Multiple Craftonalities

Wannabe

 
For weeks now, I wannabe knitting something.  All day long at work, I think about knitting while I listen to  Stash and Burn podcasts on my ipod.

I get home, do all that I need to do, and by the time I can plop down on the sofa for some me-time, I am just too darn tired to knit anything.

Summer is busy with golfing and camping, along with just trying to get through the work day, making dinner, etc. etc.  I love a lot of what is going on, but I miss my knitting time.

I broke down and ordered some knitting books from Amazon the other day.  I ordered French Girl Knits and Modern Top Down Knitting. I guess it's either compensation for not having any knitting time, or just looking for something to get me fired up on a project.

A few months ago, I had started a summer top trying to write my own pattern as I go, and it was not going one hundred percent how I would have liked.  I picked it up the other night and I just couldn't get going on it again.  I am seeing things I wish I had done differently but don't want to rip back yet another time.  I already have the yarn just about worn out.

The yarn is actually pretty nice.  I bought it last summer at store in Rockford, IL which is now out of business and I can't remember the name of right now.  It is Savanna Zitron in "Sunflower", a cotton/linen/rayon, and it has a little shine to it that I am liking.

Maybe I just need to get stern with myself and resolve to get down to it and figure out what I had going on with this little project.  I feel like I need to give myself permission to just knit it and not focus on it turning out perfect.  This is the first time I am trying to knit something like this out of my head. 

It is tougher than many knitters would have you believe.

It is so weird how I feel like I want to knit, but just don't do it.  I think what I have is knitstipation.  I think that sums it up exactly.

Knitstipation.

A Day Off

It's getting to be mid-August and I am burning through my vacation days like a tank of gas in a teenager's car.  I have had a long weekend- I took Friday off along with Monday and Tuesday, so tomorrow it's back to work.  I have not been working on anything crafty for a while now.  This summer I am trying to learn the game of golf and I am still not quite getting it.  The words that most often come to mind are that I "super suck", but it is not for a lack of trying.

Friday I went to a par-3, 9-hole course all by myself to practice and Saturday I went back to that little course with my husband (who is also learning to golf) for another 9 holes of practice.  Sunday, I played 18 with a good friend of mine and her son, and Monday I went out and played 18 by myself again.  I keep telling myself that all of the bad shots and lost balls are getting me closer to being an accomplished golfer, but I am starting to wonder.  Does practice always make perfect?

I think of all the knitting maneuvers that used to feel so awkward and difficult that now seem so simple and natural.  Since I started golfing I have been telling myself that golf is like anything else.  It seems difficult at first but after you do it hundreds or thousands of times it will become automatic -like typing, or knitting, or sewing a straight seam.

I'm starting to lose faith in that concept, because some days I feel like I am regressing rather than progressing out there.  I'm not ready to throw in the golf towel yet, but today I am taking a break.  I have league on Wednesday night, and I am hoping like crazy that I can graduate from "super suck" to something I can feel good about.

I am sitting at the dining room table this morning, firing up the laptop, and drinking coffee and this is what I see:

Hmmm... those bright, cheery quilt blocks that I started a while back using the Deb Strain "Fresh" charm packs.  It seems to be a bit of an overcast day outside and the summer heat is taking some time-off this week, so I think I will take another look at this project and see if I can make some headway on this project on this last day of my mini-vacation.

In other news, this Saturday is Stitches Midwest 2010 and I am going down for the big event with my good friend and golfing buddy/coach, Lara.  Here is a snap of us out on the course...

 

Saturday will be a big day.  It takes about 2 hours to get to Schaumburg, IL and the expo is usually quite huge and overwhelming so it will be a long day.  I can't wait to see what is new and beautiful and exciting this year even though my golf game is seriously cutting into my yarn budget.  Hmmm...  I'll have to figure something out.  I always end up drooling and lusting after way more patterns and yarns than I could ever possibly work up in a lifetime.  It's a good thing there really are no Knitting Police because I would have been locked up a long time ago for my stashing and unfinished objects.

I'm sure to rack up a few new "violations" this weekend.  There are always so many beautiful projects at the knitting expo and I just can't resist the draw.

 

  
 
 

Christmas Interference

The days have been flying by and I feel that I can't keep up.  The decorating and all the other holiday bustle is keeping me hoppin'.  The busier I am, the crankier I get.  It's ok if I choose not to knit or quilt or scrapbook or whatever I don't feel like doing, but when all the things I have to do get in the way of what I want to do...  Well, let's just say mama is not happy.

Tuesday night I went to an ornament exchange party at my sister's house.  I had fun, and I received two very beautiful hand beaded ornaments.

Some friends and family and laughter.  My sister's house is beautifully decorated for the holidays.  I think I counted at least five Christmas trees.  She has a four year old and works full-time.  I just don't know how she does it with out going completely nuts. 

I have gotten a bit more done on the first Ocean Toes sock.  I am up to the turn of the heel which I think I can handle alright, but the next bit may be a bit sticky for me.  The directions are written for double points or two circulars, but I am working the magic loop on one circular and even putting that aside I am not certain I understand the directions.  I'm going to look at it again when I am not worn out.  I know better than to attempt something new when I'm tired. 

I have spent the last two days working on getting some Christmas cards in the mail.  For six or seven years I rubber stamped all our Christmas cards every year, but last year I broke tradition and had portrait cards made at a photography studio.  This year, to economize, and because I ran out of time, I just took a snapshot of the girls and then spent all day yesterday wrestling with Photoshop Elements 7 trying to come up with something decent to put in store bought cards. 

All I can say about the end result is that it will just have to do.  I mangaged to get them signed, addressed, and mailed out today.  It is done and I am going to try to put the entire painful experience behind me until next year when I hope it will work out better. 

Trying to learn photo editing software on December 17th, to get cards mailed out in time for Christmas was just never a good plan in the first place.  It is however very typical of me to find myself in just that sort of situation.  Big plans, procrastinate, stress out, and then settle.  It's always so good in my mind.  It always starts out like the smell of good coffee brewing in the morning and then ends up like, well, I just don't even want to go there.

The big storm is supposed to be starting soon.  They are calling for between 8 and 13 inches of snow tonight, so tomorrow just may be a snow day.  I am cuddled up under my new best friend, the down throw, the past few weeks of extreme cold in our drafty old house have me huddled under it whenever I am not running around like the proverbial headless chicken.

I am very afraid of losing power.  I find the news footage of winter storms taking out the power terrifying.  We do not have fireplace or woodstove and I can't imagine what people do when the power goes out and it's only 2 degrees outside.  Aside from that possibility, bring the snow day on.  I have presents to wrap anyway.