I already have plenty of projects on the needles, but as the seasons turn to spring, it’s hard not to start dreaming about starting new projects. Add my recent steampunk interests to that, and well, you’ve got quite a recipe for startitis!

I’ve already got a couple of sewing projects I hope to work on in the next two weeks–I’ll be going on my ordination retreat in March, and I’m hoping to have a couple of skirts sewn up by then–but I’ve also been eying the new knitting magazines and thinking about what I might want to make some day.

From the new Interweave Knits, I’m actually not loving all that much. I do like the Spring Twilight Pullover by Faina Goberstein and the Tissue Cardigan by Deborah Newton.

I’m on the fence about the Handkercheif Tee by Jenna Hurry. It’s cute, but has the potential to look really fantastic or really horrible depending on one’s body type. And I’m really not sure where I fall.

Surprisingly, I found a few things in Vogue Knitting I’m really loving. Usually they’re a little too high-fashion for me but this issue has some really cute sweaters. (Though I really don’t know what’s going on with the eye makeup on the models. Are they trying to be like the Joker? Did they lose a bar fight? Back away from the eyeliner, folks.)

There’s a Flapper inspired sweater and a vest that I just adore. I’m not usually a vest person but these are fantastic!

There are also two gorgeous dresses! Lacy! Cute! And I bet you could sew up a really fantastic, brightly colored slip to wear underneath that would just be stunning.

So the only questionb ecomes…..which one do I try to knit first? They’re all so pretty, I’m not sure I can choose!

These commuter socks have been hanging around on the needles for a long, long time. I have a tendency to switch back and forth between knitting and reading on my commute, so sometmes I go for quite a while and don’t knit much. Plus, depending on when I leave, it can be impossible to get a seat. But it’s nice to have a plain project to work on without thinking too much…I took these to Pantheacon and whipped through the second sock in no time at all.

The yarn is bacon yarn from Holiday yarns. I love this yarn! It’s so nice to work with, there’s plenty in the skein so no worries of running short, and c’mon, it’s bacon.

The pattern is just a basic sock formula.

Bacon and eggs. What? If you’d knit these socks, you’d take this photo too. Don’t lie.

I don’t think I’ve shown you my newest project, so here it is! This is one of the socks for CAYA folk–as I mentioned before, I’m giving up any pretense of surprising folks at this point. Largely because I wouldn’t have anything to talk about!

I’ve already forgotten the yarn I’m using, but it’s nice–and a lovely dark teal. The pattern is Atlantis, from Janel Laidman’s book The Enchanted Sole. I LOVE THIS BOOK. Seriously. I am sure I’ll find a recipient for pretty much every pattern in there. So far the sock is zipping along–the first repeat of the chart was a little slow, but it’ s zipping along nicely now.

This week, all my reading seems to fall into one of two camps–ooh pretty shiny, or I weep for the fate of humanity. Go figure.

Links that will make you question the future of humanity

CNet offers a post on PleaseRobMe.com and the dark side of social networking.

A man jumps to his death in San Francisco…and people laugh. And tweet.  Humanity? What’s that? We don’t seem to have it any more.

Treehugger has a post on saying no to eating out. Did I fall down and hit my head, or just totally miss the part where cooking became this rare and unusual skill? Are there people who really eat out for most meals?

If you’re a gardener/preparing for the apocalypse Living the Frugal Life and Green Phone Booth both offered tutorials on saving seeds.

Speaking of food, NPR reports that we’ve already reached peak tuna, and that due to the popularity of sushi bluefin tuna is in danger of becoming extinct. Japan doesn’t appear to give a damn.

Make and Meaning looks at the hidden cost of craft books and follows it up by asking what if we paid each other?

Poynter raises the question–should we publish the rantings of criminals and terrorists? At what point is the right of the public to know trumped by the need to deny a platform for those who seek to spread fear?

Some thoughts on NBC’s absolutely awful Olympic coverage and the failure of traditional media.

