Don't always listen to the candy wrapper... too much chocolate isn't good for you, and it makes your insides angry. I'm going to try to remember this time.
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Things I want to do as I grow up:

October 28th, 2008

• Eventually stop working a 9-5 job that I need to commute to (a 9-5 job at home might be okay? maybe. The commute is really killing me though. I hate the amount of fossil fuels I use each week, and the time it takes me to drive someplace each day. It all seems like such a waste.)

• Teach knitting and crocheting somehow, somewhere...

• Learn tons more about different types of yoga, become certified to teach and then teach yoga part time.

• Continue tech editing for books, magazines, yarn companies, etc… (from home)

• Do some freelance graphic design for yarn related businesses.

• Design more knit and crochet garments for publication and for sale on my website.

I think that I could make a comfortable living doing these things... but the idea of leaving a regular weekly check seems scary. Have any of you done that—left a weekly pay check to persue your dreams doing lots of little things that you really enjoy? Any advice on how to go about doing it? What I should have set-up before jumping into it? Would becoming part-time at my current job be a good stepping stone toward this?

I'm not sure if my boss or co-workers read this, but if they do, please know that this is a dream of mine... it's not like I'm planning on leaving tomorrow. Trust me. I'll talk with you guys about it before I do anything :)

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Missing Crochet.

October 27th, 2008

Today at the 9-5, I spent the majoity of the day working through a fabulous crochet pattern by one of my favorite, most inspired-by crochet desigers. I'm not finished yet, but I'm really enjoying the time I'm spending on it—really diving whole-heartedly into visualizing the sweater as I read through each row. I decided at one point to pick up a hook and yarn to swatch it. I was instantly reminded of how much love I have for my old, dear friend, Crochet! Needless to say, I really want to crochet up one of these sweaters now. It's added to the mental list... and once it's on Ravelry, it's going into the queue.

I realized today that I haven't done any crocheting in a while, and I kinda miss it. I seem to have this sort of relationship with crochet. I have a love for it stronger than I do for knitting. I feel like I shouldn't say that... like they're two children, and I shouldn't pick a favorite... but it's true. Crochet was my first love, and we've always had on and off periods of time together. I'll engross myself in nothing but crochet for a while, then put it down for a while. Imagine a wave with extreme highs and extreme lows... the knitting wave tends to waver less—more mediated—so it's around more often... I guess.

Anyway, about this crochet pattern. It's scheduled to be in next week's CEY web-letter, so if you love crochet as much as I do I highly recommend you take a second to sign up to get it sent to you for free... so you don't forget about it and what-not. Even if you don't make it, read the pattern and visualize... it'll feel like you've made it, and give you a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

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Kata Scarf

October 26th, 2008

This scarf is in Tara Jon Manning's Mindful Knitting book. When I received this book at the mindful knitting retreat I went to in March this was the first project that really stood out to me. There have been a few different times I've started this scarf, all with different types of yarn. But I guess those weren't the right yarns, or the right times for it to begin, as I always decided to design something myself rather than use someone elses pattern.

Lately I'm discovering that I'm enjoying the idea of just being a knitter, rather than a designer. This in now way means that I'm resigning as a designer, it's just how I'm feeling these past few weeks. It may have something to do with all that's going on and my mind not having the energy to put toward pattern writing and designing. I know it's just a phase, but I'm enjoying it none-the-less.

So, a coworker—I believe it was Betsy, but I'm not positive—brought in some yarn and put a "free" sign on it. I'm not generally a fan of mohair yarns, but the color combination and fineness of this particular mohair really stood out to me. So, the two balls that were there came home with me. I've noticed a trend, when I receive free yarn I tend to want to turn it into a gift for someone to repay the generosity. A "pay it forward" sort of thing. This concept reminded me of what the Kata scarf is all about... being thankful. It's created as a gift of greatfulness. I have the feeling that this is going to be gifted toward one of my yoga instructors; either Lorraine or Danielle. I'm very thankful to have both of them in my life. They've taught me a lot and deserve something in return. Hopefully this can be finished by the holidays.

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Ha!

October 24th, 2008


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Wheee!

