The Loop Increases

My favourite place, In The Loop Cafe, has had some new shelves built.

Upon those shelves has been stacked oodles of yarn. What could be better?

A Paper Diversion

Well, the knitting is all the same. The ugly socks are almost done and the purple tunic rollls along in stocking stitch.

In the meantime, I made this little dress from paper I bought in the gift shop at the Textile Museum. The crispness of the texture just screamed sharp pleats to me. I'm thinking Jackie O., mid-height pumps, supper party. Your skirt swings when you walk and the belt buckle glitters in the low light. You are efficient, yet sexy, and your legs look great. Get it?

Making these little outfits for paper dolls has been such a great source of play for me. As adults, we so often forget the joy of playing for its own sake. Also, since I can't sew, this is the closest I'll ever get to creating this kind of dress.

Speaking of the Textile Museum, if you've not yet seen the installation The Blues, get thee down there. It's quite remarkable in scope. The show closes April 6.

The Post - Astrologically Speaking

Does anyone else read Freewill Astrology by Rob Brezsny, the syndicated horoscope? While I don't read it as a great predictor of my future, I find his phrasing, his mythological and literary references, and his often just plain cryptic teasing, to be a great jumping off point for further reflection. The seeds of other discussions.

Example: In late December the column suggested that in 2008 Gemini should do less numbing of pain and instead "launch a fierce, relentless campaign to heal the pain so that you no longer have to numb it". Those who know me , know that I did a lot of numbing of a lot of pain in 2007. And 2006...and 2005...

I was already working on this problem when the column came out. It seemed omen-like, or at least a reinforcement that I was on the right track.

Now this week, there is encouragement to story tell. To share "adventures in redemption", the riddles of the quest. Doing so, the column continues, will give "the exact boost you need to open fully to the next great story in your life".

This, at a time when I have been pondering The Post. I've been working through my shit in my journal forever, sorting it out, categorizing, making sense. Yet, the urge to put it here so that it is public (even if only three people read it) has been strong. I wonder why? Does public recording take experiences and feelings from the realm of the theoretical, and make them more real, more valid?
I just recently listened to the episode of Cast On in which Laurie Perry aka Crazy Aunt Purl, was a guest. She spoke extensively about her blogging process. I was surprised to hear that she rarely writes of the deeply personal events as they are happening. She works through them first, then records her story in the blog several months later. The perceived immediacy of her writing, and hence, the impact of the story, are apparently enhanced by the calmness of perspective. This seems a wise approach.

So when is this perspective achieved? And how to balance the measuring of readiness against the instinct to share? Yes, I have a small, common story. In it is some knitting and other stuff. I whisper my story across the country through email to my best friend and mumble it over wine with some Toronto friends. Yet when, if ever, is it time to type it into public record to become The Post?

Stretching

It was a conundrum. Elann.com's Tuesday special was a bag sale. Their Esprit cotton/elastic (basically a Cascade Fixation knock off . Sshh.) at 65% off! The sale started at noon. By the time I got home from work at seven, the colours I wanted were gone. What to do? This is a great deal, people. So I grabbed three bags in colours that looked nice on the moniter.

They arrived today. As expected, not one of them looks the same as the web page. The Capri Blue has nothing to do with Capri. Too powdery. The Grey Slate is less silvery than expected and the Canyon Rose is much deeper. Still, I love them all. Except, maybe the blue.

Two words: Knee socks. I have 30 skeins of stretchy goodness to play with. Good thing The Daughter likes blue.

Coo Coo Ka Choo

Which Alice in Wonderland character are YOU? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Walrus You scored the Walrus! You like to look after yourself and indulgence is your favourite vice. You use charm and manipulation to get what you want and don't mind taking someone else's share... if they aren't watching of course. Hmmm...don't know about the definition but I LOVE the walrus - the animal, not the character. Without the noble blubbery beast, I wouldn't know the definition of 'thigmotactic' or 'hauling out'. nor the location of Round Island. I have a picture of walrus on my bathroom wall and a walrus figurine on top of the television. I kid you not.

Ugly Sock

ONline Supersocke 100 - Tropic Color #926

Whoa. You sure is ugly. How can yarn so cute on the ball make such an ugly sock? How?