I'm officially employed again! Through a chance meeting with a former co-worker this week I heard that another co-worker was the GM at a nearby bike company. I got on their website and saw that they had an opening that matched my skills. So I planned to write a cover letter in the morning and send in my application.
It turns out they were faster than I. That evening I got an email from their HR Director. We agreed to meet on Wednesday. I had four interviews that day and another two on Thursday. Today they made me an offer and I accepted it. Starting Monday I'll be the Executive Assistant to the President of this company.
Sweet!
And...phew!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Rebel, Rebel
So I had a heck of a time deciding what I was going to spin for the Tour de Fleece. I bought some beautiful fiber in February at Stitches West. I was given some gorgeous Alpaca last week. I have what I consider a lot of stash already - and a nice variety of potential projects, each with its own tempting reason to bring to to the front of the queue.
Of course I can't find it to link to now, but somewhere I read that one of the rules for the Tour is that you don't start your project until Day 1 (yesterday).
I am a rebel, I tell you - a rebel with a capital Reb. Once I confess this I'd better go into hiding because I will have the spinning and the Tour police after me. Doping, schmoping - they'll ignore all that in favor of busting me for my Tour transgressions.
First, my goal is to finish some things I already started, long ago. I know! Already started=rule broken. Some of this I probably started before last year's TdeF - I am that much of a badass. Second, I actually didn't start my Tour until today. Yep, I skipped Day 1. Who knows - I might even skip another, then end up at the finish line looking fresh and energized, with my hands relaxed instead of my fingers contorted into crone-like claws. Call me Rosie, people, I don't care.
So here are my projects:
I'm starting with a beautiful batt (Corriedale?) from Grafton Fibers. I bought this at my first Stitches West (2007) before I bought my wheel (but I knew I'd own one soon). I'm about 1/3 the way through this project. It'll be a 3-ply - probably a sport or DK weight.
Next is some Quiviut that I'm spinning for Alison. I'm going for a 2-ply laceweight. As with the last Quiviut I spun, it's kind of like playing with dryer lint (fortunately with a slightly longer staple) but the end result is worth it.
Next is some yarn I'm making with Addison 'Real Vermonter' Roving from A Piece of Vermont. It's about 6 ounces of Romney/Corriedale, Mohair and a touch of Alpaca, all from farms in Vermont. This is the Petunias color way.
Last is a project using some Merino I dyed myself, and some silk - I plan on 2 plies (is that a word?) of the merino and one of the silk. Who knows what it'll be, I just like the thought of plying different fibers together.
I'm hoping to get 3 out of these 4 WIPs completed - I'm not sure which yet, but I'll figure that out as I go along.
Another rule (or guideline) for the TdeF is that this is an opportunity to challenge oneself (again, I can't find where I read that but I read it. I swear). Each of these projects varies from my spinning norm. I'm spinning my Grafton batt from the fold (I know how to do it but haven't completed a project using that method). The Quiviut is tough by nature of the short staple, and it needs to be spun really fine. I'm going to Navajo-ply the Real Vermonter fiber - that'll be a challenge to A) keep it even and B) keep the single from breaking during the plying. And I've never plied 2 different fibers together - I have no idea what to expect and if the difference in texture will make working with both at the same time trickier than usual.
Crap. I just followed a rule.
Of course I can't find it to link to now, but somewhere I read that one of the rules for the Tour is that you don't start your project until Day 1 (yesterday).
I am a rebel, I tell you - a rebel with a capital Reb. Once I confess this I'd better go into hiding because I will have the spinning and the Tour police after me. Doping, schmoping - they'll ignore all that in favor of busting me for my Tour transgressions.
First, my goal is to finish some things I already started, long ago. I know! Already started=rule broken. Some of this I probably started before last year's TdeF - I am that much of a badass. Second, I actually didn't start my Tour until today. Yep, I skipped Day 1. Who knows - I might even skip another, then end up at the finish line looking fresh and energized, with my hands relaxed instead of my fingers contorted into crone-like claws. Call me Rosie, people, I don't care.
So here are my projects:
I'm starting with a beautiful batt (Corriedale?) from Grafton Fibers. I bought this at my first Stitches West (2007) before I bought my wheel (but I knew I'd own one soon). I'm about 1/3 the way through this project. It'll be a 3-ply - probably a sport or DK weight.
