A while back I was sent a book to review here on the blog. I was touched that someone actually thought anyone cared that much about my opinion. I get free books at work all the time but getting one just because I'm a blogger made me just a bit giddy...but there was a problem.

The book is I [Heart] Felting.
I had Kathleen Taylor's first felting book Knit One Felt Too. I actually gave it away since there were really no projects I would have ever made. Upon looking at the new book I have to admit I don't [heart] felting.

There are a couple cute things in the book. My favorite is this bag:

...but while her yarn choices for most of the projects are extremely affordable, Knit Picks and Cascade being the main two, this bag is made with 5 skeins of Noro Iro. That makes it a $100 bag. It's not that cute.

I sort of like this sweater:
...but in a more academic way. The juxtaposition of felted and knit on a garment is different and interesting. I don't see myself making it or wearing it if I did.

The other projects did nothing for me at all. I think I am over felting or at least I only like it for bags. Everything else just looks odd to me. Now obviously Ms. Taylor is way more creative than I am since I've never designed anything intricate in my life so this is more about personal taste rather than a criticism of her work. If you like felting this is a good book for it. There are a variety of projects and the instructions are clear and straightforward. It's simply not my cup of tea.

I've been torn for the past week about whether or not to post this but in the end when a publisher sends out a review copy they are gambling with the opinion of the chosen reviewers. The fact that I received it for free doesn't mean I should not be honest.

I have given the book to someone who does [heart] felting. I'm sure she'll adore it.

Since some people are getting noticed by celebrities by talking them up I am starting a new campaign to get Nikki Sixx to comment on my blog. I will mention his name, Nikki Sixx, every time I post. No matter the subject. Even if it's just a random line like this:

NIKKI SIXX

Cara you should totally do this for Shaun. I'm sure he loves you just as much as that Robby dude supposedly loves Ann (how much do you think she paid him?).

Nikki Sixx

Partying on the Island...

On Saturday Maribel and I braved the cold and residual snow to head out to Long Island to celebrate the impending addition to Cara's family. Maribel found a friend the moment we came in:
Lucy is quite the charmer, thankfully she was a little big for Maribel's bag. So Ann gets to keep her...this time.

We rode on the LIRR with the sadly blogless Bronx expat Regina. Bel gave her an impromptu magic loop lesson on the train. Before the other guests arrived they got their knit on:
Amazingly Cara was actually surprised. As big an undertaking as it was Ann managed to keep it all under wraps. She was even able to get Cara's family there. We all waited outside for the full effect as she drove up:
The big knit hit of the party was Ann's blanket (I stole this shot from Ann, the one I took sucked):
For those wondering it's Curlicue in Knit One Crochet Too's Ty-Dy.

As always Ann was the hostess with the mostess. She did finally get to sit and rest after a few hours of doing her hostess duties:
There are some more photos here on my Flickr account if you are so inclined.

It's always a good time when I visit the LI gang. Once Kathleen arrived I was too busy to really take anymore pictures. I had to make sure the BFF was given enough attention. She's been feeling a bit jealous lately, lol.

I did actually do some knitting myself. Look it's a turned heel:
(obviously that's the monday morning cell phone shot)

Happy Monday!

Little things that make me happy, like...

...the lanyard on my Bose earphones.
...the fact that I could actually see last night's lunar eclipse
...I know this book will solve all of my problems and in fact, may bring about world peace.
...goth is all grown up and looks hot.
...Weight Watchers online, now I don't actually have to go to a meeting. I've lost 15 lbs so far.
...the existence of Fan Fiction. It makes me feel far less insane to know other people can be just as obsessive as me.
...the fact that my favorite geek sites are run by women.
...that one of those sites let me get my geek on by revisiting an old favorite and writing about it.
...and that I make somebody's day:


Gina bestowed this upon me an obscenely long time ago (in blog time anyway). It would be redundant to say that she absolutely makes my day as well. Our bitch-fests and two person support group for recovering goth girls make my work days way more fun.

