Favorite Things 14

Hiya! Releasing two patterns and moving won't stop me from sharing with you two new favorite things. I suppose you'll understand if I keep it brief?


1. Favorite shade of blue: I guess this top row covers it pretty well. Think of the stormy Oregon coast and you've got it.

Original Picture found here

2. Favorite genre (of any type of storytelling, movie, book, etc.):

I love mystery, documentary, and stuff that makes me laugh. And other things too.

{Part of a Friday series with Alex, Vivian and Lee that celebrates our power to discern, discriminate, decide and declare. Please join us in the comments or on your own site if you have a few favorites, too.}

Favorite Things 11, 12, 13

Hi friends!

It's been a while. I got stuck three weeks ago when it was Favorite Things Eleven time. I've been avoiding the blog ever since. I am not proud of this at all so I am coming forward to say Favorite Things Eleven is "favorite book" and that just isn't fair. I could do it, but it will cause me tremendous agony and lengthy explanations.

1. Favorite Book: This actually sums it up pretty well, even though it is concerning 5 books:

2. Favorite Author: See above. Also Mark Twain.

Favorite Things Twelve:

1. Favorite recipe: This changes from time to time but I'm going to go with chocolate chip cookies. This one is special to me because the recipe was given to me by a friend's mom before he died and they remind me of him. The sweet, young him who was excited to get his mom's cookies in the mail. Also they are the big chewy kind, very nice.

Cliff's mom's cookies

2. Favorite brand of toothpaste: I have a toothpaste quirk. I like to have two different kinds around. I don't see why we have to use the same toothpaste every time. You never can tell what kind of toothpaste mood you'll be in, and if you have two or three you're covered.

Favorite Things Thirteen:

1. Language: I'm going with sign language. Any of them. I love non-verbal forms of communication.

2. Cuisine: Local, fresh, seasonal, healthy, plant-based food is my favorite... Also, pizza.

Pizza in Eugene, during the Black Sheep Festival

{Part of a Friday series with Alex, Vivian and Lee that celebrates our power to discern, discriminate, decide and declare. Please join us in the comments or on your own site if you have a few favorites, too.}

Favorite Things, Ten

Hi friends! This week I get to share with you two more favorites. This won't take long, and the pictures might make you smile. They did that for me at least.

1. Favorite Fiber: Wool

Yarn I spun from a blend of merino, targhee and rambouillet (All breeds of sheep)

I have worked with many fibers as a spinner and knitter and wool is always the mainstay. Sure cashmere has charm (goat, not sheep) and silk is luxurious (worm, what?) but wool is the most versatile. There are so many breeds of sheep that produce wool. Shorter fibers like merino are soft and the longer staples (non-fiber people say "scratchy") are long wearing. Wool is warm, even when wet. So yes, I have to go with the obvious answer here.

2. Favorite blogs: My friends are my favorites. Then people I know. Then random things. Okay, I used to really love Cake Wrecks. I don't really look at it much anymore. I'm sure it's still good though...

my favorite category - literal interpretation of the instructions

I also used to spend time on Cute Overload. I don't know if these are blogs. I don't really know what blogs are anymore. How about a cute pic now? See you soon, I hope!

This image is burning into your heart right this minute

{Part of a Friday series with Alex, Vivian and Lee that celebrates our power to discern, discriminate, decide and declare. Please join us in the comments or on your own site if you have a few favorites, too.}

Favorite Things Nine

Whoops, it isn't Friday anymore. Better late than never, I suppose. Anyway... welcome back, you! This week was kind of silly for me. You'll see.

1. Favorite Animal to Have as a Pet: None

Mostly this is because I'm allergic to cats and dogs. I love animals very much though. I'm not crazy about the part where they become part of your family and if everything goes right you outlive them. I'm still sad about all of the animals I have known who died. In short, I'm not great at pets.

2. Favorite Physical Activity: Cycling

I'd love to make a joke about "Favorite Physical Activity" but this blog is intended for everyone and that includes people at work and kids and such. So you'll have to make a joke in your head for me.

Cycling is as close to flying like a superhero as I'm going to get. It's also practical and gets you here-to-there faster than walking and more thoughtfully than driving.

{Part of a Friday series with Alex, Vivian and Lee that celebrates our power to discern, discriminate, decide and declare. Please join us in the comments or on your own site if you have a few favorites, too.}

Favorite Things Eight

Hi pals! Hope your week is going well. I am going to take a moment to check in with a new post about favorite things. Surprise, surprise, hard questions again.

