tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30334726427556534622024-03-13T00:34:45.056-04:00something punnya blog about my knitting, and whatever else I happen to do or write aboutNicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-89098551741918390602011-08-21T18:14:00.000-04:002011-08-21T18:14:14.988-04:00This Week in Yarning.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzisPILL1l514pzx15frV-74epAwOFIQY805clCy_EEPtsRf5YwBxG9E5y5k_kmz6bmPO3-9wjiFWXkJMyfM1i7VBJvvj-Mr6ZHOroBfLxBqcE7U2AAb5ISJi6cvQkmTv6ViQ0J8O2mAM/s1600/IMG_0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzisPILL1l514pzx15frV-74epAwOFIQY805clCy_EEPtsRf5YwBxG9E5y5k_kmz6bmPO3-9wjiFWXkJMyfM1i7VBJvvj-Mr6ZHOroBfLxBqcE7U2AAb5ISJi6cvQkmTv6ViQ0J8O2mAM/s640/IMG_0341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Remember that horrible raglan sweater I was working on? Well, here it is! That's what it looked like a week ago, right after blocking, but with none of the ends sewn in, obvs. It's <a href="http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/moshup/moshup.html">Berroco's Moshup</a>, and as you can start to see, it has some problems that took a week or so of contemplation. <br />
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<ul><li>The two stitch garter edging constantly rolls under.</li>
<li>There's absolutely no sense of how to wear this thing closed. The sample picture uses what looks like a giant safety pin. </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4r3otGCKUa8IPqC7MOgl0H_rbh9jOtyIA4DolD05pyA_WELWMOOKmMeWXAN61Feyj3OAlsHtvOa_i5a2eLgzUdNdBbpERpjG1T8rH0DXmKPTrpx4baF1tE66jxbxgdkxgchTw1tDCpiE/s1600/moshup.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4r3otGCKUa8IPqC7MOgl0H_rbh9jOtyIA4DolD05pyA_WELWMOOKmMeWXAN61Feyj3OAlsHtvOa_i5a2eLgzUdNdBbpERpjG1T8rH0DXmKPTrpx4baF1tE66jxbxgdkxgchTw1tDCpiE/s640/moshup.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
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<ul><li> The sleeves are not so pretty. They're big and chunky already, folding them up is going to make them thicker, and make them stop at the elbow instead of 3/4 length, which is Not An Attractive Length.</li>
<li>It looks scifi-ish, like something Jean Luc Picard would wear on leave, or Yoda's sweater in Star Wars.</li>
</ul><div>After sewing in the ends and doing some more thinking, I have a few ideas about what to do with this thing. One is to just wear it open, although it does look dangerously Art Teacher for my taste that way. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37hXv2u2Ce8ZQMUnSJJ3fhZefZ0cgNhqvhZJDfX2_XhunRWH4FUPX6KB6Pku0LxVVW2Jl_saSpwB2-LD5SbhccxUrhYM0K08a2L4KH9RF9aeFrpR_SsSe21Td-3ESEWl_XteSAOV0bLA/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37hXv2u2Ce8ZQMUnSJJ3fhZefZ0cgNhqvhZJDfX2_XhunRWH4FUPX6KB6Pku0LxVVW2Jl_saSpwB2-LD5SbhccxUrhYM0K08a2L4KH9RF9aeFrpR_SsSe21Td-3ESEWl_XteSAOV0bLA/s640/IMG_0350.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Another thought was to change it from a wrap sweater to one of those single-button-hang open numbers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWT2TP32Ud5foHek8Nc6ePsLOcl1rmpjjxYOyM49Jlh0N8eVsKaZHSDruePR0X0XiFkwTgivbKj35d31ISdWT653_ZuGlj5N28twJxiNqFQLnHCzGwezT7mqKyZziDqdQpg_fHtqkuNy4/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWT2TP32Ud5foHek8Nc6ePsLOcl1rmpjjxYOyM49Jlh0N8eVsKaZHSDruePR0X0XiFkwTgivbKj35d31ISdWT653_ZuGlj5N28twJxiNqFQLnHCzGwezT7mqKyZziDqdQpg_fHtqkuNy4/s640/IMG_0365.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Of course, since I didn't think about this until the sweater was done, there's no buttonhole, so it would have to be a pin or a toggle, neither of which I'm crazy about. <br />
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I've also got some ideas about how to fix the sleeves and edges, but more on that another time. Now I've got to get button shopping. Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-25509197869124804272011-08-11T12:03:00.000-04:002011-08-11T12:03:40.375-04:00Four More Rows of AgonyOne of the most fun, rewarding things to knit is the beginning of a top down raglan sweater. You fly through the rows, amassing inches of back and the beginnings of sleeves, and get a little high off the excitement. You think, I'll wear this to my friend Will's birthday party next week, and when people mention it, I'll casually say, <i>Oh yes, I was bored and whipped up this little number over the weekend</i>. Then when you get about 25 rows in, the rows suddenly get longer and the frenetic energy you had wears out. At the end of every two row repeat you count the rows, hoping to magically be ready to divide and work in smaller rows again. <i>How many inches could there possibly be between my neck and armpits anyway? I'm making a sweater for a giraffe. </i><br />
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But you keep working away at it, two rows at a time, taking breaks to distract yourself from what a torment this hobby has become. Like take some photos and post them on your blog. Oh, by the way, take a look at these pictures I took today. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimS_wqYtQhA6Q8RMg0haqx94diizAeZAgL8cA9eK_7d77ox_JKsGsKtNWjTww2BIOpjhetVJPMXLqepMwTo9Zx_XHIOP8XBtSmp1-oPIZBq5zzEUSM2yvLKT-1Rz3ezAxs8EZFppAzLyU/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimS_wqYtQhA6Q8RMg0haqx94diizAeZAgL8cA9eK_7d77ox_JKsGsKtNWjTww2BIOpjhetVJPMXLqepMwTo9Zx_XHIOP8XBtSmp1-oPIZBq5zzEUSM2yvLKT-1Rz3ezAxs8EZFppAzLyU/s640/IMG_0304.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7Letq8u__UO35mFH3DLyelwzj1lIDNcIbCAqJf3wFSrrsnJxml5QU4k4NZUe_l4FOu8I5oH398QVGB2UyYlKTCkc7UICak5bgj8HjqZ-dXcrJRy8IuAzPEWGOxNQZl1jlbW09RoKDPc/s1600/IMG_0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7Letq8u__UO35mFH3DLyelwzj1lIDNcIbCAqJf3wFSrrsnJxml5QU4k4NZUe_l4FOu8I5oH398QVGB2UyYlKTCkc7UICak5bgj8HjqZ-dXcrJRy8IuAzPEWGOxNQZl1jlbW09RoKDPc/s640/IMG_0305.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5ZWYicHH42VcC3BnzXhRbO9eWM9XC5Kh-gL8EAmzE1vvX7WuN_oGrHXbkZa2KjOuvTg08pF90kwOzoCRm9xk-T7Glo3oRA36FTkTz6-Xog3qsEyzU9BIx5qgkR9PlvaGQKB9EBv3W70/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5ZWYicHH42VcC3BnzXhRbO9eWM9XC5Kh-gL8EAmzE1vvX7WuN_oGrHXbkZa2KjOuvTg08pF90kwOzoCRm9xk-T7Glo3oRA36FTkTz6-Xog3qsEyzU9BIx5qgkR9PlvaGQKB9EBv3W70/s640/IMG_0306.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-5760831958591934562011-08-08T22:09:00.000-04:002011-08-08T22:09:44.383-04:00This Week in Yarning.Or, How to Pick a New Yarn Project.*<br />
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<ul><li>Wander around wishing you had a project to work on.</li>
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</div><ul><li>Briefly consider finishing one of the umpteen ongoing projects, abandon idea and eat a fudgecicle. </li>
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</div><ul><li>Check out Ravelry patterns, queue, favorites. Remain uninspired.</li>
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</div><ul><li>Dig through yarn stash, feel guilty for having such a mess.</li>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw39oOmWQooKzG4UwUIzxemA0nSO5upRJlHOfD2fKTXTrAvyF1zewjZiKhOFLbQxVzu8Wl3djQ_JgGXEYLuTVVD_3nsT4cfFrJns3lrhKYjixQAV7yF-4phyphenhyphenI39PNAaPR-Y7xqtT2Y0E/s1600/etsy+yellow+crochet+top.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw39oOmWQooKzG4UwUIzxemA0nSO5upRJlHOfD2fKTXTrAvyF1zewjZiKhOFLbQxVzu8Wl3djQ_JgGXEYLuTVVD_3nsT4cfFrJns3lrhKYjixQAV7yF-4phyphenhyphenI39PNAaPR-Y7xqtT2Y0E/s200/etsy+yellow+crochet+top.PNG" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f5f5f1; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px;"><a class="username" href="http://www.etsy.com/people/BoldAsLoveVintage?ref=ls_profile" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Image by</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0192b5;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0192b5;">BoldAsLoveVintag</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0192b5; text-decoration: underline;">e</span></a></span></td></tr>
