Two acres of Echoes

           

Our beautiful front yard...

door squeeks

Hello? Echo

Anybody still here?  Hellooooooo?

I don’t really know where to start, other than, Hello.  I’ll catch you up by saying we have (finally) moved successfully, and have been living in our own home for about 6 weeks or so.  My goodness was this an adventure, in the truest sense of the word.  I will be exceptionally happy if I never go through buying a house again.  It’s a lot of work.  And at this point, it was all completely worth it. 

my favorite tree...ever.  It's soooo pretty!

            Our house is beautiful – if a little empty.  We are still working at tracking down some furniture for our “Library” and we are in desperate need of area rugs what with entire house being floored in 12”x12” white tile!  It’s cold and somewhat sterile at the moment.  Although slowly and surely it is becoming a true (gigantic) home for the two of us.  Jon has been busy pretty much every single weekend with yard work.  Fortunately, for him, my dad lives two doors down, and has been able to walk him through the process quite well.  That, and he’s been able to lend Jon all the tools we don’t have quite yet.  Like a lawnmower and pruning shears – just to name a couple.

            And fortunately for me, my mom is also two doors down – because you know, they’re married – and she has been able to give me a hand unpacking boxes and getting various rooms set up.  I have oddly not gotten around to setting up my sewing studio, which would be really odd, if I weren’t doing a metric crap-ton of knitting currently.  Which – you like my segue here? – brings us to one of the main reasons for this welcome-back post.

            My giveaway.  Saying “I’m sorry” doesn’t really express my feelings.  I feel horrible about walking away from (yet another) unfinished project.  That is not at all how I wanted that idea to end.  And, because I am no longer allowing myself to “burn bridges” I have returned to make it right.  For you.  But also for myself.  Because acomplishing things is important to me in a way it never has been.  And I promised myself when I started this blog that I would not just abruptly leave it hanging. 

            So, here I am.  Wanna get some free stuff??  Do you?  Come on!  Of course you do!  We all do.  I do!  So, here is how this is going to work.  I am going to randomly pick a number between one and twenty-one (the number of comments on the giveaway post).  There is absolutely NO scientific method to the picking of this number, I’m just picking.  So, with without further ado:

            drum roll, please

Aaaaaand, the winner is –

Contestant Number Four.  That’s right folks!  Number 4.  Pickle, is our winner!  Come on up and claim your prize! 

            You can refer back to the original post to see all the amazing stuff you have won.  It’s honestly pretty exciting, if I do say so myself.  I hope all of my darling readers aren’t so frustrated with me that you’ve walked away to never ever return.  That would make me very sad.  And I accept it if you have.  Because sometimes that’s just life.  We clean up the messes left behind.  And, on the good days, we give awesome yarn to a complete (lovely) stranger.

            I am going to contact you, Pickle.  I am also going to see if Jamie over at Scissors and Steam – who also just came back to her blog) will put a blurb in a post to help let Pickle know.  When I can get ahold of you, I will be sending you an email with all the pertinent info.  Once again, contratulations my dear!

Happy happy Friday!

~j.b.


Oh, p.s.

I will honestly be back...very soon.  I have two+ months of stuff to talk about, people!  You really didn't expect me to stay quiet forever did you?!?  Ha!

Nonsense and a Giveaway!

Edit: this give-away is now closed.  I will be posting the winner in the next couple of days!  Thanks for your patience!

 Edit:  I have just made it easier to comment, and opened the comments up for all.  I am sorry to anyone my previous settings may have disqualified from the giveaway.  Don't give up, yet.  Just come on back!  :D

The day has finally arrived!  It is time for the giveaway!  And there are even options for this one.  I want to first say Hi Hi to all arriving from Scissors and Steam, and say Thank you for stopping by.  I know you're just doing to get free stuff, and I'm totally and completely okay with this.  I'd do it too.  Haha!  No, seriously, I would.  I have.  You're in good company.

So, this is mostly a Thank You (!) to all my followers and readers for putting up with the lax postings over the past few months.  And for reading when I'm sure I had nothing interesting to say other than moaning about my health.

Firstly, the rules -- I know, the boring part.  There are two steps to entering this give-away, and they should both be completed.  #1) Become a follower -- I promise I will not jump off a bridge...mostly.  #2) Comment on this post and let me know that you are a follower -- you know, confession time -- and say something funny.  No pressure, just say something, anything...I really don't care.  Just want to hear from you.

