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 loveI have 3 pairs of mittens finished! I still need to get a couple of pairs done, though. Here are my little conquests so far. Blue Man Mitts MIL Mitts Mini Mitts Now on to pump out more Fuzzy Feet, helmet liners, Modular Knits scarves, and a Vinter Lue hat or 2… Plus…
Spread the loveThis past holiday weekend was full of a different sort of F-bomb, the kinds that are enjoyed by many (I heard that there are, *GASP*, folks who dislike this wonderful game). Nothing is better than spending time with them, and proof of that consists of the happy memories in my head. Another “F”…
Spread the loveHere is yesterday’s Saturday Sky before the day began. On a previous post I stated that September is going to be a wild one for me. This week contained most of the craziness, and I will try to touch base on everything without gushing too much. Hopefully I will final catch up on…
Spread the loveFinally! An hour before work on Friday, I was able to bind off my Giant Clapotis’ last stitch to wear it over the red blouse (I did NOT care the colors clashed) that I chose for Wear Red Day in honor of those who have been affected by heart disease. A side note,…
Spread the love Just in case you wanted to join the volunteers, or were interested in seeing other fiber fiends like yourself up close and personal, Boston’s Knit-out and Crochet will be on October 2nd at the Commons Gazebo. The festivites begin at noon and end at 4PM. I went last year with my friend…
Spread the love Gratitude and appreciation are often overlooked and taken for granted. Gina Bonomo Dugas of the Mosaic Yarn Shop in Blacksburg, VA was determined to remind everyone how luckily blessed we are. She conceived an idea to host an event that benefited not one, nor two, but three local charities: libraries, the local…
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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.