Writer. Editor. Teacher. Maker.
On August 25, 1996, I got my second tattoo, inspired by the amazing Johnny Cash:
My ink isn’t itching, not now. But to celebrate the year-of-my-favorite-number, I’m going to get this nearly-vintage tattoo prettied up. I’ve thought about it for years and haven’t yet hit on the right concept. Lace has been on my mind, as ferns have. Something dainty to counter the thick lines that I liked way back.
I adore this day. Simply adore.
And it’s the year I’ve been anticipating for freaking ever. Thirteen is my lucky number, and here it is, right in front of me for an entire year!
I’ve got aspirations for the year, goals, intentions. I’ll be revisiting the many, many failed intentions of 2012, but I’ll do so with my optimism intact. Forward, onward, inward, ho!
I’m wishing you health, optimism, adventure, joy, comfort, sweetness, risk, luck: whatever it is you need in 2013, I wish for you to receive it.
As I’m sure you are, I’m stunned and saddened by the violence in Newtown. I’m not a parent, yet my heart has been aching for not only the parents of the young victims, but for parents every where. I am an aunt, a great-aunt, a sister, a cousin, a teacher, a human. Those roles give me some small sense of the magnitude of sorrow felt by affected families. I think about my students this semester, 19 per class, and I see their futures so bright ahead of them, and I see them as little kindergartners, their personalities already in place, the students in my classroom already present in those tiny little chairs. And my eyes well with tears at the thought of the beautiful little humans, gone.
There is much to do to change this course of violence in our country, and I don’t pretend to know the answer. I do know that I will listen carefully to ideas for change, and I will use my best critical and compassionate thinking to throw my voice behind solutions that seem reasonable and right to me.
In the meantime, Ann Curry posted this on Twitter:
Imagine if all of us committed to 20 mitvahs/acts of kindness to honor each child lost in Newtown. I’m in. If you are RT
#20Acts
Having outlets for the kindess I want to offer the world at this time is important, and I like the sweetness of offering up 20 acts in honor of the children lost.
Will you join us in some way?
Each year I give my four godchildren an ornament for their Christmas tree. For the first time, I’m making the ornaments. Take a look:
I crochet much faster than I knit, so these are a less-than-one-evening project. The pattern is on Joann’s website. I followed the instructions for the green and white stocking (I used Ella Rae Classic superwash and Classic Elite Lush), but I disliked weaving in all the ends. For the red one, I used the Lush and carried along red Kid Silk Haze.
These would make great gift card holders, too!
What are your favorite ornaments to make? I think there may be more hand crafted ornaments in my godchildren’s futures!
This rainy Saturday morning I sipped coffee and repurposed holiday cards received by cutting them into gift tags. I enjoyed taking a look at last year’s cards. To make the tags I used a plain one as a model, traced it strategically on the card fronts, and cut. Add a punched hole, and voila! A stack of fancy gift tags at no cost other than an hour’s pleasant work.
Any clever holiday crafts planned for the weekend at your house?
I saw Miss C’s Small Waves or Little Scallops (depending on translation) hat for kids, and I just had to make one for grown ups. After messing around and adapting it, I asked her if I could post the pattern on Ravelry, and she graciously gave me permission. Want to make your own Little Scallops Hat? Here’s the Ravelry link.
I am all about hats this season. What are you all about?
I’m in the throes of holiday knitting, and all I can think about is stranded mittens. Luckily Carole asked for Ten Mittens I Want to Knit, which gives me a good excuse to daydream a bit.
1. Herdsman Mittens. Neal wants mittens for the walking portion of his daily commute. I set him up on Ravelry to pick a pattern, and these were his top pick. I’m going to line them in something deliriously soft.
2. Rock + Purl Mystery KAL. Gloves, not mittens, but I’m casting on this week–for me!
3. L’Oreal’s Fingerless Mitts. I bought this pattern and some super beautiful cashmere at Rhinebeck. These will be for me, too.
3. Bella’s Mittens. I knit a pair a few years back for one of my nieces. I had the hardest time giving them up, and I would love to knit another pair in bright red.
4. Cloisonée. I want to look back on my pictures from last year’s visit to Sainte Chapelle for color inspiration.
5. Willistead by the super duper talented SpillyJane. I love so many of her designs, but this one seems extra special to me.
