books and vignettes; a mini home tour.

Vocabulary Lesson: "Flocculence"

source.

"Flocculence" means having a fluffy or wooly appearance, and is usually associated with the color white.

source.

I have been collecting "flocculent" images for you all week. My Pinterest board is insane!!!
I really can't stop pinning fluffy clouds, or cozy looking beds.

source.

Symbolically, a cloud could be a prelude to an important revelation; while white represents purity, innocence, or even enlightenment. So, the term "flocculence" is really loaded; it's suggesting both a revelation and enlightenment. Try to approach this weeks "Vocabulary Lesson" with these things in mind.

source.

There is definitely something magical about this collection of things.

1. lion boy from VintageByCrystal

I love this little guy! I thought about trying to make some spun cotton ornaments myself, but for now, I'll leave it to the professionals...

2. parasol shawlette by this lyre lark

I don't think I have the patience to work on such intricate lace, but this photo is so inspiring!

3. hand knitted cream aran armchair slipcover by biscuitscout

I can't even believe this is real! I am blown away by the talent of this etsy seller!

4. bulky knit throw (source unknown)

SOOOOOOOOOOOO squishy!!!!!

5. andy's merino II from purlsoho

There's nothing I love more than a single-ply worsted weight yarn!

6. horned owl, also from VintageByCrystal

I confess . I may have a tiny craftercrush on Crystal. I saw her on Martha a few weeks ago, and I can't stop thinking about her work.

Be sure to use this word "flocculent" in conversation today!

tuesday night knitting club: an evening in pictures.

o sailor!: a work in progress.

i'm moving along on the kenneth mcneil cardigan.

by moving along, i mean i knit for two hours every tuesday on it.

i'm exactly halfway to the armpit.

last night, i was working on it; just a little bit while we watched "king of the hill".

something fell in the kitchen; a regular occurrence when you have a kitten.

i jumped up and ran in to make sure she was alright. she was fine.

however, the needle slipped out of the sweater when i tossed it aside.

i was up till 1:00; picking up stitches with a tapestry needle. i was seeing double by the time i went to bed.

oh well.

these things happen.

pmv.

"PostModern MTV was a nightly program in the late 1980s and very early '90s on MTV, originally hosted by Kevin Seal and later by Dave Kendall featuring such pre-grunge "alternative" artists as The Cure, Depeche Mode, Siouxsie and The Banshees, and Love and Rockets." -wikipedia

i'd like to try to resurrect that spirit with a weekly blog feature on mondays called "pmv"; exploring the bands listed above and their peers.

if you have any suggestions for videos that would like see featured, leave them below in the comments section. i'll dig around in the annals of the internet to appease each of you.

i have chosen sonic youth's "kool thing" to help pioneer this journey into sound.

enjoy.

Guest Feature #1: Poncho Peligroso.

hey!

i'm more than proud to present my very first guest feature; a poem about horses by poncho peligroso.

"rocking horse" by flickr user cadoux

___________________________________________

(this is assembled from google search results and @horse_ebooks twitter accounts )

Show your horse the Internet. What have you done

Horses for sale

Horses for sale in Ohio

Horses for sale in texas

Horses for sale near your home

Horses for sale low cost

Horses for sale cheap

Horses for free

Horses freed to good homes

Horses and high heels

Horses and hooves

Horses and hounds

Horses and hope

Horses and glue

How horses communicate with humans

How horses came to North America

How horses care for their young

How horses can hurt people

How horses can help people

How horses can be killed

Horses around the world

How horses are euthanized

How horses are slaughtered

How many horses are in the wild

How many horses are left in the world

How many horses can you see?

Horses care

Horses can't fly

Horses can't vomit

Horses can't lie down

Horses cantering merrily

Horses are terrible people

Horses are bad people

Horses are stupid

Horses think

Horses love

Horses die

Horses are like potato chips

Horses are better than cars

Horses are better than boys

Horses are like chocolate

Horses are livestock

Horses are beautiful

Horses are pretty

Horses enemies

Horses hate

Horses in dreams

Horses undead nightmare

Punish your horse. Click

for more details Horse discipline and you

Horse Tax. Best Horse Training

Down this majestic animal with

a single shot every time Click here for details

Patented method for shooting a horse

Impress Onlookers. Don't hold back.