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<div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">See <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77130229/yellow-knitted-hippie-boho-italian?ref=sr_gallery_22&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=knit+tank+top+yellow&ga_order=date_desc&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_facet=vintage">this</a> yellow top on Etsy, find cheap yellow yarn and figure out the granny square pattern.</li>
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</div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">Granny Square until bored, and sick of cheap acrylic. Put project aside.</li>
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</div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">Seriously, though. I love that top and I want to come back to making something similar for myself. </li>
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<ul><li>Pull some yarn out of the Shameful Stash and swatch for a sweater you've been meaning to make for an embarrassing number of years.</li>
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</div><ul><li>Carry the swatch around in your purse for five days.</li>
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</div><ul><li>Go back into the stash one more time. Look for a long time at yarn you meant to use immediately, then lost the plot on what to do.</li>
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</div><ul><li>Search Ravelry to with a buddy until she finds a sweater to make for herself.</li>
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</div><ul><li>Eat another fudgecicle.</li>
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</div><ul><li>Wander around Ravelry some more until you stumble over something that uses the right amount of yardage/weight of that Regret Yarn, then immediately cast on without swatching before eating another fucking dessert or another episode of a Certain Victorian Doctor distracts you. </li>
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</div><ul><li>Pictures to follow later in the week.</li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*Do not actually follow these steps. </span><br />
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-73512504789415612402011-08-06T13:37:00.000-04:002011-08-06T13:37:37.971-04:00What I'm Watching<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bramwell">Bramwell</a>. Have you ever seen it? It's on Netflix, and some kind soul has made it available <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBPBI4JnHZw">here</a> as well. Go watch it now. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wbKDUcuL19tNxq8ZTHBc_WJ8_1BWnSNHMJiLkRsHqeHGvz7GPjEsn1vCr6GiQwTBHhNna3JmwZyWQsoZ0B3x9x-EEuwlUCpCiRMYC3XLJ3_QhFhyaeOIUc5O4WUQD7phb8CMDcUFzGQ/s1600/bramwell+bram+makin+plans.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wbKDUcuL19tNxq8ZTHBc_WJ8_1BWnSNHMJiLkRsHqeHGvz7GPjEsn1vCr6GiQwTBHhNna3JmwZyWQsoZ0B3x9x-EEuwlUCpCiRMYC3XLJ3_QhFhyaeOIUc5O4WUQD7phb8CMDcUFzGQ/s320/bramwell+bram+makin+plans.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>It's too sedate to be called a truly Sexy History, but I'm assuming it's the Sexy History of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Blackwell">Elizabeth Blackwell</a>, or some generic student of hers who studied at her medical school for women. <br />
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I love the straw hats and puffy sleeves. But more than that, I love that she's so willing to tell the Big Doctor at the hospital that he's experimenting on people instead of treating them, that he's cutting parts out of them unnecessarily, and is willing to risk her job to try to save people's lives. Not having lived in 18Whenever, I can't say that she's totally unlike a woman of her period could be, I wonder if some of that "Ooo, old fashioned ladies would never be unladylike like modern women, boo books and movies for portraying them more like normal humans would react rather than the delicate flowers we <b>know</b> they all were." Have they read the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Sentiments">Declaration of Sentiments</a>? It's a pretty kickass document. Or anything Abigail Adams wrote? How about Anne Bradstreet, or Anne Hutchinson? But that said, she's a pretty progressive woman for someone born and raised in 18whenever. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktQm1fs9pcprxoSQ2Gu37msa4DHGpKcyPbXVls_TpfywXf0rV9sITtVk9kwW5Kx6l90dfHAjer1-uVB4dWamTCk3SYpVNjJqXBEgfT1mEOFVsRa926m7NkQx_KGYfboAjoxL5bbispDY/s1600/bramwell+modesty.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktQm1fs9pcprxoSQ2Gu37msa4DHGpKcyPbXVls_TpfywXf0rV9sITtVk9kwW5Kx6l90dfHAjer1-uVB4dWamTCk3SYpVNjJqXBEgfT1mEOFVsRa926m7NkQx_KGYfboAjoxL5bbispDY/s640/bramwell+modesty.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fine, be a doctor and a woman. But you can't possibly ride a bicycle. Who do you think you are?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-10244494225281582842011-07-25T07:48:00.001-04:002011-07-26T06:23:49.051-04:00If I Were Green I Would Die<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This is a project at least a year in the making. Because they didn't have more than a few balls of each, and most of the balls had been used to make samples or something, I got several skeins of Berroco Comfort Chunky for a steal. There wasn't enough of any one color to make a sweater's worth, so I whipped up this ombre number. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgQABQJKJHpLYbOTHoh68TIZ4gA1lGRToo9ACkC9JnChlgvoUG3ELn9u9OW36UaOIUoe2VGZUqOib37sNw14b-u-hgDtyBhXfWw49HnhlzhdgR3-woe5ubWT8dNB3nFXq9ivwan62W1E/s1600/5972431828_5f0f7e6700_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgQABQJKJHpLYbOTHoh68TIZ4gA1lGRToo9ACkC9JnChlgvoUG3ELn9u9OW36UaOIUoe2VGZUqOib37sNw14b-u-hgDtyBhXfWw49HnhlzhdgR3-woe5ubWT8dNB3nFXq9ivwan62W1E/s1600/5972431828_5f0f7e6700_z.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken sometime long ago when I was willing to be outdoors with sleeves on</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It's a <a href="http://katieknits.blogspot.com/2006/08/buttony-sweater.html">Buttony</a> sweater, and I'm happy enough with it. I put it aside for months because the sleeves were a pain in the ass. I had to take them out and redo them at least six times, and as you can see, they're still too wide. The neckline is also a bit too wide, but that was a problem with me because I <i>of course</i> knew better than the pattern how many stitches to cast on. But it was a nice thing to have around for the end of spring, and I'm sure sometime, months from now, it will cool off enough here to contemplate wearing it again.<br />
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On Ravelry <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/nikkidoom/buttony-sweater">here</a>.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-35827538841559556902011-07-22T13:36:00.001-04:002011-07-22T13:37:50.472-04:00This Week in Yarning.At this point it should really be This Year in Yarning, but whatever. I'd like to have a weekly thing, where I sum up what I've been working on, with gorgeous pictures to go with it, but I haven't been working on much during 2011. I finished an old sweater, and I made a triangle scarf for a friend out of yarn she'd dyed and spun. <br />
