Smarty Mags

NYC

smartymags — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:47:35 +0000

It was suggested that I might blog. A good idea, but I find blogging so annoyingly frustrated that now I am just annoyed. Anyway.

Spring in New York. I blinked and it was over. I don’t even have any flowers put in.

There’s all kinds of crazy architecture everywhere. I tell anyone who visits: “Look Up!” Or you’ll miss it. This is some whacked out door arch head thing on the upper west side.

And Coney Island on Easter Sunday. We rode the cyclone!

Schtoopid.

smartymags — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:13:09 +0000

Today my friend and I (my friend and me?) drove three hours and across two states to Trader Joe’s. Where I bought a boatload of stuff. Because I was stocking up. And when I checked out, my credit card was declined. Now, obviously, my card was not maxed out because while I buy too much yarn, I don’t buy *that* much yarn.

So the helpful TJ’s girl says, you can use our phone and call the cc company–maybe it’s because it’s such a huge amount–so I call them, and the automatic thing tells me there’s a suspicious charge at Trader Joe’s. So I speak to a person. Thanks to their GAYTARDED fraud protection bullshit, because I was in a different state–oooh! three hours away from my home!!!–and it was several hundred dollars, they flagged it as fraud and declined my card!

So then I had to answer eleventy-billion security questions, and explain where I was, and when I was returning home (um, this afternoon, assholes?), and then they authorized the sale.

Beyond ridiculous. Tied up the cashier’s lane, tied up the phone–was really somewhat embarrassing to have the card declined. And cc company says, well, next time you go out of state, you should let us know if you’re going to use the card. What the fuck? It’s a fucking credit card!!! The purpose of which is to BUY shit. Asshats.

The Year in Review, continued.

smartymags — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:02:45 +0000

May 2009: Road Trip to Woodstock, CT.

In which I discovered that my Grandmother, the only grandparent I knew, had a little of the crafty going. Apparently I inherited my crazy-ass color sense from her. Or lack of.

I know! It hurts the eyes.

Promptly upon returning from said incident free road trip, in which there was lots of driving, which is why it was a road trip, my poor little car was creamed by a City of Buffalo garbage truck. While it was parked. Motherfuckers. God that was annoying.

And then there were …

SCHMITTENS!

And that just about killed June.

There seems to have been some intent to weave and knit:

Chubs relaxing on the Feather n’ Fan Comfort Shawl, of handspun wool/mohair, navajo plied. It’s in a bag somewhere. Languishing. Unfinished. It’s going to be a large and lovely shawl, but I hates me the feather and fan. And on the loom is some extremely crappy yet strangely attractive acrylic crap. Still awaiting a fringe.

We Interupt the Annual Review for …

smartymags — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:53:28 +0000

Fleece Washage!

A block of approximately 4.5 pounds of amazingly clean 1/2 Finn 1/2 who knows what fleece from the Finger Lakes. We are not going to discuss what appears to be a break, well, let’s call it a weak spot in this gorgeousness.

It mostly needs to be washed to rid itself of those pesky cats:

If you inadvertently spin a cat into your yarn, it really makes quite the slub. Some people like the “novelty” aspect of cats in the yarn, but I find they can really gum up the spinning wheel.

It’s got a really nice staple, good crimp, and is so deliciously soft. It compares to a polwarth sample we received in class.

Will try to both comb and card, and see what shakes out. Intended project is the Poinsettia Cowl.

Huh. The Year in Review.

smartymags — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:03:53 +0000

You know, it seems like I’m always working on something–knitting or cross stitch or something. But I cannot recall more than one or two items from the past year. Let’s review.

January/February 2009:
I guess I cast on for a modified Kimono Shawl from Folk Shawls. Ah. Yes. Here it is. It remains about half-way finished. I’d like to get back to it.

And then there was ohs homework, dying and knitting a cowl, “in the woolen fashion.” Yeah. That took a chunk of time.

It looks like there was a basket making workshop, where we made a fabulous backpack basket. This I actually finished. Because it was in a class. So I finished it.

Looks like there’s a little sock on the needles hiding in the corner there.

Oh, and we went to see the Daily Show in New York for my birthday.

March/April 2009:

For my birthday I bought Kauni yarn and cast on for the Kauni Cardigan. As is my usual MO, I got to the point of splitting for the sleeves and became frozen with indecision–how long? How long should a cardigan be? It remains a sad, but colorful, sleeveless tube.

Really should get back to that one as well.

There was a Silk Fusion class at the Weavers’ Guild of Buffalo–this was supposed to be a journal cover. Or something. It could be chopped up into bookmarks. Not even sure where it is at this point …

There were more workshops: Kathryn Alexander and Robyn Spady. And some weaving:

There was a trip out West in March:

There was a trip to New York in April:

Uppper West Side. Where we found Ethiopian on Easter Sunday.

Hey, Lady. A Little Tip: Mind. Your. Own. Damn. Business.

smartymags — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:44:58 +0000

Almost typical exchange I have to endure from time to time:

Well Meaning Person: Oh, Are you on chemo?

