Newness.

I downloaded a bunch of music compilations of bands I’ve never heard of and have been progressively working through them today, marking down ones that I want to hear more of. This is one of my favorite things to do, finding new music that makes me ponder or tap my feet or .. forces me to do ANYTHING.

I’m eagerly anticipating new releases this year from some of my favorite musicians: The Decemberists, Conor Oberst, Silversun Pickups, Iron & Wine. I can’t wait.

I want to knit an afghan, one section or block per month for a couple years, using a fitting pattern or color to go with the month, taking pictures of each block and having memories attached to each of them as I knit through.

This project 365 thing I’ve been working on has been fun so far, too, so I hope I can keep it up and not cheat too many times..

I really like commenting on people’s blogs and drinking beer, so I’m going to do that right now.

Wheee!

Watching House, drinking cider, and eating honey dijon Kettle Chips with my sweetie. It’s a good night. I work tomorrow, but I don’t want to think about it.. I’m enjoying tonight too much.

I’ve been discovering so much new music lately. I’ll chit chat about it later..

There’s a new website!! Popknits! It’s an online knitting magazine focused on vintage knitting patterns! I’m so excited about it. I wish that I spoke to Katelyn more often so I could tell her about it – I’m sure she’d love it. The first issue is out now, and so far, it shows a lot of potential. I especially like the cowl, it’s super cute.

I miss my friends.

I like watching the puddles gather raiiin.

Mixtape o’ the Day – Songs of right now.

1. Milk Thistle – Conor Oberst
2. King – Weezer
3. I Was Meant for the Stage – The Decemberists
4. Hide and Seek – Imogen Heap
5. Staralfur – Sigur Ros (my personal wedding song)
6. Homecoming – Kanye West ft. Chris Martin (of Coldplay, who apparently knit together!)

It’s getting chilly again. I’ve been spinning and painting like a madwoman lately, as I’ve mentioned.. but I have pictures now to prove it!

Here’s the most recent painting I’ve completed, and I love it. I can’t decide, though, whether to keep it, try to sell it in the gallery or try to sell it through etsy.. and how much to sell it for. I custom framed it at work all fancy, I like it.

(click to see the full size)

The idea was of a bird that flies around the planets bringing night to the sky. The one I’m working on right now is of some winter trees, and the next one I have planned is a chakra diagram of sorts, with a little more flow. Keep it, or sell it? Keep it, or sell it?

Here’s my tiny spinning! That bobbin is full now, and I’m about a third of the way through the second one. I’m getting amazing yardage out of these.. what, four ounces of Fleece Artist? I’m ecstatic, and I can’t wait to have it plied. It’s going to be SO pretty (AND SUPERWARSH, ZOMG).

Tree Jacket is still coming along. I feel badly, as though I’ve been neglecting it in favor of these new pursuits. I’ve just been bitten by the lace bug, and am dying to get my hands on a shawl of my own. Yeah, I know, anyone who isn’t a knitter thinks shawls are old-ladyish. I think they’re beautiful, and would wear one with pride, knowing full well how many hundreds of hours they can take.

I unpacked my yarn today, and found that I have no room for roving on the shelves. I’ve still got a garbage bagful from Fibre Week that I have yet to take stock of, and put away. I’m so surprised at how much I’ve acquired in the last few months.. from nothing, to a whole walk-in closet full of roving, yarn and spinning wheel parts.

I recently acquired the Twilight Series audiobooks. I’m unsure of whether I’ll actually take the time to listen when I do get my new iPod. It might help the time pass at work, if the person’s voice isn’t incredibly tedious. I hope it’s a good story. I’ve heard mixed reviews, but the general consensus is that it’s great for mindless entertainment, but don’t expect anything of major substance to be gleaned from it. Thanks for the hot tip, guys.

I just had a cup of coffee. It’s 10pm. I did this on purpose. There will be no rest for the wicked Kaitlin tonight.

Realizations.

I figure if I want exposure in this town for art and fibre pursuits… I’ve got to start it myself. There is not anything to my knowledge already established – no infrastructure of artists and kindred kinds that I know of. This makes things a little bit more difficult for me. Part of me wishes I was content to drink my weekends away (more than I do) and be completely unproductive like so many people my age seem to be – maybe I’d meet some people.

WOW! Nothing like starting off an entry on a “high note”!

I heard about Alberta Arts Day, September 6th and my heart skipped a beat. Alas, it wasn’t nearly as exciting as I had expected. I read on the internet that the only event for the occasion was a “Call of the Wild Horn Music Festival” .. whatever that means. It might be worth checking out, but hardly worth associating it with a province-wide celebration I don’t think. The bigger cities have much more going on (even YARN STUFF!) but we’re too far away, unfortunately.

It’s our first wedding anniversary this Saturday, and though we’re especially financially challenged this month what with the move and all, I’m really happy and excited. I really want to make it special.

That picture makes me happy just looking at it.

I think I’ll tidy the house really nicely, hang some pictures I haven’t had the chance to put up and try my hand at making Pho. Pho is a Vietnamese stew made from beef and I’ve been dying to try my hand at making it. Finding the Asian ingredients, I worry, will be difficult, and many substitutions might be made. I hope it’s yummy and not gross.

This new laptop we have now works fantastically, I can’t wait until mine comes. I’ve been getting my hands on some more music lately and I am absolutely loving Conor Oberst’s new self-titled release, Devendra Banhart’s “Rejoicing in the Hands” (I resisted listening for so long for reasons unknown to myself), The Fiery Furnaces “Gallowsbird’s Bark”, Two Gallants and The Twilight Sad. My 20G iPod photo that I acquired from a homeless dude a year and half ago for forty bucks just bricked so my music is pretty stationary for now, but probably next month I’ll be able to pick up a new one. I can’t wait!

For now, I’m going to update my stash in Ravelry, though, and assign projects to all the yarns so none of them feel purposeless and left out. Good idea, Kaitlin.