The Pebble Collection

I just discovered The Pebble Collection on etsy. I bought a pair of simple sterling silver hoops. They arrived today and I'm really impressed with the quality and workmanship, so I thought I'd give a little endorsement.

I love her simple and elegant designs and she also makes more whimsical pieces like tree pendents and berry rings. She's having an early Christmas sale - if you join the mailing list, you'll get 30% off and free shipping.

I'm unsuccessfully resisting the urge to buy a pea necklace and about a dozen pairs of earrings...oh, and maybe a Christmas gift or two!

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

The Secret Life of Bees

I just finished reading...well, devouring this book. My mom lent it to me a few weeks ago, and once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. It's an engaging story told in a beautiful voice. Set during the civil rights movement, Lily, a fourteen year old girl, confronts growing up, racism, abuse, love and her own dark past. How can you not be intrigued?

Today, I was listening to Radio Lab and the guest this week was Zoe Keating who, by happenstance, scored the film version of the book. So all at once, it was hooray! There's going to be a movie version AND it will be scored beautifully.



I thought the imagery in the book was very vivid and the trailer seems like the film won't disappoint in the production design. As for the acting and the way they handle the story, well, who knows. It looks promising.

As for the score, Zoe Keating is awesome. She plays cello and then runs it through a computer to create loops that she then plays over. It's similar to Final Fantasy, but her music is purely instrumental.

So, lots of good, beautiful related things today.

Turning a Square

Pattern: Turn a Square
O-wool Balance in graphite and peridot
size 6 and 7 needles

*The only thing I love more than the hat in this picture is the man wearing it*

With the weather down to a mere 90 degrees these days, I thought I'd knit a winter at for Mr. W. You know, because it's weird to not be suffering from low degree heat stroke.

This is the happiest I've been with a knit project in a long, long time. It was quick, fun and I loved the yarn. It's 50/50 cotton and wool, wonderfully tweedy and reasonably priced. If I had the gumption, I'd knit a sweater out of it.

It's a nice update on your run-of the-mill striped beanie and would be a good gift knit. Also, you have a good amount of yarn left over to make a baby toy. (Watch out nicephew, your crazy aunt is already making you weird knitted things)

If Everyone is Thinking "Outside the Box"...

Wouldn't that just put us in a bigger box?


Ponder.

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.

Little Purple Socks

Pattern: Universal Toe up Sock Pattern
stitch Pattern: my own
Size 2 needles
Hand dyed sock weight yarn

Yay! these are finally done. I took me three tries to get the second one right. That's what happens when you don't take notes and wait three months between socks. Oh well. I think they turned out pretty well.


The stitch pattern I came up with is as follows:
k 1 round
sl1 kfb psso both sts, repeat for the round
k1 round
k1 sl1 kfb psso both sts, repeat for the round

Ta da!