Oh good grief. “Knitted graffiti” is in the news again. I noticed a few months ago that somebody was putting it up on poles around Newtown. Look, I thought it was an amusing idea like FIVE YEARS AGO when I first heard of it. But “growing global movement”? Sorry, SMH. FAIL. I bet there have been maybe a dozen people in the entire world who have actually done this in any systematic or legitimate fashion. The rest are just imitating something they saw on the Internet in the hopes people will think they’re creative and kooky. (Sorta like the whole “zombie flash mob” thing, which I am similarly bored with. Do I sound annoyed enough? Come on, it’s Hump Day.) Anyway, I also think I may have actually contributed to this article. There was a journalist at the TC SnB a few weeks ago, and he asked offhand about knitted graffiti. I tried to impress upon him how NOT A MOVEMENT the whole thing was, but he was not to be swayed. So I gave him Miss Helen’s contact information, knowing that if anybody knew the identify of Newtown’s “tagger,” she probably would. So really, if I’m irritated by the story I only have myself to blame.

Hilariously, several different non-knitters sent me that link this morning. It’s like they think of me as the official spokesperson for the wacky world of non-traditional knitters.

Prompted by a Ravelry discussion this morning, I’ve set up an Australian Knitting Events Calendar. You can view it at that link or subscribe in your preferred calendar application via ICAL or XML. I’ve added the major craft shows already, and I’ve started listing stitch and bitch groups. If you have particular events you’d like to see added, please email me. (Alternatively, if you’d like to be in charge of adding events for your region, let me know and I’ll give you admin rights.)

Steampunk can kill you. (Well, eating old watch parts can, anyway.)

Gum Election. Neat! (Found via Nora‘s shared Google Reader items.)

This one‘s for all you Jacob ‘shippers…

Any of you know how to make stained glass? Snookums and I think we need a Darth Vader window in our house.

Coming in 2009: the Paris Hilton Creative Collection, “a multi-faceted line of fashion crafting kits from some of the most popular craft segments including scrapbooking, jewelry making and fabric embellishment.” SCRAPBOOKING. But of course.

Hey Sis, you really should download this free sewing pattern for a child’s apron and make them for Penn and Indie!

Street Pianos
As I was walking over to get the car last night, I noticed a couple people setting up a piano in the middle of Chippendale’s Peace Park. “What’s all this about?” I asked. They said it was part of the Festival, and that there were 20 “street pianos” being installed all over the city. I wondered aloud what they would do if it rained. Six hours later I found out, as I was returning the car to Myrtle Street in the aftermath of a loud thunderstorm. As I walked back to the house, I could hear music playing. When I got close I could see that some kind soul had thrown a large tarp over the piano, and had then crawled underneath to play a little night music. “Now there’s something you don’t see every day…” (There’s a photo on the site of the Chippo piano. They’ve since moved it onto the grass beneath a tree.)

Update: It sounds like they’re going to lock it at night to keep drunks from pounding on it at 2am. Good call.

The amazing new group “Blue Midgets” played an impromptu set this afternoon. That’s Amy on vocals and the Snook on lead guitar. (Yeah. We bought another guitar. Like I said, we’re obsessed.)