Next is some Quiviut that I'm spinning for Alison. I'm going for a 2-ply laceweight. As with the last Quiviut I spun, it's kind of like playing with dryer lint (fortunately with a slightly longer staple) but the end result is worth it.
Next is some yarn I'm making with Addison 'Real Vermonter' Roving from A Piece of Vermont. It's about 6 ounces of Romney/Corriedale, Mohair and a touch of Alpaca, all from farms in Vermont. This is the Petunias color way.
Last is a project using some Merino I dyed myself, and some silk - I plan on 2 plies (is that a word?) of the merino and one of the silk. Who knows what it'll be, I just like the thought of plying different fibers together.
I'm hoping to get 3 out of these 4 WIPs completed - I'm not sure which yet, but I'll figure that out as I go along.
Another rule (or guideline) for the TdeF is that this is an opportunity to challenge oneself (again, I can't find where I read that but I read it. I swear). Each of these projects varies from my spinning norm. I'm spinning my Grafton batt from the fold (I know how to do it but haven't completed a project using that method). The Quiviut is tough by nature of the short staple, and it needs to be spun really fine. I'm going to Navajo-ply the Real Vermonter fiber - that'll be a challenge to A) keep it even and B) keep the single from breaking during the plying. And I've never plied 2 different fibers together - I have no idea what to expect and if the difference in texture will make working with both at the same time trickier than usual.
Crap. I just followed a rule.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Rama Llama Ding Dong
I've got a new FO to show you - a mid-stage FO really, as the spinning is completed but it hasn't been knit yet into whatever it decides to be. I finished the VT Llama that Norma gave me. This is about 550 yards of 2-ply, probably a light-fingering weight.
It's not the most evenly spun stuff on earth but I lurve, lurve, lurve it.
Here it is after a soaking and a thwack, waiting to dry:
Rama Alpaca Ding Dong?
So I came home from a friend's house yesterday to find a box waiting for me. I expected part of it - over a pound of gorgeous Alpaca fiber from here.
It's actually more of a mohagany color, and it'll be a sweater for me some day. As if this gift wasn't enough though, look what I saw when I opened the box (you may have to embiggen to read it):
A surprise! Some beautifully dyed alpaca with just a touch of bling (embiggen to see the full gorgeousness:
I've joined Team Crankypants for the Ravelry Tour de Fleece - This may become my project, but I'm still wavering on that. I'd better stop wavering soon - it starts tomorrow!
Feeling the Mojo
One thing I like about the timing of my birthday is that it falls shortly before Knitpicks holds one of their 40% off books sales. I got to spend the last of my birthday cash on some lace inspiration.
I've wanted this book ever since it came out. While I prefer rectangular wraps, I don't think there's a single project in this book that I wouldn't want to make. The yarn I blame on my very best friend evar, Tika. She blogged about buying some really pretty green laceweight (some Knitpicks Shadow in Cattail) and I got all jealous. So I added a couple of projects-worth of yarn to my order. The olive green is Alpaca Cloud in Dill (2 skeins), the greyish green is Gloss Lace in Cypress (2) and the purple is Gloss Lace in Pinot (1). I really like the Knitpicks laceweight, and the prices are incredibly moderate.
I'm feeling the urge to knit again. I think as soon as Tour de Fleece is completed, I'll have had my fill of spinning and will be ready to jump into some lace. In anticipation of all this lace, I finally caved and bought Knitpicks' blocking squares - no more pinning stuff to the guest-room bed. Yay! It's about time - I've been dying for blocking squares for years.
Little Miss Ice Cream
Trouble would like to thank you all for the nice birthday wishes. She was in an ice cream stupor for quite a while after the festivities but has since recovered and can be seen here waiting for more.
It's not the most evenly spun stuff on earth but I lurve, lurve, lurve it.
Here it is after a soaking and a thwack, waiting to dry:
Rama Alpaca Ding Dong?
So I came home from a friend's house yesterday to find a box waiting for me. I expected part of it - over a pound of gorgeous Alpaca fiber from here.
