I love my job.

case in point.

I started my internship about one month ago, and I can say whole heartedly that I do indeed love my job. Every day is something different and every day I come home smiling. The ladies you see above are truly a priceless bunch--each of them has specific strengths that they bring to the office each day, and together I think that our office is pretty much unstoppable. This is true "girl power".

So at our work, we each take turns leading our weekly staff meetings--the beginning is usually something fun and applicable that serves as an icebreaker of some kind. Long story short, this past Monday was my turn to run the meeting, and I thought of no better icebreaker than inflicting my love of knitting onto a captive audience (wouldn't you?). I provided yarn, needles, and instructions to each, along with this article which I find to be 100% accurate. Some initial were hesitant, but warmly received as an end result. There are now several of the ladies who knit during the day to unwind. Even the diehard crocheter of the bunch agreed to put down her hook and picked up two needles as a gesture of inter-crafting fraternity.

Now, knitting for work doesn't just end there- let me introduce you to a speedy little project:

Pattern: The Beer Sweater
Desginer: Melissa Martinsen
Yarn: Heart & Sole (A new self striping sock yarn with Aloe!)
Needles: US #3 Addi Turbos
Time to knit: obscenely short

This week our staff was taking turns leaving fun surprises on our director's (lower center above) desk. I thought it would be only fitting to knit up something up for her.

I love the self striping sock yarn for this pattern-- It made a fun looking fair isle-ish yoke that I think is really unique. I also think that the cozie looks like a miniature version of the sweaters found all too commonly buried in local thrift stores waiting for someone to love them. It has that "so ugly it's cute" quality about it, which I think is why I love it so much. In my opinion, this pattern was again a success.

So in conclusion, I have established that crafting in the workplace not only makes sense, but it make it makes for happiness too--three cheers for that! I love my job.

I get by

with a little help from my friends.

One fun thing about blogging is that you instantly become part of a world-wide community of fellow bloggers and readers. When a blog is about a topic as specific as knitting, it's common to find lots of fun, kind-hearted people who share the same passions you do. Often these friendships stay as casual as leaving an occasional comment on a blog and having that person eventually return the favor. Other blogging friendships, one way or another, lead to increased correspondence and an actual friendship (gasp!). That was the case with Michael.

Now, I have no idea how I was lucky enough to become friends with this person, but let me tell you--he is one heck of a guy. Now, not only is he a great person in general, but he's also an outstanding knitter & blogger. We have become good friends over the past few months and sometimes I forget that he's someone I've only known for such a short length. We've talked about lord knows what during that time, but through our discussions, a problem he was having surfaced: he loves knitting beautiful lace shawls, but he needs somebody to bestow them on after they're finished.

*ahem*

Fast forward to this afternoon. I came home from work to find an internationally shipped package waiting for me. Inside? A gorgeous hand knit shawl, a flawless pair of socks addressed to my mom, and yummy looking regional chocolates for us to munch on. What a guy. So without further ado, I introduce you to the pinnacle of inter-blogging generosity. No, scratch that- just generosity in general. Meet Laminaria

as well as the Hedgerow Socks

I still can't really handle the fact that I have these gorgeous items in my possession, but now that they're here, I couldn't love them more. I think it's true that a fellow knitter appreciates a gifted item more because we know how much time, care, and diligence went into each piece. I can't stress enough how thoughtful this is, and despite him not being crazy about gifts, I plan to pay him back royally somehow.

Thank you, friend!

Puppy Love

I'm busily knitting up a new project but since the progress shots wouldn't be exciting, I'm sharing photos of my little bundle of joy(and ENERGY!) instead. Brace yourself: Her name's Gracie, and she's a cutie!

I've been spotted.

weeeeeeeee!

Pretty.

mischief.

All in all, I've determined that it's called puppy love for a reason...

Instant Gratification

In reference to my last post, I will try to post more photos once I can have a proper photoshoot with my mom modeling her new shawl--we've both just been crazy busy lately. In the mean time, cast your eyes on a glorious piece of instant gratification knitting -boy did it feel good!Pattern: Jenny Cloche [rav]
Designer: Julia Madill
Yarn of Choice: 1.1 skeins Malabrigo Bulky in Bobby Blue
Needles: US 10 Addi Turbos
Time to knit: probably about 2 hours
Level of love: high

I seriously can't handle how in love with this hat I am. I was taken by the pattern since the day it was introduced, and boy- it pains me that I waited as long as I did to make it. And yes, the side bow really is that huge (Put it this way, it's sized a la Carrie Bradshaw). Cool thing is, it can be removed easily and worn with decorative pins or a knitted buckle-like option that Julia included in the pattern. This hat will be a staple among staples for holiday knitting in the upcoming years--bravo Julia!

Oh, and...

Puppy in T minus 13 hours (!)

Lets Play a Game

A game called........."Guess what I finished!"

For starters, it involved these...

and these...

and this.

No luck...?




Oh who are we kidding, it turned into this:
Oh, and this
Success!
(more details to come soon)

Riding on

Finals are done, grades are in, school has been left, and my heart is healing. Hello world, I'm back--thanks for waiting. Also, thank you for your words of encouragement in getting me through this rough patch. It's been a while since I've done the whole "single thing" and to be honest, it's still feeling pretty foreign to me (3.5 years is a long time to suddenly be without a +1!). I'm finding that taking things one day at a time is helping, and that spending quality time with friends and family is making this transition bearable. Man does it hurt though. It's especially hard because I use knitting for general relaxation and think time--and think time is the exact opposite of what I need right now. Basically I have resorted to only knitting with other people or with something very distracting on in front of me. It's not ideal, but hey, it's a start.

Now, I've never been one for rebounding, but sometimes a rebound is the best medicine. Please meet the new love of my life:

"Hello, I'm adorable."


"*yawn* being cute makes me sleepy..."

Meet Gracie-- the soon-to-be new addition to our household. June 8th will be the official date that she joins us, and let me tell you--I can't wait to have her for keeps. Forget chocolate, nothing heals a broken heart like a cute & cuddly puppy. Seriously.

In knitting news, I was finally able to attend my first 'knit night' of the season and I got quite a bit of work done on my mom's shawl! I finished the 17 repeats and I have moved onto the edging portion. dare I predict completion within the week? I dare. I have proof of said progress as seen here:

Say hello mom, you're famous!

More fun photos of knit night have been chronicled here on my fellow knit blogger Sarah's site! We had a fantastic turnout (9 people!) Including some of my close family & friends. It's fantastic to see how the group has grown since it's humble beginning last winter. Being there was therapeutic to say the least, and I can't wait to go back again next week. To all of you considerate readers, thanks again for your support through this all--knitters are certainly a caring breed!

Sigh...

Finals week, work, packing and a breakup--I will try to get back on my horse soon, but please bear with me in the meantime. This knitter is especially unhappy today.