1. Favorite Tree: Pseudotsuga (aka Douglas Fir)

photo by bilge-water via flickr

I love trees and I don't really trust anyone who doesn't. Redwoods! Fruit trees! Pretty trees! Angry trees! I love them all. Today I choose the Doug Fir for many reasons... It's a symbol of the Pacific Northwest, and the official state tree of Oregon, where I call home. Evergreen trees provide hope during the long winter with their fresh color and pine-y fragrance. You may have had this one in your house if you do Christmas. You certainly have written on paper made from it. The Doug Fir grows quite tall and has funny petals (3-pointed bracts) within the cones. Love it!

see the center cone? photo by Vivian Aubrey

I even made a sock pattern with a lace cuff inspired by this special cone:

Laurelhurst Socks, photo by Vivian Aubrey

2. Favorite Woodland Creature: Three-way tie for first!

{Part of a Friday series with Alex, Vivian and Lee that celebrates our power to discern, discriminate, decide and declare. Please join us in the comments or on your own site if you have a few favorites, too.}

Favorite Things Seven

Hello to the handful of you that visit my blog! I appreciate each and every one of you for stopping by. I'm going to attempt to address this week's theme carefully, since one is easy and the other is not.

1. ecological sin (being things that are deleterious to our planet’s resources but that you enjoy anyway): Pass. Or electricity. Or pass. No wait, LIVING!

Do I get to have a favorite of this one? Having a car is nice. Computers are useful. I enjoy electricity. A lot of my clothes are produced unethically. If I ate meat I would probably go with that, but I don't. Does my mere existence count? Then I choose being alive. It's really unlikely that any of us are, and yet here we go, depleting the planet. I choose being alive as my favorite ecological sin.

2. bogus swear word (when in mixed company): Bonkers/Bananas/Loony Tunes

I use these three a lot to suggest something here is crazy. I love all three and they can be used interchangeably.

Runner ups:

Rats! (self explanatory)

Jack Monkey Doodle - as in, "I don't know jack monkey doodle about pleasurable ecological sins!"

Dog Business - as in, "I feel like dog business today." I love this one because my business is knitwear and dog business is you know what.

(I also like "You Know What")

{Part of a Friday series with Alex, Vivian and Lee that celebrates our power to discern, discriminate, decide and declare. Please join us in the comments or on your own site if you have a few favorites, too.}

Favorite Things Six

Hi blog readers! This week we have two difficult themes again. I finally got it all sorted and my computer crashed, saving nothing. I can't help but feel this version will not be quite as good as the last one but please bear with me... Let's jump in!

1. Favorite Movie Pre-1965: I considered the Marx Brothers, Screwball Comedies, and Historical Dramas. I then narrowed it down to The Sound of Music and the Wizard of Oz. Today's choice: Wizard of Oz.

It was in you all along

The movie made me want to read the book, which made me want to read all 14 official books. Despite outdated cultural insensitivities, there is also a great deal of magic and imagination created generations before Harry Potter hit the scene. My favorite thing about the film is the underlying message that if you want to improve yourself, you can. A wizard can't fix you, only you can do that. You'll probably have to walk through some scary places to get there, but if you are willing to face your demons, you'll be rewarded with great power. It's a great message and just rings true.

2. Favorite Children's Book: This time I have to mention a few faves, but will ultimately settle on one. Probably.

First runner up - any of the soothing Ant and Bee books by Angela Banner. I used to get these at the library when I was little and studied them very carefully. As an adult I tried to hunt them down, only to discover they are considered "collectible" and go for hundreds of dollars apiece. Oh well.

Ant and Bee and the Rainbow... A Story About Colours by Angela Banner

I also loved The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Oh what a crazy story, full of puns, which seemed meaningful to my young mind. Reading this book as a child was like an acid trip, in the good way.

Map illustration by Jules Feiffer

...and let us not forget From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg. In short, what kid doesn't want to live in a museum, collect coins out of the fountain and sleep in important beds? I did.

I don't know what this picture is

Okay, enough honorable mentions. It's time to make a real choice here. Favorite book? The Best Story Book Ever by Richard Scarry. Also the Best Word Book Ever. Pick one? Why?! Richard Scarry is the best. That is the point.

don't you want to play with paint now?

He doesn't eat the toaster

I used to think a lot about Kenny's Breakfast and how huge it was. Anyone else?

