novamade

a year of magnificent doings :: #yom

Well, here we are again, the start of a new year.  Have you done your resolutions yet?  I don't like the idea of resolutions, really.  At least, not for me, if that's your thing then by all means.  I sort of see resolutions as a list of failure, for the most part.  It's usually a list of  greatness that is, for the most part, not achievable; and, we eventually beat ourselves up about it when we don't accomplish the unlikely goals in the first place.  I am kind of over that.  This year, I just want to have an awesome year, and do awesome things.  I feel like that's something achievable, no?

I have noticed that my family says (well, me and the kids--K, being a man of few words, seems to use just the right words to sum up every occasion; but, there you are) the word "awesome" like it's going out of style. Well, to be honest, I feel like it has gone out of style.  I figured it was time to start exercising our vocabulary (I do have a young reader and an emerging reader in the house; so, totally appropriate) and highlight a new word to replace our use of the word "awesome" and reflections on all the "awesomeness" we hope to accomplish.  It's hard picking a word to sum up greatness.  But, well, I like a challenge and lo, I say to you: this will be a MAGNIFICENT year.

 
 

I use mind maps (you can call them something else if you want, but I call them mind maps, so that's what I am going with) when I teach introductory research classes at the library.  Students seem to like them; I like them too, they are... MAGNIFICENT (see what I did there?). In any case, there is a site called Think Map, which is puts the fun in functional (yep, that's right, I am on fire, people), so I mapped out possible new word contenders.  The candidates had to be words that my family and I don't normally think to use.  So there were words that I tossed out right away: great, fabulous, neat, keen, cool (obviously), amazing...the main two that were left were magnificent and brilliant.  I like "brilliant" but when I mapped it out, I was not as impressed as I was with magnificent (and all of its derivations), so that's what we are going with.  Magnificent.

 

I don't like to compare things too much, but all things being equal, it's not too hard to improve upon last year for me, at least craft wise.  Though I will share my portrait of the kids that I shot last December, which I think was rather fantastic, or rather, magnificent.

 

Craft wise, 2013 was a year of starts for me; I had hoped that it would be a year of finishes; but, well, we don't always get what we want.  I started a new job, which sort of twisted the routine of my whole life; and then my kids started getting involved in all of these weird kid activities (sports, scouts, music, etc.) which as a parent you get sucked into by default because, well, the kids can't really manage themselves, right?  But I think I have figured things out, and we (that was royal, obviously) are now back to the business of craft around these parts.  I am excited about getting my hands back into all the MAGNIFICENCE that is all things fiber-y. And I am excited to talk about it all again (...blog, what?).

 

So here is to a year of magnificence!  Join me, won't you?

happy birthday to moi! (2013)

My birthday was pretty awesome.  Despite the fact that Little Mister aged me considerably by telling everyone I was 46 today, it was a pretty great day.  I was taken out to lunch, my boys made me dinner and I was given the gift of time to work on the longarm machine assemblage.  All in all, a pretty good day.

 
And I received some pretty great gifts this year from friends and family local and far away.  Here are a few things.... 

There were also a few Craftsy courses and some purses from my mom (Happy Mother's Day!).

 
For you today, I don't have anything specific, so it's a "you name the gift" kinda day, today's giftee can choose between a few novamade products: 1) a braid of hand-dyed wool, 2) a skein of handspun yarn, 3) the book stitchie kit from the second day of novakkah, or 4) a boxbag.  It's novakkah, tis the season for giving and all that. In order to be considered, tell me whatever you want.  Send birthday wishes or tell me more fun gift stories, I don't care, just leave a comment that proves you are not a robot or a horrible person and you'll be considered.  This is late, so an extension is in order, no?

