On No Fibre Content

Still-Life with Fountain (edited), originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

*Urgh* It's hot!

And what to do when it's hot?

This:

Summertime indulgence [141:366, 28.06.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Ahhhh....nice cool ice-cream.

Have you noticed how uninspired my post has started out? Yeah, the aftermath of the thesis plus the heat plus the onslaught of revision plus work are all contributing nicely to turning my brain into One.Big.Mush.

Okay, okay, I've been enjoying my time with Dr. D for the past five days, too. We hardly got to see each other in the past three/four weeks. First, it was my mad-rush to finish off my thesis. Then there's my job at the hostel...I do the morning shifts and so I start at 7 a.m. This means I get up at 5 a.m....yeah, sure I can get up later and do a mad-dash to be in time for work, too...but that's not my style. I need my time in the morning chewing on my Muesli and taking a shower. So yeah, 5 a.m. to get up that is. And sure enough, that's not such an attractive time to get up if you were spending the night before at your boyfriend's, eh? So, in order to make up for the past weeks, I've been seeing Dr. D everyday for the past five days, which is a new record for us. It wasn't 24 hours spent together though. I had to leave to get home and do a couple of stuff in between, too. But the best surprise for me was on Friday evening when I wasn't expecting to go over to him because there was a knit-night...he rang me up and asked whether I wouldn't want to come over. Now, that was new for me. None of my previous boyfriends were like that. All they ever asked me was along the line of "Haven't you got somewhere else to go?". Yeah, Dr. D's definitely for keeping.

Anyhoo, Dr. D's leaving to go on a week long vacay with his family tomorrow....so I'll be all alone *queues "All By Myself"*. But fear not, for I have a whole load of stuff planned to do (well, work is still there to do and also revisions...but let's be honest, who would want to know about those?). And it's pretty sure that there will be blogger-visit on Thursday...not telling you which one though. ;-p Anyway, I got to meet up with Dr. D today after work for an afternoon tea (lawdy, that sounds absolutely bloody prissy, doesn't it?) at our favourite place: Victorian Tea House. So, that was extra nice to see him after such a nerve-wrecking day at the hostel (no, I'm not going to start telling you here about how dealing with international guests can really make one goes bonkers)....so yeah, I at least got to see him before he leaves tomorrow. ;-)

Apropos, blogger-visit. I was pleasantly surprised last Thursday when MunchOfLife really popped into Lanaiolo! He wrote to me a couple of weeks ago on Ravelry asking for some LYS suggestions in Munich and I told him a couple as well as my LYS...and he actually made it there! Great to have met you!

I've been feeling really bad about SP12, too. I haven't given that much thought as needed be for the package for my downstream pal. And being the perfectionist that I am, I don't want to give away any clues that might reveal anything about me. But it's just hard when you're living in a foreign country. Oh well, I guess at least revealing the country you're living in isn't going to hurt, eh? But because of this, I still haven't got everything together for the first package. I guess I should make it priority number one for this week to get the package together and finally send it off.

Talking about SP12, I guess I should answer the week's question, too: What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

Now, that's one hard nut to crack. I used to think that I could never ever have enough yarn...but the confining space actually got me re-thinking about it and I'm happy with what I've got right now. I reckon that the perfect amount of stash is the amount that you feel comfortable with without having any guilt on "having too much". I always jokingly say that I have waaaay too much stash, but I know that it's puny comparing to some of you out there. Bottom line is, I'm happy with it and that's what counts. ;-)

So, that' all for now. I've got too many UFOs on the needles and the attempt to reduce them only mysteriously procures more new projects. Don't ask me how I managed to do that...but it just happened. Hopefully I will have a cute FO to show you soon. ;-)

Right now, I'm going to pop in a DVD (no hostel work tomorrow, since there's a guy coming to read last winter's heat usage in the building and I'm not leaving my keys with my so-called neighbours, since I don't know jack about them) and knit on one of the new UFO. Y'all have a great start to the week, eh?

(Oh, and one last thought thrown in: Boohoo on Germany for playing such a lousy game last night resulting in ending up being second for the European Cup. Junx, Ihr könnt echt viel besser als das gestern! - Don't know when I turned into such a footy. LOL.)

Current Mood: Missing Dr. D already...but I'm feeing good, as long as there is enough ice-cream.
Food for the ears: Okay, okay, so this first clip is not music. Thanks to the Gal with the Orange Body-suit (TM - harhar, you know who you are), I'm now addicted to Jeffery and Cole on YouTube. They're absolutely hilarious and got me ROFLing every time I watch a new clip (besides, I think that Jeffery is such a QT!):



And in order to not leave you dry without music, here's what I'm...well, anticipating (OH.Mah.Gaaaaaaaaaawd, I'm so gay in this post!):



Yeah, and the song in my favourite mise-en-scenes:

On Drunk Blogging

Ahhhh...such tantalising thought [132:366, 17.06.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

For some reason, I forgot to post this picture the last time I posted on my blog. No, I didn't burn the book...the picture's pretty symbolic on how I felt after having handed in my thesis.

Anyway, I'm not really drunk (yet). Just home alone this weekend, since Dr. D's away visiting his family for his uncle's birthday....it's been kind of a weird day. The weather is really warm. Would have been nice to go out and sit in a beer garden, but well, I'm kinda broke since I still haven't got paid yet.

Perfect summer drink, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Ended up being at home most of the day. I made Paella (not really, it's already made, I had to re-cook it....for those in Germany, it's the Frosta stuff) and felt like drinking something alcoholic and cool, since it's so hot today (I even got out my Capri pants to wear with my jandals today because I felt that I looked ridiculous in my jeans and proper shoes). Stupid me, however, forgot to get some beer earlier when I did my groceries. Luckily, I still have a semi-dry Riesling I got as a gift from my students back in the days when I was still teaching English at Siemens.

