Wheatley in Repose By Gentleolas
Friday, March 31, 2006
Library Thing is a wonderful web site that helps you quickly catalog your book collection. Today I made a list of my knitting books which you can see HERE. I have only one book that isn't in Library Thing's database (Jade Starmore's A Collector's Item).
You simply type in knitting and they'll show you a list with photos of thousands of books from Amazon and US libraries. Click to add them to your catalog. There are some errors - especially in the author's name for some listings but it is so simple to use I highly recommend it. I have learned about several new books I want to check into and I remain perplexed why I have so many kid's knitting books.
Although it is still cold outside, at least it feels like spring inside.
You simply type in knitting and they'll show you a list with photos of thousands of books from Amazon and US libraries. Click to add them to your catalog. There are some errors - especially in the author's name for some listings but it is so simple to use I highly recommend it. I have learned about several new books I want to check into and I remain perplexed why I have so many kid's knitting books.
Although it is still cold outside, at least it feels like spring inside.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Gerhard Richter: the self-critical optimist
Of course I constantly despair at my own incapacity, at the impossibility of ever accomplishing anything, of painting a valid, true picture or even of knowing what such a thing ought to look like. But then I always have the hope that, if I persevere, it might one day happen. And this hope is nurtured every time something appears, a scattered, partial, initial hint of something which reminds me of what I long for, or which conveys a hint of it - although often enough I have been fooled by a momentary glimpse that then vanishes, leaving behind only the usual thing.
I have no motif, only motivation. I believe that motivation is the real thing, the natural thing, and that the motif is old-fashioned, even reactionary (as stupid as the question about the Meaning of Life).
- Gerhard Richter (20 February 1985)*
Several things strike me in the text above. One of them is how distant Richter seems from any sort of affirmation of having found something (he's so incredibly distant from Picasso's "I don't search - I find"!). It is much more than humbleness. It seems an actual feeling of worthlessness. And, all the same, persistent.
Another thing is the wonderful phrase: "a momentary glimpse that then vanishes, leaving behind only the usual thing". The usual thing. Great stuff.
Yet another nice touch is the identification of "the natural thing" with "the real thing". Coming from Richter, it sounds just out-of-this-world. I'm too tired to explain this, I hope you can think of what I mean.
*quoted from:
Peaches is seen here looking very guilty. That is because she is attempting to illegally open her Craisin container (you can see some dents in the lid where she tried to chew through) and help herself. She gets treats twice a day - in very limited quantities - but always feels she doesn't get enough.
The Best Friends Great Bunny Rescue in Nevada is turning out to be bigger than they originally thought. They rented a 68 acre spread and have already rescued 1000 domestic rabbits from one woman's yard. At least 50 are being born every day because they can't get the females spayed quickly enough and they estimate this rescue, their second largest of all time, will cost them up to a million dollars. They are looking for adopters and funds at this point. I will donate half of the check I receive in May (the checks are issued quarterly) for the knitting booklet and pattern sales from Lulu.
I asked Peaches how she'd feel about several hundred rabbit brothers and sisters but she refuses to share her Craisins with anyone.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Here are the Aran Sandal Socks from Socks, Socks, Socks done in my favorite yarn, some beautiful and softer than soft Cormo from Elsa Sheep & Wool. This yarn is only available at Taos Wool Festival as far as I can tell.
This is my own design for a sock with a ruffled top here. Pattern is available HERE with all proceeds going to nonprofit rabbit rescue.
This is my own design for a sock with a ruffled top here. Pattern is available HERE with all proceeds going to nonprofit rabbit rescue.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Thanks to the digital camera this week I'm going to show various socks I've knit on my actual feet. It really is harder to show socks via the scanner and I've long wanted to show my socks "in action."
Here are the New England socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road knit in some old Pingouin La Laine sock yarn.
And here are the Poetry Socks from Socks, Socks, Socks knit in Nature Spun sport weight. As you can see this yarn does pill.
Here are the New England socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road knit in some old Pingouin La Laine sock yarn.
And here are the Poetry Socks from Socks, Socks, Socks knit in Nature Spun sport weight. As you can see this yarn does pill.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
I've been working on knitting a Project Runway contest submission. I doubt I'll have it ready to show you until next month. The socks and the bobblicious afghan square won't be done until next week.
In the meantime I'll show you one of my African violets. I used to have much larger plants but had to give them to a neighbor when I moved. My African violet secret is lots of rabbit fertilizer. Thanks again Natalie for the digital camera which allows me to take such photos.
Anne in CA asked in the comments about the DNA cabled afghan. I think you could definitely use the Hanna Burns square from the Great American Aran Afghan the length of the afghan. So far it is my favorite square and quite easy to do. June also has a free DNA cabled scarf pattern available HERE which you could use for your afghan.
In the meantime I'll show you one of my African violets. I used to have much larger plants but had to give them to a neighbor when I moved. My African violet secret is lots of rabbit fertilizer. Thanks again Natalie for the digital camera which allows me to take such photos.
Anne in CA asked in the comments about the DNA cabled afghan. I think you could definitely use the Hanna Burns square from the Great American Aran Afghan the length of the afghan. So far it is my favorite square and quite easy to do. June also has a free DNA cabled scarf pattern available HERE which you could use for your afghan.