{Part of a Friday series with Alex, Vivian and Lee that celebrates our power to discern, discriminate, decide and declare. Please join us in the comments or on your own site if you have a few favorites, too.}

Favorite Things Friday Five

Hi Friday Friends! Perhaps you have noticed that it is Saturday? More importantly, so what? This week we have two new favorites to explore: school subject and board games. I'm going to jump in with the easy one first...

1. Favorite Subject in School: Art

Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth - photo by goldberg via flickr

For a long time not much else mattered to me. What can I say about art in a brief yet meaningful way? I dunno. I'll turn to Picasso:

Everything you can imagine is real

OR maybe Nietzsche?

You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star

That kinda sums it up succinctly I think.

2. Board Game: Arkham Horror

Believe it or not this one is way harder for me. I am a total board game nerd and do not wish to commit myself to one game. That said, Arkham Horror is amazing. This is the game that got me into complicated, cooperative games. This means players work together and you either all win or you all lose. In this case, that could mean a gruesome, gory, Lovecraft-inspired demise. Yes, the board is ridiculously huge and you need a big table to play it. Set-up is long, as is putting it away. I once spent six hours playing this game. You can feel sorry for me if you want but I loved it. I don't play it much anymore but it will always hold a dear place in my heart.

Thanks for stopping by, pals!

{Part of a Friday series with Alex, Vivian and Lee that celebrates our power to discern, discriminate, decide and declare. Please join us in the comments or on your own site if you have a few favorites, too.}

Favorite Things: Three

Hello Friday Friends!

I am still here doing this, which surprises no one more than me. Thanks for stopping by and proving that blogs are still a THING. 

Today is Friday which means it's a Favorite Things Day. What is that? Look at this lovely little set-up written by Vivian which I stole from her blog this morning:

{Part of a Friday series with Alex, Vivian and Lee that celebrates our power to discern, discriminate, decide and declare. Please join us in the comments or on your own site if you have a few favorites, too.}


These are almost always very hard. I am not so very decisive and some topics matter too much or perhaps too little for me to make the definitive choice. What I do is pick the first one that comes to me, and so far that has worked. Enough ado, let us get to it already!

1. Favorite Animated Movie: Kiki's Delivery Service

I have only seen it once, and it was while I was recovering from something, but this movie really touched me. It's about a girl coming into her power and learning to rely on her own magic to make her way in the world.

13 year old witch Kiki and her black cat Jiji

Also Hayao Miyazaki is a genius and I love all of his films that I've seen.

Enjoy this nice, humungous picture of Miyazaki

2. Favorite Love Story: Okay, wow. I am torn all over the place for this one. I want to half put down some kind of anti-love story and half some real, touching one. I am generally more moved by LOVE than I am by mushy, fused, icky romantic love between two people that is ultimately unsustainable. Bear in mind I am not bitter, despite how this sounds.

So, I turn to music. Girlfriend in a Coma? Perhaps not... I got it! John Lennon wrote fabulous love songs all over the place. So, here it is: In My Life. This is a beautiful song (in my top five all time favorite Beatle songs) that feels like a meditation on his past and an expanding sense of love in his present and future.

Lennon's Original Lyrics

I have always felt that the people and places I have ever loved I still love. The people and places I liked I still like. Nothing changed. This song echoes that warm feeling for me and I maintain that it is quite a Love Story indeed.

The song is great too. I just read that the solo isn't a harpsichord, it's a sped-up piano. How cool! Anyway, enjoy this weird weird youtube video of In My Life if you'd like and have a great week, Friday Friends!

Favorite Things Friday part 2

Hi again! This week we have the following questions: What is your favorite historical discovery? What is your favorite modern convenience? Again, not easy questions.

I'm going with the first things that popped into my head. It's preferable to over-thinking and agonizing and ultimately not coming up with anything better...

Une photo générale de la grande fresque de la salle du fond de la grotte Chauvet, le groupe des félins se trouvant à droite. © Jean Clottes - Ministère de la Culture

Historical Discovery: Really old cave paintings! They make me feel connected to all people everywhere forever. I like this feeling.

Lascaux Great Hall of the Bulls by Emily Whale

Modern Convenience: Hot running water. Hot showers are a luxury many of us never think about. The month I spent in India without running hot water taught me (among other things) to not take this for granted. When I came home I took a very very long very very hot shower (first one in a month) and felt so grateful. I have felt that way ever since, and its been many showers in 12 years! Also hot baths are magical too. I have to add that.

Shower fixture in Cabin 6 at the the Overlook Motel in Lincoln City, OR. by PhotoAtelier

What are your favorites?

