ĭn'də-strē

new

I'm almost 33 years old. Even though I'm still fairly young, there isn't much that feels new to me. I've decided that's why I have this love affair with knitting; because it feels and is new to me. I'm a n00b. A complete and total newbie. I found a hobby that I had to learn from the very first basic; the slipknot.

In 2006 on my original 101 Things in 1001 Days list, I put "learn to knit" down on a lark. It wasn't until February 2008 that I finally said "...eh...what the hel" and gave it a fair go. I think because knitting is not easy to learn and even more difficult to do well, that I enjoy it so much. It is a very thought intensive hobby even for projects as simple as a scarf.

To knit a simple scarf, one has to take in account how to figure out gauge, follow a pattern, yarn type and weight, needle size, colour theory etc. etc. It can be fairly simple to very complex depending how much effort is put into the planning. I'm completely smitten by the whole ordeal. Honest. I only know a few tricks which are a regular cast on, cable cast on, cast off, knit stich, purl stitch, k2tog, p2tog. That's not much but soon I will be learning how to knit cables and also knitting in the round.

The fact that I don't know very much is what makes me happy. I like the feeling of new and knowing that I'm engaged in something that is still full of mystery. I'm very patient and I'm okay with the process of learning and the journey. Knitting is difficult to do well; I know. I've seen a lot of knitting projects; some very clever, some very ambitious, but very few that are done so well as to be absolutely stunningly gorgeous.

seaweed

My parents bought me a plane ticket home to BC for Yule! That's awesome and it means I get to meet the new puppy. It also means I'll be doing a lot of flying in December. Good thing that I took up this knitting madness in February.

Speaking of knitting, I've decided to add a 5th colour to my Architect scarf. Not surprising as I never fail to modify a pattern or nor follow any rules perexactly. I want my scarf to be really long so I'm using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in colours #340203, #340202 , #340100, #34016 and #340003. All the colours match perfectly with the picture I took of the Atlantic ocean during my visit to Cape Spear, Newfoundland. I was going to wait to knit it up but I want it for my move to St. John's on December 30. I have a lot of knitting to do...

Sorry no pictures, I didn't bring my macbook with me this tour at camp.

hoist up the john b's sail

I got the tickle. So tomorrow I'll either have the full blown sick or barely avoid it. I can feel it in my throat and since it's close to December, it's right on time. Better sick now then at Yule.

Moe's scarf is too short. I will need to add length so that will delay completion by a week probably; maybe less. I don't really have much to talk about since I've been busy working and sleeping. My body still needs more rest especially if I'm indeed getting a cold.

big fish

So today I started working out the details of my move to St. John's, Newfoundland. I have my apartment and today I bought my plane ticket to St. John's for December 30. I'm actually travelling with a friend who is also going to St. John's for New Year's. I still have to get my stuff into storage, my car up to camp and all personal business cleared up before then. yup, no problem.

tonight is dedicated to knitting. I have to finish Moe's scarf because I have to get my sister's scarf completed and work on Daire's. I'm feeling a lot better now. I got a lot of sleep last night which made a huge difference.

my universe in a nutshell

"Wow! Your ambition is super aroused! You want to set the world on fire. Fortunately, you couldn't have picked a better time because the Sun is at high noon in your chart acting like a spotlight on you putting you in the limelight. Everyone notices you, especially bosses, parents, teachers and VIPs. And get this. Not only does the Sun call attention to you -- it makes you look great in the eyes of others. You don't even have to do anything special, and they'll think you walk on water! (Which, considering your shoe collection might be possible.) Go after what you want in the next six weeks. You are blessed. Ah, yes -- there's no time like the pleasant."

about the whole, "it makes you look great in the eyes of others", it better be true because I need 4 things to happen within the next two weeks to make my move to Newfoundland all silky smooth. I can only push the universe forward so much before handing the rest over to others.

I fainted in the shower this morning so since I live up at camp, I had to go to work so they could take me to the medic. My bloodsugar was really low. I feel a lot better now but very tired. After I got back to work, I was still shake-y and fell out of a work truck. *sigh* My day didn't start well at all.

I bought Daire's yarn for his scarf: black, charcoal, grey, and midnight blue. The yarn is 100% Peruvian wool. I think it matches his strong personality (a bit rough around the edges). I won't be knitting much tonight as I need a lot of sleep and let my body rest and get my bloodsugar under control.

