Moving

So, I sort of neglected to mention another thing I did this weekend that wasn't knitting: I moved the blog to Tumblr. Well, not exactly "moved," because Tumblr won't import old posts. I guess it's more accurate to say I set up a new blog at Tumblr. There are pros and cons: the pro is that is easily enables mobile posting. The con is that it's not really a perfect setup for a knitblog. But I will blog more often, I suspect, if I can do it from my phone. Anyway, here's the new address:

Martita Rampage on Tumblr
www.martitarampage.tumblr.com

Hope to see you all there!

This in What I Did Instead of Knitting

Well, at this point I kind of have to knit and read; I have a week to finish a sock (1st one's done) and 1.5 weeks to finish a 600 page book about World War I (hosting book group). But I have kept to my pledge to at least limit the knitting and reading. This week, I:
--started sewing an ottoman slipcover;
--finished caning my Nantucket basket. I still have to put the rim and handle on in class in two weeks; and
--babysat my friend's kids.

I didn't do any spinning or knitting. Tomorrow the hubby and I are going up to the big city to a Kosher deli for his birthday dinner, so that'll be something new for me, too!

One New Skill

Well, it's not exactly a skill yet. But in this, the winter of doing things other than knitting, I am taking a basketweaving class. I gotta say, this is one of the slowest-going crafts ever.

This picture doesn't really demonstrate the complete inadequacy of my progress, but the meager amount of caning you see represents literally 8 hours of work. Dude, that's like a sock! Okay, maybe only half a sock. But still. What you're looking at is the base of an 8" bread basket, surrounded by about 2" of caning.

On the plus side, caning is fun and kind of meditative, and the basket is really pretty. Ultimately I'd like to make a tote bag. I've seen these really cool Nantucket basket tote bags with fabric drawstring linings, and I am cheap, and they are crazy, crazy expensive.

Of course, now I can appreciate why! It'll take me, like, a year to make one. But I just might.

A New Year's Confession

So, this is kind of an awkward New Year's resolution to state on a knitblog, but my primary resolution this year was to knit less. I have gradually come to realize that knitting is a crutch for me. It's easier to sit at home, knitting & reading, than to go skiing, or meet people, or learn a new skill. I rarely choose challenging knitting projects, sticking to things that can be easily knit while reading or watching tv. A friend of mine recently took up the electric guitar, and mentioned today that she wishes I would pick up my guitar someday & join her. And I thought to myself, I'll add that to the list of hobbies I don't have anymore because I spend all my free time knitting & reading. And I literally did.

So how have I done so far? I have been spinning once a week (shut up, it counts) and I am going on my second ski trip (with strangers) tomorrow. I practiced drawing twice, very badly. I haven't broken out my watercolors yet, nor have I gotten out my guitar. BUT on Monday's task list, I put "check on guitar and mandolin"-they've been neglected so long they will need some work before they can be played. I'm hoping to draw on Sunday.

I do realize my free time is too limited to have more than one hobby and be fairly good at it. And I need to get used to the idea of being happily mediocre. I'm not a competitive person, but I hate to be bad at things. So if I stick to my resolution, 2011 will be the year I make peace with being awful. That might be the hardest resolution of all.