Decision Made February 9, 2010

I won’t be returning to Level 5 until 2011.  Trusting, that is, that they will be offering Level 5 in 2011 (it depends on numbers, of course).  I will be a Master Spinner eventually, but I want to be able to give my full attention to my Level 4 homework, and I want to spin for spinning’s sake rather than just for marks so that I can get my mojo back and be able to fully put my attention to Level 5 rather than piggy-backing two levels on each other like I have been doing.

And my friends are supporting me so that I will get back.  And I just feel so much better about life in general now that I’m not worrying about going back this year.

And my Christmas money may go to a fancier wheel, but I’m going to think about that for awhile.  I may also keep it on hand and maybe add to it and go on a vacation…for some reason, I really want to go to Portugal…although, it might be nice to go to Peru and search out some fibre-bearing wildlife.

Conundrum February 4, 2010

I’m contemplating not going to yarn school this year.  I just finished my Level 3 homework 5 minutes after ringing in the new year, and I’ve only done two skeins for my Level 4 since then.  And along with the Level 4 homework, I have to do a 150 hour project (for which I keep changing my mind).

The pros of not going back to yarn school include removing a lot of the pressure, not having to learn how to spin synthetic fibres (I’m a natural fibre snob and have been since the summer of 1996 when I first entered the historical costuming world), and the ability to spin something fun for myself without feeling guilty about using the wheel for non-homework purposes.

The cons of not going back to yarn school include the concern that I may never go back, that I won’t learn how to spin synthetic fibres and won’t be able to boast about being a MASTER spinner, and if I go back another year rather than this one I won’t get to finish with my classmates who have supported me as I go through this and who I love working with.

I have a lot to think about.  So…I guess right now I’m asking for prayers or positive thoughts for me that I may get a little more productive in my current homework, and that I make the correct decision for the right reasons.

Spoiled Rotten February 4, 2010

I haven’t been posting in awhile.  I seem to have lost that mojo, and I don’t promise that I’ve got a return on the way, but at least I’m right here, right now.

It was my Jesus birthday on Monday (they say that he lived to 33 so your 33rd birthday is your Jesus birthday), and my parents, brother, godmother and grandmother spoiled me ridiculously with a Nikon D90 which I have named Fitz.

Here are a couple of shots taken with Fitz.

Mojo.  Pattern by Donyale Grant.  It’s an instant heart.  The yarn is a naturally coloured marled  ”Alpaca Blend Sock Yarn” by Alpaca Plus that I overdyed.

Tangerine sprout.  I was sceptical that it would work, but the tangerine it came from had a ridiculous amount of seeds so I decided to try planting one anyway.  Over a month later, I got sprout!

And, if you’re interested, I’m currently addicted to two bands: Taken by Trees and Florence + the Machine.

Horror for the Holidays December 19, 2009

I was at HMV with a buddy on Thursday night and picked up a copy of Black Christmas for a friend and John Carpenter’s Vampires for myself (it’s one of my all time favourites, just for the fromage), and when I brought them up to the till, the girl said, “So, Horror for the Holidays?”

Yes, thank you.

Best Search Query Leading Someone to my Blog This Week: December 14, 2009

“hot girl in the snow”

I doubt they were expecting my snow girl on a bench from October.

Quick! Another Finished Knit! December 14, 2009

I started this November 27.  I finished knitting it that weekend, but I didn’t get around to weaving in the ends until last night and I finally put on the buttons this morning.  I’m very pleased with it, and I think my buddy will be too, especially considering that it’s still VERY cold outside and though he missed the worst of the weather because he’s been in Victoria since last week, he’s still going to experience it for a little while.

Nicholas by Jane Richmond (here’s the Ravelry page).  I double-stranded Debbie Bliss Fez which is comprised of 85% merino and 15% camel and knit it up on 9.0 mm needles.  I’m not a fast knitter; it took me 5 episodes of True Blood Season 2.

Waugh! December 12, 2009

I hope it’s nicer where you are than where I am this weekend; temperatures are ranging around -32 C (-25.6 F) and -36 C (-32.8 F) with a windchill as low as -40 which is the same in Celsius as it is in Fahrenheit and skin can receive frostbite within 5 minutes!  And I’m still going out today AND tomorrow.

Today I’m going to try to donate blood (I suspect I’ll have enough iron as I’ve had a lot of beef this week, as well as my multivitamins with 10mg of iron in them) and do some errands, tomorrow I’m going to work at my part-time job because they were in a bind and well, one should take this opportunity to help pay for Christmas.

It’s too bad most of the Starbucks I go to no longer have the salt for the salted caramel hot chocolate because it was ridiculously good and a perfect treat for a ridiculously (and not remotely typical for December) cold day.

Stay warm!

Snow Sheep December 8, 2009

I looked out my office window yesterday evening and spotted a couple of the sheep pawing through the snow looking for snacky-snacks.

And this morning I looked out my window and saw a coyote sniffing around but I was on the phone and couldn’t have gotten a picture with my point and shoot camera anyway as it was too far away.

Snow Days Don’t Happen Here December 6, 2009

So, it’s been snowing.  A lot.  By Friday morning there was a lot of snow, by Friday night when I parked my sedan in my parking lot, the snow was skimming the undercarriage of my car.  The residential roads are crazy!

But I have four winter tires (which were put on the car on Monday) and a big shovel, I’m ready for anything.

Yowza, It’s Been Awhile November 25, 2009

I’ve been busy trying (and failing) to get my Level 3 homework done.  Here’s a shot of one of the yarns and a sample I had to do using it.  It’s 100% bombyx silk cabled yarn, with which I did some Hardanger onto linen embroidery cloth.