If you already follow this blog, just comment and let me know.  

You will have until the 7th of April -- I was going to do this on the 1st, but thought that might be kind of mean -- to enter in the drawing.  I will make the announcement of the winner on Monday (the 9th).  I will pick the winner as randomly as I am able to.  I know there's a tiny little app you can get that will pick a random number, but there really is no such thing as an algorithm that can truly pick a random number.  Plus, I don't know where to get it.  So...rambling over.

Let's get onto the important part. 

The first and best part -- in my opinion which isn't biased at all -- in this giveaway is the Stitch Markers from last week's Tutorial.  You will receive:

 

This set will actually include two more of the small orange and blue markers.  I just don't have pictures of them all.  So, all totaled, you will receive one large marker, plus four small markers.  A pretty good deal, if you ask me!  :D

Next, you will get to choose from one of two different colorways.  Here's the first:

There will be enough yarn here to complete a pair of Fingerless Mitts from PurlBee's blog.  The pattern for which I will print off and include in a page protector.  There will also be quite a bit left-over from each yarn for another small project.  Here is the second choice:

Each choice will contain two skeins of Cashmere Blend yarn from KnitPicks, and one skein of 100% Alpaca.  Also from Knitpicks.  Please understand, no substitutions are possible.  Sorry.  

I am also going to include the two sets of needles needed to complete this project -- although I do suggest you make a swatch to determine your unique gauge.  And if the needles I send don't work, then...you have two sets of dpns you didn't have to pay for!  Woot!  

Alright, I think that's it.  On Monday-ish the 9th of April, I will make the announcement.  Best of luck to all who enter, and May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor!  Why I just quoted Hunger Games is completley beyond me.  Forgive me, please.  I promise no one will die.  Really, I promise.  Stop looking at me like that!  

Happy Thursday,

~j.b.

First Swatch is a Disaster!

Well, I managed to "finish" the first swatch for the Master Hand Knitting Course I'm taking.  I knit 2" of K2P2 (knit 2 purl 2, for those who aren't "up" on the lingo) ribbing, increasing by five stitches "unobtrusively" on the last row of ribbing, then knitting what I thought was four inches of garter stitch.  But no.  Not.  Four.  Inches.  I should have knit four and a half inches in Garter Stitch.  Ack!  So, I get to knit this stupid cute little swatch all over again.

~the wrong size swatch~

I guess it could be worse.  But, not all was lost.  Just the length.  And I don't actually mind re-knitting the whole thing.  It truly is good practice.  And I've already learned something I didn't know at the outset.  I learned how to unobtrusively increase at the end of ribbing.  

(for those of you interested: it's a k1fb in the last knit stitch of how ever many repeats it takes to get the correct number of stitches)

So, I'm fairly thrilled, actually.  And I'm only a few weeks days behind on my "Complete this Course in a Year" Plan.  I have also learned that there is a group of knitters that meet every Wednesday at the local Yarn Shop (YarnDogs) who are all doing this Course.  So, health holding up, I plan on going this Wednesday.  I'm pretty excited.  It will be nice to meet others who are fighting with loving these swatches.

That's about it for tonight.  Hopefully I will have some more to write tomorrow or the next day about my class.  For now, I will leave you with ~

~ Some Beautiful New Yarn ~

So ogle, covet and plan away.  This picture doesn't really do the color justice, sorry.  The color name is Garnet, and it's a fairly accurate description.  I believe this will be turning into mittens to keep my freezing fingers warm this winter when I take walks with the Husbie.  

Have a wonderful night, I'll talk to you all soon.

Happy Crafting,

~j.b.

Sewing Room Confession

Oh my goodness, two blog posts in one week.  Don't get too excited, it's not likely to happen very often, if ever again.  So, just enjoy it while it's here.  No expectations though, you hear?