I will take comments for this post until tomorrow night, 10:00 pm, EST (2200). Comments for all other Novakkah posts (for the last 7 days), taken until 11:59 EST (or 2359, should you prefer that), Sunday, May 12th (that's tonight!). Please leave your responses on the appropriate post. One entry per post/person. I have shown you gifts each day and let you know what you needed to tell me to try to get it. Giftees will be selected on the 13th (tomorrow) and gifts sent out shortly (disclaimer: "shortly" matching my definition of the word, it could vary greatly from yours) thereafter.

the seventh day of novakkah (2013)

Huh, when you order a 12-foot studio frame, you get a 12-foot studio frame.  Who knew?  Obviously, I didn't get as far as I had intended in putting the longarm frame together today.  You know, stuff to do and all that.  In any case, while procrastinating (because honestly, I have to do a lot of rearranging to get this thing to fit) I messed about with various WIPs laying around. 

Rachel's comment that I need to post more to show the stuff that I am doing is a good motivator for me.  I honestly thing I finish more things when posting...it's like an accountability thing? 

Don't get me wrong, I do finish things; but, the posting keeps the motivation steady.  In any case, a have lots of things to do and talk about, so I suppose there is not reason not to post...

But your are probably wondering what the gift is today, yes?  How about some of my most favorite yarn ever?  I love everything about Madeline Tosh yarns.  The dyeing is pretty incredible and the quality of yarn is worth every penny.  A few years ago I bought a ton of it in one swoop and my family started worrying about my hording tendencies...(not that they weren't worried before).  In any case, this stuff is fabulous.  Today, I have a skein of Madeline Tosh Merino Light in Cedar (the color is a little off in the photo, sorry about that, I have been using a simple point and shoot with no editing this week--no time for anything else right now). 

It's fingering weight one-ply and it's awesome.  Should you want a shot at this gift, please tell me: what is the most overwhelming (in a good way) you have ever received? My new longarm, though it's technically not (but according to my husband, it totally is) a birthday gift, kind of blows my mind. 

I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or 2359, should you prefer that), Sunday, May 12th (that's tomorrow!). Please leave your responses on the appropriate post.  One entry per post/person.  I will show you what I have to gift each day and let you know what you need to tell me to try to get it.  Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter.

the sixth day of novakkah (2013)

On the sixth day of novakkah my true love gave to me...  You know, it takes a thoughtful man to recognize that gift quality is not always about the size of the giftbox.  K's comment about my gifts today was, "kinda low rent..."  Um, but the most useful thing ever?!  For those of you who don't know, my husband is all about useful gifts, I won't reiterate my first Christmas gift as his wife story again...it's somewhere in the novakkah archives posts; but, let's just say, that his gift-giving skills have improved drastically.  That being said, a girl who quilts and sews needs needles for her sewing machine(s).  These won't work in all my machines, but they will work int he work horses that I use for piecing and sewing non-quilt things.  My husband gave me 200 sewing machine needles today.  That's kind of awesome.  I can now match a needle to each spool of thread...well, let's just not go there...

Speaking of sewing machines (what? It's better than yesterday...a little bit?)  I talked earlier about sending my Little Gracie frame off to a new home.  It's a necessity because, well, there is a new member of the family...

I did so much research about longarms (you know, I am a librarian, a reference librarian, as it were--it's what we do...research...).  I will talk more about my process in another post.  I just wanted to mention how I would be spending my day tomorrow (when I am not tie-dyeing...I am so praying for rain).  We bought this machine at the New England Quilt Festival last month (or MQX if you prefer).  It's not really a birthday present (well, K said it's a "any gift giving occasion you can think of for the next three years" present, but you know, he is a funny guy); but, putting it together the day before the drop, well, it's just so celebratory. 

Anyway... you are probably wondering what today's gift is, so glad you asked.  How about a boxbag?  I have a whole bunch in various stages of finish right now, and need to sit down and finish them to get them off my wip shelf.  I am pretty sure I have one in a color that will accomodate you (or, we can chat about your final selection), to get a novamade boxbag of your very own, please tell me: what is the most practical gift (yet most appropriate or appreciated--I am not talking an electric can openere here, ahem) gift you have either given or received?

