3 posts tagged “podcasts”

Note: This is the fourth in a series of posts looking back at 2007, in some key areas of my life that were important to me.

I knitted this year.

Everything I finished my first year of knitting (2006) was very basic.  I'm ending out 2007 with a ton more knowledge and skill under my belt.  I well exceeded my goals, which I found were setting the bar pretty low in the grand scheme of things!

I learned what to look for when purchasing yarn and how to substitute.  There were 3 different online stores (KnitPicks on many occasions, TheLoopyEwe, and Little Knits) that I've ordered from, as well as the local craft stores, branching out from only really knowing about Lion Brand and Lily's Sugar 'N Cream at the beginning of the year.  I'm starting to learn about combining colors, with some success and some turning out less than what I expected (Leah's pinwheel sweater was a success, but my in-process heart socks aren't as perfectly color coordinated as I hoped).

In mid-January when Vox introduced Groups, I created the Knitting group.  Even though I'm not as active in adding content as I wish, the great thing about this is that you don't have to do much to make your content part of the group, and there are a lot of people who are members (around 375 right now), so it's really a fun way to browse people who are knitting on Vox.  (I still like to zoom through people who tag things as "knitting" and invite them to the group whenever I can!)

Starting in March, I began going to the library's knit-in every 2 weeks.  I tried to bring easy projects I was working on at the time and found myself enjoying the company even when the discussion was not usually about knitting.  I became known as someone who had a basic grasp on knitting and towards the end of the year when I joined the Friends of the Library (the group that puts this on), they made me a leader of the group as well.  I've helped people who didn't know how to knit yet, and contributed to knitting discussions as well.  It feels good to be part of this!  

The roundup:  4 pairs of socks (and almost a 5th), 2 sweaters, a doll with a full wardrobe (among my very favorite thing I knit this year), a turtle, booties, 2 bibs, 2 hats, 3 scarfs, 2 shawl-like scarfs, 10-15 dishclothes, a potholder, 2 different pairs of slippers, armwarmers and legwarmers, mittens, part of two afghans, border and several squares of a patchwork afghan, and probably some other small things.

Ravelry: I did some tracking of my progress on my blog,  but many of my knitting projects were gifts, and needed more privacy.  Enter Raverly (my profile, if you have an account), a new site this year for tracking projects, stashes, and more.  For the first few months they were around, I helped on the forums quite a bit and helped with bug tracking.  I'm still watching a few groups, but mainly I'm using it to track my projects and my queue, as well as inspiration for new projects!  Super awesome site, if you aren't on the waiting list, get your name on there!

Media: I've read a lot of books about knitting, above my skill level to try and start absorbing what's out there.  I've purchased books about knitting for reference and patterns.  Watched Knitty Gritty on HGTV for as long as they had it, and this was so helpful to see visually how things were held.  Listened to knitting podcasts inspired me to think about knitting too.

Techniques: My colorwork experience has grown, attempting fair isle, multiple colored slip stitch patterns, stripes, and a little intarsia, as well as plenty of projects that used multiple colors and were seamed together.  I've also tried entrelac, and short rows, and plenty of different shaped pieces.  Some i-cords, but not as neat as I'd like them to look yet.  I've adjusted patterns, and come up with my own and even written them out in a readable fashion.  Different bind offs and castons, and plenty of increases and decreases.  I've used straight needles, circular needles (interchangable), and double pointed needles.  I'm still not an expert at all of these things, but I feel great for having tried so many things that I can work to improve!

Note: This is the third in a series of posts looking back at 2007, in some key areas of my life that were important to me.

I listened this year.

One of the biggest trends for me again this year was that music used in TV or Movie scenes resonates that most for me.  When I have a visual connection, it really hits me more, I guess.  I finally purchased a few tracks from old shows, like Beth Orton's She Cries Your Name because I was so sad that it wasn't on my DVD of Roswell during a key scene.   I was excited to get the songs that they play regularly on General Hospital when those were released on iTunes (Jayson Belt, Rie Sinclair, etc), because again, they have that visual for me.   One of my favorite songs at the end of the year was Lucky Man by The Verve, and I only found it because it was played on an episode of Journeyman. (The long version of the Journeyman theme song is another I purchased, continuing my long-time-love of tv themes).

