I am a Raveler

I have been sucked into the world of Ravelry. And what a world it is! I am truly amazed in so many ways. Not the least of which is as a former computer geek type, as I am truly impressed by the user interface. I can see that maintaining my presence on Ravelry is going to take some effort, but I think it is going to be worth it. Who knew?!?! Well, I guess the founders, that's who! So my ID is "entrelacqueen", come find me and say "HI" if you are a Raveler too!

A Successful Submission

So earlier this week I sent off my first magazine submission in quite sometime and the first "done to spec". All other submissions were based on something I had already completed and they just happen to like! So this was a different experience for me. And if I were to say it was easy, I would be lying. I had to do a significant amount of ripping a couple of times, because the garment wasn't coming together quite the way I wanted and decided to take another approach (twice)!

But it turns out in the end all the effort was worth it! It arrived at the Knitters' magazine office yesterday and apparently they were very happy with the result. These samples have to be knit in small sizes (for the models) and I AM NOT A SMALL SIZE. So I wasn't able to try it on before it left to make sure it "fit". But apparently it got put on to an appropriate sized body and walked around the office -- YAY!!!

So you can all watch for the garment in the upcoming Summer issue of Knitters. The yarn was from Berroco called Bansai. It is a bamboo ribbon wrapped with a light strand of nylon. The drape was amazing. The garment is entrelac (natch) and ripple stitch which makes a nice combination.

So I guess that wasn't too hard! I only have to do it a few dozen more time for the upcoming entrelac book!!

You Can't Always Get What You Want

You can't always get what you want (sing it with me...), you can't always get what you want, you can't always get what you want...but if you try sometimes...you just might find...you'll get what you need!!!

This was my theme song on Saturday. We headed out to go shopping for Arlis (about an hour and a half away) and working to a deadline, my knitting was with me. But as I got started I discovered that the short circular just wasn't going to work and I needed DPNs. How hard could it possibly be to find US#7 DPNs? Even though I do not prefer to purchase knitting supplies at a chain craft store, desperate times call for desperate measures. My local knitters have often told me that Michael's has a HORRIBLE supply of needles, but I generally try not be negative and have never looked closely enough to really evaluate -- maybe it was just our local store. Ah...but no...of the THREE, yes count'em, three Michaels we visited they only carried Clover DPNs in US#8 and US#10.5 and Boye DPNs in US#3 and US#6. No more, no less; how ridiculous is that?!?! So then we went to find a JoAnn's and I am happy to report that they have a much more reasonable selection.

So the moral of the story is: "In desperate times go to JoAnn's because Michaels is uselss".

We Love Our Jobs

So yesterday was spent in one of the most beautiful places on earth and I was able to call it "working" since I was hosting another knitting teacher! OK, so we really did talk about knitting and teaching, but mostly we enjoyed the wonder that is Yosemite. Chris Bylsma and her husband Charlie arrived Tuesday evening after flying into SFO. Wednesday morning we got up early and headed up to the Ahwanhee for a late breakfast. This was the most fabulous breakfast buffet that we had ever seen and the view was absolutely incredible. We then spent the day seeing the various sights in the Yosemite Valley floor.

Throughout the day, Chris and I would remark on how we love our jobs. We get to meet the neatest people, travel throughout this incredibly beautiful country and even occasionally knit! It really is good work if you can get it! Chris and Charlie left the morning after breakfast and picking a good supply of oranges and tangerines (yes, both just grow in our yard) to head south to begin the teaching tour that will finish up when we meet again in Santa Clara for Stitches West.

Busy Knitting

I have been AMAZINGLY busy the past month (yes, that was the excuse for no postings in a month). January - March always fly by because it is busy season for EVERYTHING that I am involved in. I have to prep for and then attend meetings for our church's Board of Ordained Ministry, it is ski season and I am a part-time ski instructor and then there is all the knitting stuff. TNNA happens in the beginning of January followed by filling orders, sending out new season catalogs. February brings teaching at Stitches West. March is a slower knitting month, but it is when I have to start preparing for the next busy season in June and I have to get the garden spring cleaning.

I do know that I would rather be busy than not, but I have averaged over 60 / week for JUST the knitting business stuff this month. So now I am trying to get the last bits of my new patterns done and through tech editing. So watch for my next post, it will have information on all the NEW stuff for Knitability. But for now, I need to get back at it!

