Here We Go Again

I know its been so long that everyone who USED to read my blog has probably forgotten about it, BUT the mood struck me right today, so here it goes.
For those of you that DON'T know, Adam got a job in Berkeley California! It is a very bitter sweet feeling to know we have to leave the place we have called home for the past 6 years and go home. I know Berkeley we have never lived in, but we are Californians that have been living in Virginia for 6 years. We are so excited to live close to family again! There are lots of pros and cons of living here, as opposed to Ca... oooooh, that sounds like a LIST!!

Pros of living in Va:
1. Its CHEEP
2. Its safe.
3. People are nice. We have made SO many friends here that I know will be life long.
4. We have seasons. I never realized how GLORIOUS Spring is till we moved here, or how beautiful Fall is.
5. I have a wonderful job. I love what I do- most of the time
6. no traffic

CONS of living in Va
1. There is VERY little to do...
2. Restaurants SUCK.
3. Winter.
4. crazy hillbilly people... even though entertaining....sometimes.
5. Fresh produce, or lack of.... seafood...
6. no beach here or sunsets over the ocean.
7. No FAMILY!

Overall, I have grown to love it here, and I WILL miss it, but I am ready. California, Mimi's coming home!! :)
I am excited because we get to live in Adam's g-pas house, and the town has a few yarn shops. One of them has a shop next door called "pugnatious" ... dog store. Yarn shop next to pug shop? Heaven?? Made for ME??!

What am I knitting?? (maybe the list of what I am NOT knitting would be shorter)
Heres what has seen any action lately:
1. baby surprises
2. Adam's Claudia Handpaints pullover hybrid
3. PUG Muscle Tee- see pict (my own pattern)
4. cable beret hat
5. boring socks
6. I made another "fetching" for Erin for xmas- she loved. I made it with Artyarns Cashmere.

What I plan on knitting?
1. more baby stuff (have you figured out whats on my mind these days??)
2. Feb. Ladies- Modified.
3. even more baby stuff..

Feast Your Eyes

I love summer. I see now why teaching might be appealling to people that dont even like kids. I see now why those horrible teachers might continue in this profession. SUMMER. So far this summer I have stayed up late knitting, watching TV, and playing video games. I sleep in till AT LEAST 10, and pretty much do nothing exept what I WANT to do. The best part is I am STILL GETTING PAID.



Besides loving my job, and loving kids, educating the future of our country, being a positive role model.... I see why teaching is such a great thing. Summer.

I thought I would show off some of my new stuff... I have been knitting like mad. I am ALMOST finished with my Drops Design Eskimo Jacket, and I think you all will really be jealous when you see it. I am thrilled. Stay tuned for Picts. The yarn above is Schaefer Yarn's Andrea, which is 1,093 yards of 100% cultivated handpainted silk. The color is called "Empress Wu Zhao. What am I doing with this you ask? I dont know but I couldnt help myself. You understand yeah?

Since I am "Pugs and Knits" I thought these stitch markers were highly appropriate and necessary. I bought these 4 cute suckers on Etsy. Check out this site. :) I also got 10 skeins of Claudia's Hand painted Worsted weight yarn. I think I might make a delicious sweater. I am thinking the hybrid yoke Sweater by Elizabeth Zimmerman. Here is Jared's example. What do you guys think, not of his (which I know is FABULOUS... ) What do you think of me doing that sweater out of this new yarn?? Stay tuned for pictures of my finished sweater.

2 more down

I finished 2 more baby surprise jackets. I cant tell you how much fun this pattern is. It's weird at first, but once you get it you start seeing a jacket out of every yarn you see. I think next time I will use a looser cast off in the end, but otherwise I am perfectly happy with them. The pinkish one is made using Koigu and a size 3 needle. I tried it on smaller needles, but its softer on 3's.

The green/blue one is made from Claudia Handpaints. I only used 1 skein of that and then used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino for the trim. I used size 5 needles. I love that yarn!!!


Jared taught me a new technique for making beautiful button holes. Thank you Jared. Ask me and I will pass this knowledge on to you!

I didnt "block" these. I guess one thing I learned from each designer at Purl Jam is that everyone has their own ideas about blocking. My idea on THIS project is that it is perfect the way it is. I hope you all enjoy as much as I do.

Purl Jam 2008

Hello everyone in Blog land:) I am excited to write this blog because I had such a phenomenal week that I have to share it. This week was Purl Jam here in Blacksburg, and I have to say that I haven't been so inspired in such a long time. It felt so good to once again see the bigger picture in the knitting world. Sometimes I get so stuck in my own knitting rut that I forget why I am doing it. When the community comes together it's easier to see that I am part of something big. I am not alone. I knit for so many reasons. I knit because it calms me. I knit to produce. I knit to feel accomplished. I knit because when I do, everything feels right.





I picked up Jared Flood at the Roanoke Airport. (Brooklyn Tweed... and if you didnt know that... shame on you.) I was actually very nervous about meeting this guy since I am such a huge fan. Gina told me to make a sign.... so I did... It said "Jared Flood: knitter Extraordinaire" I felt like an idiot holding it up... so I didnt. I know what he looks like, but I DID show him. After moments of meeting him my nerves calmed. What a guy! Besides the fact that Gina told him I was some sort of crazy obsessed fan who might tie him up like in Misery..... he didnt seem scared by me. Speaking of obsessed fan... Let me just say... I seriously think he is an amazing person. From a knitting perspective he is a genius, but he is so humble about it. He is inspiring, amazing, and real. Just being around him I learned so much and became so inspired.