Anyway, while I'm at this, I might as well answer this week's SP12 question: As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?

I guess I actually looked forward to go off on the summer courses. That's when I got sent off into a foreign country with a group of youngsters to learn English. That way, I've ended up in and seen a lot of places in the world. I don't know, I just wanted to get away from home. Apart from that, I always looked forward to not having to worry about doing homework and all those stuff.

Le Flambé du Pacifique: Blocking, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Start: 8th May 2008
Finish: 17th June 2008
Yarn: My own hand-spun - "Tahiti", merino optim from Chameleon Colorworks
Needles: Addi Lace, 3.5 mm - 80 cm (US#4 - 32")
Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark from Interweave Knits Fall 2006

I also wanted to update you on some of my knitting. I finished my latest Swallowtail out of my own handspun. I still need to do a proper photo shoot for it though, so you'll have to wait a bit more for the FO pictures. ;-)

Emil Clapotis [134:366, 20.06.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Start: 24th March 2008
Finish: WIP
Yarn: Rohrspatz & Wollmeise Sockenwolle, 100% Superwash Merino in Emil
Needles: 4.5 mm - 80 cm Addi Lace
Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert from Knitty Fall 2004

Also, in my attempt to reduce the numbers of WIPs I have around here, I picked up my Clapotis again.

Laminaria Shoulderette [135:366, 21.06.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Start: 20th June 2008
Finish: WIP
Needles: 3.5 mm / 80 cm Addi Lace
Yarn: My own hand-spun: "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"
Pattern: Laminaria by Elizabeth Freeman, from Knitty Spring 2008

And lastly, I frogged my Flower Basket Shawl because it was too boring and so I'm using the yarn to knit Laminaria instead.

This is all because Cashmere Dreams has egged me on with this pattern.

So, that's all for now. I'm getting drunk. :-p Have a great weekend, y'all!

Current Mood: Missing Dr. D and getting drunk
Food for the Ears: The following songs bring back some very fond memories to me....the second song pretty much outs me as child of the 80's. ;-)



Also listening to (can you remember the Listerine ad?):

On Some breathing space

Flowers [131:366, 15.06.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Well, I handed in my thesis of doomy-doom-doom yesterday. So, now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that things will go fine and that I'll pass that first stage and get to the exams. This will also mean that I have to gear up for the revisions. *urgh* Can't it just all be over now?

I think that for the moment, I should answer the SP12 question from last week:

What is your favourite summer drink?

I really don't know. I just drink what I feel like. Some kind of fruity cocktail, I guess. And wine's always there....perhaps more cool white wine in the summer.

I just don't drink soft drinks any more apart from the Schorle stuff.

Hehe, yeah, that's all I can come up with. Sorry, but my brain's pretty useless at the moment. I took yesterday off and visited a friend who just recently had a baby....which reminded me of an FO that I haven't shown you:

Baby Surprise Jacket [123:366, 01.06.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Start: 23rd May 2008
Finish: 31st May 2008
Needles: 4 mm / 80 cm Addi Lace
Yarn: Handgefaerbt.com, Winter Abo 2007
Pattern: Baby Surpise Jacket (BSJ) by Elizabeth Zimmermann

Yup, I made my first BSJ. It's still too big for the little girl though.

Anyway, I think I'm going to retire for the day to just lounge around and do nothing apart from knitting and spinning and think about the first package for my downstream SP12. ;-)

Y'all have a great week out there!

Current Mood: Addle-brained
Food for the ears: "Daschn" - Claudia Koreck

On O, Microsoft, how I am coming to loathe thee....

Still no time to really blog. Drowning with thesis stress right now. Just want to write here a bit, so that my Upstream SP12 doesn't think I've been sucked through the floor (although I really feel like that right now).

Peepz, tell me whether you hate the automatic numbering thing on Microsoft Words or not. It's driving me nuts right now because it's not doing what it should do. I got the sequence like: 1., 1.1, 1.1.1., 1.1.1.2, etc. Then suddenly I got 4. instead of 2.!

What.The.EFF?!

And it wouldn't let me change it. When I got around to change it, it consequently effed up the whole thing.

ARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!

Oh, yeah, just got off the phone with Dr. D. He's the one in a good mood right now (usually it's vice-versa). He laughed a bit when he heard about how down I am right now. No, no, I didn't take offense (his laughters did cheer me up a bit...exactly what I need right now). He said that it's because he really believe me now when I said that I understood him when he didn't have time for me because of his stuff at work/university. Apparently he didn't totally believe me before. LOL. Oh well, it's nice to know that he believes me.

Anyway, I'm absolutely knackered. My brain's just about to explode and I don't think I ever want to hear about Thai politics ever again after next week.

Drinking a big glass of Vintage Port right now and then I'll hit the hay.

I'm not even going to start about what's going on at the hostel at the moment. *sighs*

Hope your week has started off better than mine. Take care, y'all.

Current Mood: ARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!! *meh*
Food for the ears:

On just a short update

Drowning a bit right now. Gotta get my thesis done by next week to hand in the week after. So, you won't be hearing from me for a bit, but hopefully I should be able to get back to updating something after I've handed in my thesis. Besides, I have to work quite a bit this month, and I have to admit that the work at the Hostel sucks ass big time at the moment....I was *this* close to just telling them to shove it all up their arse and just walk out yesterday. (No, I didn't say it and I'm still there - but that was only after they apologised to me after the "incident", of which I won't talk about.)

*sighs*

Anyway, the posting delay will also apply to my Upstream SP12 Pal....so don't be alarmed if you don't see any updates here from me right away. I'll make an effort after handing in my thesis to post more frequently.