It's actually more of a mohagany color, and it'll be a sweater for me some day. As if this gift wasn't enough though, look what I saw when I opened the box (you may have to embiggen to read it):
A surprise! Some beautifully dyed alpaca with just a touch of bling (embiggen to see the full gorgeousness:
I've joined Team Crankypants for the Ravelry Tour de Fleece - This may become my project, but I'm still wavering on that. I'd better stop wavering soon - it starts tomorrow!
Feeling the Mojo
One thing I like about the timing of my birthday is that it falls shortly before Knitpicks holds one of their 40% off books sales. I got to spend the last of my birthday cash on some lace inspiration.
I've wanted this book ever since it came out. While I prefer rectangular wraps, I don't think there's a single project in this book that I wouldn't want to make. The yarn I blame on my very best friend evar, Tika. She blogged about buying some really pretty green laceweight (some Knitpicks Shadow in Cattail) and I got all jealous. So I added a couple of projects-worth of yarn to my order. The olive green is Alpaca Cloud in Dill (2 skeins), the greyish green is Gloss Lace in Cypress (2) and the purple is Gloss Lace in Pinot (1). I really like the Knitpicks laceweight, and the prices are incredibly moderate.
I'm feeling the urge to knit again. I think as soon as Tour de Fleece is completed, I'll have had my fill of spinning and will be ready to jump into some lace. In anticipation of all this lace, I finally caved and bought Knitpicks' blocking squares - no more pinning stuff to the guest-room bed. Yay! It's about time - I've been dying for blocking squares for years.
Little Miss Ice Cream
Trouble would like to thank you all for the nice birthday wishes. She was in an ice cream stupor for quite a while after the festivities but has since recovered and can be seen here waiting for more.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Birthday Beagle
ETA: A video at the end!
Today is Trouble's 10th birthday. Happy Birthday, little girl! In our house, our pets get a major treat on their birthday. Hers is ice cream. No one can snarf down ice cream like Trouble can.
Waiting to be served:
Waiting to hear the clicker:
CHARGE!
Look at those ears flapping.
The big chunk is gone.
Time to clean the bowl:
She's a good bowl cleaner.
This whole process took about 90 seconds. Talk about brain freeze.
And now...in video!
Today is Trouble's 10th birthday. Happy Birthday, little girl! In our house, our pets get a major treat on their birthday. Hers is ice cream. No one can snarf down ice cream like Trouble can.
Waiting to be served:
Waiting to hear the clicker:
CHARGE!
Look at those ears flapping.
The big chunk is gone.
Time to clean the bowl:
She's a good bowl cleaner.
This whole process took about 90 seconds. Talk about brain freeze.
And now...in video!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
What A Card (er)
So, over the past 10 days I've confirmed a few things. First, knowing I lost my job is a lot easier on me than wondering if I was going to lose it or not. I definitely handle adversity better than the unknown - I learned that when I was dealing with Cancer - chemo and radiation weren't as hard on me emotionally as the first few weeks spent figuring out exactly what I had and what to do about it. I have little patience for analysis - I just want to do.
Second - it's a good thing I haven't retained my childhood shyness (shut up. I was). It seem I know a ton of people and I have become a networking machine. Jobs aren't exactly plentiful but there are definitely some options available in my field as well as people willing to put in a good word for me, so I'm hopeful I can make something happen soon.
Third, the silly, pesky issues of finances/mortgage/food aside, life without a job - for at least the short-term - isn't too shabby. I'm putting a lot of energy and time into hunting down new employment but I'm also making sure I set aside time to work out, get more sleep, and of course play with fiber.
The knitting mojo disappeared last week - and I'm blaming it all on those fuzzy little Alpaca back in Vermont - I seem to be much more interested in fluff than yarn. Last week I borrowed Jasmin's drum carder and played around a bit with some of my stash.
When I first learned to spin on a spindle, I bought this, planning to make striped socks:
Perfectly decent fiber, but....borrrrinnnngg!
So I put it on the carder:
added a little bling:
And after a few passes, turned it into this:
TaDa!
If you embiggen this shot you can see the touch of sparkle. I think I'm in lurve.
