3KCBWDAY3-My Muse

Being a knitter, one would expect me to have a list of famous knitters that I would consider my muses and mentors. But the truth is, I don’t. I do like Cookie A., (and that’s mainly because I was in the same knitting group with her when I lived in San Jose). I also like Anne Hanson of Knitspot, but I confess it is because she is in an interracial relationship just like me and spoils her hubby the same way I do. The fact that she happens to be a kick-ass knitter is just a bonus.

No, my true muse is not what most people would expect. . . .

Music!

Nothing moves me and inspires me the way music does. I am a slave to its power over me. A duet between Kenny Loggins and Amy Grant can result in a knitted purse. The voice of Garth Brooks can start me knitting a pair of leg warmers. And the sound of Josh Groban can move my fingers to crochet a lovely shawl.

I could never work  in a void of silence. I am a quite person by nature, who usually prefers the sound of my own heartbeat. But when it comes time to create, my work can only be done with its own soundtrack.

For those of you who may be curious, I’ll share with you some of the songs that move me the most to create. Those who have been following my blog for a while would not be surprised to know that Jamie Cullum is at the top of my list of artist whose music I love. Everything he touches turns to gold for me. I can’t listen to one of his songs without picking up my needles or hook. He just has that power over me. And I don’t mind saying that I like it.

Click on the picture to see one of my favorite Jamie Cullum performances.

Along with Jamie, here are a few songs that always work to get my creative juices flowing:

Alice’s Theme by Danny Elfman

Aria by Yanni

Bad Romance by Lady GaGa

Bring The Rain by Mercy Me

Comfortable by John Mayer

Haven’t Met You Yet by Michael Buble

Fireworks by Katy Perry

Right Round by Flo Rida

Footloose by Kenny Loggins

F**k You by Cee Lo Green

Hate On Me by Jill Scott

Grenade (Acoustic) by Bruno Mars

7 Days to Change Your Life by Jamie Cullum

Yeah! by Usher

Hallelujah by K.D. Lang

Hey Soul Sister by Train

Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani

The One by Mary J. Blige

I Belong To You by Muse

Nature Boy by Jamie Cullum

I Wish by Stevie Wonder

. . . and according to my iPod, 634 other songs that inspire me as well.

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Music To My Ears

I’ve been addicted to YouTube these pass few days. Since time and money never seem to work out for me to see anyone in concert, I’ve been watching recorded performances online. Jamie Cullum has been the artist whose music I have been listening to the most. (Is that really any surprise?) Now, I figured I’d give you a sampling of Jamie’s work so maybe you’d have a better understanding of why I love his music. (And maybe make a new Jamie Cullum fan out of a few of you.)

These are clips from some of Jamie Cullum’s live performances. The first clip is of Jamie performing a blended mix of Singing In The Rain and Umbrella. (Yes, Jamie performed this long before the cast of Glee ever did.) The second clip is a mix of Sexy Back and Don’t Cha. The last clip is of him singing Nature Boy, which I must say is one of my favorite songs and Jamie’s rendition is wonderfully soothing. Enjoy!

Jamie Wearing Knits

Its rare that I find a picture of Jamie Cullum wearing something that looks like it could be hand knitted. So when I do find one, I feel compelled to share it.

Jamie Cullum Wearing a Knitted Hat

(All photo rights goes to the original owner of this pic.

Sorry, couldn’t find a link to the person who actually took this pic.)

 

If anyone knows of a knitting pattern like this, please share. I’m thinking of making one for my Boy Toy.

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week 2011: Songs to Knit & Crochet By

This is the last installment of the Knitting & Crochet Blog Week. Today’s installment asked us to write about our knitting space and those things that we have around us when we knit/crochet. However, because I’m constantly on the move, there is no set place or things I use when knitting. The only constant is music. So, I figured I would end this week by sharing with  you a list I put together of songs to knit and crochet by.

Songs When Shopping For New Yarn

1. Whatever You Like by T.I.

2. The Look of Love by Diana Krall

3. My Love, Sweet Love by Patti LaBelle

4. Damn U by Prince

5. Take My Breath Away by Jessica Simpson

6. Shameless by Garth Brooks

7. I Only Have Eyes For You by Jamie Cullum

8. Hello by Lionel Richie

Songs for Extremely Difficult Projects

1. You Know I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse

2. Bad Romance by Lady GaGa

3. Disturbia by Rihanna

4. Tainted Love by The Cure

5. Poor Unfortunate Souls by Jonas Brothers

6. Hot ‘N Cold by Kathy Perry

7. Don’t Trust Me by 3Ho!3

8. An Evil Night Together by Jill Tracy

Songs for Projects that Seem to Take Forever!