Pinch that horse. Really pinch

it

This never fails to impress onlookers

Demolish a horse with your furious kicks

Murder an animal using only the power of your body. Learn

how

It’s impossible for a horse to really die

For instance, you ll see a surprising way to heal a cut or

Rendering your horse immune to poisons

Hi, my truth is not my truth is

This book shows how I do

I was not

Lie

2011 Poet Laureate

bloglovin'. all deh.

Follow my blog with bloglovin

friday faves is back!!!

Reading:

"American Fairy Tales" by L. Frank Baum

To be honest, I've only read the first story. However, I already love this book. I mean I should have expected it to be amazing, he did write "The Wizard of Oz".

The first story, "The box of Robbers", had it all; Italian bandits, a dusty attic and a smart little girl named Martha. You can read it online for free HERE.

Listening:

Bright Eyes - "Shell Games"

Dear Conor Oberst,

I'll never stop loving you. Ever.

Etsy:

"make it yourself" (vintage craft book) from etsy seller clubhousebooks

i've been trying not to buy any *new* craft books, so vintage doesn't count, right? who could resist a cover like that?

mum.

i can't believe it's been over a month since i've blogged last.

time just escapes me every now and then.

since last month, i have knitted a sock (just one) and destroyed the kitchener on the toe; and i have started the back of the sweater some of you had voted on.

i folded shirts for 160 hours, finished 23 pounds of homework, and washed my hair twice.

i have finished two jars of green olives and have drank at least 10 gallons of coffee.

i planted a white and green garden next to my front door.

i finished a mohair tube scarf that took nearly an entire year to knit.

ΔΔΔfull disclosureΔΔΔ

Source: "Alterknits" by Leigh Radford

Materials: three discontinued balls of rowan kidsilk haze and a vintage bedsheet from montgomery ward.

Time: FOREVER. it seemed like 600 years.

Loved: the FO.

Hated: -the join on addi natura's; switched to addi turbo's.

-knitting with mohair in general; how do you get so much "halo" in your mouth?

________________________________________________________________________

and the winner is....

you must have a lot of faith in me.

i'm thinking either rowan yorkshire tweed or silky wool.

depends on what people are destashing @ ravelry.

retail is for suckers.

______________________________________________

new project?

i just frogged a hat. i think i destroyed most of a ball of malabrigo.

i have no idea what to make next.

here are the contenders:

kenneth mcneil cardigan

i really love this. the pattern was inspired by the author's great grandfather. if i write a three page family history essay the pattern is free, so it would be a good reason to to ask about my own heritage and document a small piece of it.

ships and seasides

i could write a list ten pages long about all of miss stephanie dosen's amazing achievements. she is the most magical knitter i have had the pleasure of being (internet) friends with. this cowl is dreamy, and the colors are perfect.

jamesey

i've had a love affair with this sweater since it was first posted on knitty.com. it maybe the color, or the organic cotton yarn; but something tugs at my heartstrings every time i see this photo.

so here is the part where i beg you.

what should i make next?!?!?!?!

help me choose?

leave your vote (and suggestions) in the comments.

________________________________________________

parade of gifts: basil.

i made this for my niece.

it was supposed to be a christmas gift.

unfortunately, on christmas, this bear had no legs.

i guess it is now her birthday gift?

ΔΔΔfull disclosureΔΔΔ

Source: henri the bear kit via yarnigans

Materials: all included in the kit.

Time: about three hours.

Loved: his chicken drumstick legs.

__________________________________________________

i had a day off.

_________________________________________________

parade of gifts: tillie.

poor tillie was a twelfth hour project.

i finished her just in time to be wrapped up with this book, and given away.

we didn't get to spend any quality time together.

ΔΔΔfull disclosureΔΔΔ

Source: marisol the mouse kit via yarnigans

Materials: all included in the kit.

Time: about three hours.

Loved: her little pink tail.