Bitch offers a look at a thoroughly depressing show and wonders why women keep putting up with Steve Ward and his “tough love”.

Domicile looks at too much cleaning and the rise of superbugs. Cheery.

Finally, a recent survey finds that women are likely to blame the vicitm in rape cases. The comments here are especially apalling.

Hey look! Shiny!

Now that you’re thoroughly depressed, soothe your mind with some pretties from the internet.

Gaia’s Colours has released the Ostara installment for the Wheel of the Year yarn club. Absolutely Gorgeous. I can’t decide between the two colorways….I may have to splurge on both. Seriously, I’m drooling over here.

This recipe for Korean Chicken Thighs from Mrs. B at Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom sounds delicious. And it’s something to cook that doesn’t invovle chicken breasts! Hooray!

Sew Mama Sew filed these handmade tea bags under wedding inspiration, but I think they’d be adorable for any number of occassions.

Craft linked to some vintage labels for your handmade items. These would be adorable on jam or bath items, or even as a tag for a knit or sewn gift.

One of my goals for this year is to finally get some of my (many) script ideas written. Because, really, that is the first step.

Problem: I have a horrible time getting these finished.

Part of it, I realize, is that I have a tendency to mull the story over in my mind way past where I should. To the point where I feel like I’ve already told the story. And each time I tell it, it gets less interesting to me. That’s why I’ve resisted outlines.

But it turns out, outlines? Actually quite helpful. This is really a bare bones one–I could do better, I know that–but it’s at least  a roadmap. I took what I had started for this, a collection of sad meandering scenes following each other around like lost puppies, with no sense of direction or place, and put it out of it’s misery. Then I made an actual outline, with all four acts (plus teaser) (this is a TV spec for a show that’s currently on the air) and sat down and started writing.

It went much more smoothly with some sense of direction. So I guess my 11th grade english teacher was right about the whole index card thing. Of course, I found I had to run off to a planning meeting shortly after I got started—that’s the other side of all this. When can I get a 48 hour day? I really need it to get everything done.  The hardest parts of writing seem to be getting started and finding time…any suggestions?

I’m working on a baby sweater for a friend and I was zipping along on it, when I realized that I cannot find the DPNs needed to complete the sleeves and neck. Now, I find it somewhat incomprehensibile that after all this time knitting, I don’t have US6 and US9 DPNs. I’m seriously considering just buying new ones rather than cleaning and organizing until I find the ones I have.

Of course, now that I think about it, it dawns on me that the decision may be irrelevant, since I may have had to toss mine, on account of them being chewed on by a certain orange and white cat. Or possibly never had any to begin with. I distinctly recall using US8, US10.5 and assorted sock sizes (US0-3) but don’t actually remember specifically using US9s or US6s. But surely that can’t be right…

I’ve been going through my books lately, and as much as it pains me, I realized there were some I should probably get rid of. As much as I’d love to keep every book I’ve ever read, that’s not going to happen until I have enough space to have my own library. (Which I fully intend to, someday. And then sit there, in the midst of shelves and shelves of books, just sighing happily to myself, for quite some time.)

I managed to get rid of quite a few–two boxes of popular paperbacks shipped to my mom via media mail, and two big bags of assorted non-fiction to the used bookstore. Two used bookstores, actually. Protip for East Bay folks–Moe’s is pickier, but pays well in trade. They also give you back anything they don’t want, so you can try other stores. Half Price Books takes more mass market stuff, but pays crap and won’t let you take the stuff they don’t want to shop around elsewhere.

Somehow, I also managed to spend even more than I got in trade/cash on more books. It’s a smaller stack, though, so I’m calling a it a win for the de-clutter efforts. Highlights include some Jules Verne and HG Wells, as well as Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (which I swear I already owned) plus some non-ficiton because, well, I’m me. Oh, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein! I seem to be adding more classics to my bookshelves lately. Who knows, pretty soon someone might look at them and think someone smart lives here…

For Valentine’s Day, Vickie Howell had a video on knitting mitered hearts.