So, back to drowning. *urgh*

Current Mood: Stressed....like, totally.
Food for the Ears: "Dies irae, dies illa" from Verdi's Requiem (yeah, I'm serenading my doom at the moment)

On Not About Knitting...Not Really

I'm still here...just not really saying much. There are things that have been bothering me so bad and I have been on edge about whether I want to write about them or not and ended up chicken out and not blogging about it. There's some stuff on the internet and then there's some personal stuff. I'm not sure where to begin.

Let's start off so: Yes, I've been busy with work, boyfriend, thesis, studying, life....yeah, kind of in that order...and so I haven't been blogging. I skim through my bloglines, but I could hardly find inspiration to say something. I'm the kind of person who goes by the motto of "if you haven't got something nice to say, then just don't say anything". Lately though, I've come across so many things that just totally tick me off and I'm finding it harder and harder to hold back. I'm not a fan of critics, I don't like getting any (who does?). I know that constructive critics are good, but still, they will make you feel bad. I don't know whether it comes from my studying and writing my thesis that I've become more critical in most things I see. I start to analyse what people do and say....and I'm not sure whether I sometimes forget to analyse myself.

So, I'm laying my cards on the table and I'm open to the critics that definitely will ensue after this post. I'm sure that I'm bound to offend someone, if not a lot of people with what I'm about to say. I'm sure that people will turn the stick around and say that I'm doing the same thing, too. Perhaps, yes....but I'm just going to be dickhead and tell you that this is my space and I'm going to say what I want to say. I need a space to vent and I'm not going to do that in secrecy anymore.

Let's start off with the internet...or more specifically, Podcasts. In the past month, I found myself deleting some podcasts off my listening list, because I just can't stand the content any more. Yes, there were knitting podcasts that got scrapped because of the same reason...but there is one particular podcast that's not knitting related. I'm not going to do advertisement for this podcast and link to it. Here's the scoop: I started listening to this podcast back from its first episode. It is now up to its 476th episode and I must say that the content has deteriorated so much from when it started. It used to be about technology, news, movies...basically fun stuff and the host - I'll refer to the host as "he" - did a great job at presenting it in a fun way. Problem is, he started to expand and created several different podcasts based on the same line but on different stuff. All of them are well produced and entertaining. What happened was, he would do about 5-6 episodes and then just leave it off....whilst announcing in his main podcast that he will definitely continue doing those other podcasts. Yeah, that was like two years ago. He keeps doing that, i.e. creating new podcasts and then leave it. For goodness's sakes, follow up with your work!

I wouldn't rant about this, but thing is, the expansion doesn't go to just new podcasts. But all the time, he keeps recruiting other podcasts to join up in his "network"....which IMHO is pretty much like a little empire. He got other podcasts to join him, whilst he himself is neglecting all the 10 other podcasts he created. He keeps those neglected podcast online saying that it's a good resource for newer people to find. Sure...but when you listen between the lines, it sounds pretty much like: "I'm leaving it up there like a fishing net, so that people would end up coming to me in the end." Sure, there's nothing wrong with doing that...but how he says it in the shroud of his sliminess is sickening.

Towards the end of every year, he would start this donation marathon, so that he would get money in for the podcast. Let me state here that he's doing the podcast as part of his job, but he's not getting paid for it. His employer tells him that he needs to come up with his own funding for it. Great, isn't it? In my case, I would do it, but I wouldn't go around begging for money in such an offensive way and giving reasons that just don't live up to what it's worth. I got so pissed off and disgusted two years ago at listening to 45 minutes (on a normally 30-minutes podcast) of why the heck we should "donate" the money to the podcast that I ended up writing an email to the podcaster telling him that I find his method ridiculous and that he should be ashamed of what he's asking. No answer. Last year, the same thing.

The only thing that happens now in his podcast are emails and messages that he would broadcast because they glorify his "success" and "how great the podcast" is. He says that he answers every email....yeah, so what the fuck happened to mine? He hardly comes up with new content for the podcast any more, apart from using listener's feedbacks to fill up about 90% of the podcast. The 10% left is used to glorify himself and advertise for his other hibernating podcasts and his minion podcasts.

Second thing on the internet involves knitting....more specifically stuff that's been going on in Ravelry. I'm amazed at how many bad stuff has been cropping up in the knitting community (Keywords: Mystical Creations Yarn, HipKnits, MagKnits to name just a few). Perhaps it's just the perception because with Ravelry, everything got thrown out in the pot and everyone can see them in one place....so that probably makes it more visible to me.

What I'm getting at though is about the craziness about Wollmeise yarns. Don't get me wrong here, I'm really happy about people loving Wollmeise. If you know me long enough, you know that I support her wholeheartedly and wouldn't give any second thoughts about doing advertisement for her. But what's really getting to me are 1) people who are trying to make profit out the demand from Wollmeise right nowm, i.e. eBay and 2) people who can't seem to know when it's enough and stop asking for more..

Let's make this clear here: I have enough Wollmeise with me. I hoard them. I have access to Wollmeise easily enough for you to tell me that I'm not in the position to say things like this. However, let me state that I'm not the one asking for more more more. I have them and I'm happy with what I have. I don't mind having more, or every colourways...but I don't go around trying it get it with every chance. I know there are people out there wanting to try some but weren't lucky enough to get some (yet). And that's why it adds to my loathing of people who got the Wollmeise and put them up on eBay to get profit out of it. Don't you dare tell me there are other reasons like you need the money immediately and need to de-stash. Because in that case you can just put it up on eBay for immediate sales and not for auction. I wouldn't argue either if you put it up for immediate sales and add your shipping costs that you've paid originally to your price. Oh, and yes, I know who you are.

I kept having to tell people that they need to realise it's just one person doing all this and that they should cut Wollmeise some slack. But no, all they want is more....never mind that the one person doing it might just as well drown and die.

