Colorado Interlude

We just returned from a week long trip to Colorado. It was a much needed vacation as we have not been out of the state in over 2 years. We spent half of the trip in downtown Denver visiting family and the other half in the mountains hiking and enjoying the foreign-to-us geography.

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The whole trip was inspiring, mostly in the “our town is so lame” kind of way. We are always teetering on the line of comfort vs. adventure. We grew up here, our families are here, it’s cheap to live here, so why leave? On the other hand, this area is incredibly uninspiring and dull. We could do our jobs anywhere so why not explore the rest of the country.

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I’m still struggling with my position of employment. I feel like I’m appreciated at my job and I’m good at it. But I also constantly feel like I can do better, I should be doing something more… inspiring I guess. just more. I have many skills that are not common that I should be utilizing. But it’s too easy to stay where I am so I do. I feel so flaily about it sometimes. I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing right now and no one can decide except me. This is not where I thought I’d be at 32. I have all the advantages in the world but, as Maria Bamford says, I’m paralyzed by hope.

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A New Leaf

So I kinda quit blogging for a while but I keep paying to keep this site up so I may as well use it for whatever I want. I think I’m going to start blogging about more things, not just knit and crochet. I’ve recently started experimenting with silversmithing which I hope to turn into a semi-business along with the knitting and crocheting. I may also include some posts about baking, cooking, working in a kitchen, life in general, etc.

Just over a year ago I was laid off from my architecture job and I’m now working in the kitchen at a local brewery. It’s been refreshing to step away from my desk job and get my hands dirty a bit. I work a lot harder for a lot less money but its rewarding in a different way. I get a lot more feedback on my performance, it allows me to exercise my social muscles (which is something an introvert like me needs), and I’ve learned a lot too. But there are obvious downsides. I’m exhausted so when I get home the last thing I want to do is more work, and that includes cooking and cleaning. But I’m making it work for now while I figure out where the rest of my life is headed.

Husband and I are trying to start a family. I’m tentatively planning to work from home whenever that happens but we’ve had a rough go of it so far as I had a miscarriage at 11 weeks this past November. I’m not sure what our future holds at this point but we try to keep looking forward.

Anyway 2013 is going to be the year that I get some kind of business off the ground. I need to. Because, baby or not, I can’t work in the kitchen forever and I’m not sure architecture is where I belong either. So, here we go!

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Yarn Sale Results

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So here’s what I ended up buying from KnitPicks yarn sale. Chroma Worsted (their newish self-striping line) is so soft and nice to work with. Some of the colorways were on sale so I picked up some “U-Pick” and “Grey” to possibly make myself a Lanesplitter skirt. There’s also a couple skeins of Felici sport in there to make myself another pair of socks.
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From JimmyBeansWool I picked up enough Hempathy to make myself this “Set Sail” asymmetric hem tunic. And, ok I have to admit, this yarn wasn’t even on sale but it sounded like just the perfect yarn for a summer top. It’s a blend of cotton, hemp and rayon so it’s hard-wearing and light. I got started on this one right away.
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Then today I discovered another cool yarn sale. Elann is selling grab bags. They are sold by color and you get 10 random skeins worth up to $13 each for only $12 total. I think I’ve exhausted my yarn budget for a while but if you haven’t and you’d like to try out some new yarns, check it out!

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Yarn Sale!

I’ve been so burned out on my current crochet/knit situation lately that I haven’t posted in, like, forever. I want to start on something totally new, something I can discover, but I’m held back by a few things.

1. I really should finish what I’ve already started first

2. I should be thinking about designing my own patterns because I could use the income

3. I need to use up the silly amount of yarn I have stashed before I buy ANY MORE

But today I woke up to news of two yarn sales, Knit Picks and Jimmy Beans Wool, and a book contest at Lorna’s Laces. Maybe it’s a sign. I need to just go ahead and get something fresh for myself, keeping in mind how it can be used and what I already have in my stash that I don’t use. Maybe it’s important for me to check out a yarn I’ve never used before, a new technique, some new tools, to reinvigorate my passion for the craft.

Is that a good enough reason to splurge? I think so :)

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