Yes, I'm aware that this show was up over nine months ago, and I am just now getting to putting up photos of it. Deal.

I have this habit of buying things that I have no idea how to use. I did that this weekend. Thank the lord for Craigslist to satisfy all of my items-that-I-don't-know-how-to-use-yet-need lust.

So last week when I was perusing Craigslist, I came upon a garage sale that had a huge selection of yarn and a knitting machine for $100. I figured, "I got a hundred dollars!" so of course, I went to check it out.

Not before the brakes went out in Mark's car. Okay, plan B. Take care to shop, have Mark's dad pick us up and drive him back home with the Horizon. THEN still go to garage sale.

Then it starts raining.

Okay, Plan C. Drop off car, Google the address, see how far away it is. Only a mile! Let's go see if they are even still having the garage sale!

Can you guess what I ended up getting?

So, how the heck do you use one of these things?

When I first started really getting into knitting and crochet, was when I was sitting in a waiting room for about 12 hrs. a day for six weeks, waiting for my mom to get better. There is really nothing better to do when you are stuck doing that. I had known how to crochet before that, but I never took either craft seriously until then. Of course, the desire to knit became larger and larger as I found that it was not only a great way to relieve anxiety (which sitting in a waiting room can create a lot of) but it had this whole grassroots, hippy art girl culture that appealed to hippy art girl me the more and more I got into it.

So I conquered the p2tog's, the toe-up socks, intarsia (kinda) and gauges. I plowed through books and taught myself a majority of what to do. If there was a fancy technique, I'd try it. Cables? Aced. Lace? Ate it for breakfast.

However, I hardly have anything to show for it. The reason being, is because I am slow. And not just jesting to make other knitters feel better. I am turtle slow. Sloth Slow. Granny-trying-to-back-out-of-a-parking-lot slow. Not only am I slow, but the whole first year was filled with "Oh I can knit you one of those!" or "Of course I'll make you a hand knit sweater!" Needless to say, no one has gotten anything from me yet besides good half-finished intentions and one really horrible sweater.

The point being is, even though I am a slow knitter and have been knitting for quite some time, I have NEVER knitted anything for myself. So I decided now is the time. And THIS TIME I will finish the project. I will not start anything until I finish this one project, and break my never-finishing streak. It was then I decided to knit the longest project known to man, the Rapunzel Stockings from Knit.1 Magazine.

These socks are fine gauge, small needles, million cables kind of socks. The thing that kills me the most is that even though they go to the knee, I know that at any time I can finish them and just be done with it. Secret: I broke my great idea of not starting another project. I decided to cast on Foliage on Knitty's website with a chunky yarn. AND I FINISHED IT IN TWO DAYS! And have been wearing it since then (yes it's June but apparently Milwaukee doesn't know that yet.)

So here is the moral of the story. If you are a really slow knitter, get an extremely complicated project that requires a million years and is using toothpicks and thread to complete. Then half way through, pick up giant needles and yarn. Not only will you finish a project, but it will make you feel like you are the fastest knitter in the world.

Second moral. I now have something for myself to show for all my knitting!

p.s. I bought myself a knitting machine over the weekend. More developments as they occur.

Totally just biked from East side to Bay View. I am weak.

I always bring my cameras along, but I never take as many pictures as I ought to. Whenever a good opportunity comes, I always make an excuse to not take the shot.

My problem is that I am a wimp. I feel like flashing a camera in people's faces during weddings is annoying, or that maybe I look too much like a tourist (maybe that is because I am a tourist??) wandering around with my camera strapped around my neck.

Lesson of the story: Take more photographs. I will never get better at taking photos if I don't take photos.

Mark and I headed on down to New Orleans about two weeks ago. It was fantastic. I think I have him convinced to move there in a few years. New Orleans is absolutely gorgeous. I'm not sure why I have such an attraction to it, but I really want to move there.

Of course, when telling people this, I am always met with, "What about the hurricanes!?" acting like a hurricane hits every single day. Yes, New Orleans has hurricanes. Milwaukee has 20 feet of snow. Kansas City has tornadoes. I run the risk of getting shot and mugged every day when I walk down the street. You gotta roll with it.

Either way, I'm heading to Texas for Sophie's WEDDING. I made my dress and Kari's dress (almost). I'm so excited for my year of travel. Next stop UNITED KINGDOM.

So, I figure I will make the letter public. After reading through Milwaukee's reactions regarding the Janet Zweig Public Art piece, I was wondering if I should stay a quiet, unsung hero, or post the letter I sent to the aldermans on my blog and have my boyfriend call me a "muckraker." Well, I decided I like Janet Zweig's project too much to stay quiet. Also, I wanted to inject some amount of class into the situation. I've been a bit ashamed at the level of class on both sides of the spectrum. So far, I've gotten two, very generic quick "Thanks, little girl (pat on the head)" responses:

Dear Alderman (list of names here, I sent them separately),

My name is Anne Harvey and I am a fresh new face in the art scene here in Milwaukee. I just graduated from MIAD in '07 and I have been working hard in this community with high school students, my own personal work, and the late White Whale Collective ever since. I want to put in my two cents about the wonderful project that Ms. Zweig has put together for our city.

