Knatty Knitter

When it rains, it pours

2008-08-11T16:44:00.002+01:00

And this is even true of Ireland in the summer months. It is August and we just had flash flooding in our capital, Dublin! Summer lovin' right here, folks :)

I am currently writing this drive-by-shooting of a post on my DB's father's laptop...I think this might start becoming the norm if my Mac doesn't start listening to Mama and stop breaking!! Seriously, I have had it in the shop twice in the last few months, but it is getting on in years I suppose and I do still love it.

My cousin is getting married next week in Montreal, Canada, and I am crossing the Atlantic to be there for it. This will be the first time I'm back Stateside since leaving Berklee and I am worried and excited and very aware that I need a haircut before any wedding photos can be taken. I am going down to NYC for a few days while I'm over to see friends from school and catch-up a bit. I can't wait. If anyone knows of any amazing yarn stores in Montreal or New York that I should visit while I'm there, please let me know...I've fallen off my knitting wagon again but I still think about it loads, which means its only a matter of time :)

Freakin' laptop broke again...

2008-06-13T22:06:00.002+01:00

but had a great birthday on Monday :) I'm 23 years on this earth!

Standing at the foot of the mountain

2008-06-01T16:24:00.005+01:00

I'm not sure where to even begin...It has been a ridiculously long time since I blogged. I missed my one-year blogging anniversary, but I was thinking of it on the day strangely enough. Sometimes I used to compose blogs in my head, knowing I would never post them, and then post them into the Universe and hope that my online friends would get them. I have thought of my friends an awful lot in the last few months and cannot wait to truly catch up with you all...especially Em, Brooke and Meg. I hope you are all keeping well :)

But as I was musing...where to begin...and, just as importantly, should I even try? The last few months have been limbo after the thrill, stress and general sensory overload that was Berklee. I no longer live in Boston, and miss it dearly now. My school mates are scattered, mainly across the States, but for the few of us who couldn't stay, it's kind of odd and a little like having your right arm chopped off! Ireland is nice to see again though, to experience all her seasons in order and not be a visitor at home anymore.

Limbo is an accurate description of this period of my life. I feel like I am between adventures. I hear this is when you learn the most about yourself...I'm still waiting. I am working to pay rent and my college loans. I am writing and singing privately, but haven't branched out to fully fledged gigging again. I feel a bit constrained or something about being tied up; restrained maybe. I have lots of ideas but can't seem to see them into fruition. I keep waiting for another chapter to start...waiting...but if I wait, then who is doing?! I suppose it's the upheaval of moving home, readjusting to life after school (22 years of our lives given to institutions and they wonder why we can't think outside the box?!). DB and family keep telling me the rest is good. So maybe the restlessness is a good sign...that the rest has done its job!

This valley in my life has effected all art production, so the knitting has slowed down too, not stopped completely though. Recently I have been feeling the urge again. I think Spring is urging me onwards. This valley will soon be turning upwards towards the next mountain to climb.

I can't wait to see the view from the top.

Guess who's back, back again...

2008-05-31T17:49:00.002+01:00

Pari's back, tell a friend!!

Hello World! Good to see you all happy and shiny. I missed you and can't wait to write to you again.

Please feel free to say hello back. I am perfecting my first post back as you read this...

Life on the edge of insanity

2007-08-02T18:37:00.000+01:00

I am run ragged folks! I am absolutely beside myself! And then sometimes I actually find myself thinking "well, I had time enough to fit in that epidode of CSI this evening, so I mustn't be all *that* busy" but you know what, I AM! My brain is just gosh darn wrong when it thinks thoughts like that and it is very frustrating. One hour TV time, after a day of class, work, studio recording, phonecalls, homework, eating (somehow that always ends up quite far down the list) and maybe getting in the sun for a few minutes in order to retain sanity levels and do a little knitting...with all that considered I think that I am lucky to still be functioning. My mantra is '2 weeks to go and then I am free'...say it with me...'2 weeks to go and then I am free'...

On the plus side, sock one of baudelaire is officially finished and the heel has been turned on the second so it is straight sailing all the way home with them. Caught myself wishing for a cold night, just so I would have a legitimate excuse to wear them. No luck here though, the sun is absolutely splitting the pavements in Boston. The nights are a little hard to sleep through, but I am a sucker for the heat during the day...really enjoying it. Pity though all the rest of my knitting projects are not going as speedily as baudelaire. The shrug I had hoped to finish ages ago...actually I think I have run out of yarn, need to make a quick trip to the LYS and sort that out pronto, because it is so close to being done, would be a shame now to let it sit. I have also been having problems with the crocheted halter I made, don't feel very secure in it when it's on. Think I need to go back and put on more closures at the back, but I am not a very good sewer anymore. In fact I have 2 beautiful bags (the granny squares crocheted one and the unicorn knitted bag) which I would love to be using right now, but both need lining and I have no idea where to even begin to do that. Darn!

In other news, I went a bit nuts last week and ordered a pile of things from etsy for myself. I was lonely and I think I was trying to comfort myself with jewellery and one-of-a-kind things. When they arrive I will post pics. Can't wait really, girl needs some new earrings for the sun!!

Kiss this Day

2007-07-28T07:01:00.000+01:00

A good friend of mine, Jillian, has just started her very own blog, based on the concept of daily gratitude. You can find a link for it here or on my side bar. Either way I really recommend having a read of the thought-provoking, spirit-warming thought Jillian has to share. Well done love, it is a wonderful thing you are doing :)

Happy Anniversary My Love

2007-07-26T05:00:00.000+01:00

It is DBs and mine 5-year anniversary today. That's right, FIVE YEARS!! I can hardly believe it myself but it has been some truely interesting, magical, crazy, exciting, love-filled years and I look forward to all the others to come. Thank you Kolya, for being my best friend in the world and I hope you like your present.

For Kolya

I am but a splitting of the light
Prisms cannot hold me
But show me for the fragment that I am

Pretending to be sewn up just right
But thread cannot hold lightbeams
And I am but a splitting of the light

I am not a whole that can be palmed
Senses cannot fuse me
But show me for the fragment that I am

But you have sharper senses than touch or sight
That feel beyond this shard of glass
To the splitting of the light

You can fill the cracks that flaw my calm
Hold my broken sum
Hide within you the fragment that I am

Will you hold my secret safe, day and night?
Where prisms fail, I know you will do right
I am but a splitting of the light
But you can love the fragment that I am.

Finding the Groove...

2007-07-23T22:31:00.000+01:00

Wow, not only have I *finally* found the time to write a blog, but I also have finished items to talk about in it...WooHOO!! This is the halter top from Stitch n' Bitch: The Happy Hooker. It still needs blocked and I think I will need a new bra..oh gravity and cotton tops, heehee!

Also on display this evening is the lovely 'Wisp' from Knitty. I actually got it finished in time for the wedding and it did wear it on the day, to lots of lovely compliments. The mohair needs a few more wears and washes before it is really soft and wearable but I really love it and the buttons are cool. I have a new thing about buttons...the latest Pari craze!

Here are the things I do when I do have free time...I know, I am nuts. I could be sleeping but no, I am putting gems on my nails. Girl needs help! Was fun tho.

Here are the latest buttons I have got my grubby little paws on. I ordered them from an ebay seller, Obsidian Kitten, who was an absolute pleasure to do business with and sent lovely little business cards and postcards with my little purchase. It is nice to feel pampered and looked after, even if you are only spending a few dollars at that store.

And lastly, my current project (though to be perfectly honest I have been doing very, very little knitting, crochet or anything) are the Baudelaire socks, also from Knitty. I made them a little too long for myself, but love them so much I really don't want to rip them out and start again. The pointy toe is pretty much empty, no toesin there at all. They were perfect however for the plane trip on the way home and helped keep my sanity while I dealt with the whirl wind of the wedding, being pretty sick myself and my mother being in hospital for an operation. All in all, it has been a really draining time of year and I am so looking forward to the end of the semester.

Only 3 weeks to go and then I am an actual, real, original college graduate. My apologies to everyone that I have been neglecting these last few weeks while I have been trying to kepp my everyday life together (my secret pal, I am going to do a special post just about you and your final parcel, as that is what it deserves, no less!). Lastly, I want to thank my lovely DB for encouraging me to blog again. I have nearly given up on the whole thing, but he gently pushed me back towards the things that make me happy and reminded me how wonderful it is to have this onlline community of friends who appreciate my post and who are eagar to share in my small success :) Thank you Kolya! There will be post just for you too, soon!

e. e. cummings

2007-06-25T18:37:00.000+01:00

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

I have a wee problem

2007-06-18T20:35:00.000+01:00

And that problem is a severe case of starter-itis. I started yet another project this weekend and I can feel the urge taking hold in my bones. I decided that I had to have a little crocheted halter top for heading home in a weeks time and decided to bust a little stash at the same time, by using the green cotton I had sitting there. It was originally for a little knitted top, but NO, I don't want to knit, I want instant, lacy, loopy gratification. And I know no better medium to satisfy that urge than crochet, and it can be done while sunbathing on the banks of the Charles River any Saturday :)

Well thank goodness for Stitch n' Bitch. I love this series and go back to these books regularly to find new ideas or patterns or just to feel part of something again, a sense of community in a book. And The Happy Hooker is my summer bible right now. There are so many things I want to make in it right now, I hardly know where to start...except that I have started the lace halter top, so there is a start. I finished about three-quarters of it in one day and learned two new crochet stitches to do it. Super productive day me thinks :)

WIPed

2007-06-15T04:20:00.000+01:00

Yes, that is right. I am WIPed (whipped), heehee. And it is all down to the pattern 'Wisp' in the new issue of Knitty. I have to say that there isn't really anything else in the issue that I think I will make, but as soon as I saw 'Wisp' I fell in love with it and just *had* make it. Er, two days later and I have already completed half of it...

I don't know what has come over me, but a couple episodes of CSI: Las Vegas later and I realise I'm halfway finished. And the lacy is so pretty and open, I can't wait to block it. I don't think mine is as delicate as the ones in the pattern, however. I really want it to look as 'wispy' as possible but I think my mohair might be slightly thicker. I ever went up a needle size to keep the lace loose, even before blocking, but don't know how it will work out. Oh well, atleast a shawl is a shawl, no matter if it matches the pattern or not.

I really want to wear it to DBs cousins wedding in two weeks time. I have a silk print halter dress that is gorgeous but pretty thin for the changable Irish summer, so a little capelet or hood would be perfect for keeping me warm and still classy. Hood or capelet...hood or capelet...so hard to decide...

Summer Knitty

2007-06-12T18:38:00.000+01:00

I am so excited! The summer issue of Knitty is just out and I am so happy. And it is a proper SUMMER issue, with lovely patterns for the warm weather. I am really in the mood for something summery on the needles too and I think I know just the project I want to start with. It is called Wisp and it is just gorgeous. A light, lacy shawl that can be used as a caplet, wrap or hood and is easy to knit. I think this is going to be my weekend project. I know I have a pile of unfinished things on the needles right now but I could do with some instant gratification right now, knitting-wise, and with a beach trip planned for this Saturday, it looks like the perfect travelling project...living ofcourse in the new knitting bag my SP sent me (see previous post...thanks SP!).

*Sigh* Isn't it dreamy? I think I want to make it as a hood, in a light, nearly mint green mohair that I have just one ball of and no ball-band to. Perfect! Just need to find some nice, light buttons...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :)

Birthday Weekend!

2007-06-11T03:48:00.000+01:00

The birthday kids at sunrise on Sunday morning...yup, we stayed up that late!

This weekend saw my 22nd birthday on Saturday and the DB's 24th birthday on Sunday, so we have been making a weekend of it and had a party on Saturday night - start the festivities on my bday and end it on his. We had a huge chocolate cake and I even got a hand knitted gift from my dear friend Adrian, who is another avid knitter/crafter and a great singer/songwriter. We had such a great time and now after our lovely weekend we are sitting here watching the basketball (the Spurs are cleanin' up) and I am about to bust out some knitting. It has been awhile since I posted any pictures of my knitting but I haven't really progressed as much as I had hoped recently. Lots of things going on in my life at the moment. Some good, some bad but either way it's nice to always have the knitting there somewhere to relax with.

I also want to say a huge thank you to my secret pal who sent me a lovely birthday parcel, including some KnitPicks Merino yarn in 'moss' (really nice vivid green colour), some lavender bath salts, a travel kit (perfect for when I fly home in a few weeks, hand lotion, eye mask, ears plugs), a copy of Rebecca knit magazine and some really cool stitch markers, all in the cutest brown bag with silver birds on it...perfect for my portable knitting projects. Thank you so much Secret Pal...you rule!

music blogggggginess

2007-06-05T04:46:00.000+01:00

I have been slacking...hardcore. But I swear I have good reason. Life has been so so hectic. And now class has started again, well I am screwed, aren't I? I have however been revamping my myspace page and am really dedicated to keeping it up to date musically. And to help do this (and to add more things for me to screw up and slack off on) I have started blogging on my myspace page aswell, specifially about music. But don't worry, I won't be neglecting here. I have been knitting loads and spinning. Very exciting stuff!! So I put my first myspace blog up here too, just cuz :) oh and you can see my myspace here!! I put up new songs yesterday and I would love you feedback. It is always scary putting your creations up for scrutiny.

And so it begins...
Current mood: optimistic

Well, it is official. At the end of the summer I finish my time at Berklee, leaving with a BMus in Music Production and Engineering, and go out into the big, bad world with no plan whatsoever. All I want to do is make music and so I want to start now as I aim to continue. I want to make my final semester at Berklee one to remember.

I have a lot of plans for these next three months, including recording with producer and friend, Will Knox. I've been working on a lot of new material recently and am excited to put it out into the world and see what kind of response it gets. Gigs are being lined up at the moment, including what will be my last show at Berklee, and will be announced shortly. Rehearsals are being planned. Studio time is being book. I'm excited to say the least.

By putting my ideas and intentions out in the open, I hope to make them more solid than just passing thoughts and dreams. I hope you will check back to see what I have acccomplished since last we spoke and celebrate with me when I realise these plans.

It is going to be one of those summers!

Quickie!

2007-05-15T20:53:00.000+01:00

I am so tired right now, completely wiped from finals and graduation. My Ma is also here all the way from sunny (haha) Ireland. So I am going to keep this short and sweet but i just wanted to post a few teaser pictures from graduation, just to get you in the mood for the biiiiiiiig post to come :) these are just of the entire hall and of 2 of the 3 honorary doctorate recipients, one of whom is the Edge from U2...nice! I have so much to tell you, knitting related, more projects, another book, SPINNING (oh, she's never mentioned that one before...) but right now I am braindead.

Sunset

2007-05-10T08:21:00.000+01:00

The sun passes behind the buildings,
the shadows chasing us off our patch of grass.
'Off you go now, no more kissing for you.'
Now it is time for the tarmac to cool
and the bricks to get their fair share,

a light touch of
a tingle up their spines,
until finally it reaches the nape of their neck
and whispers shiver in their ear.

Off to rise up the body of somewhere else.

WooHOO!!

2007-05-05T21:47:00.000+01:00

Never guess what I just found out?! Go on have a guess...

Nope! Well let me tell you...I just found out that world wide KIP (Knit in Public) Day is Saturday, 9th June....which is my 22nd BIRTHDAY!! What fun! To find out more information about where people are meeting, hopefully there is a gathering in your area, click here . I am hoping to organise a Boston one...more news on that as it happens :)

Happy Knitting Everyone!

FO!

2007-05-02T22:10:00.000+01:00

The Unicorn Bag as modelled by my beautiful flatmate, whom I believe is plotting to steal it and take it around Europe with her this summer. Will have to watch it closely :) It still needs a button for a flap that secures the openning of the bag, but haven't seen any that I really like or think would suit the overall kitsch-ness of the bag. Great, fun project however and used up lots of mismatching yarns beautifully. I don't like to waste so it is great to have a useful final project out of them. And a good exercise in matching yarn weights to create the right the drape of material. A great article that discusses this is from this seasons issue of the e-zine Crochet Me It is the crochet equivalent to Knitty and is great. This edition is all about reusable, renewable projects and fibers, hence the great article on using up the odd balls in your stash. Check it out!

In other news, I received a lovely suprise in the post earlier in the week from the ever lovely Brooke in the form of a book she had picked up for me, thinking I would find it interesting. It is called 'A Cup of Tea' by Amy Ephron and is a quaint story of love, loyalties and turbulent time in NYC at the start of the American involvement in WW1. Such a darling read, I am nearly finished it already and am feeling sad about it too. I hate it when good books end. Thanks so much Brooke, it was exactly what I needed.

The Last Unicorn

2007-04-27T20:31:00.000+01:00

...is my flatmates favourite film of all time. And I have decided, in order to curb my 'must-start-a-new-project-itis', to make a crochet bag with unicorns all over it with all the leftover yarn in my stash. This not only keeps me busy but empties my stash of half finished balls and is a project that is quickly finished (God Bless the speed of crochet!) thus giving my a nice FO in no time at all. And I am learning a new crochet technique called tapestry crochet, super cool! I also keep getting song ideas while working on the bag, and well that is just good no matter what! :) 3 songs and counting since the block lifted...

This being said my knitting has kind of ground to a halt. No more work on anything. And at a stage where I am pretty close to finishing a number of things. Oh well, it comes in waves and right now, with finals just over the horizon, the crochet project makes way more sense.

I also received another amazing parcel from my dear Secret Pal...I know, another one!! Enclosed was a lovely lipbalm, ylang-yland handcream (just want to sniff my hands all day, getting funny looks from DB!) and a pair of the most beautiful earrings you have ever seen!! Now let me tell you that my passion for earrings knows no bounds. This addiction was inherited from my mother and has lead to use both having pretty sizable collections that we sometimes swap between in order to make sure that every beautiful pair get a wear. However, these earrings will totally be off limits. They are just too beautiful. Little blue beads clusted around a bottle green, glass leaf with gold hook. Perfection! Thank you SP, so much. What an amazing gift.

Ramblings of a crazy woman

2007-04-20T20:13:00.000+01:00

Even though it has been a short week, I am pooped. Really and truely I don't know where all the energy goes but by Friday evening I have none left for myself. I think DB not being here after me getting used to some company and help around the house, is really showing. I miss him really badly at the moment. The shorter periods of time apart are waaaay more difficult than the extended periods. For those you gear yourself up and know that the next visit is too far in the future to really grasp hold of. But less than a week away and I am a jibbering mess. Not cool Knatty, not cool!

And when I am tired and grumpy (that time of the month ladies) what do I want to do?!?! Start more freaking projects rather than finish the ones I have going on now. I am crazy! I have been doing some crochet swatches to try and take the edge off, and also be useful (I am planning to make the 'Violet Beaudegard' skirt from 'Happy Hooker'), but the knitting urge is hard to resist. I want to make little Spring tops and Summer dresses. I especially want to make socks. Socks on the brain. All I want to do right now, as I sit in work not completing the assignment *so* important to the running of my college (NOT!), is cast on some of my newly dyed yarn and knit in circles all afternoon long in the sunshine.