Me, Always Shocked by the Amount of Tact Lacking in Ms. Joe Public: Um, No.

This is the part where I should just stop. Just stop and wait for whatever the fuck this person can say now, after opening up this almost literally* deadly can of worms. But I always continue, with either an explanation of The Truth, or as for today, just, no, I just keep my hair real short. No muss; No fuss!

Now, let’s discuss. I know you are a Well Meaning Person, but is this really any of your business? Let’s say I am on chemo. Do you think I really might want to discuss my private medical situation with a complete stranger? Maybe I’m having a bad day, and facing death right in the face, because you know, I might be on chemo, do you think I want to discuss it? Maybe I should just burst into tears right on you. And tell you my prognosis is two weeks, if I’m lucky.

Why, why, why, oh Well Meaning Person, would you address what must be such a Sensitive Topic with a Complete Stranger, in a Public Place?

The best part of these impromptu little conversations, is that the Well Meaning Person always feels if not bad, at least awkward, and as for me? Thank you so very much for reminding me of the personal demons I have wrestled since I was a child of eight, or even further back, if you want to go all technical and bring up the teddy bear whose fur I pulled out as a child of two. And thanks for reminding me that I have no hair, and that I wear a bandanna and stand out if not as a freak, than at least as a person who has no hair. Because you know what? I have to face myself each and every day in the mirror.

And you know what else? No freak there. Because I am not my hair. Say it with me now. I. Am. Not. My Hair. I am happy. I am healthy. I am smart and funny and talented and clever. I have a butt-load of friends who respect me, and adore me, and want to be with me, and who miss me when I’m gone, and who are not ashamed of me, and oh, something else? I’m not ashamed of me either.

I grew up believing I was ugly and unlovable. Freak-like, if you will. And I met the best man ever, a true Renaissance Man, who is smart and funny and talented and clever as well, and he loves me for me, because I am not my hair.

***

* Almost Literally:

Because they brought up Cancer, and because I just might kill them.

***

Well, that was a rant.

But my favorite typical exchange is this:

Well Meaning Person: Are you on chemo/in recovery?

Me, Always Shocked by the Amount of Tact Lacking in Ms. Joe Public:

Why yes. Yes I am. From Heroin.

***

*SNAP*

There is a Marlowe-Sized Hole in the World.

smartymags — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:11:07 +0000

My Dear Sweet Toadie Kitty Pup.

How Many Bloggers are Saying, “Oh, I Shall Blog More in this New and Shiny Decade?”

smartymags — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:20:07 +0000

Well, with only two short weeks until the OHS Deadline for the 11 mini skeins, it’s time to get to work. Yesterday was spent washing not all that much fleece, but it certainly did take a chunk of time. This time I went with cranking up the water heater and soaking in the kitchen sink, with almost boiling water thrown in for giggles. Three soaks with Trader Joe’s Lavendar scented dish soap, and two rinses. It seems to have worked pretty well.

Today was a foray into combing with super fancy Alvin Ramer Dutch Combs, which consist of a small, two-pitch hackle and a one-pitch giant comb. This included dizzing off the fiber, for perfect, perfect combed fiber.

Two passes, ready to diz:

The finished nests, dizzed and ready for spinning:

Notice the washed lock for comparison.

And finally, a super treat for me, a package of Crown Mountain Farms Superwash Merino. Love, love, love, that the stamp reads: Certified Work of Art. The colorway, “We are the Champions” feeding into my current Freddie Mercury obsession.

(Need I mention that is has been so very long since I blogged that this whole blogging thing seems completely unfamiliar?)

Tomorrow is the First Day of the Rest of My Life.

smartymags — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:09:38 +0000

Things have been very busy here at Chez Too-Many-Cats, wouldn’t you like one or two? Fiber festivals, picking up lots of work hours, weaving till all hours …

But tomorrow I will start my new Volunteer Opportunity at Operation Pets, the low-cost spay/neuter clinic for Western New York. (PETS actually stands for something: Providing Education and Targeted Sterilization, which I think is kind of clever.) I’ve long spoken of volunteering, and making myself useful, and now I put my money, or at least my time, where my mouth is.

And later in the week I will start a real schedule at the most darling gift shop ever: Kissel Country Tin, “Gifts for the Nest.” Not high-paying, but the people are lovely.

I’m a Weaving Machine.

smartymags — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:53:38 +0000

Well, last week, perhaps the week before, I did wind a warp on my warping board. Ten or so yards, maybe twelve, of Zephyr wool/silk. For some twill block scarves.

Sadly, I’ve not gotten to get the warp onto the Monster Loom, as it is still occupied with my “Spring Time Scarves,” Atwater-Bronson lace, of bamboo, at no less than thirty ends per inch. Although I think it takes me about twenty minutes to do a repeat, and there’s about sixteen repeats, so really, those bad boys should be done. Maybe tomorrow.

The first is this lavender (“crocus”) and the second, which is in the works, is green (“snow pea”).

And I just tried to upload from flickr, to no avail.