Postcards from Beirut

I basically love this band.

April 10 at the Electric Factory was pure hedonistic bliss. I felt like I really did escape to Beirut, or some far away place I’ve never been so that I could still imagine it was paradise.

Thanks to michael alan goldberg’s photo on flickr! His photography is phenomenal.

Why You Shouldn’t Major in Music

If there is anything I have learned in college, it is this;

The music education major is a monster that attacks by surprise. At first, it seems like a manageable beast, encouraged by friends and family who fawn over your (often mediocre) musical abilities. And then, once it’s sure you’ve swallowed the bait, it devours your very soul. All your time, gone. All your energy, depleted. You spend your days locked in a claustrophobic practice room, studying scores, going to recitals, your nights up trying to understand music theory. Your life is completely enslaved to music. You must surrender to it, or face the humiliation of switching to a much easier, but less profound major. Business. Communciation. Basically, anything else.

I don’t even have time to be writing, but I wanted to explain the great lapses of time in-between posts. (Even though I am really the only one who reads this insignificant blog.) I guess I needed to explain this to myself. Yes, self, you are working hard. Maybe one day you will earn a low-paying public teaching job with good health insurance and summers off. Keep that in mind as you pass out on your piano night after night.

It’s worth it.

Until next time, I will be here;

In the month I will be done and knitting again.

Melancholy Mix

I always, always, always get really depressed this time of year.

It’s an unintentional reaction to the short, dark days of winter, the cold, and the solitary work of school. This phase will soon pass, as it does every year come the blooming of Spring. But for now I indulge in my favorite acoustic songs, which mourn everything from lonelines, to unrequited love, to death.

I hope you enjoy being sorrowful with these songs.

• A Drop in the Ocean – Ron Pope
• For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti – Sufjan Stevens
• Oh My God – Jars of Clay
• I Will Follow You Into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
• Red Right Ankle – The Decemberists
• Portland is Leaving – Rocky Votolato
• Guess How Much I Love You – The Lucksmiths
• The Lighthouse’s Tale – Nickel Creek
• FM Radio – Joshua James
• Everyday – Carly Commando

I would also like to highlight Ron Pope, who I stumbled upon surfing last.fm, and stole my soul.

Don’t listen to him if you don’t want to cry, or if you scoff at music that makes people like me cry. His voice is honest and passionate, completely and irresistably soulful. I can’t believe he is so completely indie, and I feel like his career is on the brink of some incredible breakthrough. He seems like an honest guy who loves music with his entire being; genuine through and through. So I will support him even if he sells out, because there is nothing wrong with taking credit for such beautiful music.

Spring break has just begun, which means I have survived another round of midterms and intend on celebrating with a marathon of knitting and BBC movies. Let the festivities begin.

love in search of a word

“Music is love in search of a word.” -Sidonie Gabrielle

Tonight I intend to relax with my significant other, who I don’t believe I have publicly introduced yet.

Please meet, Flute.

We have been in a relationship for almost ten years now.

It’s getting serious. I think he will be proposing any day now.

Sometimes I cheat on Flute with Piano, Sax, or Guitar…but Flute and I have an understanding. He is my first and true love.

I rarely talk about my musical life here, but it is a huge part of me. I once wrote in my personal journal;

“There is this feeling I get when I know I am playing well. My flute feels completely weightless in my arms, fingers naturally curved around the keys. Though it looks asymmetrical, I am completely balanced. My lips kiss the mouthpiece and air flows freely from my lungs, the tone aflight, resonating infinitely along with my body. I forget where my arm ends and the flute begins, where my voice ends and the music picks up with the sweetest, clearest singing, until I forget how I could express anything any other way.”

For an idea, listen to Cecile Chaminade’s Concertino (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lltY_IjzxA&feature=related)

This is music, this is love. Happy Valentines Day!

Hands

I am back at school, and have no time of course. But I just finished writing a 4 page paper, and would like to blog.

I want to be in love. There is nothing so magical as being in love in the city, holding hands, walking down South Street.

I have met a few guys at school, and I even turned down one primarily because I fear he would distract me from schoolwork. But sometimes I just want to hold someone’s hand.

I admit it was kindof creepy to take this picture, but my entire life is kindof creepy.

Aw!

That’s all I really have to say.

Until next time, which will hopefully be sooner!

A Sweater for Isaac

I love my little brother Isaac so much that I knit him a cuddly little cardigan to keep him warm this winter.

I love him even though he wouldn’t look at the camera.

I love him so much I don’t even mind if he drools on it.

And he can really drool.

Pattern is http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/theodora-sweater.

 I have found in my humble knitting experience that there is no greater joy than seeing your hard-worked stitching worn and loved over and over again.

Mrs. Darcy’s Cardigan

I’m so thrilled.



I was drinking coffee, as always.

I used recycled buttons from an old sweater. They are kindof beat up, but it goes with the theme, in a way.

The only adjustment I made to the pattern is that I knit it in a single huge skein of Bernat Super Saver Solids, which changed the gauge to make it longer. I also added a few rows of garter and stockinette to the bottom.

