Don't drop that stitch - Let's cast on in 2007

Knitting is cool.
It's relaxing.
It's nice and warm and makes you feel cozy during these cold days.
It can be extremely rewarding (if you ever finish that project you started).
It can also be very frustrating (if your project just does not turn out the way you expected or just sits there not making any progress).
It feels healthy to knit - just like working out. You feel refreshed and good about yourself after you broke that sweat...ummm...I mean finished that row.
I have been meeting with a small group of moms at a local pub for a knitting circle. At first we felt a bit insecure about showing off our knitting skills in public, especially since the place we meet at consists of a pretty young crowd of hipster students. At our first gathering someone looking like the manager of the place came over to our table and said rather dis-invitingly:"Hey ladies...what are we doing here". "Knitting" we said, feeling a bit rebellious, which is funny if you think about how traditional knitting is.

So here's to all you knitters out there:
A small collection of interesting knitting resources - Enjoy! And as always, feel free to add your ideas and/or favorite links in the comment area or write me an email.




DOMIKNITRIX
Whip Your Knitting into Shape.
By Jennifer Stafford.
(check out the website and the book)




NAUGHTY NEEDLES
Sexy, Saucy Knits for the Bedroom and Beyond.
By Nikol Lohr.
(check out the website and the book)



KNITTING WITH BALLS
A hands-on guide to knitting for the modern Man.
By Michael del Vecchio
(brilliant book for the guys who like to knit)




STICH AND BITCH
The Knitter's Handbook
By Debbie Stoller
(books and website by this knitting guru girl)




KNITTY.COM

(nice patterns and great advice on this website)

Jenny Hurth can't keep up sewing...

When I was cleaning up some of the clutter here in my living room...it's a real safari at times - I found a little treasure: the card of Jenny Hurth, that I picked up at the Spice of Live Festival (a food & craft fair in North Berkeley's "Gourmet Ghetto" right in front of our Berkely landmarks like Alice Water's Chez Panisse Restaurant and the Cheeseboard). Jenny's business card, a piece of recycled cardboard goes perfectly well with her line of product: urban, colorful, modern bags tailored in wisely practical shapes that she creates out of recycled vinyl banners.



I contacted Jenny right away and asked her if I could feature her bags on here and she said YES (!):

Jenny is a mother of three (17, 14 & 8), who used to make custom slip covers out of her house for 20 years when she came across a vinyl trade show banner at the East Bay Center for Creative Reuse. She was struck by how gorgeous the thing was, such bright colors and all those big important words would look so cool cut apart. It made her think about how many of these signs there are for each convention, how big they are, and how wasteful the whole thing was! Vinyl, yuck! So, she bought it and made some bags and turned it into a business. Jenny called the Moscone Center, who had a new recycling program in place and were delighted to hear from her. Nobody (hopefully) wants to throw all that stuff into the landfill.

Jenny gets quite a bit of interest wherever she goes, more and more people want to recycle and this is a fun way to keep a little corner of the world's crap out of
the landfill... for awhile. She has a parallel concept: to think up some new material for sign makers to use so there doesn't have to be quite so much frivolous production of vinyl, such a toxic process.

She also says that you are welcome to contact her (hurthfam@earthlink.net) about the bags but please keep in mind that she is doing the whole thing by herself and has so many orders lined up right now she can barely keep up..

My favorite gadget

Listening to NPR's All things considered this week on my way to work got me all inspired. In their week long radio series they have been talking to experts about their favorite gadgets. It's a great show but while I was listening I thought of all the fantastic new great gadgets we just acquired like our digital camcorder and the new phone that makes sure I get my email anywhere, and that is including all the spam (which I have to delete twice now).

While our rapidly emerging technology keeps on spinning and popping out a new tech toy probably every minute or so, I have been doing some research in my kitchen drawers and found my favorite gadget right there: a clothespin!

Now don't laugh! It is true - I love clothespins not only because of their simplicity, and their practical, natural design but also because of all the things I use them for like:

- hang up one of you kids drawings with
- close up that cereal bag
- hold a tablecloth on a table
- having them around just looking good
- playing with while on the phone
- and ...sometimes even hanging up laundry ... (and much much more)


A great gadget does not always have to be something that has just been invented. A great gadget is a brilliant thought turned practical...so what is your great gadget OR what do YOU do with a clothespin?

If you are really inspired please feel free to email me a picture of your favorite gadget at bine@lmi.net and I will feature it in an upcoming post!


Also thanks to greendimes for listing my last post on their news page - I hope that everyone that stops by from over there will enjoy reading My Livingroom Safari..

The Green Realtor's Christmas List

If I would ever buy a house in the bay area I would most likely choose Betsy Thagard to be my realtor. She is not only a smart woman and a mother of two (that also spins her own wool - she has goats in her backyard) but she also gives 10% of her commission to an environmental non-profit of your choice. She drives around in her electric car that is powered by solar panels that are located on the roof of her house.

She is...no kiddin': The green realtor....THE EcoBroker!

I feel very lucky to be on the mailing list for Betsy's newsletter - it's always a great read. Especially this last one! I just had to share this with you. Enjoy Besty's creative gift suggestions that not only will make the gift recipient a better person but you can also feel very good about giving...

from Betsy's newsletter (some of these tips are local to Berkeley - but I am sure if you do some research you can find similar programs in your area):

1. Give a gift of tree seedlings to a poor community in Peru. For $60, Heifer International will assist a community in planting a grove of trees that will provide fodder for livestock and help to reverse desertification. Your friend receives a card describing your gift made in their name.

2. Many of you have house-obsessed partners (yes, I know who you are). For $395, you can give your partner a Home Performance Green-up by Sustainable Spaces -- a thorough analysis of your home's environmental performance with recommendations of ways to become more energy efficient.

3. Got a friend who complains about junk mail? Sign them up with Green Dimes. For $36 a year, GreenDimes will remove your friend from direct mail lists and plant a tree every month.

4. Give memberships in great environmental non-profit organizations. The Sierra Club, Save the Bay, Friends of Five Creeks and the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association do excellent work and provide fun outings for members.


5. Encourage a friend who longs to be car-free by giving them a membership in Zipcar or City Car Share.

6. Gotta give a more normal present? Then check out the green goods and companies listed at CoopAmerica.

7. Okay, so I'm making you feel guilty about that new car or fancy trip to Hawaii that you've already planned to give your loved one? Well, then add a purchase of carbon offsets that will counteract your gifts' global warming emmissions. Go to www.terrapass.com to figure out your trip or your car's carbon emissions. Then pay Terrapass to support clean energy and industrial efficiency projects that will cancel out those emissions. For just $29.95, your partner can drive that Prius 12,000 guilt-free miles a year. A Hummer is actually a deal at $79.95 -- but PLEASE don't buy one.

The Coop America Holiday Tips page has even more ideas for greening your holidays.
Have a joyful, fun and relaxing December. And, if my husband asks, tell him I want that trip to Hawaii.

The world would be a better place if we all had a little bit of a Betsy in us.