New Year, New Outlook!

Life isn't about finding yourself...
Lfe is about CREATING yourself.
'George Bernard Shaw'

Christmas

Christmas is here and nice things can happen to good people.
Merry Chirstmas to all!

Fiber Nook

Wow! Where did my time go? I have been so busy that Fall has flown by and I set up the Christmas tree at the Gallery yesterday All the artist design ornaments to put on the tree and our customers purchase. It's a fun project.

I really need to slow things down. How many times am I going to say that before I actually do it. I have been knitting but have not posted any of my projects. I don't know if I posted that we now have a Fiber Nook at the Gallery. Our LYS closed and I decided to go ahead an start the beginning of what could be a LYS. We will know for sure by next year. We carry Cascade, Malabrigo, some odds and ends from the old LYS. I plan on adding Crystal Palace in January. I am going to wait and see how the economy is before I take the big plung. I have created a FiberWorks group on Ravelry. Stop by and visit.

Ravelympics

I decided to participate in the 2008 Ravelympics. The challenge is to start and finish a project during the 2008 Olympic Summer Games. Should be interesting considering that I go back to work on the 11th of August. But if I organize myself, I should be ok. I want to make fingerless mitts for myself and a hat/mitten for each of my grandchildren. I think I can do it. I just need to have everything planned out. More info to come later.

Coptic Journals

Another one of my obsessions is making these small Coptic Journals. I carry one with me to sketch ideas and make notes. I love them because they lay flat when opened. I bring this up because I have to temporarily stop knitting and prepare to teach a how to class on the 15th at ArtWorks Gallery. Letting go of my needles is hard for me even though I love making handmade books. Since it is a two hour workshop I have alot of prep work to be able to use my time wisely; so besided making a detailed handout, I will cut, sand and cover the boards for them. I use my own painted paper and then once in a while I find handmade or marbled paper that I just must have so I buy it and convince myself I will use it on a special project. Needless to say I have as much paper as I do yarn. They will spend most of the two hours preparing their signatures and sewing the book together. Patience is a virtue with this project.
For me, it has to be a fiber thing. I also have my advanced students make their own journals. It's the first project I do with them upon our return to school in August. Concentration is a pre-requisite to get the stitch down. Once they get it they take off. One of two things will happen, they will hate doing it or love it so much they become addicted and can't stop making them. For me, it has to be the size just of the project. just like I am currently obsessed with baby hats. There is something intimate about these two obsessions of mine.

4th of July Baby

Our little princess is a 4th of July Baby. She is a doll and both Mom and baby are doing well. Maria Deneice weighed 7lbs and 6oz. Grandpa will always have fireworks for her birthday. Last week was a whirlwind of activities and it's finally catching up with me.

I am having a great time with my first little girl. Of course my grandsons are fascinated with her.

Charity Knitting

Itty-Bitty Raverly Group Charity for June is the Preemie Project for the University of Iowa Children's Hospital.
Any time I have a second I try to knit a preemie hat. I plan on mailing them to our Hostess by Tuesday. This project is dear to me since I have used the services of the Hospital for my grandson who was born with Club Feet. My family and I drove to Iowa for my his treatments. His first visit to Dr. Ponseti was when he was 10 days old,and he will be 7 years old in August. It was a difficult time and now I can barely remember the stress. Yesterday I went to his last tee-ball game. I've watched him play soccer, run the bases, and he has speed and even though it was a great sacrifice to make these trips weekly, it is worth it.