I've decided to redo my sewing studio.  Not necessarily permanently.  Just for the foreseeable future.  I haven't been sewing much, if at all, over the past few months, and every time I walk past my sewing room, I get really sad, because I miss being in there so damned much.  So, instead of shutting the door -- literally -- and forgetting about it, I have a plan to turn in into a cozy little knitting-nook.  I am truly excited about this prospect because not only will in allow me to use my favorite room in the house, it is going to give me a perfect place to work on my knitting class and my knitting in general.  So, for now, I am looking for a chair:

The Perfect Chair

This is my ideal.  It's a Restoration Hardware chair that I am currently coveting.  I've even seen almost it in person.  We have a store literally down the street from where we live.  It's very dangerous, to a point.  The point is where we can't afford anything in the store.  And stealing is hard because I'd look somewhat suspicious walking shuffling out with a couch stuffed under my jacket.  At any rate, this is the goal.  I am going to be looking at thrift stores for something that will do perfectly.  I *may* have it re-covered.  We'll see.  It depends on how much we spend on the initial chair.  If it's cheap, then I'll spring for some nice new fabric.  But, I don't necessarily want to recover it myself.  Don't know if I'm up to that much physical labor at this point.  We'll see.

So, I'm also looking for side table to place next to the Perfect Chair.  And this caught my eye this morning:

YardStick Side Table

Something like this would be perfect, as well.  I have a small sewing cabinet that my Mother-in-law gave us quite a few years ago.  It is being used as a side table in the living room, though.  Maybe if I can find a new table for there, I can take it down stairs where she would feel more at home.  :)

Now, I also have some furniture I am going to have to store for an indeterminate amount of time.  Namely, my sewing table.  It's an Expidite desk from Ikea.  I love it, don't get me wrong.  I just don't have room for it and the Perfect Chair.  So, it will be removed and stored for now.  As will my cutting table.  I think the cutting table will fit in the corner where my spinning wheel currently lives.  And my spinning wheel is going to make a comeback as well.  As I plan on doing some spinning here soon.  My mom gave me a bunch of amazing fiber last week that I can't wait to dive into.  Literally.  I want to lay in it.  It's that soft.  I have silk, and Alpaca, and Llama waiting for me.  Plus some merino blends and cotton that is still in its husk.  Cotton spinning is something I've been wanting to learn to do for a while, now.  It has such interesting tools.

Alright, I'll keep you posted on the Studio Redo as I make progress.  I truly can't wait to make the room useful again.  And thank you for your patience with the lack of blog posts these past few weeks.  You all knew I'd be back, right?  Right!?!?  Ahem...

Happy Crafting,

~j.b.

A quick hello...and a book review.

So, it's been a while.  And it's been a while since I've needed to write that pesky little sentence.  It's been a fairly crappy couple of days weeks here.  And while I have been trying to live them gracefully, I am worn the heck out doing so.  I've been getting migraines basically everyday for the past...well, nearly 8 years, if you must know, and the last six months have been really taxing.

Because of this health-forced hiatus from all things crafty, I have resorted to reading and watching TV.  I hate TV.  Let me be a little more clear.  I hate commercials.  I yell at them, bad mouth them, and pretty much make watching any sort of program with me very uncomfortable for any and all innocent bystanders.  I don't mean to.  But because of this, we don't have cable.  I watch TV with Netflix and Hulu.  I know, Hulu does have commercials.  I can deal much better with one to two commercials per break than six or seven.  The anger scale stays within tolerable levels.  As does the yelling.  And my marriage is saved.  Which is good.  I like being married.  Specifically to Jon.  But he only likes me when I'm not yelling at commercials.

So, watching TV, I have discovered Downton Abbey.  It's a great period piece set in turn-of-the-century England.  The costumes are amazing, and the acting isn't bad, either.  I'm also not allowed to watch period piece with other people, but that a different story, all together...

I've also been reading Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's book Knitting Rules.  It's hysterical.  She does an amazing job of making me feel creative even while I'm wasting away hours watching Netfilx.  I highly recommend her blog as well.  The Yarn Harlot.  Her writing is amazing, and her sense of humor seems to be what gets her through her roughest times.  Which is very familiar to me.  If it weren't for my sense of humor, the past eight years would have ended me.  Or, I'd have ended me.  Either way, not so good for the crafting.

Speaking of crafting, I recently found The Master Hand Knitting Level I correspondence course over at TKGA.com.  I found this a couple of weeks ago, and just signed up for it two days ago.  I'm so excited I could run around the house like an amped up on sugar two year old singing at the top of my lungs.  Fortunately -- for my marriage, and sanity -- this is not possible given the current fibro-flare.  Maybe this is a blessing in disguise?  I'm going with that.  Yeah.  That's it.  A blessing.

