DIY night at the MOV

There was a lively turn out for the DIY night at the Museum of Vancouver on Thursday night.
It was great to see so many familiar faces, and everyone seemed enthusiastic about knitting, and having a bevvie.

Definitely, one of the stars of the show was this ball of Woodward's Sport Yarn. More than one person exclaimed that it would be travelling home with them in their bag following the event.
It was more than ok with me. Check out the mound of yarn that we had to work with. There was even a small, unfinished cardigan that somehow ended up in the giant yarn stash. No one seemed enthusiastic about finishing it though. Can you blame them? The stuff of nightmares, this finishing of other people's half constructed projects.

It was also great to see my favourite Yarnbombing ladies Mandy and Leanne. It had been FAR TOO LONG since we'd been in touch. Hopefully we can get together soon!!


Thanks to Keith for these couple of photos, and for really giving knitting a go.
It is possible for anyone to learn. Or should I say almost anyone. Maybe it's just that I'm not a great teacher, but even casting on was a challenge for me to convey to some people.
Maybe it's just my particular method. There must be an easier way than the one I was trying.

Thanks to everyone who worked so co-operatively to share their skills with the newbies. It was a good time!! There might even be another event like this in my future. Must check out a new way of casting on before then.

Done and Done

Boy that was a totally aggravating experience. It's funny how sometimes you can really be in the groove, and other times are spent mostly ripping out and cursing.
I can't decide which one I like better, so I might send both.
I just love the spooky lace though. I told my mother about this project and how excited I was and all she could offer was, "how terrible.....a skull and crossbones"......maybe I'll have to make yet another one to sway her view.

Now, onto something completely different.
And if you haven't been paying attention, the Olympics™ are coming.
Not all of us are thrilled, and some of the threats made against our freedom of speech, and a citizens right to protest are ridiculous.
They have even passed a bill enabling the police, or VANOC or who ever to come into your house and remove any offending signs that may be negative towards the games.

As if it isn't bad enough that we have to pay for a party that most of us aren't invited to.
This is my own small gesture of defiance.
Coming soon to a window near you.


Never underestimate the power of craftivism!!

Tape loop

I want to poke myself in the head with my knitting needles.

At the moment, I am working on this very lovely skeleton lace that I found here.
It is just so nice and something that I've never done before. It perfectly rides the line between little old ladyish and cool. It is detailed, and fine, and oh so darn frustrating.

I'm working on something for a trade, and it seems just the thing.
IF I can finish it.

First I started one in white, like the photograph, but I am such an obsessive freak about it being perfect, that it now sits half completed and without needles on top of the piano.
How very little old ladyish of me.

Now I am working on a black one which was shaping up quite nicely until I started to lose my mind.

You know how it is. You're clicking along at a fine pace, making progress, then you realize that you've dropped a stitch about 10 rows back and because the thing is lacey and foreign and like those bracketed math problems, you start to drive yourself crazy with time consuming stitch counting and ripping and placing stitches back onto the needles and such. etc etc

At this point, I've been knitting for hours and hours and I have less work done than when I started this morning. Primarily because I ripped everything out in an agro knitting huff.
I am the Joe Pesci of knitters sometimes. It feels like Groundhog day. I just cannot look at the thing again tonight. Or maybe tomorrow.

Yarnbombing: Fugly as I wanna be!

Some of the reasons that Yarnbombing is so cool:
-you can "be productive" and get something done and up and have that feeling of accomplishment
-you can adorn the (urban) landscape with your craftiness and entertain yourself while you're at it
-you can use up pieces of that nasty old stash of yarn that has been kicking around forever

This piece is something that I've had finished for ages but have considered it to be completely FUGLY in every sense of the word.
I never liked that pink yarn, and even though it's a nice brand, "Philosopher's Wool", it has always really turned me off colourwise.
Plus, I have gobs and gobs of the stuff still leftover.

So I decided to get it done and get it up.
Then I stashed it away for several months. Then I just decided to get it up and not worry about it anymore.
I hope that someone enjoys the work. I'm over it.

If you're interested in checking out the Yarnbombing ladies, they'll be at Word on the Street tomorrow at 1:00 pm. Head down to Library Square to say hello. Maybe I'll be there too.

Repent Sinner

Last weekend I participated in a free art give away called, "It's Yours Take It". It was super fun, and it got me motivated into trying something new.
I was in a bit of a knitting funk, and wasn't feeling very inspired.

Now, I am creating something new, and though it is very Vancouver centric, you can catch up here on Flickr™.
This is not the first time that I've had a virtual kick in the arse by Jerm9 and ninja! Thanks kids for the motivation.

Anyone living here in Vancouver has seen these millions of stickers everywhere throughout the city for at least 10 years or more. Though I don't see the feisty Jamaican lady in front of Woodwards any longer, her spirit and spunk will definitely live on!
Keep your eyes peeled!!

Some good news on a grey day.

I was feeling pissy and defeated because there is no justice in the universe, then I went to my favourite knitting vandal site and discovered this:

the new cover for the Yarnbombing book!!!!
It's those big goofy shoes! And they put a smile on my face.

Thanks for the info ladies!

Roving knitstuffs

I put a wee cozy on my stroller.


I snuck one onto Amy's bike at Lucky's one night.


I put one on my hubby's commuter bike.


I delivered one to my friend Siobhan's scooter.


I even managed to sneak one onto my friend's motorcycle when he wasn't looking.


I loved the idea that these people would probably spot these immediately, but it was also cool to imagine that they would be cruising around and then a few days later, say, "oh....what IS that?"
It was fun for me!! wooly gifting.

Back in Black and Red

I made this some time ago and found it abandoned in one of my many bags of yarn 'n stuff.
It looks much better up here.

I feel like I haven't made anything in ages, so it was fun putting this up in the dark snowy morning.

I did see a larger man with a safety vest and a city van scraping stuff off the bike path poles earlier elsewhere.
I hope it's not a bad omen.

Oh well, c'est la vie!

Strathcozies on the move

I got the idea into my head that I should 'gift' some of my friends and neighbours with these colourful additions to their cars.
It was fun albeit nerve wracking to be fiddling around someone's car not knowing whether or not I would be accosted. Probably the best gifting episode I had was on a total stranger's car....the infamous orange Pinto of Strathcona! It was awesome!!!

In the Beginning

Born out of boredom and the notion of putting up aerosol free knit graff started by the knitta crew, I began to make my own small mark in my lovely neighbourhood of Strathcona. It has taken me awhile to put these items up here, but there seems to be some interest, so here I go...


amy's fence


the pottery shop


homestead pole