Stitches MW

I am originally from Chicago. I recently realized that I will be home during Stitches Midwest. I missed Stitches West so I am excited to be going. Anyone else going? Any suggestions for classes to take? I still consider myself a beginner so I am looking to hone my skills.

I also crochet

I am making baby bibs for my boss's new born son. I would embroider his name, except, he does not have one yet. Well, he might have one by now, but on thursday, last week, he had no name. They are trying to decide between two names. Actually considering leaving the hospital without naming him! is that allowed?

finally some of my projects

I have neglected this blog. too busy knitting and crocheting. Take a look:






This is supposed to be for a friend who is moving to england. but I love it so much, I might keep it! Ever do that?



This is part one of a pair of legwarmers I am making for a friend who is a dancer. My first attempt at cabling! I hope she likes them. There is no danger of me keeping these. I am not a dancer. Anyway, I learned mosaic knitting yesterday. I will post pix of what i learned soon!

Ciao

knitting on vacation-McAlester, OK

So, i am anticipating my summer vacation and looking forward to relaxing and knitting. I am visiting my mother-in-law in mcalester, oklahoma and my mom in Chicago. THe hottest thing happening in mcalester is the wal-mart supercenter. Yahoo! I figured since it such a small town that there would possibly be a nice little yarn shop for me to visit and shop in. Well, no dice! I searched the internet and it looks like we would have to drive to tulsa to get anywhere near a good yarn shop. Now I know they sell yarn at Wal-Mart, but I was hoping for something a little more exciting. Oh well......

So to keep it interesting, i am going to challenge myself to complete 3 small projects during my trip to sunny oklahoma. Hey, what else will I be doing! So, bloggers out there with ideas for small projects, please send them my way!

Chicago is a different story. I am so sure that there are tons of interesting yarn shops in the area. I think this one sounds interesting:

http://www.loopyyarns.com/News.html

Let me know if you have any recommmendations!

My Art

So, here is a quick example of my art. I love it and so did my instructor. I love the colors and the randomness of it. I guess thats sort of what I am drawn to: color. The funny think is, as much as I like color, there is not nearly enough of it in my life. I guess these crazy patterns are my way of bringing boldness into my life. And who knows, maybe it will translate into something bigger. We shall see.

ciao

Knitting Life

I realize that my needlework has taught me lots of things. I decided to list some of the things I have learned from knitting and crocheting.

1. The end is always better than the beginning. When you start out knitting from your cast on edge, sometimes that first row can be kind of funky. Its hard to see the pattern emerging on that first row and sometimes its just hard to knit through that first row, especially for a beginner ( which I still consider myself to be). At times , you are tempted to abandon the entire thing because it simply looks like a mess of fiber that's not going to really turn into anything useful. In my life I have given up on many a project for this very reason. In my life I start things and initially, they start out badly. Whether it was relocating to California almost 8 years ago from Chicago or dating and hoping to find a mate, to trying desperately to have a child. These things were hard in the the beginning. So hard, that I thought I should give up. Since it was so difficult, with so many obstacles, maybe it was not meant to be. Maybe God was telling me to move on. Fortunately, giving up on a knitting project is easier than moving back to Chicago or abandoning my hopes of finding my soul mate or of every becoming a mother. With my knitting, i have frogged many a project and simply started over. Sometimes, I keep at the same project until I get it or I find something else to do with the yarn. I eventually find a project that works for me. I have found that if I persevere, I usually end up with something great, something that I can be proud of. In my life, I have found that if I simply persevere, I will find my way. Eight years ago, I arrived in LA, with 10 years of experience in the social service field and a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. I just knew I would find a job and get settled quickly. Unfortunately, I soon learned that the work I had been able to do in Chicago, including running 3 different programs at different times, I would need a master's degree to do in Los Angeles. After 3 months of searching for a position in the human service field, and countless interviews, I was tempted to give up. But, I was determined not to go backwards, so I persevered and finally found a different path. My skills translated well into the health care field and I landed my first job and have not looked back. And its a good thing I did not give up and run home, because guess what else I found in LA? My hubby! I have been happily married for 5+ years and I know that all the waiting was totally worth it, because he is totally perfect for me. As for the baby, well that's still something that we are working on. No success so far, even with help from medical science. Its been very difficult, one of my biggest challenges to date. And yet, when I think of my needlework, my transition from Chicago to LA and even my marriage, I am reminded that in the end, the journey that I am on, seems to always land me exactly where I need to be. The road has been rough, full of challenges and obstacle, road blocks telling me to turn back. Yet, through perseverance, I am weaving together beautiful knitted projects and a beautiful life. ciao