Give Thanks 2011

It's that time of the year again. Mom slaves away in the kitchen to make a big meal, dad sits in front of the T.V. with a football game and the siblings fight in the next room. Well ok, maybe that's not how it is at my house, but it's very close and I know a lot of people spend their holiday this way. How do you spend yours?

Every year Thanksgiving seems to lose it's meaning a little more, it is slowly becoming a shopping day and less about what's really important. (I mean come on, Black Friday starting at MIDNIGHT?!?!). To those still celebrating the correct way, I am thankful for you. I am also thankful for:

*My family. They are my rock. We may fight, but we are still a family and I know that my family will always be there for me whenever I need them.

*My high school friends. We have this connection that I will forever cherish, and I don't think anything can ever break it. They will always be there to listen and give advice, no matter how far we are. Thank you Janae, Ashley, Sarah, Bea, Karlee, and all my amazing high school buddies.

*My college friends. I may act like I don't appreciate them sometimes, or I may take them for granted, but they're still my friends and they still care about me as I do about them. This past year has been great, despite the issues that have arisen, and I thank Kaela, Rachel, Alley, Lynnsay, David, Kenni, Griselda, and all my art buddies for the amazing memories I've made in college.

*My kitties. I miss Muffin and Sasha so much when I'm not home, and I there is nothing better than a purring cat on your bed in the morning.

*My awesome Penpal, Ivy. She's always so unbiased and helpful and willing to listen. Plus it's fun to bounce knitting and spinning ideas off of her. Even though we've never met, I consider her one of my best friends.

*My relatives, especially David and Linda, who are always willing to help me with things in Manhattan.

*Wildflower Yarn Shop (and knitting in general), for giving me a good excuse (Knit night!) to just escape school work and do something creative I love. If I hadn't discovered knitting, I don't know where I'd be today.

*Art. Without art I would be nothing, nor would I really know what I wanted to do the rest of my life.

*Disney Movies, just because they are awesome and they allow me to escape reality and step back to my childhood, even if just for a couple hours.

I know there is so much more I am thankful for, but these are the important ones. I seriously would not be who I am without the things listed above. I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving and that everyone can put aside their differences and petty needs to remember what being thankful truly is.

~Lisa

Well, That's a First!

I like puns :)

In case you are wondering, this post is all about the "firsts" I am acheiving this month in the world of knitting and spinning.

First on the list is a project I am making with some wool I got at K1 knitting boutique in Edinburgh, Scotland. It's going to be a set of fingerless gloves. Why a first? Well 1, I've never made fingerless gloves, and 2, I am improvising the pattern. I am taking the construction from a basic gloves pattern, using the math of another fingerless pattern to know when to cut off the fingers, and creating my own cable design to go on the outside of the hand. The cable shown in that pattern is not the design I am creating, but it is the chart I am basically working from. When they're done they should have an X across the front of them.

Second on the list is my first handspun with my new spindle. I am not sure of the weight (The owner of Wicked Stitch didn't tell me...) but it's heavier, which means thicker plys. It's also being spun with my FIRST (Sensing a pattern here?) Wilton Food Dye dyed roving, and I really love how it turned out! It's various shades of blues, greens and yellow and it looks so pretty! And the thicker plys make it softer too.

And that leads us to the next first, my FIRST sweater! Ok, it's actually a cardigan, but what's the difference? I am using this very pretty shade of Berocco Vintage (My old standby for worsted socks) and so far it really is effortless, hense the name "Effortless Cardigan". I am only 6 rows in, and it seems like it may take awhile, but I am up for the challenge.

No I did not take this picture, it's a very nice picture taken by one of my test knitters for my first published (and for sale) pattern! I'm so excited about these because they are super basic and cheap and all proceeds go to Relay For Life. Here we go again with that, but I am really passionate about that cause.

The next 5-6 weeks are going to be torture. My teachers are pushing me so hard, and I'm grateful for it, but also burned out. I don't really feel like doing anything, but I have no choice. School should come first, but I'm having a hard time lately remembering that. Wish me luck as the next weeks speed by.

~Lisa

Things to Finish Before New Years (Yea Right)

So, I've been crazy busy with studio stuff lately, spending literally every night until at least 11 (last night it was 12:30) there, trying to get stuff done. It's the only time I have to do it so I don't have much choice in the matter. None the less, I am still finding time to knit, both at Knit Nights at Wildflowers, and at home (wish more basic, non-Wildflower purchased yarns). I have come to the conclusion that there are a few things I'd love to get done before the first of the year, just so I can start fresh with new stuff in January. Here is my list:

Twilight Curls Scarf: This thing is actually knitting up really fast. It's my knit-night exclusive project, simply because it's with Wildflower purchased yarn, and I therefore want to use it at her shop. It should be done by the end of knit night tonight, and if not I'll probably finish it later this weekend so I can start...

Effortless Cardigan. Yes, I want to make a cardigan. I don't have the yarn for it yet, but I plan to purchase it this weekend. I don't know if I really have the time with school, but hopefully I can find time here and there to work on it and finish it for the new year!

Rick Socks As you've already seen on this blog, I have these socks going. I haven't picked them up in a while, so they aren't very far along, and they take awhile to get very far on. This will probably be the one project I DON'T finish before January. There's something about socks: I love making them, but can never finish a pair without stopping to do other things in between.

Lost in Transit Lustra Scarf As of the middle of December, it will have been a good year since I picked up this scarf to work on. That's a sign it needs to get finished. I want it done, but it's not high priority right now. It would have been done last year, but I had to stop to make IOU Christmas gifts.

I also have a couple of gifts on my needles right now,but I'm not going to talk about them until they are and given.

Happy November everyone! I hope life doesn't get more stressful as the weather turns colder.

~Lisa