"Nice Knits"!

New for 2008: Books

Every once in a while I take a look at knitting books slated to release in coming months. The list below includes ones I found on Amazon that I will probably take a look at when they are available. Where possible, I included links to previews of the designs.

Inspired to Knit by Michele Rose Orne - Designs are organized by the seasons. Nice designs, and each section challenges you to learn new techniques. overview, preview, at Amazon

Knit So Fine: Designs With Skinny Yarn by Lisa R. Myers, Laura Grutzeck, and Carol J. Sulcoski - This one has some really pretty designs, but they totally scare me. I know I would probably never finish one. Although, I really want to attempt to make a Bohus-inspired sweater this year.overview, preview, at Amazon

Knits for Men by Margaret Hubert - I couldn't find any pictures yet of the designs. Always good to see another "man" book out. overview, at Amazon

Classic Elite Knits: 100 Gorgeous Designs for Every Occasion from the Studios of Classic Elite Yarns - Not even a cover design for this one yet. at Amazon

Knock Down Knits: 30 Projects from the Roller Derby Track by Toni Carr - This one has me TOTALLY intrigued. overview, at Amazon

Twinkle's Weekend Knits: 20 Fast Designs for Fun Getaways by Wenlan Chia - I am not a Twinkle fan per se, but as far as casual designs go, there might be a few in here for me. I am all for the quick knit. overview, at Amazon

Mastering the Art of Mason-Dixon Knitting: Patterns, Stories, Pictures, True Confessions, Tricky Bits, Whole New Worlds and Familiar Ones, Too by Ann Shayne and Kay Gardiner - Nothing available on this one yet. Since it doesn't come out until Sept, I am sure they will have a preview on their Web site later in the year. at Amazon

Kim's Book Is Here

The new (and much anticipated) new book from Kim Hargreaves is finally out - Heartfelt: The Dark House Collection. Twenty-one designs, all done (of course) in Rowan fibers. The styling of the book seems a little dismal to me, but the knits are mighty pretty. I think you can now buy the book through her site, but not sure where else. Google didn't turn up anything.

Book Review: This Day in the Life

Title: This Day in the Life: Diaries from Women Across America
Authors: Joni B. Cole, Rebecca Joffery, and B.K. Rakhra
Published: December 2005

Every once in a while I get tired of reading fiction and go on a non-fiction kick. I particularly like autobiographies and first-hand accounts. Kind of like peeping through a keyhole. This book is a collection of 34 diaries (chosen from over 400 submissions) from a cross-section of American women. (The editors also have another book called This Day: Diaries of American Women published in 2003.) Each chapter is a different diary that chronicles what a particular woman did on June 29, 2004. From how their day began, to how it ended. The authors are from all over the spectrum: a 91-year-old nun contemplating retirement, a young mother trying to catch her breath, a NASA astronaut living far from her family, the madam of a "house", a soldier in Iraq, an exotic dancer. All so different, but you come to realize how much they all have in common...worries about their careers, their health, and most importantly their family. Worries that they try so hard to hide on a daily basis, but eventually consume them even while they sleep. No matter what their story, at the end of the day they all looked at tomorrow as having new possibilities and the chance for a brand new start.

I would recommend this book to any woman, no matter what their background or where they are today in their life. I know the next time I sit with someone on the Metro or stand in line behind someone at the grocery store I will look at them with a little more understanding. After all, we probably share the same worries, if not hopes.

For more information about the project that inspired the book, visit the Web site.

The Kitchen

As I mentioned yesterday, I was able to visit the Julia Child exhibit at the Museum of American History before it closed for the next two years. Here are some of the pictures I took. The last one is of her fridge. The kitchen exhibit is the real-live kitchen from her home...complete with old phone books on the shelf and a fridge full of magnets and photos. The photo here to the left is my favorite. I am pretty sure it was taken by her husband in their very first kitchen in Paris. I love how large she looks in that setting. She contrasts so perfectly with that dainty little stove. Bon Appétit!

Book Review: My Life in France

Title: My Life in France
Authors: Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme
Published: 2006

I have always had a mild interest in Julia Child. I remember watching her on public television at my grandma's house. I guess in a way she reminded me of my grandma...they were both tall, had similar hairstyles, and were both awesome cooks. I learned a lot about cooking from my grandmother, and I guess in turn also from Julia. After reading Julie and Julia, I decided I wanted to learn more about this amazing woman. My Life in France is written in her own words with the help of her grand-nephew (finished after her death in 2004). She recounts how her cooking career began soon after her arrival in France in 1948. The book follows her through her very first cooking classes (1949), the long arduous process of creating the The Mastering the Art of French Cooking: Volume 1 (1961), through to the fame that arrived with her television show The French Chef (1963-1973).

