string*THEORY

Ravely Part 2

Thanks to all you lovely ladies who added me to your Ravelry friends list or sent me a little note. It was neat to see a different side of the people that are kind enough to stop by this here little blog every once in a while. Oh and the avatars! My favorite part of adding you all, is finally seeing what some of you look like. I have very specific images of what you all might look like based on your comments and blog entry's, and sometimes...well, sometimes, I'm surprised when I have the chance to see the real thing.

The thing that I love about Ravelry is the fact that everything is interconnected. It really is like a giant ready-made knit-along, isn't it?

 

But it's the giant knit-along aspect that I'm also having the most trouble with. I've added a few projects here and there (by clicking on the link on the pattern page), and my hope was that my project would be added to the group of all the other lovely projects...but they didn't. So I must have done something wrong. And before I go nuts and spend hours and hours (as if I haven't already done that, ahem), I thought I would seek some help.

Any ideas of what I may be doing wrong? 

Ravelry

Wow, what a disgustingly late bandwagon hop-on for Ravelry, but to be perfectly honest, I was trying with all my might to avoid another internet-crafty-obsession. Flickr + Bloglines is doing a perfectly fine job diverting me from my daily priorities on their own. I didn't need another site with...photos, and knitting knetworking, and free patterns. Oh my.

But I could not resist.

I'm technically celebrating my one year...but really one month anniversary as a member. One year ago I finally received access (what an elite process that was, huh?)...but I've only been using the system for a month now. Obsessively, yes. To be honest, I couldn't understand the hype...to me, it seemed more like a reconfigured blogosphere. But now, I understand. Oh do I finally "get it".

It all happened when my best friend got pregnant. Yes, I'll blame it on the conception. And I needed an interesting baby blanket pattern. And a lot of supporting photos. And some advice. And yes, feedback on yarns. The rest is a blur, but I seem to recall a few late nights, some Flickr uploads and lots and lots of searches.

I'm still not 100% familiar with everything that Ravelry has to offer, but I know the most important thing now is to get you all on my friends list. I'm not totally sure what the easiest way to do that is (find you all, that is)...so if you could be a doll and come seek me out, I would be ever so grateful.

::Reconstructed::

Well folks, I'm happy to announce...my project log is the proud owner of a new finished piece (finally). And, boy what a long journey it's been.

 

This was a simple stockinette stitch small lap blanket using an amazingly textured yarn called "fun" by Ironstone. I added a three stitch seed-stitch sequence at the beginning and end of each row to prevent curling. Despite the alarmingly boring stitch pattern, this "quick" (once I set my mind to it) knit actually kept me entertained, love that skinny/fat/skinny/fat stitch gauge.

Which brings me to my next question. To block or not to block? The bubbles + dynamic three-dimensional quality of this project is what makes this blanket. The down side is that I have some curling and shaping problems that would be corrected through a nice little soak n' stretch. But would I soak out all the character?

Pretty Little World

I don't have much of a green thumb, and frankly, gardening overwhelms me a bit, but one thing I do love is to see how things are made...that coupled with my love for small contained little worlds makes terrarium projects a perfect fit for me.

Inside this itty bitty little container, you can see it's underworld...layers of rocks, charcoal, soil and life. I really love that. My own self-contained biosphere.

If you're interested in making your own, mosey on over to the little virtual instructional manual I posted and start pouring + digging!

do you *love* the art you create?

Besides your blogs, flickr photos and the things I find during my treasure hunts, I'm looking to books as a major source of (re)inspiration these days. Lately, it's been the The Creative Family by SouleMama that's been my guide of sorts propped conveniently on my bedside table. Sometimes finding it's way to the coffee table. And even appearing in my purse, you know, for those quick lunch time reads.

One of the ideas she discusses is this learned concept that art has to be "beautiful" and how that inhibits us from creating at all. As we grow from our creative childhoods, we're taught that art has to follow rules and techniques and that it's possible for the end "product" to be "wrong" or ugly. She challenges her readers to create art purely as a form of expression and nothing else. Letting go of the need to make it beautiful.