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But the last month or so, I've been working on this gorgeousness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDEpryTY_proIyBqkZYYd38JS2E3tVY8sb12Ii467vh4cRlUwsjSHRszgxGsYiewR57CndEhdUZkDBj7ryii2a69ajIlYdE7G-FCZpv1jfhixcEmnph9L3ZQu8-49TQaK3HqK0J_ffuw/s1600/IMG_0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDEpryTY_proIyBqkZYYd38JS2E3tVY8sb12Ii467vh4cRlUwsjSHRszgxGsYiewR57CndEhdUZkDBj7ryii2a69ajIlYdE7G-FCZpv1jfhixcEmnph9L3ZQu8-49TQaK3HqK0J_ffuw/s640/IMG_0275.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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It's the <a href="http://fluffbuff.com/fragile-heart/">Fragile Heart</a> pattern with a few alterations. The pattern called for the body to be knit in one big piece, but I split the repeats in half and grafted them together. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoAVL-mCenv5ZUV3DVxr9QsL7Nz4pfE-tbzkVav1Yb-975Kumpu-6EDhRKZs5eYD9GMlSuzdnf5iFRe9kUpWJOBP1WkxLhqYPyq2p-NZVee4dm72IOpezyoJYihzpQNypV27pfD2ecM4/s1600/IMG_0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoAVL-mCenv5ZUV3DVxr9QsL7Nz4pfE-tbzkVav1Yb-975Kumpu-6EDhRKZs5eYD9GMlSuzdnf5iFRe9kUpWJOBP1WkxLhqYPyq2p-NZVee4dm72IOpezyoJYihzpQNypV27pfD2ecM4/s640/IMG_0266.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I think it looks pretty good. I also added a few extra repeats to the edging. The pattern called for 7 or 8 repeats and I did 12. It's lovely, and I've been wearing it at work to cut the chill out of the air conditioning. It's definitely not a wrap it twice around your neck sort of scarf, but I'm very happy with it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkdxTGG8JxXZGYFgBnR8GX3mleNhwt8Kvvk2zpl2_AzNBguXDW-gwiNoB_fkSQccHJbellLXEdi3IhZo47Z-OLRGsGPHKtHa8o2e5HVTUgrkGkfxlFz3OI8swIW-DmP0ZNrCqKPqAOgE/s1600/IMG_0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkdxTGG8JxXZGYFgBnR8GX3mleNhwt8Kvvk2zpl2_AzNBguXDW-gwiNoB_fkSQccHJbellLXEdi3IhZo47Z-OLRGsGPHKtHa8o2e5HVTUgrkGkfxlFz3OI8swIW-DmP0ZNrCqKPqAOgE/s640/IMG_0281.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
A spider took over my favorite perch for a camera, so there's no self portraits, and it's too fucking hot to imagine taking this thing outside again, so here's another beauty shot.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJdSO_5w2nbxCZfyPZMrQHq_HUCc2zRnj0l2gJjnf2uE4sOxdWjAdTEKkhJx6vc_ccS2pfuNaS8UKGIf5f-S11Q6AQXRMyPJV4XbXVOSiDEnWgiRMuw5YE0wZkCJtBiSp_HZ6lusqb6s/s1600/IMG_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJdSO_5w2nbxCZfyPZMrQHq_HUCc2zRnj0l2gJjnf2uE4sOxdWjAdTEKkhJx6vc_ccS2pfuNaS8UKGIf5f-S11Q6AQXRMyPJV4XbXVOSiDEnWgiRMuw5YE0wZkCJtBiSp_HZ6lusqb6s/s640/IMG_0278.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
My bullet points about this pattern<br />
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<ul><li>Swatch with big yarn before casting on in lace weight mohair</li>
<li>Only knit in the most powerfully air conditioned rooms</li>
<li>Wait until 7 repeats in before attempting to knit after a glass a wine</li>
<li>Be sure and count the dropped stitches every time you gather them up to make the heart pattern. If there aren't 5, you're doing it wrong</li>
<li>When working the backwards yarn overs on the edging, untwist them during the pearl row. </li>
<li>The points on the edging are done in blocking- if you want them very defined, do some sort of picot edging.</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><div>That's all the wisdom I've got. Everybody keep cool.</div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-27705148110403262052011-07-01T17:30:00.000-04:002011-07-01T17:30:04.700-04:00Yes, I Could Probably Use a VacationIt baffles the other women in my office, but I've been using the calendars from the <a href="http://curiositygroup.com/">Curiosity Group</a> at my desk. Anybody who needs a little bit more whimsy should head over and sign up for their <a href="http://curiositygroup.com/calendarofthemonth/">calendar of the month club</a>. I liked their current one so much I set up a little background for it too. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3N-gV20pja1uaX35dA4Ok9BuuD-AfrcBtotOfNg8aTHSZ_fkN2cIT_HLhUycQ1YaHIPeji_nMVzPfWYdejEmwH2chj5On8kVtuVzDHiyitjtv1lIFfUIaBTpi56eEnJVPqgchfKWkDc/s1600/july+calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3N-gV20pja1uaX35dA4Ok9BuuD-AfrcBtotOfNg8aTHSZ_fkN2cIT_HLhUycQ1YaHIPeji_nMVzPfWYdejEmwH2chj5On8kVtuVzDHiyitjtv1lIFfUIaBTpi56eEnJVPqgchfKWkDc/s640/july+calendar.jpg" width="603" /></a></div><br />
It would look better printed in color, of course, but since we don't have one at work I get by.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-55984915582228741492011-06-25T12:33:00.000-04:002011-06-25T12:33:25.031-04:00WTF Picture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9-dDSQSNkHjYfND7N7UDSyILTfiBKYf5DizUIPQw6hEnY59PRBttS6Aq2JYiMvQZpLO5OAryIssFrtnk2iq77lNHQh0fFKamAMgiPNFXtwUfGTmoaylMsvQhpE0BKp1G3veO9uTZTMM/s1600/5232138113_951bfc1a88_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9-dDSQSNkHjYfND7N7UDSyILTfiBKYf5DizUIPQw6hEnY59PRBttS6Aq2JYiMvQZpLO5OAryIssFrtnk2iq77lNHQh0fFKamAMgiPNFXtwUfGTmoaylMsvQhpE0BKp1G3veO9uTZTMM/s640/5232138113_951bfc1a88_b.jpg" width="464" /></a></div>Picture stolen from <a href="http://milliemotts.blogspot.com/">Millie Motts</a>.<br />
<br />
I've been thinking about this picture for days before I could figure out exactly what was weird about it. At first I thought it was her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sl1872_c_longicollis.jpg">really long neck</a>, but now I think it's the writing across her face and torso.<br />
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By the way, I would not recommend measuring the circumference of your head, dividing that number in half then googling that number inched waist, unless you want to get seriously creeped out.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-25712436554753302102011-04-12T07:02:00.000-04:002011-04-12T07:02:58.026-04:00So what's been going on the last several months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NlaQx4zru7Wjk225iSHeaTMNkfvfANeGX_1xMpPNaKuuSiS1jt8gnstkssIi59Cfs7cFCgdf20xhNL_kBIEKTj47q6-pE_Wkpysd8FZ2muNPoi2_cSxxtumfMvsXic0JjxTbtkvIZP0/s1600/img0232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NlaQx4zru7Wjk225iSHeaTMNkfvfANeGX_1xMpPNaKuuSiS1jt8gnstkssIi59Cfs7cFCgdf20xhNL_kBIEKTj47q6-pE_Wkpysd8FZ2muNPoi2_cSxxtumfMvsXic0JjxTbtkvIZP0/s320/img0232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Not making a baby or anything terrible like that.<br />
<br />
My mother had a major health crisis this fall that she (and I) am still recovering from. <br />
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Then I fell and broke my kneecap at the end of December. Pain, nightmare, surgery, locked in a leg cage for three solid months, and recently liberated, that's what it looks like now. <br />
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What's been interesting for me to observe is how little I've wanted to write down any of this bad terrible stuff as it happens. I used to be an obsessive journaler, especially about the bad things. I stopped when I realized how possibly unhealthy it was to carefully document every bad feeling I ever had, so none of my angst could possibly scab over and heal. With all the terrible things happening, I never felt drawn to document or share most of it at all. I just want this past several months of my life to get swept away, to affect the rest of my life as little as possible. <br />
