Blog it Forward

So last night I went to the Blog it Forward organized by Chef's Widow over at the Greenhouse Tavern on W 4th. I have to admit that I was really nervous about going. I’ve never met bloggers in real life before that weren’t knit bloggers. With knitters it was never a big deal because no matter what you at least have something in common. One thing you can talk about. And there’s always the “so whatcha working on” icebreaker.

Not so much in this situation.

And worse because to be even more honest I hadn’t even heard of most of these bloggers (even the really big ones) until this week. The only ones that I had ever read before were Throwing Quarters, Cleveland’s a Plum, and Domestic Extraordinaire. So I wouldn’t even have that to talk about.

Throw in a few cocktails and potential to make an ass out of myself was extremely high.

But I “know” Anissa and I wanted to help out in some way. This seemed like a much, much nicer way to show support for her family than a random donation through their paypal account.

So I put on my big girl pants, grabbed my camera, and went.

I’m so, so glad that I did.

Everyone was very nice and welcoming. And I never felt as out of place as I expected to. Although this conversation between me and one of the Very Nice Cleveland Bloggers happened more than once:

Me: “I’m Life in Cleveland”
VNCB: “Never heard of you”
Me: “Yeah probably not. I’m a knit blog.”
VNCB: Blink.
Me: “Knitting? Like with yarn?” flails hands wildly in knitting motions
VNCB: Blink. Blink. (slowly backing away from the crazy)
Me: “I’m going to go find some more wine.”

I am a terrible life blogger, though, b/c my nervousness won out and I took exactly 3 pictures.

This one:

terrible.

This one of the best chicken wings I’ve ever had in my life:

I tried to eat them daintily and in an appropriate fashion for meeting new people but I pretty much wanted to dive in head first bones flying. They were that good.

And this one:

Of me and Michelle who were the “Last Bloggers Standing” By that point the wine had loosened my inhibitions enough that I was ok with taking pictures of people I had never met.

So yeah. Not a very good recap of what was an amazing event for an amazing cause.

Very Nice Cleveland Bloggers/Twitterers that I met: Chef's Widow, Throwing Quarters, Cleveland’s a Plum, All Lacquered Up, Domestic Extraordinaire, Snipermom, OHMommy, Rimarama, Kasey Crabtree, chefpallardy, KaKaty, Phil Dennison, My Managed Chaos,  Tony Ramos, Shawnee's Girl, West of Cleveland! (If I missed you I'm so sorry!  Please let me know and I"ll add your link!)

Behold the power of Blog

So I’ve been blogging for awhile now. 4 years in internet time is like a millennium in real time. But I’m still constantly amazed and floored at the power that these little DIY websites can have.

Last month a blogger that I “know” - Anissa of Aiming Low - suffered from a stoke.

She’s in her 30’s and a mother.

I can’t even imagine what her family has been going through these past few weeks as she has fought for her life in intensive care. And I keep thinking about her and them and wanting to help. Even though this is a woman who I’ve never met and who I wouldn’t ever even know existed if it weren’t for a pop culture blog. Tonight I’m going to a benefit for her family. If you want to join me here are the details:

And because this is a blog and therefore I have to talk about myself… another story:

Recently Destination Yarn was linked on by both Cookie A* and Anne Hanson** and the result was staggering. Cookie was knitting a pair of socks out of my Copenhagen colorway, and Anne said that she loved Harvest Moon and since then I’ve barely been able to keep either in stock. I mean I know they’re pretty:

But WOW. I had no idea. Well I kindof did… but I can’t tell you how amazing it felt to have so many knitters interested in my little business. It finally feels like I’ve made it as a legitimate indie dyer and that I’m not just some crazy lady with blue hands and a weird hobby.

All because of blogs.

I really do need to write more…

*Yes. That Cookie A. of Monkeys and Sunshine and all that is right with sock knitting. Also I clearly did not make too big of an ass out of myself at her sock design class. I tried not to be too fangirl but you know. It happens. Especially when Cookie A! Likes! My! Yarn! Squeeeeeeeeeeeee!

**Yes. The Anne Hanson of Knitspot and lace knitting and a garden that blows the doors off of my pathetic attempts at tomatoes.

