For the last little while, I’ve been saving my pennies to go on a trip. Not traveling has been really tough for me (as mentioned repeatedly in my previous posts). This week, the waiting is OVER!!!! I’m going to Portugal and Boston with my friend/co-worker Angie.
The planning and execution came about very quickly – I’m a bit impulsive that way. In about 12 hours, we picked a destination, researched a bit, booked our time off and booked our trip. We leave in less than a month.
I feel like leaping off a cliff! I won’t. But planning travel always makes me feel like I can fly. Strange, I know. What can I say. I’m addicted.
I got to see these two this weekend:
Makes my heart sing. (My son and my sister.)
The new workshop is a go.
The blanket is finished.
Gauge checked and ready to rock on the sweater.
I’m going to finish this post and cast on before my night shift. Woot!
MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR and all that good stuff.
I had my first workshop ever last Tuesday. It took some time to get ready for – patterns printed, videos recorded and edited, projector tested, etc. I was nervous. “What if I really suck at teaching?” I asked myself from the moment I decided to do workshops. But I took a chance.
I didn’t suck. And the workshop couldn’t have gone better. The six ladies I had were amazing. They all caught on quickly, were patient and I’m pretty sure they had fun. Yesssss!
Introducing my first batch of students, ever.
Before:
After:
Look at the smiles! And look how much they got done. So impressed.
The crochet workshop on December 2nd is actually overbooked. I’m not too sure how that happened but I’ll figure it out. That’s 13 people! I hope I can manage it.
What else have I been up to? Let’s see…
I made a couple of these Ash Mittens by Rowan. Love them. Modified them big-time from the original pattern though. Knit with magic loop instead of on two needles with a seam (yuck). Modified the thumb and number of rows. I guess I pretty much did my own thing. I also have a completely new thumb method I’m itching to try out.
I made this giant mess in my living room trying to match up the colors of two balls of Charisma to make this scarf, which I’m not thrilled with. It’s not horrendous but I’m not in love with it. I got enough yarn at Michael’s to make four of these. I’m not sure what to do with the rest.
I’ve been trying out some new Paleo recipes as we’re pretty sure I’m celiac. I’m trying to get used to eating this way all the time and well, I’m kind of hungry all the time. I’m sure things will work themselves out. There are a tonne of great sites and blogs out there to help me find good “clean” food.
I also got some fun pictues from Mel showing off the Catnis Cowl I made for her last year. Thanks Mel! I love it when people are proud to wear my stuff.
I have a few more orders to finish before the holidays, which means I’m getting closer to being able to start my Icelandic sweater. Can’t wait!
Today, I’m excited because I’m actually getting requests for more workshops. Love it.
Well, that’s it for me for today. I’m off this weekend and joining the family at a big farmhouse on the water near Picton, Ontario for our 2015 Annual Christmas Family Vacation. I even scoped out the yarn shop in the area for my mom and my traditional yarn shop excursion. Yahoooo!
I’m not really sure what’s been going on the last few months but I’m feeling so creative. I just want to make shit!
A few weeks ago, I was pretty sick and really not sleeping well. What did I do when I couldn’t sleep? I got out of bed at 4:30 am and made chapsticks. Crazy ha?
I have ideas and urges to make things all the time. It’s awesome and awful at the same time.
My mom used to get on me about not writing down what I was doing when I knit or crocheted something new without a pattern. Maybe all that nagging (joke Mom – I love you) finally paid off because I keep detailed notes now when I create something from my brain.
Here are a few of the patterns I’m working on right now:
I called this one “Thimble” because it reminds me of when I was little and would watch my grandma use one to hand quilt.
This one I called “Rory” because the inspiration came from a hat Rory Gilmore wore in one of the last episodes of Gilmore Girls. (It’s probably my favorite one so far.)