I am going to see my friends band tonight. They have come all the way from Ireland to play a few gigs in NY and Boston. They are called Fred and are just brilliant live. There album is even available on iTunes. Two of the guys from the band I have known since I was little, though they were in the older crowd from me, so I would tag along with them and generally be the annoying little person :) My mother knows all their parents from way back in the Irish Baha'i community. It is so nice to be seeing them here and that they made to effort to contact me and get me in the gigs. Sweet guys. Should be a fun night, though really all I want to do is curl up with my knitting, a good film and a piece of cake...I have some lemon and almond cake from Wholefoods, with a big mug of milky tea = HEAVEN!! You are all more than welcome to come round for a slice :)

p.s. Do you like all the new lists and links on the side bar or is it a little too much? I kind of went nuts the other night.

The rain washes me clean and suddenly I can!

2007-04-19T19:18:00.000+01:00

Well, it was raining...all weekend long. The most rain Boston had seen in years, though for me it just felt like home. In fact it was quite nice and cosy to be inside, hearing the wind howl and the rain patter the window panes. And it made for a very creative and restful weekend. It started with a bath and an impromptu poem on the wall (see previous post) on Friday night. That evening I also started my dyeing experiment for the first time and these are the results. (I have really shaky hands and try as I might none of these photos would come out in focus, do I just want to apologise now for the rubbish shots!!)

I was so proud, bounding about the apartment like a school kid. The colours didn't come out as vivid as I had hoped but I think I put too much water in the dye, so that will be something to try differently next time. The first skein (I used KnitPicks superwash sock yarn) was dyed with a sky blue and bright yellow. The green formed from mixing in the pot. It really reminds me of the beach, which I haven't seen in an age, with the yellow sand, green/blue sea and seaweed...it feels lovely and fresh. Very springtime :) And the other colourway was for Project Spectrum, using the colours for this month; yellow, green, pink. I decided to go more 'citrus' and used a lime green and a more orangy pink. It kind of reminds me of a big beach ball, but again is really zingy and fresh. I took Brookes advice (thanks Brooke!!) and just followed my instincts with the colours. I had such a good time and can not wait to try some other methods of dyeing.

I think both of these are going to end up as socks, probably nice lacy ones that I can wear in the Spring and Summer. I have been really craving some summery projects recently and once my Clessidra socks are done I am going to start on some crochet halter tops and other things to get me in a sunny mood. Spring is in the air! And speaking of more projects, here is a photo (finally) of the gorgeous sock yarn my SP10 pal sent me and a little swatch. It has taken all more will power not to cast on another project with this, but patience is a virtue and it is for the best. I think it is destined to become a pair of Queen of Cups or Baudalaire socks from Knitty, though I am a little dubious about starting another chart based pattern after the Pomatomus affair.

The Clessidra are going great however and here are 2 finished legs...WooHOO!!! Just the feet to go and I am done. Brookes yarn is so so soft to work with and the way the colours are coming out, well, lets just say that the heels of these might need replacing annually :)

But of all the knitting, dyeing, poetry-writing and fun-having, the best part of the weekend was that I finally ended my year-long songwriting block. I was blocked BAAAAAAD, hadn't written any original songs in so long and was kind of starting to give up hope and then, BAM!! After a lovely, relaxed weekend I couldn't sleep on Sunday night and at 4am I got hit with a brainwave and by 5am I had a song (I have written most of my songs late at night/early in the morning...just seems to work for me). And then, after getting a few hours sleep and saying bye to the DB again (back off to Ireland to sort out visa stuff...America is great but the immigration stuff makes me want to scream) I was messing about on my guitar I got hit again, hard. This song basically came to me nearly fully formed and even the parts that weren't there immediately arrived after with little effort on my part. And this is the first song that I really wrote with my guitar, my playing has now got to the stage where I can play what I need to accompany myself. I am hoping to record them soon and then when I get them on my myspace page I will be sure to provide a link so you can all hear. I would love your feedback and criticisms.

I am so happy and relieved to know that I haven't 'lost it', and just buzzing with energy. All I want to do is CREATE...anything...just create!

Ingredients

2007-04-16T22:21:00.000+01:00

I wrote this in the bathtub the other night, with a sheet of ingredients for a new aromatherapy soap I got and accidently dropped in the water. I ripped up the wet words and stuck them on the bathroom wall. So much fun to be had just bumbling about in the bathtub!

ingredients

pure and extra sweet hand of Thee
HANDMADE me
small batches of highest quality.
skin soft, deep well.
Original Natural willfully
carefully

I gotst tagged

2007-04-13T20:21:00.000+01:00

Seven Things To Do Before I Die
1. Go on an Arts retreat and explore my creative with no restrictions or worries.
2. Travel around the world with Kolya.
3. Play at Glastonbury music festival, on the John Peel stage (my biggest musical wish was to be a guest on his radio show until he passed away...great man!)
4. Learn to speak Persian so I can talk to my family and one day visit Iran.
5. Have kids :)
6. Learn to relax and let go more...everything will be OK, I am OK, even when things aren't OK it doesn't as much as you think...because it's OK.
7. Make a living making music...bliss!

Seven Things I Cannot Do:
1. Touch the unglazed parts of pottery. I swear, it is the worst feeling in the world, turns my stomach.
2. Not procrastinate.
3. Not nap on that patch of sun on my bedcover. DB thinks I was a cat in a past life.
4. Keep my desk tidy.
5. Be OK with making phonecalls to people I don't know.
6. Hold a spider.
7. Not smile at someone I am passing on the street.

Seven Things That Attract Me to…...Knitting
1. Colour!!
2. The sense of power that comes from creating something out of nothing. Randomness to order.
3. Making things MY SIZE! Stupid national averages for women...I am not average, I am unique!
4. Being part of a shared history, present and future.
5. Relaxation.
6. The power to express my creativity via a different, more-unusual medium.
7. The sense of achievement and acceptance that knitting offers. My pattern might be wrong, my gauge might be off and I might have droppped 10 stitches but I made it, I still love it and noone tells me off for it. It is only wrong it I think it is wrong and that never happens :)

Seven Things I Say
1. What's the craic?
2. BRILLIANT!
3. Kolya, you Goonesbury!
4. Oopsy...
5. Feck off (er, Irish slang for 'F*#k off' but considered milder...my Ma wouldn't give me a slap for saying it to her)
6. Ah for feck sake (usually directed at knitting...or Kolya)
7. I'll watch the footy with you Kol, if I can knit through it?!

Seven Great Female Artists...
1. Joni Mitchell
2. Carole King
3. The Bangles
4. Norah Jones
5. Dolly Parton
6. Nina Simone
7. Cyndi Lauper

Seven Good Movies:
1. Chocolat
2. Sliding Doors
3. Mary Poppins
4. Shakespeare in Love
5. Love Actually
6. Clueless (will love it 'til my dying day!)
7. The Nightmare Before Christmas

OK, so I changed it slightly, but that was fun :) And now, because all the people I would have tagged on this Brooke already has, I invite anyone who reads this to take it as an official tag and to do this Meme too. Thanks Brooke for the fun. Photos of WIPs, dyeing and fun to come this weekend...TFI Friday is all I can say, this long weekend is needed after the week I have had! :)

Curl up and Dye!

2007-04-11T18:39:00.000+01:00

Lol, there is a hairdressers in the town next to mine at home called 'Curl Up and Dye'...heehee!

I have had colour and dyeing on the brain recently, what with Easter and the riot of colour that it is, and also the article from Knitty that changed my perspective on dyeing yarn. I am so excited to try it. I just received a parcel of virgin yarn I purchased from KnitPicks (what a shop!) and have bought some food colouring and now I just have to go for it. So exciting! What wonderful colourways could I come up with? Or will I just make a big, muddy mess? Either way excites me, mess or no mess. I am also really intersted in incorporate the Project Spectrum colours in a colourway. The colours for the next 2 months are green, yellow and pink...such vibrant, Spring-time colours, and really interesting to work with since pink and green are contrast/clashing colours. I have been trying to find inspiration for colour schemes, and this is what I have come up with so far...

Sweet pastels...

Citrus brights...

Old school cool (who doesn't LOVE the Pink Panther?!)...

Street life...

And natures response (nature always wins in the colourful battle)...

Modern art...

A taste from home...

Kitch classic...

I interrupt this broadcast for a special news bulletin...

2007-04-09T20:50:00.000+01:00

I have been lying low this week, concentrating on school and enjoying having my DB about. His job unfortunately didn't work out in NY (company were trying to screw him round) but all is not lost as he has contacted some of the other companies he had interviewed with and wanted to hire him, and with a bit of luck he will be employed elsewhere and not be deported! Phew! The stress of it all, but on the upside I have loved having him with me 24/7. I have missed him so much as part of my 'everyday' life.

The knitting has been going really well too. I have finished the first leg of Clessidra and am loving the pattern. I have decided to start the second leg instead of finishing the first sock completely, as I have a sneaky suspicion that I won't have enough yarn to finish both. Looking into purchasing more, silly me not to make sure before I started. I was also prompted to start the second leg after receiving ANOTHER parcel from my secret pal. I swear, she is spoiling me something rotten. She actually made me a 'magic loop' knitting kit, since I mentioned wanting to learn how to knit on 2 circular needles in my SP10 questionnaire. She recommended this as a great place to start and, well, I was powerless to stop myself casting on and trying it out.

The kit included Addi Turbo circular needle (I have never tried these before and really didn't understand what the fuss was about...I get it now!!), a skein of beauiful Lisa Souza purple SOCK! yarn, directions on how to knit socks the 'magic loop way, chocolate and hazelnut tea and a packet of Haribo gummy bears :) I was so happy I immediately knitted a gauge for the SOCK! yarn, just because I wanted to touch it and then, after scouring the net and not finding a pattern that really looked worthy of this gorgeous yarn, I had a brainwave...cast-on the second leg of Clessidra! Needless to say, I am a very happy girl and was all weekend. Thank you so much Pal...YOU ROCK!! Photos to come.

...And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming :)

FOs, UFOs, Flying Saucers and Little Men from Mars!

2007-04-01T22:01:00.000+01:00

What a week!! I am so completely and utterly wiped it is not funny. School is stressing me out and I am not handling it well at all. I know I seem to complain about it a lot here, but I should say that I have been depressed for some time now and have been seeking help for it. Things, between here and home, have been pretty rough recently but I am working through it and, whether things change or not, I am determined that my state of mind will. So there! :) Thank God for KNITTING! And really supportive and understanding DBs! Don't know where I would be without that boy, he brightens my day no end.

I did have lots of lovely suprises waiting for me when I got back from Nashville. Firstly, I received my only Naw-Ruz card of the year from my amazing Secret Pal, who wasted no time in also sending me my first parcel. Such a thoughtful person. Enclosed was a bag of dark chocolates (no photo of them, sorry, but they vanished all of a sudden...fairies me thinks!) and some handmade, personalised cards and envelopes. How amazing is that? She designed and crafted the cards herself and then personalised the envelopes with my address as sender. Look she even made half of them with a fairy motif on them...how well does she know me :)

A few days later and what did I receive but an aaaaaaaamazing parcel from Brooke, for our washcloth swap. In it was herbal tea, chocolates (including a chocolate frog, didn't even know they made them...I got a Snape card in it), a knitting magazine, a ball of Sugar n' Cream cotton, a card from herself and a Harry Potter postcard from Eli. It even came in a box with sheep prints all over it, heehee!

AND, the best bit, my very own washcloth crafted by herself! So beautiful that it lives in my bathroom, I couldn't bring myself to use it as a dishcloth, it was too pretty. It deserves a life of bubble baths and facials.

On the FO front, I finally finished my wristwarmers I had been working on for ages. I love them so much already and they are so much fun to wear. I am also pretty proud of myself that the pattern was my own, nothing particularly crazy, but still my first creative venture in knitting.

I am still working on a slew of other things, including Clessidra socks that I started in Nashville. Also my little shrug, that I whip out when things get too much for me and I just need some stocking stitch pronto! My mothers socks have not progressed in the slightest. That woman is so patient with me. Another highly patient person is my dear Sockret Pal, Michelle, who's socks I am finishing right now and then posting tomorrow morning (you are so good to me, Michelle!) But I am happy and knitting is good!

Nashville '07...hold onto your hats!!

2007-03-30T17:41:00.000+01:00

Nashville through pictures :)

The Bus Ride!

My dear friend, bus partner and fellow Euro (he's from London), Will Knox, finding himself very at home in TN!

Warner Brother Time, where we were based for the duration of the trip.

Sessions with Gillian Welsh and David Rawling (if you don't know them, they are amazing, look up their music!)...

...Janis Ian (while talking to her after the session, I poured a cup of cold coffee over my arm! I swear only I could do these things. "Hi, I love your music so much *pour*")

...Berklee does the Grand Ole Opry. We presented Loretta Lynn with an honourary Doctorate live on stage.

...Gretchen Wilson, who came to do a session later in the week

...Best live music ever...the guy in the front is a Berklee Alumni, Charlie Worsham, my friend, woohoo! The Station Inn is the place to go for live Bluegrass that just makes you want to get up and dance. It is the closest to 'home' I have felt since moving to America...suppose it's not that suprising considereing that Bluegrass is Irish trads. younger sibling :) yeay family!

So much fun, so much good music, lovely weather and a homely community, makes your heart feel light...

And lastly, but by no means least, the famous (or now maybe infamous) cowboy boot...(drumroll, please)...

Back in the swing of things

2007-03-26T19:06:00.000+01:00

Supposedly!

After a weekend of recovery, I should be back on the same planet as everyone else but, alas, I do not feel it. I promptly got sick on returning home from Nashville on Thursday. It was a great trip and I am at the moment compiling photos to post for your pleasure. I miss my Spring Break though. I feel entirely unrested and unmotivated, and would just like to take a big, long nap! I know that sounds entirely ungrateful and lazy. I don't understand it anymore than anyone else. I should be buzzing but I am not. Hopefully it will pass. Soon!

DB has finally arrived in the States, for good. He is posted down in NJ and is working away already. No rest for the wicked. Still haven't got to see him but hopefully sometime this week he will make it up to Boston for a few days. The knitting is coming along, slowly but surely. Will be posting pics of it too, got lots done with my socks in Nashville. Also I am really excited because I finally got a pair of cowboy boots while I was down there and they are gorgeous. I know, how cliche, but I love them and i was told by a Texan no less, that they are very authentic and not in the least bit touristy...*grin*

Nashville, Here I Come!

2007-03-15T18:12:00.000Z

Well today I leave for Nashville, handing my Spring Break back over to my school and going to learn about the music industry there, meet amazing musicians, songwriters, engineers, producers and generally have a rockin', if tiring, time! It's not how I imagine spending what little down-time I have, but I am really looking forward to it. Surprisingly one of the most attractive parts of it is the 20 hour busride down with all my friends. Enforced sitting, music-listening, reading and knitting sounds like bliss right now.

I will have my laptop with me but am not sure how much time I will have to blog, so if I am a little absent this week please forgive me. I will however be around for emailing and commenting so I'm sure you'll see me about. I promise to take lots of pictures of Pari 'doin'-the-south'. Should be hilarious. St. Paddy's day in Tennesse...should be an experience :) I have a funny feeling I am definitely not in Kansas (a.k.a. Ireland...or surrogate Ireland called Boston!) anymore Toto!

I hope you all have a truly 'Irish' Paddy's day (f.y.i. I have heard it referred to as Patty's day...em, NO! His name was Patrick, shortened to Paddy...Patty is Marge's sister off the Simpsons, not a Saint). I want to hear all the goss when I get back :) and find out how long it took you to get over the hangover!

Have a lovely week everybody.

Monkey News Update

2007-03-14T04:00:00.000Z

Here is a top I got from Urban Outfitters for $3...yes, that is correct, $3! I was proud of myself in the following ways -
1) I could have bought more than one top, but I didn't.
2) I could have bought it full price earlier in the week but decided not to and was duly rewarded later that week.
3) I bought something blue. I don't ever wear blue really because I don't think I suit it but I branched out, I think it looks great and it is the perfect Project Spectrum top for this month ;)

Next I give you the Ireland colours, though not in correct order. (this photo is shared for absolutely no reason whatsoever!)

This is a photo of the snowstorm in Boston last week and how beautiful this city can look when it snows. This week however has been gorgeous Spring weather, warm and breezy, and altogether climatically confusing, if that is even a phrase.

And lastly, some real news actually, a sad goodbye to a challenge that just wasn't going to work out. This is as far as I got with Pomatopmus before ripping them out a couple of days ago. They weren't going anywhere fast and I just wasn't happy with them so it was time for us to part ways, until I get a bit better at reading knitting charts.

The detail was gorgeous though and I will definitely be attempting this pattern again but I think I need to do it during a holiday when I have no other knitting to do. The Christmas knitting really killed it for me and once I lose my flow with something it takes a lot for me to get back into it. Speaking of getting back into things, I am having severe second-itis. I have one glove finished, one wristwarmer finished and one lace sock finished (for poor Ma who has been waiting forever!), the seconds are all cast-on and started but I have ground to a halt with all of them. And to make matters worse I haven't finished my shrug yet and I have cast on those Clessidra socks from the new Knitty that I want to knit but with a different cable down the back. That is going to be my project to take to Nashville with me and the 20 hour busride there so it will definitely get done, but the other poor souls languishing on my desk, beneath mounds of stuff, are not so lucky. I will get them done but I need to sort out all my knitting stuff. It is living in boxes and bags and driving me nuts. I don't work well when things get too disorganised. Oh well. I can't wait to have a pair of socks to wear thought that are all mine. I want to create something for myself.

I am grateful for...

2007-03-13T20:18:00.000Z

- Kolya
- snow
- knitting
- Boston in the Spring
- clean water
- sunshine
- Music! and lyrics
- clean air
- films
- real post
- the smell of fresh laundry
- my bed
- my vintage boots that are so high and yet so comfortable
- new stationary (yeah, I'm a nerd)
- algebra (don't even ask...)
- Ireland
- mountains
- adventures
- aeroplanes
- my crazy siblings
- my parents, though I wouldn't like to admit it to them
- dark chocolate
- city life
- country life
- being able to live in both
- my health
- sleep
- laughter
- tea
- yarn!
- pretty bras and underwear (noone said my list had to make sense)
- fairies...magic...imagination
- mascara and my long lashed to put it on
- being unique, but still having people who understand me (if you are reading this, I mean you!)

hmmmm, I feel good right now.

Knitting myself back together...

2007-03-09T04:47:00.000Z

The new Knitty is out and my word, it is phenomenal!

Particularly interesting is an article about mindful knitting and the art of knitting as meditation and a means to connect with your inner-self. This article felt a little like it wasa written just for me. I think I am going to have to print it out and stick it on my wall. I have been having a down week, and for no apparent reason as things aren't too stressful at school and I have Spring Break to look forward to. But for some reason I can't seem to shake this black cloud over my head, this omnious feeling that something is wrong or shifted off centre inside me. I feel a bit crazy to be honest. I really don't know what to say. But this article was really inspiring and made me feel better about knitting in general, that is was part of my 'keeping-myself-together' process, rather than just a hobby.

