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 loveJune 1st, 2016 Note: This past entry was originally posted as “Words Fail Me” on the “On the Road to STITCHES” blog for the Knitting Universe. It is a continuation that describes one of my visits to my daughter’s godparents’ home. As before, when we turned the car onto the winding path leading…
Spread the loveFolks may consider my need for privacy a surprise, but I am a firm believer in it. One always needs a place where eyes will not judge what is said, done, and eaten. Security is the wall that privacy depends upon. When security is compromised, bad surprises may happen. For the past few…
Spread the loveRecently Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue had their annual Bunefit at VASA Park in Foster, RI. Unfortunately Rich and I had to miss it, but it was for a good reason. His cousin Chris was celebrating her 50th birthday, and of course I HAD to make her something in red that was not a…
Spread the loveSometimes there is nothing that can be said without any negativity on an experience, especially when money and time is involved. For the past week I have been trying to find the best words to describe my attending the “MyTime Women’s Show” last weekend and still have angst about it. For now I…
Spread the loveA couple of weeks ago, I was faced with a life-changing experience that altered my own life’s viewpoint. The experience was not mine in which to own, but it was close enough that I analyzed everything around me and gratefully considered myself lucky. That is when I realized my important “F” words: family,…
Spread the loveI know that I owe a LOT of tales for the happenings this week. It seems like yesterday I was asking Guido what he thought of us going on the Today Show with a banner about knitting. It seems like this morning he contacted me about WEBS sponsoring the banner. Now it seems…
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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.