____________________________________

parade of gifts: jang-a-lang.

i made this wreath for a co-worker.

it is currently hanging from his rear-view mirror.

he uses it as a tambourine, and shakes it out of his window to celebrate holidays.

i couldn't be happier.

ΔΔΔfull disclosureΔΔΔ

Source: vintage martha.

Materials: three boxes of brass bells, a spool of brass floral wire (12 gauge, doubled), wire edged gold ribbon

Time: about an hour.

Loved: the sound it makes

___________________________________________________________

parade of gifts: martha.

i waited until everyone received their handmade gifts before blogging them.

it was painful.

all i wanted to do was share.

i began biting my fingernails.

my nail beds look disgusting.

but, the holiday has past and now you will get to see everything.

i made this scarf as an homage to an idol who has a strong affiliation with this particular shade of blue.

ΔΔΔfull disclosureΔΔΔ

Pattern Source: fidget by robin dodge.

Needles: random size 11 bamboo straights; someone gave them to me.

Materials: misti alpaca chunky.

Time: three hours.

loved: i have made this before, and knew i could finished it quickly.

hated: i had to start three times; i wasn't paying attention to the stitch pattern.

_________________________________________________

show and tell: a pinecone.

cursive: day 1.

_______________________________

underwater.

i 'm drowning in a pile of unfinished christmas gifts.

i can't stop making these coffee filter wreaths.

(i have already made four.)

i should be knitting like a (insert something that moves quickly; a hummingbird?) .

instead, i am glue-ing coffee filters to paper plates.

sometimes, i get obsessed with things.

someone, please, take away my glue gun.

______________________________

bucket list.

i want to knit a complicated sweater.

I want to build a blanket fort, and read a book inside with a flashlight.

I want to take one picture each day for an entire year.

I want to rip out every page of a book I hated and use those pages to make confetti. I will use the confetti to cheer up people who seem like they are having a bad day.

I want to ride an elephant.

I want to interview strangers from my neighborhood and ask them questions about their day, and then submit the interviews as editorials to the local newspaper.

I want to tape record old people singing.

I want to go canoeing, all by myself and eat sandwiches on the boat.

I want to leave made-up notes in public places.

I want to wear the aforementioned complicated sweater and hope someone notices me.

_________________________________

some girl dances to new order

concrete.

i had to write a concrete poem for my literature class.

i'm not good at drawing.

feel free to make fun of it.

i had a dream.

mason by coreyolsen, on flickr.

last night, i had dream that a nun taught me how to pray.

we were fully clothed, but leaning over the edge of a bathtub.

she said it would have to do, because there were no pews in my house.

i didn't understand the concept of prayer.

she said that if i could get it right, that i would wake up to find a clean house.

i had canned peaches before i went to bed, so the kitchen was a mess.

i was willing to try anything.

once i had fully understood the process, the nun left through a window.

when i woke up, there was still heavy syrup all over the counter

and the sink was still full of peach pits.

i filled the bathtub, put on a record, and hid underwater.

i pretended that i didn't see the mess.

________________________________________

pictures of success.

yesterday was miserable.

i think i may have 'seasonal affective disorder'. i'm probably just looking for excuses.

i developed a scale to determine how shitty i felt. 0 is severly depressed, 9 is the maximum amount of happy. i hate double digit numbers. i was at a 3 for no reason. i was probably just trying to look cool/interesting. anxiety.

i am so lame.

my friend sam took pete and i to the conveinence store to buy grapes and cheese. her car had a pile of hoodies in it. i wanted to lay face down in them and go to sleep. i wondered if they would have thought i was weird. facework. i didn't lay down in the hoodies.

on the way back to school, sam put rilo kiley on. i forgot they existed. i was at a 5 now. by the time we parked the car, i didn't feel shitty at all.

i went to class. my comp102 professor is a conservative republican with a lot of opinions. there is an unnattractive couple that sits across from me and holds hands under the desks, a pregnant girl in scrubs, and a 'little person' in the class. it's overwhelming.

the only thing that got me through the remainder of my day was humming 'pictures of success'. well, that and the grapes.

book #10: wonderful tonight.

i bought this book for $1 because the cover looked nice.

i read it almost entirely on the toilet.

i don't even really like the beatles.

whatever.