I also REALLY loved the article about yarn dyeing and immediately went out and bought food colouring when I was finished reading it. Just have to save up to get some yarn to dye. I really want to try and make a colourway for Project Spectrum, with this months colours. I am also excited to dye a colourway especially for DB so I can knit him some socks, he is never usually too enamored with colourways for 'men'. I think I will start with superwash, no chance of felting the stuff, and see what happend. I am really excited to see what I can do.

I decided to do a quick bit of photography today as I walked home from school, even though it was nearly -8 celsius (don't even ask me what that is Fahrenheit, something REALLY cold). The sky was that gorgeous deep blue it only gets in a perfectly cloudless night as the sun sets, and against of the Christian Science Centre buildings it was just too good to pass up. I was experimenting with light and manipulating it to create different images than what I was photography. I am thinking now that I could base a few colourways of some of these photos...perfect maybe for my Project Spectrum ones.

This one is actually of a star. How it made this particular shape, I'm not sure, but it was very windy and absolutely freezing so my hands were not the steadiest. Fastest photo shoot ever, I was done in 10 minutes and my hands were completely numb, not to mention the rest of me.

This and the photo below look how music sounds to me.

I think this one looks like one of those old-fashioned Victorian ballgowns, with the corseted waists, pinched in to nothing and then ballooning out into an extravagant bell shaped shirt. Can anyone else see it?

The Magic of March

2007-03-03T14:26:00.000Z

The start of March is always an exciting time for me. It marks the last month in the Baha'i calendar, which is a period of fasting that ends with the Baha'i New Year on the 21st of March. Incidently the 21st March is also the Spring Equinox, the official changing of the seasons :) Yeay!

From the 2nd until the 20th of March inclusive, Baha'i fast from sunrise until sunset, not eating or drinking during daylight hours. While this might sound really unnecessarily taxing, I find it a time of great energy. It is an amazing way of cleansing the body, giving yourself a chance to clear away all those toxins that have accumulated during the year. It is also a way of showing self-will, that you are not a slave to cravings or munchy attacks but can pace and control yourself in this gentle way. I find that the hardest thing for me is the late afternoons when I start to get a bit tired but all in all I find it a great experience. And interestingly, it is not the 'food' aspect that is most important. It is a time of spiritual reflection and recuperation, to take stock and refresh yourself. So whether you fast or not (there are lots of instances when you are excempt from fasting...nursing, heavy labour, travelling, on your period, under 15 yrs old, etc) it is still a time to reflect on the year past spiritually and what you hope for in the new year. You can find more information on the Baha'i Fast here.

And at the end of the fast, my favourite holiday...Naw-Ruz! The Baha'i new year. Man, I love it. It is also the Persian new year and the Spring Equinox. The Baha'is throw big parties, give gifts (Amu Naw-Ruz was the 'Santa' equivilent in Persian culture...Amu means uncle in Persian. He even looked like Santa, with a red and white suit and a long beard. We used to joke in my house that he and Santa were obviously brothers, one for the West, one for the East!) and generally have a roaring good time.

One of my favourite traditions for Naw-Ruz, which is more part of the Persian tradition of celebrating Naw-Ruz (the Baha'i communities celebrate it anyway they see fit according to their culture), but it is the Haft Sin. It is a table set with seven items all beginning with the letter 'S' in Persian and representing life, rebirth, Spring, etc. Goldfish are a really common item but for some reason my family always killed our goldfish, they never survived longer than a week. No clue why, very sad...poor Goldie, Silver and Goldie II.

Unfortunately it has been years since I was home for Naw-Ruz, and this year again I will be somewhere different with no other Baha'is about probably. Bummer. But still, it is such a fun time of year. I time to be happy. A time to meditate and reconnect with your spiritual life if, like me, you have been drifting away recently. It is a time for family and friends. And I was thinking, I am 21 now. Maybe it is time that I start making my own Naw-Ruz traditions, making this time of year special for myself even if my family or friends who celebrate it aren't around. I think it is time for me to own Naw-Ruz for myself and one day share that with my own family.

I think this year is going to be really important for me. I have only really become a Baha'i in my own right recently. I was raised a Baha'i but for a long time was just kind of drifting, exploring other things, being an inquistive young person as young people should be. It was especially interesting, and hard in a way, being in a relationship with someone who didn't really practice or identify himself with anything. I always respected my upbringing but was worried that I was just believing what my parents told me and not thinking independently. It is so hard sometimes to know what is actually yours and what has been handed down to you. Recently though I have been reconnecting with my faith, seeing it for myself, by myself and realising how much I love it. It is open and flexible, allows me to embrace and explore other religions and philosophies, and I believe it has really helped shape the person I am. Sometimes I got frustrated or lose focus, but it is always there for me, and that seems like something worth hanging round for.

Secret Pal 10 Questionnaire

2007-03-02T18:51:00.000Z

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I adore natural fibers (suprise, suprise!), though to be honest I will knit with just about anything so long as it's not novalty yarn. I have been using lots of blends recently, mainly for the handy machine washable possiblity.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a lovely circular needles case and my straights live in my flower vase when there are no flowers in it.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit from my Ma when I was 3/4 years old and knitted on and off during my childhood. I really got into it again however, during my first year of college. I would consider myself a intermediate to advanced knitter

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Nope.

5. What's your favorite scent?
I love lavender, ylang-ylang and jasmine. Don't like super strong scents, sensitive wee nose, and synthetic scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I loooooooove dark chocolate! I am also a huge fane of jellys (not sure what they call them in America), wine gums and Haribo. Basically anything sweet is good!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I really want to learn how to spin, it is my goal for the year. I also crochet and sew.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I can play all music formats. As a music student I am open to all genres of music and love hearing new things and discovering new styles. Please feel free to make me a mix of YOUR favourite songs and artists, so I can hear something different than my same old itunes collection and learn a little about you too :)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love bold, bright and deep colours. Basically any colour so long as it is NOT pastels. I am particularly partial to greens, green-blues and deep purples.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I come from a big family (I'm the eldest of 4) but am currently at college so it is just me and the flatmate. I don't have any pets but I love cats and hope to have one in the not-too-distant future.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes, yes, yes and only if it doesn't make me look like a house.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love to knit socks, jumpers (sweaters)...em, basically anything actually so long as it's knitted :)

13. What are you knitting right now?
I am currently working on 2 pairs of socks, a pair of gloves, a shrug for Spring and a pair of wristwarmers. I don't usually have so many projects on the go at once, I hate having unfinished things, but I got a little too ambitious over Presidents Day weekend and started loads of things, as well as the projects I had going on.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I love handmade gifts. I believe that they are the most thoughtful and heartfelt gifts you can give.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like bamboo or wood needles but the student budget doesn't stretch to them right now. I work with both straights and circulars.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope, neither. Definitely in need of a winder though.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Em, socks for my Mother that were meant to be for Christmas but still aren't finished. Also the second wristwarmer...I am having severe second-itis.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
I love the Baha'i New Year, which is the 21st March (it's also the Spring Equinox). It is called Naw-Ruz and is a time of partying and gift giving in the Baha'i community. I will be posting more information on it in my blog soon if you want to learn more, or feel free to ask me questions.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I love things to do with fairies (my name means fairy/angel in Persian). I like cats, as I mentioned before, and I am a jewellery fiend, particularly earrings......mmmmmmhhh jewellery-lcious! Oh and being Irish, I love tea and anything to do with tea!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don't have any subscriptions. I really like Rowan books and magazines, particularly the Big knits series and the new Felting book that looks brilliant. I don't know that much about what's out there so being introduced to something new that you recommend would be great. I have always wanted a pair of those sock blockers, think they look great and v. practical.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I really want to learn how to spin. I would also like to learn how to dye my own yarn. And knitting socks on 2 circular needles...looks like magic to me!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am, I love socks! I have a ladies size 7/8 US and a size 5 UK. Don't remember what that is European (oh dear, I have been away from home too long :P )

23. When is your birthday?
9th June, 1985

Please feel free to ask me ANYTHING else you like!

2007-02-26T21:23:00.000Z

Snow

A torrent of white
noise affiliates,
Pressing their sound
firmly against my
ears.
Feel the pressure while
they silently float
by.

Shades of Blue Comparison Chart...

2007-02-25T19:58:00.000Z

Yup, it is super nerdy but I was doing a little research for Project Spectrum and wanted to learn some factual things about the colour blue. White is the mixing of all the colours of the spectrum and definitely something I want to look into further, as well as grey, but blue is a colour I have often steered clear of, a colour I always considered unflattering on me (which it is, unless has greens in it...yummmmm, teal!) But recently I have been more drawn to it and am even knitting a navy/dark blue shrug for myself. So, thanks to the wonder of Wikipedia, here is a colour comparison chart, with exact names. I also learned that the scientific contrast colour for blue (based on the light frequencies the colours give off) is yellow, while in art it is considered orange. Now those combinations I love! Orange and a really turquoise or teal blue...aahhhhh!

Shades of Blue Colour Comparison Chart (my first ever, successful link!)

Azure Mist (web color "Azure") (Hex: #F0FFFF) (RGB: 240, 255, 255)

Alice Blue (web color) (Hex: #F0F8FF) (RGB: 240, 248, 255)

Baby Blue (Hex: #E0FFFF) (RGB: 111, 255, 255)

Lavendula (Vietnamese [[Lavender (color)|Lavender]]) (Pale Indigo) (Hex: #E6E6FA) (RGB: 230, 230, 250)

[[Periwinkle (color)|Periwinkle]] (Lavender Blue) (Pastel Indigo) (Hex: #CCCCFF) (RGB: 204, 204, 255)

Powder Blue (web color) (Hex: #B0E0E6) (RGB: 176, 224, 230)

Light Blue (Hex: #ADD8E6) (RGB: 173, 216, 230)

Ultra Blue (Blizzard Blue) (Crayola) (Hex: #A3E3ED) (RGB: 163, 227, 237)

Light Cornflower Blue (Crayola Cornflower) (Hex: #93CCEA) (RGB: 147, 204, 234)

Light Sky Blue (web color) (Hex: #87CEFA) (RGB: 135, 296, 250)

Sky Blue (web color) (Hex: #87CEEB) (RGB: 135, 206, 235)

Medium Sky Blue (Crayola Sky Blue) (Hex: #76D7EA) (RGB: 118, 215, 234)

Aquamarine Blue (Crayola Aquamarine) (Hex: #71D9E2) (RGB: 113, 217, 226)

Turquoise Blue (web color Deep Sky Blue) (Hex: #00BFFF) (RGB: 0, 191, 255)

Ukrainian Azure (Color of Ukrainian Flag) (Hex: #42ADDE) (RGB: 66, 173, 222)

United Nations Azure (Hex: #5B92E5) (RGB: 91, 146, 229)

Cornflower Blue (web color) (Hex: #6495ED) (RGB: 100, 149, 237)

Bright Cerulean (Crayola Cerulean) (Hex: #02A4D3) (RGB: 2, 164, 211)

Bondi Blue (Crayola Blue-Green) (Hex: #0095B6) (RGB: 0, 149, 182)

Cerulean (Hex: #007BA7) (RGB: 0, 123, 167)

Steel Blue (web color)(Hex: #4682B4) (RGB: 70, 130, 180)

Agate Blue (Hex: #44719B) (RGB: 68, 113, 155)

Indigo Dye (Hex: #1A5798) (RGB: 17, 80, 147)

Bright Indigo (Crayola Indigo) (Hex: #4F69C6) (RGB: 79, 105, 198)

Medium Slate Blue (web color) (Hex: #7B68EE) (RGB: 123, 104, 138)

Dodger Blue (web color)(Hex: #1E90FF) (RGB: 30, 144, 255)

Azure (Hex: #007FFF) (RGB: 0, 127, 255)

Deep Azure (Crayola Blue) (Hex: #0066FF) (RGB: 0, 102, 255)

Royal Blue (web color) (Hex: #4169E1) (RGB: 65, 105, 225)

BLUE (Hex: #0000FF) (RGB: 0, 0, 255)

Denim (Same as Crayola Denim) (Hex: #1560BD) (RGB: 21, 96, 189)

Cerulean Blue (Hex: #2A52BE) (RGB: 42, 82, 190)

Medium Navy Blue (Crayola Navy Blue) (Hex: #0066CC) (RGB: 0, 102, 204)

Medium Persian Blue (Hex: #0067A5) (RGB: 0, 103, 165)

Swedish Azure (Color of Swedish flag) (Hex: #005B99) (RGB: 0, 91, 153)

Cobalt Blue (Hex: #0047AB) (RGB: 0, 71, 171)

Persian Blue (Hex: #1C39BB) (RGB: 28, 57, 187)

Medium Blue (web color) (Hex: #0000CD) (RGB: 0, 0, 205)

Dark Blue (web color) (Hex: #0000CB) (RGB: 0, 0, 200)

Indigo (Electric Indigo) (Hex: #6600FF) (RGB: 102, 0, 255)

Deep Lavender (web color Medium Purple) (Hex: #9370DB) (RGB: 147, 112, 219)

Lavender (Hex: #B57EDC) (RGB: 181, 126, 220)

Deep Indigo (web color Blue-Violet) (Hex: #8A2BE2) (RGB: 138, 43, 226)

Pigment Indigo (web color Indigo) (Hex: #4B0082) (RGB: 75, 0, 130)

Persian Indigo (Hex: #32127A) (RGB: 50, 18, 122)

Dark Azure (Pantone Blue #286) (Hex: #0038A8) (RGB: 0, 56, 186)
International Klein Blue (Hex: #002FA7) (RGB: 0, 47, 167)

Dark Powder Blue (Smalt) (Hex: #003399) (RGB: 0, 51, 153)

Ultramarine (Hex: #120A8F) (RGB: 18, 10, 143)

Navy Blue (web color) (Hex: #000080) (RGB: 0, 0, 128)

Sapphire (Hex: #082567) (RGB: 8, 37, 103)

Midnight Blue (web color) (Hex: #191970) (RGB: 25, 25, 112)

Dark Midnight Blue (Crayola Midnight Blue) (Hex: #003366) (RGB: 0, 51, 102)

Prussian Blue (Berlin Blue) (Hex: #003153) (RGB: 0, 49, 83)

Dark Indigo (Hex: #310062) (RGB: 49, 0, 98)

Project Spectrum 2.0

2007-02-24T01:36:00.000Z

I was being very unproductive this evening, after having skipped all my classes today and only going to work because I won't be able to make rent 'til another pay cheque comes through, when I stumbled upon this fascinating project. There I was listening to The Garden State soundtrack, being melancholy (as you do when your DB has just left) and waiting for him to phone and say he arrived home safely (which he did!), and the universe (knowing I needed inspiration and a creative jolt) lead me to this loveliness. It is called Project Spectrum and is basically an creative exploration of the colours of the spectrum, with different colours being explored every two months. It looked such an interesting way to explore colour, not only in my knitting and crafts, but just in my everyday life, that I couldn't help but sign up. I am really excited to look more intently at my world and connect to colour on this more conscious level.

And the colours for February and March are BLUE, WHITE and GREY. Very exciting and interestingly enough, colours that I had been attracted to recently. Very wintery and certainly an applicable palette for Boston right now. So here is my first study in blue, white and grey, photos taken from my iphoto file, just whatever I had on hand that fit the bill and tickled my fancy. Included are photos from the Boston Aquarium, the Irish coast, home (the Persian carpet is handmade from Iran, in my parents house) and artwork. Enjoy!

The Last Supper

2007-02-22T02:05:00.000Z

It is DBs last night here and we are about to tuck into our last dinner together for awhile. I always find the last night together really hard, not in an emotional way, but I get moody and screw things up by being touchy or sulking or something very silly like that. But not tonight! We decided to not go out like we usually do, but relax, stay in, order nice Thai food and watch films. Bliss!! Oh dear, why does life have to be this way and why does my brain have to be all screwy and want to do stupid things like homework, reading or songwriting on the last chance I'll get to hang out with my best friend for a good while? Hmmm, something's going on there I think...

St. Valentine's Day

2007-02-16T21:46:00.000Z

I am not one for Valentine's Day and neither, thankfully is Kolya, though he is always really sweet and would take me out for a meal. This year due to the horrendous weather in Boston that day we decide to stay in and watch 'The Devil Wears Prada' which he got me as a gift. He also suprised me with a big bunch of lilies. He normally goes for roses on this one particular day, but lilies are my flowers (the pic I have in my blogger profile is a sketch done by my mother called 'Parisa's Lilies' and are of a birthday bunch I got many moons ago). They are in my bedroom right now and are slowly opening. I love it when they are still closed and I get to watch them open as the days pass. They smell gorgeous too, welcoming me home after a day at school. The gift that keeps giving! Well I just wanted to say a big thank you to my wonderful DB and the universe/big-(wo)man-upstairs/karma for allowing someone like him in my life. He makes me so happy! (I'm taking him for a steak dinner tomorrow night!)

And that, my friends, is the mushiest you will EVER hear me be, so enjoy it while you can ;)

A week of knitting in pictures...

2007-02-14T22:57:00.000Z

...have been doing lots and lots this past week. School has been hectic, planning for Spring break already. Going to Nashville with school to see the industry there, very excited but had to queue at 6am for a spot on the bus going down. Had crazy recording session from 2am-6am...totally didn't make it to morning classes that day :) but had a great time and got lots of work done. DB arrived in on Sunday and brought me so many lovely things from home, including piles of wool I had left behind and tea (YEAY for Irish tea!! my fav!!) and sweeties (candy) from home. He also brought over a gift from my Ma, she made me a pair of turquoise wristwarmers that she crocheted herself and a little hadbag that she bought me to match. Just too lovely, thank you so much Mam and DB!! Having such a good time with him.

Finally got all those lovely things I had ordered for myself. The Classic Knits book arrived and I promptly started a pair of gloves from it that I am making for the Harry Potter KAL that my friend Em is running. They are made with the Yule yarn, dyed by our one and only Brooke, and well made while watching 'The Goblet of Fire' on DVD. I made the right hand that night and am now started the left one. They're called 'Yule Ball' gloves, especially for the Yule Ball in Book 4, to keep ones hands warm on the way to the Great Hall. Snuggly warm, without being bulky...functional chic!

I have also started making this shrug from the Classic Knits book, with yarn I bought from AJ at downwithknittygritty.blogspot.com (I know, I should be making links, but so tired...next time I promise!) She was having a little stash clean-out and was getting rid of some lovely Debbie Bliss Cathay that I snapped up and am now using on this pattern. Very excited!

THEN yesterday arrive the olive green cotton I ordered from Hershnners (bless their sales!) and have decided that it will do lovely in making this wee summer top from the cover of 'Vintage Knits' that Santa/Ma gave me for Christmas. It took every ounce of my will power not to cast-on however as I already have so much on the needles already. Pace yourself, Pari!

