-wheeling it and hoping it works out properly.  Knitting is a fun process in itself, so it wouldn't be a complete let down if I worked on something and it didn't turn out, but I do enjoy the satisfaction of having something awesome to show for my efforts. 

Yesterday I learned how to make a cable.  It was way easier than I thought it would be, and I watched this amazing video on YouTube that showed me exactly how to do it.  I absolutely love YouTube for it's massive amount of 'How to Knit' videos.  I am a highly visual learner, so being able to watch someone knit is incredibly helpful.  Free knitting teacher in my house at the click of a button?  Yes, please! Big thanks to everyone who records themselves knitting and posts it on the internet!  You really are teaching me to knit!

The small project I tackled to learn cabling was a coffee cup sleeve.  I have made coffee cups sleeves before with a different pattern, but I was happy to make another one because they are so practical and quick to complete. 

Here is my first attempt at cabling:

And here are my efforts as a coffee cup sleeve:

This patten was free online, and you can find it here.  I am happy that I learned a new technique!  Pretty soon I'll be knitting circular sweater dresses like the pros!  :)

Card Making: Mother's Day Edition

Happy Mother's Day!  This year I made some home made cards for some special ladies in my life.  I enjoy scrapbooking and have tonnes of supplies, so when card making, I often hunt through my stash for the perfect paper or stickers for the occasion.

I have a really fun paper pack that makes me think of a child's school project, so I made some cards that look like they might have been made in grade two art class. I think it makes them look sweet, especially since the Mother's in question will be receiving the card from an almost thirty-year-old!

 Child inspired # 1

Child inspired # 2

I also had some fancier paper, so I also made some more elegant cards with it.

Fancy card # 1, front

Fancy card #1, inside

Fancy card # 2

With home made cards comes home made envelopes, so I made a few of those too.

Happy Mother's Day everyone! I hope all the Mother's out there are being appreciated for all they do and are having a great day!

We Go Together Like a Cat and a Ball of Yarn

Sometimes I sort though my stash of yarn to see what colours I have forgotten about.  Organizing for me is playtime for Gary.

This is bliss.

So is this.

So. Much. Fun.

A little grooming on the yarn pile.

She needs a small break from all the joy.

Rolling around some more.

Sweet and innocent with her stash.

Holly's Ride to Conquer Cancer

My friend Holly is embarking on something epic in support of cancer research, and she needs your help to pull it off.  As part of a fundraiser to support The Campbell Family Institute at The Princess Margaret Hospital, Holly, along with many other brave and athletic people, will be riding her bicycle from Toronto to Niagara Falls.  In only two days. The ride spans over 200km, which to me sounds impossible, but Holly is going to do it in support of cancer research.

From Holly's ride website:

This ride is something I feel very strongly about as I have had to say goodbye to too many people I care about. With your help I know that we can make a difference in people's lives and keep the people we love happy & healthy.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Holly Greig

The ride starts on June 12, and Holly has until then to raise $2500, which is the minimum amount riders have to fundraise in order to participate.  She is already over halfway towards her goal, but still needs $925 to be able to ride in June.  Every little bit counts, so if you can afford to support her with a donation to this good cause, please follow the link provided to support Holly in this amazing bike ride!

To make a donation, or learn more about this fundraising effort, please click here.

UPDATE: As of June 9, Holly surpassed her goal of $2500 and will be bike riding to Niagara Falls the weekend of June 12.  Congratulations Holly on your tremendous effort!!   

Dark Side of the Moon and the Wizard of Oz

Both of these works have been on my mind lately.  And not because I think they go together in any sort of planned way.  Sure we tried pairing a muted Wizard of Oz with Dark Side of the Moon a few times in university (press play after the third lion roar!!), but I know full well that they don’t actually go together.  The rumor that Pink Floyd planned them to match up is just a well publicized example of our ‘pattern seeing ape’ nature.  It is easy to find a pattern when you are looking for it - trust me on this, I have a psychology degree!

I recently borrowed the book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire from the library.  It sat on my coffee table for a few weeks before I could get into it, so I decided to watch the Wizard of Oz movie to get myself in the mood.  I hadn’t seen that film (without the Dark Side audio anyway) since I was a kid.  I could hardly remember any of the dialogue, even though I am sure I have seen it at least fifty times.  I largely forgot it was a musical, and the song the Lion sings before they meet with the Wizard is a little over the top.  Overall, though, for being made in 1939, the movie is still pretty fun. It got me pumped to start reading Wicked.  I am only a third of the way into the book, but so far I am really enjoying the social themes and Maguire’s take on the origins of the main characters.  My brother-in-law says that it has a different impact if you read the original Oz books (which I didn’t) but even without the prior framework, I am really enjoying where Maguire is going with this untold story.

A few weeks ago someone posted this awesome re-make of Dark Side of the Moon, all done with sounds from 8-bit video games.  Growing up in the ’80’s, I definitely recognize many of the sounds used, and I couldn’t stop myself from watching the whole album done this way.  This tribute reminded me how fond I am of Dark Side of the Moon, an album that I have listened to countless times over the years.

Last night I was home alone and I just happened to watch the Classic Albums: Dark Side of the Moon documentary.  If you haven’t seen it and you like Pink Floyd/Dark Side, check it out.  There is footage from when they were recording the album, along with some interesting commentary from band members, reflecting on the album thirty years later.  Immediately after watching the documentary, I put on my copy of Dark Side of the Moon, and listened to it on repeat three times in a row.  It is just one of those albums that doesn’t lose anything with repetition.  I have even listened to it a few times while writing this post.  I have a bit of an obsessive nature when it comes to music, so having an album on continuous repeat isn’t new for me, but I definitely have an extended appreciation for Dark Side of the Moon now, having seen the documentary.  I especially love Rick Wright, whose piano melodies define the album for me, and I was sad to learn he died a few years ago. I didn’t know his name until I watched the documentary, but he was definitely an integral part of what makes Dark Side of the Moon so memorable.

I absolutely love the timelessness of art.  Once it is out there, there it remains.  Even obscure bands and forgotten movies eventually find themselves on YouTube.  It doesn’t matter if you bought Dark Side of the Moon in 1973, or if you are just hearing it for the first time in 2010; whenever you want to listen, it will be there waiting for you.  The same goes for the Wizard of Oz.  I didn’t watch it until forty-five years after it’s release, and I was still able to watch it dozens of times as a kid.  It is only going to get easier for future generations to find and experience them too.  I hope that twenty-five years from now my nephew has a day where he re-watches the Wizard of Oz or really listens to Dark Side of the Moon.  I have a feeling they will still be as timeless as they are now.