______________________

i don't know if my dad is a smiths fan.

i don't know my dad.

i hope he isn't.

book #9: everything here is the best thing ever.

fo: superfancy potholder loop rug.

ravelry link

8/31/10: the cable is ‘sort of’ broken; the lack of vapid reality television has forced me to knit a rug out of potholder loops.

9/1/10: one day project!!!!! i am elated.
my couch is covered in furry little bits of fluff.

9/2/10: i’m going to put tape on the cats feet; they’ll work like tiny lint brushes.
i can’t afford a roomba.

-------------------------

kate nash + billy bragg - foundation/a new england.

assignment #27: take a picture of the sun.

learning to love you more

mays landing, nj.

"Take a picture of the sun. Just a picture of the sun, nothing extra or fancy. Please make sure the sun is visible in the photo, we won't accept reflections of the sun or photos where the sun is not visible. Please be careful not to look directly at the sun through your camera's viewfinder; looking directly at the sun could damage your eyes. If you need to, just point the camera towards the sun and shoot the photo."

___________________________

(thinking of moving into a lighthouse.)

RE: Josh Pyke - "the lighthouse song"

boiled peanuts.

last week, we accidentally bought raw peanuts.

they don't taste very good.

i roasted them in the oven.

this week, i bought them on purpose.

the bag has instructions to make 'georgia-style boiled peanuts'.

i vaguely remember them from my childhood.

i jumped right into the two-day process of brining and boiling.

while they were soaking, i did a little research, as i have become obsessed with 'american heritage'.

"No one knows just why southerners started boiling peanuts or who was the first to boil them. However, it is believed that boiled peanuts have been a southern institution since at least the Civil War (1861-1865), when Union General William T. Sherman (1820-1891) led his troops on their march through Georgia. As a result of General Sherman's campaign in Georgia, the Confederacy was split in two and deprived of much needed supplies.

Contemporary writings are full of complaints of lack of bread and meat. The great concern of the Confederate government was to feed the army. When troops of the Confederacy were without food, peanuts were an important nutritional source. Since cooking facilities were scarce, soldiers roasted the peanuts over campfires or boiled them. It seems to be lost in history as to who came up with the idea of adding salt to the peanuts when boiling them. What they were doing by boiling in salt, is an ancient preservation technique. It was discovered that these boiled peanuts would keep and not spoil in their kits for up to seven day. The salt works as a preservative, and the boiling kills impurities and bacteria. This produced a high protein ration that could be carried by the soldier. As salt was also scarce during the Civil War, history doesn't tell us how the confederate soldiers had enough salt to use, unless salt meat, a large part of the army ration, was used somehow." -what's cooking america

I've been telling the story to anyone who will listen.

god, i'm so lame.

ATTN: DO NOT TOUCH YOUR EYES WHILE EATING THEM!!!!! THEY WILL BURN!!! IT IS REALLY HARD TO GET YOUR HEAD UNDER THE FAUCET.

this guy will show you how it's done (best accent EVER):

JallaPEnUS. JApANEENAS. BoY. i love this man.

assignment #37: write down a recent argument.

i was given a script typewriter today, and couldn't wait to use it.

if you find it hard to read, larger sizes are available on flickr.

learning to love you more.

(the next time you have an argument, write down what you and the other person said to each other. Write it in script form,... Try to be really accurate, capturing the real words that were used... the argument need not be long or dramatic, it can be brief and seemingly petty. most important thing is that it be an accurate record of the exchange.)

book #7: the bell jar.

when esther releases her clothes into the wind, it seems to symbolize an emancipation from inhibition. this reticence defines her 'insanity'.is it really insane to free yourself from the restraints of 'polite society'?

book #8: cognitive-behavioral therapy.

i always visit the hamsters at the pet store across the street from my house.

the hamsters never use shampoo.

i may smuggle in a travel size bottle of pert plus the next time i stop by.

they would like that.