Favorite things Friday

Welcome to the first edition of a collection of little tiny blog posts about some favorite things. First up... Favorite animal:

Desdemona, the cookie thief

I don't actually have a favorite animal but this picture captures something I love. Look at her neck roll. Look at her nose. Look at how she just takes that cookie.

Next up, favorite super hero. This is impossible. I would like to fly or freeze time as super powers. I'd love to shop in stores with no one in them and try on things in the middle of the floor. Then fly away over the city and the sea like a bird. I don't need to be invisible as a super power because I already have that one. We all do if you think about it.

Thanks for stopping by. This project was created by my pal Vivian. Her faves are pretty cool. Also on board are Alex and Lee. Stop on by and say HI.

Happy New Year!

Hello January people!

I hope you made it through the holiday madness well. I am here, doing my best. I have a few bits of information to share with you on this fine cold afternoon. Pour yourself some hot tea or something and take a gander, won't you?



1. New pattern alert! The Sartorial Cowl is now available. The mystery has been solved. The cowl pattern comes in three sizes and costs $4.99

buy now

2. I have an actual website now:

http://starathena.com

From now on, this here, where you are right now, is considered to be my blog. The other thing is my website. Feel free to check it out and share any feedback you want. I plan on adding a FAQ to it as well.

3. I am teaching in New York at Vogue Knitting Live in two weeks! Are you going? I am! Oh wait, I keep saying that. Please say hi to me if you see me. I am kind of shy around strangers but I'd just as soon be friends with you. So yeah, say hi! Also, sign up for my classes, please. I will teach you how to design your own socks and/or how to use wild, hand painted variegated yarns well.

4. Rockin' Sock Club time! Sign-ups just went live and I'm happy to say I am a part of this one! Head over to Blue Moon Fiber Arts to see for yourself. The only clue I can give you is that my pattern is for socks and it is the sort that works well with variegated yarns.



5. Camptown Races Pattern now available! Originally released as a kit from the Plucky Knitter, this cowl pattern is finally available for download for $4.99

buy now

That's enough for now, I suppose. Photos as usual by Vivian Aubrey.

May your January be inspiring and bright!

Ravelry and the Olympics and the Tour de Fleece

Greetings fiber people! Do you have a minute to look at a post without pictures? I decided to share a little bit about the cease and desist letter that spawned a huge explosion of hurt feelings in the fiber community.

Most of you reading this are fiber people, meaning you know all about it already. Most likely you know more about than I do. What excites me is that this is my blog and I get to write my opinions in it freely.

So, there's this worldwide sporting event called the Olympics, perhaps you've heard of it. A few years ago knitters and crocheters wanted to watch the Olympics while challenging themselves to create something during the span of the games. There are several variations on this, but the one I am going to mention is the event that happened on Ravelry, called the Ravelympics.

[unlicensed image of Olympic Rings not available]

Ravelry received a C&D letter. There are trademark issues. There are also judgements, the highlight being this passage: "We believe using the name “Ravelympics” for a competition that involves an afghan marathon, scarf hockey and sweater triathlon, among others, tends to denigrate the true nature of the Olympic Games. In a sense, it is disrespectful to our country’s finest athletes and fails to recognize or appreciate their hard work."

Okay, I think most people are okay with the idea that trademark infringement is serious and changing the name of Ravelympics isn't really a big deal. The problem lies in saying what we do denigrates the Olympics. Maybe it's because I've been knitting longer than many of the athletes have been alive, or maybe it's because I think fast food and soda companies sponsoring the Olympics is denigrating, but that part of the letter ruffled my feathers.

I know what I do is not the same thing as what they do. It does not follow that what I do denigrates what they do.

It turns out thousands of people feel this way too. The USOC (United States Olympic Committee) was bombarded with tweets, letters, calls, emails, and more. Gawker picked up an the story, as did the Oregonian. It's still expanding and the ripples are headed to who-knows-where.

There has since been an apology, though it hasn't been well-received.

I am talking about this today because I keep getting asked about the Tour de Fleece. I started the Tour de Fleece in 2006 in the spirit of spinning yarn along with the Tour de France. It's a crazy concept and with extremely limited appeal (people who spin their own yarn AND like cycling?)

I have not been contacted by anyone associated with the Tour de France to cease and desist the Tour de Fleece. I will let you know if that changes. So far, we are safe. I don't think anyone would accidentally confuse us with the Tour de France, but to be very clear... the Tour de France and the Tour de Fleece are two different events. One does not denigrate the other, except for performance-enhancing doping, which denigrates us all. Maybe it is I who should send the cease and desist letter?