This is something that I've struggled with quite a bit. And I'm learning to let go of that hyper-critical voice inside of me keeping me from developing my ideas on paper...with paint...or on wood...with found fabrics or whatever catches my attention and sets my creativity free.

Sun + Lasagna

The last few days have been especially sunny in San Francisco, giving me more opportunities to spend time outside, enjoying the backyard + city. I forget how much happier I feel when the sun is shining...and how much more motivated I feel to do a little home cookin'.

This week I revived a Casa de String*THEORY dinner favorite: Mama's Healthy (+ simple) Lasagna. Not exactly "summer time food", but delicious just the same.

My Mama's Lasagna

Serves:12 pieces (boys usually eat 2, girls usually eat 1-1.5...so, you do the math). This meal is even better the next day warmed up for lunch.

Ingredients:

9-12 lasagna noodles

1 to 1.5 lb of ground beef OR the same amount of a beef-like tofu substance

1 big jar (or 2 regular sized jars) of spaghetti sauce - flavor of your choice

1 thingy of normal run of the mill cottage cheese

1 thingy of mozzarella cheese

Directions:Pre-heat your oven to about 350-375. Start boiling the water for the noodles. Brown the meat over a medium-high heat, when the meat is pretty much browned, drain and then add in the sauce. Grate the mozzarella. When the sauce is cooked and the noodles are finished boiling, grab a Pyrex casserole dish and start layering...

Layers: Layer the bottom with the sauce/meat mixture. Lay down 3 long lasagna noodles (covering the entire bottom of the dish...now a layer of sauce (make sure the entire noodle is covered, an uncovered noodle turns hard after being cooked...drop 4 separate spoon fulls for cottage cheese along the length of the 3 noodles...now for a semi-thick layer of mozzarella (this is what glues everything together)...now for another layer of noodles...sauce....cottage cheese...mozzarella...noodles...sauce...and lastly, a nice thick layer of mozzarella. Throw is in the oven for about 25-30 minutes.

While that's cookin' have your sweety help you make a nice healthy salad + garlic bread. Throw the buttered/garlic bread in the oven for the last 5-10 minutes of the lasagna cook time. The top layer of mozzarella should have some browning...take it out, let it cool down for about 15 minutes or so before serving.

I'm realizing now that I'm writing this, that it's not the healthiest meal that one can make, but it's not the worst..and it's damn delicious!

The above photo is the work-in-progress product of the reconstructed matrimonial blanket. Frogged + then re-knit using less stitches and a straight stockinette stitch. The yarn seems to be unavailable now, so I had a mini-freak-out moment over the possibility of a oddly shaped short blanket with no chance of making it bigger. I'll share the pattern as soon as I'm done with the blanket...which at this pace, should be a few weeks. Fingers crossed that it comes out the right size.

The Country Life

Wow, now I remember. It's that big virtual hug that I can't resist (and need so much right now). Thanks to all who stopped by last week to welcome me back with kind words + open arms. I haven't had a chance to go through + respond to emails yet, but those will come soon enough.

Who's this sweet little guy greeting folks outside the biker bar? Why it's Charlie, of course! This weekend was spent getting back into the things I used to love + spending time with family.

My sister and I ran into Mr. Chaplin during our little country jaunt to Niles, CA. Now, for those of you getting into a tizzy over whether anything remotely resembling "country" is even possible so close to a busy metropolis like San Francisco, I assure you, it wasn't "real country" (like cows + stuff). But it was as close to country livin' as we're going get around these parts. And what a gem it was. Equipped with lots (and lots!) of antique stores streaming a constant flow of the latest country western greatest hits (mixed with some R+B from the late 90's, strange, I know), and sweet old ladies going about their business at a much slower pace then we're used to, Niles made these two city girls take a deep breath, turn off the cell phones and slow it down a little.