This book is a "must read" for any Julia fan....or for that matter, anyone who likes to cook. Her descriptions of Paris and the French countryside are so detailed you can almost picture yourself right there with her among the wonderful tastes and smells she encountered. Her enthusiasm for her new found love of "cuisine" literally leaps from the pages. I was amazed at her dedication in ensuring that The Mastering the Art of French Cooking: Volume 1 be as complete and accurate as possible. Many times she would spend days on just one recipe to ensure that the average American cook could achieve the best possible results in their very own kitchen, all the while staying as true as possible to authentic French cooking. Still a classic.

Throughout the book, Julia talks about what a huge supporter her wonderful husband Paul was in her pursuit of her culinary interests. As Julia once said "There would be no French Chef without him, that's for sure." Not only is this a book about her love of cooking, but also her love for Paul.

Back in August, I finally made it to the Museum of American History to see the exhibit featuring Julia's kitchen from her Massachusetts home (the one featured in many of her cooking shows). The Museum is now closed for renovations until 2008, but the Flash version of the Web site will give you a great overview of the exhibit. Come back tomorrow to see pictures I took at the exhibit, including my favorite Julia image.
 

The Bean Book List

We are very lucky to have a pretty large library system in our county (21 branches total). Not only is the catalogue enourmous, but if our branch doesn't have something, most likely another branch has a copy to spare. I love our library (and it happens to be just around the corner to boot)!

One of the other great things about our library is that they sell books people have donated but the library does not need. Fifty cents will get you a soft cover and $1 graduates you up to a hard cover. The Bean and I try to go weekly and the first thing we do is check the sale area. Tonight we had a ton of stuff to return (and a very hefty fine since of course everything was due the day after we left for vacation), and I was anxious to get a look at the new stock since I had missed two weeks in a row. I have been picking up books I read when I was young to save for the Bean. Here is a list of tonight's spoils (some of which I have never read, but looked like I would have):

Summer Pony - Jean Slaughter Doty (It was great to go on Amazon and read all the comments on this one.)

The Secret Horse - Marion Holland (never read this one, but I might need to)

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit - Paula Danziger (The copy I picked up is the original 1974 version. I noticed on Amazon that is has been reprinted many times. I recognized it right away but couldn't quite remember all of the plot)

Emily's Runaway Imagination - Beverly Cleary (never read this one)

Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder (Classic. I used to have this entire series, but unfortnately I cannot find any of them. Must replenish.)

Turns out I have a copy of Summer Pony, so I need to donate that one back. Sadly, I am missing many books I had when I was younger due to my many moves as an adult. I still carry most of them in my head, and someday I hope to have them back in my hand so I can pass them to the Bean.

The Bean's haul at the library went like this:

• Two Scooby-Do "learn to read" books
• Barney Goes to the Zoo

Not quite the classics, but we'll work on that. Total came to $3.50. I cannot explain the thrill of walking out to the car knowing I just bought five great books (OK eight counting the Bean's picks)  for less than $5. Did I mention I LOVE our library?

Book Review: Alterknits

I have been trying to get a post up all week about one of the books I mentioned I purchased recently, but I keep getting distracted. I sat down last night to start, but got sidetracked when I noticed Gymboree was having a sale (I spent an hour looking and didn't buy a thing). I accidentally left the book home today that I was planning on reviewing. Instead, I am going to review a book I borrowed from the library... Alterknits: Imaginative Projects and Creativity Exercises by Leigh Radford.

Let me just say first that I can NEVER find good knitting books at my library. I think knitters hang around the front of the library on the days they know the new books get shelved and then check them out for weeks on end. My county has a very large library system, and I could easily reserve books online. But, I like going in and finding new stuff waiting for me. I couldn't believe that Alterknits was sitting there staring back at me.

Leigh does have a Web site where you can view most of the projects from the book. Take a look.

My first reaction to the book was that there wasn't much in it I would probably ever knit. A lot of the items were for the home or functional items, and I am not really big yet into knitting cushions and bed covers. I will say that the screen door shown is absolutely amazing...who the hell would KNIT a screen door? My dog would gleefully take the first opportunity to run right through it. And then I would have to kill him.

I did enjoy how the projects took the basic concepts of knitting and move them "outside the box." There are patterns for some really cool jewelry, a paper crown from crepe paper, and some paper lanterns. A lot of the other patterns, to be quite honest, are things I have seen before. Every project did have a twist to it...like taking a basic tank pattern and then adding cute little ruffles to the front using a novelty yarn.