I also finished purchasing tracks from some CDs that I'd only bought part previously because of iTunes promotion (Kelly Clarkson and Nickelback and Rob Thomas come to mind), and I think this actually made me more willing to buy individual tracks to try out an artist, rather than waiting to see if I wanted to commit to it.

Rhianna's Umbrella was stuck in my head for much of the summer (along with a lot of America) which is the first time in a while I've been enjoying a mainstream song at the same time as everyone else.  Since I don't listen to the radio very much, I tend to hit the trends later.  This was kinda fun.

The only album I have from this last year which I own in a physical CD is my new-at-Christmas Radio Sunnydale.  Everything else, I bought on iTunes as individual tracks or albums.  We already have shelves and shelves of CDs, and an old pile of cassette tapes, too, so we didn't need the physical clutter.  I'll still purchase the albums for the very favorite artists (like Vanessa Carlton from my wish list).

Much of the time when I'm listening to music, it's a big uber Smart Playlist made up of other smart playlists, with my Pop, Rock, Top rated Electronica and Alternative music.  I randomize that (737 songs) and it gives me a great fun listen most of the time.  When I'm feeling like I need more calm in my life, I go for my Christian top list, which is all of my Christian genre that are highly rated (117 songs).  And last years purchase of some more country has me picking that play list periodically (including Dixie Chicks and the Wreckers most prominently).  I really enjoy using iTunes for my music playing.

Along with music, I found podcasts this year for the first time.  Everything I listened to consistently were knitting-related, but it was another way for me to appreciate something in the background while I work on a project.  I listened to Stash and Burn (which I found through Harold) for most of the year, and then found Kelly Petkun's podcast from KnitPicks (a local company) part way through the year.  Just recently I added LionBrand's YarnCraft and Vickie Howell's CRL.

According to iTunes, out of the music I added this year, Nickelback's Rockstar and Jem's Come on Closer had the top tracks I listened to.  My top rated artists continue to be the same ones I've listened to for years or at least the last couple of years: Sarah McLachlan, Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch (and the Wreckers), Natalie Imbruglia, Dido, Garbage, Avril Lavigne, Ashlee Simpson, Barenaked Ladies, tATu.  Steven Curtis Chapman, Jennifer Knapp, and Michael W. Smith are prominent in my Christian genre. The more recent additions of Aimee Mann, Anna Nalick, Nickelback, Rob Thomas, P!nk, Jem, and Kelly Clarkson round things out nicely in my collection, along with plenty of one-hit wonders and other people I enjoy just a few tracks more than their whole collection.

I do use last.fm to track all my music tastes, sending my tracks played when sitting in front of iTunes (vs. on my iPod) to their system to add to my profile.  Although I don't use the features as much as I could, it's fun to see periodically.

E and me were looking for meals we hadn't had for a while (which contrasts with my earlier-this-week repetiveness), so tonight I got things ready and made Jumbo Stuffed Shells.  It's a great dinner, even though it's a bit messy to stuff the shells.

Unrelated... earlier today, I saw a podcast with Mena that I was curious about, with Leo and Amber.  I don't normally have a chance to listen to podcasts, but I downloaded it anyhow.

Soooo, I was thinking... and I downloaded it to my ipod and listened while I was cooking!  It took me just about that long to cook the shells, come back up and check my email, and then stuff the shells and then it was over.  Perfect!

It was a great interview too.  They really did a good job spotlighting Vox, and Mena had great stuff to say.  I enjoyed it.

And then I was thinking back and it made me happy to remember the first time I saw Leo Laporte.  It was the first interview he did with Ben and Mena back in 2002 on The Screensavers.  Robyn taped it and mailed it to me!  Later on that week, another TechTV show did a spotlight on TheRedKitchen.  Which brings us full circle back to cooking. :)

I've definitely got to listen to more podcasts this way.  During laundry, maybe bouncing on my exercise ball, somethin'!  I've got some of Carla's sitting here waiting and it's just such good stuff, I can't help but want to keep hearing.  Yay!