So, I received the course requirements via email yesterday, printed them all out -- after searching for twenty minutes for the ream of paper I knew we had -- and ever-so-gently put them in a binder I had lying around from my college-days.  Now, the task is to create daily/weekly goals so as to actually finish this program in the year I'm given.  Sixteen swatches.  In one year.  Plus loads of other fun stuff.  I believe I can manage.  Yup.  Can't wait!!  Now, back to the running and singing.  Even if it is all in my head.

Happy Crafting,
~j.b.

darling finished projects...

I have had this finished Needle Book languishing in a drawer for a couple years, and I finally got up the courage to put it up for sale on Etsy this morning.  There are a few more waiting to be finished, so depending on this first one, I'll get the others up for sale, too.

I had a ton of fun making this, and why I never finished the lot of them is completely beyond me.  Other than the fact that I get very ADD with crafting/sewing/making things.  I do not seem able to complete a group of items.

My ultimate goal is to have a replenishing supply of hand crafted items for sale in my Etsy shoppe.  It's a fun and relatively simple way to pay for my crafting/yarn/fabric/etc. addictions.  Yes, I have tons of grand ideas about become interweb-famous for my crafts and my writing.  Unfortunately, I let these ideas of grandeur affect my ability to actually do the crafting and the writing.  Well, in this New Year I really want to change that.  I want to be able to set a goal and follow through with it.  Let the dreams fly, and then come back down to Earth and do the work.

Happy Tuesday,
~j.b.

Instagram-ish...

So, my dear friend Jamie over at Scissors and Steam asked me to do an Instagram 366 -- who knew this year is a Leap Year? -- with her.  Well, I do not have an iPhone, and Instagram is not quite available to the geeks like me who use the Android OS.  Alas, I had to say no.

But, this got me thinking.  Android has many apps in their Market.  So, I found a Camera app that allows me to edit my photos on the fly, Camera360.  This is not a review of the site I just linked to.  If Camera360 is an app you would like, please check out your android market on your phone.  Do not download apps from unknown sources.  Just a general bit of good advice -- from my techy husband, actually.

That being said, I downloaded this program from my market-place and have been playing with it.  It's super fun!  Here is my first photo:
   (I'll post more about this project at a later date)

The camera app has this Tilt Shift filter that allows me to auto focus on a particular part of the photo and it blurs the rest.  I didn't know this was even a thing until I started talking to my husband about it.  I also edited this photo in Picnik on Picasa.  Which is where I store my not-yet-published photos.

So, all things considered -- and I do mean all -- I believe I am going to participate in the 366 photo "thing".  I think I'll do as Jamie will be doing, though, and post a compilation of photos once a week, so I am not bombarding my lovely readers with photos every single day.  The above photo will act as number 1/366.  And this photo -- being that it actually is the second day of January, 2012 -- will be number 2/366

Even though it took a few days after X-mas for it to arrive -- lost in transit, apparently -- I got Jon and I Nerf Guns as a gift.  And we played with them New Years Eve for a while.  And now, I'm finding these little disks everywhere in the house.  Made for a fun evening, though.  Guess we'll be finding these things for years! 

Happy Day-off-Monday,
~j.b.

number 18

Being that it is New Years Eve -- and New Years, in some countries -- I thought I'd look back and look forward a bit here.  This has been a trying year.  Lots of medical crap to figure out, and lots of emotional...err, stuff to sort through.  I've mended bridges between friends and myself, and have truly begun down a path of figuring out what is really important to me.  I've severed ties with people who are no good for me or my health, and tightened attachments to people who help me soar.  When the whole story is considered, this has been a wonderful year, as many of them are in retrospect.  This being said, I think my main goal for the coming year to keep this state of mind during the year.  To hold on to the tiny moments that make the year worthwhile when looking back on it.

I just found this article (link opens in new window) and a couple of key points really struck home with me.  As the title of my entry suggests, number 18 really hit home.  For as long as I can remember, the past has plagued me.  As has my anger toward people from my past for things done and said.  I have already begun working toward letting this anger go.  I believe my work for 2012 is to continue releasing this and to live an anger-free existence.  Not free of feelings of anger and frustration about the present, but free...

Let's see here.  I wrote the rest of this post here this morning while apparently the interwebs were behaving terribly, and the remainder of my post was lost.  I was a good ending, too.  C'est la vie.  It happens.  Guess this sort of just plays into my whole theme for the New Year, doesn't it?  And if I can't let this go...wow, am I in for a terrible year!  Haha!

