Commitments and Priorities

All she wants to do is knit, except when she wants to spin...

First, the Ravelry update...

You are #23291 on the list.
6660 people are ahead of you in line.
11763 people are behind you in line.
47% of the list has been invited so far

Getting closer...

Can you change your priorities? You can try to change where you invest your energy, but if you don't feel it as a priority, it's just a really heavy drag, isn't it? I know I NEED to work a little harder and make more money, but gods, I really don't WANT to.

As my life has been upside down, inside out and just generally remodelled in the last few weeks, I'm feeling a little disoriented to say the least. The commitments have changed some. But my priorities remain the same. I almost didn't even go to Flock and Fiber this weekend. It sucks to go with no money. So many beautiful fibers and yarns. And bunnies, oh the bunnies.. But one of my priorities is spending time with my family. I did, I went. With my family. And it did feel good. Not as gloriously and giddy-ously good as it has in years past. But the crowd there is good. You can' hardly help but be swept away with all the people walking around with eyes glazed over and big giant grins on their faces. It's almost like they've been smoking that wool or something. Someday, I'm going to go to that thing with some real cash, and time to actually do something with what I buy. Yes, someday.

I've got more commitments than I know really where to put them. Work, school, more work, more school, mom taxi, housework, dinner, exercise (ha).... but what I keep trying so hard to find time for is not working towards my work or my education, but my knitting. The fiber stroking hobbies are always first on my list of wanting to make time. I SHOULD be making time to work more, make more cash, or making time to work more on my midwifery school and doula certification. Or get out and get some exercise. But only so many hours in the day. And I have my priorities. And knitting is kind of like doing yoga, right?

I have my afternoons, which seem like hours that need to be filled up with something more productive than just wrangling 5-year-olds. Finding I can knit and holler, hey! stop that! without missing a beat. figuring if I try to spin though, I'll be telling kids not to stick their fingers in there.. ;)

Maybe I'll try to get them into some more crafting projects. I just wish we had the room to have just "dedicated crafting space" so they could have projects and things to work on. But there is only the kitchen, and that is already committed to something else. Eating is a priority after all.

I feel so tired. and I know, I'm only going to get more tired. But, it's the sacrifices we make, trying to build a better life. Speaking of which, I ought to get back to working on that. Work, I mean. If I get done early, I can knit. It's my little carrot to keep me on track. And wow, I sure would like to get that credit card paid off. Pay off the Visa, and you can use the next month's payment to buy yourself a shiny new spinning wheel! How's THAT for an incentive! I guess I just have to figure out how to creatively use my priorities to inspire myself to fulfill the commitments.

Tofutsies Socks Done, what's next?

Looky, looky - I figured out how to do the cursed blog tags/badges thingies for my sidebar. Seems like they coulda made that a little easier. but ANYWAY...

Finally finished Charlotte's pair of matching socks. I can't find the pictures (I actually think I deleted them because my card was full and I wanted more pictures at my sister's wedding last weekend). But, here is one of MY sock. Charlottes look just like mine, but her feet are smaller and cuter. It's just a basic vanilla sock using Tofutsies yarn.

I'm still working away on my sister's stole. Obviously, not going to be the wedding present, but maybe for their 2-year anniversary. I'm also working on the B4 Bag which I just started working on. Now, I'm going to have to try another pair of socks. Probably the new I-Love-Gansey socks from the Six-Sox KAL group

I'd also like to try the tilted duster pattern on the cover of the Fall IK.

All this, and starting to save up my pennies for the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in September, plus that whole change my life career, try to give some energy to spiritual pursuits, find time for marital bliss, etc... The plate is full, may I have another?

The Latest Crafting Storm Damage

I bought this yarn on e-bay

- 100% New Zealand Wool ~ 2ply
~ Sport weight
~ 350 yd. double strand skeins
~ 700 yards total (2X350 yd skeins)

I managed to get it for less than 10 dollars total, including shipping. It came in the mail today, so very, very nice... I also bought a sock kit - to make some purple socks for Charlotte. Very yummy and soft...Then I went crazy and ordered a bunch of yarn and some circular needles so I can try knitting socks on 2 circs.

In my lust for yarn, I started browsing Ebay again, and found myself mesmerized by old knitting pattern books and magazines. Particularly those from the 1920's to early 1950's. So classy...

I am going to now stop splurging, at least for now.. Just wait for my purchases to come in the mail. Except that I have this $25 birthday money just begging me to visit the local yarn shop and see what's there...
Can you ever have more than you need?

In other crafts, I am utterly enamored with this magical stuff and I WILL have to buy her book besides. I want to make little felted magical people and animals.

And OTN: Cable-y socks, halfway done on the second sock, then I'm moving on to the actual sock yarn and smaller needles. I may try the Monkey Socks next. Or just some vanilla socks in purple for Charlotte.

First Knit Socks!

I finally decided to knit socks. I've been knitting for a while, and recently finished knitting a couch blanket. But I've always wanted to try socks. Once or twice, I've started a cuff. But never got anywhere.

So, I got determined. Went on line, and found several Basic Instructions on how to knit socks. I signed up for several sock-knitting Yahoo groups (because when I want to know something about anything, I look for a yahoo group) and found a link in the First Time Socknitters KAL I group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FirstTimeSocknittersKAL/

And now I can say I KNIT SOCKS! It took me three days to do the first one,
and I knit the second one in its entirety yesterday.


Since it was mostly a practice run, I just used cheap ($4 a skein) yarn from Joanns and I used #5 needles so I could see what I was doing. But here they are!