Yarn and Knitting and Crocheting, OH MY!

So,

I have *never* been able to knit or crochet well

(as in, I can make a scarf, the end)

It's always been something I've wanted to learn, though... 

so I'm puttin' the ol' nose to the grindstone and trying to figure it out.

So far... I have some tools of the trade,

and I'm going to see about getting some lessons.

These crochet hooks make me think of dental picks...

Which makes sense, because right now, trying to knit or crochet is as torturous as a trip to the dentist.

The yarn sure is beautiful, though.

Knitted Homes of Crime

A very interesting little exhibition... go HERE to see the whole thing... these knit houses were created by Jean Arkell and are made to look like the places where these female killers went mad.

It's gruesome... yes, but I'm very attracted to the combination of medium and concept here... especially considering the time period when knitting and such was still practiced for purpose rather than just pleasure.

Here's a little sample:

Christiana - 20 hours
16 Gloucester Place , Brighton, East Sussex - 1871
Mrs. Beard - 21 1/2 hours
64 Grand Parade, Brighton, East Sussex - 1871

Christiana Edmunds was a 43 year old spinster who lived with her widowed mother. She had become infatuated with a married man, Dr. Beard. In September 1870 she brought a box of chocolates to the Beard's house and insisted that Mrs. Beard eat some over a pot of tea. Christiana had filled these chocolate creams with strychnine. Immediately after eating one Mrs. Beard became severely ill. As a result Dr. Beard accused her of trying to poison his wife. Christiana denied the charge and set about trying to prove that there was a poisoner at large in Brighton. She would pay children to buy chocolate creams from the same sweet shop that she purchased the box of chocolates for Mrs. Beard from. She would inject these with strychnine, then re-wrap them and pay another child to return them. The innocent shop-keeper sold on these poisoned sweets. On 12 June 1871 this activity resulted in the death of 4-year-old Sidney Barker. Christiana even sent poisoned cakes and fruit through the mail, addressing some to herself, to try to emphasise her innocence. She was eventually caught and sentenced to death but when it transpired that she was mentally ill her sentence was commuted and she was sent to Broadmoor. She died there in 1907 aged 79. It later transpired that no less than four members of her immediate family had died as a result of mental illness

A thank you and a new bag!

Click on the pictures to make them larger :)

First off, Thank You!!!! to KnittingTurnip for her LOVELY PIF Giveaway prize!! Here are some pictures of the little cutie she sent me!


Next, my Mom sews purses... more to the point, she sews bags for other people, lickity split, but if one of her kids wants one, we have to hound her and hound her and wait for months and months.

So, after months of waiting, and repeated asking "Is it done yet?! Is it done yet?!" She finally finished my purse... and I LOVE IT!!!!


I chose all the fabrics, except the base fabric... which is evidentally Hand-dyed Ricky Tims fabric that she had laying around for ages!

The inside is lined with little pockets and it has a solid bottom... and in general, is just a very useful purse!! Have I mentioned I love it?

Now for some random "What's in/on Heather's purse?" items :)

What's that dangling from my purse?! It's a hand sculpted little leather dog!! SO CUTE!


And also Skelanimal bat that I ran out and purchased after reading Kelly's (Yesterday's Glitter) post about them. I bought the little bat... PERFECT for Halloween!


Inside my purse you'll find a change purse I bought directly after seeing Ponyo... which, btw, is the most disgustingly cute, feel-good, adorable movie I've seen in a while.


And... girls... if you don't want the boys stealing your Nintendo DS... just make it look like this:



So, THANK YOU, KnittingTurnip... and THANK YOU, Mom!!!!!