I try to accommodate for everyone on the Wollmeiseholics group on Ravelry. I do realise that I can't please every single one of you....but I'm also getting vibes that all you want is more. Sometimes, I just feel really left out and lonely there. I'm still a human being and I do want some kind words and some recognition for organising things. But lately it seems like I'm being commandeered around to do this and that. Seems sometimes people don't realise they're actually dealing with a real person on the other end who is doing this thing in his own free time and getting nothing out of it apart from seeing some people being happy about it. I'm not asking you to write an apology in order to ask me to do something....but some nice words would have been nice.

Lately, I've been hearing more and more critics about Lanaiolo. Yeah, I know you guys read my blog, so please, do note of how I feel about all this. The shop is relatively new, we still need to acclimatise on how to run the shop most effectively. Yes, the yarns are over-priced in some views, but it's still only some amount. Yes, I know you can get probably the same yarn elsewhere for cheaper and I'm not going to say anything about it. However what I'm going to say here is that you've said all those things to me once and that's enough. No need to hammer it in on me. Do realise that I'm just an employee there and I'm not the one running the shop. I can mention it to my boss once, but that's all I can do. I can't tell her how to run the shop because I'm not in the position. You, as a customer, are in the position to criticise constructively to her. But it doesn't bring anything to try getting me relaying all those things to my boss, because I'm not going to do that and put myself in such an awkward position. Sure, I don't always agree with my boss and I'll tell her my opinions...but still she has the last word. If you've never run a shop yourself, then I would suggest you not to start telling other people how to run their shops - yes, constructive criticisms and suggestions are still welcomed...but don't just go right out and say that what she's doing is wrong, unless you really know better because you're in the business yourself.

I'm also feeling left out by some real life "friends" around here. Sure, I'm busy with other things and I'm doing a lot more with Dr. D than with you. But it just seems to me that I'm being left on the edge with things that you do. I've addressed this issue a couple of times now and I don't want to nag about it. But it's making me extremely sad that I'm not being included. Sure, mea culpa for always saying that I can't join...but at the least, I would appreciate the fact that at least I was asked. I do put on a brave face when I get to see you, but really, I'm wilting inside. I'm not sure whether it was because of what I've said or done in the past that you stop including me. I don't know whether you don't realise you're doing it. I don't know whether you don't see it as I do. But yes, it hurts.

Lastly, I'm terrified about the prospect that Dr. D might have to move away for his job. It's nothing specific yet...but still the thoughts just terrify me to no ends. I mean, it's not like he's going to be out of the picture....and it's not like I can't move with him. But at the moment, I can't imagine living in another city apart from Munich - although admittedly, I've been getting fed up with Munich lately. It's just that I'm the kind of person who needs a lot of close contact with my partner and I just can't imagine doing distant relationship.

I'm really grateful for having Dr. D...coming to think of it, he's actually the most considerable of boyfriends I've ever had so far and he's patient with me. I've learnt a lot about myself in the past 6 months that I've been with him and I notice changes in myself and my attitudes, however gradually it is. Even though I might not have said it or show it blatantly to him, but he's one of the very few things right now that really makes me happy and I sure hope he knows it.

Anyway, sorry about the gloomy, ranty and venting post. I've got fibre/knitting related stuff to show you, too...and that will come. My 4th blogiversary is coming up and I'm thinking of doing some kind of contests. I'll see.

Please, people, don't hate me for what I've said above...I've just come to the point that I can't hold it in any longer and need to make room for other things in my head....I just hope that I won't be regretting this post afterwards.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Current Mood: Pensive...I guess
Food for the ears:

On Telly and Wingspan

"Icare, ubi es? Qua te regione requiram?" [69:366, 03.04.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Started: 24th April 2007
Finished: 03rd April 2008
Needles: 3.5 mm / 80 cm Addi Lace circs
Yarn: Rohrspatz & Wollmeise Lace-weight, 100% superwash merino, 300g Hank (530 m / 100 g), colour: "Poison No. 5"
Pattern: "Icarus" by Miriam Felton from Interweave Knit Summer 2006

LOL, the wingspan part is a teaser. More to come. ;-)

"Icare, ubi es? Qua te regione requiram?"

Anyhow, yesterday, I was on the German...well, Bavarian telly knitting and spinning. It's kind weird seeing yourself like that. I reckon that I looked and sounded horrible....but it's a nice 5 minutes of fame.

They filmed me back towards the end of February and beginning of March. I was followed around on two days. The first day, I was filmed and interviewed at Lanaiolo, i.e. the LYS I work in...and they also interviewed the owner (Katharina Ritter). Then they did a shooting with me in downtown Munich...which was quite an experience, as the town was full of people and they just stared - which contributed to my nerve-wrecking nervousness. Then on the second day, they came and filmed me at my tiny flat while I spun on the wheel. After that, we went over to the SnB and filmed the whole group.

Anyway, I don't think that they put the video up on the web to see...but who knows, someone might put it on YouTube. Mind you though, the thing's in German. ;-)

ETA: Thanks to a friend on Ravelry, there's a YouTube video now:

And here's a translation/transcript of the text for those of you who don't speak German:

Narrator: Too wacky or too corny. Too ordinary or too expensive. Victor W. from Thailand can’t do much with the normal mass products. But self-reliance is the name of the game.

Elemm: I always have my knitting with me. I knit various projects during the same time and this here is going to be a scarf.

Narrator: He started with the handiwork two years ago when there were problems in his relationship.

Knitting is not (well-)known in Thailand and so Victor taught himself how to knit with instructions from books and the internet. At first, he knit small squares and then also garments and accessories, which he either gives away or wears it himself.

Elemm: This, for example, is my scarf. I knit this about a year ago and it is….well, yes, I wear it pretty much all the time.