For those of you who live in the Bay Area, Niles is hosting their 44th Annual Antique Fair + Flea Market on Aug. 31st. For just an hours drive outside the city, you can enjoy a little country flavor complete with 200 antique stalls, food vendors, silent film viewings and...if there's time...you can check out Mr. Mikey's Country Store ~ the most impeccable + neatly organized grocer/deli my sister and I have ever stepped foot in (yes, we discussed this, and agreed).

::unraveled::

I made the mistake last time (7 months ago, really now?) of jumping into this with more gusto then i actually had. I'm taking it slow + trying to re-build this unraveled ball of yarn.

I've been more then inspired (+ rejuvenated) by all the beautiful photos + projects you all have been working on through flickr. I've viewed most...commented on a some...and touched based with few. But my point in this ramble is just acknowledging + appreciating the therapeutic value that comes with this creative connection we all have.

These photos you see are of one of my very first projects, and as of late, one of my oldest unfinished projects. I bought this (excessively expensive) yarn on on of my first trips to the yarn store, its part of what made me feel in love with the textural side of knitting. The artful side, if you will. The blanket is a simple garter stitch "matrimonial blanket". It was supposed to be my wedding gift to my husband. Well, here we are, 4 years later, with an unfinished garter stitch blanket sitting in a wooden bowl on my living room coffee table.

It will be my simple, soothing jump back into knitting (and my creative life in general)...and I will chronicle it's progress here + on flickr.

Poking In...

To say hello. Again with the hectic life. But after reading through the comments on my last post (yes, yes from over a month ago) I realized (again) how incredibly fortunate I am to be a part of such a loving community. Let me be clear - this was not the first time I've read through the comments...just the first time today. Warm + fuzzy, they're really freaking sweet.

Plus I found out during Christmas that I'm related to a few readers of this here ol' humble blog (hi uncle Bob!). Virtual love and a virtual hello, two excellent reasons to pop in. My time has been spent fighting a cold and the winter blues that tend to come with the rain and chilly weather. I'm keeping my mind distracted through my everlasting love for words, and lately - it's been through a series books written in the magical realism style of story telling (Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez).

 

A bibliophile I certainly am, but I recognize the need for a creative outlet. So, until I am able to pick up the string again....photography it will be. And to you, my pretties, I'll need to request some patience while I slowly climb back on to the horse. Although there's really no need to ask, now is there? Especially since...well, you know....you've already been so patient.

Time Flies When You're Stressed Out

I'm not really sure how to start a journal entry after such an extensive (and unannounced) absence. I feel as if I owe you all some sort of explanation followed by a blow by blow account of what the heck I've been up to these past two months. The truth is, it would be too much to go into now, but I promise that I'll slowly divulge my past whereabouts during the course of my next few entries - which will (hopefully) be more regular.

Before I jump in the warm Caribbean water that will be my account of a recent vacation, I want to say "thank you" to those of you who have thought to reach out to me, and a "sorry" for not sending you the big virtual hug of thanks. Another "sorry" for not noticing or acknowledging your recent triumphs, I've been just as out of touch with your lives, as I have with my own. Slowly but surely I will catch up with you.

Ah yes, the Caribbean...is there anything better then letting the stresses of the world drift away with the seagulls as you let the warm thickness of the salty Caribbean water carry and show you what it must feel like to fly? Fear not, the photos above are not some ominous hint as to where I've been spending my time these past months. The photos were taken at El Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A peaceful cemetery by the sea and one of my new favorite spots to shoot.

The long awaited respite was filled with sun, sea, food and beautiful people. Maritza, why didn't you mention this about Puerto Rico? It really should be renamed as "Land of the Hot People". And did I mention reading? I had an opportunity to reignite my inner bibliophile with two amazing novels, The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan and The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. Both incredible for their attention to detail, character development, and homage to the power of the female spirit. I'm going to keep this momentum and post-vacation flame alive by jumping into my next novel. So, I must ask, what are you reading now? What is your favorite book?