OK, so I hung out with knitters, friends, and designers this whole week. HEAVEN. I took classes from each of the designers, Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton, and Annie Moddesitt. LOVE THEM!!!! I am STILL star struck and inspired. They are incredible. I learned so much! It made me feel so normal listening to them talk. They are NORMAL people, with incredible talent and passion. SIGH....






I came away from this thing with more friends, and a renewed motivation to do more. I decided I want to design. I want to do amazing things. I ran out and got a designing notebook. I am PUMPED to start designing more. I got some delicious silky wool to design a baby aran sweater to STEEK... more to come.

Love you all! Happy Knitting:)

Trip to Utah

I just got back from visiting my family in Utah. After waking up at 3:30 and travelling ALL day... I finally made it home. I love seeing them, and it had been way too long (1 year!) A lot of things happened, and so its time to make a list:

What I did in Utah:
1. painted my niece's nails.
2. Played "go fish" with my nephew.
3. Had my 28th b-day. The kids decorated my cake... awww
4. Got hugs and kisses from the little and big guys.
5. Went ATVing! AHHHHHHH how fun!!!
6. had a "dance party" on my parents boat with my nephews.
7. Kissed pugs!
8. Went to a yarn shop in Logan. It was huge. I got a skein...
9. almost got abducted by a crazy man in SLC... scared the crap outta me.
10. knit knit knit my 3rd baby surprise.. stay tuned for picts.


OK- good list.
I really enjoyed seeing my sibling's kids. I just got super freaked out about having one. I am NOT pregnant or anything, but I dont think its that far off... BUT that trip made me question whether or not I even want to do it. KIDS. I just love my peace, my space, my freedom. I love the relationship Adam and I have, and I am not sure I want that to change. Am I being ridiculous? Does anyone understand? Whats wrong with me?

I guess I just was raised to think that my job in life is to have lots of babies. Its by "purpose". I just feel scared because I love my life. I dont want to have being kids be my LIfe... MY everything. I want to keep my life, keep my identity, keep my freedom. sigh.... maybe I will just made a bad mom. :(

OK- enough reflection. I hope you enjoy the pictures, and stay tuned for knitting pictures. pictures arnt working...will happen later

ALso, I am freeking out about meeting some of my favorite designers at Purl jam!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh......

Finally! I MADE it through my first year of teaching. I leave with mixed feelings that are new to me. I feel sadness because there is a special bond between me and my kids, and I feel that now the bond is breaking as they move on in life. I want so badly to be more to them in their lives. I want to be there... and watch them grow. It's hard knowing that now I will just be a "good teacher they had in 3rd grade". I guess I just got too attached, but I really cant help it. I love kids. Especially these ones.

I feel extreme happiness because I can REST. I can do things I have wanted to do all year, but didnt have the time or ENERGY to do them.

I feel anxious. I feel this because all I have been doing since August is work. Now... no work, and I dont know what to do with myself.

Overall, I realised a lot about myself this year as a teacher. I can honestly say that this is what I am meant to do. I guess you could say it is my calling. It feels natural to me and I am just so happy that I know now that I can do it.

I am hoping to still be here in the fall, so I can do my 2nd year here. Who knows still where we are going to be, which is so hard for Adam and I. We are just such planners... that its hard not to be able to plan for even the next few months. I have moved a lot in my life, so I know that when it is time I can do it. I just dont want to yet. I guess what will be will be and we have to do what is right for our future and our family's future.

LIST TIME!!! Here is my ambitious list for the summer:

1. Read a book.
2. Knit more baby stuff
3. Join the gym AGAIN
4. Loose some weight and try to build my self esteem. I dont want my self esteem to be dependent on my current weight. I want to love my body even during the ups and downs.
5. Sleep till AT LEAST 9 everyday.
6. Paint at least 1 painting
7. explore Virginia more.

OK thats enough.... What will really happen???

1. sit on couch
2. sleep more than 10 hours a night
3. play video games
4. eat pizza.


hahahahahahaha.

I hope you all will be hearing more from me via blogs, but call me- lets go out!
Mimi

Surprise

Hi everyone! I know.. once again, I SUCK as a blogger, but I have some goodies for you today. I finished this FANTASTIC project. The "Baby Surprise" jacket. LOVE IT!!! I made it out of Noro Taiyo, which is 40% Cotton, 30% Silk, 15% Wool, 15% Nylon. This yarn is fantastic. I followed the Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern in her book The Opinionated Knitter.



I used a size 5 needle, which made it very tight. I dont like baggy looking knitting, but I think I would have been just as happy had I used a US 7. I bought these buttons today at Mosaic, and I am blown away at how PERFECT they are. (sigh) Can you tell how in love I am with this project?!

In other news, Adam graduated! Yes, I am now married to a doctor:) Doctor in science:)
He spoke at graduation, and is so clever and funny. Love that guy! His sister, and brother in law came for a surprise visit. It was really fun!!



I have 8 days left with my kiddos and it is going to really be bitter sweet. I love them all so much, I dont want to let them go. On the other hand, I am so tired... SO TIRED and I cant do it anymore:) I NEED summer:) I cant wait to do it all again. Hopefully Adam and I will know where we will be this fall. We shall see.

This summer I am looking forward to visiting my family! My b-day is coming up soon too.. 28. Maybe that is why I am making all this baby stuff. I guess I am 28...and my body is saying something. I guess 10 years with Adam and I together.. its time to add another person to our family. Dont get to excited guys- But it's not much longer.