I was so inspired I took a few hanks of my hand-dyed fibers that had felted a teeny bit and fluffed them up:
I think this is a merino-tussah blend. I turned it into this:
Some hand-dyed Bombyx:
Became this:
Look! Cruella DeVille's wig!
Actually, that was a bit of black Alpaca which I carded with some Bombyx, which I'll dye some time - maybe a dark blue? If you have any ideas, speak up!
Carding all this stuff was a ton of fun. It's a good thing I had to return the carder though - if it were still here, I'd probably carded every bit of my fiber stash into one giant pile. It's hard to know when to stop.
I've also been spinning. While I was in Vermont in March, Norma gave me a fabulous gift of some Vermont Llama down. It's lovely stuff - and I'm spinning it into some lovely laceweight (if I say so myself, and I do). This picture was taken a little earlier in the week - I'm now exactly half-way done and that bobbin is completely full. I'm dying to finish this up so I can see the finished yarn - I had no idea Llama was so soft.
I know my knitting mojo will come back soon - I've started obsessing about lace and even picked some Dream In Color Baby which was on sale this weekend at Purlescence (again, yay for birthday money).
This is the November Muse colorway. It's a heavy lace/light fingering weight and I have 1400 yards of it. It needs to become something fab, but I'm taking my time to figure that out, and waiting for the mojo to return.
In the meantime, with this face, who can blame me for focusing on fluff right now?
Second - it's a good thing I haven't retained my childhood shyness (shut up. I was). It seem I know a ton of people and I have become a networking machine. Jobs aren't exactly plentiful but there are definitely some options available in my field as well as people willing to put in a good word for me, so I'm hopeful I can make something happen soon.
Third, the silly, pesky issues of finances/mortgage/food aside, life without a job - for at least the short-term - isn't too shabby. I'm putting a lot of energy and time into hunting down new employment but I'm also making sure I set aside time to work out, get more sleep, and of course play with fiber.
The knitting mojo disappeared last week - and I'm blaming it all on those fuzzy little Alpaca back in Vermont - I seem to be much more interested in fluff than yarn. Last week I borrowed Jasmin's drum carder and played around a bit with some of my stash.
When I first learned to spin on a spindle, I bought this, planning to make striped socks:
Perfectly decent fiber, but....borrrrinnnngg!
So I put it on the carder:
added a little bling:
And after a few passes, turned it into this:
TaDa!
If you embiggen this shot you can see the touch of sparkle. I think I'm in lurve.
I was so inspired I took a few hanks of my hand-dyed fibers that had felted a teeny bit and fluffed them up:
I think this is a merino-tussah blend. I turned it into this:
Some hand-dyed Bombyx:
Became this:
Look! Cruella DeVille's wig!
Actually, that was a bit of black Alpaca which I carded with some Bombyx, which I'll dye some time - maybe a dark blue? If you have any ideas, speak up!
Carding all this stuff was a ton of fun. It's a good thing I had to return the carder though - if it were still here, I'd probably carded every bit of my fiber stash into one giant pile. It's hard to know when to stop.
I've also been spinning. While I was in Vermont in March, Norma gave me a fabulous gift of some Vermont Llama down. It's lovely stuff - and I'm spinning it into some lovely laceweight (if I say so myself, and I do). This picture was taken a little earlier in the week - I'm now exactly half-way done and that bobbin is completely full. I'm dying to finish this up so I can see the finished yarn - I had no idea Llama was so soft.
I know my knitting mojo will come back soon - I've started obsessing about lace and even picked some Dream In Color Baby which was on sale this weekend at Purlescence (again, yay for birthday money).
This is the November Muse colorway. It's a heavy lace/light fingering weight and I have 1400 yards of it. It needs to become something fab, but I'm taking my time to figure that out, and waiting for the mojo to return.
In the meantime, with this face, who can blame me for focusing on fluff right now?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
I Totally Saw That Coming
So a few weeks ago, my boss announced that he would be leaving the company. This wasn't good news, mostly because I think he's great and I really enjoyed working with and for him. It also meant that my job (I'm a Corporate Bitch-slapper Executive Assistant) would probably fall by the wayside. I've spent the last few weeks in limbo, but found out this morning (upon my return from vacation) that I was right. So as of this afternoon, I am without a job.