Ultimately whole sweater cost me $3.50 and fits perfectly. I am going to wear it all the time, I can tell.

Any comments  appreciated!

secretly

I wish more than anything else I could go here.

Edmund the Owl

Edmund’s body is worked in the round on double-pointed needles, His eyes, wings, ears, and beak are made separately and stitched on later.

Materials
120 yards of worsted weight yarn, brown in color, (I just used some scrap yarn, lion wool possibly)
size 8 double-pointed needles
size 8 straight needles
fiberfill
tapestry needle
sewing needle
stitch marker
felt (cream colored and black colored)
Thread (cream colored and black colored)
Small amount of contrasting color (for scarf, optional)

Body

Using double-pointed needles, CO 6 sts. Place marker and join into the round.
Increase each stitch of first round (12 sts)
Knit 1 round.
Repeat first 2 rounds (24 sts)
(Knit 1, Increase 1) around (36 sts)
Knit 1 round.
Repeat previous 2 rows (54 sts)

Knit until piece measures 6 ½ inches long. (You can make him shorter or taller as you wish)
Now would be a good time to firmly stuff the bottom of Edmund with fiberfill. Take your time and make sure Edmund is stuffed to perfection. He should be a vertical oval shape. Stuff to the top, near your knitting needles. Remember you can add more fiberfill to stuff the top as you knit it.

K1, k2tog (Knit I, knit two together) around (36 sts)
Knit one round
Repeat previous 2 rounds (24 sts, stuff the top as you need it)
K2tog (knit 2 together) around (12 sts)
Knit one round.
Repeat previous 2 rounds (6 sts)

Cut 5 inches of yarn from the end. Using the tapestry needle, thread it through the remaining 6 stitches, pull tight, and knot.

Wings (make 2)

Using straight needles, cast on 6 sts.
Work 10 rows in stockinette stitch.
Row 11 – K2tog, knit until 2 remain, K2tog (4 sts)
Row 12-14 – Purl 1 row, Knit 1 row, Purl 1 row.
Row 15 – K2tog across row (2 sts)
Cut yarn, thread through last two stitches, pull tight and knot.

Ears (make 2)

Using straight needles, CO 4.
Purl 1 row
K2tog, knit rest of row (3 sts)
Purl 1 row
K2tog, knit last stitch.
Cut yarn, thread through last two stitches, pull tight and knot.

Beak

Using straight needles, CO 2 stitches.
Increase stitches across row (4 sts)
Purl 1 row
K1, K2tog, K1 (takes up entire row – 3 stitches.
Purl row.
Cut yarn, thread through last three stitches, pull tight and knot.

Scarf
To make the scarf I think I cast on about 60 stitches and knit 2 rows before binding off. To make a neater-looking scarf, cast on 4 or 5 stitches, and knit until desired length. It’s up to you, make him your own. J

Finishing

Cut out two larger cream colored ovals from the felt, and two small black circles, in proportion to the picture below. Sew them into place using the needle and thread. Using the tapestry needle and yarn, sew on the wings, ears, and beak according to the picture below.

If you have any questions (which I expect, seeing as this was quite a finicky pattern) feel free to ask. Enjoy your cuddly new owl!

Strapping Young Lad Bag

Strapping Young Lad Bag

Materials
2 skeins Paton’s Shetland Chunky Tweed
Size 10.5 straight needles
Tapestry needle
A fat quarter of fabric for lining
2 leather buttons
2 snap closures
sewing needle and brown thread

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Pattern

Body
-Cast on 36 stitches
-Work in seed stitch until piece measures 17.5 inches. (weird number, I know)
-Cast off.

Flap
-Pick up 30 stitches alongside one of the shorter sides of the body (i.e. the row you just cast off) Leave a three-stitch margin on either side, so that the stitches you are picking up are centered (your flap won’t be as wide as the body, obviously.)
-Work in seed stitch until the flap is 4 inches long.
-Knit 2 together, work rest of row in seed stitch until the last 2, and knit 2 together.
-Repeat this last step 3 more times. (22 stitches)
-Cast off, not too tightly.

Strap/Sides
-Cast on 10 stitches.
-Work in seed stitch until the piece measures about 30 inches. (You can make the strap as long or as short as you want.)
-Cast off.

Assembly
Ok, this part is a little ambiguous. I lined the strap with another piece of knitting to make it sturdier. I think I cast on 10 stitches on size 6 needles (for a ridiculously tight gauge) and knit until it measured the length of the actual handle part (not including about 8 inches from each end of the piece that will serve as the sides of the bag). You can also just line it with fabric.

Now fold the body in half, and sew about 7 inches of strap along each open side to serve as the sides of the bag. (If you need more clarification on this, let me know haha.) Sew on the buttons (which are actually purely for decoration), and sew snaps underneath them (which actually serve a purpose). I did this because I wasn’t sure where exactly I wanted to put the buttons on until I was finished. I used metal snaps, but you can use magnetic, Velcro, whatever. I know you are creative. Line the bag and you’re done!

Let me know if you have any questions or comments because I know I’m not the best explainer in the world. Enjoy!