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Unless something really exciting happens in the next two months of physical therapy, this should be the last time I talk about this.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-64221572380390602292011-04-02T20:24:00.001-04:002011-04-02T20:25:09.375-04:00Artfirmations: When a pretty picture doesn't make the message clear enough<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I've been shopping around for some new stuff to hang on my walls- some of the art I've had since I was 13, some of it I stole from my mother, there was the poster that traveled around with me in college, all the typical pathetic stuff. It time to upgrade to some adult choices. Here are some top contenders. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.171638972.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pleasebestill</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/55479966/large-print-everything-is-going-to-be-ok">Buy here</a>. In my younger, less sane days I used to write that over and over again in my notebook to try and keep from freaking out. This reminds me of that in the best sort of way. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.164106133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.164106133.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/53228768/everything-happens-for-a-reason">meganrene</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/53228768/everything-happens-for-a-reason">Buy here</a>. Does everything really happen for a reason? I dunno. But I LOVE the colors here, so I'm willing to accept that reasons are possible. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.209936275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.209936275.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62805131/everything-is-gonna-be-alright-13x19">evajuliet</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62805131/everything-is-gonna-be-alright-13x19">Buy here</a>. Everything in her storefront is gorgeous, but I especially like these next two pieces. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1366515133"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.194792067.jpg" width="245" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62392852/take-a-big-deep-breath-13x19-vintage">evajuliet</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62392852/take-a-big-deep-breath-13x19-vintage">Buy here</a>. In her store you can see a closeup of the fine print- it's worth reading.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-75498871364728298512010-07-23T09:29:00.000-04:002010-07-23T09:29:09.357-04:00An Old Dream Comes True<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Disgruntled resident dumps trash in mayor's office </b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That was the<b> </b>headline in the online version of my hometown newspaper. Out here the garbage collectors rule fucking everything. Before they invested 17 billion dollars in a new recycling system with one giant bin and no sorting, they would glance into one of my bins, decide they didn't like the looks of my recycling, and dump it out on to the street. I can't tell you how many times I fantasized about dropping it all off at city hall. Ah, memories. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Of course, I hope that when I made my imaginary city hall dumping, I wouldn't have yelled, "Free Speech" and walked out like that guy did. Free Speech, jesus fucking christ. Free Speech is like the middle aged white dude version of No Homo. This has been my fascinating thought for the day. </div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-42509979448446723422010-07-20T23:09:00.001-04:002010-07-22T09:58:12.843-04:00Shiny ThingsI went on a yarn voyage with my mother on Monday and scored this amazing thing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jzpEWcT1Oka2AY-dg2mh5SX9jkD_FdhBuWX1_f5cESBGnunCwqFjZKW403j67SUxvfHB8TNdT3zPw4Pp43ukdxdLo2YNZ888zIAQd8qCkQVWPxngPef2Wb0IyYy0kw2Jrt-7v3JZKbg/s1600/102_4994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jzpEWcT1Oka2AY-dg2mh5SX9jkD_FdhBuWX1_f5cESBGnunCwqFjZKW403j67SUxvfHB8TNdT3zPw4Pp43ukdxdLo2YNZ888zIAQd8qCkQVWPxngPef2Wb0IyYy0kw2Jrt-7v3JZKbg/s320/102_4994.JPG" /></a></div>It's a spool of tinsel. A spool full of tinsel. I've never felt so rich.<br />
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I could knit myself the most useless chainmail ever. Or spin it in with some fiber. Did I mention my terrible spinning here before? I spin, it's terrible, I haven't touched it in months because every day I wake up feeling like I live in a giant's sweaty armpit.<br />
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I could knit it in with some very special project. Or I could stare at my tinsel some more.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpUQZh3QnyZ-srsLRreAKYn1Er-SJmGKLOu8AaKO-O5RaeKjZkwXVshmTJUWP_Dk1qFtwjyiTUXuSq5bHkSYO-WbFwYhVrXs8d5ltRyWenJJzW2uAsmRXHQz9Z5Gh22PMkHmzjJx6INg/s1600/102_4995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpUQZh3QnyZ-srsLRreAKYn1Er-SJmGKLOu8AaKO-O5RaeKjZkwXVshmTJUWP_Dk1qFtwjyiTUXuSq5bHkSYO-WbFwYhVrXs8d5ltRyWenJJzW2uAsmRXHQz9Z5Gh22PMkHmzjJx6INg/s320/102_4995.JPG" /></a></div>It's also super reflective. look at that wacky hand reflection. <br />
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I've seen other spools of shiny thread before, but they felt stretchy and yucky in my hand, where this is smooth, flat and exactly like tinsel.<br />
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Even though it goes against my stop aquiring craft supplies pledge, I'm psyched about it. Oh, also, I got it for 1.50. ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTY CENTS. I cannot say no to that.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-91028262111516230602010-07-15T09:03:00.000-04:002010-07-15T09:03:22.541-04:00This Week in Yarning<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I haven't been, really. Mystery Yarn tank top is a pain in the ass, and while I'm not quite ready to go out and buy the red heart the pattern calls for, I have put it down until I come up with a new plan. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But, just so my blog doesn't get boring, here are some pictures! A friend saw this at a yard sale or something and picked it up for me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4UTFWgOk0UV2y_HoCguLCAo6tbCT_NIZ7bi3dmDu-TJ-FChRo8yurCtJMyRFWlZSRaE2nFowU4jQS-crJRjoTG7GVUGIV6c8Fgj16cV_ocBBB_eU4EIel6CChyphenhyphenuHKwBmTFCCTmoeyuA/s1600/102_4815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4UTFWgOk0UV2y_HoCguLCAo6tbCT_NIZ7bi3dmDu-TJ-FChRo8yurCtJMyRFWlZSRaE2nFowU4jQS-crJRjoTG7GVUGIV6c8Fgj16cV_ocBBB_eU4EIel6CChyphenhyphenuHKwBmTFCCTmoeyuA/s320/102_4815.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I hope that it wasn't a hint, because I'm not knitting that thing for a Christmas gift. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It must be the square dancing version of <a href="http://www.grumperina.com/knitblog/archives/2008/02/and_you_thought.htm">Grumperina's buffalo sweater</a>, although instead of the dude with the pipe, I've got a lade who is seriously displeased with her whole situation. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZBARHI10qJ9tMehQQ3rBVc1zE3xTumLHMRq9hj5dWOl9ahU6ndgkr5l2W5PX5gtVbSZqDIJ6qoAMq3e_yPM9BZdL6vY9JYHz5PlGRvjD4hBwWlAeJp4YxUruwbV3K8SvCuQkSXEPbH4/s1600/102_4817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZBARHI10qJ9tMehQQ3rBVc1zE3xTumLHMRq9hj5dWOl9ahU6ndgkr5l2W5PX5gtVbSZqDIJ6qoAMq3e_yPM9BZdL6vY9JYHz5PlGRvjD4hBwWlAeJp4YxUruwbV3K8SvCuQkSXEPbH4/s320/102_4817.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To me, that look says, "I can not fucking believe I got roped into this stupid job. When I get out of here I'm going to murder whoever made this booking. Oh Jesus, am I wearing an ascot? Fucking horseshit."</div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Any other brilliant interpretations of this poor woman's state of mind?