And lastly, I finished the first of my pair of wristwarmers and juuuuust love it. Can't wait to finish the last one and then I can wear them proudly round town. Still can't belive that I came up with this pattern myself. I am more than a little proud...oops, hope that doesn't mean I am due a fall soon. Eck!

Secret Pal 9

2007-02-05T06:18:00.000Z

I'm being so forgetful...I also wanted to thank my amazing Secret Pal, Lisa, for her kindness throughout the swap. She treated me royally and was the most fun to keep in touch with. Thank you so much Lisa. Please find a link to her blog in my friends list and pop on over for a wee nosey.

Also my spoilee, Christine, can be found in my friends list too and was a pleasure to get to know over the last few months. Braving the few technical difficulties we had she was amazingly understanding during my trying semester and was a pleasure to spoil.

Two lovely new friends!! :)

And now the big questions...to do Secret Pal 10 or not?!?!

Superbowl Extraordinaire

2007-02-05T05:16:00.000Z

What a fun day. Spent it at my friends house, eating loads and watching the superbowl, my second one ever. Unfortunately the Bears lost (I have family in Chicago and the Colts put the Patriots out, who would be local team) but it was a phenomenal event and the halftime show was specatular! Seeing Prince perform was amazing! I'm not the hugest Prince fan but that man can my a guitar sing and is one of the best songwriters EVER ('Nothing Compares 2U' as sang by Sinead O'Connor...nuff said!) Word on tbe Berklee Beach (its the stretch of pavement outside our lame, campusless college!) is that Prince will be giving this semesters graduation speech and Stevie Wonder will be performing. Please, let it be so, 'cause I graduate this May and that would just be amazing. Berklee are known for getting real names to their graduations (Aretha Franklin was there last year and Paul Simon played at the 50th anniversary concert). Keep your fingers crossed for me :)

I was a naughty girl on Friday night and after a very trying week, in which my teachers told me bare-faced lies about requirements for graduating (they told me I had to stay a whole extra semester, I told them where to go) I did a little online retail therapy with my non-existence money to cheer me up. I ordered a copy of the book 'Classic Knits' by Erica Knight and am so excited to try out the patterns, they are definitely 'classic' and what I have always wanted, perfect v-neck sweaters, a military style cardigan, messenger bags and slouchy socks.

Had been eyeing it up in Barnes and Noble, price $20 but found it online for $7.99, hardback and new. Perfect stress relief :) And then obviously to compliment the arrival of new patterns I had to splurge on some yarn, but it was also on sale and was only $2 a skein for this gorgeous olive coloured cotton. Will post pics when it all arrives. I'm very excited about it all as you may have noticed!

Have been knitting myself some wrist warmers with the beautiful yarn my sockret pal sent me many moons ago. I actually had been waiting to find just the right pattern for wrist warmers that I had wantd for so long and finally saw a pair my friend was wearing and decided I liked them and based my pattern off them. It's the first time I have really designed anything myself with out having a basic pattern given to me and I'm really proud of myself. (Not so proud of my ridiculous ball winding skills though, as pictured here. No matter how hard I try to make it neat and not too tight, I always end up making a huge tangly mess with my yarn...you should see the state of the skein for my mother's socks. The security guy in the airport dug his hands right in it to make sure there was nothing inside the ball and I haven;t been able to untangle it since)

I just love cabling, it reminds me of aran knitting from home and the colours in the yarn make it all look very tasteful. And look at those stitch markers go, proudly purchased from Brooke's etsy shop, they make me feel so decedent and special when I'm knitting. I also had loads of fun making calimetry the yarn my secretpal sent me, the lovely purple/pink colour way. It is so warm, I wear it constantly at the moment and couldn't survive the cold weather and my unruly hair without it.

I put some little flowers on the front of it and a big button on the back...please excuse the blurry behind photo, hard stuff getting a pic from behind. It was such fun to knit and I have already made another one for my flatmate. A definite favourite.

All in all, I have been having lots of knitting fun and am feeling very spoiled with all my new knits. Isn't amazing how you can make yourself feel so special by creating something for yourself? It often isn't particularly fancy or expensive and when I do it, nearly always has mistakes in it, but it really shows care for yourself. It sounds selfish but it makes me feel good, like I deserve a little something for myself. I love gifting things as well so much, but after the holiday season I am so looking forward to my little parcels arriving and knitting up a snuggly something-or-other just for me :) And speaking of snuggly things, DB will be over for a visit in a weeks time!! YEAY, he gets in Sunday and stays for 11 days I think, which I am over the moon about. Right over St. Valentine's day, which is a croc if you ask me, but still such a sweet thing for him to plan to be here for it. I've only been back 2 weeks but it is still so hard waiting for him to be here. Roll on next week!!

Once there was a girl with a curl, right in the middle of her forehead...

2007-01-26T22:24:00.000Z

...and when she was good, she was very, very good and when she was bad,...well, it wasn't her fault because her sockret pal spoiled her rotten!

I hope my sockret pal won't mind but I really want to share the note that was in my parcel, that I received today (Priority post, I feel so special). It was so special and exactly what I wanted to read after a long week back at school.

'Hopefully your lips are happy with Burt and his various bees, (Parisa: in relation to my last parcel, filled with Burt's Bees)
Now they won't be chapped when you're kissing Kolya in the breeze,
For winter is upon us with all its whipping cheer,
I'd hate to send a package that would cause snickers or even jeers, (P: not possible, you are too kind Pal!)
My hope is that these boxes can make at least one day great,
That the stresses from professors and peers evaporate,
That it's contents would provide comfort while your so very far away,
Maybe the items will give relief from the horrors of the day,
So may you have a thousand smiles from my silly gift hunch,
While you nourish the grumbles in your tummy with all the things to munch,
I know school can be horrendous and make downtown sparse,
No need for me to tell you work can be a huge pain in the arse, (P: LOL! 'Arse' I'm so proud, Pal is Irish at heart!)
Yet still something in the winter encourages the spirit,
No matter how crazy know you will endure it,
So may the contents of this parcel keep you alert and warm,
Straight off to Boston I'm sending some Southern charm!'

In the parcel was a box of biscotti, some raspeberry cordial filled dark chocolates, a bag of Starbucks Bold expresso roast, a trio of Starbucks flavoured syrups, a beautiful kitchen set of coffee toppings in lovely glass jars, a Starbucks card (I was thinking of you Brooke, the whole time I was opening this, my fellow Starbucks abuser...wish we could have a coffee morning), the sweetest little sock purse with pink flamingos all over it, and lastly a gift certificate for 'Webs yarn Store' for $25!! I don't know what I did to deserve a parcel like this, but thank you so much. I have quite literally been spoilt rotten by both my secret pals and I am very touched by their generosity, and plan to pay it forward to due course!

THANK YOU!!

So the first week of school is over and I am very tired (think the cold, international travel and getting back into a routine has really taken it out of me) but I am also very optimistic for this semester. I am feeling very happy with lots of my class choices and have really enjoyed meeting my new teachers, feeling a support and reassurance from them that says 'we're here to help'. I hope that my gut instincts with them will be correct and this semester will be a fresh start for me. I honestly feel like I could do very well in these classes, hopefully not jinxing it, but I hope that it will show the universe I mean business.

In order to keep my head straight I have been doing very simple knitting this week, just the mid-January pattern from my mystry dishcloth KAL and it's coming out very nicely. Unfortunately, it means I have been ignoring the socks I HAVE to finish for my Ma (started as Christmas gift, then became birthday and now probably won't be done before Valentine's day!). Also I have been ignoring the socks I am making for my sockret pal (Michelle, she's in my list of knitty friends and writes a highly entertaining blog...definitely drop by for a read), not because I don't love her (I do!) but because I think I may have bitten off more than I could chew and now that I know she reads my blog I can't ask for help without outing the socks to her. She is so sweet though, I accidently outted myself to her months ago, right when the swap started, through an email and she was so kind and didn''t want to hurt my feelings so she pretended not to know for ages, but was secretly reading my blog! She finally told me in December, I was so embarrassed but it is lovely to be able to get to know her properly know, without all the hush-hush. Well that is all the gossip for now. I am off to clean the flat for a 'we're all back in the same place' party tonight. Time for some quality catching-up time!

A little chic goes a long way...

2007-01-24T22:21:00.000Z

Ain't that the truth. A little haircut makes you feel like a new woman, and here are the photos to prove it. In the 'as the hairdresser did it' photo I am also modelling my latest knitting project, a beret I knit at home, from hand dyed wool that was a gift from my mother. She tends to crotchet way more than she knits but we both had a little project on at the same time and could share the fun of it over a cup of tea and a chat. Social knitting the best fun and truely what knitting is about I feel, a community activity if you will. My Ma made a lovely pale pink, cashmere scarf with ruffled ends and I made this little beret to make me feel a little more chic on those cold Boston mornings when I slept in and had no time for coffee ;)

It matches my handbag! YES!

What happens when nature takes over and the hairdresser is long gone!

I would also like to take this opportunity to public say ' MY SECRET PAL IS BRILLIANT!!'. A truely amazingly thoughtful person who put together one of the most impressive parcels I have ever seen. Enclosed was a lovely Christmassy card, and a big Christmas box filled with a 'Stitch n Bitch' Page a day calendar (OMG, I didn't even know they made those!!), a lovely wall calender filled with homely, flower pictures, soap, little notebook and pen AND three...yes, THREE,...balls of the most amazing yarn. Two balls of Plymouth Yarn Cotton in a deep blue colour (yum!) and one ball of Manos del Uruguay kettle dyed wool in a gorgeous purple, plum and pink colourway. And the best bit of all...my pal had already wound them into centre-pull balls for me because she knows I don't have a winder. How thoughtful!! I am touched thank you so much. My camera died during the photo shoot, but I did get the most important photo of the yarn so everyone can see the wonder. Thank you pal! Any ideas on what I should do with these wonderful yarns please let me know.

Lastly, I recently I heard from my sockret pal after a long break and just want to say thank for getting in touch. SHe's amazing, all her notes to me always rhyme, they're so much fun to read. Hope you are well and rested after the hectic holidays...I understand dropping off the face of the earth during the end of December :)

I'M BAAAAAAACK!

2007-01-21T15:17:00.000Z

It's my first morning back in Boston and sure I couldn't possibly be here and not blog. Would be unnatural. My bed here now reminds me of blogging and the fact I can charge my laptop without the constant worry of frying its insides with all the adapters needed is a blessing. It actually does feel nice being back. I wasn't sure how I was going to react to it. For the first time I really didn't want to leave home (usually you miss it but are excited to return to college too) and, while we are old hands at it now, leaving DB is getting more frustrating the more I do it. I think that is my heart telling me that it could and would do 2-3 years of long distance but now I really need to give it a break and some tlc...from my DB. Anyway enough gushing from me, I know what you really want to see (you don't love me anymore, you just want them!)....PHOTOS!!

My lil sis (not so little anymore, turning 18 soon!! she's still about 4 in my head) and I chilling at the top of the mountain.

Boulder pushing with friends...this particular rock is thought to have been brought here during the ice age...but the Irish know different!! Giants put it there as far as Irish legend is concerned! It's called Cloughmore Stone and 'Cloughmor' in Irish literally translates as 'Big Stone'....Big Stone Stone..lol!

17th century castle on the coast.

The particular day we went out and took these pictures was pretty much the only fine day of the entire holiday. Gale force winds and lashing rain were the staple and I have to say I quite enjoyed it, curled up by the fire, knitting! I pretty much just stayed in Rostrevor for most of my time and chillaxed but DB and I did manage a quick weekend over to London to see his brother and sister and I met up with Berklee friends from there for a big birthday and reunion. Was fab. Shopped, but was very restrained and only bought one skirt and one shirt in the sales and some goodies from Lush (Yes, I know I got a hat box full of the stuff from DB but there was a sale...I couldn't help it...it's an investment!). We also managed to see a show while we were there, Chicago, and, well, I was just blown away. I am not a huge musicals fan (was raised too cynical for all that) but this was fabulous...quite literally 'fabulous', no other descriptive word fits it quite right. The actresses playing Velma and Roxie were amazing, singing and dancing ridiculously demanding routines at the same time (how? HOW?!). It was so clever how they didn't have any different backdrops but the band was on stage and part of the show...more power to the musicians...even the conductor had lines, and gave it a really authentic vaudeville or cabaret feel. I was captivated for the entire thing, such an enjoyable night out.

Ooh, and I got my haircut. I like getting my haircut, it's like a fresh start or mini makeover or something. It's short, up to my shoulders, with layer all round and my hairdresser straightened it for me so I look all sophisticated right now. Just wait til I wash it for the first time and I get my curls back. Will post a photo when I don't look so jetlagged.

It feels like it has all gone so quickly though. Not sure how I feel about school starting again. Please let it be OK!? I have a slew of new years resolutions that I am determined to keep, the most important one being POSITIVE THINKING and doing more yoga, because everything seems to be better after I've meditated.

To my dear Secret Pal, you parcel has definitely arrived and I am going to pick it up tomorrow. So excited to see what goodies you sent me. Thank you so much. Check back tomorrow for pics.

To My Dear Friends...

2007-01-05T16:10:00.000Z

Hello everyone, hope your holidays have been wonderful and relaxing. I feel this post will be more like a letter than anything else, a letter to my dear friends in blogland that I have so harshly neglected these last few weeks. Thank you for your lovely messages that you left me in my absence. I appreciate it so much and have been feeling guilty about not posting or even finishing the blog-a-long that I had been enjoying so much. Life has been hectic - a phrase I feel I have worn smooth with so much overuse, but please believe me when I say it's true.

The journey home in itself was an ordeal, and ended with me arriving home and promptly getting sick. It was great to get back though!! Christmas was brilliant, it is so nice ot spend these holidays with my little brothers and sisters. They make it magical for me, just by watching their excitment build and being there for them, to take them out and be a big sister to them. I miss them so much. Santa was very good to me this year (normally we don't do presents really, since the Baha'i New Year is really our big celebration) but I got some lovely things, including a big hatbox full of Lush goodies from DB, a pair of lovely trousers from my sis (who would have known she could shop so well for me)and a gooooooooorgeous knitting book from my Ma called 'Vintage Knits' that I like to read and drool over now! Everyone's been so kind :) Not to say that being home hasn't been hard. It is odd slipping back into that spot you left empty, and getting back into the routine of a house, but still.

Ofcourse you know me and no blog would be complete without a good stress! Have been waiting for my grades to come out and to be honest it has really been playing on my mind the entire time I've been home, but I found them out yesterday and while they are not brilliant, I didnt fail anything and should be fine. 2 A grades, 2 Bs, 2 Cs and one D (it was the class I really struggled with so I shouldnt be suprised). But not that the semester has passed and all is said and done I really want to start fresh, find that vigour and love for my subject that I had before and approach next semester with energy and focus. I feel some new year's resolutions coming on...

As for the knitting, I am currerntly working on socks for my mother that were meant for Christmas but never got finished in time so I'm going to give them to her on her birthday next week. I started a jumper from my vintage knits book all excited and didn't gauge or anything and suprise, suprise I have to rip it all out and start again...was too excited from getting the book. Silly Pari!

I have lots of photos to post of the goings on these past few weeks but unfortunatley my lappy needs charged and I forgot my adapter so have to go buy another one. I'm doing this on the family PC and it's all strange not being on a MAC :) Truthfully I have been staying away from the internet and computers recently, partly because I was scared about the whole grades and school thing and wanted distance but also because I think a break every now and then is good for me.

Here's to a New Year, new attitudes, new energy, refreshed, revitlised...to friends and knitting and the fun we have. Happy New Year and many happy returns!!

5 Super Sense!

2006-12-21T02:04:00.000Z

Yes, that's right my lovelies, this blog fest is all about the senses!! For todays list, we want how you satisfy each of your different senses during the holiday season. Interestly obsure, fascinatingly useless...I can't wait to read what you write.

*1...TASTE - Christmas dinner is the tastiest thing ever. Gravy makes my world turn round, and leftovers make it the meal that just keeps giving.

*2...SMELL - Open fires! so cosy and lovely. Here's DBs family cat, Miskina, snoozing by their fireplace.

*3...HEARING - Christmas carols. I am a sucker for a good, old-fashioned hymn and I'm not even Christian.

*4...SIGHT - Fairy lights make me so happy, and they're cheap. I am also very partial to some people watching from the Starbucks window outside college, mulling over a nice gingerbread latte!

*5...TOUCH - Well, this ones easy. My DBs arms! I'll be there super soon...and some nice, new yarn. Can't beat some lovely, soft yarn.

Well, there it is friends. I am off to pack, make merry with my friends and finish a few outstanding things for school (will it ever end??). Can't wait to read what you guys write. Have fun!

Freak Out!

2006-12-18T18:36:00.000Z

I'm in work and am dossing instead of doing my filing (yucky!). I am in such a bad mood. Things are not going to plan with the whole 'passing finals' idea. I am really worried that I am doing badly and I hate this feeling in the pit of my stomach. This guilty, judgemental, 'you should be doing better, so why aren't you' feeling. I am worried. I want to not care but accept what I get with grace and feel like that is what I deserved. Maybe this is what I deserve but I don't want to admit that. I would hope that I was a little smart than a C average or worse. Fact of the matter might be that I am not. I am down. I am wallowing in a vat of self-pity when I am the only one who can change my situation and I am in complete control of what grades I get. It is all such a struggle though. I don't want to struggle all my life. Anyway, I should go. Might delete this blog when I read it back in awhile. I am so sorry to my poor readers who much endure my pitiful moanngs. I swear to God, I am usually such an upbeat, glass-half-full, stand-still-and-smell-the-roses person. Berklee is a bad influence, I know that much!

8 Patterns and Photos Ph-inally!

2006-12-18T00:39:00.000Z

Hello, hello. How are we all this evening? Today has been spent, no joke, in a coffee shop with 6 other friends doing nothing but studying and finals projects. My brain is starting to cramp up and I've hardly made a dent in the work load, but now seemed as good a time as any to blog. AAAnnnd if you look down at the bottom you will see my pics from 2 blogs ago that refused to upload. Oh man todays blog is challenging. One, I dont yet know who to make links (though I have made some very nice lists on my border, have you noticed?) and two, there is a slew of things I would love to make from Knitty and only 7 that can be posted. Well without further ado, let the selecting begin...

*8...Calorimetry. For all my big, curly hair!

*7...Cathode. I have made this, I even adjusted the pattern for a different gauge yarn and my own uniquely shaped (aka crazy-shaped) body and THEN felted it by accident when washing it and have never got round to knitting it again. I freakin loved that jumper...I'm an eejit!

*6...Pomotomus. Yeah, so I am knitting this but have stalled hardcore just near the toe of the first sock. But I shall succeed. I still think there is an error in the pattern though, or else I can't count properly. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

*5...Hedera. Beautiful, would look gorgeous in these strappy heels I have.

*4...Red Herring. Classic herring pattern and modelled as a piece of sushi. Rules.