It's about an hour from the "Ball Drop", which I won't be watching, because we do not have cable -- because I'm not allowed to watch commercials (they make me mad).  So, for all of you reading this tonight, have a wonderful end to 2011!  And for those who will not be reading this until tomorrow or the next day, I hope your ending to 2011 was as epic or relaxed as you wanted it to be.

Happy New Years!
~j.b. 

Day one...

I would like to start by saying, I almost completely forgot to write tonight.  And I realized I needed to write in the evening because in the morning, I am not sure what I'll be grateful for come evening.  So, I was lying in bed when I remembered.  Fortunately, I am a bit of an insomniac, so getting back up was not difficult.  The Fibro really effects my sleeping patterns.  But, that's a different story, for another time.

I would like to address the changes to my blog, as well.  Fortunately, not too many people were reading it, so not too many people will suddenly not be able to find it.  I guess this is a good thing, right?  The new web-address is as follows.  Please update your "follower" status, if you please. 

www.livelovegrace.blogspot.com

Now, you're probably asking, "why such a huge change"?  I don't have a simple answer to that question.  Mainly, it's because I am a complicated person.  I do not allow any one single thing to define me as a woman, be it sewing, knitting, or even fibromyalgia.  So, having a blog that specifically focused on only one aspect of my life...well, it just didn't seem honest to who I really am. 

I read/follow quite a few blogs.  Yes, most of them are crafty-types.  But the ones that really catch my attention are written by people who share bits and pieces of themselves with their readers.  Honesty is so important to me.  I've always said, "My life is an open book," so why wouldn't it be here?  I want to live what I believe.  And honesty is what I believe.  Whole-heartedly.

This being said, on to my gratitude list; Day one...

*  I am grateful for a nice relaxing Sunday, at home with Jon and my blankets.

*  I love that it's finally crab season, and I finally was able to purchase myself a 1.5 lb crab to eat all.  by.  myself.  It was yummy!

*  I am soooo happy I remembered to write tonight, even though I was ready for bed.  The reminder was...well, let's just call it divine intervention.

*  I am very grateful I have someone to spend some time with tomorrow while my cleaning crew -- which I am more than grateful for -- comes over to clean my house.  Can't wait to see you, HF!!  Be prepared for lots and lots of yarn!!

I believe this about covers it for today.  I know there are going to be days when I have a difficult time coming up with things I am grateful for.  Fortunately, today was not one of them.

Have a wonderful night; Sweet dreams,

~j.b.

thirty days of grace...

I know, two blog posts published in one day.  I must be on a roll.

I just found a blog.  And it set an idea in motion.  Bear with me while I explain the thinking behind this one.

My life -- as many are -- is crazy-hard right now.  It has been for the last 7 years.  Yes, there have been good amazing times.  Marrying the love of my life, for one...patching my long-term relationship with my best friend of 20 years...Mending the much torn relationship with my mom -- love you so much, mom.  And there have been heart-aches and breaks along the way.  Many of which, I just do not talk about for fear of completely breaking down in front of other people.  And they may -- at this point, at least -- make me a little too vulnerable to mention here.  Plus, I honestly choose to focus on the positive.  So...

For the next 30 days -- until the 3rd of January -- I will publish one post a day which focuses on the positive aspects of my life.  This will not be easy for me.  This will be a huge stretch.  I am not practiced at keeping commitments I make to myself.  Something "better" always comes up.  And by "better" I actually mean pain and fatigue.  And with this in mind -- and I will be "tested" -- I am going to keep this  commitment to myself, and you.  Every day.  And on those days where I just do not feel up to doing this...I will still manage to.

My mom always said, as I was growing up, that "I can do this miserably or gracefully".  Taking this into consideration as an adult, I can either take life, and all it's hardships and wonders miserably or gracefully.  I choose grace.

 *  Today, I am grateful for...

*  Our first fire in our fire-place, even though we smoked out our upstairs and set off the smoke-detector.  Hell, at least we know it works now.

*  Going on a nice long walk with Jon.  It was bright and sunny and crisp outside.  A true late fall day.  It reminded me of living with my grandmother when I was 18.  That was a long time ago.

*  Being able to work on my granny-stripe blanket today, until I noticed a tiny little paper cut exactly where I hold the yarn in my right hand!  (I am left-handed, by the way)

one more...

