Rough Week

I'm still around and kicking. Just having a hard week I guess. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I could use all the help I can get at the moment....

Getting on Track

I am a complete crafting dud! I have done zero in this department. Well, not true if you count buying yards and yards of fabric, lurking around knitting blogs, and ravelympics watching on Ravelry. So um.....as I said...NOTHING. Orangina is receiving no love. I have an hour lunch break today and the only thing I'm doing is....well, the aforementioned craft-stalling of course. Orangina is balled up in a crafting bag in my car. I didn't even bother bringing it in with me. What about last Saturday's sewing class you ask? I didn't go. I pulled out my Asian inspired quilt pieces and hated what I'd done so far. Too busy to appreciate the individual fabric designs. Maybe that was the real reason I dumped it 2 1/2 years ago. So how do I get out of this funk? I'm trying, believe me.

Step One: Keep lurking on blogs and perusing Ravelry. I have re-added dumped queues and even picked yarn from my stash to accommodate.

Step Two: Mama motivation. My Sister is planning on visiting me next weekend. My Mother has offered to swap sewing machines. My cheap $100-something Singer for her new BERNINA. Insert squeal here! Gotta love Mamas. She said she just needs something basic to practice on and knows I will really get some use out the Bernina once I get going.

Step Three: Get new patterns. I have purchased a great Vintage pattern from the UK after seeing the gorgeous FO from Meghan McFarlane, the designer of the free Shalom Cardigan. Meghan's project is suppose to be super fast, so that'll be great. The top down, seamless design is a great plus for me, too! I have downloaded and added her design to my queue. Check out her FO of the Hayfield Summer Jumper It's a great looking top and Meghan's is the only project on Ravelry. I think it's sooo fab! Maybe I'll get into vintage knits with this one.

Step Four: Pick new projects to cast-on for to switch things up.In addition to the vintage top and the cardigan I have plans to cast on for the Tube Toporini I frogged a while back. The yarn just wasn't working for me. Since I've had a lot of success with the Zephyr girl patterns and Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, I'm combining the two for a hopefully successful FO.

Step Five: Buy more yarn. Thanks to my Secret Pal from the SP12 swap, I have a gift certificate to Yarn Market. Thank you secret pal! I'll post pics of what I get once I decide!

SPQs 6-8 & Rawvolution

Before Raw Food

After Raw Food

I have advanced to THREE secret pal questions at once.
Week # 6
1) What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?

I’m typically a one-at-a-time knitter so I’ll take that along with me while on vacation. I do have a tendency towards delusion, where I’ll anticipate finishing a project while on my trip – so I also will pack my next project as well. This is despite knowing I never even finish my current WIP.

Week # 7
What are your favorite places to knit?

I like to knit at coffee shops, wine bars, & on planes, while travelling. Really anytime there’s waiting I also like to have my project with me. Who wants to wait in line twiddling thumbs?

What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting?

I like to have a tape measure, a few stitch markers, scissors, knitting pattern (yup – hate it when I forget to bring my pattern along), and crochet hook. This is usually in my daily packed Guatemala bag I carry around.

Week # 8
What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening?

This question comes at the perfect time, since I’m switching things up again for the summer. I’m going back to raw! Here’s a yummy raw recipe or zucchini pasta alfredo:

¾ cup Thai coconut water
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup raw pine nuts
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
6 zucchini, peeled and cut like spaghetti using Spiralizer

Directions: use blender to combine all ingredients except zucchini. Pour over zucchini (once ready to eat) and voila. For the best taste – let the zucchini noodles sit in the open air at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours. (recipe by matt amsden, RAWvolution

So with all that said, yes I am going back to raw food. I looked at my eating diary from last year and realized how happy that regimine made me. Not only have I gained back too much weight (yes I’m still ½ the size of my biggest weight, but still), I am not as happy. When I first went raw, my boyfriend of (6 years) and I broke up soon after. Despite this being a touch time, I really felt good. My skin glowed, my mood wasn’t so heavy laden, and the pounds kept melting off of me. Since my relationship road has been rocky, I think this will put it all into perspective.

As far as crafting goes – I’ve been horrible. I so so so appreciate all of the comments cheering on my new endeavors. Still, I’ve only managed to trace ¾ of the first pattern (with the help of my roommie I might add). I have purchased a TON of fabric, muslin, patterns, and notions. I just need to put it together. To help me get motivated, I am signed up for an all-day sewing class for unfinished sewing objects. Even though this isn’t clothes making, I figure I can find out from the professor when the next session will be. I have an Asian-style lap quilt that I have abandoned for almost three years. I don’t even have a lot left to do to complete this. Perfect for Saturday. In one 8-hour class, I should have my next FO….not to mention more motivation to sew a skirt or top. With my renewed raw food movement, I’m going to need to be able to sew my own stuff, since last time I dropped weight and sizes and couldn’t keep up with the shopping to match. Going from a size 12/14 to a 2 is a lot of adjusting in 4-6 months. While I'm not concerned with getting back down to a 2 again, a loose size 6 would be nice. It’ll be fun to at least be able to sew my own in-between sizes. We’ll see…..

Knit This! Sew That!