*Sigh*
Whaddarya gonna do?
Well, I'm going to spend the rest of this week regrouping, decompressing, and recovering from my vacation (more on that in a bit). I'll do a little networking but that's it. Monday, however, I'll jump into job-hunt mode and make that my job. Depending on how that goes, we've got some decisions to make about how we want to handle the future, but I'm hoping for positive things so we don't have to take any drastic measures. In case you're concerned, bank robbery and the like aren't on the list of potential 'drastic measures'.
On A Happier Note...
My last full day at work (last Wednesday) was a fun one - it was my birthday! I can't freakin' believe I'm 50. I was gifted with two of my favorite things - yarn and champagne. Here's the yarn:
It's Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silkie - I can't remember the color way, but it's beautiful and soft. I started swatching right away but I don't know yet if I'm going to use it for socks or a scarf. Whatever I choose to make, it's going to be fab.
Reconnecting
The day after my birthday, I flew across the country to Vermont to spend time with old friends at my high school reunion. Before I went there though, I spent the morning here. My best friend from grade school and her husband raise Alpaca, and I got to hang out, play with fiber, and pet Alpaca noses. It was awesome.
Meet Tika. Cute, huh? (She's not the first Tika I've met but she is the first whose nose I've wanted to kiss - no offense, Tika #1!)
The whole crowd:
Someone looking kind of dorky:
Two new friends:
Who clearly don't understand the concept of personal space:
I could have played with them all day.
If you're interested in hand-spun Alpaca yarn, or unspun (but carded) Alpaca fiber, check out the website or shoot them an email at Arashi@together.net. They have beautiful stuff and can do custom work too. You'll not only be supporting a small business, you can rest assured that your purchase came from Alpaca that are treated well and generally lead one cushy, happy life.
From there I headed over to my high school for my weekend-long reunion. It was awesome. It was fab. It was amazing. And SO much fun! I'm not going to post the any of the 100+ pictures I took of the festivities (who knew that a bunch of people my age could have so much party energy?!) but here's a shot from our climb up Putney Mountain to give you an idea of where I grew up:
Yeah, poor me.
I also managed to join some grade school friends for a pot-luck brunch, visit with family members at my cousin's house near Boston, and took an impromptu trip to Maine to have lunch with my brother's widow before catching my flight back home on Monday night.
I'd originally planned to visit Webs and some Vermont fibery businesses (to check out Grafton fiber or another Golding spindle), but all the socializing didn't allow time for those side trips. I did however, manage to drop by the Green Mountain Spinnery (in the same town as my schools), where I picked up a skein of one of their sock yarns. This is a wool/Tencel blend that I've been dying to try out. Yay for birthday money.
I was super-busy the whole weekend but managed to get some knitting done on the plane. I started my Monkeys using my Crown Mountain Farms Aqualung hand-spun:
I love how this is turning out - a little color variation but not so much as to obliterate the pattern.
I also started a Lace Ribbon Scarf - I'm using Handmaiden Sea Silk, and it is amazing stuff.
Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch...
I'm not the only one who has been busy making stuff. Brian just harvested these:
And these:
And made this sourdough bread:
See why I married him?
*Sigh*
Whaddarya gonna do?
Well, I'm going to spend the rest of this week regrouping, decompressing, and recovering from my vacation (more on that in a bit). I'll do a little networking but that's it. Monday, however, I'll jump into job-hunt mode and make that my job. Depending on how that goes, we've got some decisions to make about how we want to handle the future, but I'm hoping for positive things so we don't have to take any drastic measures. In case you're concerned, bank robbery and the like aren't on the list of potential 'drastic measures'.
On A Happier Note...
My last full day at work (last Wednesday) was a fun one - it was my birthday! I can't freakin' believe I'm 50. I was gifted with two of my favorite things - yarn and champagne. Here's the yarn:
It's Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silkie - I can't remember the color way, but it's beautiful and soft. I started swatching right away but I don't know yet if I'm going to use it for socks or a scarf. Whatever I choose to make, it's going to be fab.
Reconnecting
The day after my birthday, I flew across the country to Vermont to spend time with old friends at my high school reunion. Before I went there though, I spent the morning here. My best friend from grade school and her husband raise Alpaca, and I got to hang out, play with fiber, and pet Alpaca noses. It was awesome.