*  Curling up in the afghan my grandmother (different one) made for my parents nearly 40 years ago when they were first married.  My mom gave it to me last week, and it is a lovely gift.

Alright...I think this is a good start.  I will "see" you tomorrow.  Possibly in the morning, but definitely tomorrow. 

A Graceful Saturday-night to all,
~j.b.

New (project) Beginnings...

I've done it again...I've started yet another project.  This one, though is a long term project.  It's a blanket.  A granny-stripe blanket, to be specific.  I went to Michaels -- I know, almost sacrilege to those who shop in LYS's -- yesterday and bought 11 skeins of acrylic -- don't I have a post where I yell about this?? -- yarn.  Yes, I still hate acrylic fiber.  Yes, I still am a total snob when it comes to natural fabric and yarn.  But no, my bank account is not ever-flowing, and I needed this to be cheap-ish.  I honestly didn't want to spend $300 dollars on a blanket that will have food spilled on it, and in the (distant) future, various baby-fluids on it as well.  I want a blanket I can (easily) throw into the washer and dryer, and one large enough for the Husband and I to both curl up under and read or watch a movie. 

It gets cold -- for California -- here in the winter, and while we do have a fire-place and a heater, I really wanted a large comfy blanket.  So.  Without further ado, I give you:

The very beginning of my new (very) long-term project.  I have 1.5 stripes completed.  And I have 9 more colors to add.  I am not yet sure how many stripes I will eventually add to this, but I think it will at least take me this winter to finish.  Which is great, because A) I need a "brainless" project to work on when the "fibro-fog" becomes so bad I can't think in knit-speak, and B) As it gets colder, and the blanket becomes larger, I will be more than happy to curl up under my WIP. 

I am using this pattern from Attic24.  By the way, I absolutely love this lady's blog.  She is a true crochet-artist.  And she adores color.  And the love of color is always a winner in my book.  I think I'd live in rainbows everyday if it wouldn't possibly blind my Husband and friends.  Anyway, go read Attic24 (link will open in new window) and leave some love for her. 

Alright.  Now that there is a huge wall of text here for you -- which no one has probably even read *sob* -- I will say good-bye.  I have a long-term project to keep me busy. 

happy Saturday,
~j.b.

X-mas Elves...

My goodness, it's been forever since I've written.  Sorry about that, but I've been going through some pretty hefty health issues the past few months.  And I plan to be honest about that.  Because not only do I want to write a blog about my fiber addiction, I want to write about my health issues, as well.  And if people have an issue with that, well...they don't have to read my blog then, do they?  No one is forcing anyone to read this.  And, if someone is forcing you...Shame on them.  Hehe..

So, about three months ago, I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  Which, by the way, I just had to add to my dictionary.  Just thought I'd share.  It's been a long road.  I started showing symptoms over seven years ago.  But the doctors had no idea what was wrong until I started showing very Fibro-specific symptoms about four/five months ago.  It's still took three doctors to finally get a diagnosis, though.

I won't say it's been easy.  Even though with finally figuring out what's going on, the honeymoon period lasted about a month.  I've been dealing with denial, anger, depression, and every other emotion in the book.  I may have finally hit on acceptance, though.  I am finally able to look at the future with some semblance of hope and not only despair.  It's a good feeling.

My husband has been a wonderful support.  As has my mom -- who also happens to have Fibro and Lupus -- and my dad.  So has my mother-in-law.  She's been a huge support these last few months.    I think, though, what has gotten me through the most has been my unfailing addiction to all things fiber-related.  While I haven't finished much recently, my knitting and sewing have both kept me somewhat sane through all this.  Even just being able to start a new project as helped on days where the pain is horrible.  Fiber is an amazing therapy.  It has truly given me new insight into why crafts are so important in peoples' lives.  So, in this way -- and really only this way right now -- I am grateful for my experience with this condition.

Alright, enough of the serious.  It's time to get down to the fun!  I am currently -- finally!! -- working on a Fibonacci Scarf for my husband.  I found this pattern -- it's a freebe -- on Ravelry -- you may have to register to view the link I posted -- over a year ago, purchased the yarn, and started it.  I hated the way it was turning out.  My stripes were horrible.  They jogged all over the place.  And I didn't really like the idea of knitting it in the round.  A) It used a ton of yarn, and B) My husband doesn't really need a reversible scarf, does he?  No.