*3...Arisaiq. I love tops that wrap round (flaunt a little cleavage without making my Da squirm) and the pattern for htis one is so delicate looking and hippy. Lovely.

*2...Surf and Turf. A knitted skirt that looks like grass and is surf-tastic?! I am there!

*1...Belle Epoque. Beautiful, feminine, flattering and made specifically to drink tea in. OK, I'm not a huge girly-girl but I could definitely make an exception for this.

Well back to the books. Thank you all for your kind words of support. It will all be over soon and then off home I go. Actually I was wondering if anyone would want to do 'the ultimate travelling during the holidays' blog list...stories, top tips, etc?? Sound any good, oh Mighty Blog Master?

FOB 11, 10 AND 9...the ultimate catch-up!

2006-12-16T20:37:00.000Z

YEAYYYYYYYYY!! It's Saturday and I.AM.SO.TIRED!! But feeling good and glad to be chipping away at the work load. Most of all I am so glad to have half an hour free to blog and catch up with ll these phenomenal lists. I have been having so much fun checking everyones, it has been keeping me sane during the studying. So let's go...

11 Ultimate Christmassy/WIntery/Get me in the mood Films

*11...WIlly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory...the original one. I love Johnny but this one will always rule. I watch it every Christmas without fail!

*10...Mary Poppins. AN interesting choice as it has no connection to the time of year, but again I watch it every Christmas and LOVE IT! Singing a long is the best.

*9...Sleeping Hollow. Tim Burton, Johnny and dark, spookyness. Wintery goodness.

*8...Bridget Jones' Diary. Embarrassed to admit it but I have so much fun watching it and wish that after running after my DB in nothing but my underwear while it's snowing, he would wrap me in his coat and kiss me.

*7...The Nightmare Before Christmas. Priceless.

*6...Die Hard. Just saw it for the first time, DB said it was a sin I hadn't and that it was v. seasonal. Suuuuuuure! Alan Rickman rocks as a baddie!

*5...Grrr, I cant remember the name of it and I have never seen it but I will this holiday. It has Judy Garland in it and she sings 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' which is my FAVOURITE Christmas song, so this one nearly counts.

*4...Edward Scissorhands. Awww the snow angel.

*3...Little Women. THe book even more than the film, 'cause Winona kinda annoys me, but either is good this time of year, with Laurie and the girls bashing about. Too heartwarming.

*2...Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I got given it when DB was over and I just love the wintery scenes so much, I've watched it so many times...and the Yule Ball...well it has got me in the mood this year for sure. Damn Boston and its unseasonally warm and unsnowy weather!

*1...Love, Actually! I don't really know why I love this film so much but it makes me glow from the inside out. First time I saw it I thought it was very sentimental but I love it so much and own it! DB says he doenst watch the film, he likes to watch me watch it 'cause er, I get very animated :)

10 Rules for Happy Living...

*10...The only thing worth fearing in the world is fear itself, because it is truly the only thing that ever holds you back from doing what you want to.

*9...You should do something outside of your comfort zone everyday. Talk to a stranger, walk down a different street, a little change is good for the soul...

*8...Know who your cheerleaders are and check in with them often! Everyone deserves a highkick when they do something great!

*7...Create everyday, it helps you connect to your true self.

*6...Everything in moderation.

*5...I have a 'Happy Box' filled with things that makes me laugh, films that lift me up, memories that warm my heart and an emergency chocolate bar and ball of yarn.

*4...When things are bad, remember 'Even this too shall pass'.

*3...Smiling is the best form of exercise ever.

*2...A hug everyday makes everything a little better.

*1...Remember this life is merely a shell of what true existence is. Enjoy it, appreciate it, but don't worry too much. So long as your heart is in the right place, so is everything else, and the really big adventure comes after!!

This blog is sponsered by the number NINE...

*9...Nine, as the highest single-digit number (in base ten), symbolizes completeness in the Bahá'í Faith. In addition, the word Bahá' in the Abjad notation has a value of 9, and a 9-pointed star is used to symbolize the religion.

*8...In classical music the curse of the ninth refers to the superstition that a composer who writes a ninth symphony will die soon. Beethoven, who left his Tenth Symphony unfinished, is regarded by the superstition as the first victim of the curse.

*7...Nine is the number of Valkyries in Richard Wagner's Die Walküre.

*6...In association football a forward/striker commonly wears the number 9 shirt. For example, Alan Shearer is a famous English footballer who is known as a number 9. Another famous number 9 is Mia Hamm, who has scored more international goals than any other player of either sex.

*5...Someone dressed "to the nines" is dressed up as much as they can be.

*4...In Greek mythology, nine goddesses called the Muses were responsible for inspiring the art of musicians, artists, and writers.

*3...According to Dante's The Divine Comedy, there are nine circles of hell and nine spheres of heaven.

*2... Nine is the atomic number of fluorine.

*1...Six recurring nines appear in the decimal places 762 through 767 of pi. This is known as the Feynman point.

Nine is my favourite number, that was so much fun...and I am a nig nerd and LOVE maths!! Yeay!! All caught up for today. Til tomorrow...

Help! Help! The music's taking over...

2006-12-13T04:36:00.000Z

This will only be a quick note, as I am so tired. Finals week is looming and things are getting a little nutty here in 'crazy-musicians' land. And yet, it is so hard to concentrate as home is also so close. Sometimes I feel like I am already there in my head and I've left school far behind. I get to go home next Thursday and I CANT WAIT. Even the thought of the 5 hour layover in Frankfurt doesn't put me off. I know, weirdest route ever but it was cheapest...8 hrs Boston to Frankfurt, 5 hours in Frankfurt, then 4 hrs Frankfurt to Dublin, then 2 hr drive home...leave at 3 p.m. (EST) on Thursday and arrive home at about 3 p.m. (GMT) on Friday, missing a whole nights sleep...phew!I thankfully am not completely swamped with work and definitely feel like I can get it all done in the time left, unlike other semesters where it felt like the sky was caving in on me. Maybe I am just dealing better, though my classes have been good this time round.

Little disheartening today when I got 55/100 in a proficiency on one of the digital recording boards (the big things with all the faders and knobs in studios...not as scary as you might think) but it was only worth 10% overall, so it's not the end of the world and no one else did much better (our teacher is a lovely man with nearly too much knowledge and no idea of how to impart it!). I think getting Bs and Cs and middle of the road grades is so disheartening for me because I was so used to acing everything. I was a straight A student at home and I loved my studies, though hated school. I was the weird kids, therefore no friends. But I find it so hard to get out of the mindset that I should be getting impeccable marks and trying to pass with honours, when in reality I am entering one of the few industries in the world where no one cares what your grades are. In fact many educated musicians in the contemporary industry deliberately keep it a secret, as people often see you in a different light when they find out your one of those 'book-learnin' musicians. I do want to do well, I love what I do but truthfully there is no time in college to really absorb what you are learning. You get a huge overdose of what you want to do and then have the rest of your life to sort through it and apply it and really understand it. It is just frustrating, I am one of those students who needs time away from the subject to really get it. Truthfully if I sleep on something I understand it so much better the next day when I look at it. But there is no time for that here. So I battle on and write annoying blogs that moan about my GREAT situation. My apologies, how unseasonable of me :)

On the BAL 'Festival of Blogs', I am crapping out big stylie! I want to and have been reading avidly but even the thought over writing out my favorite memories/moments makes my brain crap up and forget everything I have ever experienced. The knitting/craft one I still what to do and will tomorrow hopefully. But fear not, I am still as part of it and have a feeling that I will be very reliable from like BAL 10 all the way down to 1, so just bear with me during this next week or 2 of madness.

Finally decorated the house this weekend, so I am feeling all festive and thought I'd share a few photos of the festivities (please watch out for guest appearances by Honey and my teacosy from home...can't make a decent cup of tea without a teapot and no self respecting teapot could be without a teacosy!). I'm off now with my mug of tea and some Christmas knitting that needs doing and watching a little Sex and the City before bedtime. Night, night!!

OK. blogger won't load my pis so I'll have to do it another time. I'm sorry. Has anyone else been having trouble with blogger recently? It's been awful moody with me. OK, sorry. Next time I'll get some photos up :)

16 names and the weight behind them

2006-12-10T04:29:00.000Z

I think the most important part of a name is its meaning. My paternal grandfather, when he heard the name of a new child, would ask what it meant before saying if he like it or not. I believe that the meaning of a name has a lot of effect on the person it is. Well you do have to hear it all the time and would want it to have positive associations. My name Parisa (Pa-ree-sauh...Pari = fairy in Persian/Farsi), means an angel or fairy that attracts bad chi/energy and then changes it into good. My middle name, Eithne (eh-th-na), is an ancient Celtic name meaning little fire, which I have been told is quite appropriate ;) I like names with meanings, so for todays list I give you '16 names and their meanings', especially for you Mammy Yoda!

Girls names

*16...Layla (Arabic) Night
*15...Shirin (Persian) Sweet. Name of character in Persian and Turkish legend.
*14...Maryam (Persian) a Flower (Arabic) Variant of 'Mary' which means beloved. (my sister's name)
*13...Soheila (Arabic) (pronounced So-hay-lah) A variant on 'Soheil' (masculine) which is the Arabic name of the second brightest star in the sky, known in the western world as Canopus. (my other sister's name, named after my Da!)
*12...Nadia (Arabic) Tender, Delicate
*11...Aiobhe (Irish) (pronounced Ee-fa...'bh' in Irish makes 'f' sound) derived from Gaelic aoibh "beauty". It is also used as an Irish form of Eve.
*10...Niamh (Irish) (pronounced Nee-av...'mh' in Irish makes 'v' sound) Means "bright" in Irish. She was the daughter of the sea god in Irish legends. She fell in love with the poet Oisin, son of Fionn.
*9...Moya (Irish) Great

Boys Names

*8...Karim (Arabic) Noble, Generous
*7...Dara (Persian) Wealthy
*6...Jamin (Biblical) Means "right hand" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Simeon.
*5...Kolya (Russian) Short for Nicholas/Nicholai (Little Nicholas) meaning victory. (DB's name!)
*4...Julian (English/Polish/German) Thought to come from the Greek, Julias, which was related to the Greeks name for the god, Jupiter. (DB's middle name)
*3...Conor (Irish) From the Gaelic name Conchobhar which means "dog lover" or "wolf lover". This was the name of an early king of Ulster. Irish legends tell of his tragic desire for Deirdre.
*2...Cian (Irish) Means "ancient" in Gaelic. This was the name of the mythical ancestor of the Cianachta in Irish legend. Cian was also the name of a son-in-law of Brian Boru. (My brother is called Keian (Key-on) which is the name of a Persian king and close enough to Cian for the Irish side of the family :)
*1...Fionn (Irish) Means "fair" or "white" in Gaelic. Fionn mac Cumhail was a legendary Irish hero who became all-wise by eating an enchanted salmon. He fought against the giant Fomors with his son Oisin ('Uh-sheen'...another beautiful name!) and grandson Oscar.

17 things and What I remembered

2006-12-08T05:40:00.000Z

Hello, hello on this fine Friday evening. The work week is over and I am in fine form. I'm writing this blog while sitting in on a friends band rehearsal for a gig he has tomorrow night and it just sounds fabulous. And for some reason has completely moved me to writing.

Lots of nice things happened today. Go to go on a field trip to a really cool studio during my Audio Mix class today and see all their gear. It also snowed today, didn't settle but was still lovely and SO freakin' cold. My ears thought they were going to fall off with the cold. I was also really excited to find the new issue on Knitty on the stands, hot off the press and some fab patterns in it that I can't wait to get my needles into. I have to include a picture of my latest FO, my first ever dishcloth/facecloth from my mystery dishcloth KAL. Can you see what it is??
It's a rocking horse, how sweet is that. Plan to make a lot more of them as gifts for people. And last but not least, I promised I'd put up a gauge of the yule yarn I got from Brooke's etsy shop, White Willow Market. Isn't it gorgeous the way the colours come out, I was so impressed as I was knitting it up. Great stuff, Brooke!

I must beg forgiveness to the Benevolent Leader of the FOB. I know I didn't blog yesterday , but I was kind of busy and to be honest I don't think I really could have made a list for that particular subject. My kitchen right now is actually, no lie, the size of a cupboard. There is no room for anything other than kitcheny things and even then some of that migrates to bedrooms more often than not. Mugs for instance have no staying power in the kitchen. I suppose I could have done a blog about the other crazy things we have in our shoebox of a flat (such as an orchestra full of instruments and a yellow exercise ball, left here by the last residents, that is used for sitting and bouncing - never exercise, 'cause that would be silly!). I feel able to tackle this next one however, though I feel a bit bad being so materialistic at this time of year, but no point lying to oneself. Hi, my name's Parisa, I have stuff and I like it! And so here is: 17 things I couldn't live without (unless I HAD to)...

*17...My flute. My beautiful, beautiful, silver flute bought for me by my Mother for my 18th birthday. I waited a long time for a flute of my very own, considering I'd been playing since I was 6 and I love it very much. I was separated from it for a whole 6 months when I went to India and I'm still recovering!!

*16...My copy of Joni Mitchell's album 'Blue'. Again a gift from my Mother, and truthfully a landmark album in my music career. It made me want to write and sing, so badly.

*15...Carole King's 'Tapestry'. Same as above. (I have been told that I sound like Carole King and a young Joni Mitchell at times *SMILE*)

*14...My teddy bear, 'Honey'. He was given to me when I was 3 by the gardener at the block of flats we lived in Belfast. He was such a sweet man and lived with his brother, next door to us...or so I thought. I recently found out the guy he lived with was actually his life partner. Two elderly gay gentlemen living together in Belfast in the mid-eighties...how cool is that! And 'Honey' is super cool too and makes DB very jealous by always getting to sleep beside me. He's good about sharing me though, when DB comes to visit ;)

*13...My knitted blanket that I bought at Glastonbury music festival to keep poor DB and I warm in our little tent. Best music festival EVER, saw REM, Radiohead, Moby, David Grey, Nitin Sawhney and a plethora of other incredible music acts. I was 17 and it was my first festival. Had wanted to go FOREVER and DB got us tickets as my birthday present. I did my last ever exam in school, walking out, jumped in Kol's car and sped off to the airport. Best memory!

(Honey, with knitted blanket in the background)

*12...Cheese! I love cheese! Not american cheese (sorry!) or pre-sliced rubbish that tastes like plastic but real cheese. Love a bit of cheddar. Wendsleydale with cranberries. Brie. Anything. I know it's not a thing but, yeah, I love it!

*11...My Aladdin shoes. They're bright red, leather shoes with lace up front and curly toes a la Aladdin or Ali Baba. A gift from DB our first Christmas together. Such an incredibly thoughtful gift, that are so 'me' and such an unusual item for a guy to think to buy as a gift.

*10...My voice. I'm not quite sure what I'd do if I ever lost my voice completely. Probably go quietly mad...and play a lot more flute, unless...

*9...I lost my fingers! When I'm really stressed I sometimes dream of my fingers getting trapped in things or getting cut off. Scary! And it would mean I could never knit again...double ECK!

*8...My Knatty hat. The newsboy cap from 'Stitch n Bitch Nation', which I adjusted to fit all my hair into. I look like a have a head of dreads when I wear it, true Reggae man! You can see me modeling it on my myspace page.

*7...My tinwhistle :) Great for a little impromptu session or busking and v. portable.

*6...My laptop. Is that sad? I've only owned it for 2 and a half years and I got given it at college, so it is technically for school work but I really love it now. Oh Lappy, my dear!

*5...My knitting stuff. I know I don't always have it with me, and most of it is back in Ireland right now, but just a set of needles and some yarn and I'm happy :)

*4...My BED!!! Best bed ever and I really don't spend enough time bonding with it. It is the only thing in my apartment, bar my instruments, that is worth any money but I really thought of it as an investment as I only get to have so much sleep anyway, with recording sessions, so I want to get quality sleep when I do get to sleep.

*3...Newest addition to my traveling menagerie of instruments is the left-handed guitar I got for my 21st birthday in June. Thank you DB and Mother again. Such supportive people (I know that from my last list I said my Ma laughed at me when I said I wanted to be a singer, but she is so supportive and always had been, I think she was just shocked and didn't know what to say that first time)

*2...My family and my friends, who are my family, not by blood but 'cause we are kindred spirits...

*1...and my DB!!

I know I cheated a little with those last 2, but the more I think about it the more I know in my heart of hearts I could survive fine with nothing more than those last 2 'items' and maybe my flute if I could have one possession. I think that is what I learned when I was in India. I brought so much crap with me that I then discarded or gave away and I was none the worse off for not having it. Not that I was a crazy materialistic person before I went to India, not that any of us are, but I think it's our society constantly telling us that this 'thing' will makes us happier/prettier/more fulfilled/better. It is such a crock! I find myself slipping back into my old ways often but I am so glad that I have the other perspective to fall back on and shake myself out of my commercial stupor. This was a hard list for me to write, even as I look round my room at all my lovely stuff and am glad I get to enjoy them all, but I'm also glad I could do without them too. And I've also noticed many things on my list were gifts or have memories attached and it's the memory I cherish more than anything! Thank you for such a great topic Em, I really needed a good life stock take...it has been awhile.

19 Favourite Fictional Characters

2006-12-07T02:06:00.000Z

*19...Matilda from Roald Dahl's book of the same name. I read to escape to other more interesting places, as she did, but always wished I could have had the magical powers too. And the understanding school teacher.

*18...She-Ra!! Because girls rock!

*17...Willy Wonka. As far as I am concerned, there is a chocolate river somewhere in the world, someone just isn't telling us about it!

*16...Lisa Simpson. For all the misunderstood nerds out there.

*15...Hermione from Harry Potter, for the same reason as above and because all my friends are pretty much boys too.

*14...Father Jack, from the comedy 'Father Ted'. "Feck, Arse, Girls, Drink!" (An amazing Irish comedy about 3 priests in a parochial house off the west coast of Ireland. Don't watch it if you don't like making fun of the church. Do watch if you want a dose of Irish humour at its best!)

*13...Mrs Doyle, from 'Father Ted' (she's the priest's housekeeper). "Another cup of tea, Father? Ah, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on..."

*12...The 'Sex and The City' girls.

*11...Balou, from 'The Jungle Book'. First film I ever saw in the cinema, aged 3/4. Halfway through I ran to the front of the auditorium and started blowing kisses and trying to hug Balou.

*10...Mary Poppins. Book, film, whichever...Phenomenal!

*9...Kevin, from 'The Wonder Years'. Winnie was never good enough for him, but I would have treated him right...

*8...Any character Johnny Depp has ever played, particularly the gypsie in 'Chocolat' (I forgive him for the bad Irish accent 'cuz he's just so darn HOT), and Benny in 'Benny and Joon'. Oh and Edward Scissorhands!