For me, knitting is an addiction…but a good kind of addiction, because it’s meditative, relaxing, creative and very productive.

Narrator: Victor can’t get enough of his object of desire: The wool/yarn. The solution? He works at a shop of another birds of a feather, Katharina Ritter.

Elemm: To work here is like a dream come true, because I’m at the source. There so many different kinds of yarns here that I can try out. And I also get to know the different kinds of yarn.

Katharina: Here we knit with high-quality yarns, a lot of which are from organic cultivation. The customers ask about it. Say, if the yarn comes from China, then they don’t want to have it. However, the products that we have here are geared more towards (producing) ready-to-wear garments. It’s a fashion that you can really wear.

Elemm: …it has to be soft and not scratchy. I would say that good quality can be found in a wool that’s not scratchy.

Narrator: To produce a knitted garment by yourself is a lot more fun than just buying clothes off the rack. It just takes longer.

Katharina: I want to have a beautiful jacket that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. This is half wool, half silk and it feels great. And it is really mine. I made it and it’s probably one-of-a-kind in the whole world. You wear it with a matching pride, because you made it yourself. I also found out about a nice side-effect and that is the fact that it makes me feel good, because I did something using my own two hands…on the contrary of my normal office job that I have. And I end up with something to wear.

Narrator: Victor can speak 12 languages (LIIIIESSSS!!!! – it’s just 6). He has lived in Germany for 8 years, but it’s through his hobby that he has found a lot of friends (also a lie!). He takes care of 3 knitting groups.

Chit chat at the SnB

Petra (short blonde hair): …and if you have to tink back and have to frog because something didn’t work out then it’s pretty nerve-wrecking but you get over it.

Narrator: Victor and his friends stand by their hobby. To knit in a café you need to have some guts…especially as a guy.

Elemm: I think that guys just aren’t brave enough to knit in the public…especially in the midst of women.

Marion (blonde with glasses): …it’s not something that a man would normally do. It’s a typical female work. If a guy were to stand there with a saw and do some woodworks, then that would probably be more accepted in the public than a guy knitting.

Petra: There are people who say some stupid things to us. There are people who want to order something from us. A lot just come to the group and so there are always new people coming to the group because they can see us and suddenly go: “Oh, I also knit, too. When do you usually meet?”

Narrator: And here is Victor with his new passion: Spinning. The hobbies have changed his life.

Elemm: I would say that it has made me more colourful. I feel more confident wearing more colourful stuff…well, good, at the moment it’s more with the socks. But also scarves and mittens have become more colourful. And through spinning and knitting, I’ve also become more patient.

Well, that's all I've got for now. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Current Mood: Good
Food for the Ears: "In the Deep" - Bird York (from "Crash" Soundtrack)

On I'm still here

Butterfly Girl Designs Spindle in action, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Wow, feels almost as though I've been unplugging from the blogosphere. I think I kind of lost a bit of my blogging mojo. But well, as the photos accumulated, I felt that I either need to blog off some of them or otherwise scrap a whole load.

Anyways, if you've been following, I've finished my Mystic Waters Shawl (yeah, that's the temporary photo. I still need to take an artsy one).

Apart from that, my birthday has been a kind of extended one. What's with all the packages that came in in a period of every couple of days. The photo above is actually the second package. A good friend who wished to remain anonymous to the net sent me my much coveted Butterfly Girl Designs paua shell mosaic drop spindle.

Another birthday present: BGD Paua Spindle! [44:366, 07.03.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

I had been lusting after the paua shell version of her spindles ever since she made the first one and put it on the shop.

Apart from this, I also got the spindle with the new kind of swan neck hook, which really reduces the wobble when spinning to as much as none when comparing to the old style hooks that BGD used before (not that the wobbling ever bothered me at all).

Birthday presents from Alala [42:366, 05.03.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Apart from that, the first birthday package that came in the mail was from Alala, who got me my birthday presents from my Amazon Wishlist (English one here).

So, I got the European version of Brokeback Mountain (2 discs collector's edition) and Inspired Cable Knits (that book has been on my wishlist for so long now!)

More B-Day Gifts [48:366, 11.03.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

A couple of days later, I received the next package. This time from Charles. He got me a small vintage Kromski Niddy-Noddy, 2 mixed CDs of Indie music (not in the picture) and his own hand-made card. Thank you very much!

More belated B-Day Gifts [50:366, 13.03.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

The last package came from a collaboration between three dear friends of mine, two of which, I think, would prefer to be mentioned anonymously (but those in the knows can pretty easily guess who they are). Otherwise, the third one was BockstarkKnits. Thank you sooooo much!

So, I got the Kromski tensioned Lazy Kate with four extra bobbins. The Wollmeise Wellensittichvogelfeder in lace-weight for my Mystic Light KAL and a hank of worsted-weight each of Pfefferminz Prinz and Amazonas....and of course three test hanks.

That seems to conclude the birthday present bonanza.

I've otherwise been working on my thesis, as well as knitting and spinning.

Hemlock Ring Blanket, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Start: 06th March 2008
Finish: WIP
Yarn: Gedifra Shetland Deluxe: 50% New Wool, 25% Baby Alpaca, 25% Mohair
Needles: 4.5 mm / 100 cm Addi Turbos
Pattern: Hemlock Ring Blanket by Jared Flood from Brooklyntweed

Midnight Stars, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Midnight Stars, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Midnight Stars, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Started: 28th February 2008
Finished: Singles finished on 7th March 2008, Navajo-ply on 12th March 2008
Yardage: approx. 160 m / 50 g of light fingering-weight to almost DK-weight
WPI: n/a
Fibre: 50 g roving of extrafine merino in black with white mulberry silk
Spindle: Singles spun worsted on carved Agate top-whorl spindle from Butterfly Girl Designs, Navajo-plied on Kromski Minstrel on 12:1 ratio in double-drive mode.