Meet Tika. Cute, huh? (She's not the first Tika I've met but she is the first whose nose I've wanted to kiss - no offense, Tika #1!)
The whole crowd:
Someone looking kind of dorky:
Two new friends:
Who clearly don't understand the concept of personal space:
I could have played with them all day.
If you're interested in hand-spun Alpaca yarn, or unspun (but carded) Alpaca fiber, check out the website or shoot them an email at Arashi@together.net. They have beautiful stuff and can do custom work too. You'll not only be supporting a small business, you can rest assured that your purchase came from Alpaca that are treated well and generally lead one cushy, happy life.
From there I headed over to my high school for my weekend-long reunion. It was awesome. It was fab. It was amazing. And SO much fun! I'm not going to post the any of the 100+ pictures I took of the festivities (who knew that a bunch of people my age could have so much party energy?!) but here's a shot from our climb up Putney Mountain to give you an idea of where I grew up:
Yeah, poor me.
I also managed to join some grade school friends for a pot-luck brunch, visit with family members at my cousin's house near Boston, and took an impromptu trip to Maine to have lunch with my brother's widow before catching my flight back home on Monday night.
I'd originally planned to visit Webs and some Vermont fibery businesses (to check out Grafton fiber or another Golding spindle), but all the socializing didn't allow time for those side trips. I did however, manage to drop by the Green Mountain Spinnery (in the same town as my schools), where I picked up a skein of one of their sock yarns. This is a wool/Tencel blend that I've been dying to try out. Yay for birthday money.
I was super-busy the whole weekend but managed to get some knitting done on the plane. I started my Monkeys using my Crown Mountain Farms Aqualung hand-spun:
I love how this is turning out - a little color variation but not so much as to obliterate the pattern.
I also started a Lace Ribbon Scarf - I'm using Handmaiden Sea Silk, and it is amazing stuff.
Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch...
I'm not the only one who has been busy making stuff. Brian just harvested these:
And these:
And made this sourdough bread:
See why I married him?
Monday, June 8, 2009
Upon Which I Am Revealed To Be The Long Lost Twin Sister Of Phil Spector
Frightening resemblance, isn't it? It's what happens when I actually apply a brush to my hair instead of just scrunching it.
Lots has been happening around Chez No-Blog lately:
The garden grows. It looks like another good year for bok choi:
This is my favorite cucumber support - an old ladder. Who needs to buy a trellis? Works like a charm.
A recent harvest made a great stir-fry. Onions, bok choi and broccoli. Yum.
I've been busy at the sewing machine too.
One of the pains-in-the-butt about being short is you have to hem practically everything. These came in regular length rather than my usual petite, but given the discount:
I felt it was worth the extra effort. That's what I refer to as a Shopping Conquest. Score!
I got creative in the kitchen too. This is Khoresh Gheimeh - Persian beef and split pea stew. I picked some up for dinner while I was at Purlescence on Thursday - and liked it so much I had to make a giant batch for us.
And there haz been knitting. Hey Teach is done.
It was a super quick, fairly easy knit. I went for 3/4 length sleeves rather than short - partly because I think they're more flattering, but mainly because if I'm going to wear a sweater, it's because I want to be a little warmer and don't want to leave my arms bare.
I used Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece - which is an 80/20 cotton/wool blend. It's pretty nice and has a little more memory than pure cotton, which I like. I pulled this from stash - always a plus. This is a size small - and if I'd stuck with the short sleeves I could have made it with just 3 skeins. The sleeves made me break into skein #4.
I think it I were to make it again (which I might) I'd be inclined to make it a little less of a scoop neck. I'm also still considering lining the back of the button bands to add a little strength.
Now that I'm done with Hey Teach, I'm going to finish up a couple of projects suffering from Single Sock Syndrome, and then start a pair of Monkeys, using this:
Why the sudden concentration on socks? Well because they're so portable - and I'm going on a trip! My birthday is Wednesday and my present is a trip to Vermont to hang out with my friends at my high school reunion, and also to see some family. It's going to be quite the packed weekend. See you when I get back!
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