I knitted a semi-tonal red Meddybemps (pattern designed by Kate Lemmers) for a friend’s birthday. Photo use courtesy of Kate Lemmers Designs
I have been busy as of late, which seems to be my norm. But I have the age-old adage “Being busy means work. And work means money.” That motto has been (and still is) effective in my life. Why spend money needlessly when you could be making more during your free time? In my instance, my busyness alludes to taking care of my daughter and work. This first post of 2014 would not be complete without some goals to reach. For work-related items, besides the work I do for Westminster Fibers, I have some fairly large “behind the scenes” projects. One of them requires fourteen (yes, you read correctly — 14) handknitted pairs of socks. The other projects are secret, but I hope to release their information soon. The closest I come to combining work and pleasure knitting is when I have the opportunity to knit up Kate Lemmers‘ innovative designs, and use the various patterns and/or yarns from WFI. Pretty much anything and everything designed by Tanja Steinbach, Renate Foos, Sarah Hatton, Lisa Richardson, Martin Storey, Jem Weston, and Marie Wallin jump to my MUST.MAKE.NOW attention.
Though I do my best to find time to knit or crochet for pleasure, pretty much everything that I make has had a targeted purpose. For my first example, currently I am down to the final 10 “Thank you” washcloths of SlytherBun’s long distance and/or yarn-crafted shower gifts. Knitting up these tokens of thanks has been a journey of sorts, and for 2014 I am applying “Duty” and “Achieve” from “My 3 Words” as encouragement. If you could imagine the little engine that could climb up the mountain, that is exactly how I feel whenever I work on these washcloths. As of this time I have over 20 made, and I “savor” the potential excitement of what these friends will have upon opening their packages.
Steven Hodell’s Chemo Cap – I altered my 4-Pointed Halo pattern (created for Halos of Hope) into a 5-Pointed Star for this male breast cancer fighter.Besides the washcloths, I have been working on chemo caps for friends who have been undergoing cancer treatment, and other pals who celebrated personal events. I met most of these handknit-worthy friends while living in Rhode Island. Seeing how they muscle through their struggles of daily life constantly humbles and inspires me. They remind me not to covet shiny and new temporary things, but to appreciate the worth in my family, our time and resources, what we have as values, and working smartly to save pennies for our future. So I have been savoring making handknitted items for recipients who understand how much the materials and my time actually cost. We are grateful that these folks keep in touch and have not disappeared from the radar.
Leslie Wind’s duo-metal tapestry needle. Her “tewelry” feels wonderful in your hands.Often at times, reaching out to keep communication lines alive is wanted and needed, even when others think you “need space” in life. I have an enormous shout out to both Jennifer of Holiday Yarns and Leslie Wind. Jennifer had given me a skein of Cafe Au Lait, and Christine Manhart (who is an amazing geologist turned massage therapist) won it! Leslie Wind had gifted me one of her beautiful dual-metal tapestry needles that she made after she learned I had recently lost the one she had given me in 2009. I absolutely LOVE both of these ladies. If you ever meet them in person, I think you would feel the same way too. <3
My apologies for this long post, but I have been bursting to leak some of what work has occupied me. On another note, a personal project which has also been engrossing me will come to fruition next week when Rowan kicks off its Spring/Summer 2014 season. It involves throwing a party for select friends to "taste" something delicious on their needles... Meanwhile, be on the lookout for random giveaways that I blurt out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You might just win a nice present for answering a trivia question. Not into trivia? How about listing your 2014 goals by January 3oth for my February 1st post? I will be letting the lucky winner choose between a package of Martin Storey or Bruce Weinstein goodies! =:8
Spread the loveMaybe my actions are delayed reactions to a falling out with an online friend that was my fitness muse on Monday, but I have been shopping and eating since Wednesday. I had bought another skein each of Wollmeise and Yarntini, and 18 skeins of my Ravelympics sweater for my best friend Eric. Malabrigo…
Spread the loveIf you felt the earth moving Sunday, it was probably because I was performing the “Happy FO Dance” after binding off the last stitch for Lorain’s Diamond Fantasy Scarf. I did stop after the 6th repeat only because the depth (from mid-shoulders to the center bottom) of this unblocked scarf measured close to…
Spread the loveI had the most the most incredulous reaction over my love for motorcycles and the wearing of ballcaps after chatting with an online bud. He had no idea what other topics I liked to discuss besides baseball and football. His response had me thinking on what 101 Things about myself I would share…
Spread the love Before talking about THE DAY KNITTERS OVERTOOK NYC, I drop down on my knees and ask forgiveness for not posting any adorable adoptable bunny photos yet. I searched my bags and realized I left the card reader and the camera at home. Sorry! I do have one photo of Caesar begging for…
Spread the loveLast night was Fabric Place’s Knit Club, and I received a request to write down my dressier shawl pattern which I had started crocheting in a gorgeous deep purple cotton. I was about to write the pattern out when I realized this task would motivate me to post it online for anyone to…
Spread the love It has been a very crazy 24 hours. After work on Friday, I picked up a printer cartridge for Rich then helped wrap presents at Barnes & Noble to help raise money for Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue until 11PM-ET. Afterwards, I went to the grocery store and picked up the ingredients for…
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Goals….knit or crochet everyday…fiber related things got put on the back burner in 2013…learn to make biscuits!!
Goals for 2014, ummmmmm……. knit as often as possible, finish my koigu jacket, knit an afghan for my son, travel with my husband and try to continue losing weight. Hadn’t actually written these down before this, so I guess this makes them “real.” Now I just have to really accomplish them. 😉
2014 goals–make baby blankets for friends who are expecting, even ones who are expecting thru adoption of older kids. (Everyone deserves a special blankie) Make sure both my kids pass their current grade & get their medications right. (2 special needs kids)
My knitting goal for 2014 is to do more knitting for pay: my Etsy shop, test knitting for pay, etc.
2014 goals: Clean out the craft room of stashed yarns that I will never use; take a cruise for my 40th birthday in November; finally create a “knitting portfolio” from the saved Knit Picks catalogs of my work; reknit several sweaters that are now too big for me due to weight loss.
Goals….knit or crochet everyday…fiber related things got put on the back burner in 2013…learn to make biscuits!!
Goals for 2014, ummmmmm……. knit as often as possible, finish my koigu jacket, knit an afghan for my son, travel with my husband and try to continue losing weight. Hadn’t actually written these down before this, so I guess this makes them “real.” Now I just have to really accomplish them. 😉
2014 goals–make baby blankets for friends who are expecting, even ones who are expecting thru adoption of older kids. (Everyone deserves a special blankie) Make sure both my kids pass their current grade & get their medications right. (2 special needs kids)
My knitting goal for 2014 is to do more knitting for pay: my Etsy shop, test knitting for pay, etc.
2014 goals: Clean out the craft room of stashed yarns that I will never use; take a cruise for my 40th birthday in November; finally create a “knitting portfolio” from the saved Knit Picks catalogs of my work; reknit several sweaters that are now too big for me due to weight loss.