What A Kick!

It is sad to say...I think it is sad...but I get a kick out of seeing my name in print! Is that lame?! Probably, but true none the less. I probably have some on going need to have my ego fed in some way by this. So what is the latest you ask? The Stitches Midwest brochure just arrived. Since I am teaching, my name is in there. I think it is cool!

I have just a little time off during the event, so I think I may take a class with one of my favorite teacher's Beth Brown Reinsel. But I will wait and probably decide closer to the event. I feel like I should let the other students have first shot! But Beth is a great teacher -- I wonder if she likes seeing her name in print?!

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A Weekend Alone

This weekend it was just me and the dogs. Kind of different for me. Not that I mind being alone -- I actually got very good at it after the divorce from the idiot and before the marriage to the most wonderful man ever (7 years worth of being alone). I discovered that the ability to be alone and be happy (at the same time) took a bit of practice, but was a critical skill in becoming content with oneself. I got so good at it -- I never planned to get married ever again -- but that is another whole story. Back to the weekend. Arlis is rarely gone for an entire weekend, one day or all week, but not the whole weekend. So this weekend was a bit different.

I ran on my own schedule without worry of waking Arlis up or worse yet HAVING to wake Arlis up. I worked in the yard at my own pace, not worrying about the what should be the next assignment or if we were getting enough done. And then I worked on my knitting -- lots of different knitting -- something I haven't done in a very long time! One piece got near completion and then ripped out to the point I had started (see the Designing on the Needles post below -- same project)! But in the end, it didn't matter -- I now know one solution which isn't quite right! Having been inspired by Annie, I started gathering my thoughts on a book. Although I believe her to be a far superior writer and significantly more proficient designer -- I have taken the attitude that if she can do it, so can I!! That might be a mistake, but it wouldn't be the first time. I also reworked and started the child's slip stitch design to a size that might actually FIT a child (probably about 2 yrs old). Over all, I would have to say that a weekend alone is probably a good thing every once in while!

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Invitations Have Been Sent

So I have e-mailed invitations out for folks to join the new web ring. I realize that I am obsessing a bit over this, but it is my first time -- I want it to be successful. So now I need to get going -- prepare some rice, take a shower and head out the door to a dinner party!!

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Ready, Set, Launch

I have now designed a button/logo for my new web ring. This may not be that exciting for most -- but this is a new deal for me! I love learning something new!! TA-DA!!!



So now I am officially ready to start recruiting potential members to my web ring. There are only a couple folks I know personally and a couple I am familiar with via their blogs, but I will see what will come of it -- maybe nothing -- but it is a good experience in developing new skills! Wish me luck!

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Web Rings

Today has been Web Ring Day!!! I finally decided to join a couple of web rings and no sooner did I try than they were closed. So what is a woman to do -- start her own web ring. Hopefully I will get it really working in the next day or two. I decided that there are probably quite a few knit bloggers out there that are trying to make a business of their passion and that others might be interested -- so Knit Biz Bloggers was born. Here's to a happy, healthy, active new web ring!!!

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Desigining On The Needles

I NEVER (okay -- rarely ever) design on the needles. It goes against my grain in so many ways. I am a PLANNER always have been a planner, planning is good. Predicting an outcome and then verifying the prediction seems so much more efficient as the "writing" work is already done! Also, although I will always rip out if required, I STRONGLY work to avoid that process whenever possible. All of this adds up to rarely designing on the needles. If I do feel the need to design with needles in hand, I usually work on a minature version of the idea -- no need to get too far ahead of myself.

So this past Friday Bev and I met to review quarterly finances and plan the Fall line. We each had several ideas to present and when all was done had worked up a concept together for a poncho done out of extra bulky yarn. So what do I do, cast on and start knitting!! How hard can a poncho be, right?!? Well, now I have a problem -- the edges are turning out straight instead of pointy!! So now I need to go back to paper, determine how much, if any, needs to be ripped out and actually create a design before knitting the thing. So much for designing on the needles!!

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Jumping off the Bridge

So in honor of the all time favorite parent saying...since my fellow bloggers are doing it, so will I!!

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the sentence in your journal with these instructions.

"Also look to hardware, electronic, dressmaker, and art-supply stores for unusual knitting materials."

--Dborah Newton, Designing Knitwear

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The Transformation

I am so excited! TWO, yes count'em TWO, great things happened today. Most importantly I FINALLY got my office picked up, organized and cleaned. Okay, so I haven't vacuumed yet, but my husband usually does that -- yes it is true! I feel so much more organized and I think it has freed my mind. Because the second thing that happen is the brown swatch below has become a project!! This is the first part of it:



I just love these colors and I think I am going to be very happy with the construction once it is complete. It is going so fast, it will probably be the next picture. Actually, Bev is coming Friday morning for a business meeting and I really want to have it close to complete for evaluation!!

Spring is all about new beginnings -- transformation -- hope -- all of which I have for the first time in several weeks. It is amazing what a good spring cleaning and a little creativity can do!

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Swatches!!!

I have actually been doing some knitting amongst all the other knitting business related things that go on here. Since you probably wouldn't believe me -- I wouldn't -- I took pictures as proof! The slip stitch patterns are not QUITE right yet, but I have plans for this one!


This one has been percolating for a long time. In fact, I have already swatched it once out of a slightly different yarn. But I had to do it over to make sure gauge, fabric, sizing would all work before I started working up actual sizing numbers. This is not going to be your typical Aran sweater -- in fact it was inspired by Star Trek -- The Next Generation.


Last but not least, this one was whipped up today. It is based on an idea I had quite some time ago, but finally got around to trying. The final product will look more like a ski sweater than the swatch, but it is all done with slip stitches, so it is easier than it looks at first glance.


Now maybe I can actually get started on knitting some of these creations!!!

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So Inadequate

Compared to my favorite bloggers, I feel so inadequate -- I think that is why my blogging has slowed. I know I shouldn't compare, but some of them are SO GREAT. I love their writing style, the way they tell their tales, the appopriate picture to add just the right amount of punch. So today I am not going to write much, but instead think about what needs to happen here to make this more interesting. I am thinking that more knitting on my part would help!!! So I think I will go knit -- I am adequate at knitting!!

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I've Missed So Much

It is amazing that a few days missed of reading blogs and you can be so far behind. I have gotten so involved in the lives of these people only one of whom I actually know -- is that weird?? But we all share the love of knitting and the issues of trying to manage our lives around it to some degree. My guess is that no one ever notices if I have missed a few days, because I don't really have any sort of following. It is kind of a strange desire, but I would like to be read by some number of people.

Reality, however, says that it is best if I do this for myself. Just like everything else in life, the proper motivation will do wonders for the end result. So for me, I blog to keep track, to remind me of my successes and to help me to move forward. Now, if I could just get more proficient at adding pictures so this would be more interesting! I guess that will have to wait for another day!

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