Everybody Loves Saturday Night

direct from the ottoman empire

"Full of furniture, for some reason..."

My storage ottomans from The Company Store* arrived this morning, just as I was coming in from the farmer's market.

They are even more lovely than I expected--the fabric feels like Chinese silk (but clearly isn't) and the tufted tops are quite comfortable.

Of course, the minute I set them up by the window . . .

They're not going to stay lined up with the window. Immediately to the right is where the piano (fingers crossed) will go, which will push the ottomans off center. I now have the piano dimensions, and at 58" long it will barely fit--but it will fit--in the 59" wide slightly recessed area. And at 25" deep, it will fit--barely--up the 30" wide staircase. The only thing to consider now is how the movers will navigate the shallow turns up the stairs, but this would be why I would consult professionals.

* The name "The Company Store" always makes me start humming "Company Book."

every day should be earth day

alternate title: there must be 50 ways to save the planet

Scout thanks all of you for the birthday wishes, by the way. He feels very loved. Well, it's probably more accurate to say that he feels very entitled to your love, but I think underneath that he is genuinely moved and happy to have it.

So anyway, yesterday was Earth Day. And while it's a good thing to have a day where everyone's consciousness is theoretically raised and the odds of persuading just one person to do just one thing to help save, preserve, or reverse what we have here are higher on this day, really, it's like Christmas being the one day a year everyone is supposed to be nice. Shouldn't it be that way every day?

So with that, today, the day after Earth Day, the day a lot of people are going to go back to doing whatever it is that they've been doing, I'm going to share with you a site I found via...I think Apartment Therapy.

I scored myself on this list and came out better than I expected. Highlights:

1. Change regular light bulbs to CF bulbs. Already in progress, but I'm with Maryse on this one--I'm also using the "bad" bulbs I already bought. Unless someone can come up with an idea for how to repurpose them? But at any rate, the two rooms in which lights are on the most, the kitchen and the living room, have the CF bulbs, with more on the way. The kitchen light was already CF when I moved in, two years ago. Hasn't needed replacing yet.

2. Turn off computers at night. I admit, I am really bad at remembering to do this. I've gotten better, and gotten to the point where I sometimes remember to unplug the laptop as well. What I also need to remember on a more regular basis is to unplug the TV and DVD player when they're not in use. My new DVD player has a "standby" light...is that really necessary?

 8. Go veggie at least once a week. This fact surprised me: 2500 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef? Yikes! I don't buy a lot of red meat, but in general the chicken/beef/lamb consumption could go down a bit.

10. Use one less paper napkin. You know, I would really like to have this one posted at the take-out places I go to, because those guys always grab like 10 napkins to shove in the bag I've already said I didn't need.

12. Recycle newspaper. Better yet, get yer news online.

14. Rethink bottled water. Yes, I really should. I buy a lot of bottled water--like, 3-4 times a week. It has gotten to the point where I feel a little guilty when I do, because although I recycle the bottles, it's still an unnecessary convenience, when I have a Brita pitcher at home. I don't think it's going to be hard to not buy bottled water on such a regular basis, plus I'll save between $3-8 a week.

 18. Take shorter showers. Done. When I was younger, I could spend 20 minutes in the shower, easy. Now it's zip zip zip and dry off. It helps that my hair is significantly shorter than it used to be and I don't wash it every day. (Saving a bundle on shampoo and conditioner in the process!)

22. Buy local. I've really been on board with this for the last few months. I love that I live so close to a year-round farmer's market.

23. Adjust thermostat. I have little control over this during the winter months, but I am looking forward to having control over the A/C this summer. I pledge to not have it set any lower than 75 degrees F and not have it run 24/7.

 26. Turn off lights. Oh, is this a big one for me. I grew up with grandparents who lived through the Depression, you know, and they'd learned to live this one for saving money purposes more than saving environment purposes. "Turn off the light if you're not using it" was a frequent refrain in my house, and I have lived by that ever since. There are times I will leave one light on if I'm going out and coming back very late at night, but I should really look into getting a light timer. For that and for the bedside lamp that stays on after I've fallen asleep while reading.