*7...Mrs McCool. In Irish legend, there lived a giant called Finn McCool. The story goes that the Scottish giant (who was bigger than him) came over to fight him and it was Finn McCool's wife who saves him, by hiding him in the babies crib. When the Scottish giant came to the door and saw the size of the baby, he figured the babies Da must be massive and ran home. Behind every Irish *ANYTHING*, is an Irish woman!!

*6...Alan Rickman as Col. Christopher Brandon in 'Sense and Sensibility'. Oh be still my beating heart!

*5...Lady MacBeth. Yeah, she was crazy, but, boy, did she have drive!

*4...The Genie from 'Aladdin'

*3...Bender, from 'Futurama'. I identify with the sarcasm.

*2...Heathcliff and Cathy from 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte. For dysfunctional relationships everywhere.

*1...Scarlet O'Hara, in 'Gone with the Wind'. Us Celtic women might be nuts but you always know when it's time to head home :) (last line of the film) Scarlett: Tara! Home. I'll go home. And I'll think of some way to get him back. After all... tomorrow is another day.

20 days 'til Crimbo

2006-12-05T16:39:00.000Z

So I am going to give this 'blog a day til Christmas' a try. Thanks for the idea Em, so much fun! 20 days of blogging and each blog must pertain to the number of days left. I can do that...hopefully :) I'm not a Christian and don't really celebrate Christmas, well I do but it's not strictly my holiday (does that make sense?). I'm a Baha'i and our Christmas-type holiday is in November and our New Year in March (Spring Equinox...oh yeah!) But my Ma's family are all Catholic and I used to spend every Christmas with them, going to Midnight Mass and putting up the tree, so it's part of my year and Christmas in Ireland is beautiful. It is truly a family time of year and DB celebrates it and I'm a big kid so I love the season and this festival of lights in the dark of winter. Makes me very happy and cosy feeling,

But enough of my ramblings...Today's task is (drumroll, please) 'The Secrets Unveiled - 20 Unknown Facts about Knatty Knitter'

*20...I love the taste of the glue on envelope flaps that you have to lick to stick.

*19...I have a thing for nice, crisp fabrics, like duvet covers or shirts, pulling them tight so they make little pull bumps/ridges and then pushing them down. Makes the most satisfying clicking sound ever. Have done this since I was a kid. It is something about flattening the material out...feel like I'm organising chaos or straightening stuff out.

*18...When I was born the nurses thought I was all lovely and dark like my Dad, until one of them had the brainwave to put me under a light and realised that I was highly jauniced. I had a blood transfusion at 2 days old.

*17...Not 'til I was 8 years old did doctors realise (even though my Da told them EVERY TIME we went to see them) that I had the same genetic blood deficiency as my father and that was way I was jaundiced as a baby and my liver kept packing in when I ate certain things. Technically, however, because my father is a carrier of the gene but my mother isn't, his daughters should merely be carriers and not show any symptoms. I single-handedly ruined ALL their reasearch into this particular genetic
illness :)

*16...The first time I told my Ma that I wanted to be a singer, she laughed at me.

*15...I LOVE earrings...the bigger and more unusual, the better. Inherited that particular weakness straight off my mother, no doctors needed!! We are both huge jewellery fiends and love making our own.

*14...I eat Frosted Mini Wheats out of the box, with a glass of milk, for dippin'! (They soak up too much milk if you have them in a bowl!)

*13...Sometimes whan I am walking down the street, listening to my ipod, I like to pretend I am the singer in a music video for that particular song. I also sing in front of the mirror.

*12...My laptop (Mac Powerbook...my baby) is called Lappy. Lappy has a 'blanky' that he lives in. My ipod is called Paddy the Pod, or Poddy for short.

*11...I am a closet 'Clueless' addict. I love that film and can quote entire scenes from it. It just doesn't get old.

*10...I have stretch marks on my knees.

*9...I share my birthday (9th June) with Johnny Depp...*drool*

*8...I love the smell of the sea, freshly cut grass, clean laundry (LOVE folding laundry, so satisfying!) and fires (bonfires, campfires, at home in the fireplace...). New car smell and car fumes make me feel sick.

*7...I find algebra soothing and satisfying. Nothing better than working out what 'x' is.

*6...I want to write a novel really badly and have often felt like I have one to write but have no idea where to start.

*5...I can wiggle my nose like Samantha from 'Bewitched'.

*4...I know the lyrics and melody to a song after the first listen usually. Which explains the number of hidious pop songs I still remember lyrics to.

*3...I took a gap year between finishing high school and going to university, and did voluntry work in India with rural and tribal young women. I have never met happier people in all my life and feel that it is my duty as a woman to do the best I possibly can with the opportunities presented to me, because I know that if those girls where given even a tenth of the chances I am as a 'western' women, they would grasp it with both hands and never let go!

*2...I am petrified of ever ending up in an 9-5 office job or having to give up my dreams when I have kids.

*1...I write a blog (yup, you are looking at it) that is my very own secret. The only person who knows me personally and knows of its existence is the DB. I find it very freeing to write whatever I want and to make new friends who have no prejudgement as to who I am because of how I look or sound, etc. I like that I can be myself here no matter what :)

First Snow

2006-12-05T00:21:00.000Z

YEAYYYYYYYY...first snow of the winter here in Boston! It was only a little one this morning and it didn't lie for long but it was lovely to watch as I ate my breakfast. Too absent minded to pull out the aul camera to get a snap of it but next time...I have a feeling it will be the start of many :) I love it when it finally gets cold and wintery. The Christmassy feeling just can't get flowing properly 'til it happens.

Well I'm off for another cup of tea and get cracking on some homework. Can I just say how much I love tea, all teas but black tea most of all (thank you to whoever-it-is-upstairs for Barry's Gold Blend) and as an Irish women pledge my eternal allegiance to tea...coffee's ok when you just can't get a decent cup of tea but nothing shall ever beat tea :) from a teapot, with a teacosy on it...I cant wait to go home for a decent cup!!

Happy Wintery Day everyone!

Monkey News

2006-12-03T16:40:00.000Z

What a week...this is the 3rd time I have tried to blog this weekend and if it doesn't work this time I might go freakin' barmey!!! My interent is acting up and losing connection just as I am about to save what I've written! Crazy-making!

Have had such a busy week. My DB left on Wednesday after the best 10 days with him, it was so good. He took me to see the Nutcracker ballet at the Boston Opera House and he bought me a little overpriced nutcracker decoration to put on my tree after the performance...such a sweetie! He had known I'd never been to the ballet before and wanted to go and suprised me with the tickets. We went ice skating with our mates at the Frog Pond in Boston Common. Again it was my first time ice skating and I was so scared. Fell 3 times, once because some little brat on the ice pushed me over when I asked him how he was doing! I was just trying to be nice and say hi...grrr! I don't think I'll be going to the winter olympics anytime soon either way so...

Missing DB lots and lots but am conforted by the fact that I'll be home in less than 3 weeks. Boy how the time flies. This semester has felt so so fast, and I still have so much to. Did so many recording sessions this week, I am wrecked, 2 of which happened from 2am-6am on consecutive days. Only just back to a normal sleeping routine now. But even in the midst of all this work I still find ways to waste loads of time, including joining a mystery dishcloth KAL that Em had recommended to me (thanks Em!!). But I have justified it by telling myself I can give them away as Crimbo (British Isles slang for Christmas) gifts.

As well as the dishcloth knitting, made possible by Brooke and her kind gift of cotton, I finished the toe-up knit socks I was working on and love them. Perfect for keeping my feet warm and cosy on the flight home.

Most exciting this week though was receiving my parcel from Brooke's etsy store, White Willow, and it was amazing. She is so sweet and amazing and an absolute genius when it comes to creating colourways. Are these not gorgeous colourways??

One is a lushious berry yarn, with purples, pinks and corals, and the other is a yule yarn which made me feel festive just looking at it. I was so excited that I had to knit alittle gauge of the yule yarn and felt so Christmassy doing it. They are so nice I'm nearly afraid to start knitting with them. I don't know what to make. And the stitchmarkers are the prettiest needle jewellery I have ever seen. Might be hard to see in the photo but they have little gold butterflies on them and swarovski crystals...beautiful! She also included a little bag of lavender to scent the yarn and a lovely card. Thank you Brooke, you are the fab-est!

Thanksgiving Grub Crawl!!

2006-11-25T13:23:00.000Z

So at home we have an activity called a Pub Crawl, where participants pace their night and their drinking between a number of different establishments, sobering up (a little) on the walk between each one and enjoying each others company and the changing scene in each pub.

For Thanksgiving this year, my friends and I had a GRUB CRAWL!!! We had a different course at each house, spending a while at each house to socialise and digest, and truly I think it has to be the best Thanksgiving I've had so far. I know it is only Thanksgiving number 3, but I truly didnt think anything would be able to beat Disneyland last year (yup, that's right, my best mate got me over to her pad for turkey last year and then flew me to D'Land for the happiest 3 days I'd had in a long time!) But even the natives were saying that it was up there with the best turkey days they'd had...

2.00pm (EST) Course No. 1 - Starters at Jonny and Raul's flat

Here's the gang, tucking in to seasonal salad, beautiful soup and homemade corn biscuits. (Knatty Knitter is represented by her ball of sock wool).

A little Scrabble, a little knitting all to help the food go down...and by the end of starters we had one sock finished.

5.30pm (EST) Course No. 2 - Main at Jillian's (with beautiful assistant chefs, Julian and Summer)

More than one use for a sock toe!

The Happy Turkey Dance!

Merriment making (students dont have TVs).

Please note that for the ENTIRE day of Thanksgiving the heavens poured down upon us from above...making the trip between each flat more of a 'monsoon-jungle-safari' adventure, than a brisk city jaunt in fair Boston. It all added to the fun and DB and I couldn't help feel that the lashing rain had been sent from home, just for us!

8.30pm (EST) Course No. 3 - Desserts and Cheese at PARISA & KAITLYN's!!!! YEAY!!!

Please note the truly 'student' surroundings of fairy lights, seats as tables and 3 men to a couch :)

Speaking of pie, the ones in the pic are only half what was there as we had another table full (real table too, not a chair). We had blueberry, 2 apple pies (one of which was my apple pie and Athens said it was the best apple pie he'd ever had...such a friend!), pumpkin, coffee cake and Kaitlyn's 'Mystery Train' pie with a brie and pecan filling, sooooooo goooooooooooood...

Kolya got the coveted ball seat...

12.30am (EST) - Official end of Grub Crawl (that is 10 and a half hours of eating!)

Here are the gang, tired and full, but none the worse for wear! (And about to start watching 'Batman Begins' when the faders leave...Yeay for no school!)

And so the night ended, us all a little chubbier, but definitely even firmer friends, with memories to share when we're old and toothless and no need to eat for the next week! It was the best...I would highly recommend this way of eating for any larger meal or gathering. It shared out the cooking and cleaning, everyone got to play hostess with the 'most'ess, the socialising between courses wass brilliant (my sides still hurt from laughing), the walks in between revived and refreshed us and meant that by the time we got to the next stop we were all a little bit hungry for the next course, so we eat way more than we would have at one sitting. It was also the best excuse ever to spend an entire day in the company of family...maybe not by blood, but these people are definitely family!

School's OUT!

2006-11-23T03:55:00.000Z

Phew! Made it through this demi-week and am ready for some R&R, pronto. Kolya's here too and we've been having a blast, dodging homework and teachers who's classes I've ditched :) Went to our first ever Ice Hockey match on Monday night, was great fun. What an atmostphere! The Boston Bruins were playing the Florida Panthers. Er, we lost...but that's OK because it was a good game and we got to sit at the very back of the very top balcony, we were soooooo high. Bestest view though for lil ol' me :) And I even busted out a little knitting between periods. It was a pair of socks I was making to pacify myself, I've been jealous of all the nice things I've been making for others that I thought it was high time I had a project on the go for me. Hardly the selfless knitter I should be (oh Brooke, you put me to shame).

Yeay, look at them go! While I'm here I have to post a pic of the amazing apple pie I made of the early thanksgiving dinner mates and I had last Friday. I was pretty proud I have to say, considering it was my first time making pastry without my mother onhand to save me from disaster. I managed the feat with only 2 cuts on my right hand (it's OK ladies and gentlemen, I'm a lefty!) and reports came back good so I was happy. I know it doesn't look quite normal, being square and all, but early on my Ma decided that circle ones just didnt last long enough with so many mouths in the house and making the slices square made it easier for us to help ourselves without destroying the rest of the pie, and so was born the square pie :) I even put little leaves on it and a heart in the middle, the dinner's hostess is heart crazy so it was just for her.

Knitting has knida been put on the back burner recently, waiting for the holiday for me to get back into it. My sockret pal socks have ground to an almighty halt. I really challenged myself with them and I'm not sure if I'm able for it now, but I'll be damned if this pattern beats me. The Christmas knitting was going great as well and then also dried up, have to get back into it, just don't want to make everyone the same things you know, what my gifts to be a bit more personalised and thoughtful than that. The only thing that's made any progress at all are the socks I started for myself. I'm using them as an opportunity to learn toe-up sock knitting and I LOVE IT! Think I'm going to make all my socks this way from now on.

Aww, I had to show you my knitting bag that my mother sentme over from home with Kol. I was given it for my 21st birthday by a friend of hers who doesn't knit anymore (crazy woman!) and I just love it, it's so cute. Wooden handles, bright red and with a mouse stealing the cats tail for yarn on the front...YES!! Too groovy! Speaking of nice parcels, I got one today from my Secret Pal...Hello Secret Pal...smarty pants even put that down as their name so I couldn't figure out who they were. SUch a sweet parcel, filled with a wee letter (Garfield, baby!), a purple circular needle holder, 6 beautiful blue stitch markers and the kitchest 'Pilgrim' salt and pepper shakers for my Thanksgiving table!! I bet she put them in their so I blend in better with the natives :)

Thank you so much for such a wonderful parcel, you obviously know me and my humour well. I couldn't stop beaming after opening it. Everything in it was just perfect.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow everyone. I'm spending it with my other international friends and few American's who were left as school so it's going to be gooooooood!

bored

2006-11-17T18:45:00.000Z

at work, so bored...life sucks right now...in 2 hours time it will all be fine but right now, I want to curl up and die! My next class, is going to be so bad. Don't have the work done, it is sooooo overdue...dont know what I am going to say to my teacher. he is going to kiill me, in front of everyone. I'm an idiot, why do I let things like this happen and then have to dread things like this, feels awful. and I cant skip the class to get out of it because i did that last week! I'm screwed! I can get it all done at the weekend but I still have to liv ethrough the next few hours and i dont want to.

On the up side, tonight i am going to eat like a queen...a friend of mine is having an early thanksgiving dinner so she could cook for all our mates. it's going to be amazing. and i baked an apple pie for it, from my mothers own recipe and i just hope it came out ok. And then Sunday....oh Sunday...I cant wait!! just have to get through these next 2 hours...OK here I go...wish me luck :(

Frou Frou

2006-11-16T06:32:00.000Z

frou·frou also frou-frou (frū'frū) n. 1).Fussy or showy dress or ornamentation. 2). A rustling sound, as of silk.
[French, of imitative origin.]

Since last we spoke many lovely and not so lovely things have happened (mainly homework/school related). I went to an Imogen Heap concert on Saturday night and she RULESSSSSSSSSSSS! for those who don't know her stuff, she's an amazing singer-songwriter, electronica extraordinaire. She was part of the duo Frou Frou (best known for there song 'Let's Go' on the Garden State soundtrack). In concert she was amazing and suprisingly enough I actually got a spot where I could see over everyone (all 5' 1'' of me!) Anyway you must, must, MUST check her out.

I have been very lazy and at many times this week thought about taking photos of my knitting but have never got past the thinking stage. I've started all my Christmas knitting in the vain hope that I might get it all done, not before Christmas day itself, but before my FINALS!! Fat Chance, I hear you say. I know but if you aim for the moon, you land amoung the stars (meaning I might actually get it all done for Christmas day and that would be pretty astounding in itself) So far I have finished one crotcheted scarf and 2 pairs of knitted mittens. Photos to come shortly, I promise. This ofcourse has meant that work on my sockret pal socks has slowed to a snails pace. My poor pal is going to be waiting awhile me thinks.

Today I went ot the Boston Museum of Fine Art (MFA) for the first time since moving here, which is such a crime considering that I get in free as a Berklee student and its 10 minutes away walking from where I live. But better late than never! And it was just wonderful, such amazing artifacts. Didn't even see that much of it as I was only there for an hour but it was fab. Lots of ancient Persian artifacts, all safely behind glass and looked after with the utmost care, yet looking just like the family heirlooms at home that my sibling and I have dunked in tea and dropped on hard wood floors. I think I'll be more careful from now on :) More on the MFA in a later blog...have to learn how to make links on my page first before I can post that one, but its knitting related and will blow your socks off. heehee, I'm such a tease.

And lastly, while I am writing this blog I shoudl really be doing crap loads of homework that I havent done yet. This is like weeks old stuff and I am in so SO much trouble with my teachers over probably. But life is busy and to be honest the things I have been doing in place of the homework are just as, if not more important, and completely related to my major and career choice after. sang backing vocals on a friends album last night and got to see the inside of a professional studio, and watch a master engineer at work. Then ofcourse I shamelessly introduced myself, told him my major and enquired about interning there in the summer. Two birds, one stone, baby! Ofcourse as we were leaving the studio, who was coming in but Bow Wow (aka Lil Bow Wow) laying down some tracks for R Kelly's new album. Not my cup of tea musically, but seriously rich, seriously (MTV) famous.

Well I should go do homework. I need to be a good girl and get everything I possibly can done before Sunday, so I am all caught up and relaxed and have nothing to do because...on Sunday...KOLYA ARRIVES!!! YEAY!!! Darling Boyfriend will be here to visit for a whole 10 days and .I.CAN.NOT.WAIT.!!!! AND he has expressed an interest to learn more knitting...I hope he's not joking, how cool would that be :)

I am woman! I am invincible! I am tired!

2006-11-09T08:33:00.000Z

It's felt like a long week, even though I get tomorrow (Friday) off. I am so glad I can sleep in tomorrow, my head is killing me. I've caught up with all my classes, talked to teachers in classes I didnt think I was doing well in and all is now right in the world...hopefully! However a nice full long-weekend of homework lies ahead of me. I love what I do but sometimes I wish I was doing something I found extremely easy and could party loads and do very little homework like the other normal uni students do. I wish I didnt feel so much pressure to achieve above and beyond because I am one of VERY few girls in my degree and am always having to prove myself. I'm in bad form because I forgot some stuff in a studio session today and my fellow engineer didnt take it well and basically relieved me of all my duties. I should have been prepared and not forgotten, but it wouldnt have taken him a second to remind me, allow me to correct myself, thus learning (interesting concept in a school!!) and then allowed me to continue. Instead I get shamed and I feel rotten about it. And he thinks I'm an idiot now.