This one I’ve called “Mackenzie” because that’s Mac down there in the picture. (Isn’t she adorable?) Her mom sent me this great shot so…Ta da. Since then, I’ve gotten so many orders for it that I’ve decided to just write out the pattern and send it out into the universe for other people.
I’ve also been making a few of my Nella, which is already published (see my last post for the link). I just love making this piece. It works up really quickly and the yarn is so soft.
Try not to hurt yourself laughing at my face in this pic. But… the piece is worth showing and putting up with a bit of ridicule.
I am COMPLETELY obsessed with the new Purl Soho Cashmere Ombré Wrap!
Click on photo for the link. Try and resist. 😉
How freaking amazing is this piece!!!??? The colors just blew me away when I first got their newsletter. So bummed I can’t afford it.
I’m also obsessing over Brioche Stitch. I’ve never done it. But for most of my night shift last night, I imagined what it would be like to work on a really scrumptious teal cashmere brioche scarf.
I’m at the start of what should be a really great weekend! Can’t wait for friends, gym, yoga, crafting, food, workshop. Yessssss!
I know that sounds pretty funny but, seriously. I heard one of his quotes today: “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.” If you think about that for a second or two, it’s his pretty way of saying that we all hold the key to our respective destinies. Kind of huge right? It blows my mind a little bit. What does that mean exactly?
The last year and a bit, for me, my destiny has been to travel. I’ve been to so many places: Chicago, California, NYC, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Jordan, PEI, and lastly, Peru. Some big trips and some small trips. Loved every one of them for their own special reasons.
Machu Picchu ,Peru
BUT, I also got lost somewhere. The reasons for this is not important. What is important is that I see it and know I need to do something about it.
I realized that I now need to learn to stand still. It came to me when the thought of not having plans to travel for the week I have off in the beginning of December terrified me. A whole week off, wasted. Can you imagine? I couldn’t. Until someone pointed out that my fear was not rational – a little nudge towards a wake-up call. So, here goes: a week off with no plans to travel. What to do instead?
I started knitting again in a big way when the Christmas orders started coming in. And at some point, I fell in love with my creativity again. There’s something exciting about thinking of something in your head and being able to make it happen with your hands and some yarn. It makes me feel like a genius! Being creative makes my heart smile.
This headband is a modification of a picture someone sent me. And probably a future published pattern of mine.One of my next patterns.Christmas orders.Baby gift made with my scrumptious hand spun.An idea in my head that I made into a cup cosy.Pattern I wrote for this hat I love.
Yoga. I need to get back to yoga. I feel more connected to my body and my soul when I keep up a regular practice. I rolled out my mat this morning for the first time in months. Boy am I tight all over!! Amazing how little time it takes to undo how far I had come and how strong and supple my body had become. This morning, I felt like a brittle, and tight old lady. Hahahah. It’s a start though.
I’m also thinking of giving knitting lessons or workshops in the new year. I’ve never really taught before and I fear I will lack patience. When something is so natural to me, I find it difficult to comprehend that it is not easy for everyone. I don’t want to scare people away from knitting or crochet because I suck at teaching it.
I also want to start publishing more patterns (see above). I’m always making things without patterns but very rarely write anything down. I’m going to start. A few extra $ will help me when I start traveling again.
Tomorrow is December. That means Christmas is coming. I’ve hated Christmas since I started having to share my son for the holidays (1999). It’s just not the same when you can’t wake up with your child on Christmas morning. In 2011, a friend of mine gave me a beautiful (and hilarious) memory for Christmas. This year, I really want to make it feel like Christmas again. I put up a tree for the first time in eight years. I also plan to put thoughtful gifts for the people I love under that tree. I’m very excited. I am also scared it won’t be what it am hoping it will be.
THE Christmas tree of 2014!“J” for Jacob.This little thing is 38 years old.
Shakespeare had another really good one: “Expectation is the root of all heartache.” I will try to remember this as I navigate the holidays.
In case I don’t write again until the new year (which is very likely if I’m being realistic), Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone.