6. Verspergyle Mittens. These have been on my queue for far too long. I want them on my needles!
7. Vinterblomster Mittens. Aren’t they adorable?
8. Mad Men Mittens. They remind me of mittens from my childhood.
9. Postwar Mittens. I think these could be a delight to knit and wear.
10. Horatio and Oren. I just need to find someone who is nutty about owls to give them to!
What do you want to make to keep your hands warm?
Carole asked us to share a list of what we’re thankful for. I often write posts in my head (I know; I do just what I tell my students NOT to do) and revision happens when I type them out. Today revision happened when I got a text from Neal that said he’d been side swiped on a major highway near us. He said he was okay, but I don’t trust that kind of information to a text. So here’s my newly revised list:
1. I’m thankful Neal is not hurt. A quick phone call confirmed this for me. Every time I think of the words side swiped this afternoon, my heart races.
2. I’m thankful for my health. Between my bike crash and health issues throughout the summer and fall, I’m so glad to feel energetic and well again.
3. I’m thankful for my family. My parents celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this weekend, and it was a joy to sit at their kitchen table and chat with them and my sister during my visit.
4. I’m thankful for electricity. We were fortunate this year, but the wound from last year’s outage is still raw. My heart goes out to all who suffered in Sandy.
5. I’m thankful for abundance. Neal’s car is in the garage (he wasn’t driving it during today’s accident), and I thought about how anxious car repair bills made me when I was younger. There were times when money was so tight that the thought of a car repair would send me into an anxiety attack.
6. I’m thankful to work at a university. I love to learn. I love to be surrounded by others who love to learn. I can’t imagine a better environment to feed that passion.
7. I’m thankful for my friends. My online and in-person pals enrich my life so much. So, yeah, you, reading this? I”m thankful for you!
8. I’m thankful for my needle crafts. Knitting, crochet, weaving, embroidery, sewing: they’ve given me a creative outlet that has also led to an amazing social network (see #7).
9. I’m thankful to be a writer. Even when it is difficult and frustrating, there is nothing that I would rather do than use our beautiful language to share my imagination.
10. I’m thankful for all the love in my life. I feel surrounded by light a lot, and I know that is the love of my family and friends. Thank you for that lightness!
What are you giving thanks for this season?
Last weekend I switched roles from teacher to student when I took Franklin Habit’s garter jacquard class at Webs. I’m smitten with this technique, which allows the knitter to produce fair isle-style color work in garter fabric. Want to see a beautiful example? Check out Franklin’s garter jacquard Tomten.
Information about the technique is limited, at least when searching Ravelry and Google. Franklin, however, has not only developed an excellent class on the method, but we all know what an effective writer about and translator of historic patterns he is. I suspect as more knitters take his class and time allows him, we may see some exciting patterns and articles. I woke up Monday morning with a pattern idea, which I’m going to sketch and work up between holiday knitting projects.
Being a student is one of the great pleasures of my life. I love the feeling of discomfort that new information and skills brings, and I am over the moon when that feeling turns into recognition and understanding. Franklin is a first-rate teacher. His explanations are clear and accurate, and his written materials are excellent. He’s willing to demonstrate technique to a room full of eager knitters as many times as necessary. He’s funny, kind, and patient. Guess you could say: I am a fan. I’m eager to take another class with him on, well, pretty much anything he’s teaching!
What new technique have you learned that has you excited?
I stayed up until 2 to watch the President’s speech, and it was worth it. I woke up inspired by this thought:
What can I do over the next four years to improve my beloved United States? (click to Tweet)
It’s time for me to take more responsibility as a citizen, and I’m going to think hard about my skills and how I can put them to use. It’s not enough to get fired up at election time. I want to keep this energy going. Here are some of my early morning ideas:
I’ll keep brainstorming. I know I’ll find meaningful ways to use my teaching and writing to move our United States* FORWARD!
I know many of you donate time and/or money to help your fellow citizens, and many of you don’t talk about it publicly. I invite you to inspire us all–what do you do or what do you plan to do in the next four years to improve the lives of your fellow citizens?
*I’ve decided that I will stop calling my country America and stick to using the United States. One little way to remind myself that we must stop being so fractious.
