Updates, News and other Stuff

Well, yeah.  I've gotten pretty far behind in updating my various projects here.  Anyone who has taken a look at my Ravelry Projects Page can see just how many more projects and things that I'm working on that I haven't really talked about here.

There are a few reasons.

1) I find I'm concentrating more on my actual crafting, nowadays.  In some ways, that's a good thing -- it means I'm spending more time knitting/crocheting then I am randomly reading the Ravelry forums (Rav is fun, but it's a time-killer!)

2) I've got -a lot- of projects.

3) (And really, the most important reason).

I've been thinking for a while about actually making something out of this whole knitting hobby, and after a lot of searching, I've decided to take some of my original designs (not featured here or on my project page) and begin the process of selling my patterns online through the Ravelry marketplace. 

At this point, though, I'm still only in the process of designing and knitting my prototypes.  And since I'm not a fast knitter, this may take a while.    That being said, I've rediscovered such a love of the fiber arts, that I might as well see if I can make that passion into something, even if it is just a small amount of income on the side.

Due to my previous experiences in a work-from-home envrionment, I've created a second Ravelry ID, as well as a second, more professional, blog.   The reasons for this is that way, the messages and e-mails go to a 'work' e-mail, and allow me to keep a psychological boundary between my work and my fun.  I made the mistake, once, of using my personal e-mail for a work-from-home . . . and that alone did a number on my mental state.  I've since become a very strong believer in separating 'work' from 'life', even if 'work' is a huge passion.

That being said, I do encourage anyone who has been following me here, to check out those other pages to see my ideas and progress.  And don't worry, I'm not going to stop updating here, but my updates may slow down a little.

Knitting In Public Trials

So, there have been a few things that happened in my knitting life, but this one is kind of sad.

I do volunteer work, and I often knit something brainless through the meetings.  They can get quite long, and while I do totally appreciate making sure that everyone is heard, it does mean that the meetings can drag sometimes.

So, I knit.  It helps me pay attention, and it keeps me from fidgeting or going stir-crazy during the long meetings.

Apparently someone took objection to that.  It's probably the assumption that I'm being disrespectful to the speakers, or that I'm not paying attention (despite the fact that I tend to be pretty vocal during these meetings).   I can understand that, it's a common assumption, and I can totally see why someone who doesn't knit could think that my attention is not on the speakers or the meeting.

The sad part of it is, they didn't come to me.  They wrote a note to the person running the meeting, who then had to talk to me.  Now, the person running the meeting doesn't mind my knitting at all, (and hadn't even noticed until it was pointed out) so as long as I am still actually paying attention, and am not distracting the people next to me, it's not a problem in their mind.

Fair enough.

I just wish that whoever felt that my knitting was disruptive for some reason could have come to me directly.   I would have happily explained.   I'd have to find the links again, (and if someone is curious, I can go digging for them) but there are actual studies showing that knitting actually increases your absorption of information.

Anyway, I did agree to bring a smaller project (I was working on my scarf, and it's getting kind of long), in case it was just the size that was distracting -- if it's a much smaller 'in hand' kind of project, maybe it won't bug others as much. I don't mind compromising at all, I really just wish I could have had this sort of discussion with whoever it is that is bothered by my knitting.  

Job Interview and plans for another day around downtown:

I got a job interview! 

It's a place I applied for ages ago, and they got back to me and asked if I could come in tomorrow.  The position's part-time, so it won't interfere with my current job.

I'm excited, nervous, and going to try and go to bed right after I finish typing this.

Thing is, I'm meeting someone downtown later, so there's no point in me going home. It makes more sense to hang around and do some of those errands I didn't get to earlier, but even then, I'll have time to kill.

However, I realized I'm going to be close to Lettuce Knit.

I've never been there, and it's convenient that I can go there and sit and knit to kill some time.  There are a good number of little restaurants nearby it that I can get lunch/dinner (hopefully with better luck then last time!), including the place that I originally wanted to go to.

With a bit of luck, I might even be able to clear a project off the needles.  That would be nice.

On another note, I put in another order at EatSleepKnit -- with the Sweet Georgia Superwash Worsted back in stock, I just ordered the last of the remaining yarn for my christmas gifts.

Finally, after all that, the choir at my church is starting back up for the fall, so the first practice is tomorrow evening.  It'll be nice to be singing in the choir again. :)

So How Fast can I knit. . .?

Ok. 

So I've gotten work done on a bunch of projects. I got past the thumb on the Birthday Gloves (no new picture there yet, sorry!), and I got 6 more squares done on Christmas Scarf. . . .

The Birthday Socks that I now have 10 days to finish?

No,  I haven't worked on them at all over this marathon until today, and the only reason I worked on them today was because I was out and about, and my work meeting takes place about two blocks from The Purple Purl.  So, I went in and just sat and knit (and chattered to the owners) and got a few inches into the foot.  But I still have another whole sock to do. 

This is going to be interesting. . .   can I knit fast enough to finish these socks in ten days?

Yarn Store Hunting in Durham Region

Ok. My new job does have me doing some optional traveling (and I actually like traveling around and seeing new things, so I volunteered to do so).  I won't be doing anything more then a day trip, and I can get my travel costs reimbursed, so why not!

That day trip will take me into Durham Region.  I have sites in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa, to name a few; and I'd love to get some site visits in.

I feel like a bit of an idiot.  Someone on Ravelry mentioned the idea of looking up yarn stores when you take a trip.  And I started wondering if there are any good yarn stores in Durham.

Apparently, according to Ravelry, there's a Yarn Store right by where I'd be visiting in Ajax called Bouclair. No website, or anything, but I might still stick my head in to see what they have.

This is a double advantage for me, also, because I don't drive. So while I can get out to Ajax Go Station with relative ease, getting to my site will take a bit longer, because Durham Transit buses are every half-hour/every hour.  Now I'll (hopefully) have somewhere awesome to kill time while I wait for the bus.

Also, Kniterary (in Whitby, directly north of the Whitby Go Station), looks promising too, and it looks like it's only a short jaunt from my site in Whitby. 

I won't be doing either of these for a bit, I'll have to coordinate with the sites I'm working with and set up a proper site visit.  But now the idea is even more exciting. 

Exciting thoughts.  Nice to know there's somewhere to get yarn if I end up waiting for a Go Train or something.

New Job!

Ok, so I know it's not knitting-related, per se, but. . .

I have a job!

I haven't been employed since my last contract ended.  I've been doing some volunteer work, and I love it, but it doesn't pay the bills.

Now, I have a job -- and even better, it's a job in my field!

I start next Tuesday with training.   They want me to jump right in after that. It's an 8-month contract, and one of my questions, when I get the chance, is going to be about the possibility of renewing it if they like my work.

It's part-time, but that's a good thing for me right now.  I'm dealing with some health stuff, and don't know if I'm up to handling a full-time job.  Also, I don't really want to give up my volunteer work if I don't have to, either.

So, less time for knitting, but more impetus to knit on the TTC . . .and more money to buy yarn!  :D