29. Recycle old cell phones. I just did that, two weeks ago! After two years I traded in my Samsung blecchy phone for an awesomely cool Blackberry, and it came with a "All Postage Paid" envelope for my old phone. Thanks for making that easy, T-Mobile!

(Also, the Blackberry reduces the amount of time I spend on my computer, since I can access the internet through my phone. Double score!)

31. Recycle unwanted wire hangers. Most dry cleaners will take them back? Really? That's so simple, yet I never would've guessed. It's amazing how much junk we simply accept into our lives, isn't it?

35. Cut down on junk mail. Aha. Yes. Bane of my existence, and yet I haven't done anything about it--until now. Did you know there's a number you can call that's connected to all the credit report agencies, and by calling this number you can--in theory--reduce the amount of mail you get from credit card companies? 1-888-5-OPT-OUT. Also check out Eco-Cycle's list of tips for reducing junk mail.

38. Give it away. Freecycle!

40. Plastic bags suck. Oh boy, do they. Right now I have a sizable collection, which at some point this summer will be converted into a welcome mat, using this tutorial for converting the bags into "plarn." I have my purple crocheted bag and a couple other reusable bags for shopping--I just need to be better at remembering to always have one handy.

50. Share! Go on, help make every day Earth Day! 

color scheme

Previously, on ELSN:

I caught Crochet Fever and Ripple Madness and started a Soft Waves lap blanket out of Mission Falls 1824 Wool.

I also contracted MSD (Mitred Square Disease):

I was later seduced by the siren call of the Hexagon Blanket, and opted to use the Mission Falls for that, leaving me in want of yarn for the still-desired ripple afghan. Having been cured of MSD (the cure lies within the disease itself) and still in possession of waaaaaaay too much Baabaajoe's yarn . . .

Today's episode: Color Scheme Surprise

I restarted the ripple afghan last month, never got around to writing about it.

The lack of press on Ripple 2.0 was mostly due to feeling blocked as to where to go next, color-wise. I have a very wide selection of colors to choose from, and I didn't want to go the totally random route (too much of a control freak, I am--each time I picked a color without looking, I rejected it), but I also felt too overwhelmed by choice.

I decided then to take the question to you--present a few choices for the next stripe after the teal and have you tell me which one you liked best.

This was option 1:

Which I liked--that sunny yellow-orange was just the ticket to brighten up a dusky almost gloomy beginning. Plus, on yet another cloudy February day, I was looking forward to working with such a cheery color.

This was option 2:

Initially, I only made it this far before I had a strong negative reaction. The yarn was too orange, too fiery, much too bright against the mild teal. I hated it. But after I took this picture, I reconsidered. I had a WWKFD* moment and decided to make it through one pattern repeat to get a better sense of how the colors worked together.

By the time I'd finished working with the seriously blindingly bright orange, I could see what would happen next:

And I could see where to go after the green (my favorite of all the colors):

I'm so intrigued by how this happened, that by exploring my negative reaction to something I worked through my color block. I've had this happen with writing--where I was so averse to going a certain place in whatever it was I was writing, but as soon as I started I knew exactly what to do and how everything would come together. First time this has happened with yarn and color, though. It's worth remembering the next time I have a powerful reaction against something--that I should really step back and reconsider.

So I know where I'm going now, thanks, at least for the next few stripes. I'll let you know when I get blocked again.

* for the non-fiber/fabric workers among you, KF = Kaffe Fassett

year of crochet

I have all sorts of resolutions for the next year dancing around in my head--craft- and writing-wise, that is. I try not to make any "real" resolutions because I think I put enough pressure on myself as it is. And how pressure-making is "2008 is going to be the year I finally figure out what to do with my life?" See what I mean?

But crafty goals, those I can make. Things like "2008 is going to be the year I learn to use a sewing machine" and "2008 is going to be the year I finally use the yarn I bought in 2003."