1. One Step At A Time by Jordan Sparks

2. It’s The Climb by Miley Cyrus

3. Almost There by Anika Noni Rose

4. Keep The Faith by Michael Jackson

5. Survivor by Destiny’s Child

6. One More Day by the cast of Les Miserables

7. Strength. Courage. Wisdom. by India.Arie

8. Mercy by Duffy

9. Our Day Will Come by Jamie Cullum

10. The Best Is Yet To Come by Michael Buble

Songs for Frogging

1. I’m Not Gonna Cry by Mary J. Blige

2. The Fine Art of Poisoning by Jill Tracy

3. Move by Jennifer Hudson

4. Bad Day by Daniel Powter

5. You And Me Are Gone by Jamie Cullum

6. End of the Road by Boys II Men

7. One Last Cry by Brian McKnight

8. There You Go by Pink

9. Shake It Off by Mariah Carey

10. Love Is A Losing Game by Amy Winehouse

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week 2011: Sexy Men I Want To Get My Socks On

We all have those fantasies about famous people we would love to meet, date, marry, molest back stage at an award show, tie up to your bed and. . . well, you get what I mean.

I also have the above mentioned fantasies as well as a sort of quirky one. Since I am happily married and know that I have about a snowball chance in hell of meeting, let alone dating anyone famous, I instead like to fantasize about knitting socks for my favorite hotties. So, here is a list of my top six sexy men I would love to get my hands. . .wait, I mean, socks on.

6. Johnny Depp

Admit it ladies. When you are knitting something for your man, don’t you secretly wish you were knitting it for Johnny Depp? I know I do!

5. Robert Pattinson

Because ten million screaming teenage girls can’t be wrong.  I loved him back before he became a vampire with emotional issues.

4. Josh Groban

Yes, he has the voice of an angel. And I would be more than happy to knit the devil out of some socks for him.

3. Jamie Cullum

Well, you know what they say about short british guys with big feet, right? (I meant that they can sing really well. Get your mind out the gutter, you hussy!) However, he does wear his pants really loose and his wife always has a smile on her face, so hummm. . . .

2. John Mayer

Yes, John Mayer, the bad boy himself. There are some naughty lessons I could teach him with my knitting needles. A night with me and I’ll have him cashmere-whipped!

1. Jackson Rathbone

Jackson Rathbone is give-me-a-straw-’cause-i-just-want-to-suck-him-up damn sexy! Does there  need to be any other reason to knit him some socks?

Shameless Knitting Plug

Months ago  I started a group on Ravelry for those of us who love Jamie Cullum. Since the start of this group there has only been three other people who have joined. I know we can’t be the only knitters in the world that are addicted to Jamie.

So, I’m asking all you knitters out there with a fetish for Jamie to join my group. Share your favorite photos of Jamie. Talk about the songs that you love and even any knitting/crochet designs inspired by his music. Come on, I know you’re out there. I can hear you breathing!

The group can be found at http://www.ravelry.com/groups/jamie-cullum-love

Jamie Cullum Knits

I have never been shy about my fetish for young british guys. Daniel Radcliff, Robert Pattinson. And my all-time favorite, Jamie Cullum.

How serious is my addiction? I made a group on Ravelry.com dedicated to Jamie love. So, it should come as no surprise that Jamie is my prefered music to listen to when I knit.

The Twentysomething album is great for knitting heirloom garments like baby blankets. The Pursuit is my choice when knitting socks or arm warmers. I have this yarn fantasy of creating some cool knitted garments based on songs by Jamie Cullum andpublishing these garments in a book titled “Jamie Cullum Jazzy Knits”. (You know, some people dream about floating in air, others dream about having sex with Donald Trump. I dream about knitting books, so leave me alone!)

Right now, I’m collecting pictures of Jamie in knits to have record of proof  for my obsession. So, if any of you happen to spot Jamie Cullum in anything that looks handknitted, please send the pic or link my way.