It is very difficult to achieve constantly under this kind of pressure. Constantly being pushed to prove yourself, to prove that you should be here, a woman in a mans profession, is extremely wearing and sometimes I want to scream. The fact that I am a human being should be proof enough of my right to be in any job I wish! The contemporary music industry however doesn't agree with me, and the music production and engineering business doubly doesn't agree with me. It has a tiny percentage of women working within and the majority of those are in administrative positions, not actually doing the producing or engineering.

Well not I!! I will have my freakin' cake and eat it! I will have a fabulous career and knock the socks off anyone who doubts me. I'll have a family as well and it will be hard but I will do it and be happy. I will also be extremely tired and only ever get to knit when there is a snow day or during childbirth. And so ends my rant :) now to sleep for a millenium...ZZZzzzzzzZZZzzzzzzzzzz

UFOs, FOs, WIPs and Porn! Oh Baby!

2006-11-05T22:23:00.000Z

In line with my new vows to never abandon my blog for so long again, I felt I should take this time of new resolutions to take an inventory of my own knitting to date. I had never heard of a 'stash flash' or 'yarn porn' 'til I read other peoples blogs and I want in!! Unfortunately, after sorting out all my scraps from my skeins, I discovered I don't really have much fo interest to flash. I think if I just took off my top it would be more interest (I have a lovely set!)

Hmm, lets see what we have here. Well I have the lovely skein I was gifted by my sockret pal. Beside it are some wine red skeins of sock wool I treated myself to on my last trip to my LYS. I'm not sure whether to make socks or I was thinking of cool sleeves, like the hand/wrist warmer things. My flatmate pointed out that the Pomatomus pattern I was working on would look lovely on wrists too. I have 2 skeins of nice white suede, leftover from the hippy purse I crocheted from Stitch n Bitch: Happy Hooker (photo of it below). Everything else basically was gifted to me by a friend who bought yarn bulk online and didnt want all she got. Most of it is Lion Brand blends and some novelty yarns in the top lefthand corner. Think I'm going to use it all to make Yule gifts. The novelty yarn is super soft and machine washable so think it would make nice little slip-on socks for around the house, maybe for my sisters, and the rest will probably become scarves, legwarmers, wristwarmers and other such giftable items. Actually the 2 big skeins of yarn, dark green into purple and deep red, that make be good to make the Preppy Jacket I've wanted to crochet from Happy Hooker, if I could get my hands on a little more. All in all, its not a very exciting stash, full of odds, ends, half finished balls. I would love to own more natural fibers, and handdyed beauties but considering a lot of this is made up of gifts, I'm doing ok. I'm a student and I can live with the fact that I can't afford nice yarn yet...in time I will...in time :)

Here's a pic of my sockret pals sock-in-progress. I think it looks not too far off the pictures in the pattern so I'm pleased. My thrid sock ever is coming out grand. Like the colour too, lilac isn't usually my thing but now I see it knitted up its lovely for socks and I think my pal will love it. Just at the heel flap now, little nervous about the heel, but nothing will deter me from finishing this. I have already ripped it out FOUR times to get it as good as this and there is no way I'm turning back now. It does look pretty good on my hand, now that I see the photo. Interesting :)

I also finally got round to blocking the jumper (sweater!) I knit last spring break, Tubey from Knitty mag. Such an interesting pattern, so much fun to make and then I don't get round to finishing or blocking it when the knitting was finished! I even adjusted the pattern and put some pretty cables on the front. I was so proud of it but I think the weather turned after the break and I had no impetus to finish what I had started. It still needs some adjusting, the neck is a little too wide and low but that is easily altered. Should do it soon as it's perfect jumper weather in Boston right now. Sorry about the awful pic!

The perfect college girl sweater - flattering, practical and colourful!

I also blocked my crocheted hippy bag this weekend. I had blogged about it last month but its finally done and wearable and now the weathers cold and I just feel its more of a Spring/Summer bag. Boo hoo! I was thinking about giving it to my Mammy as her Christmas present. She loves to crochet and is soooooo good at it, and its my second crocheted item ever. It would be nice since she taught her lil lefty daughter to crochet.

And finally the crazy UFO that I just can't bring myself to finish. I tried the 'Sox on 2 Sticks' pattern from Knitty and said I'd give them to my flatmate. I finished the actual knitting a month ago and can't bring myself to sew them up and be done. They're pretty groovy looking and it was a good pattern, but I think I like my dbl points better for socks.

I'm really pining for the wool I had to leave at home due to luggage restrictions. Really fluffy mint-green yarn that wants to be a lacy knitted top with pointed elven sleeves and a long pointed hood. I also have a GIANT ball of aran yarn, thats black with green and blue flecks in it. Was thinking about it as I drifted off to sleep, how nice I'd look in a fitted jumper, with a deep v-neck in that yarn, and have enough leftover for a set of matching legwarmers. *Sigh* it's a lovely dream, but it will just have to wait til the Winter holidays.

OMG, I forgot to say, my Darling Boyfriend (DB) sent my a wee parcel the other day, with sweeties from home (mmmmm Haribo and Fruit Pastilles), a girlie mag, my knitting diary that I had left at home, the new Corrine Bailey Rae album (phenomenal, you all need to hear it, light, sunny music to lift the soul) AND a letter in which he included 'plans' for a knitting room in our house when we live together. My DB...

1). volunarily wrote about scary future stuff!!
2). would actually let me have a room devoted to my knitting and music!!
3). wants us to live together!!

Well, I never! It was just amazing and wonderful and I was so happy and taken aback by its sweeteness. Like we have talked about our future and that we are very serious (would need to be, what with this crappy ocean between us) and that 'one day' (far off in the future so as not to scare anyone too much and make it more easily managed) we would get married and live together. But this was just to sweet. I love him so much!! AND I get a knitting room in the future...**Doin' a little Dance**

WTF, mate?

2006-11-03T06:34:00.000Z

To my lovely Knitty Knatty friends, I am so sorry for my extended disappearance but be sure you're sitting comfortably, with your cup of tea...here's the catch up!!

So life has been well hectic these last few weeks. In school-land, it was midterms week this week, so I've been working hard studying for such incredible subjects as Traditional Harmony, Counterpoint and Digital Multitrack Recording. I'm crazy!! But I love it, so what can I do :)

On the knitty-front, I got my first SOCKRET PAL PARCEL a few weeks ago and let me tell you, it freakin' rocked.
Look at all that goodness!! I gotst Burt's Bee Lip Glosses (all different flavours, I'm currently working my way through raspberry), halloween 70% dark chocolate (heaven!) and a skein of hand dyed merino 'Fleece Artist' and a set of bamboo dbl pts to knit it up on!!!!

Seriously, is that not the most goregous colourway you've ever seen! I'm so excited about owning that I have absolutely no idea what to do with it. Any ideas greatly appreciated! Well, there are enough for a pair of socks and I don't own any of my own knitted socks...but I was thinking something a bit groovy, like gloves, but dressy ones...just not sure. But what I am sure about is a love, love, LOVE it and my sockret pal is the ultimate!! Thank you Pal-io!

In other knitting news, I'm working on my pair of socks for my sockret pal, and have decided to do a lovely lilac version of the Knitty pattern 'Pomatomus'. I'm nearly finished the first leg, but either I can't count or there is something wrong with one of the charts in teh pattern, but I've improvised a little. Anyone knit this pattern before, insight or help would be welcome. I've set myself quite a challenge, considering this is only the third pair of socks I've ever knit!

On the home front, I love living with my flatmate, Kaitlyn, and feel that she is too beautiful not to go into this superblog...so here she is...so lovely!

We also invested in an espresso machine not long ago, as we were basically keeping Boston Starbucks in business and blowing our rent there, AND just the other day I made the perfect latte, with the perfect foam top and I just had to share it with you all...I was very proud!

Halloween was a blast. All students were celebrating this weekend, as it fell midweek and conflicted with exams, but that certainly didn't lessen the fun! Friends of mine had a fancy dress party and I went as a 'Grey Angel'...well I just don't think I'm good enough to be a full white one! Think the angels from the film 'Dogma', they're more my style! And its a line from one of my songs (ww.myspace.com/parisar) so it seemed appropriate.

And as promised since I'm posting photos, this one is for you Brooke. I said I'd show you my recent nose piercing and here it is, though now I've swapped the ball for a very fetching little diamond :)

Last but not lest, it is officially the two week count down til Kolya, my lovely, is back in Boston to visit!! YEAY!! Can't wait to see him and hug him and kiss him and knit him...I mean love him! But truly it's going to be phenomenal. He's been having a rough time of it at home and I feel really helpless out here, not being able to help. I can't even be supportive on the phone, I just screw it up, but when he comes over I am going to lookafter him so good and we'll have a lovely thanksgiving here together. Only my third thanksgiving EVER! And on that note let me leave you with a picture of home Kol's Dad took from their garden. It'ss of the lough our village is on and looks across to the Republic of Ireland and the mountain range there. Just so beautiful, it makes my heart feel awful full!

Procrastinating hardcore!! (dodging the homework/write a proper blog bullet)

2006-10-19T05:40:00.000+01:00

What Color is Your Brain?

BLUE:

At work or in school: I like to be with people, sharing with them, inspiring them, and helping them. I work and learn best when I can take into consideration people and the human element. I flourish in an atmosphere of cooperation.
With friends: I always look for perfect love. I am very romantic, and I enjoy doing thoughtful things for others. I am affectionate, supportive and a good listener.
With family: I like to be happy and loving. I am very sensitive to rejection from my family and to family conflicts. I really like to be well thought of and need frequent reassurance. I love intimate talks and warm feelings.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

SP9 competition questions

2006-10-19T04:13:00.000+01:00

1. Where is your favorite knitting spot?
I love knitting in my bed, while watching 'Sex and the City' or 'Grey's Anatomy'. I knit everywhere though, and its more who than where that makes me happy when I knit. I love knitting when my boyfriend is chilling out with me, I know it sounds odd, but I think I like the companionship and being so comfortable with someone that you don't have to be doing something together to just be together.

2. If you suddenly could never knit again (shudder) - what would you do instead?
Well I already crotchet and love it (my Ma is the real crotcher and I'm the knitter, but we both do both, if that makes sense!) I love beading so maybe I"m do more of that. Suppose could catch up on my reading, but it would be a sad day!!

3. If you could travel anywhere in the world - where would you go and why?
Right now it would be back home to Ireland, into my beloved's arms and to the wide open spaces, beautiful mountains and stormy sea that I love. I really want to see Australia too and I miss India (spent my gap year there, doing voluntary work)

4. When you were little - What did you want to do "when you grew up?" Are you doing it?
I wanted to sing and preform on stage but that was my secret. And now I'm at music school and hopefully working towards that dream.

5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Haagen Daaz's Belgian Chocolate is really good. Also Phish Food by Ben and Jerry's, and ofcourse the classic double cream vanilla ice cream from Devon...sinful!!

Check in...

2006-10-16T18:32:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post while I'm sitting at work, just to let everyone know that I havent dropped off the face of the earth and that I'm really sorry for not blogging sooner. It has been a busy week and I have lots to tell and loads of photos to put up but I need half an hour of minutes all in a row with no interuptions or homework needing finished, THEN I can blog....oh YEAY! On the up side I didnt go to any of my classes today 'cause I couldnt fall asleep until 4.30 am (was feeling very anxious, don't know why) and when I went to check my post I had a mysterious parcel...wonder what that could be!!

Life is good, Tiger Duck!!

:(

2006-10-06T06:49:00.000+01:00

I've had a bit of a down day today. First one since I got back to Boston for school and Kolya left. I don't even know whats wrong entirely. I think I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with the amount of school work I have on a the moment. I spend all my time running betwen classes, work and the studios, and any free time is meant to be spent on homework but when I get home I'm often so tired I fall asleep without dinner. Even if I dont do that and manage to get food, I really don't feel able for the homework I have. My brain stops functioning, but then I stay up late doing stupid time wasting things or, even worse, I worry about the amount of work I have to do but can't get done because I am so tired!! It's a bad cycle and I don't know how to get some perspective on it at the moment.

I was also sick today which didn't help, and I'm really missing Kolya too. Also, and this really bugs me, is that I'm not entirely unpacked into my new bedroom yet. My suitcase is half unpacked and my desk is covered in all sorts of rubbish so I can't work on it. It's really annoying me that I don't have a beautiful, tidy, organised place to come home to. Kol and I promised that we'd get it done before he left but with his time here limited we always let slide...'We'll do it tomorrow!'

I shouldn't be moaning too much though, because today I received my parcel from Rachel, the sockret pal hostess, sending me my winnings from the online competition. I never win anything so it was really exciting and I never get an real post to my school postbox so it was a really lovely thing to find there and did help to brighten my day. I got Lion Brand self-striping wool in denim shades and the Yarn Girls knitting book, hardcover(!!). I can't believe how generous she was to me. It's really touching finding thias knitting community that I never really knew existed. I was considered the nerd at school for knitting and now I'm part of a friendly, energetic, giving community of truly amazing knitters!! LUCKY!!!!

In other knitting news, while queuing for THREE HOURS at school to book studio time for our next round of homework project (yes, that is standard practice, I wasn't alone) I made great progress on a pair of bright orange and blue socks I'm making for my flatmate. I'm using the flat knit pattern that is in the current knitty mag, just to see what I thought of the change. It's a nice way to knit socks but I think I prefer my double points best. Also I'm going hunting this weekend for my sockret pal, to find the perfect wool to grace her worthy feet. Any idea or tips would be greatly appreciated :)

And lastly alittle something I found online this evening to salivate over!! Isn't it gorgeous. Maybe this is shameful but I just found it on the Lisa Souza website, it's her handpainted sock wool and it's called 'Emerald City' and, I swear to God, just looking at it reminds me of home!! The colours and how they mingle, merge into each other. It's like someone photographed the Mourne Mountains (the mountains surrounding my village) and transfered the photo straight to wool! So if anyone *eh hem* (I'm talking to you Mothers, Boyfriends, Secret Pals,...) have any doubts about what to get me ever, this would be a fine place to start...wow, this probably is pretty cheeky of me. Well, either way I will own a skein of this come hell or high water, I'm going to start saving from now...hopefully I'll be able to afford it by my next birthday, LOL!!! I'm off the treat myself to a cup of tea the size of my head and an episode of Sex and the City before bed. Promise to be in better form tomorrow, nighty nighty all!

Buttons Baby!!

2006-10-05T05:53:00.000+01:00

So proud of myself, I've *finally* worked out how to get freakin' buttons on my page!!! Looks all nice and lived in now, with a few buttons and some more blogs :)

Annoyed though, because I found this amazing Stitch n Bitch button that flicked between the words 'Stitch' 'Bitch'...was well clever and now I cant remember where I found the darn thing!! Trust me to forget!

Secret Pal 9 Questionnarie

2006-10-04T16:41:00.000+01:00

Welcome to SP9!

Below is the questionnaire for this round. Please post your answers to your blog before October 15th. Be sure you post the questionnaire where your pal can easily find it. :-)

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Like most knitters I dont like scratchy, itchy yarns and a definite natural nut!! Natural fibers are my fav but blends are cool too. I love stuff thats been hand dyed or spun, it has character :)

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Unfortunately all my knitting stuff is sitting in an old Urban Outfitters plastic bag, all jumbled up together. I would kill for one of those gorgeous needle holders, that are made with all the pretty material and then roll up all neat and tidy *sigh*

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting since I was 3-4 years old, but have been doing it pretty hardcore for the last 2 years. I would say that I am an intermediate knitter. I like more challenging projects as well as easy ones, and feel that with jumper/sweater knitting im pretty advanced. working on the sock knitting tho, working on my second pair EVER right now!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I dont but feel free to bombard me with questions if you need to know more. I have a wishlist in my head, just not online :)

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
i love natural scents...lavender, rose, jasmine...fruity smells are lovely too. I've been wearing really feminie stuff recently, lots of ylang-ylang and jamine in it so make me feel like superwoman. Basically the only stuff I dont like are synthetic scents that are really obviously fake and musks, they give me a headache.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I do have a sweet tooth. I LOVE dark chocolate, like the real deal high cocoa%. I'm european so good chocolate is the holy grail while im here in the States...still havent found a brand that i really love. I also love fruity sweets, like Fruit Pastelles (theyre a sweety from home!) and Tweezlers and just anything is cool. Candy is just cool!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I am the daughter of a crotcheting fiend so I'm not too bad with the ole hook. I also love jewellery making, sewing, would love to learn about spinning and dyeing, as I know very little about it but am very interested. Basically anything crafty, I'm there!

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Oh boy, what a question! I'm a music student s othe list is never ending. At the moment, I'm getting into Fiona Apple, Artic Monkeys, Snowpatrol (theyre from N. Ireland too, YEAY), Lily Allen, Corrine Bailey Rae, The Killers...anything good and interesting...generic boring pop not so much, but not to say no pop. i just like music that is individual...i can hear the song and go 'Well thats definitely so-and-so".... stuff with a bit of substance :)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I'm not a pastel girl at all, looks awful on me, makes me look sick and washed out. I love bright colours, rich colours...aubergine (eggplant), deep scarlet, teal, yellows, greens are my thing...love green to wear, my bedroom is green, such a good colour...but basically anything thats not a wimpy colour, must have some strength to it!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I dont have any pets, but my boyfriends family have cats that I love and consider part mine :) I'm the eldest of 4 children and the first to fly the coop to university, which is where I am now. I am in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend of 4 years in Ireland.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I do, I do indeed!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love knitting jumpers (sweaters) for myself, booties for all my new little cousins, newsboy caps for friends and family and am currently working on socks 'cause I will get good at them if its the last thing I do!!

13. What are you knitting right now?
flat knit socks (trying out the pattern to see what I think...think I like in the round better tho), crotchet boho bag - not technically knitting but still a WIP.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, please.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Circular, dble points or straight is all fine with me, I like all. I mainly have metal needles. I love funky plastic ones and bamboo ones as a treat but at the mo my student budget cant stretch to accommadate them :(

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No I dont. I assume these are the things for winding your skeins into balls...if so I'd love one, handiest inventions EVER!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
A friend of mine asked me to knit him a hat when I first got to college, so 2 years ago, but I never finished it for him. However, at the moment my policy is to frog anything older than 6 months thats still on needles with no progress. I figure that after that amount of time if I dont finish it, I never will!!

18. What is your favorite holiday?
At the moment, its going back home to Ireland to see my family, especially my crazy siblings, and my beautiful boyfriend. I come for one of the most beautiful places in the world and everytime I go home, I fall in love with it all over again! I love visiting Europe and last year spent my second ever Thanksgiving in Disneyland, CA...freakin' brilliant!!!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I love old things, antique nick-nacks from junk shops...like old jewellery, boxes to keep treasures in, letter writing things. I also love little perfume bottles and fairy related things. Anything unusual I love.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I'm not subscribed to any magazine. i have been looking at Lisa Souza yarn recently and it looks gorgeous...ive been wanting to treat myself to some really nice hand-dyed stuff recently. Basically anything would be appreciated now however, as i couldnt bring most of my knitting bag back with me to Boston for the new school year because of reduced luggage weight, so I have very little to work with. I have always wanted a pattern for a deep-v sweater/jumper/hoodie...something that is sexy and flattering and shows alittle cleavage :) looked everywhere for one but they are usually only little v-necks, not particularly deep.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I would love to learn Fair Isle, it scares me alittle. I know how to do the stitches individually for Aran sweaters but havent plucked up the courage to actually do them all at once in a sweater. Also I hate finishing, and hiding away all the loose ends, so anythign that makes that easier would be greatly appreciated!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I have knitted socks before and am working on improving myself in that area. My feet are UK size 5/6, European 38, US 7/8.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
9th June

**Below is a questionnaire I filled out for the Sockret pal swap that I'm involved with at the moment and might be useful for you to read, particularly near the bottom, which is just me introducing myself a bit better.**

Sock-ret Pal Questionnaire!