6 degrees of me

Inanna tagged me for a meme called 6 random things. So here goes:

1. I only own a bed and two lamps. I don't own a television or a microwave or even a chair. Oh I have a lot of books, a coffeemaker, kettle and a sewing machine though. My bed is like the central hub of my place. It's where I knit, sleep, watch DVDs and read. I plan on buying furniture when I move to St. John's. It won't be much furniture; I'm still a die hard minimalist afterall.
2. I can't paint very well. In fact, I suck at it.
3. But I'm very good with power tools; well all tools really.
4. I have a green thumb. I have a talent for growing plants from seeds. I don't know why this is since I don't garden. I would love to have a garden but I live in a city and work in a construction camp so for now it's not practical.
5. I'm very intelligent; it's spooky, apparently, and gives some people the heebie jeebies.
6. If I was rich, I would wear Calvin Klein and Prada exclusively. Oh and my own handknits of course.

It's home day! not to mention it's -25C at camp. So I'm very much looking foward to going home where it's much, much warmer.

fricken

tomorrow is home day but this time for 5 whole days! :) I am feeling less anxious as I did get a response (regarding work) to a very important question. Now I can continue to move the universe forward.

Since I have 5 days off I am going get the yarn for Daire's scarf on Friday, then I'm going to knit and watch the 3rd season of Bones all day Friday, Saturday and half of Sunday with some time reserved for reading my "Kelly Hoppen: Home" book. Then half of Sunday and half of Monday will be dedicated to hauling the stuff I'm donating to the Salvation Army and the local library. Monday night, relax and watch movies and knit. Tuesday morning = pancake breakfast and back to camp. Oh...and sucking it up and buying a new pair of glasses...

eon blue

I am feeling very, very anxious right now. I am a very patient person but once and awhile when I can't see my choices and actions making any progress, I start to worry. My brain goes at 1000km/hr all the time and when I get overwhelmed and anxious I can't keep up with it. I need answers. I need next actions. I need to relax and be patient and have confidence in people to do their job.

Tonight I will knit and watch the Calgary Flames game. I am going back to the beginning and working on my scarf. I have to limit myself to 2 projects because now that I'm worried, I need to keep everything very simple and relaxed. That means good coffee, my knitting and of course, hockey. There are a 2 things most Canadians find soothing; the sound of a hockey game and the sound of shovels scraping snow off the sidewalks and drive-ways.

The calm before the storm. Moe's yarn sitting on top of my skull and crossbone fabric that is going to transformed into an apron and set of pot holders. Damn right I'll have a cool kitchen.

Some of my knitting needles and crochet hooks. Double pointed needles that I'll be using to knit socks and gloves.

A shot of my knitting needles. I keep them stored in a stainless steel Starbucks thermos for now. Oh and you can see the two IKEA lanterns I bought a few months ago in British Columbia.

I mean, really, who doesn't have a coffeemaker next to their bed...? Probably all you normal folk that don't live in a construction camp would be a good guess...

The walk home tonight. Snowy and cold. It was -16C yesterday but only about -10 C today. A much more civilized temperature. I'm dreading the -55C w/windchill factor *sigh*

A view of the surreal and wonderfully spooky scenery :)

The storage tanks from a few weeks back now look like frosted metal cupcakes. heh.

Moe's Architect Scarf at the end of week 1. It will be finished by Monday.

My Architect scarf. I modified the pattern. Instead of a 2x2 rib pattern like Moe's, I'm knitting P3 K3 for odd numbered rows and just knitting even rows. It's way bigger as well. Moe's is 9" wide, mine is 14" wide so it can be scrunched up and tucked in every nook and cranny of my jacket plus cover my face up to my eyes. Trust me; it's necessary.

paint it black

I'm still kind of spooked by the discovery of Black Dog Knits. I said it felt like finding a soulmate of sorts, and this is why. Below are three links to Nora's blog that hightlight posts that echo a lot of the same writing style and presence of mind that I feel we share. Below that are three of my posts from heima 2.0 (my old blog at Blogger):

1. Long Time Finished
2. Organized Collections
3. The Illusion of Simplicity

My post from December 4, 2006

clouds in my coffee. I am poetic and philosophical today, pondering over my honeydew, green tea latte thinking greatly about roots, spirituality and sexuality. The purgatory of journeys and the valhalla of finding out you've taken the right path. First the discovery of roots, then finding my spirituality and having the wisdom of enough years to explore the sexuality of being. Art populating the journey and weaving the colours of wyrd. Like Carly, there are clouds in my coffee.

My post from July 30, 2007

My life at this moment is two things; fluid and full of sweetness (I have no better word than that).

My life is sweet. It's uncompromised, uncomplicated, unhurried and full of curves and softness (although my coffee is cold). This is what I've always wanted. I want a life full of love and laughter, art and experience all wrapped up and lived simply. I've uncomplicated a lot of things. I now seek love and comfort, honest moments and defining experiences. I seek more softness and hot cups of tea.