The Tour de Fleece starts on June 30th. It's not too late to join!

Thanks for reading this. I like you.

The Waste Land

Lilac | Matthias Rhomberg I. THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain. T.S. Eliot (1888–1965).  The Waste Land.  1922. It's been a while since I shared a poem here. The turning of the seasons seems to inspire something I suppose. Today I bring you a wee tiny taste of the Waste Land by T. S. Eliot. I hope you liked it.

Leap Day, 2012

Four years ago I blogged about spinning yarn on leap day. A lot has happened in my life since then as I imagine it has in yours.

I'd like to present a flashback to that day, because even though it was four years ago, it is resonating on my frequency today.


Leap Day:

Today is a special day that only exists in secret gardens, magic castles, and enchanted forests... a hidden room behind a bookcase, a day in between days.


It's a good day for making progress, for making a giant leap!

Today I share with you a progression of fiber. I dyed the wool, spun it up, and plied it together into yarn. It's now called Sea Change.

Is it perfect? No. Was it once the clippings off a sheep? Yes.

That is the sea change.

Even as everything spins around in constant chaos, we have a free day. Use it for do-overs and new beginnings... I suggest.

There is so much magic in creating things. It is a leap. I am a part of it and so are you.

This day is for us!

/end flashback

I needed that. Enjoy your extra day today, party people! And in other news, look out tomorrow for a new pattern.

This day in 1963

I was just now sitting around knitting (what else?) and thinking about the date today.

I like numbers and patterns, and when numbers fall into certain patterns, I feel a deep sense of peace in my brain.

Today is 2-22-2012 - I actually kind of hate this number. The year messes it up. I do like 2-22 on it's own though, a LOT.

So, I searched around for pictures taken on this date that might somehow convey what I feel when numbers align... I think I found it!

Here is a cool picture from February 22, 1963:

USS Woodrow Wilson Launching Ceremony

You are looking at a bottle of champagne exploding on the exterior of a huge plane. The woman smashing the bottle seems pleased despite the mess. I don't know who you are but if you are like me you don't get asked to smash champagne bottles on things often enough.

Let this moment remind us of the possibilities in life. Sometimes numbers line up nicely. There is always a new beginning filled with potential somewhere. Just take that bottle and smash it!

Ramble with a bit of Dylan Thomas

Fall has fallen. I am finishing the last few rows on a sweater for a ghost. I am burying nuts. I am returning library books and looking for bigger dreams.


photo by Nicholas_T via Flickr

Later this month I will talk about knitting, specifically in regards to some Day of the Dead socks, but for now let's just look at these lovely pictures and ponder the October-ness of today.

 
photo by Fesoj via Flickr

Especially when the October wind

With frosty fingers punishes my hair,

Caught by the crabbing sun I walk on fire

And cast a shadow crab upon the land,

By the sea's side, hearing the noise of birds,

Hearing the raven cough in winter sticks,

My busy heart who shudders as she talks

Sheds the syllabic blood and drains her words.

- Dylan Thomas, Especially When the October Wind

'Neath the cover of October skies

On the second day of October I bring you another diversion. This gem was unearthed during my quest to find cool stuff that relates to this month. Why? Let's just say I am feeling particularly excited about the fresh air I am suddenly breathing. I welcome October. You couldn't have come at a better time.

I know this is a knitting blog but that "other things too" disclaimer up there makes it okay for all of these youtube videos and poems and other ramblings, yes? Good.

Moondance by Van Morrison - The Song, The Youtube Video


Yes, the font is silly.

Yes, "piano solo" in the middle is both distracting and not fair to the horns.

Yes, it's nice to see the lyrics anyway! I am feeling them. Are you?

Hi October

Bittersweet October.  The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause
between the opposing miseries of summer and winter. -   Carol Bishop Hipps


I imagine there are many things to look forward to this month. You know, as long as you have things to look forward to, you're going to be alright. 


I am looking forward to getting my next collection going, spending quality time with friends and family, and if I recall... this just might be the month pumpkin shakes return to Burgerville. What are you looking forward to?


I'm also looking forward to exploring new ways to connect with knitters... which reminds me:

My e-book Socks For All Seasons is now available on Amazon!

I sure like the way October is unfolding so far!

I chose this picture because she looks so darn happy

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

I believe. Do you?

This is your thought for the day. I am going to try to keep it in my heart while I wrap up a project that has been in my life for over a year. Tomorrow, the ebook goes live.