I'm pretty proud of this spin! It was just a test-spin for the roving that I bought in order to see what it would turn out like.

I spun the singles on the spindle and navajo-plied on the wheel...and it turned out soooo perfect!

The tweedy effect came from the un-dyed mulberry silk, which also in turns lent a certain shininess and sparkle to the whole appearance of the yarn.

The yarn's not staying with me though, because I'm going to give it away as a prize for the contest over at Knitters Uncensored. You can enter, too, even if you don't listen to the podcast. Just go and read the show notes for the latest episode to see what you have to do.

Yarnwench: Galway [49:366, 12.03.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Started: 13tg February 2008
Finished: First bobbin of Singles on 10th March 2008
Yardage: n/a
WPI: n/a (aiming for navajo-ply fingering-weight)
Fibre: "Galway", 3.8 oz/108 g Domestic wool top from The Yarn Wench given to me by KnottyNaomi
Wheel & Settings: Kromski Minstrel, spun worsted on 12:1 ratio in double-drive mode.

I also got halfway on this one. The spinning is taking f.o.r.e.v.e.r.!!!! The singles is really time consuming and the prospect of spinning another full bobbins of singles and then navajo-plying two bobbins full of it is pretty hair-raising already. But I'll persevere. :-)

Spina di Pesce from Alala [52:366, 15.03.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Lastly, I also received my PIF from Alala.

I couldn't believe it, but she knit me a pair of Spina di Pesce from Yarnissima in the special Wollmeise colourway for the pattern!

I had been wanting to knit this pattern for myself for quite a while now (and yes, I'll buy myself the pattern...or the kit and knit another one). But WHOA, Alala used up th yarn and the leg's long. If I pull it up all the way, the cast-off edge touches the bottom of my kneecap! (You can see the curve of my calf covered by the sock...and I never had that before.)

Thank you so much!!!

And no worries, I've already started doing my first PIF project. It'll take some time though, because I've got a lot going on right now.

Well, that's all I have to tell you for now. Hope everybody's well!

Current Mood: Okay

On Twenty-Six and a day

Birthday Gift from Dr. D [40:366, 03.03.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

So, there you have it. I'm now officially 26 years old. It doesn't feel any different at all, apart from the fact that I can feel more responsibilities looming over me. :-p

Thank you very much to everyone who have wished me happy birthday, either here, via email, on Ravelry or on Facebook. I really appreciated it.

I had a wonderful weekend and a wonderful birthday on Monday. I actually asked Dr. D to come around to the SnB group on Sunday evening a bit later on so that the camera crew would have finished filming and interviewing us (I was filmed and interview by a German TV channel on Thursday about my knitting and spinning, then they also did that on Sunday with the SnB group). He first said yes, but ended up not being able to come. So he sent me a message saying that he took Monday off work (mainly because he needed to do some work preparation for the day that follows) and will spend the day with me. That was actually the best birthday present ever for me already....

So, I went over to his place afterwards. Earlier in the day, I told him that I don't really celebrate birthday (and yes, that's a fact). All I ever want to do on my birthday is spending it with people I love and care about and just being there. I don't need all the tra-la-la on birthday. Sure, I like to get presents and I like to get congratulated on my birthday...but I don't measure too much of a meaning into it, apart from the fact that this shows that people are thinking of me, and that's the most anybody should ask for on their birthday. So, I was surprised and really touched that Dr.D went over to cram out some stuff from his wardrobe when the clock hit midnight and presented me a profiterole with a candle on top and a box of my birthday present. He told me that I told him too late about the fact that I don't really celebrate. Anyway, I ended up crying a bit because I wasn't expecting this...

The present he got me was a mouth-blown glass fountain pen along with a bottle of green ink with green tea aroma and a cute card. The gift was really thoughtful. Two weeks ago when I went to the Deutsches Museum with Dr. D was the first time we saw this glass fountain pen. Dr. D said he wanted one but didn't buy it back then. I told him that I like it, too, but couldn't imagine having one because I can only use it at home (you have to keep dipping the tip into the ink, like the old fashion feather) and can't just take it to the university to use. Well, now I have one. :-) Dr. D bought himself one, too.

Anyway, Dr. D also treated me to a brunch yesterday before he had to start doing some work preparation. So, I left and met up with Celina, who I haven't seen since November last year. She treated me to an afternoon tea and then invited me over to her place to have dinner with her and her husband. And that rounded off my 26th birthday really well.

So all in all, I can say that I had a great birthday. :-)

Theatinerkirche [37:366, 01.03.2008 for 29.02.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Going back a bit further, we went to have breakfast/brunch with one of Dr. D's friends on Saturday. The weather was really weird. It was pretty mild, but was cold with the wind. When Dr. D and I went down to the tube, everything was fine. By the time we got out and came to the surface, the ground was covered with snow, frozen rain and water...and it was sleeting. We ended up trudging through everything and got our feet and shoes totally soaked.

The weather cleared up while we were in the restaurant, so we all decided to go for a stroll through town, which gave me the opportunity to take some photos. We went into Theatinerkirche which is one of my favourite photo motifs here in Munich.

Theatinerkirche: Altar, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Theatinerkirche: Cupola, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Theatinerkirche: Nave, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Theatinerkirche: Stand, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Hofgarten: Snowdrops [38:366, 01.03.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Then we went over into the Hofgarten to enjoy the little bit of sun that came out.

Hofgarten: Watchful [39:366, 01.03.2008 for 02.03.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Viktualienmarkt: Storm's a-brewing, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Afterwards we went to have afternoon tea before heading back our own ways. By that time, the blue sky you could see from the few photos above was turning really murky again.

