Yarn: The shop hop pRon

So you want to see my yarn do ya? Well, as promised, photo'd and flickr'd.



They are from left to right, top to bottom...
1. Dream In Color, Prism, Schaefer, Handspun Alpaca
2. Koigu, Pagewood Farms, Kollage, Ellyn Cooper's Yarn Sonnets
3. First 2 Araucania, and last 2 Hazel Knits (part of my sock club that arrived while I was away)

As you can see, I'm still drawn to all those greens and blues with a smattering of purples and pinks thrown in. I can't wait to get some stuff finished so I can cast on with some of these lovelies!

Knitting amongst friends

So, I am often amazed at the people I know. Take the folks I knit with usually on a weekly basis. They are just all so unique and intersting and funny and I have some of the best times with them. We knitters are good people.

I guess when I first started going to different knitting groups or even just OUT KNITTING IN PUBLIC, I was hesitant that I would "fit-in." I think some of my childhood shyness creeps in every once in awhile. But I went out into the knitting world and now there are people that I really enjoy being around and have a great time with. And yes we KNIT when together, but these are people I could see just hanging out with or catching a movie with or whatever. Anyway, I'm thankful for these friends, these knitters.

And often times, after we depart or later after the group disbands for the evening, I still laugh at what happened while there. I think of all those funny things so and so said, or that story about, whatever and I find myself laughing. We don't need alcohol to laugh and act silly... just some yarn and sticks and we are happy chicks. :)

Laughing and knitting, it's what makes my world go 'round.

I find myself less stressed, I'm in a good mood and overall I feel really content with life right now. Many times in the last however many years, life was a roller coaster. If work was great, then home wasn't, or if home was good, work wasn't. But now... things are mostly even most of the time. I kind of like it.

So, work is good
Home is good
Knitting is good

I'm looking forward to a couple of knitting weekends coming along in the new year. I have one scheduled in January with some pals. Then in February, Audra and I meet up in Pittsburgh with my sister and we go to Camp Kwonokee (???) for a retreat. I will hopefully get a LOT of knitting done. If I can keep my mouth shut. I find if I start talking... I don't get much knitting done. I don't know why I can't do both at the same time, but let's just say I'm challenged.

So knitting and knitting with friends and in groups, it's good stuff.

And I'm already thinking ahead to the new year and resolutions. I've made mention of this to a couple of people, so please hold me accountable.

For 2009, I resolve to FINISH MORE PROJECTS and start less stuff until I do finish! Now this means I will still START new things in 2009, but I do plan to finish everything I started in 2008 also. It's 30-ish projects (I think). Hopefully, by the end of 2009, my Ravelry projects will have more completed projects instead of all WIPS. We can hope, right?

I also plan to get started on gift knitting WAY before it's due.

In search of the perfect Fiber-Pittsburgh, day 1

So I've been meaning to post about our trip 2 weeks ago, but hadn't taken the time to do so. I have a minute now, so here goes.

First off, the drive... ugh.. sometimes I hate driving... I really wish we could portal to places. Anyway, normally it's not a bad drive, but it rained like the entire trip which kind of made for a downer. Plus I was super tired. Anyway, we made it there safely, and did ok on time.

We decided to drive into downtown to look for a shop, "Ewe Can Knit" which was harder than heck to find! We drove around and around. The directions from the internet were A. apparently wrong B. written down wrong by me or C. I just can't read signs properly. Who knows?!

We are finally on the right street and we see addresses near the one we need, but don't see the store... anywhere. So we decided to do another drive by. While we are circling, I call my sister, to look the place up and get their phone number. I get that, make the call, find a meter as the lady answers the phone, "Welden's can I help you?" I pull into the space and say, "what was the name?"

She replies, "Weldon's"

Me: "Sorry, I have the wrong number."

Only to look up and realize we were in FRONT of a giant awning that said, WELDON'S and on the window, painted letters, Ewe Can Knit. Seriously people... WTF?! Well, we're here! I look at the sign above the meter and there is no parking from 4-6 on this street and guess what time it is, 3:48. I look at Audra and tell her we have 10 minutes! It better be a quickie!!!

So we run in, quickly peruse the yarn and I find the magazine section. And lo and behold, they have a massive TON of OLD mags. Like 2005, 2006 and 2007.... i'm zipping through them and what do I find, but KNITSCENE-FALL 2006, the issue I've been DYING to find! And of course it's marked down because it's old... BONUS! I am seriously so elated I can't speak.

I look to Audra and say, this was seriously worth this trip. This find made the weekend for me. And it was our FIRST stop! I could have turned around and gone home, that is how excited I was. And for those of you who don't know, this particular issue has a pattern I've been longing for called, Molly Ringwald by Michelle Rose Orne. It's the cutest little sweater and I've really been wanting to make it. And now I can!

After my purchase I ran back to the car, Audra finished up her shopping and we got the heck out of downtown!

The WRONG way of course! And by that I mean, I went down a ONE way street... the WRONG WAY... it wasn't marked where I turned onto it... I have a witness, ask Audra! And then true to pittsburgh hwy form, the road/bridge/whatever split somewhere and I ended up on the wrong hwy. So we went up a bit, turned around back towards downtown, then onto the RIGHT hwy and called Sarah, met her at Ikea (that is like a homing beacon for me). I know everything in relation to Ikea. :)

We waited in the parking lot for a bit, went to dinner and margs at Don Pablos, the marg def better than the dinner... although I still ate too much and was uber full when we left. Damn chips. We walked it off at ikea. I picked up some kitchen stuff and a cute little backpack. And a lazy susan for my mom.

Then to Sarah's for the night.

And to add, one final note about the fabulous magazine... Knitscene, fall 2006. I was perusing it after we were at Sarah's and you will never believe what else is in there.... THE CENTRAL PARK HOODIE!!! SCORE! Another pattern I've been wanting forever... and I know you can purchase it online for only $5 but I just haven't done that yet and now I don't have to! So I got all excited about my little magazine all over again. What a bonus. TOTALLY worth the trip. :)

---pictures to come.

Places to check out in PA

My sister Sarah, BFF Audra and I are going to see Bon Jovi, March 15th in Pittsburgh. Since Audra and I will be road-tripping to get there and staying with Sarah, we've decided to make a weekend of it! Of course I NEED to go to Ikea (yeah, like I need a hole in the head, but whatev), but I've done MUCH Ravelry searching and have found some shops to check out.

For anyone else interested in the PA area, I found a site for Pittsburgh Knitting that lists local events and shops and such. I'll have to see if there is such a site for Columbus... if not, note to self, get that in the works.

Anyway from reviews and other comments, I'm thinking these are the places I'd like to check out. OF course this is all time and MONEY permitting, how much we get to. But it will be fun anyway.

Sarah is slightly SW of PIttsb in McDonald. So one place is Bloomin' Yarns which looks to be about 12 mi SE of her. They don't have a website, but from everything I've read, seems like a nice place to stop and it's close, bonus points for that.

Then, Yarns Unlimited looks to be about 17 mi North. From the reviews the store sounds interesting, but I can't say that I like their website.. at ALL!

Knit one, which has great photos online and makes me really want to check it out is 22 mi E and has Sunday hours so that is good. Gives us more time if we can't make it on Sat.

Natural Stitches is E about 25 miles, but I think they have Sunday hours which will make it do-able as well and we might be able to hit both stores.

All these places sound fantastic, I hope we can do it all! And there are a few others as well, so maybe we'll hit more than these?!