I don't want to be so easily defined. If I want to express anything, it would be a certain quietness that is at the core of me. I am soft and thoughtful and ethereal and now at a point where I no longer have a desire to live any way but simply. Joy and simple pleasures-- hot cups of tea, art, sex, love, hot baths and soft clothes.

To be fluid and versatile, engaged and joyful. I think Joy is my favourite world lately. I will remember to let go of old ghosts and broken records.

and of course, the famous Madhatter post from October 11, 2007

I'll walk quietly down my corridors. Discretion my greatest ally and the love I have for myself comforts me. If all that remains are photographs that will be enough because I am photographer and artist. I am shadows and dancing light and my world reflects that. The contrast of joy and sorrow is gorgeous when painted honestly.

Hope springs eternal. I look through dirty windows at my grey world. I've cleaned the cobwebs and made peace with two of my ghosts. The dancing light captures me and overwhelms my imagination. When I revel in myself all that exists beyond falls away. The days are darker and what I see lacks contrast. Winter is whispering and there is snow falling softly out my window, sporadic and hesitant.

My days are quieter and more inward focused. I've been seeing life in layers- gorgeous, sensual, quiet layers. My creativity is fire in the belly. I desire to bunk down for the oncoming winter and get lost in my head. It's full of meanderings, musings and imaginings. I will plant seeds but of creativity and art which I hope will lead to love.

I desire, almost overwhelmingly, to define my self. To be revealed out of the abstract and ambiguous. I want identity. To survey my edges and mark them as artist, writer and photographer. To fill them in with emotion, love, spirituality, laughter, sensuality and beauty. The photograph itself should be as beautiful as the image it keeps. I plot where I want my garden to grow. I take with me my seeds.

I am optimistic. I crave quiet and routine as winter comes and settles. Reprieve. A juxtaposition of challenges and quiet serenity. There is hope in the newness of every day and the comfort of that which ages with grace. I will create my space, define my boundaries and allow winter to gift me with wisdom.

small miracles

today I am happy because I finally found a soulmate of sorts on the internets. Someone, even though we've never met, I feel I understand completely. Someone who is a minimalist, loves the purity of white in decoration and loves to knit and wear black and grey (although my personal palette also includes blue and some green). Not to mention she tends to meander into the poetic. I think it's spooky how alike we are when it comes to aesthetics. Let me know what you think.

I am worried a bit that I can't fit into the knitting or arts and crafts community. I don't really ever fit in anywhere (but to me that's a good thing). I don't game enough to be called a gamer. I no longer build or tweak computers and software so my geekry has suffered. I have zero female friends as I'm not on the fast-track for a husband and 2.5 kids. I work in oil and I read dead philosophers; what are we going to talk about?

It's comforting though, that there are a few souls that share my aesthetics and philosophy when it comes to everything DIY. I knit, cook, sew, bake and dabble in photography and visual art. I do other stuff, like read too much, but those are my main hobbies. I am not into fussy, embellished, ornate, gilded, bright or colourful. I am into pure, simple, minimal, industrial, natural, elemental, structured, hard and soft, dark and light. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

As for the knitting in queue (which I talk a lot about because after reading and going to the gym, it's the only thing I can do up at camp):

1. Architect Scarf - Moe - Orange, Blue & White (50% complete)
2. Architect Scarf - Me - Atlantic Blue, Sky Blue, Muted Seafoam Green, White. Inspired by this picture I took in Newfoundland
3. Architect Scarf - Daire - Black, Dark Grey, Grey, Purple
4. Montego Bay Scarf - Lori - Moss Colourway (?) Handmaiden SeaSilk
5. Montego Bay Scarf - Me - Ocean Colourway (?) Handmaiden SeaSilk
6. fishnet scarf - Me - Topaz Colourway (?) Handmaiden SeaSilk
7. 1 x 1 rib scarf - Grey and Atlantic Blue - Alpacha yarn
8. scarf from Custom Knits - navy blue Debbie Bliss 100% Pure Silk
9. 2 x 2 rib scarf - black - Debbie Bliss cashmerino (25% complete)
10. cable scarf - navy blue - Angora / Merino wool
11. cable tuque - navy blue - Angora / Merino wool

yup, that's a lot of scarves but they will all be well used and well loved this winter. After the scarves are finished, I will be knitting a tuque, a pair of mermaid fingerless gloves and a pair of socks. Once finished my focus will be on knitting pillowcases and blankets for my camp room and new apartment. I don't have a lot of opportunity to sew because I'm at camp mostly, but perhaps during my 1 month vacation at Yule. I still have that skull and crossbones fabric I want to make an Amy Butler apron and pot holders out of.