</span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-85794134297205905552010-07-13T09:17:00.001-04:002010-07-13T09:26:05.518-04:00The Trouble With Everyone Who Comments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The real trouble is when it reveals how fucked up we are. Yesterday I read <a href="http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/stopthepresses/220323/lady-gaga-photo-irks-beatles-fans/">this</a> article about the stupidest fucking Internet Argument I've ever heard. Sean Lennon posted a photo of Lady Gaga playing the piano at his mom's house. Fans of John Lennon respond petulantly, because anything that John Lennon touched should be shoved into a stone and only the Truly Worthy can touch it and make music with it again. They, of course, get to decide who's worthy enough. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-3vUHQ1bRHnzfmo8DDOBRoxxWd4kGb85BSh92X85PJKgDpkjkcOGuckTMKivXeS0Z7NdW84EbW1Fu7elo0wJLjl4FOTBWgPWJ173uchZn4swMdAl95GJMelbWtNWqi4ToBmaIjhAgDg/s1600/stopthepresses-378364170-1278968370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-3vUHQ1bRHnzfmo8DDOBRoxxWd4kGb85BSh92X85PJKgDpkjkcOGuckTMKivXeS0Z7NdW84EbW1Fu7elo0wJLjl4FOTBWgPWJ173uchZn4swMdAl95GJMelbWtNWqi4ToBmaIjhAgDg/s320/stopthepresses-378364170-1278968370.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Maybe this is just me, but a musical instrument that doesn't get played by anyone is a fucking waste. When I was growing up people were playing music all around me. My mother sang and played the guitar, my father was always in a band. They'd sit around playing music together, or with friends, and nobody didn't deserve to play with them. Nobody ever showed up in fishnet thigh-highs and a sequined leotard, but I'm sure even if they had, they would have been invited to play along. It seems to me that this is an important part of music that most people have lost, being a participant instead of just an audience member, and thinking there's a thick line separating the two. (This is not to say that it's okay, EVER, for you to take out a guitar at my house during a party and start playing Dave Matthews Band songs. I will kick you the fuck out)</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When people believe that musicians are Gods of Pretty Noisemaking instead of studied noise artisans, it leads to dangerous hero worship that no human being will ever live up to. Like John Lennon. He was a mean abusive shit. To his credit he did try to break away from being that guy. Not always successfully, just like any of us who've looked at ourselves and seen what horrible assholes we are. But to put him up on a pedestal and think that because he wrote Imagine, that he was always That Guy is naive and dangerous. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So don't diefy John Lennon's (or as the article explains, Yoko Ono's) stupid white piano. He was in the beatles before he had the piano, and now he's dead. The piano didn't absorb his Magical Powers. If Sean was anything like I was as a kid, that piano probably had the jingle to New England Telephone played on it more than any song John ever wrote. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What fucking brilliance, I know. We can't let some hit making whore come and sully the Magical Messiah of Noise Making's Piano of Power. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is where I get to the part of the story that made me laugh in the face of our blindingly stupid fuckedness, instead of just roll my eyes. The fucking comments. When in the course of human history did we decide every person's opinion was so important that it needed to be publicly shared with the rest of the world at all times (says the person from their free blog template nattering about yarn and assholes)? Here's a sampling of those pieces of brilliance, I'm going to spend my day carving them into marble to preserve them for future civilizations to find. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedUzcuy38QVYk6zjPRGrHn2e_Wgp7NcpqDjreLjA6vw1j1iSXvtZsqysIdawtD2ktEogaLB5WjTrrZAMK1W0JB5q-h5jJVU7-7jS5L4kAeS3GF1lukX1pOWLB6vY_o-dotyZqUr2CMGA/s1600/Capture-unattractive.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedUzcuy38QVYk6zjPRGrHn2e_Wgp7NcpqDjreLjA6vw1j1iSXvtZsqysIdawtD2ktEogaLB5WjTrrZAMK1W0JB5q-h5jJVU7-7jS5L4kAeS3GF1lukX1pOWLB6vY_o-dotyZqUr2CMGA/s320/Capture-unattractive.PNG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><i></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The other day I heard an unemployed stoner friend of my brother call the actresses from Sex and the City "all ugly bitches. Only that brunette, she's the only one I'd fuck" </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-Kgg8LN6KP_gdjdT4238owEWA025P46uSw-YOEGsRHlvCGlpeL9tIYwqMrY-uNqfUOe52vI5dhJKr4LhHeAymcKH5cLg5KRA3_F5vtIR_YJCJX12pS2OjTMwWDPue-AWYE9fK24ipc0/s1600/Capture+lil+monsters.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-Kgg8LN6KP_gdjdT4238owEWA025P46uSw-YOEGsRHlvCGlpeL9tIYwqMrY-uNqfUOe52vI5dhJKr4LhHeAymcKH5cLg5KRA3_F5vtIR_YJCJX12pS2OjTMwWDPue-AWYE9fK24ipc0/s320/Capture+lil+monsters.PNG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She calls her fans lil monsters, and encourages this creepy cult of emulating her. Rich at fourfour, one of my favorite blogs ever, </span><a href="http://fourfour.typepad.com/fourfour/2010/07/the-populist-narcissist.html" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">wrote</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> more about this. The "love, peace, and Gaga" signoff is the creepiest part for me. I mean, I love italian grinders, but I've never signed my emails "love, peace, and italian grinders" Until now.</span></span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCIzk0eRYKeCv8-CYx6Ksa8Mg_2D737wHA30RC4YO9WHcZvrBf64Hq9XENAAMx6NLnBb7nln6ivht8BTaPg8UjL6wcsZocc26YM9v1uW-QSGzwwqxWYL3sArerUuEX8S3tT8lp7ESeuE/s1600/Capture+focus+below+the+neck.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCIzk0eRYKeCv8-CYx6Ksa8Mg_2D737wHA30RC4YO9WHcZvrBf64Hq9XENAAMx6NLnBb7nln6ivht8BTaPg8UjL6wcsZocc26YM9v1uW-QSGzwwqxWYL3sArerUuEX8S3tT8lp7ESeuE/s320/Capture+focus+below+the+neck.PNG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you so much kind Yahoo Music User, for thinking my decapitated body is fuckable! This is the greatest honor ever. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNIWAIQCwvu82tsy0t-Rjs-bO7CxfoB6x1WxXTUkhCtbyA2T0AypdhTai_RN6ifeFdl1xCjYh576IzMC86ArKyTlv-xir8UWYHQf5HQqdk2NV-75R6wwVkvwDEeMNfvBBV-vY3Vcjw-g/s1600/Capture+%5Bprofane%5D.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNIWAIQCwvu82tsy0t-Rjs-bO7CxfoB6x1WxXTUkhCtbyA2T0AypdhTai_RN6ifeFdl1xCjYh576IzMC86ArKyTlv-xir8UWYHQf5HQqdk2NV-75R6wwVkvwDEeMNfvBBV-vY3Vcjw-g/s320/Capture+%5Bprofane%5D.PNG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Making fun of fanatics is too easy, so I won't go there, even though she offered that polite invitation to test her. </span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXO3ZIcRmGXidnG4XUQYsNQ3YCUujtbE4lhvLLbvRC5sc-p1xHxNkYxBCiBrz2eCT3-1d-ITNgHPKRysod6Sp5FoOuLe33broxGvg9CR3ypX1qwlzocLVNuKBaUqsxtqThjFVq9rR4WeQ/s1600/Capture+pray+she+dies.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXO3ZIcRmGXidnG4XUQYsNQ3YCUujtbE4lhvLLbvRC5sc-p1xHxNkYxBCiBrz2eCT3-1d-ITNgHPKRysod6Sp5FoOuLe33broxGvg9CR3ypX1qwlzocLVNuKBaUqsxtqThjFVq9rR4WeQ/s320/Capture+pray+she+dies.PNG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Does prayer work like that? I didn't know. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ9QcmwfwIiiMl1lm321AVwx4Fw4jo7v-1NN69l2mQ6eL32XRdUFqV_aJWwhuA3wnCkIDxridwiw8mb-i6_i2q8gUNobLnAkxZoEdvr_H_iz4-0fK_JPgGmSGO2eh0FfD4___oRJxMuo/s1600/Capture+he+yes+HE.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ9QcmwfwIiiMl1lm321AVwx4Fw4jo7v-1NN69l2mQ6eL32XRdUFqV_aJWwhuA3wnCkIDxridwiw8mb-i6_i2q8gUNobLnAkxZoEdvr_H_iz4-0fK_JPgGmSGO2eh0FfD4___oRJxMuo/s320/Capture+he+yes+HE.PNG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What I like best about this one is the implication that the worst thing a person can be called is a man. You're so right! They are pretty terrible. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPgsK6R-FzJmxpXoUbrRlxpa9H5RGrZE1saQnoFsQBn899GvNdyuy0nETAZctrDWkpJneKdnlVVfknQH_7rTZo2U896bKlnDkN-bw51tjEZFTM1imYdLUK0pdPg4P-4ndmRq_raCuLd4/s1600/Capture+fence+post.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPgsK6R-FzJmxpXoUbrRlxpa9H5RGrZE1saQnoFsQBn899GvNdyuy0nETAZctrDWkpJneKdnlVVfknQH_7rTZo2U896bKlnDkN-bw51tjEZFTM1imYdLUK0pdPg4P-4ndmRq_raCuLd4/s320/Capture+fence+post.PNG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">S<span style="font-size: small;">o now instead of just praying she dies, we should tie her to a fence, rob her, and beat her to death like poor Matthew Shepard. There's just no topping that. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hRDBFkhqdl1lKAThYJ3SKhCrYdat2uRJ8Xh5q1ghB95BVAUo8hMgIBbVmnoTsfuSqcf2_cFIQvyFxrcjFmWOW2wT2QDXsz1PQNJ5EK4weVyzw0_5KApBWHqsEcgXRQMYywlT5YrwCOI/s1600/Capture+so+wise%21+so+true..PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hRDBFkhqdl1lKAThYJ3SKhCrYdat2uRJ8Xh5q1ghB95BVAUo8hMgIBbVmnoTsfuSqcf2_cFIQvyFxrcjFmWOW2wT2QDXsz1PQNJ5EK4weVyzw0_5KApBWHqsEcgXRQMYywlT5YrwCOI/s320/Capture+so+wise%21+so+true..PNG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I stand corrected. </span></span>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-79573983873015954042010-06-26T10:42:00.001-04:002010-06-27T09:33:17.423-04:00This Week in YarningI hooked on <a href="http://crochettoday.com/crochet-patterns/lace-bias">that</a> tank top I <a href="http://somethingpunny.blogspot.com/2010/06/tank-top.html">was in love with</a> from Crochet Today this week. There are a couple mistakes in the directions for the gauge swatch, so beware.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zm2g4hyphenhyphenHriP-V2HibrNHkiBlrgpzSmwkWjGhRMQJTrgJm2YEn5cf41Vdzug2XnaMg6574FMECAr0d9UQDozCwnFNKW-mCxO2KHGhARnepm3EZgYQN93CSftFIDYDKXLUsGvjzXPZZZY/s1600/102_4931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zm2g4hyphenhyphenHriP-V2HibrNHkiBlrgpzSmwkWjGhRMQJTrgJm2YEn5cf41Vdzug2XnaMg6574FMECAr0d9UQDozCwnFNKW-mCxO2KHGhARnepm3EZgYQN93CSftFIDYDKXLUsGvjzXPZZZY/s320/102_4931.JPG" /></a>Speaking of gauge swatch. I have this problem with crochet that I don't have with knitting. No matter what the pattern, yarn, or other people say, when I have a pattern I want to make, I just assume whatever yarn I've got will work, and that whatever hook is closest is the perfect size. I've got no idea why I do that. So the yarn I wanted to use is some Mystery Yarn, that's about dk weight, and I think is cotton/linen. Oh, and I have no idea how many yards I have. So it's an adventure! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvrpK7SyP3G7r1J8TbFmDeeeawt350nmewwJVBp7gcQCAMl8mbOoAKpiFYpRBtA7mKupo-vJ7q2BZHriDQtrBtw8UMakMFQKO59AtmPldWcKVUqnXTvlX22S2XeDEWrJ0eFcqiwIWdl0/s1600/102_4933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvrpK7SyP3G7r1J8TbFmDeeeawt350nmewwJVBp7gcQCAMl8mbOoAKpiFYpRBtA7mKupo-vJ7q2BZHriDQtrBtw8UMakMFQKO59AtmPldWcKVUqnXTvlX22S2XeDEWrJ0eFcqiwIWdl0/s320/102_4933.JPG" /></a></div>Oh, and while I'm still in love with Crochet Today, WTF? My mother would say that looks like a circus tent. And, it already makes that very skinny, very pretty model look shitty. Why does this exist? I guess I could see maybe if it didn't have the stripes. But still, I dunno. Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-63955749944424033142010-06-23T11:22:00.000-04:002010-06-23T11:22:39.787-04:00What's making me feel old today<object height="344" style="background-image: url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/aNNp5GyzlKc/hqdefault.jpg);" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aNNp5GyzlKc&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aNNp5GyzlKc&hl=en_US&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-53532451223947906922010-06-21T16:20:00.000-04:002010-06-21T16:20:39.360-04:00Another Dude says things, I say other things postI've been linked to <a href="http://youarenotsosmart.com/">this</a> blog at least three times in the past week. Dude's got a cute enough idea, and clearly people like it. But so much of it is inane fucking bullshit. Like <a href="http://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/06/11/makeup/">this</a> post on makeup. <br />
<blockquote><strong>The Misconception: </strong>Makeup<strong> </strong>serves no deeper purpose than to enhance culturally-defined concepts of beauty.<strong></strong> </blockquote><blockquote><strong>The Truth:</strong> Makeup has a deeper value; it enhances the contrast of the human face, allowing for faster recognition of gender. </blockquote>Wait, what? What sort of idiot thinks that a multibillion dollar industry's product has no significant influence on our culture and how we interact with people? A clueless fucking dude who's never pulled his head out from his own ass long enough to observe how women in ladydrag vs women in neutral getup are treated, I guess. Someone who's never wondered if it would be worse to be judged as unacceptably natural or unacceptably clownfaced at their job interview. Somebody who's never dropped 20 bucks on a tube of tint and shiny crap because they hoped it had the perfect balance of of, "I'm not some uptight bitch, but I'm also not a whore. Please don't talk about my tits when I leave the room." But I'm getting away from my point. This myth/truth are both utter bullshit.<br />
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<blockquote> <br />
With women, for example, anything which can be immediately recognized as a feminine characteristic often has the volume turned way up.</blockquote><br />
What is a feminine characteristic? Since we're talking about makeup, I'd guess it's red lips, cheeks, and long eyelashes. What makes those features so inherently, naturally feminine? Fucking nothing, that's what. We're wading into the bullshit ocean here. He then references some androgynous computer pictures that are supposed to prove that when we look at "high contrast faces" we think they're female, and think "low contrast faces" are male. The only big difference between them is that the high contrast face has paler skin and darker lips. Now, to me, this proves that we expect female faces to be paler, and have darker lips, the same expectation that most makeup, barring spray tans and frosted lipstick, tends to give. Is that really true? I dunno. I sure as fuck wasn't born with naturally rosier colored lips than my brothers. I'm digressing again. <br />
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Whats His Face uses this study to prove that this is the natural order of things, rather than how we've been trained to discern gender. <br />
<blockquote> <br />
In cultures where many men are clean shaven, this natural, hard-wired shortcut has helped to motivate the adoption of particular kind of face painting.<br />
Cosmetics enhance this natural contrast. Lipstick and eyeshadow make the eyes pop and the mouth stand out.</blockquote> Wait, is it our mostly clean-shaven dude culture, or is it hard wired? You can't have both. <br />
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Then he presents his nail in the fucking coffin pieces of evidence. PICTURES OF JESSICA RABBIT AND MULAN, BOTH CARTOON CHARACTERS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO PROVE WOMEN NATURALLY LOOK LIKE FUCKING CARTOONS. <br />
<blockquote> <br />
Cartoon ladies are often drawn in high contrast. Have you seen those commercials for Esurance? Yeah, the animated action lady in those ads looks like her nose was clipped off in a terrible farming accident. Yet, she has a huge cult following on the Internet – and it’s mostly NSFW. Head to Google to see for yourself.</blockquote><br />
