Teaching Your Brain to Knit

We knit hats and a dish towel and Start a Potholder exchange, we explore part of the mind-body phenomena: the relationship between Depression and Pain; and we celebrate local businesses who step up to protect our community

We discover the Brain Science behind cuteness and cute aggression; we share the cute knitting and crochet we've been working on and then report on a favorite redwood attraction in the area: the Lady Bird Johnson Grove

Catherine Reports on how Chocolate is good for our brains and bodies, then we share our visit to our local Chocolate factory: Dick Taylors. We talk about the match between yarn, needles and pattern, and the many options for knitting gnomes and trees.

We outline the many ways the Vagus Nerve connects the brain with the body and the many ways you can stimulate it that will improve your health.  Margaret shares the small  but satisfying projects she worked on, Catherine talks about crocheting scrubbies and her excitement about new yarn , and she reports how the city of Eureka used its Utility Boxes as canvases for outdoor art. 

In this episode, we touch on English Paper Quilting, we follow up on Jewish Hearts for Pittsburgh, and look at another Laura Nelkin kit — a felted hot pad called Another Contexta. We talk about binaural beats. And then we report on the famous, magical Fern Canyon in Behind the Redwood Curtain.

A bit delayed because of power outages and other events today's episode will explore how the brain changes in animal and human interactions; we’ll talk about a cute little beaded wristlet; report on the Annual Washcloth Swap, and discuss a Northcoast landmark — the Samoa Cookhouse, where you can eat like a logger.

Catherine proclaims baby socks as the perfect travel knitting; Margaret works on Nugget Peds and offers sock tips; Catherine gets into the weeds about Analysis Paralysis and offer ideas to conquer it; Margaret shares resources for visiting Humboldt.

We discuss summer socks, beaded i-cord, a color app from Home Depot, the dishcloth exchange and a pink striped yarn for a dog that may look fierce but who is gentle. We share the latest on the Placebo Effect and report on a new area event, The Arcata Fairy Festival. Plus we have another fun give away.

Ep. 105 Blankets, Buffalo Log Cabin Mitts, Diet and Depression, Reintroduction of the Condor

In this interview about both quilting and knitting, Anna Zilboorg, master knitting teacher, shares a bit of her own history, she touches on meditative knitting, she celebrates our hands, she talks about learning through the mind and learning with the hands and she worries about knitting becoming rote and- rule bound rather than people growing into being being craftspeople.

We share what we’re learning from our knitting: crocheting a shawl, knitting small items and starting a new welcome blanket. Margaret reports new studies that show that human brains respond to changes in the magnetic field but people don’t consciously perceive them. What does that mean? We don’t know. And Catherine talks about a remote monastery and retreat in Southern Humboldt.

What makes a master teacher?   Franklin Habit, who is a designer, teacher, writer and illustrator, shares his story of learning and teaching fiber arts.  From knowing five ways to teach a class to managing different types of learners, Franklin offers information and hints.  He has years of experience and is a Fiber teacher in demand all over the world.   

We report on the dynamic among science, creativity and intuition in the film Innsaei; We finish up then plan new knitting projects; We comment on the documentary Murder Mountain; We give a podcast update and offer three giveaways.

We investigate if brain games actually improve your brain function; we finish knitting mitts and a dog sweater and start a new block for a charity blanket; and we extoll the virtues of Humboldt Grassfed beef. We'll be slowing down our podcast publications but we're not going away.

We present research about Housing and Happiness; Catherine tackles a dog sweater; Margaret’s Sheep Gets a Beaded Sweater; and Why for the Klamath Tribe, Salmon is Everything