Just in Time for Christmas

So a couple days before Christmas Arlis and I decided to do some more car shopping (with no intention of buying that day), but we came home with this!! We have already taken it up skiing once. It snowed most of the day and started snowing heavily as we were leaving. It was FABULOUS!! It handled well and is super comfortable. I think we are really going to enjoy this new truck.

It Has Been a Web Kinda Day

I never ceased to be amazed how much I can get done when I just put in a bit of focused effort. Today has been a website update sort of day! A few days ago I went through and looked at a few areas that needed some work. Today I got almost that entire list checked off and also added a new page that has been on my to do list for some time! I will probably be updating this one from time to time, but it is not a bad start.

I also added several testimonials to existing pages. I have finally started remembering to ask folks when they e-mail me if I can add their statements to the website. I probably should also create a testimonials page that has a bunch of them listed, but at least this is a start.

Of course, there is always a lot more to do. Truly, a website is NEVER finished. But at least I really feel like I got something accomplished. I won't need to feel the least bit guilty skiing tomorrow!!!

Cleaning Can Be Fun Too!

So yesterday (and today and by necessity tomorrow), I got the cleaning bug! Over time, the surfaces within my office have become more and more covered with STUFF. Like the chair I have for someone (usually my husband) to sit and talk to me while I am at my desk, has been completely unaccessible for at least 6 months and I bet it is closer to 18 months! But today it is not only accessible, it has also been cleaned.

I have thrown out nearly a complete garbage can full (the big ones) of paper, notes and other stuff I will never need again and if I do, in most cases, it is still on the computer. I now have a surprising amount of work surface in which to, well, work! I can see almost the entire surface of my desk, half of my file cabinet (half is covered by the printer), and most of the work table surfaces. This, truly is novel for me!

I have never been a "neat" person. The trick for me is I don't have an "official" spot for something, then it just gets put anywhere -- and that is where the problems begin. So when I am cleaning, I have to designate a spot for each thing or throw it out. Because this has become such a huge task, I have been putting it off for many, MANY months, but it finally got to me. And although I will still need to clean tomorrow to make it clear around the room, the end is in sight. Surprisingly, the process has not been too painful and at some points has actually been fun. Who knew?!?

Most importantly, I can tell I will at least feel more productive, if not in fact, BE more productive once my space is cleaned and organized. So tomorrow will be one room down and only 9 to go!!

Thanking God for My Safety

Today turned out to be quite a day. I did a stupid thing -- something all of us have probably done at least once if not often, I got distracted for just a second while driving into town. The result was that I swerved off the road onto the shoulder, recovered onto the road, but during the recovery process, over compensated, went into a spin, spun back onto the shoulder where my tire blew, broke the rim and my truck did a one and a half flip resting on the passenger side between two trees in an orchard.

Amazingly enough, I walked away with a tiny cut and a small bruise on the back of my head -- I always wear my seat belt and I am sure it saved my life. More over, after I caught my breath, was sure that nothing was seriously injured, I undid my seat belt and just walked out the front windshield which was mostly missing at this point.

I thank God for watching over me, particularly when I was being stupid! By all rights, I should be amazingly sore, if not in the hospital or possibly dead. I often thank God for my blessings, of which I have many, but today, I also thank God for taking care of me when I was too stupid to take care of myself.

Traveling and Seeing Old Friends

So I have been traveling a ton over the past few weeks, but I have been loving it!!! This is the busiest that my travel schedule has been that I can remember and Arlis and I were a little worried that it might be too much, but so far, it seems to all be OK. I still have one more trip to go, but I cannot imagine that it will be any problem.

Since the last time I posted I have been to Cloverhill Yarn Shop in the suburbs of Baltimore, at Stitches East, in Manhattan, KS at Wildflower Yarns and Knitwear and currently I am in Kansas City, MO preparing to teach my last class at The Studio.

All of the students have been wonderful and my various hosts have been very gracious. It is such a joy to be have a career in such a wonderful industry. I know that it is a unique pleasure to be able to consistently work with fun, nice, creative people. And I am truly grateful for that priviledge.

Being in Kansas City has been particularly fun since I used to work part time at the Studio when I used to live here. Many of the folks who come in the store are familiar faces. I have also had some free time to visit some of our old haunts. Even so, it will be good to be home again tomorrow. As much as I like traveling and seeing people, I miss my husband and the dogs!