Added another new tag: braid gallery.

Here's the Google Reader page
http://www.google.com/reader/shared/user/13399843360271014998/label/brai...

Here's the feed
http://www.google.com/reader/public/atom/user%2F13399843360271014998%2Fl...

I keep resolving to scan and review my entire knotty (and braid-y) book library, but I've only done one or two so far for the blog. I have gotten started with scanning the book covers though. Note for linkers, those titles will change and the location of those image files will likely change as well as they get processed. Amassing images for the blog and main website has rarely been the problem, it's the writeups and translations that are most time consuming. It's clear that this lot are going to need significant translation and interpretation work. Also, what's up with 5 of them having the same ISBN? I thought every book is supposed to have a unique ISBN or what's the point?

New tags to from my Google Reader link dumpingness:

How to braid
http://www.google.com/reader/shared/user/13399843360271014998/label/how%...
http://www.google.com/reader/public/atom/user%2F13399843360271014998%2Fl...

Mizuhiki
http://www.google.com/reader/shared/user/13399843360271014998/label/mizu...
http://www.google.com/reader/public/atom/user%2F13399843360271014998%2Fl...

where to learn
http://www.google.com/reader/shared/user/13399843360271014998/label/wher...
http://www.google.com/reader/public/atom/user%2F13399843360271014998%2Fl...

or track them all from the Link Dump aggregator found through the menu option to the left.

I was playing around with a variety of Google "products" and discovered a way to selectively share and annotate links for public viewing that doesn't expose you, my gentle Knotty Notion reader, to silly cat and dog pictures and such that I subject my friends to (or cause my friends to wade through endless knot and braid posts for my thoughts on the latest installment of mad scientist cartoons).

And so, in the menu to the left, you will now see "Link Dump" which takes information directly from my newsfeed reader (Google Reader) as I flag and tag. This will allow me to quickly process, then share and comment on items of knotty (and braid-y) interest in a much less labour intensive way than my traditional cut/paste/post method. Special gems/information rich finds will still be singled out for more detailed commentary and deliberate posts.

I want to catalogue my knotty book collection (and braids and any related crafts) and this seems like a good place to do it. Well, the main site is where it should probably end up, but here's a good place to work on it, I can add curating on the other side.

The Ashley Book of Knots
Author: Clifford W. Ashley
ISBN: 0-385-04025-3
Hardcover: 640 pages
Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (June 21, 1944)
Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 1.6 inches

I meant to start last year with this series of knots, but I lost them in the fall move. Being one of those people, I stewed and searched instead of just retying them until late 2009. Of course, when I had retied 1.5 letters I then found the originals. Like wearing a rain coat to ensure that it won't rain that day, I should have started retying sooner. 8)

In any case, we start with a 'K'. Clever people like you can probably guess why, but if not, all will be revealed shortly. The 'K' is tied with a series of square flower knots with a hexagonal flower knot in the middle. I initially thought I might need to tie a heptagonal or octagonal flower for the centre to get the branches of the letter at the correct angle, but a test with a hexagonal centre proved to be close enough to perfect for the job.

Let's start with the good news. The blogiversary tassels have been awarded to the 2 commenters. I was going to give one and keep one for myself, but as there were only the 2 commenters and I want to encourage y'all, I'll give them both away and just make myself one later at some point.

Should I try this again? D'ya want free stuff? 8)

Sooooo, remember what I said in the first post that this daily posting thing was doomed to failure? This is past 2 months (or so) is pretty much what I meant. But, since I am trying to give myself something of a personality adjustment, I will not yet admit complete defeat. There are still delusions of backfilling in the missing days and continuing onwards as well.

If you would like to help, I would completely adore that. Guest posts of a knotty or braiding nature are totally welcome. Words of encouragement would be, y'know, encouraging. Even constructive criticism would be gratefully accepted. I do my best to answer questions and take requests under advisement. 8) Email or comments all work.

Procrastination is a strange thing. I was doing pretty well with the daily thing for at least 2 months and then mid-March I stumbled big-time. Then the longer I wasn't posting, the less incentive there was to post. I came up with a few ideas to help me keep up, but never did them. I tied a number of knots including more Ashley knots and some seasonal ones not to mention finishing the give away tassels. While I haven't scanned the seasonal knots, I had long ago scanned the give away tassels. Why not post them? It's quick, no? As the offspring are fond of saying: "I dunno..."

Seen on this blog. As just about everyone says, it sounds like fun. It also sounds like a chain letter but on blogs, but at least it's opt-in versus opt-out. 8)

The first three people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It’ll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it’s going to be.
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it! Who’s in?

I fixed up yesterday's blogiversary post, but I don't know what that means to the RSS feeds, so I thought I would mention it here in this post.

After I posted yesterday's link dump a few more came in. Since I keep links in tabs until I post them (I really should find a better method because this one often makes me sad when my browser crashes) I thought I'd take this opportunity to clear them out.

A knot-heavy description of the events at annual Cub Scout Freeze-Out which took place on February 1, 2009 (presumably) near Austintown, OH.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/feb/01/scouts-warm-up-to-freeze-out/