Busy, but GOOD Busy

Right now life is filled with photography, my kids, my dogs and lots of knitting. How cool is that? I'm working right now on a job transition. I've for years (too many to tell you) have been working with computers. I've got more certifications than any person should, but I'm so burned out on it. The joy is gone. So I decided to take the advice that I have given out to so many of my "happy" friends, and pursue the things I love to do.

For a long time I've set aside my art, letting it out in knitting and a few projects in other mediums here and there. I've done photography just about as long as I have been knitting. My father was a photographer and I remember him always having a camera with him, or letting me take the pictures, so that's where I'm headed. Step by step I've been building a portfolio and to be honest, I'm still working on it. But I'm about to set up my photography blog and get my Flickr portfolio going and put some of my work out there to be purchased.

One thing that I want to do is do a series of pictures of knitters and spinners. What got me thinking about it, is in Gatlinburg I was touring a home and they had pictures of women cooking, gardening, sewing, knitting, spinning and working in other areas hanging in a hallway. It seemed that everyone commented on the knitting and spinning photos. Everyone knew a family member or two that knitted and some that spun. It was awesome to see the looks on their faces as they spoke of these women. Those photos brought back happy memories and good feelings. I noticed that when they spoke it renewed a closeness with the person who knitted. It was special to see.

Anyway, I have rambled, but it's felt good. Be blessed and have a wonderful weekend. I hope to have knitting pictures up soon.

UnCool

UNCOOL, UNCOOL, UNCOOL.

While I was flipping around the patterns on Ravelry I spotted something very upsetting. Someone has stolen my photo of the purple flower and is using it as their ID picture. Those of you on Ravelry know that when you pull up the patterns, there are the designers listed on the right hand side. Well there it was. And whats really bad is that I had all ready clicked on changing the page when I seen it, so I can't go back and confront the person.

So I will say this. The two floral pictures below, belong to ME. I took them, I Photoshopped them and felt comfortable enough to share them. Just like any other photo on the internet, if you take it, you have ripped off the original owner (ME).

To those who ignore copyright, I would seriously be watching out for karma.

Well This Is a Switch

Photo by Saundra McBride

You know, I don't think that I know one knitter that has just one project going. All of us have several things on needles. We categorize them different ways but I know mine fall into the "want to, REALLY want to, and then the I just HAVE TO, make this. :-) You know what I mean? Actually I think it's more like, I can knit this and not pay attention, I can knit this and be somewhat distracted and then the I have to have TOTAL concentration.

The reason I'm bring this up is because I looked around the area where I knit and then double checked my projects on Ravelry and noticed that I have a large amount of projects on the needles and what surprised me is that I don't feel pressured to finish any of them. LOL. Usually when this awareness hits, I'm instantly hit by the wave of "finish these before you start anything else." (which is usually followed by, "now I don't want to finish any of these" LOL)

But, this morning I was knitting on one of the newly cast on projects and was thinking about what these projects say about me. First off I think that they reflect my love for knitting, my love for yarn, my love for creating, and my love for new and exciting things. That last one is probably true in every area of my life.

Lately life outside of knitting has been on the other side of the happiness. I'm not saying that it isn't needed. Heavens know that growth and depth of a person comes from facing the surprise attacks. But, I looked at these unfinished projects and seen that they are one of the things that not just brings me joy, they bring choice, they bring control, they bring escape, they bring personal time, they bring good memories, they bring healing, they bring an opportunity for me to really think about the person I am knitting it for, and they bring what I need at that time. Knitting and all it brings into my life is the antibiotic to my world of germs.

So I'm interested in finding out....... what do your unfinished projects say to you?


Blessed be.

Thought from the heart

Photo by Saundra McBride

Even though I have tons of knitting stuff to share, this weekend my mind and spirit has been filled with something else.

This year seems to be filled with people (some who know me and some that only know me professionally) who feel like it is their RIGHT to inform me of what they feel is wrong with my life, to let me know what they believe are my faults and why they don't perceive that I'm happy. I've also been told that I'm not a complete person because I'm divorced and that I would be a "better person" if I was married.

So the straw that has brought this post happened this weekend. No details other to say that I am sure some of these people feel they have my best at heart. I'm not really ready to repeat what was said to me. But here is what I want to share with the world.

