Author Archives: Amy

It occurred to me yesterday, after chatting via email with a swap pal, that I really haven’t updated my blog in over a month.  I knew that it had been awhile, but wow – I can’t believe how long it truly has been.

Did you miss me?  *bats eyelashes*   I missed you, readers.

So, let me get you all up to speed.

I had an amazing birthday.  Not only was the night of yarn and chocolate a true treat, it was so wonderful to see almost all of the knitting ladies turn out to meet Tina and fondle all her hand-dyed yarn!  We had the best time, and even though I was having hormonal hot flashes and sickness, it was still a lot of fun.

The whole weekend I was not myself; I have been sick thus far for the entire pregnancy, and was exhausted and ill the entire time that my house was full of company.  But, I couldn’t have asked for better company, and I hope that they had a great time as well.

Tina and Steve, at Awabi. Two of my favorite people and the best gift was their visit!

Speaking of pregnancy, yes, I am still pregnant. While I’m really excited about having a baby this fall, and welcoming a new member to the family and into our lives, the process itself has not been fun.  As I mentioned, I’ve been physically miserable the entire time.  Sick and exhausted, still, despite the fact that I am now in the second trimester.  I still can’t knit. (The motion makes me sick. I can do six or seven rows before I feel like I’m gonna pass out. I plan on learning crochet in hopes that this will not be as bad.)

But, on a happy note, I finally had to break down and buy maternity jeans, and I always smile when I put them on. We’ve picked out a boy’s name but not yet agreed on a girl’s.  My husband is the best man in the world; he’s been doing almost all the chores and cooking, not to mention going out to get me food when I just can’t stand the smell of anything cooking.  We’re picking out nursery furniture this weekend, and I can’t wait!

My position, cat included, on most days.

So, I apologize for my absence, but I’ve been so exhausted that most days, I don’t even want to turn on my laptop.

I hope you all are doing well!

I apologize for not blogging as often as I normally do.  I’ve been rather busy, and slightly stressed, with work, so I’ve been taking a lot of time for myself.  I’ve also been lost in the land of the UFO; trying to finish Mom’s plain ’50/50′ socks from last year and Tory’s wedding shawl.

So, while I’m slack on photos, I’ll give you my answers to this week’s ‘Ten On Tuesday’.

‘Ten Things To Do When It’s Too Cold To Go Outside’

1. Knit!  At least, that’s what I do when it is cold outside.  Of course, this is what I do no matter the weather.
2. Spin!  If I had a fire-place, I’d spin more than I do.  But it is a more pleasant hobby to perform inside when its cold.
3. Watch some tele.  There are some great shows on right now (Being Human, Alcatraz, Face Off,) so there is always an excuse to cuddle under a blanket on the couch.
4. Bake some bread.  My husband has been doing this one.  He’s perfecting a sourdough starter, and the finished project is delicious!
5. Read a book.  I’m currently hooked on the Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson (Case Histories, etc.)
6. Play a board game.  Yahtzee is my all time favorite (and I should buy the table top version at some point, rather than just playing on my iPhone,) but we also love Monopoly.
7. Practice some yoga.  I took my first yoga class last night with Amanda,(or should I say, the first one in almost ten years.)  It was a great experience and I think we had a lot of fun.  And while yoga can practiced in the cold, I find it more comfortable in the warmth of a studio or a home.
8. Have a cuppa.  Be it tea, coffee, or hot cocoa, nothing warms me up on a cold day like a hot cuppa.
9. Snuggle with a furry friend.  That is one of my nice things about the cold weather.  My cats actually want to snuggle with me and John more often.  When the weather is really cold out (even though my cats are indoor dwellers and we have heat,) I always wake up with at least one – if not both – of them curled up against me.
10. Turn up the ‘Otis Redding’ station on Pandora Radio, and just relax.

Stay warm, and enjoy the rest of the week!

For all of the knitters and crocheters out there, the Swap Stop (the Ravelry swap group that I co-host with Karen,) is now taking sign-ups for the new swap.  For the first swap of the year, our theme is ‘Learn A New Skill’.  If you are on Ravelry, you can check out the details HERE.

Learn A New Skill – Q&A

Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft?

I knit, and have been doing so for about seven or eight years now.

What are your favorite yarns/fibers? Are there any that you want to try but haven’t?

I am a huge fan of Indie dyed sock yarns, but also love Cascade 220 Wool, Knit Picks WOTA, Manos del Uraguay, Madeline Tosh, and Spud & Chloe.  I’ve been wanting to try more yarns from Knit Picks, like their City Tweed and Sugarbunny lines.

Are there any yarns/fibers that you don’t like?

I do not like acrylic (I don’t mind a yarn that has a little bit of acrylic in it, but not too much.)  I’m not a huge fan of cotton either.

What colors do you like/dislike?

I love any and all colors, except for neon or pastel shades.  I’m trying to branch out of my ‘safety zone’ with colors (mainly purple.)

Are there any skills that you have been wanting to learn, but were afraid to try?

Extreme lace.  I mean, one of those shawls that requires nupps and more than 2000 yards of lace yarn.

What would be the number one ‘skill’ you want to try this year?

I really want to learn to crochet.  It has been on my list for a while now.

Do you have a yarn winder and/or a swift?

Yes, both.

Do you have a blog?

Well, you’re reading right now, aren’t you?

Do you collect anything?

Not so much anymore, but I do love to gather new recipes for soups and stews (crock pot, especially!)

Do you like sweets? What are your favorites?

I’m trying to cut back on sweets, but I’ll never truly turn them away.

What is your living situation like? Any pets? Children?

I live with my hubby, John, and our two cats – Mavey and Cooley.

Are you allergic to anything?

Just certain medications, so nothing to worry about.

Is there anything else that you want your pal to know?

I’m not a fan of strong scents for lotions or candles.  Other than that, I know that I’ll love anything that you send!

(First, I want to apologize for some formatting issues in this post.  I have done both visual and HTML edits, and nothing is working.  I am confident it is a glitch with WordPress and not me, but none the less, I get very OCD when my posts look messy and made by a five year old.)

I keep reading articles about the world ending this year, due to the Mayan predicton for 2012.  I like to think of it as the possibility of a mass change for the better, not the end of the world.  Because an ending isn’t always terrible; sometimes it can be the beginning of something wonderful.

But as 2012 starts, giving us a new, shiny, fresh out of the box year, I want to take a moment to reflect on my crafty accomplishments for the year that has just passed.  Taking a cue from Chan, I really enjoyed her post and I thought that I would do one of my own.

In 2011, I completed sixty plus projects, in the following categories :

• Eighteen pairs of socks
• Twelve hats
• Six cowls
• Nine shawls
• One sweater
• Nine baby items (sweaters, hats, booties, etc.)
• One scarf
• One dishcloth
• Six pairs of mittens/fingerless mitts
• Two bags