Favorite Links: October

A while ago, I was walking down the street with my husband and we noticed a "Stranger Things" themed pop-up bar - with a HUGE line to get in. Chicagoans really love waiting in line for the most ridiculous things (and sometimes cool things, too - I have no idea which category this one falls into). Not soon after that, I stumbled across this article about the hilarious cease-and-desist letter that Netflix sent to the owners of the bar, who had not received permission for it. Oops!

The final days of the 2017 MLB season are here, with the World Series starting tomorrow. I've got high hopes that the Astros can stop the Dodgers' reign of unyielding terror (I mean, they have to lose eventually, right? It's just not natural!). Besides seeing the Astros celebrate their second trip to the World Series ever in the history of their franchise, there are a few other baseball-related stories that have tickled me recently, such as this fascinating post about a former baseball player who started a quilting magazine on the While She Naps blog.

This random article about the organist for the Boston Red Sox combines some interesting historical tidbits with a peek behind a most unusual curtain. I especially liked reading about how he decides which songs to play, as well as the history of baseball organists.

This article isn't new, but I had just heard something in passing about Evan Gattis' battle with depression and (eventual) return to baseball and was curious to find out more. There seems to be a lot of players who have unconventional journeys to the majors (Peter Moylan comes to mind), and this one has an even happier ending now that he is World Series-bound with the 'Stros!

And just because a blog post isn't a blog post without some photos, and today's post has a baseball theme....here are a few fun things I found lurking on my phone:

Peter Moylan has gum stuck on his butt while pitching 😂

Peter Moylan has gum on his butt while pitching.

One of my favorite baseball selfies in front of the Salvy Splash Mural at the K.

A Lego replica of Kauffman Stadium (aka The K)

Thanks for stopping by, I'll have actual fiber-related posts to share with you later this week!

Comments

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels? I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n

handmade by stefanie

Search This Blog