A New Year Begins... Again!!

I have never really been good with resolutions. I tend to do better when I set goals. They just seem more obtainable.

Where did this last year go? I swear I just turned 30... I had just started my job... I had just made a list of goals and was going to get to writing them down...

Goal 1 for 2013 is to blog more. I would like to actually write down my thoughts, show off my crafts and maybe have a few more ideas. I would also like to see if I can keep track of this year a bit better. I try to do so much at once that I tend to overwhelm myself and forget the little things that are going on.

Goal 2 is to watch what I eat and get more exercise. I have set a minor goal of loosing 40 pounds. If this goal is reached. I will set my next weight goal.

Goal 3 is to knit a sweater for Shawn and for my Grandma. (2 adult sweaters)

Goal 4 is to knit purely from stash (minus the yarn for Grandmas sweater, she will be purchasing that.

Goal 5 is to try to cross-stitch more. I used to do this and would like to pick it up again. I have a HAEID Chart that was given to me ages ago and I would love to get it started and maybe completed this year. (Completed is wishful thinking, but it may happen :)).

Goal 6 is to spin more. I was able to purchase a SpinOlution Bee in the summer of 2012. I have loved spinning on this wheel. I would like to be a better spinner and to also work through my fiber stash and to knit something with my hand spun by the end of this year.

Goal 7 is to learn a new to me programming language. I have been thinking about Ruby or Purl and possibly Python.

7 Goals to start with is all that I have come up with so far for this year.

Its a good beginning to my list, I am sure will think of more over the year. As I sit here thinking about the next year I am already thinking of what I want to make for the next Holiday season. I think I am going to go little, but I am going to go complicated with the little projects. I am in the mood for some color work hats... I had the idea for this season, but I started WAY to late with that. I also have a few projects that need to be finished as well. January and February will be for finishing these few projects up and see how many needles I can get back.

Yep, so bad at this!

So, it looks like my goal of actually writing...

Yep, gone the way of the ... Well, lets not point fingers and call myself names, thought I do deserve them, sometimes.

I have been just test knitting away. I have completed three other socks and I am diligently working on a wrap.

I have been working on some personal projects as well just to have a break in between.

I have completed one Hermione's Everyday Socks in the Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Zauberball in U Boot color way, plus one stripy sock without the afterthought heel in 3 Ewes Twisted in Fiber in the Viva Las Vegas color way. I have started another of the stripy socks out of 3 Ewes Twisted in Fiber in the Golightly color way, they reminded me of some Lilys I had just gotten (I cast this on for a sock to knit a doctor/dentist appointments). I completed a Magrathea shawl by Martina Behm, I have also stared and frogged about 4 Trillian shawls by the same person. Nothing wrong with the pattern, just wrong with the yarn.

I think somewhere in my pile of projects is a two different DayBreak shawls by Steven West. Again, nothing wrong with the pattern, just with the yarns I keep choosing. I have started and put aside a Modern Log Cabin blanket. I do want to finish it for my bed. I do like the colors. I have started and fizzled on a felted hedgehog, for my nephew, I really should get back to that. I had an idea to do them for the kids for their birthdays this year. I have also started a Piper's Journey shawl. I do want to get this finished as well. I have a Beekeeper's quilt stared, you know those dreaded hexi-puffs are here too. I have been on a kick to use up my kitchen cotton since it had taken over a complete tub out of my stash!! I have a few done that I have thrown into a box that I can grab to give as gifts if I need to.

I have queued up a Calligraphy Cardigan and Wonderland Socks to knit for myself.

I have been commissioned by a friend to knit a baby blanket for her daughter (same age as me). The colors are not something I would normally put together, but I think I can make them work. Hot Pink, Black and Yellow. I have decided to do a Neat Ripple baby afghan with 4 to 6 stripes of Hot Pink, then 1 black, 1 yellow, 1 black, then back to hot pink.

Oh and to top it all off, I have decided to knit sweaters for the 5 kids in the family... WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!!!

Not only all the above, but I have added a Trindle Spindle to my collection and have been spinning away on some roving that a friend got me in Austraila. It's purple and spinning lace weight singles. I just love this thing. My cat on the other hand has issues with me spindling. I am not sure if it makes a sound he doesn't like, but he acts like it's a big dog or something to come and attack him. Its funny.

I have signed up for the CloudLovers fiber club and my first shipment is on its way. I also have a giant order from Knit Picks on the way. with over 9,000 yds of fiber. Mostly for the sweaters for Christmas. I did buy some red yarn for a Clapotis for myself. I have been on some strange kick of wanting a red scarf of some kind, and why not have one of these as well.

Yep, I have lost my mind... :) Just check out that list on the left there...

Where did the time go??!!

So, I just really noticed that I have not written since January of LAST YEAR!! Ok, so 13 months later, I think I should update my blog. I was not really busy durning that time, well most of it anyways. But there have been a few major changes in my life since I last wrote.

I was able to find a Tech job at a school in my area. I am really enjoying my new job and my co-workers as well. I have done a few test knits and ended up hurting myself by crocheting & knitting too much.

I am working with a lovely lady named Linda who is the designer/owner of the Wearable Art Emporium (WAE) on etsy.com. I have been knitting socks for her. I am loving her patterns. And I look forward to hopefully working longer with her. This means that there are going to be some projects that I can not share pictures of. But once they are ready to be sold I will post pictures and a link to the pattern.

I have decided that this is going to be the year of socks (along side WAE socks). I looked through yarn stash and over half of it (it's HUGE) is sock yarn. So, I have a few people in my life that would enjoy some handmade socks and this way I am knitting for Christmas and most of my presents will be done before December this year. :) Well, that is if I keep up with my plan anyways.

I also have the plan to write more. I have decided that since I turned 30 in January that I would like to keep a blog, or more accurately a better blog, of my projects and what has happened in my life.

For January the sock that I was working on was a Criminally Mindless KAL over on the Ravelry.com site in a group called Criminal Knits. I also wanted to try the Sweet Tomato Heel from Cat Borhdi. It is actually a simple idea and would love to get it to work on a sock. For the Criminally Mindless sock it did not work out. My instep is higher than what I had plan for and the pattern and heel made it really tight across the top of my "ankle" area. I have placed these on the side until I get some time to rip out the heel and start again.

In February I have two pairs on the needles. One is a WEA sock. It is coming along nicely. I had a brain fart to on the heel (ripped 3 times). I have one side that looks really good, but I may have to rip again because I am not liking the other. HOPEFULLY, I will get these ripped and on their way again tonight. The second pair is Everyday Socks. I am using the Hermione's Everyday Sock pattern and a Crazy Zauberball that was purchased for me in Australia by Vicki and Adam.

I will try to post something at the very least once a week. I will try to post updates on my projects on Fridays. And have some pictures to show you as well.