she*had*a*thirst*for*knowledge

$69.00 at Zappo’s

£50.00 at Oli

Philander Pearsall was a grocer in 19th century Wilmington, NC. As spotted in the inventory for the William Dickson Pearson Letter.

States Rights Gist (September 3, 1831 — November 30, 1864) was a lawyer and Confederate general who served during the American Civil War. A relative of several prominent South Carolinians, Gist rose to fame later during the war but was killed during the Franklin-Nashville Campaign in November 1864.

– From an article on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_Rights_Gist

Working in an archive of materials related to the history of the American South, I come across quite a lot of interesting or amusing names.

So it’s been a rough few months.

There was a death in the family, a drive halfway across the country, the worst Christmas ever, and more.

I turn 30 this year. My hope for 2008 is to become more settled with myself, and to make my home a place of happiness, warmth, and hospitality.

In 2007 I learned how to cook. That was a good growing thing for me to learn.

I am trying to be less engaged with the things happening. I am trying to let things happen as they will.

Tell me where it all went wrong
Maybe I can make it better
Tell me where it all went wrong
Don’t you know that you really upset her?
When you act like a man who is cross
With every woman he’s never had
If it’s true looks could kill
And you will be the first to make me mad
Then you’ll have to go

Is it true looks can kill?
Is it true looks can kill?
Is it true looks can kill?

Camera Obscura - “If Looks Could Kill”

I haven’t listened to the Smiths in years, it seems, and now a sudden urge to listen late this afternoon has found me practically in tears and wanting to throw up.

Take me out tonight
Take me anywhere, I don’t care
I don’t care, I don’t care
And in the darkened underpass
I thought Oh God, my chance has come at last
(But then a strange fear gripped me and I
Just couldn’t ask)

After coming back into this frigidly air-conditioned workplace of mine from a break, I’m almost enjoying that 102 degree Fahrenheit weather out there.

I am inspired by this, and by the 125 other blankets that this woman has knit for charity. Here’s photos of numbers 108-126.

I’ve been working on three knitting projects since last fall, only one of which is anywhere near completion. I’ve been sort of in a slump lately with regards to knitting, mostly because my brain has NOT wanted to be alone in that meditative knitting state these past 9 or so months. It would rather be reading books in its leisure time. Plus, these three projects just haven’t inspired me at all. I’ve been wanting to make a knitted blanket for years, but didn’t quite know how I’d like to go about it, design-wise. These blankets are perfect, definitely the sort of thing I’d been thinking about but didn’t know I was thinking about.

It’s a links round-up:

1. pretty knitted shoes

2. a very attractive notebook art project

3. I WANT TO MAKE MY OWN STICKERS!!! What a brilliant idea.

4. Karen learns how to sew a very cute top