Today is my third blogiversary. Does that sound like a self-important child announcing her birthday to an indifferent world? Thank you so much for playing along with me, and for helping make this blog and fiber thing so much fun. 
This is a motif from a fourteenth century Persian tile. It possesses a cross-cultural feng shui. I see calmness, centeredness in its symmetry. The interlocking forms are stylized infinity symbols. A star is created within. The points direct the gaze outwards while the roundnesses bring one inwards.
It is from the Grammar of Ornament, by Owen Jones (1856).
To me, it looks like a spinning wheel. We are not simply picking up and dabbling in an arcane craft that has been superseded by the machines of the Industrial Revolution. We link traditions and skills from our human past to a large and uncertain future. Sheep genetics are preserved, social networks materialize, conscience is honed by the community of people who knit, and who contribute money for others.
The new year brings new intentions. I am adopting Mamacate's synonym for resolutions. In my hands, resolutions are broken, then remain unfixed for 364 days. I'm hoping there will be less of this:
and more of this (a January celebration from a prior year).
Oh yes...it IS a spinning wheel. We all need more celebrating this year! Huzzah for you and your blogiversary!
Posted by: margene | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 07:12 PM
Happy Blogiversary! I'm so glad you're here. And cheers to your intentions for 2008.
Posted by: Rachel H | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 07:42 PM
Congrats! What does it say that I have no idea when mine is, or for how many years?
Posted by: Marcia Cooke | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 07:51 PM
Happy Blogoversary!
Posted by: jillian | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 08:10 PM
Hear! Hear!
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Teresa C | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 08:21 PM
I love that last picture. You can be my fairy reindeer godmother anytime.
Intentions. Hmmm. Well, at least I will have good company on the road to Hell.
Posted by: Paula | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 08:25 PM
Happy Blogiversary!!!
Posted by: The Feminist Mafia | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 08:50 PM
Three years has just flown by.
Posted by: claudia | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 09:02 PM
I love that logoff warning. Too funny! Happy blogiversary! Did you really start on a New Year's Day? I guess you did.
Posted by: Norma | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 09:11 PM
Happy blogiversary!!
Which reminds me, mine is coming up in a couple weeks, too. Three years for me, too, although your blog is much more popular than mine! (grin) (Not that I begrudge that in the least.)
Posted by: --Deb | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 09:23 PM
Agreed as to intentionality (mine, that is.) Happy Blogiversary and Happy New Year to you and Mr. E. xoxox
Posted by: Kathy | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 09:54 PM
Happy 3rd! This is most definitely NOT an indifferent world you are talking to. Lots of celebrating to you!
Posted by: kmkat | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Happy Blogiversary! Thank you for sharing the beautiful motif and the hilarious log-off message. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Angie | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Happy blogiversary! And New Year! Love that motif. I instantly started thinking how I could adapt that for a felt design.
Posted by: Chris | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Happy new blog year. Do I sense a "motif,part 2" ahead? It looks like a shortbread biscuit to me but I suspect that has something to do with this time of year.
Posted by: Caroline M | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 02:41 AM
Happy New Year! I know what you mean about spending too much time online. I seem to be permanently attached to a computer. Perhaps it is time to turn it off occasionally..... :-)
Posted by: Janine | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 03:16 AM
Time has certainly flown by!
Love that motif - thanks for sharing.
and you know what? I do "intentions" every year.... one of mine this year is to laugh every single day :-)
May the year ahead be joyous for you.
Posted by: Teyani | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 05:39 AM
Happy Blog-versary! And you know, being online is important because if we weren't online we would never have met. That said, I'm all for more real life get togethers.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Carole | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 07:22 AM
Happy Blogiversary!
Posted by: Julie | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Happy 3 years dear friend! We should indeed get together soon.
Posted by: Cheryl | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Happy blogiversary! I so enjoy reading your posts!
Posted by: regina | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Happy New Year/Blogiversary! Thanks for stopping in on my blog and leaving great comments. I truly enjoy reading yours and watching your projects take shape. The way your mind works is also a big draw. Thank you for being here.