The book does have "creativity exercises" sprinkled throughout to try and get the reader to think of their knitting in a different way. A notebook comes in the back for you to write your responses to the exercises...kind of like an inspiration notebook. The library had removed the notebook from the book so I couldn't take a look at it, but I thought it was a nice touch to include it in a book that wants its readers to extend themselves creatively.

I am glad I didn't initially buy this book without looking at it first (a habit of mine). I think I was more inspired by Loop-d-Loop than this book. Overall, it was nice to sit and look it over and try out the exercises.

Tomorrow...a new project! No, I didn't cast Florence aside. I just needed something smaller for my commuting knitting. Although now that I think of it, this new project won't probably be small for long!

Aspic, Bone Marrow, and Butter: The Julie & Julia Story

It has been a while since I've picked up a book. I was trying to catch up on my knitting and the never-ending magazine pile that threatens to kill me in my sleep. My husband asked me what I wanted for my bday (it was last week), and this book immediately came to mind. Julie recently read and reviewed it, and I was very intrigued by the premise behind it. As many of you probably already know, the author Julie Powell decided that over the course of a year she would cook all 524 recipes from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1. As she cooked, she wrote about her experiences on her blog. Now, I do not consider myself a squeemish kind of girl. After all, I grew up on a farm, and I learned from a very early age EXACTLY where my meat came from. I have not only seen the insides of living animals, but even living humans. Neither of which really phased me. But, there have been a few times during my reading of this book when I had to actually put the thing back in my bag. Reading about bone marrow extraction at 8:00 in the am, while on a crowded hot Metro car, can be a little much. Even the amounts of butter the recipes called for made my stomach turn. I also do not think I will ever eat aspic by choice. Particularly when it is made in the "traditional" way.  Cow hoof recipes aside, I am now extremely anxious to get my hands on a copy of MTAOFC. Not that I would probably ever cook anything from it, but I am curious to read these somewhat grotesque recipes for myself.

I have read many reviews of this book, and let me just say right here, this book WILL NOT teach you how to cook. It does not contain one single recipe, nor does Julie try to portray herself as a professional cook. What this book does serve to illustrate is that when you are truly committed to a goal, no matter how silly others believe that goal to be, the experience can change your life. Through hope, hard work, and good old-fashioned determination, anything is possible. Even 524 recipes, in 365 days, in one tiny apartment kitchen.

Now back to our regularly scheduled knitting...

I'm done. Took a little over a week of commuting-time and before-bed-time. Not to mention a few stolen minutes of weekend-time. I won't say much here because I am sure there are many who have not yet finished, but I will leave a little of my two-cents. I was excited to have the story continue from the last book, couldn't wait to start this one. But now, I feel kind of let down. I think the book was way too predictable. Kind of like when you are watching a movie and the stupid kids enter the cave even though there is a huge sign that says "Stay out...bad stuff in here!"...you just know what's coming, so what's the point of watching? I am sure some of what happened will end up being turned around in the next book. Like a "ha-ha...thought you knew, didn't you". But that is YEARS away. Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait like everyone else. What did you think?

Now, back to knitting. I have a few things that just HAVE to be finished soon.

Book Review: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

Title: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Author: David Sedaris
Published June 2004

I absolutely love David Sedaris. He is the type of guy I would have been friends with in high school. Guys who really didn't fit in, but who were such great people it was a shame others didn't appreciate them and their differences. I have read all of his books, and this one was typical, hilarious Sedaris. The book centers for the most part on his relationship with his family. His parents were atypical, to say the least. Even though his family seems really eccentric, I am sure you will find something familiar in the way they relate to each other.

The chapter that affected me the most was "Chicken in the Henhouse." The story starts with David being stuck in a crummy hotel room listening to a radio talk show about the church sex scandals. The caller is going on and on about how homosexuals are praying on small children, and in general, ruining the sanctity of our world. As a gay man, he doesn't exactly have a high opinion of mankind when the show is over. He goes to the lobby and encounters a young boy trying to carry multiple drinks back to his room from the lobby buffet. The rest of the chapter is about David's struggle with wanting to help, but being afraid of what others will think of a strange man helping a young boy. He offers his assistance, and by the end of the story, is totally distraught over his decision to help. It made me so sad to think that being a caring human being can sometimes come with so many complications. The world can be a really shitty place sometimes. I hope my daughter has the good fortune of being friends with "guys like David" in high school. She will be a better person because of it. I know I am.