I am 52 year old grown woman. My life has been full of hardship, loss and victories. You don't have a clue to what I have faced because I have not told my story. I wasted time and money on superficial things, that didn't get me anything farther or accepted in this life. I did my time (27 years) getting up 2 hours early so that I could get the bathroom first to do the hair, the makeup, nails and have my clothes perfectly pressed before I headed out the door. I've done my time in that land. Don't take me wrong, I enjoy looking nice, clean and appropriately dressed, ok. But, in my struggles I have found that I was miserable on the inside and pretty on the outside. That sucked. That was not ME! It was during one of my down times that I realized. I'm tired of trying to please, trying to fit, trying to be perfect, because no matter what I will tick off someone, there is will always be something that someone will find that is wrong. So at that point, I said to hell with it all.

I accepted that I'm a jeans person, I accepted that I like my hair starting to gray, I accepted that I do like to wear makeup, I accepted that I can put a headband in my hair and it be ok, I have accepted that I am my own person. Yes there are still things I am working on, but I am honest, I am sincere, I cry with my friends and I laugh with their joy, I try to make their hard times easier and I support them and never judge them BECAUSE......

when you stand in front of someone, what you see is not the whole picture, is not their heart, what you see is not their story.

I encourage you to be YOU. Be yourself, be different if that is you, look like a million dollars if that is you, look natural if that is you, just be you and be happy being you.

Blessed be
Satori

I'm knitting and stuff...

Its college football and time and I'm so excited. College football is a BIG DEAL in the south. Especially in the SEC Division. So I thought it would be fun to have a knitting project to do while I'm watching or listening to the games. This past Saturday, the Tennessee Volunteers had their first game under their new coach Lane Kiffin. OMG. It was awesome. I don't know how I got any knitting done. But I did, in fact the game inspired me to do a two color sock. The end zones at UT are checkered orange and white and so that's my pattern. Next week they play UCLA so I'll finish this sock and start the mate.

Some of my other knitting projects are things I'm doing to get ready for Christmas gift giving. I know it's a little early, but I'm usually caught short of time and this year I really want my holiday knitting done so I can enjoy the time.

This headband is from One Skein Wonders, 101 Yarn Shop Favorites, by Judith Durant. I took the headband from one pattern and the flower from another. I used 2 strands of Patons Classic Wool. The headband came out really nice, and I'm thinking about making a couple more of these. It's a great one day project and super for those left overs from other projects.


Another addition to my gift giving, or at least what was suppose to be gifts, are these two Circle Cloths. I found this pattern on Ravelry and just loved it. You can get really creative with this pattern by using two colors. I just stayed with what I had, but I may end up keeping these and making the two color ones as the gifts. It's another make it in a couple of hours projects that looks like you spent a lot longer on it.

Along with these I've been trying to finish up some things that have been on the needles way tooooooo loooonnnnnggggggg.

Again I'm amazed at the healing that comes with knitting. Recently I've found myself in a situation where I've had to make HUGE decisions without much time to look at all sides. For me that is " walking on thin ice." I've always been one when faced with life changing situations to look at it from every side and then make the decision. Knitting has been so therapeutic for me. Calming my mind, clearing my head and allowing me the space I've needed to make these decisions. Thank heavens for knitting.

Blessed Be

more pictures

It's been a beautiful day here in GA. today and it started out cool and foggy. That was at 4:30a. Now it's a little humid, a lot warmer, but bright and sunny. There is just a little bit of Fall in the air. We actually have trees that are starting to turn.

So I've been knitting and working on my Photoshop certification today and thought I'd add some more of my knitting photos to the blog.

Here's something that I started last night. Its called a Circle Cloth. Of course I found it on Ravelry. Since I had a huge, and I mean huge, skein of cotton, I thought it would make a really pretty dishcloth and I'm not disappointed. This pattern would be good for other things like lap-ghans, baby blankets, hand towels, etc.

Ok, lets go back 40+ years to when I was learning to knit. My first project was a yellow and white, two strand pair of slippers. Yup, very similar to these. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful it was knitting these. At times I had some of the best memories of my Grandma, and us knitting. I wish she could see all that I have knitted. Her few hours of teaching me has brought a world of joy and happiness to me that nothing can compare.

Another pattern found on Ravelry. I made these slippers out of Simply Soft left overs. Its a wonderful pattern for using up scraps, and ends.

Here is the final shots on the Vortex Shawl/Blanket. I just got on a run and decided that I'd keep knitting till there was no more room on the 60" circulars.

Well, it's back to some studying. Have a wonderful weekend.

Blessed be

Gunther and Knitting

Good news, Gunther has made it to week 4 in the Cutest Dog Contest. If you have voted thank you so much and if you haven't please vote for him. The info is in the post below. It's a week by week thing, so every Saturday he has to start all over with votes.

This morning I was thinking it's been awhile since I posted any photos of what I've been up to so today is picture day. I hope you like.

Have a great day!