So, women wear makeup to enhance the bullshit attributes that somebody decided are feminine. We recognize that faces with more of that bullshit are probably the female ones, the same way we know that a sexed up cartoon face probably represents a female character. Dudes on the internet have fantasies about these imaginary sexed up characters who exist for no reason other than to please dudes and sell insurance. Oh and despite the fact that they're drawn to meet some made up ideal it's still hilarious to make fun of their looks the same way we get to do with real women: casually and just cause we can. <br />
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Reading things like this make me wish I'd majored in philosophy. I've got a buddy who did, and she can slice through any bad argument with surgical precision, while I just get angry and ramble. <br />
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I was just laughing with my bff last week about how all this evolutionary psychology bullshit is a passel of assholes trying to prove that The Flintstones was a documentary. <br />
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Anyway, that's all I've got to say about that. Besides, please, if you want to prove your point, don't send me to that dude's amazing reference blog. Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-52079501435435416242010-06-20T08:43:00.002-04:002010-06-20T09:27:46.579-04:00Coming up with post titles is the most tedious part.It's confession day today at Blog City. I love hippie looking bags. When I was a teenager I had too much love for all things hippie, stick-it-to-the-manism, tie died shirts, flowey patterned skirts, and a hippie bag. <br />
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I'd bought it at a yard sale, it was woven, or maybe crocheted, out of jute or something thick like that. It was a big bucket shaped bag with coral stripes and leather handles. I absolutely loved it. It had that Mary Poppins fits anything quality necessary in a big bucket bag, and I wish I still owned it right now. I'd forgotten about my hippie bag until I saw a character on The Golden Girls carrying the same bag in blue colors. So with my love for giant hippie bags reignited, I went browsing around on Ravelry and found <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/29-210-44-striped-bag">this</a>. It's a bucket, it's big, and I can use what I've got lying around.<br />
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So I go digging around in my stash and pull up all the worsted weight extras I've got. The pattern calls for fingering doubled, so I figured that would work. Also, it's a granny square, so I can really make it whatever size I want. And, since I cast on last Sunday and finished it Friday, that makes it the fasted project I think I've ever <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/nikkidoom/29-210-44-striped-bag">finished</a>. (Rav link)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzzLke4isysmvgKFEfNAFU2IfrcaDorpcIKrPaNfG3QSj0zbexyhJZY-2tBLpV4Cd2psBON42J1CxwrDXG3EMYpatY3gMb_y8yFadSGP7A2pAQqOFXSWcXP1Hp6YmvziwzsEtzHtMhm0/s1600/granny+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzzLke4isysmvgKFEfNAFU2IfrcaDorpcIKrPaNfG3QSj0zbexyhJZY-2tBLpV4Cd2psBON42J1CxwrDXG3EMYpatY3gMb_y8yFadSGP7A2pAQqOFXSWcXP1Hp6YmvziwzsEtzHtMhm0/s400/granny+bag.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I cut the table full of drinking and lobster refuse out of the picture. While it's not generally a great idea to drink too much and then try to take pictures of yourself and a pocketbook, I couldn't get the colors right with any of the in progress indoors pictures. But I'm super happy with it. It's got my favorite types of color, it's striped, and the straps will take a lot of weight, which is important for the way I abuse bags. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0XMlyPlzPn1LyZwEnykXBPDhtnHecqXw2g1IzXESxLR64KS_a3XmYUcIWRZ7AespPJtjIhiUIlOne1dKOKIF7ivr-aUrZunhS7bostyFybBTQGDxaSau_AwlPlMr-Pq6JUyQzOkHRUs/s1600/102_4855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0XMlyPlzPn1LyZwEnykXBPDhtnHecqXw2g1IzXESxLR64KS_a3XmYUcIWRZ7AespPJtjIhiUIlOne1dKOKIF7ivr-aUrZunhS7bostyFybBTQGDxaSau_AwlPlMr-Pq6JUyQzOkHRUs/s320/102_4855.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made some modifications about the straps, because I think all bags, especially big bags, need shoulder straps. I don't understand how people can put their precious time and effort into a bag and then slap one of those cheap handles on it. Especially those awful imitation bamboo circular ones. I've only done it when I've been too lazy and stupid to know better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxrv3IX4nrJNH6vmSQ38oB-QAXmmo0bfoEjlLaSf3Aw8WDYOUpXRQ0g02RL4TubFhR1qGGYG0W7zM9kghgV5zAwDSdOByLDn9ol4FWpincWEZqxIe6NcXEVlhFOwfaveOzUBWA0PbuRU/s1600/102_4863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxrv3IX4nrJNH6vmSQ38oB-QAXmmo0bfoEjlLaSf3Aw8WDYOUpXRQ0g02RL4TubFhR1qGGYG0W7zM9kghgV5zAwDSdOByLDn9ol4FWpincWEZqxIe6NcXEVlhFOwfaveOzUBWA0PbuRU/s320/102_4863.JPG" /></a></div>I also added magnetic snaps, because a big bag like this ought to stay closed when you put it down. <br />
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Maybe after I touch up some of the indoor lighting pictures I'll post a simple tutorial on how to modify this bag to give it my terrific more normal straps.<br />
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OH YEAH, the other great thing about this bag. The yarn was all leftovers from other projects or one balls I didn't have any discernible use for, the lining was leftover from another ancient project, and the snaps I bought when somebody was discontinuing them five or six years ago, so the total 2010 cost to me was 5 dollars for the trim I made the straps out of. Not too shabby, right?Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-17850159313674745872010-06-11T19:54:00.002-04:002010-06-12T16:35:25.915-04:00my fascinating yarningI haven't touched knitting or crochet outside of stitch and bitching for a month or so, I don't know why. But all the great tank top patterns are pulling me back in. I love <a href="http://crochettoday.com/crochet-patterns/lace-bias">this</a> one in the upcoming issue of Crochet Today. I won't really know until I've got the pattern in front of me if there's sufficient shaping to make it flattering, but as a casual thing to throw over a bathing suit? I fucking love it. Although I'd probably leave off the fringe. It'd make me feel like I was wearing a throw blanket. <br />
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I love Crochet Today. They blow all the other <a href="http://www.crochet-world.com/">oddly</a> <a href="http://www.crochetmagazine.com/inthisissue.php">named</a> crochet magazines out of the water. Every issue has AT LEAST one design I love, and even when their designs get dorky, they present them with a sense of humor and appreciation for the craft.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-14047086719804967092010-06-09T07:24:00.001-04:002010-06-09T10:48:00.812-04:00I HAVE stopped believing.I was sorting through in my head a post examining Glee and its rank unexamined privilege that's been an explicit theme throughout the season, specifically whether having the female and minority characters rewarding the entitled ones just for occasionally thinking of them as human beings were the farty imaginary conversations its white producers/creators/bullshit peddlers wished they could have with members of the oppressed class, or was intentionally half baked and adolescent, like we all were in high school. <br />