I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or 2359, should you prefer that), Sunday, May 12th (also, Mother's Day!).  Please leave your responses on the appropriate post.  One entry per post/person.  I will show you what I have to gift each day and let you know what you need to tell me to try to get it.  Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter.

the fifth day of novakkah (2013)

To celebrate the birth days (the real actual days of birth) of both of my kids, my mom took it upon herself to observe a Korean tradition of folding 1000 paper cranes.  My mother and I had some pretty hilarious conversations about these cranes. 

Me:  you folded 1000 paper cranes?!  That's crazy.

My mother:  you spend your time knitting things.

Me:  Yeah, that's funtional.  You know all the baby sweaters I knit?  The baby can wear those!

My Mother:  The cranes will bring the baby luck.

Me:  Of course they will. You can't wear a paper crane!

Clearly, I don't buy into this the way my mother does.  But I keep the cranes, because...well, my  mother spent a few months folding them so keeping them seems appropriate somehow.  Mostly, I forget they are there.  When the kids get older, the cranes will be their problem.  In any case (and here, witness, quite possibly, the worst segue in the history of segues), let's talk about yarn...or lace...or lace knit with yarn...  I know. 

So I was working in my studio recently and found a stack of knits either needing to be blocked or blocked but needing ends woven in.  I have about three shawls that are done for knitting, they are just wanting to be finished; and, that made me think of knitting another lace shawl, mostly because summer is on the horizon and I prefer knitting lace in summer to knitting anything else, really.  I assume others feel the same.  In any case, today gift is some lace weight yarn.  For your consideration: 630 yards of JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk in Ruby (brand new). 

I have used this yarn for a few shawls, and I kind of love it to distraction.  Should you want some for your very own, please tell me: what is the craziest birthday gift you have ever given someone? I'm not sure where on the scale of crazy 1,000 folded cranes on one's entrance into the world is; but, I think it's kind of nuts.  What say you?

I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or 2359, should you prefer that), Sunday, May 12th (also, Mother's Day!).  Please leave your responses on the appropriate post.  One entry per post/person.  I will show you what I have to gift each day and let you know what you need to tell me to try to get it.  Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter.

fourth day of novakkah (2013)

So I have the flu.  Being a librarian and not a doctor, I have no idea how long a flu shot is effective; but, needless to say, the one I got last fall is doing nothing for me now.  That's okay, I like silver linings, and well, novakkah, right?

I have been doing a lot of quilting lately.  Quilting was my first textiles obsession, so full circle?  in any case,  have been doing a lot of it.  As much as I love quilting, I am not going to lie, I am kind of lazy, and hauling a huge quilt though a domestic sewing machine started to fill me with all kinds of rage. 

A few years ago, I bought a Little Gracie quilt frame, it's pretty fabulous; but, then I took some longarm quilting classes and well, I was sold on getting a longarm.  So the Little Gracie has to go to a new home.  I will probably list it on Craig's list.  I wish I had enough room to keep it, actually.  It's pretty sweet.

In any case, while brushing up on the quilty, I ended up buying this book twice.  Yes, I know, I do this all the time.  You'd think I'd so a better job tracking what's in my library; but, apparently, you'd be wrong.  In any case, the gift for today is a copy of this book.  It applies to all quilting, I would say primarily home domestic.  It's pretty good. 

So for today, I am curious: have you ever given a gift to someone that you wished you kept for yourself?  What was it? I once gave a quilt to my friend Emily that was so fabulous (if I do say so myself) I seriously wanted to keep it; but, well, she was kind of expecting it and she models for me sometimes, so you know, I couldn't keep it (though I really wanted to).

I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or 2359, should you prefer that), Sunday, May 12th (also, Mother's Day).  Please leave your responses on the appropriate post.  One entry per post/person.  I will show you what I have to gift each day and let you know what you need to tell me to try to get it.  Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter

third day of novakkah (2013)

There are many benefits to working at the same place that your spouse happens to work, like you can have said spouse do things that you'd normally put in a work request for.  He would have moved my computer for me anyway; but, I'd like to think of it as a birthday gift, really. Kind of like the Sur La Table bundle of awesome that K and the kids gave me tonight.

Pretty sweet.  And perfect really. 

And I mean, we do cheese boards ALL THE TIME (what with all the jam and preserves), so perfect.

