Proud Mom Moment

Yesterday, we came home from running errands and found a large envelope on our doorstep from Temple U, addressed to Allie, Do Not Fold marked on it.

Her diploma was inside.

BA in Spanish, Cum Laude.

We are so proud of her, for finishing college, for taking lemons and making lemonade, amd for taking crushing disappointments and forging ahead.

For someone who should have waltzed into any college she wanted (according to her high school teachers and college counselor and according to her grades, her test scores, her talent, her interests, and all common reason), this has been a long, hard journey with various set-backs. I know that the hurt of being rejected twice by colleges she should have been accepted to once will be there for a long time, but the resourcefulness that she has gained will serve her better and longer than a degree from any of those schools.

She makes us very happy.

On My Knitting Plate

My knitting plate is full. If it were a cup, it would runneth over.

Right now, I'm working on a lace weight cardigan store sample for Loop; a prototype and pattern for a kidknits baby/toddler dress using Skinny Cotton; a prototype and pattern for a kidknits shawl/scarf; and in the mail yesterday, a box of Berkshire Bulky arrived from WEBS for me to do a sample and pattern for a wrap. And I just finished two proposals as well as a blanket for Amy, who has finally made it to rehab.

I think that's all.

What's on your needles?

Semi-Famous again

Today, I'm the featured designer being interviewed here.

Semi-Famous

A couple of weeks ago, a TV crew from our local ABC affiliate came to Loop to interview Craig and do a piece on making your own stylish, chunky knits.

Kathy and I continued on in the background, helping customers, winding yarn, etc., while the crew did their thing, including close-ups of us knitting (yes, Mr. deMille, we were ready).

It aired on January 22, and here I am!

Communication

...with myself and with others.

I spent yesterday morning working on the lace edging of a shawl for Susie. I spent yesterday afternoon ripping out the lace edging of a shawl for Susie. And then putting stitch markers at each of the 19 repeats and starting over. You'd think I'd know by now that I really, truly need to use stitch markers when working many repeats of a lace pattern.

You'd also think I'd know by now that clear communication is very important when talking with the person who's about to cut your hair. Assuming that she understood what you want without repeating yourself and clarifying leads to (drum roll) a bad haircut.

I can fix the lace much quicker than my hair will grow.

Processing.....

I got word last week that Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Company has been bought by Spinrite who is moving the whole production to Canada. This is upsetting to me on many levels: a family-owned, American business will no longer exist; 80 people are losing their jobs, among them my friend Flo Carlisle who has supported me so greatly and graciously as a designer; and on a personal level (petty when compared to losing a job), what will I do for my cotton yarn now?

I've been using their Peaches & Cream for years: when I was doing production work for my craft shows, then in my kits on my website, and also for a pretty good run of designing, including building all the designs in my book around it. It's a great product, great colors, soft, knits well, holds up well----what else can I say? Last night, I put in a pretty big order so that I'll be able to keep on offering my kits. When the yarn runs out, who knows what I'll do then.

But meanwhile, I'm saddened by this turn of economic events. And I'm also sad that Allie and I didn't get to do our road trip last summer to visit Old Fort and meet Flo in person and visit their famous outlet store. My loss, truly.

Time

Time marches forward, even when we fall back to standard time.

Next week is Thanksgiving, already, again.



Last month was Stitches:



And next week it will be Jane's fifth yarhzeit, making Thanksgiving bittersweet every year.