Things I Love

Today was a horrible day at work. In an effort to keep my New Years resolution of being Happy I decided to leave work at work and focus on better things.

Here's a list of things I absolutely love in no particular order:

1. My iPad (although I won't lie, I'd love to trade it for the brand new one)
2. Seche Vite top coat because now I can paint my nails AND still knit the same evening
3. China Glaze nail polish, particularly the color For Audrey.
4. iPad/iPhone apps that actually make life better. Like Goodreader because now I can make notes right on my knitting patterns.
5. Anything that's teal or turquoise. Or hot pink.
6. Mini Stitch dots stitch markers. (If you Iike knitting with skinny yarns and do a lot of yarn overs invest in these. They retail about $8.99 for 30 and come in a super cute case. They are worth every penny. No more lost yarn overs.)
7. Pizza and calzones.
8. Wearing my hand knit shawls.
9. Wearing my hand knit socks.
10. Knowing I have finally managed to make an effort to keep a New Years resolution.

And a bonus? I have managed to touch/experience/whatever every single thing on my list since I left work. Yay!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Shawl Knitting

When I first started knitting a little over a year ago the only things I wanted to make were sweaters and socks. That was my whole reason for really learning to knit. I swore I could crochet anything else I wanted. But everyone knows sweaters and socks are better knit (insert sarcasm button here). In the last year I have knit exactly 0 sweaters. I have queued patterns and even bought a few. Do I have the yarn for them or even begun to cast one on? Nope.

One of the knitted items I saw everywhere but didn't see a purpose for were those fancy lacy shawls. I figured I would never wear one. Ever. They were for old ladies who couldn't ever get or stay warm. What use would I have for one?

I now have 6 completed shawls. That I wear. Almost daily. I test knit patterns for the talented Mindy Wilkes. I queue more shawls than any other pattern. I have drawers of fingering weight yarn bought only to use for knitting shawls. I even joined the group 12 shawls in 2012. And I have knit 3 shawls already this year that count towards my 12.

This has taught me that I should remain open about new possibilities. That just because I have a some kind of preconceived idea about something doesn't mean I can't change my mind. It's part of being furiously happy. Knitting shawls and socks make me happy. I love fingering weight yarn. So I buy it and I knit it. And even if other new knitters out there are shaking their heads at shawls right now thinking they would never have a use I issue a dare. Knit one. Just one. Find a pattern that uses your favorite wight of yarn. Buy some luxurious yarn in that weight in your favorite color and cast on. See if you don't become a convert too.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A Furiously Happy 2012

I love New Years resolutions. Mostly I love breaking them. I don't know why. Probably because it makes me feel like I can be a rule breaker without any real consequences. Most years I make up a zillion and most never make it to midnight on New Years Day. This year I did away with all of that. My New Years resolution? Be Happy. That's it. No fanfare, no trying to fit into clothes that I wore in high school, no quitting smoking, no trying new things that scare me, etc. Just Be Happy. Or in the words of The Bloggess be Furiously Happy.

I like to think I'm doing a good job of it. I got out of a destructive relationship. I cut off 14 inches of my hair and am donating it to Locks of Love (when I manage to get around to sending it that is). I cast on new projects that I want to make just for myself instead of feeling guilty for the 10 or so WIPs I already have going. I bought an overpriced purse that was on mega sale. I took on additional responsibilities at work. I stayed up ALL night talking to someone who makes me smile. I'm being Furiously Happy. I like this me so much better. I like to think those around me like this me much better too. I'm still a Tangled mess about most things. Being Furiously Happy doesn't mean letting go of the things that make me special and unique. It just means letting that me shine.

I hope everyone who has been feeling bad about their resolutions, or who has had a nasty relationship finally go away, experienced a loss of some kind, or just needs a smile can grab a hold of this super simple idea. Just Be Happy. If it doesn't make you happy, don't do it. Well, within reason of course. You should probably still pay your taxes even though that makes no one happy. The greatest part of this? I don't have to plan it all out. No spreadsheets or To Do lists or tally sheets. I just have to find something every day to read/knit/watch/say/think that makes me ridiculously happy. Just One Thing. That's all it takes. My heart feels lighter, my WIP basket has expanded to two baskets, my inbox at work has been dwindling and my family has told me how much happier I seem. I'm pretty sure this is the best resolution EVER (to be fair I may be slightly biased.) So here's to a wonderful and happy 2012.

Gift Knitting

I am so far behind in my gift knitting it isn't even funny. But I still have high hopes of getting it done. It's still a possibility. A very small possibility but it may happen.

Hopefully I can manage to get pictures of it all completed and gifted to the proper recipients. In the meantime I'm going back to some furious knitting and crocheting. Good luck to all of you insane enough to also be gift knitters! And Happy Solstice!

