August 2014 – The Lyf So Short

I’ve been out of town for a few days but I’ve somehow managed to complete/start/continue to make progress on many projects (except, of course, the Smalls Challenge project for July — I’ve completely missed the deadline there). However, those will have to wait until tomorrow to get the full attention they deserve. In the meantime, some links for you to enjoy:

I’m not much of a tattoo type (not that I think there’s anything wrong with them, they’re just not my thing), but I think these are gorgeous. Is it weird that I’m kind of disturbed by the ones with needles pictured as sticking through the skin? I guess I have a hard time maintaining proper representational distance; to me, the needles look like they would hurt.
A geeky trifecta: Doctor Who, cross stitch, and a twelve-sided die. (thanks, stitchbitch, for the last two links)
An article on the centenary of the outset of World War I that addresses the eternal fashion question: do the times dictate fashion or does fashion dictate the times? Read all about sleeveless sweaters and “bifurcated garments for feminine gardeners” here.
I love the idea of cross stitch designs being displayed in a gallery setting for charity, but my guess is that most of the designs are criminally underpriced (even for charity purposes).

Happy Stitching and Happy Knitting to you all!

Sorry I’ve been behind in my postings lately, but, unfortunately, sometimes one has to make earning a living a priority over one’s stitching. A sad but true reality.

Yesterday, in a desperate attempt to do anything besides finish grading the final set of research papers I just received, I cleaned and reorganized my home office. My home office has always had something of a split personality — half Victorian scholar’s cubby-hole, half knitter’s storage unit — but lately it’s taken on a kind of manic, schizophrenic, o Knitting Traditions Fall 2012 ut-of-control quality that makes it nearly impossible for me to get anything done. Needless to say, on most days I find it hard to work up the energy or the passion to tackle this ravenous beast, but when I’m confronted with a stack of (largely uninspired) papers to grade, I often find myself excited to do all kinds of things that would otherwise be unthinkably dull.

However, my procrastination is your gain, my friends! I have discovered that I have duplicate copies of two very nice knitting magazines, the Fall 2012 issue of Jane Austen Knits and the Fall 2012 issue of Knitting Traditions (pictured below and above, respectively). I don’t know what I could have been thinking about in Fall 2012! Anyway, one or both of these can be yours if you leave a comment below with one interesting observation about your own (bad?) knitting habits.* Good luck to all!

*Special note to international readers: I will try my best to find an affordable way to send your magazine to you, but I reserve the right to cancel this giveaway if the cost of postage becomes prohibitive.