So, about three or four days ago, I frogged the original project and started over.  I don't know that I'll have time to finish it before X-mas this year, but I'm going to try.  I started with six rows of 3x2 ribbing.  Then, when it's a length I am happy with (husband is 6'6", so long is a good thing) I am going to pick up the stitches on both sides of the scarf and add in a 3x2 ribbing going horizontally.  I was going to knit that in as I went, but I didn't want the ribbing running vertically.  I think horizontal ribbing will look fantastically better.   Here it is, thus far:

The little dark line -- the one you can barely see -- is the first of the stripes in the dark color.  I'll knit 34 rows of the light, then add two dark stripes, and so on.  The other end of the scarf will be mostly dark, with some light stripes.  It's a really nerdy, really fun scarf.  In fact, right before I found this pattern, the husband and I had just been talking about Fibonacci number sequences.  So, I thought the timing was great, and I just had to make it.

I'll try and finish it before X-mas, and I'll post some pics as I work on it.  Hope everyone of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving -- I certainly did.  What projects are you trying desperately to finish before X-mas?  Want to share pictures??

Happy Tuesday,
~j.b.

Time and Time Again

Once again, I begin.  This time, it is with a purpose in mind.  And hopefully much more discipline involved.  I have a plan.

I have just moved.  As in, last weekend.  And during the process of packing, moving, and recovering from said move, I have discovered, I truly have a problem.  More like an addiction, really.  To be perfectly honest, I have more fabric than I have ANY idea what to do with!  It's crazy how much fabric one (one!!!) person can accumulate in a period of two point five years.  And this is even AFTER I have used some of said fabric in projects, AND donated a great big bunch of it.

Now, faced with the prospect of RE-organizing this mass of fiber I have some decisions to make.  And make them I must.  First, I have to figure out WHAT I will be keeping, and what will be discarded -- either donated or given to like-minded friends/family.  After that icky, time-consuming task is finished, I must then figure out how I am going to STORE whatever fabric is left.  And on that note, I need to completely reorg my entire sewing room, too.  Because while it worked for quite a while, with this new place, I plan on teaching, and it was not set up well for personal sewing AND teaching sewing.  Which means, I need to scrap my current set up -- hardware-wise -- and attack the room with a fresh set of eyes -- and a Professional Organizer named Joan.

To start, I will be using this here blog-thing as a way of documenting my progress of re-org-ing my sewing studio/teaching space, AND to begin talking about my next major project, which sort of combines a bunch of things I've loved throughout my life.  I'll begin by saying this: I am truly a Fiber Nerd.  I LOVE fiber.  When I go shopping -- whether it be for fabric to make things, or clothing which is already constructed -- I touch EVERYTHING!  I can't help but run my hands over garments in a store, just to see what they're made from.  If I like them, I continue touching, usually with a smile on my face.  If they're icky synthetics,  more times than not, I scowl.  Or proclaim, embarrassingly loud that the shirt/pants/dress/etc sucks!  And then proceed to NOT touch said fabric any longer.

So, not only am I a fiber NERD, I am a self proclaimed fiber SNOB!  And I am also quite proud of this.  It has taken YEARS of experience and practice to become THIS disgusted by polyester chiffon.  If I can't stand to touch the fabric on the bolt for three seconds, there is NO way I am going to spend HOURS of my time and energy TOUCHING the fabric to create a garment, only to them WEAR said garment un-told number of hours a day/week/month/year.

So, in oder to spread my nerdy-ness and more importantly, snoby-ness around the globe -- or at least to my friends -- I plan on creating a data-base of sorts to define fabric content, care, and creations.  Think of it as a Wiki, after a fashion.  It will be searchable, cross-referenced, and will include plenty of photos of beautiful fabrics as well.  Eventually I would love to be able to have users request swatches from me, to have lovely little bits of fabric at THEIR finger-tips while ordering online, or shopping in good 'ol brick-and-mortar shops.

So, this is the plan.  One of them, at the very least.  It's now been three weeks since the move, and I still have a sewing room that looks as though a class 9 hurricane blew through on some errand of destruction.  So, although no visible progress has actually been made, I have quite a few plans in the, er, planning stage.  Possibly the next post will even involve pictures!  What a concept.  We'll see.  Later for now,

~j.b. fiber nerd, extaordinaire