(I just looked up out the window and noticed two guys in the third floor apartment across the street, taking out the windows. I guess renovations are underway over there. A little startling to look up and see two guys in the window across the street. Thank goodness I'm dressed.)

2007 wound up being the year I became a crocheter. Not a knitter who only picks up a hook when an edging is called for, or a knitter who knows how to crochet but prefers not to, but a bona fide crocheter.

I made this bag over the weekend. The pattern comes from here. It's the same bag Brainylady made a few months back. I used KnitPicks CotLin and a size G hook. I'm planning on using that green Lion Brand Cotton Ease you see in the bag to make another one. Perhaps two. The bags serve two resolutions: to stash-bust and to be more environmentally conscious.

I fully admit that until 2007, until something finally clicked for me and I understood the mechanics and trappings of crochet, I was one of those knitters. You know what I mean. Who may have appreciated the finishing touches that a crocheted edge could bring to a knitted item, but who mostly said one of two things: 1. "I'm just hopeless at crochet, I can't do it right"; and 2. "Crochet just doesn't do it for me."  Well, ok. #2 was really more like "Crochet? Feh!" And yes, #2 was the result of #1. I didn't master it quick enough, so I turned away from it.

What was the click moment? I wish I could tell you. I think it was watching someone else crochet and realizing that I had been going through the front loops on every row, when I should have been going through both loops. Though I have since learned that going through only the front or back  can be a design choice. It makes a rib-like texture that looks cool especially if you're working in stripes.

Then came the ripple. Finishing my own ripple afghan is on my 2008 to-do list. I had started one in March and then realized that it wasn't going to be wide enough, and the yarn for it has been sitting patiently in my closet since.

Crochet is fantastic for stash-busting. Simply fantastic. It's quick, and it requires more yarn than the average knitting project. I cranked out three washcloths in the same weekend as I made the bag.

Again, I used KnitPicks CotLin, less than a skein for each washcloth. I used Lion Brand's free Grit Stitch pattern (registration required, also free). Crocheting these took no time at all. I started one as I sat down to watch Superbad, and was done with it before the movie was over. All of a sudden I looked down and realized I had a square. Leftovers are going to be made into a hand towel.

And since the weekend I have embarked on a blanket for Scout, which I'm not going to post until it's done. I'm using stashed Lana Grossa Bingo in the most blinding shade of red (why do I have it? It was free) that I think it would be best to take the picture after it's done and Scout is on it so you don't have to look at so much red.

I have also begun something that I am only continuing because I think the end result will be neato. A long while back, perhaps a year or so ago, I purchased nine skeins of Noro Tidori, two of which are shown here:

At the time I think I was thinking about using it for some kind of lightweight scarf? But when I got around to working with it, I soon realized...I hate this yarn. It doesn't look good in any kind of knit stitch, not garter, stockinette, ribbing, nothing. The two-toned cable construction of the yarn is interesting but yields nothing pleasing in its fabric. The composition of the yarn is mostly artificial, rayon and nylon, with 10% cashmere and let me tell you--10% cashmere is not enough cashmere. The yarn feels wiry and ropy. I hate it. I would've gotten rid of it but I doubt anyone would've paid me what I paid for it, because I hate it so much that I really wanted my money back. But too much time had passed, and more than one ball of this stuff had been attacked by my needles, so returning it really wasn't an option. And I had a sense that I wouldn't have been able to even give it away. So I held on to it.

I started fiddling with it on Christmas, as Michael and settled in for our traditional Lord of the Rings trilogy viewing. This time I brought a hook to it, but again, neither ripples nor shells nor moss stitches were doing the trick. The stuff feels like rug wool.

Aha.

It may be the height of decadence to use anything with cashmere content for a throw rug...but that's exactly what this yarn needs to be. A mitred square rug. One ball of this hateful stuff makes two almost 6" squares.

The square on the left has been bordered with Brown Sheep Nature Spun in black, which I plan on using to join all the squares.

So yes--I hate this yarn, hate working with it, and yet I'm psyched to have this rug. It may be because I can't wait to stomp all over it.