2006-09-27T16:59:00.000+01:00

Sock-ret Pal Questionnaire

Please post the answers to your own blog once you receive your swap partner info – if you post it too soon, your pal will have trouble finding it, buried beneath other posts.

Also, on your initial contact with your pal, you will need to ask for their mailing address, since you don’t want to be posting that up on your blog *S*

The basics:
How long have you been knitting? Since I was 4 years old, but hardcore for the last 2 years. Do you consider yourself a beginning sock knitter, an intermediate, or have you been doing this so long you could probably knit a pair in your sleep? I'm an intermediate/advanced knitter, but when it comes to socks I've only ever done one pair so I'd say I'm pretty beginner-y!

The measurements:
While your pal may ask for some additional info to ensure a great fit, please provide your shoe size, or any other fitting related info you think is pertinent. I am a UK size 5/6, European 38, US 7/8. I have skinny ankles so socks tent to fall down on me :(

(fiber related) Favorites:
What colors do you love? I love bright colours. Contrasting colours are beautiful like blue and orange, red and green (so long as they are the right shades for each other). I suit greens a lot, wear a lot of blue-greens/teals, purple/aubergine( I think you guys call it eggplant in the US), yellows, black, everything. Basically I love anyhing with conviction, deep colours like red/burgundy, khaki green, golds...autumn colours are boooootiful! I cannot stand pastel shades! They make me look ill when I wear them. So any colour is fine for me, just no pastels (why didnt I say it like that from the start, sorry!) :)
Do you prefer solids or variegated? I dont mind either way, though solids might just be my fav by a nosehair.
What fibers do you most love to knit with? anything natural and soft.
Who do you consider your favorite yarn vendors?
What projects (other than socks, of course*S*) do you most enjoy knitting? I love knitting hoodies and jumpers (sweaters). Also little booties for my newest cousins and newsboy caps for all the grown up ones. Really want to make myself a pair of legwarmers and some slippers for the Bostonian winter.

(fiber related) Dislikes:
What fibers can you not stand to knit with? To wear? Anything scratchy or looks like my grandmother would have forced my Mother to wear!
What colors would you never wear? PASTELS....the only remotely pastel thing I own is a powder blue/green (nearly minty coloured) jumper, its lovely. I cant wear some shades of yellow, makes me look jaundiced...it has to be pretty rich and buttery..not lemony! NOthing too blue, must be on the greener side of things...sorry I'm just blabbing on here :)

The Tools:
Plastic or Metal? Bamboo or wood? any and everything. bamboo are for when I want to treat myself tho, student budgets dont quite stretch that far.
Circs or Straights? again either are cool with me.
DPNs or Magic Loop? I use DPNs all the time (as well as circular needles) I have no idea what Magic Loop is...maybe you want to educate me :)
Are there any knitting accessories you don't have in your collection but would like? Well at the moment I'm very low on everything, I had to leave my knitting bag back home due to limited packing space so I have pretty much nothing right now. I have been pining for some pretty stitch markers and point protectors, but at this moment in time anything would be helpful!

The Extras:
Do you have a wish list? If so, please share the link! no sorry, but feel free to ask me more questions if you like.
Do you like sweet, sour or salty? (or all of the above? *S*) I am a food fiend so anything is good. I love salty, dairy (cheese, glorious cheese!), sweet, sour, anything. I love chocolate, but particularly the dark stuff with high cocoa content, nice and bitter (being from Europe I'm a bit of a chocolate snob...not that I wont eat the cheap stuff, its good, it just all tastes different in the US until you get to the better quality stuff)
Do you have any allergies your pal should know about? (Certain foods, smoke, pet hair, etc) nope.
Favorite scents? Scents you can't stand? I love anything that smells natural and real. Lavender, rose, jasmine are a few favs. also love fruity smells. Basically again anything is fine, but cant stand things that smell synthetic...musks and fake floral smells just give me a headache.
Do you collect anything (other than yarn and knitting toys of course)? I love original jewellery. I have a ridiculous number of earrings! The bigger the better I think when it comes to them. I also love rings. I love collecting little nicknacks from vintage shops. I love things that look old/antique. I love finding little antique purses/wallets or wee nicknack boxes.
When is your birthday? (month and day is fine!) 9th June, 1985!
Do you spin? Dye your own yarn? No I havent done wither of those to things yet, but I'm really interested to learn about spinning, sounds fun.
Your favorite author/band/vacation spot, anything you think will help your pal know you better...hmmm well fav author would have to be....oh boy there are so many...Nick Hornby, Shakespeare, Emily Bronte, Zadie Smith.....fav bands, this list is going ot be even worse as I am a music student so I listen to ridiculous amounts of music, at present I am listening to (taken straight off my ipod!) Kate Bush (she rules!), Arctic Monkeys, SnowPatrol, Regina Spektor, The Who, Run DMC, Shostacovich (classical composer)...my tastes are varied. Right now my fav holiday spot would be back home in Ireland in my boyfriends arms! I would love to go to Australia some day and take more time exploring Europe, I go there so often but dont feel i take the time to really explore, I take it for granted being so close.

So as you've probably realised from reading this that I have hugely varying tastes in a lot of things. Basically I'm easy going, there are very few things I dont like...more than anything I want to get to know other passionate knitters!

A bit of background info on me...I'm from Northern Ireland. My mother is from the Republic of Ireland and my daddy is from Iran, so I'm half Irish and half Persian. I'm the eldest of 4 kids (I miss my wee munchkins!) and am in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend of 4 years, who is also from home.

I'm currently living in Boston, getting my degree at Berklee, College of Music, majoring in Music Production and Engineering (all the tech head studio stuff and live sound). I am a singer-songwriter, I also play the flute, tinwhistle, harmonica, arabic flute and am learning the guitar. My degree is the most fun in the world but is pretty stressful and hardwork, lots of late night sessions in the studios (I have been in the studio til 2am the past 2 nights producing and assisting recordings, and then am up at 9am for work and class). I get pretty burnt out so I'm really looking forward to a wee spoiling :)

Outside of music, I love art, literature, films (did you see the Illusionist? absolutely brilliant, go now, I insist you stop reading and go to the cinema!), clothes (shallow I know but I liketo make them, change them...buttons are great!), Sex and the City, West Wing (just got given the first few series and I'm hooked), Grey's Anatomy (It's not like I have time ot watch anyo f this, I just like to daydream about watching it while knitting)...hmm what else...walkis, the outdoors, I come from a wee village right on the coast of Ireland, surrounded by mountain on a lough that opens into the Irish sea, Boston is lovely but living in the city just isnt the same as having all that space and sky :)

My friends say that I am a fairy trapped in a humans body. When I was little I always wanted to be a punk, but always ended up more hippyish...I got pretty upset about this, a little Irish hippy fairy cant be listening to the Ramones and enjoying it so much?! but t was my mother who really hit hte nail on the head, she said you are all those things and that is called a Bohemian :) I am a proud Bohemian...nice to meet you. hope this was all helpful.

p.s. if you want to hear some of my music Iim on myspace...myspace.com/parisar

Oh Yeaaaaaaaahhhhh!!

2006-09-26T18:40:00.000+01:00

(singing in a goofy lil voice) "OH Yeah, It's Here...Sockret Pal....Oh Yeah!!!!"

cue *bad dancing*!!

OK I'm off, gotsta go questionnaire some stuff...will post it super soon!

**"TO THE BAT-CAVE"**

PHOTOS FINALLY!!

2006-09-25T18:21:00.000+01:00

PHEW! So here it is my pride and joy...a week ago!! It's now actually finished and lying on the floor of my bedroom, blocking. With any luck you might see finished photos a week from now :)

It's been a busy, busy week. School is 2 weeks in now so the grace period is over and its down to hard graft. I've been in the studios recording so many times already and things are only set to get busier. Also my boyfriend has been staying with me for the last 3 weeks, he came over from home to help me move in, and so I havent really been making time for much else apart from him and doing whatever school work is absolutely necessary. He goes back to Ireland today though. It'll be a hard drop back to reality, I get so used to having him around 24/7. Time to put my creative skills to good use and practice my sock knitting to take my mind off him. Christmas break always comes way sooner than I think it will and then Kol will be moving to NY to work and life will be good - no more long distance, WOOHOO (well technically it still is but, hey, its better than having the Atlantic between you!!)

The only thing that will get me through this week is the thought that I will be finding out who my Sockret Pal is and I honestly CANNOT wait I am so excited. I tried to fill out the questionnaire earlier this week and I don't have a clue what to say...It shouldn't be this hard to describe yourself and your likes and dislikes. I find myself to-ing and fro-ing on things, I seem to like everything and am mortally afraid of being pigeon-holed. When did I get so worried about how other people see me? Very scary!

And speaking of being pigeon-holed, I got my nose pierced yesterday (noone tell my parents!!). I thought people would be shocked or wonder why I did it, but today NOONE has noticed and when I point it out they're like "wow, it just looks like you were born with it. I was going to say something but then I thought you had always had it done!" (however I go to a contemporary music school so nose piercings are childs play round here!) Maybe it doesn't colour a persons opinion of you as I thought it did. That's probably just my parents opinions screwing me up :) I'd love some thoughts though from others out there...What do you think of piercings and tattooes and the like? Does it make a difference to how you view the person? I'm worried people wont take me as seriously and my Ma always said that as a musician (singer/songwriter) I would be alienating potential audiences.

OK, after reading that all back I cant believe how insecure I sound and for the record I must say it really suits me, I've wanted it for awhile now, Kol loves it and I've no regrets!! I will try to get a pic up ASAP and stop writing these epic blogs about very little :)

Sock-ret Pal swap!! and the All-Ireland Football Final

2006-09-17T07:15:00.000+01:00

I just got into my first swap and I am so excited. It's the Sock-ret Pal Swap and I'll have ot knit someone a pair of socks. I'm alittle nervous about this as I have only ever knitted one pair of socks in my life. Granted they worked out fine and are very loved by their owner (well he is sleeping in my bed so he'd better love them!), it was a test of nerve turning those 2 heels so whoever gets my socks had better appreciate the sweat, blood and tea that went into them. I cant wait for it to begin!!

Also in crochet news, I have finally finished all the granny squares needed to make my bohemian bag and now just have to construct the thing. I have photos that I will post tomorrow or at least at a more sane hour today! I have been itching to knit though, I miss it but was forced to leave all my knittin suppies back home in Ireland due to an excess of new clothes bought while home, leading to limited space in my luggage (damn you Primark!!). What is a girl to do...clothes or knitting goodies?! It's like asking you which of your arms you'd rather not have chopped off!!

My boyfriend is badgering me to go to bed, we're getting up early to go to the North end of Boston to watch the All-Ireland Gaelic football final in a pub, and it'll be so much fun. Gaelic football is the native sport of Ireland and a real man and womans sport (the womans matches tend to be more vicious than the mens!). It makes me miss home, but it's worth it. Kerry is playing Mayo for the honour of calling themselves the best footballing county in Ireland. Quite an achievement when you bear in mind there are 32 counties in the whole of Ireland, North and South. Well I know who I'll be going for, as I proudly come from a Kerry bloodline...my Nana likes to tell me how I could be the Kerry rose in the Rose of tralee contest if I wanted (it's a 'lovely ladies' pagant held in Tralee, Ireland every year and is loved the nation over by grannies!) No chance of me ever appearing in anything like that but I let her dream. So off to bed I go....UP KERRY!!!

I GOT A COMMENT!

2006-09-16T07:25:00.000+01:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, I proud to announce that I have just received my first comment ever. It was left by a lovely fellow knitter who valiantly tried to warn me of the perils of knitblogs but, alas, it seems that I am hooked!

I'm so proud, someone actually read this blog of their own accord, someone who doesn't know me or have any obligation to do so!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH, you made me day. (My boyfriend is reading this over my shoulder...we've been together 4 years and he's only realising now that I am a nerd!!)

Secret Pal 9

2006-09-16T01:57:00.000+01:00

So ever since I found out that Knitters blogged and had their own websites, I have been obsessed with the idea of the knitter secret swaps that they have going on, and now I have my own blog I want to be part of one SOOOOOOOOOO badly!! I just applied to be part of Secret Pal 9, which seems to be one of the largest knit swaps, and I really hope they let me participate.

One of the rules says that new bloggers must have atleast 10 posts though to be eligible, so I'm going to post LOADS this weekend and hope that counts because I swear I'm serious about this all. I want to do it so badly!! So if you are a member of SP9 and you're checking out my site to see if I'm eligible PLEASE see that I am geniunely excited to be a part of this swap!

What was meant to be about what projects I'm working on but turned into 'Knatty Knitter: A History of'

2006-09-13T15:35:00.001+01:00

So right now I am utterly addicted to the new book in the Stitch n Bitch series, 'Happy Hooker'. I bought it for myself as a treat when I got back to Boston to start my new semester here (I'm in my last year of my degree!!! AAAAHHHH!!!) I have always been a huge fan of the Stitch n Bitch series, the first of which I received for Christmas 2 years ago (just after starting in Boston) and have been on a knitting spree ever since. This book on crotchet is great though and finally bridges the gaps that myself and my Mother weren't able to get over ourselves.

I've been knitting since I was very small, I think about 3/4 years old, though my want to do it came and went every few years, depending of fashion, school work and if I could steal anymore of my Mam's yarn. Mammy taught me, her wee left-handed daughter to knit, and I took to it immediately. Art and Maths collide in my life often, particularly as I love Music, but I think knitting was the first place these two loves of mine met. However, my Mammy's true love and calling is crotchet. She was taught as a young girl by an elderly neighbour of her family and used to make all sorts of crazy beehive hats and scarves for her ones. When it came to teaching me though, it all went wrong. For a start I did everything backwards from her and it seemed so crazy and freeform to me that I just couldn't grasp it. UNTIL NOW!! All of a sudden everything my Mam ever said to me has started making sense. I crotcheted my first scarf over the summer and am now working on the bohemian granny-squares bag in 'Happy Hooker' and loving it. Suddenly it doesn't seem random and non-sensical, it seems liberating and allowing for improvisation.

I also have a new appreciation for my Mammy's crotcheted creations. I have always loved them but now I see their inner workings more clearly and that deepens the love. Mammy will crotchet just about anything that sits still long enough but these last few years she has been experimenting with wire and beading to creat magnificent crotcheted jewellery - necklaces, cuffs, even belt pieces - and even better she has started selling them in local craft stores at home, under the name 'Lily Cobweb'! The two pics I have at the top of the page are of a necklace she made as a present for my friend Kelly and the other is of some crazy 'bullion' thingys she's been playing with recently, kind of looks like beach treasure!

She still does her lace and baby blanket and has been promising me a little 70's crotcheted dress for as long as I remember, but it is this new innovative work that really grabs my attention. I want to be as creative and free-spirited as she is, and usually I am, especially in my music, but recently I have lost that impulse. I think its kind of been worked out of me in school but I want to find it again! Truth be told, I was never that Mathsy, I loved it but my heart lies happy with the ethereal, spiritual force inside me that never cared I couldn't cut paper in a straight line (left-handed perogative!) and stand still when I played my flute (used to drive my teacher nutty..supposedly ruins your tone, but it was good music, I had to move and look who's in music school now!). Anyway that is enough ranting, especially considering I don't actually have ANY readers yet. Oh well, this blogs just for me and it's made me super happy!!

Welcome to the Land of Blog!

2006-09-12T16:31:00.000+01:00

So this is it! I always promised myself I'd never ever blog but here I am. It dawned on me today that I would love to be putting my creations out into the world and communicating with some of the lovely people I've got to know through blogs. Thing is though, none of these people know me. Because I don't have a blog. I just read theirs, keeping up-to-date with their projects and kicking myself when I found out there had been an Olympic knit-a-long that I would have loved to have been part of. So here I am! Please feel free to introduce yourself, I'm looking forward to finally getting to know this vast knitting community that I've only been peeking at for so long!

:)

Knatty Knitter

When it rains, it pours

Freakin' laptop broke again...

Standing at the foot of the mountain

Guess who's back, back again...

Life on the edge of insanity

Kiss this Day

Happy Anniversary My Love

Finding the Groove...

e. e. cummings

I have a wee problem

WIPed

Summer Knitty

Birthday Weekend!

music blogggggginess

Quickie!

Sunset

WooHOO!!

FO!

The Last Unicorn

Ramblings of a crazy woman

The rain washes me clean and suddenly I can!

Ingredients

I gotst tagged

Curl up and Dye!

I interrupt this broadcast for a special news bulletin...

FOs, UFOs, Flying Saucers and Little Men from Mars!

Nashville '07...hold onto your hats!!

Back in the swing of things

Nashville, Here I Come!

Monkey News Update

I am grateful for...

Knitting myself back together...

The Magic of March

Secret Pal 10 Questionnaire

Shades of Blue Comparison Chart...

Project Spectrum 2.0

The Last Supper

St. Valentine's Day

A week of knitting in pictures...

Secret Pal 9

Superbowl Extraordinaire

Once there was a girl with a curl, right in the middle of her forehead...

A little chic goes a long way...

I'M BAAAAAAACK!

To My Dear Friends...

5 Super Sense!

Freak Out!

8 Patterns and Photos Ph-inally!

FOB 11, 10 AND 9...the ultimate catch-up!

Help! Help! The music's taking over...

16 names and the weight behind them

17 things and What I remembered

19 Favourite Fictional Characters

20 days 'til Crimbo

**First Snow**

Monkey News

Thanksgiving Grub Crawl!!

School's OUT!

bored

Frou Frou

I am woman! I am invincible! I am tired!

UFOs, FOs, WIPs and Porn! Oh Baby!

WTF, mate?

Procrastinating hardcore!! (dodging the homework/write a proper blog bullet)

SP9 competition questions

Check in...

:(

Buttons Baby!!

*Secret Pal 9 Questionnarie*

Sock-ret Pal Questionnaire!

Oh Yeaaaaaaaahhhhh!!

PHOTOS FINALLY!!

Sock-ret Pal swap!! and the All-Ireland Football Final

I GOT A COMMENT!

Secret Pal 9

What was meant to be about what projects I'm working on but turned into 'Knatty Knitter: A History of'

Welcome to the Land of Blog!

First Snow

Secret Pal 9 Questionnarie