Then I caught a glimpse of a potholder swap on Flickr, and saw the error in my judgement. Because who knew potholders could be so pretty?

These are some of the potholders that were swapped last year. So gorgeous.  So many patterns, so many colors. The admins of the swap say that the goal of the swap is to “produce and receive little pieces of crocheted art. Use beautiful yarns, color combinations, and patterns.” Those are definitely pieces of art – I’m not sure I’d ever want to use them, but would more likely display them!

The best part is that they’re having another swap this year! That’s right, Potholder Swap 2010 was just announced. The admins have made it incredibly simple:

- Crochet 5 potholders in the same pattern (but feel free to vary the colors)

- Send all 5 potholders with a self -addressed postage paid envelope to one central location by March 27th

- Admins will package and send back to you 5 potholders from different participants

This year they’re requesting that only 100% cotton be used. I have absolutely no cotton in my stash, but luckily I have a little leeway in my yarn budget to go shopping. I’m going to join the fun, and use this as an opportunity to test my crochet skills, as well as try to work on my color choosing skills. I’m very excited!

Want to join the fun? Details are here on Flickr, and here on Ravelry. There’s no need for a “sign-up,” just get your potholders (and postage) to the listed destination on time.

Happy crocheting!

Now that I have a lightbox, and a sunroom, I have everything I need to give my yarn some attention and photographs. Yesterday, we had a photoshoot, and here is the result.

I know it seems silly to photograph a yarn stash. But since these photos are uploaded to Flickr and linked to Ravelry, this is how I browse through my stash when I’m away from home. This is how I get my best ideas for patterns. Good yarn pictures are important for future crafty projects.

I mean, come on, aren’t they pretty? Now I totally want to start a new project. The trouble is, I want to start about a dozen new projects. The next tricky part is narrowing it down!

So today, I’m going to point you towards the amazing crafts of Chawne. She’s one of the people on Flickr that I totally stalk because she does amazing, amazing things with yarn, fabric and thread.

Her latest project is fantastic – inspired by her and her friend’s spam e-mails, she’s started embroidering the most hysterical collection of Spam Stitchery. It’s only slightly naughty, but safe for work, and a spectacular response to those horrible e-mails that land in your inbox. Check it out, along with her quilts and other crafty goodness, you won’t be disappointed.

In the meantime, I’m already thinking ahead to my next project. I know I mentioned that I might want to knit a pair of socks to submit. The thing is? I really don’t want to knit socks right now. But I did get that pretty, pretty sock yarn, and I would like to use it. What to do?

Actually, I already know what I’d like to knit next.
1. Ishbel, 2. ishbel, 3. Ishbel Shawl, 4. Ishbel II detail, 5. ishbel, 6. ishbel

Oh, Flickr, you are constantly inspiring me. It seems like the “it knit” right now is the gorgeous Ishbel scarf/shawl by Ysolda Teague. I say scarf/shawl, because the pattern is flexible enough that you could knit it in either size. To me, the best part is that it seems to be the perfect project for sock yarn, and as you can see it knits up beautifully in solids, semi-solids and even some mildly variegated yarns.

I think my mind is made up. As soon as I put the finishing touches on the baby sweater, I’ll be winding up some yarn for the Ishbel. I can’t wait!

Everyone called my grandmother “Gee.” Nowadays it sounds very hip-hop and street, but she was just Gee, and I couldn’t imagine calling her anything else.

Gee and my grandfather lived in a two-bedroom, smallish house in a small town in Ohio, and every room had owls in it. She had everything from your typical ceramic figurines to planters to wall hangings to wooden carvings to paperweights to trivets to dishes to dishcloths (you get the idea), all owl-themed. Most were of the “wise old owl” personification, but there were other variations – abstract, cutesy, woodsy, snowy, you name it.

I still think of Gee when I see owls. I’ve been seeing more of them in the crafty world lately. I bet she would have liked some of these.

Rubberstamped, sewn, paper-rolled, embroidered, patchworked and crocheted. That’s enough owly crafts to keep even someone as owl-loving as Gee satisfied for quite a while.

Hoot. Hoot.