Shiny #1 – Pretty, pretty socks.

My first shiny object? 2 gorgeous socks – designed specifically for Destination Yarn!

Remember the Amber Waves of Grain socks?

The kit including pattern and this yarn is now available! If you want one (and you know you do) you can buy them either through the whenever_again yahoo group here, or their ravelry group here. They are only taking orders through Nov 15 so get them while you can!

Dawn – the incredibly talented designer over at knitting nonstop (her Rav group is here) – has designed a new sock pattern featuring Sea from the America the Beautiful Series. Check out how shiny:

Squeee!!!!

The pattern isn’t available yet but she’s having a naming contest. Head over to her blog and post your ideas. I’ve heard the prize is pretty awesome. Also I will be doing another run of this limited edition colorway once she releases the pattern – probably sometime in the next few weeks.

And my last shiny…. Today I’m going to a sock class taught by Cookie A. Yes. THE Cookie A. Of Sock Innovations. And Monkeys and Sunshine. Uh huh. I’m going to try not to make an ass out of myself being all “I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy” but no promises. It’s Cookie flipping A.

Rock.

Shiny times ahead!

So my new reclaim the blog plan is to commit to posting a Shiny once a week. Even if it’s just one image. I just need to get my creative juices flowing again and hopefully things will take off from there.


Shiny: Something that makes you go “squee” or “oooh” or “fuzzy” or “eeeh!”

For example...

Baby going to town on a club cracker =  Shiny!

I love mommy because she's going get all of the sweet taters out of my hairs!


Pretty pretty yarn = Shiny!

Custom order I dyed - the three solids match the three colors in New Orleans.

Bean in Chicago = literally shiny!

Vacation we took in July that sadly went unblogged.

Really, really shiny.


We stopped in Chicago pretty much just to see the bean.  Totally worth it.

Family picture in the bean = TOO SHINY!



I’m guessing that this will include lots of pictures of my kid, my dog, my yarn, or my knitting. At the very least I’ll dig back and post a pretty travel photograph. But expect something visually interesting at least once a week.

Shiny times ahead!

Fall is flying by

How about a catch-up list?

1.) At the beginning of Oct. we took a trip to Dayton for the wedding of one of my former college roommates:

It was crazy to see people we hadn’t seen since graduation. And even crazier to introduce them to our baby. Man how time flies!

1.) Our five year anniversary was Oct 9:

It’s odd to me not that it could pass with so little fanfar – but that we would be so very ok with that. We’re just too busy right now to take any time to go anywhere or do anything interesting. So we celebrated simply at home and honestly a night to just hang out together without either of us working was pretty awesome.

2.) Since we didn’t take a fall trip this year I’ve been reliving past years through yarn:

1. Mulled Wine, 2. Fall Road Trip, 3. Fall Road Trip, 4. Fall Road Trip, 5. Harvest Moon, 6. Fall Road Trip

New series semi-solids based on a Fall Road Trip.

I’m a big fan of all of them and so I think these will stick around for awhile. Perhaps not permanent additions to my line but I will definitely dye them again.  They are all available now at Destination Yarn!

Oh and I did the compilation, too:

Which looks exactly like if you were driving through fall:


3.) I was sick all of the week before Halloween so we didn’t do anything – which sucked b/c there was a big party I was looking forward to for awhile. Boo to that. The baby, however, was a bumblebee:

Bzzzz

Which was about the cutest thing in the entire world.

And that’s about all I’ve got. I have a plan, though, which will hopefully get me blogging again… more on it later!

Baby vs Food

So we've started trying to feed the baby finger foods... and the results are pretty hilarious. Poor kid doesn't quite get it yet:

Ooooh Yay! I like Sweet Potato Puffs!


I just have to figure out how to get them into my mouth...


I think I grab it with my hand...


And then put it in my mouth.


I said "and then I put it in my mouth"


I don't understand why that didn't work.


Ooooh ok it's in the other hand! Now I get it.


I just put it in my mouth.


It's ok. It's ok. I can figure this out.


I just put it in my mouth.


This is seriously starting to piss me off.


Maybe if I shove my whole fist in?


Or could you just put one in there for me?


Thanks, Mommy! That was delicious!