I have to say above all my girls at work make my day. Dragging my ass in everyday is never a joy but having cool people to get through the day with helps a lot. So here's a little shout out to my bff Tisha and the fairly newly discovered Amanda. Working with extremely intelligent and fun women make the workplace oh so much nicer. Rinaldo calls us BOB a "batch of bitches" (although he doesn't really say that about Tisha, he likes her best, lol), and we like it that way.

There are numerous bloggers who make my day so it will be hard to pick but I would have to say Risa definitely does. Not as much for her knitting (although that's pretty cool too) but to see what those adventurous twins of hers have been up to. Quiet !=Good indeed but it is fun to read, lol.

Mamacate who so rarely posts anymore but I'm always glad to see when she has. Lack of quantity is always made up for by her quality. Her posts always leave me in a contemplative mood which is a good thing.

Shameka whose energy always does me in. She is so enthusiastic about her projects even if they're pissing her off. It's always fun to try to keep up with what she's working on this week.

As for non-knitting there's Glo whom I just discovered. I love that she's out there blogging about GH while I'm hiding away on a Ravelry board, lol! The fact that our opinions are very similar doesn't hurt.

Liz who blogs about all kinds of things that appeal to this nerdy woman.

What little things make you happy?

Pictures 009
Originally uploaded by amandalorimcgee

I gifted my friend Amanda with the handspun I finished last week. She's already made a hat with it, that bitch;)

I figured I could share that at least.

Personally I'm still plodding along. I worked a bit on the sock at knitting group last week but I'm not feeling it at all. It's not the sock but the knitting. I just don't have the urge.

I hung out with Gina the week before last. We had a great time doing our annual Dark Ladies day out. We hit a few yarn shops but nothing spoke to either of us. All we heard were crickets. Much like the lulls I go through in my reading I know that once I get my hands on the right project it will get me fired up again but until then nothin'.

Things are pretty mellow on the home front. Ian is continuing his fantastic progress this year. Avery's doing well. Work is fine, Rinaldo's fine. I guess everything is just kind of mellow. That's a good thing though so no complaints here.

Good life = boring blog.

Trying to kick my malaise to the curb...

Saturday was Imbolc. That is the pagan holiday to commemorate the end of winter and the beginning of spring. I decided to try to take that to heart and force myself out of this dazed hibernation I feel like I've been in.

First up. I ripped out the top of Avery's hat and added a few more repeats. It was a tad short for him:


Then in a particularly bizarre move for me I joined the Project Spectrum group on Ravelry. I'm not typically a color person but this year's theme of elements spoke to the pagan in me. It actually got me spinning again. November's Spunky Club fiber looks a bit more like cotton candy than fire:


...but there is a bit of red in there and pink is officially accepted for February and March. There is also some blue that was reminding me a great deal of smoke as I spun it:

...a closer look:

I also started organizing my stash. A lot of it simply doesn't speak to me any more. I've moved on from certain colors and fibers. I'm hoping as I catalog it and get it onto Ravelry I'll be able to figure out what could still be useful to me and what absolutely needs to go somewhere else.

Other than that the weekend was relaxing. Although I will say that Kathleen is a horrible influence. Heady with the idea of a tax refund check (smaller than expected but money nonetheless) we went out and bought our own Rock Band.

I may never leave the basement.

Bloggers (Silent) Poetry Reading to celebrate the Feast of Brigid

Her Kind

I have gone out, a possessed witch,
haunting the black air, braver at night;
dreaming evil, I have done my hitch
over the plain houses, light by light;
lonely thing, twelve-fingered, out of mind.
A woman like that is not a woman, quite.
I have been her kind.

I have found the warm caves in the woods,
filled them with skillets, carvings, shelves,
closets, silks, innumerable goods;
fixed the suppers for the worms and the elves;
whining, rearranging the disaligned.
A woman like that is misunderstood.
I have been her kind.

I have ridden in your cart, driver,
waved my nude arms at villages going by,
learning the last bright routes, survivor
where your flames still bite my thigh
and my ribs crack where your wheels wind.
A woman like that is not ashamed to die.
I have been her kind.

- Anne Sexton