Category Archives: Uncategorized

Coffeeswap Four sign-ups just opened up tonight!

As of now, there are still about 30 spots left. I’m surprised at how slow going it’s been so far. I’m guessing it’s a combination of the economy and people still being on a  post-inaugural high*, perhaps? I know I am! But I think last time I had 50 people in about three hours. Hmmm…
Anyway, this will probably be the last swap I run, so join up and have one last go if you’d like. It’s funny how blogging trends go. It seems that a couple years ago there were so many swaps people could barely keep up, now I see fewer and fewer.  I know a lot of them happen on Ravelry now. I considered running this one over there but decided to keep it on Blogger so there is a little more accountability.

Which makes me think about the future of knit blogging in general. I love Ravelry, I really, really do. But I hope that the blogging community keeps up as well. I read this article ages ago and had meant to write about it but never got around to it. Where do you think this online knitting community is headed? Swaps? KAL’s? Contests? Blogging in general? Something new?

I’ll admit I’m as guilty as the next of letting the detailed project notes slide for more of a quick “look what I made” post. But for me, blogging has also expanded beyond knitting to just the general domestic pleasures and my family. And I think that’s what keeps drawing me to blogs. Those I frequent tend to be   very professionally detailed, such as Brooklyn Tweed or Sock Pron. Or, they are blogs that tend to mirror my own life…a bit of sewing, a bit of knitting,  maybe a few cookies and  lots of kidlets, such as Funny Magic or Craftlilly. (Moms who make stuff:-) Either way, there is personality and craftsmanship in them that keeps drawing me back.

And now I’ve realized this post has gone WAY off track. I meant to just say “hey, come swap” and now I’ve gotten too deep for 10:30 at night. So I’m done writing, I’m going to bed and I look forward to reading your comments on my jumbled, past-my-bedtime thoughts.

* Yesterday was fabulous, wasn’t it !?! Little Man was pretty impressed, although he couldn’t quite understand that Bush is done and gone back to Texas. He kept asking, “So do we have two presidents now? But what is Bush going to do now?  So only Obama is our president? Can we go to the White House?” And finally…”Can I watch Arthur now?” A five year old can only be entranced for so long….

Must… knit… faster!

I ripped this directly from the American Swedish Institute website:

Radiant Knits: The Bohus Tradition
January 23–March 29, 2009

The exhibit Radiant Knits: The Bohus Tradition will be on display at the American Swedish Institute from Friday, Jan. 23– Sunday, March 29, 2009. The exhibit focuses on the history of the Swedish Bohus knitting style and the Bohus Stickning industry (1939–1969), and will feature original garments knitted in the Bohus style. This will be the first time that Bohus couture garments have been on exclusive exhibit in the U.S. since the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. The Bohus Stickning organization came into existence in the province of Bohuslän, Sweden, during the Depression era of the 1930s. During this time of financial hardship, a group of women—most married to unemployed quarry workers—sought out Emma Jacobsson, the wife of the governor of Bohuslän, hoping to find a means of supporting their struggling families.

Bohus Sticking was thus born out of need and produced beautiful hand-knitted garments while helping the women support their families financially. From Sweden, the fine knitwear designs spread internationally, including to the U.S., before the operation ended in 1969. Bohus Stickning had grown from the home-based industry of its origin to become a successful business of international reputation.

During the opening weekend, a variety of opportunities to learn about Bohus knitting and its history will be offered at the ASI, including workshops, lectures, guided tours, and a film premiere. A number of special guests from Sweden and the U.S. will be present to share their expertise. For more information about the exhibit and related events click on Bohus_flyer.pdf or visit the Events page.  The registration form can be found at Bohus_registration.pdf

The Minnesota Knitters’ Guild is a proud sponsor of this exhibit.

I am jumping up and down about this one. I’ve been dying to actually knit one of these sweaters. I’m planning on attending and getting inspired to take the plunge!!

I also wanted to share this lovely letter from  Alice Walker to our amazing President-Elect Obama. I have been so full of excitement and emotion this week…tears, hope, relief. As much as I love politics I’m not a political blogger, but this is too much of a big deal to me not to say how thrilled I am and share something. I hope you enjoy her letter regardless of how you voted.

Keep your fingers crossed for me. As I write this post, Knittykid is half asleep in a nest of blankets on the carpet. For the last 5.5 years I have prayed for one of those kids who just falls asleep when tired and it’s happened about twice; once was when Little Man ate a whole bottle of homeopathic teething medicine. They just don’t tucker out easily around here.

The down side of this is that Knittykid stripped himself down to nothing before making his nest, and he still needs a diaper when he sleeps. We also need to be dressed and walking to the bus stop in one hour, which makes this whole possible nap futile and a bit reckless on my part. But it’s so quiet right now, I can’t resist….

The ouch??? I came down with a massive case of mastitis Sunday night. Monday I was so ill I barely had the energy to walk to the bathroom. Thanks to my smart midwives I’m on the mend and about 80% better. But now it’s a gloomy Minnesota day, the kind when I’m not sure what to do with myself, which is then compounded by the fact that I have a baby who only likes to nap in the sling and orders to “take it easy.” So I’ll blog, and maybe knit, and I’ll ignore the mess I keep looking at. And enjoy this quiet while it lasts.

Spinner turned a whopping six weeks yesterday. He also started blessing us with his first real baby smiles. Not the sweet little newborn smiles, but the smiles that say, “Hey, I know you! And I like you! And you’re kind of funny! And you feed me too!” I love those smiles, and I love them even more when he gives them to his big brothers. All three of them were snuggling in bed with us yesterday, smiling and laughing and boy did that make up for the three part screamfest we had the night before.

No new baby pics today, I’m too lazy to download right now. But I do have a WIP to show off. Can’t tell you much as it’s a gift. But if you read Spin Off you may be able to guess!!

Knittykid’s awake…probably for the best since the school district does not consider “new baby plus toddler” reason enough to give you a bus stop in front of your house.