I thought they looked cute, so I grabbed some leftover sock yarn and gave it a whirl.

Then I maybe became a little obsessed.

I just want to keep knitting these! I made myself stop at four because I don’t actually know what I’m going to do with these–I’m sure there’s something, I just have to figure it out. Because honestly? THEY ARE SO CUTE. I just want to keep knitting them.

It’s possible that yesterday I after work, I may have stopped by a yarn store. And I may have slipped and suddenly found myself buying yarn.

I’ve been really good this past year about buying yarn–I’ve bought yarn for specific projects and almost exclusively for gifts. Which is good, because I’ve got quite a bit of stash stored up, and any number of UFOs to be tackled.

This is no exception–the yarn and pattern are for a friend who is expecting. Her baby shower is Saturday, and I don’t know if I’ll manage to get it finished by then, but I’ll try. The yarn is Mochi Plus, and I’m loving it so far–it’s soft, machine washable, and the colors are really adding interest to a simple raglan pattern.

(And, okay, I may have also picked up a skein of Cotton Fleece in a delicious sage green to work on a vintage-style hat for myself. But you won’t tell anyone, right?)

I know I’ve been MIA this week, and I have a lot to catch up on, including some knittng and my recap of Pantheacon. But in the meantime, I leave you with some interesting links from the past week–now with more cake. Mmm, cake.

Eco Links

Crunchy Chicken talks aobut the angry and hateful reactions to any suggestions to conserve energy. It’s really something to think about–why are people so angry when faced with an optional suggestion that will actually benefit them as well?

The Apartment Farm offers a list of homesteading books for anyone thinking about sustainable living and looking for practical advice.

Treehugger notes that the Utah House of Representatives has passed a resolution calling climate change a conspiracy. Seriously, Utah? Seriously?

On a lighter note, Treehugger offers a list of eco-friendly tee shirts that actually, y’know, look good.

Finally, the New York Times takes on the distracting debate over climate change.

Politics and Culture

The Atlantic takes a look at how a new jobless era will affect America. Do not read this if you want to feel good about pretty much anything.

The Archdruid report discusses the idea that the US is already in the process of becoming a third world country. A sobering thought, indeed.

Pagan Links

Wandering Soul takes a look at living your spirituality, and the complaint that there isn’t enough time to live a witchy life and a mundane one as well.

Food and Eating

Mrs. B at Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom offers some suggestions for stocking your pantry. Super useful, especially if you’re like me and have a pantry that would produce some rather interesting meals. (Pad Thai and scones, anyone?)

The Green Phone Booth has tips for storing produce without it going bad. They don’t, however, offer any advice on making that lettuce taste any more interesting. (What? I don’t like lettuce.)

Speaking of food, I so want to make these almond scones from Got No Milk.

And these olive oil cakes with lemon and thyme from The Pioneer Woman Cooks.

And the Smitten Kitchen’s chocolate souffle cupcakes with mint cream. (Is it time for dessert yet?)

Oh, and you can create your own chocolate bar. With things like candied rose petals and gold flakes and other awesome additions. (Yes, I will be creating an Aphrodite chocolate bar, thank you very much.)

Awesome Craftiness

What could be cuter than pretty designs on painted rocks? Oh, painted rocks in a terrarium, of course! Secondsister sauviloquy offers a look at this cute project.

A bit late, but how about some cute knitted hearts or a love gun from Knitting Like Crazy?

Again, too late for this year, but bookmark A Bit O’ Shine’s page of printable valentines for next year. There are even Browncoat Valentines! (AND OH YES I WANT!)

Craft offers a tutorial on making your own reusable bowl covers. Who needs plastic wrap, anyway?

Vicki Howell’s tutorial on knitting mitered hearts is adoreably addictive. Seriously. I can’t stop knitting these.

Happy reading!