> October 24th, 2008

Alright... things are flowing again (for now, anyway).

James and I have found a new apartment! It's a 1 bedroom, so we're downsizing slightly from the 2 bedroom we have now. But the bedrom and living room are both larger than the rooms we have now, so that shouldn't be a problem. What I absolutely LOVE about this apartment is that there is direct access to outside via a deck that is all ours to use. So, that means patio furniture and a BBQ in the springtime. There is also a yard, which the other tenants don't use aparently; a flower garden with perenials and space for a veggie garden. All that stuff I won't really get TOO excited about until spring, but for during the winter we now have a washer and dryer in our apartment. No more saving quarters and hiking down two flights of stairs. It's in our bathroom, which is right across the hall from our bedroom. I'm going to feel like a civilized human being... doing my laundry on a regular basis and what-not! There is also a dish washer!!! We've lived without one for about 4 years now, and while the dishes did get done, there has often been a large pile of them covering our counter.

As for the large tech editing project I've taken on, I feel like it's actually moving along at a somewhat decent pace now. There have been road blocks and detours constantly popping up with it. The rest of the sweaters should be at my doorstep when I get home today, so I'm planning on spending this weekend organizing and figuring out exactly what I have left to do, and when I can realistically complete it by... taking into consideration that I'll be moving too.

A few weeks ago my friend Kevin brought over 2 balls of Bernat Organic Cotton for me to play with. I knew immediately what I wanted to make with them:

• A hat for my mom. Ravel it
• Baby booties for our friends Kat and Eric who just had a baby girl. Ravel it.

That same morning I was working on swatching for my mom's hat with some mystery yarn on a cone that I got for free from work some time ago. So, the design was already in mind. When Kevin gave me this yarn I couldn't wait to get swatching. So, while he was chatting with James I wandered into the other room and grabed up a pair of 5's, cast on and swatched away. I think I still may use the mystery cone with the same stitch pattern. It looks REALLY good in that yarn too.

My mom is the ruffle and flower type. She has always really enjoyed showing me the crocheted (and sometimes knit) flowers she has created; and often her designs have ruffles. So, I figured this would be a fun little hat for her. The textured part of the hat is a really fun-to-knit brioche stitch. I've recently fallen in love with the brioche stitch thanks to Pam Allen's ravings about it. It's so fun to work and it makes a beautiful fabric. I'm pretty sure James likes it too. He has a ready-to-wear sweater that is covered in a very basic brioche stitch that he LOVES. And he said that this stitch pattern reminded him of it, even though it's pretty different. Maybe he'll get something in that mystery yarn someday.

When I was finished with mom's hat I was happy to see that I still had a significant amount of yarn leftover—enough maybe, to make the booties shown on the yarn's label. Just to be sure, I cast on for both booties at the same time, each with one end of the same ball. And being careful not to let the yarn get TOO twisted I knit them up in an afternoon. They're pretty cute, but there's a seam. And we all know how I feel about seams... Let's just say I would have done them a little differently if it were my design. I added a little ribbon to add to it's femininity.

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Peace of mind

October 10th, 2008

The last two weeks have been a big blur to me—with all that has been going on with my mom, her tests and my falling ill with the worst "cold" I've ever had. I'm finally beginning to find a little peace. We've received the results from all sorts of tests, and finally we can rest knowing what's going on. While I'm not thrilled with the results, at least progress can be made in rebuilding my mom's insides and we're not left wondering any more.

I'm also finally able to sleep through the majority of the night without waking up coughing up monsters! Yay for sleep!!!

I've been working as much as possible on knitting up the fourth project, and I even hired a knitter to work on the sleeves, but it's still not finished. I'm hoping they'll be understanding and allow an extension for this.

During the moments where my mind was too foggy to follow anything very complicated I knit up this little kerchief to match my favorite sweater of all time. Now I match!

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My Raw journey

Patterns for Sale

Tweed Beret

Violet, the Slouchy Head Friend

Lush Woven Scarf

Petal Socks

River of Life Socks

Crochet Motif Cardigan

Beatrice Ribbed Tie Coat