Posted by: Bev | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Happy Belated Blogiversary! Looking forward to your Motif, Part II.
Posted by: Manise | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Happy (yesterday) Blogiversary to you!
Now I need to log off and get a life!
Posted by: Pat | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 12:47 PM
A belated happy blogiversary to you! I've returned to blogland and must now consider how to make that motif a cable pattern.
Posted by: Lucia | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 04:24 PM
We care! Happy Blogiversary!!!
Posted by: Jan | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 04:40 PM
Happy New Year to you and the Mr.!
Posted by: Lorette | Wednesday, January 02, 2008 at 05:08 PM
I'm so glad we met in 07. Hope to see more of you in 08. I am grinning as I read this -- of course I see symmetry in the Persian tile, and it doesn't surprise me that you would too. And of course Lucia thinks she should make it into a cable. Would there be any other reactions than those? (And, by the way, you look quite festive in those sparkling antlers!)
Posted by: Danielle | Thursday, January 03, 2008 at 12:16 AM
Happy Blogiversary and New Year! I am so glad you joined the community - and entertain so well.
Posted by: Cathy | Thursday, January 03, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I've just been deleted some of my feeds and kind of assessing how much time I want to give this this year - I love the community and I love the people and I am so grateful, but I maybe need some balance too. A sense of perspective, to give more of my self to other things.
And yes, it'll be a gorgeous spinning wheel. Happy New Year.
Posted by: Juno | Thursday, January 03, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Happy Blogiversary! I'm always glad to read a new post from you.
Posted by: DebbieB | Thursday, January 03, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Happy Blogiversary, E! And Happy New Year to you two, too.
A spinning wheel! What an interesting notion. Perhaps someone should put that design on one. :D
Did someone say party?
Posted by: Marcy | Thursday, January 03, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Happy Blog-o-versary, and here's to many more years, I hope - I enjoy your writings a great deal, as they are thoughtful, funny, insightful, inspiring, and a whole bunch of other good stuff (me, I'm not so articulate today).
And I'm with Marcy - party? Did someone say party?
Before I forget, Noro sock yarn - I'm starting to weave a scarf with this as weft. I'll let you know how it turns out (and if I forget, I'll probably post photos on my blog now and then). I'm still aiming to enable tou into weaving.
Posted by: Lynn | Thursday, January 03, 2008 at 08:17 PM
Yay! Happy Blogiversary, and Happy New Year!!
Posted by: Julia | Friday, January 04, 2008 at 10:15 AM
It looks exactly like a Golding spindle. Uncanny, that.
I'm so glad I get to see you in my Bloglines so frequently. I learn something from you every time I come here, whether it's about Persian design or how many yards of sock yarn go into a gusset. Have another fabulous year, ok? :-)
Posted by: Beth S. | Friday, January 04, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Happy belated blogiversary to you, my friend!
Posted by: Ruth | Friday, January 04, 2008 at 11:26 PM
HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY my friend!! I think I know where that symbol is going :-)! Whoo hoo!
Posted by: Kim | Saturday, January 05, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Happy blogaversary!
Posted by: Andrea (noricum) | Sunday, January 06, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Happy anniversary dear. I love that you're here.
Posted by: Stephanie | Sunday, January 06, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Happy New Year - and Happy Blogiversary! 'tis been a pleasure and an honor. :o))
Posted by: JessaLu | Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Bonne année et bon anniversaire, ma belle Laurie. I'm very glad you're in the world.
Also, I thought that was a cable. The kind that make my eyes cross when I try to figure out how the genius who charted the stitches knew what to do to replicate it, but a cable nonetheless. Go figure :-)
Posted by: Lee Ann | Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 08:50 PM
happy blogiversary!
that motif would make a gorgeous golding spindle :-)
Posted by: vanessa | Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 08:46 PM
That motif is gorgeous. I wonder if it could be translated into cables and lace...
Anyway, Happy Blogiversary!
Posted by: Dorothy | Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Happy Blogiversary!
Posted by: cyndy | Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Happy blogiversary!
Posted by: Romi | Friday, January 18, 2008 at 12:14 AM