I am in crafting heaven! I have been noticing more and more knitters that also sew lately. Even though I am a quilter, I have never counted that as sewing, since I do not know how to make clothes. Well that's all changing. I did my little research and determined that Amy Butler has beautiful fabric and patterns. I actually have a few blogs that I have read, that have used her patterns including my best friend's girl, Ashley and our yarn expert Robin. Continually seeing Robin's beautiful FOs both knitted and sewed has really inspired me. Plus, every time I made a comment on her blog, she'd send me such motivating emails to try it myself. Well ladies and gentleman, this is the day!

Last night I went to Knit Nite at the Grove in Golden Hills, which also has sewing things as well. I picked up 2 1/2 yards of Amy Butler fabric, her Anna Tunic & Barcelona Skirt. I also found a free "5-minute skirt" pattern online. I am going to get cotton muslin tonight for the lining and some odds and ends, whip out my machine and go to town.

Have no fear - knitting is here....as well, that is. I am finished with the back of Orangina and have been working solely on this knitting project every knit group I chance upon. I even went as far as blocking Orangina, so it will be ready for ribbing once the front is complete. This is HUGE for me, but I think I might get into the responsible knitting thing....minus swatching. PuhlEEEze. I'm still human. I would love*love*love to make a pretty skirt to wear with Orangina. Keep the positive craft vibes coming my way and I'll let you know if I've been smiling pretty or tearing my hair out.

Another Knit Nite

I managed to make it to a new (for me) knit group last night. There's a SNB group that meets at Influx cafe near downtown. While there wasn't too much knitting going on, it was great to find that some of the women there also dabble in raw food eating, Kombucha tea making, and even vegan food baking! Right up my alley! While I haven't been a raw foodist for months and months, now - it's something I want to get back into during the summertime. Also, they gave me the skinny on free continuing education classes that are offered locally for sewing. Even though I am already a quilter, I have yet to try to make clothes and think this could be the push I need.

I'm planning on going to this evenings knit group that meets at a local wine bar. It was so much fun last time and I even managed a few stitches, to boot! lol. As far as knitting progress goes, I have actually finished the back of Orangina and even blocked her. I have already cast on for the front and am plugging away.

Secret Pal Question #4 & 5

For the second time in a row, I am answering two of the secret pal questions.
Week # 4
1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?

I would like a nice and expensive yarn such as Tilli Thomas, Artyarns, or Malabrigo


2) What yarn do you never want to be without?

I don’t think there’s a yarn that I can’t live without, since I’m always using different ones. I think that Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece is a good staple to have, though.


Week #5
1) Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday?

Since I’m so far from my family, I would say Vermont to see the ones I love.


2) Where is one place you’d like to go?

I’ve done a fair amount of traveling in my life, but have yet to go to Thailand.

Phenomenal Tuesdays and Birthday Blessings

Do you ever have a randomly good day? Well yesterday was a great evening meeting new friends at a new knitting group! Things have been up and down for me lately, and it was just what the Doctor ordered. I’ve had a few revelations in the last couple of days that I’ll share:

• Sometimes when we’re in the thick of a situation, we can’t see the forest for the trees.


• There’s times where we go through life thinking a certain situation is working, when it’s really just a deception that’s actually hindering the real blessing from coming along.


• A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). Even though we all try to give wishy-washy people some slack, sometimes you just have to cut them loose and let them get their act together on their own.


• No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17). That’s some real powerful stuff. While it’s great for the person that’s on the heritage side, that’s some scary stuff if you’re on the other end of the stick…..


• …. even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17b). Unfortunately, human nature seems to call things worse than it actually is at the time. Speaking positive and calling what you want instead of what your upset at, is a very important step to getting the life you want.


• There is so much in life to be thankful for that we should try to focus on these things, instead of hyper-focusing on the little troubles that may cross our paths here and there.

Today is my Mother’s 66th birthday! Kwacha is such an amazing woman and the greatest Mother a person could be blessed with. She’ll be celebrating with family and friends in Vermont. Here’s a pic of my Mamma with my Sister. In line with my “revelations”, my Mom shared a message this past Sunday at Church:

Her first trip to Malawi, Africa, she saw a man that had matted hair, cracked and scaling feet, and clothes that weren’t even rags, just strips of dirty material that he had draped over himself. After she finished preaching at the Church , the man came up for prayer saying; “Pastor, can you please pray for me to be healed of malaria. God has been so good to me, how can I ask for anything else?” Needless to say, my Mom went back to the rest-house she was staying at that evening and cried. How ungrateful are we every day, when someone seemingly in great need on the other end of the world, is actually happy and thankful for what they do have.

Back to knitting….I am still plugging away at Orangina, but have an itch to cast-on for another project. I’m thinking of starting Fad Classic with the comfy yarn I bought a few weeks ago. Since my recent Vest FO was a success, why not start another quickie to keep up the momentum? No worries, I promise to still press forward with Orangina, just slowly.

It's never easy getting back on the horse again after a dating fall, but there's some promising prospects for the Fourth of July. My friend Sherri has (and I quote her email) "2 sexy Italians in town". While I swore off Italians after things with the Sicilian went sour, I'm thinking "why discount an entire group of passionate people?" Happy Fourth of July everyone!