The Best Little Yarn Crawl in Texas 2011

This was my first year participating in The Best Little Yarn Crawl in Texas. I only made it to 4 of the 9 stops, but it was so much fun! I came home with a head full of project ideas and all kinds of knitting goodies.

I beefed up my stash with some sparkly sock yarn, beautifully heathered alpaca lace weight, and malabrigo lace weight in the best dark green color. Yarn with a bit of glitter in it seems to be the trend this fall, a trend that I was happy to indulge in!

We visited all the shops in the Austin area: The Knitting Nest, Hill Country Weavers, and Gauge. Then, my yarn crawl buddy and I got adventurous and took our toddlers out to Old Oaks Ranch Monday morning. Oh man, do I love me some alpacas! I have to say, as much fun as we had at the ranch, I was disappointed that I didn't get to touch an alpaca even though their ad in the passport says "Come touch an alpaca!". We also didn't get a free gift there, but taking pictures of the kiddos running around the sculpture garden was a great souvenir.

Everyone we encountered along the crawl was super friendly and helpful. I think it's great that they changed things up a bit this year so there's a giveaway that you can enter for each store.
Hopefully next year I can make it to all the stores so I can be eligible for the grand prize! Now if you'll excuse me, I have some serious knitting to attend to. :)

Songwriting Workshop with Okkervil River at the ABC

The Austin Bat Cave is hosting a free songwriting workshop with Austin's own Okkervil River. The workshop is on March 1st from 2-4 pm. Students in 9th to 11th grade are welcome.

And although the workshop is free, space is limited. You can call 524-1489 or email austin bat cave at gmail dot com.



The Austin Bat Cave is a new non-profit bringing the model of San Francisco's
826 Valencia here to Austin.
Any donations to the ABC would be much appreciated!

St. Nick at SXSW

ST. NICK trailer from ST NICK on Vimeo.

*The adventures of a borther and sister, trying to survive, all on their own, out on the plains of Texas*

One of my talented and awesome movie making friends, David Lowery, had his film accepted into South by Southwest! St. Nick is his first feature length film, so the acceptance is doubly impressive. I haven't seen anything but the trailer, but I'm sure it holds true to his other work. Thoughtful, original, and a little dark. Good stuff. I wish I could make it to the screening - if you are going, make sure you put St. Nick on your list.

Sign of the Times

Today I saw a man fishing in our dumpster. With a fishing pole. I'm pretty sure it had a magnet on the end and I assume he was looking for metal he could turn in for cash.

While we don't live in a bad part of town, there are always a few homeless-looking types near the major intersection. That's where the bus stops are and there's a gas station and a small shopping center so there are decent places to loiter I suppose. Austin has a large and visible homeless population but after living here a year I've come to think of it as normal. Not a happy part of normal, but a reality of the situation here.

There seem to be an increasing number of dumpster divers and transients around our apartment complex. We've gotten a few notices from the office reminding us not to leave valuables in our cars, lock our windows and report anything suspicious. Again, we live in a nice part of town. I've never felt threatened by anyone around here but now I can't help but feel a small twinge of anxiety when I'm out in the parking lot and see someone who doesn't look like a neighbor.

I teared up watching the inauguration yesterday. Obama's message of hope combined with a clear headed acknowledgment of the rough situation many citizens are facing inspire a true feeling of hope within me in a big picture way.

But in my day-to-day life, I carry a quiet burden of fear. I've grown out of my teenage feeling of invincibility; I have become acutely aware how we are all a major disaster or tragedy from completely changing our life as we know it. I fear for my safety and that of those around me.

The best I can do is keep my head up, count my blessings, and trust that everything will be ok in the end.

1,000 Shades of Gray

We awoke to a dense fog this morning. Heavier than any fog I've ever seen. These pictures were taken about and hour after I got up and it had lightened up a little.

I took Mr. W to work this morning and we went over an overpass where the visibility was so reduced that it looked like the road would end any second and we could see nothing but fog on either side. From a safety standpoint, it was pretty scary. From a cool standpoint, it was awesome in a sci-fi way. I really wish I had had my camera with me.

The weather was dreary yesterday too, but not nearly as interesting as the fog. It was more stir-crazy weather. Can you tell I've been a little bored? I'm loving the free time I have to craft right now, but you can only do so much.

Kicking Butt and Makin' Movies

*This is from a movie I made last year, called Quarter to Noon*
*Thank God it isn't true*
*Or maybe it is, and that's why I might be a failure*

I'm the Production Designer on an action packed, grimy thrill ride of a short film about
the lengths parents will go to for their children ... with some stunts, fight sequences, crazy camera shots and a lot of heart.

Our crew of 50 is unpaid and working for the love of film. Sadly, love doesn't put film in the cameras, or get us cameras at all.

Our goal is to raise 5,000 dollars to cover equipment rentals, insurance, art department (that's me!), post production and the list goes on and on ...

So, if you're feeling moved by the spirit of generosity, please donate what you can. We will be so appreciative!


Also, if you're in the Austin area and could help by donating food or an old car we can take apart, please leave me a comment with your info.

And if you're worried that we aren't legit, here's some links to learn more:

Candler Productions
Kat's Blog

Just Pushing the Darkness Around

We saw Shearwater at the Mowhawk last night. It. was. awesome. They are by far my favorite Austin band (a dangerous thing to say, I know). But.

Not only do their songs hold up live, many of them exceed the CD recordings.

(You can scroll though the minute of commentary. This was the best recording I could find)

So, to sum things up, Shearwater is awesome. I would be incoherent to go into detail about that.

Side Notes:

September is a good month to see shows outside.

A man we noticed in the crowd looked like he'd probably just been released from prison. He had on bright orange pants, a sleeveless button down shirt, and really long hair. Turns out, he is a member of Shearwater. Sorry guy.

Austin is always good for people watching. Ex-cons, transvestites, those with extremely unusual personal taste...or, to be more succinct, musicans.

16oz. Lonestars mean buy 3 get 1 free. Now there is a recession-proof beer. Also, if you're lucky, they will give you some land.