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But last night's finale was such a steaming turd. I'm not going to make the same mistake I did with Heroes, and continue trying to find meaning and sense out of a show that's just trying to fill the time between commercials with another product for me to buy. Maybe I'll get around to it someday, but I fucking doubt it.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-50164328094905154382010-05-31T19:13:00.004-04:002010-05-31T19:32:05.285-04:00The post where I pretend I'm one of those perfect fucking people who eats delicious looking plates of food every day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvTP2tqngdMYT9u2lewEGwKWI3uzVDqbIgEdz6VCxkeoY5PGlMFMNsBb16QQTzyzZh10MT3VLrrfPI5ZDdzRxCbqKq_VZO6UCiq_YVB1CCjTtVbzK9tePQHdP1EhhZjchiis63gl_6C4/s1600/102_4821.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvTP2tqngdMYT9u2lewEGwKWI3uzVDqbIgEdz6VCxkeoY5PGlMFMNsBb16QQTzyzZh10MT3VLrrfPI5ZDdzRxCbqKq_VZO6UCiq_YVB1CCjTtVbzK9tePQHdP1EhhZjchiis63gl_6C4/s400/102_4821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477576685196688674" border="0" /></a><br />Just another humdrum day at the It's A Wonderful Life Factory!Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-60796523546321151862009-07-11T15:02:00.002-04:002009-07-11T15:28:25.022-04:00Oh look, an almost abandoned blog.I've been trying to get used to working two jobs, which, yuck. I'd rather get used to hanging around in the pool with a shiny bathing suit on, fanning myself with stacks of 100 dollar bills. But, whatever. <br /><br />I did see an excellent Lady Gaga makeup tutorial. The backing track is pokerface without the vocal tracks, and I like it SO MUCH better. <br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YFMaLuI1uxc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YFMaLuI1uxc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-27467216060813417222009-05-18T17:21:00.008-04:002009-05-18T18:26:35.081-04:00The Post Where I Anger the Knitting Gods.I've played around with the addi clicks and found them unimpressive, especially for 150 bucks.<br /><br />Did lightning strike me down yet? No, ok, I'll continue. I even have a few shitty pictures as evidence!<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://s669.photobucket.com/albums/vv52/nicoledoom/?action=view&current=102_3295.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv52/nicoledoom/102_3295.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br />One of my new favorite yarn stores <a href="http://knittingintheloop.com/home/">In the Loop</a> had a set of the addi clicks in when I was there a few weeks (possibly a month? I've been sitting on my hands about this for a while) ago. I, of course, took advantage of the chance to pull them out and play with them for about half an hour. It took the five or six people there maybe three minutes to get the twisty connection thing down, and it was awesome and strong. So I pulled a ball of yarn from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/nikkidoom/austrian-socks">this project</a> out, cast on and started swatching a bit. The cables were wonderful. The needles feel solid and sturdy in your hand, and the tip is just the right amount of pointy. So that was pretty wonderful, but pretty much all true of the standard addis.<br /><br />But that join sucks. I've read other reviews that talk about how the join is no big deal, and the yarn slides right over it, which I found to be true, most of the time. Which means sometimes the stitches got stuck. 50% of those stuck stitches I was able to tug the work until the yarn slid over, but the rest I had to stop knitting to push the stitch over the join. I mentioned it to one of the (awesome) owners, and when she knit a few rows, she found it happened to her even more often. I'm generally a loose knitter, and she's generally a tight one. I knit several more rows and as long as I keep my tension fairly loose, the sticky join is noticible, but not a huge problem.<br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://s669.photobucket.com/albums/vv52/nicoledoom/?action=view&current=102_3294.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv52/nicoledoom/102_3294.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So, the needles are accaptable when I was knitting at 5.5 stitches to an inch. Any tighter than that and the stitched start to get stuck at that join again. Considering the Kells Sport merino says it knits up with a gauge of 5.75-6.5 st/in, that's a bit troublesome for me.<br /><br />I love my addi turbos. But if I had 150 dollars to spend on needles, I'd rather order the 40 inch addis in size 0 to 8. Even when I already own most of them, and have two pair of some (zeros, I'm looking at you) they're incredibly useful, I can use them to magic loop anything, and they work great at any gauge.<br /></div>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-45648951084010006052009-05-12T09:56:00.004-04:002009-05-12T10:15:00.018-04:00just to throw some knitting in here...I've been working on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/austrian-socks">Austrian Socks</a> from Interweave's Favorite Socks, one of my favorite pattern books ever. I'm slowly working my way through all the patterns. I think this makes 5 out of 25, so I've still got plenty to look forward to.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikkidoom/3524341338/" title="102_3306 by nikki_doom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3524341338_902b5b2585.jpg" alt="102_3306" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Since I got the book, I've grown much more comfortable modifying sock patterns if I decide something sounds fussy, but I've kept pretty close to pattern with these guys. The i-cord cuff originally called for you to do a provisional cast on and kitchnet them together, but even me, kitchner's biggest fan, couldn't do that without it coming out looking like the shittiest thing ever, so I cast on again normally, and seamed it together. The only problem:<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikkidoom/3524309554/" title="102_3308 by nikki_doom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3581/3524309554_0506bba520_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="102_3308" /></a></span><br />see that wonky seam? That's on the front of my sock, because I started picking up the stitches wherever I damn well pleased. Ah well, the next sock has that sucker on the center back where he belongs.<br /><br />I am so in love with this yarn. It's <a href="http://www.threeirishgirls.com/catalog.php?item=174">Three Irish Girls Kells Sport Merino in Roisin</a>, and it's difficult to photograph. It looks purple, right? Wrong. It's cranberry. A warm delicious looking cranberry that has just the right amount of subtle variation.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikkidoom/3524309478/" title="102_3307 by nikki_doom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3538/3524309478_426b6f9f2d.jpg" alt="102_3307" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Love!Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033472642755653462.post-26787205410269386242009-05-08T15:27:00.002-04:002009-05-08T15:30:15.885-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hKjJ8u7Enun_pjJlB3N9w-2INJG3dQPO6PqNvDvSYR3gedZGkacHRgvoE_MqqoY2phbnkwhnA69FqEbIAw4wqmXF9OFm-LD2EJHuw5R3_lCotq1B8Ihv2YVL8V46WxjVULKHvWmpfnU/s1600-h/adult+ballpit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hKjJ8u7Enun_pjJlB3N9w-2INJG3dQPO6PqNvDvSYR3gedZGkacHRgvoE_MqqoY2phbnkwhnA69FqEbIAw4wqmXF9OFm-LD2EJHuw5R3_lCotq1B8Ihv2YVL8V46WxjVULKHvWmpfnU/s400/adult+ballpit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333537050806991522" border="0" /></a>This is the very crappy version of something my brother and I came up with that made us giggle. So now it's in my pile of good idea projects to finish up. Oh Great, because that wasn't long enough.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080867747165686412noreply@blogger.com3