Two Iranian women by Shadi Gadhirian
(From the Qajar series)
(from the Like Every Day series)I am a woman and I live in Iran. I am a photographer and this is the only thing I know how to do. I began work after completing my studies. Quite by accident, the subjects of my first two series were "women". However, since then, every time I think about a new series, in a way it is related to women.
It does not make a difference to me what place the Iranian woman has in the world because I am sure no one knows much about it.
Perhaps the only mentality of an outsider about the Iranian woman is a black chador, however I try to portray all the aspects of the Iranian woman. And this completely depends on my own situation.
- Shadi Gadhirian
The two images above are my favorite ones from each of the series. The first one, because it's delicate. I find many of the other pictures in the Qajar series too obvious, too aggressive and thus too simplistic. The idea is explicit, and the contrast between modernity and "timelessness" looks more like a Hollywood time-travel film than a piece of reality. And that's fascinating - how carefuly reality needs to be managed in order to appear as reality. In this particular picture, the time contrast fades to second plan. We have a duo - the phone and the girl. The phone seems to somehow upstage the girl. Its silence is stronger. It attracts the girl without her knowing about it. We know she is waiting for a call, and that is the reason for her being serious. And only now, after "reading" this, do we realize we exist in a strange time zone, the picture is old, very old, the girl is "timeless", and the phone is the only connection to... us. At the same time, it is a somehow outdated phone, one we rarely see around us (depending where we live, of course!). And once again, time is suspended: is it the local object-time? Or is it really going back? When is the story being told? How far are we?
The second picture is part of an entire lot of kitchen appliances. Do I need to spell out what it does? I like this particular objects, because it hurts. In this context, it could very well be an instrument of torture. Isn't it?
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Snail on Zebra
This is apparently a fairly old video, but I have just received it now. Hail to street-wise grassroots performance!
(Click on the image above) The video is apparently by one Johan van Hensbergen.
(Click on the image above) The video is apparently by one Johan van Hensbergen.Technorati:
I have been desperately trying to make the Fluxus Films work on my computer, alas, to no avail. Hope you have more luck!
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Jack Vettriano as wall decorator
from an interview with Jack Vettriano"I just consider myself a trader. I take my goods to the marketplace and try to get the best price I can."
The greater glory of art doesn't come into it, he confirms. "That's not why I paint," he said. "It's wall decoration for me, I don't regard it as this big meaningful thing. My subjects are men and women getting off, that's all. Mind you, some people don't think sex is serious, but I happen to think it's terribly serious."
(via)
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Tuesday, March 21, 2006
I'm working on the Moc Croc socks in Knitpicks Essentials yarn and size 1 dpns. Thanks Susan for the terrific pattern! I'm using the smallest size because I have narrow feet and these will still be quite stretchy. The pattern is quite fun to do and I really am imagining crocodiles.
Monday, March 20, 2006
All together now. Awwww.
These three characters were found in a field in a rural area outside Espanola and are looking for a good indoor home. They're all very friendly and I'll get the adoption info on the Four Corners Bunnies web site very soon.
With my new digital camera I took a photo of the Sandia Mountains from our front yard. If you squint you can see a dusting of snow on top.
These three characters were found in a field in a rural area outside Espanola and are looking for a good indoor home. They're all very friendly and I'll get the adoption info on the Four Corners Bunnies web site very soon.
With my new digital camera I took a photo of the Sandia Mountains from our front yard. If you squint you can see a dusting of snow on top.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Natalie thoughtfully offered to send me her former digital camera and I've been having fun figuring out how to use it. Here's the latest Greatest American Aran Afghan square; this one is the Burns DNA-inspired square.
And here are all the finished squares so far:
And here are all the finished squares so far:
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Women Say No To War
On the picture are "women and crosses and coffins on a beach in Santa Monica", a few days ago.(found here)
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Friday, March 17, 2006
HERE's a link to a free lecture from the Teaching Company on the real St. Patrick and his accomplishments.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
I'll have the DNA Aran square for you tomorrow. I'm also working on a weird knitting project for a contest. I'm getting more knitting done than usual because of baseball.
I never in a million years thought Korea would be undefeated in the WBC with the US and Dominican Republic struggling. Baseball is my favorite viewing choice when I'm doing serious knitting. Even the pets love the relaxing sounds of baseball.
Bosco with his flame-point paws is obviously a Red Sox fan.
Jack with his pinstripes roots for the Yankees.
What about Peaches? That's easy - she completely relates to the Giants.
I never in a million years thought Korea would be undefeated in the WBC with the US and Dominican Republic struggling. Baseball is my favorite viewing choice when I'm doing serious knitting. Even the pets love the relaxing sounds of baseball.
Bosco with his flame-point paws is obviously a Red Sox fan.
Jack with his pinstripes roots for the Yankees.
What about Peaches? That's easy - she completely relates to the Giants.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
I want to knit a butterfly. Surprisingly Nicky Epstein's books don't have any butterflies so I'm working on coming up with one. Here's my first effort which doesn't even look like a butterfly.
I've learned I'm going to have to knit both wings separately and shape them. Also the I-cord section will be done in a finer gauge.
I've learned I'm going to have to knit both wings separately and shape them. Also the I-cord section will be done in a finer gauge.
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