I read the summary that Mary Louise Schumacher has posted on her blog and I was dismayed at the attitude of all involved. "Giggling," "sighing," and a general lackadaisical approach is not exactly something that I expected from city leaders regardless of how much you may not agree with this project. This "hilarious" topic is my livelihood! This is how I bring food to the table. Can you appreciate this?

For your credit, if someone tried to explain to me the inner workings of what it takes to be a Milwaukee Alderman, maybe I would be reduced to giggles, boredom and an urge to leave the room. It takes all kind of people to get the job done--realizing this, I think we can call a truce.

For my current job, I bridge the gap between the young aspiring artist and their supportive, proud, yet skeptical parent. I love being able to show parents the need of having arts in the community and I am very encouraged by these people--having no prior interest or knowledge in the arts taking the first step to understand why it is important.

The arts ARE important. The arts are more than just pretty pictures hanging in an art museum. The arts contribute to the architecture of our surroundings, the products we use and often the very way we communicate. When you open a magazine, when you use your toothbrush, when you put on your shoes; that is the work of an artist. We all have a preconceived ideas of "Artist" (bean-bag, beret and tinted sunglasses) until you step back and take a look at what is actually being contributed. Art education encourages to ALL students to become life-long learners.

As for this piece, what will this contribute to the city? It will contribute to this idea of Milwaukee being a place where everyone seeks community and creativity. Regardless of their artistic background, people will recognize this charming art experience, something that may be outside the comfort zone of beer and brats (which are great, don't get me wrong!) but I believe the common misconception is we can't have it because "you don't like it." What isn't to like about having works that someone can take time out of their day to enjoy? What isn't to like about EMPLOYING several MILWAUKEE LOCALS in order to have this piece be a reality. What isn't to like about having Milwaukee be viewed as a cultural city that enjoys dialog from its community?

Again, it comes back down to the initial argument. I may not like or take any interest in what an alderman does, but I realize its importance. Can you extend this understanding to the thousands of Milwaukee creatives that contribute the same?

Lastly, if you don't like the artwork, WHY? Walking out of the room is an inappropriate response, especially when you have several Milwaukee artists, including myself who would be more than happy to take time and discuss with you the possibilities. When a piece of art is started, it almost never looks like the first sketch. Artists love discussing ideas. We are open to possibilities. Engage us and we will respond.

Sincerely,

Anne Harvey

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Well, what are you waiting for? Start writing!

Tada! And you thought I was one of those girls that starts a bunch of stuff, yet never ever finishes anything.

Well I am. This is a fluke.

This is the dress that I made for Sophie's Wedding. It looks a lot whiter than it is (I know, wearing white when it isn't your wedding is a faux pas) it's really a cream color. And I'll be wearing a blue sweater, blue sash and brown heels, so there will be a bit more color. I just wanted something light for the Texas weather. I actually finished this in one day, which is unheard of for me. I usually take about 4 months.

The arm pits are still a bit big, however, so I'll have to nip the sides in a bit. Any suggestions? I worked so hard on the lining so that it looks nice and neat, but I'm thinking just serging up the sides will be just fine. I know no one will see it, but I like little details, like the lining being just perfect as it is now. Also, when I think about how much WORK it would be to seam rip the WHOLE THING just to tuck in an inch or so----I think I'll just use the serger. Again, any suggestions?

Here's how you make soup a la Anne:

Ingredients:

Old Carrots
Old Celery
Egg Noodles
Roundy's Vegetable Soup broth
1/2 Onion
Large can of chicken breast

Directions:
Fill the largest pot you have with the soup broth. Realize it only fills it a little bit, so fill the box the broth came in with water. Add water to broth. Cut several carrots and celery stems, add them to the broth until it starts to look like soup. Cut up half of a red onion. Add this in there too, even though it looks like too much.

Let vegetables boil for an undetermined amount of time. Stick fork in carrot and taste. Kind of hard, but maybe soft enough to add noodles in.

Oops, add in the chicken first.

Add noodles in. Let simmer for way too long (at least an entire episode of Bewitched) so that noodles become very soggy. Add some soup-looking herbs from under the cabinet. Oregano or Barley, I'm assuming, may work.

Decide that last time, soup was kind of bland, so add a bunch of salt. A little bit too much. Taste salty, soggy soup.

Put an ungodly amount of soup that you now have into two large storage containers. Let sit in fridge because you are afraid to eat it now.

Servings: a billion.

It's not even 10:30am and I already had Salvation Army come and take away a million pounds of junk! I've already had a fairly unsuccessful breakfast (cream of wheat from the box? Not as cool as I remember) and I will spend the day cleaning, getting lamps from places and knitting. If I'm super ambitious, start deep cleaning my soon-to-be studio space! I should take the day off every day.