Alter Peter: Spire, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

So, that was my weekend and my birthday. I hope you guys had a wonderful weekend, too. And here's to a new week! Have a great one!

(BTW, for all knitters out there, you should go read THIS HERE. Updated: HERE)

ETA: I just made a birthday purchase for myself....it's small, but it makes me more than happy. I bought the pattern for Fiddlehead Mittens!

Current Mood: Great!
Food for the Ears: Cast On, episode 61: The Zine Scene

On growing a bit older...and perhaps wiser

From the Sundial Garden at Deutsches Museum [25:366, 17.02.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Wow, I've been off for a bit, eh?

I don't know why exactly, but I think that I just have been avoiding writing a bit because thoughts have been accumulating and I just couldn't be bothered.

I'm turning 26 in a couple of weeks and it got me thinking. I don't have anything against growing a year older. But for some reasons, I'm over the 25 threshold....and now turning 26 means that I'm only four years away from hitting 30. It's kind of weird. I can't really put it into words....I guess it's about taking the responsibilities, being grown-up and all. I had been thinking about the fact that here I am, on my way to being 30 and I still don't feel like I've really achieved anything in life. Well, to be honest, I think a lot of this has to do with the pressure and expectations my parents are putting on me. I just wish they would get off that trip. I would feel a lot better if they would change their "encouragement" strategy by encouraging me positively instead of using the reprimanding side and scare-tactics that I'm going to turn a loser if I don't start getting ambitious and try to "reach to the top".

What's with it with being successful and having lots of money? I doubt that would make me happy for long.

Anyway, I better stop there before this post turns into a very long rant. Bottom line is I'm turning 26 soon. *nudge, nudge, wink, wink*

Nothing happened much last week. I went to the Deutsches Museum with Dr. D on Saturday. It's kind of our first day-out alone and it was great. :-)

Not much to report on the knitting/spinning front. I've been doing it on and off...probably more knitting than spinning. But nothing major....well, apart from the fact that I can also now properly knit English style, i.e. throwing, without much of a struggle and my gauge seems even.

Sorry, I'm just feeling uninspired at the moment. Have to get back to reading up for my thesis now.

BTW, thank you so much for the outpouring of comments on my last post. I think that's the very first time a post has generated more than 30 comments!

Well, then, have a nice week, everyone!

Ps. I haven't forgotten about the PIF survey...like I said, I'm just pretty uninspired at the moment.

ETA: Yeah, sorry people, but I'm in one big time fucked up mood today. I promised my co-workers that I will bake something today and bring it into work tomorrow morning. The base of the slice worked out okay...but I fucked it up while doing the icing. I thought: "Fine, I'll make a new one". I also realised while making the first batch that I actually needed vanilla essence. So, I went out to this small supermarket near my place, instead of going to the bigger one which would take a longer walk. Got everything I needed but couldn't find the vanilla essence. So I asked someone there and they told me: "Sorry, we don't have that kind of thing. We only order it in during Christmas baking time."

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?! I mean, are you expecting people to bake only during Christmas time?! WHAT KIND OF A FUCKED UP LOGIC IS THAT?!!!!!

Sorry about that...but I really need to vent. I think it's the Föhn in Munich today that's driving me totally nuts.

Current Mood: Blah

On working in a(n) LYS

This is what you do when you work in a LYS [366:17, 09.02.2008], originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

So, this is what you do when you work in a LYS...you go around posing with yourself in the photo because you have been waiting for this moment for the past two years.

I was there today because I had to fill in for someone. The owner had to go to a funeral and the other lady who works there couldn't come in today.

Anyway, it's good for me because Dr. D's not here this weekend and I would have been lost by myself. Besides KnitLady came and knit with me and kept me company. Today was the fourth time I've worked there. FYI, if you feel so inclined to come visit me, I work part-time there Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m....

Up until this moment there's nothing much going on. I mean, the shop's new and so it still needs to be noticed. There is going to be a Knit-Night next Friday (15th February 2008) from 7 p.m. on. The catch is that, the owner's asking for a participation fee of EUR 10. There's a free soft-drink included....and also a surprise. ;-) I know part of the content of the surprise. Anyhow, she's offering non-alcoholic drinks and toasted sandwiches. If you're new to knitting and want to learn, you can on that evening. You need to register for it, the contact info is as follows:

"Lanaiolo - Wolle & Mehr"
Grillparzerstr. 35
81675 Munich
Germany

Tel. +49-(0)89-41 07 43 88

When you register to come, you'll also receive a 5% discount on the yarn you buy before and on the Knit-Night. We stock the most GGH in Munich and we also carry Gedifra, Lang, Schachenmayr Nomotta, Regia and On Line.

(Rant in)

Anyhow, the only thing that happened today was a lady who came in with her husband. It was obvious that the husband didn't want to come...but she probably had dragged him in.

She came in and wanted me to help her fix her short-row heel ("Boomerangferse" in German) which was full of holes. I asked her whether she did the wrapping ("Umschlag" in German, which also means YO), she said no "because it's not in the instruction". So, I tried explaining to her that she needs to do this wrap-and-turn in order to prevent the holes, instead of just do a k2tog.

She looked at me and blinked.

And then she asked me whether I have never heard of the "Boomerangferse" before. I said, I know exactly what it is and how to do it and that there are variations on how you do it.

She looked me up and down again and blinked. The husband started huffing and shuffling around.

She gave me her socks on the needles and told me to frog it back and pick up the stitches for her.

I told her that the best way was to insert a life-line where the heel knitting begins and then frog down to that part and then pick up the stitches, do the short-row with W&T.