I like to pair things, so since today's gift was foodie in nature, I thought today's gift for y'all should be...food.  I know, I am completely unoriginal; but, I am off today, I woke up with a cold, so we will just blame that.  Anyways,  who wants dilly beans?

Today's gift is a jar of dilly beans(!) and a jar of jam/preserves, winner can pick either cardamom plum (plums grown in my very own back yard!) or strawberry jam (for the less adventurous).  Please tell me: what is your idea of the most perfect gift (for yourself) either real or theoretical?  I like fun things; but, I am getting to the stage of life where functional trumps a lot of more frivolous gift qualities (but of course, the first three letters of functional spells "fun" so...).

I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or 2359, should you prefer that), Sunday, May 12th (also, Mother's Day).  Please leave your responses on the appropriate post.  One entry per post/person.  I will show you what I have to gift each day and let you know what you need to tell me to try to get it.  Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter

second day of novakkah (2013)

I guess it can be said that I gave myself the gift of a new job for my birthday this year...or really, that's the way the timing worked out.  As some of you know, I used to be an archivist (with a random assortment of other responsibilities thrown in).  I am now a reference librarian (with the option of doing archives processing should I wish to do so, which I probably will--because archives are awesome).  It was the only the first day; but, if today was any indication, I will definitely like my new work place quite a bit.  And well, you know...books; libraries have them and I love them.

 I love books so  much, I bought myself some for my birthday--it's like the least imaginative gift I could ever get for myself really (kind of like fabric or yarn, "oh, what a surprise, how did I know I wanted these...." make no mistake, I bought myself fabric as well...hello, novakkah).  There's been lots of good buzz about these two books.  I don't usually go with buzz-y books--especially when said books are still only available in hardcover; but, I figured I would do something different this year.  Speaking of books, do you remember this?

I did these pieces of embroidery a while ago.  One was for Chawne (the red one--she's doing some interesting cross-stitchery right now, by the way); but, the multi-colory one I did for myself (it was the tester).  I loved it so much I framed it and popped it in my old office; but, I am going to take it to work tomorrow and pop it in the new one.

Today's prize is an embroidery kit.  I will package a pattern for this book embroidery design and a kit to stitch it up with (fabric, hoop, needle, floss) for today's winner.  Please tell me, what is the most practical or totally appropriate gift you have ever gotten for yourself?

I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or 2359, should you prefer that), Sunday, May 12th (also, Mother's Day).  Please leave your responses on the appropriate post.  One entry per post/person.  I will show you what I have to gift each day and let you know what you need to tell me to try to get it.  Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter.

cinco de may, 2013 (or the first day of novakkah)

So I figure my birthday celebration is as good a time as any to start blogging again, right?  So today started my 8-day celebration of my birthday (or me, as it were...).  My family and I usually head south to Maryland for MDSW; but, since I start a new job tomorrow, we figured that we would just stay home and relax.., (our version of relaxing involved planting a garden and doing yardwork, so not that relaxing, but whatever). 

Since I usually do something fiber related on the first day, why deviate?  "Second verse, same as the first and all that..."  Consider this my invitation for you to celebrate with me.  Today's gift/prize for some lucky person chosen at random is 4 ounces of dyed wool. 

I will let you tell me the color families that you are partial to and I will dye it for you.  If you are not a spinner, I will send you some handspun yarn instead.  Sound good?  Have you (or anyone that you know of) ever done something life-altering for/on/around a birthday?  What was it?  Me, personally, I am starting a new job tomorrow.  it's kind of a big deal.

You have all week (till 11:59 p.m. of May 12th) to leave your comment for this giveaway on this post.  More things showing up the rest of the week (of course).  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

boo.

We have no power, we have no water; but, we have Halloween spirit, apparently.  Our town canceled Halloween since 99% of the town has no power because of Sandy; but, we still have a house and we are fine.

The Littles wanted to be ghosts this year.  No seriously. Of all the things they could have been.  Ghosts.  And well, you know me, I like to make dreams and wishes come true.

Happy Halloween!