A Long Absence

I have been missing from my blog for far too long. I could give a bunch of excuses but mostly I'm lazy and since I updated my iPad to iOS 5 my blog app doesn't work and iTunes still hasn't approved the update. And I like using that app better than typing directly on the website. And my iPad is always with me and I don't always feel like finding my MacBook. So lazy I know.

Since I have been gone I have moved, I have had surgery and I have had complications from the surgery. On a good note the doctors are testing me for everything under the sun and I should have some news about the issue today. On a crappy note there is a chance I'll never be able to have children and that's as scary as it gets. So think good thoughts for me please. Prayers, if you're into that sort of thing, probably wouldn't hurt either.

One good part of being in pain and stuck either on a couch or in my bed, is that I've knit and crocheted A LOT. I need to take pictures and update Ravelry but I promise my hands haven't been idle. I'm working on finishing Christmas presents at the moment and if all goes well only a couple will be late. Once everything has been given to the proper recipients I'll post some pictures. I'm excited about my craftiness as of late. It helps me from getting too worried about all of the other nonsense that has been plaguing me the last month or so.

Now the Vicodin is kicking back in so I'm going back to staring at the tv as I work on my mindless 1x1 rib hat.

Moving is never fun

Due to various reasons, The Boyfriend and I are moving out of our apartment this month. Our lease is up on November 30. He's moving in with a friend for awhile and I will be living back with my parents for awhile. Sigh. I love my parents. Really. They are awesome people. Most of the time I like them as well as love them. But that doesn't mean that I want to live with them again. Luckily for me, they are going to be letting me stay to help me get my finances back in order. So I am grateful. Really. But this also means that we are dividing up some stuff in the apartment to try and find appropriate storage. It's just been stressful.

I hate packing and I hate moving.

One of the worse parts about this? I currently have stuff in two places again since I started moving stuff to my parents little by little as it gets packed up. So I don't really know where everything is right now. And the problem with that is I like gift knitting. Half of my yarn stuff is still at the apartment since I'm still sleeping here and half is at my parents' house. Not good when you're looking for something. Or, as in my case, you suck at keeping notes and can't remember which projects you've actually already cast on already. So my knitting is almost stressing me out at this point!

I do have two projects in my bag that I've been carrying with me, a pair of vanilla socks and a lacy scarf for my sister. Both of these patterns are pretty much memorized, so at least that's something. But I have a sneaky suspicion many Christmas knitted gifts will be a little late this year. Maybe next year I'll be more organized. Probably not, but I can dream, right!?

What to do when your knitted gifts aren't appreciated

I haven't written a blog post in what feels like forever. Work keeps getting in the way of my personal life. And I updated my iPad and now my app to write my blogs isn't behaving itself. In fact I think I've started a new blog entry at least 5 times now and every time I try to save it miraculously quits working. I love technology. Primarily because it gives me a new challenge to claw through every few days.

I've had multiple projects going on at work and although it's greatly hampered my ability to get to knit night and blog, it hasn't stopped me from knitting. I've even managed to get gift knitting completed. And better yet, given the gifts to the proper recipients. Most have been well received. But one has not. Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about the dreaded Boyfriend Socks. I love knitting socks. Really I do. I do not however like the yarn I picked for these socks. But I put my big girl pants on and finished the pair. I did complain about it any chance I got, but I did it. The Boyfriend threw a number of fits when I was working on anything but his socks. And I had him try on the first sock and wear it around. I made him give me input through the whole process. He LOVED his socks. But has he worn the dreaded socks? No. Not. One. Single. Time. And you know why? Because he's convinced they are too short and will fall down. He is doubting my superior knitting skills. He's challenging the very art of ribbing.

Since I'm a grown up, I had only a slight breakdown. Begged and pleaded that he at least try the socks. Just for a couple of hours. Nope. He knows everything. And they won't work for him. So I took them and wore them all day. And did my ribbing fail? Even the tiniest little bit? Of course it did not fail. Because I am a Knitter. And people, any Knitter can do a basic 2 x 2 rib on a cuff of a sock. Did that convince him? Nope. So I now have a new pair of socks. And you will be proud to know I didn't strangle him with them. Or gag him with them. Or fill them with nickels and beat him with them while he slept (yes, I've obviously thought about these things.)

But the true gall was when he asked me to knit him another pair. This time make them taller. Am I convinced the effort will be worth it? Not a chance. So while he thinks he's getting another pair of socks, really I'm making them so they will fit either of us. So when he inevitably refuses these new ones for some ridiculous reason, I'll just smile and wear them myself. I'll be smiling while I come up with new punishments for asking for things he won't use.