She looked at me, blinked and repeated her last sentence....slower this time. She also pulled out the copied page of how to knit the sock with short-row heel sans W&T. She jabbed at that piece of paper and said that there is nothing about the "Umschlag" on there and looked at me angrily as though I didn't understand a damn word she had been painstakingly enunciating to me. The husband opened his mouth but didn't say anything...so he resorted to shuffling around again.

I told her calmly that I can try tinking it back for her and show her. And so I tinked back a stitch, and showed her how to do the W&T....

....she snatched the sock out of my hands and stuffed it inside her bag and said that she would do it herself and that I don't have any idea about knitting socks and that she reckons that I don't even know how to knit.

I just smiled, said sorry that I couldn't help and showed them out.

After that I just sat there fuming and cursing her under my breath. How dare she?! If there was a person who had no idea, then it was her. If she reckons she can do it better herself, then fine. Suit yourself. But don't come accusing me that I didn't know how to knit. That was absolutely rude of her.

(Rant out)

So, that's what happened today. I better go knit a bit. :-p

Come around and visit me at the shop when I work there...or come to the Knit-Night!

Current Mood: Okay...just missing Dr. D

On Rolling in Yarns and Fibre

Wollmeise: New members, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Lawdy....this is what happens when I start saying that I won't have time to blog: I get an explosion of contents that want to be blogged about. So, I'm going to retrace my steps backwards.

Last night, we recorded the new episode for Knitters Uncensored. So, keep your ears perked for the new episode on your iPods. After the recording, I also got to hand-pick the new Wollmeise colourways out of the tub over at Bockstark Knits. I kinda ordered a skein each of the new colourways but told the Wollmeise that she doesn't need to hurry them to me - I mean, I hardly have the time to knit anyway. At any rates, I got the following skeins (in order from left to right in the picture. Click on the name to go to individual pictures):

• Franz (light) in 100% Superwash Merino


• Vincent (medium) in 80/20 Twin


• Paul (light) in 80/20 Twin


• Emil (medium) in 100% Superwash Merino


• Boboli (medium) in 80/20 Twin Wild Thing

They're all sooo yummy. I'm in such a yarn and fibre overload right now that I don't know what to do. I really want to cast on for some new socks...but I have the dilemma with all the WIPs lying around and also I don't know which yarn to use. Wollmeise is always on top of the list, but I also want to try out some yarns I have in my stash.

Talking about fibre....going back even further, while we were recording, I also received my belated Christmas pressies from Bockstark:

Niddy Noddy & Alpaca with a Twist, originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

She got me a much needed Niddy Noddy! Now, I still need extra bobbins and a tensioned lazy kate. :-p And along with that, she got me 200 g of 100% Baby Alpaca combed top from Alpaca with a Twist! And OMG...this stuff is gorgeously soft!! I'm already planning something for it...although it will be quite a while before I get around to it. Right now I have a bigger ambition in mind with my spinning. ;-p Won't be telling you about it just yet though.

That's not all. She also brought back this:

Hazel Knits: "Green Lake", originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

It's the super squishy sock yarn from Hazel Knits, who Bockstark stalked during her visit back home.

From Hazel Knits website: "Inspired by a lake right in the middle of Seattle surrounded by a super bike/walk/run path. Greenlake is a beautiful blue with a hint of algae and lily pads caressing its edges."

Then there was also another gift from a listener:

Tofutsies (789), originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

I'm not so sure about Tofutsies though. But I won't say anything just yet until I knit with them first. ;-) Thank you very much for the yarn!

Otherwise my weekend was pretty good. I got to spend pretty much the whole weekend with Dr. D. It's Fasching at the moment...not exactly my type of celebration (I don't really like dressing up and being silly). Anyhow, Dr. D and I were at his friend's place on Saturday night and I cooked. We had a bit to drink and they started with the Karneval songs....I got a good bit of alcohol in me and so I started being silly and danced around, too (on the table, that is). It was kinda funny. Not so funny however was the part when we went over to the neighbours to continue the party. Everyone except me were smoking and I just don't really have it with smoke. I drank a bit more and that just got me. I was feeling sick and had to run to the loo a couple of times. The last round ended my night, because I was on the real verge of throwing up (I was regurgitating already). So Dr. D took me home (very sweet of him - I actually told him to just stay and party on and I'd just go home by myself, but he said that that was a silly idea.)

I got better once I got in bed and got to lie flat on my back for a while.

Going back further on last Friday....I had been keeping this quiet....but guess what? I started work at the new LYS!!!! I'm doing this parallel to my reception job at the hostel for the moment. If the LYS really takes off, then I'll probably just work there. Anyhow, if you're around, come and visit me. I'm working there Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The place is called "Lanaiolo" in Grillparzerstr. 35 in Munich. I'll try taking a photo this Thursday when I go in.

And the last bit for this post? I have a spinning FO to show:

The Yarn Wench, "Grange", originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

The Yarn Wench, "Grange" (2nd bobbin), originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

The Yarn Wench, "Grange" (1st bobbin), originally uploaded by elemmaciltur.

Started: 22nd January 2008
Finished: First bobbin of singles spun on 23rd January 2008, second bobbin of singles on 28th January 2008; first bobbin navajo-plied on 28th January 2008, second bobbin plied on 29th January 2008
Yardage: 105 m / 55 g (first bobbin), 135 m / 55 g (2nd bobbin)
WPI: approx. 14-16 WPI (DK-weight to fingering-weight)
Fibre: "Grange", 3.7 oz/105 g Domestic wool top from The Yarn Wench given to me by KnottyNaomi
Wheel & Settings: Kromski Minstrel, spun worsted and plied on 8.5:1 ratio in double-drive mode.

I was originally aiming for sock yarns but ended up not having enough yardage for socks. However I'm happy with how the yarn turns out. The first bobbin has some inconsistencies but the second bobbin turned out pretty even.

I really love the colours. The photos are pretty accurate colour-