Sunday, July 19, 2009

Gray Matter Matters

OMG, I'm learning to play guitar! I've had a guitar in my attic for 18 years and I'm finally ready to learn how to play it. (BTW, a hot attic is NOT a great place to store a wooden guitar!) For the past 6 years, it has occasionally come down to the living room only to become a Matchbox car ramp/slide. It is now "off limits" to anyone in the house under 40 (years, not inches).



So, yesterday, I ventured out -- former Matchbox car ramp in hand --to Wood & Strings in friendly Arlington Center. I bought a pack of shiny new strings from a VERY patient & knowledgeable (and friendly) guy named Mark, and today I restrung my old, beat-up guitar.

You know the saying, "You can tune a guitar but you can't tuna fish"?? I can tuna fish [sandwich] but I can NOT tune a guitar! I Googled "tune a guitar" and found some very helpful sites. I even put a really neat Guitar Tuning Widget in my Blog's sidebar for future use. (You can use it too! It's free!) My wonderful friend Janet, who is graciously giving me weekly guitar lessons, is willing to tune my guitar for me tomorrow... But right now, my guitar still sounds awful. Maybe my ears are out of tune.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Happy Campers' Finished Projects

If you pretend to be that little curly red-headed orphan Annie and sing, "The sun'll come out... tomorrow" it eventually will. But rain or shine, KNIT HAPPENS [at Grossman Camp].

Happy Kfar campers knitting in the "rain"

Happy Golan campers knitting in the "shine"

And if you give a camper some materials, he'll ask you how to knit. And when he asks you how to knit, you'll give him some yarn & needles. And after you give him some yarn & needles, he'll knit an awesome ipod case!

Ariel & his ipod case

Friday, July 03, 2009

Summer of 2009 starts at Knitting

Welcome to Grossman Camp Knitting! This is my third summer as the Knitting Specialist, and I am looking forward to a warm, sunny summer.

Week 1 celebrated the upcoming 4th of July holiday by knitting with red, white, and blue yarn. New this summer: self-striping variegated red/white/blue all-in-one yarn!

Despite the unseasonably cool rainy weather, Knitting proved to be a fine indoor activity for the boys & girls alike. In just 4 days, campers have already knit Rocket Pops popsicles, necklaces, headbands, swords and snakes. Negev campers learned how to fingerknit. Chugim Knitters from older units have already learned to knit with needles!! Ribbons have been awarded to campers who learned how to knit, and who knit with their eyes closed.

Here's the information on the red spools we use at camp:




Giant Super Knitter from S&S Worldwide www.ssww.com
Great price - only $6.58!
Super easy! Use this knitting spool with any sort of yarn or fabric to create intricate braids for rugs, chair pads and more. Includes spool, instructions with patterns and knitting tool. 4" x 2".
Item #: AC783