Taking a Break

As of right now, I am taking a break from blogging. Until when, I'm not sure. I just need some time to get my life together I think.

Last week, my brother was admitted to the hospital in my hometown for congestive heart failure. Thank God my father brought him to the ER when he did, or else I probably would have been brotherless right now. I was able to go home for a few nights to spend hours at a time at Tony's hospital bedside. Monday night, he was alert enough to know I was there, which I think was a comfort to us both.

Over the past week, it's been a series of ups and downs for both my dear brother and the rest of our family. Tuesday night, I finally had to return to Greeley for school and for work. It's been very difficult for me not to be there and to furthermore, be alone and isolated up here.

So my dear friends, I am on hiatus until further notice.

All my love,
Lulu

Howdy, Hi, Hello!

And a happy belated new year! 2009 has been fairly good so far. I'm tomorrow morning to start heading back to school for the spring semester even though sometimes it still feels like I just finished last's semester finals although that was a month ago.

So what have I been up to? Besides lots of knitting of course...

• I got my hair cut, and I think it's the best haircut I've gotten in ages
• Then, I've been hanging out with my best friend Melanie as much as possible. On New Years Eve, we drove north to old Colorado City and then to Manitou springs. We even stopped at the new yarn outlet in Colorado Springs, where I bought yarn for Melly to learn how to knit! [Look forward to reviews on some yarn stores soon!] Some of the boutiques we visited were just amazing.
• I made stuff to eventually sell in my etsy shop, when I get around to pricing and photographing everything.
• I cast on for a sweater.
  
• I bought more yarn.
• Then got yarn to make a sample scarf for my hometown shop.
• And last but not least, I think I finally came up with some new year's knitting resolutions!

2009's knitting resolutions are...

1. Knit a sweater.
2. Actually knit a whole sock. I don't even care if I do a pair. I just want ONE handknit sock at this point.
3. Do my best to finish all my Christmas knitting before finals week come December.
4. Learn more techniques and get more adventurous with my knitting.
5. Teach Melanie to knit, which I've already been working on.

What are your knitting resolutions?

coffee and cashmere,
Lulu

Oozing Crazy Creativity on a Manic Monday

I feel like I've actually been cranking out the creativity since I started college; I just forget to photograph it! Since moving at the end of August, I have knit my first hat, almost finished my pair of Modified Fetchings (before one of my DPNs broke!), and several new dishcloth patterns, most of which will end up being gifts if they haven't already been given away. A good dent has been made in my Christmas knitting list: hats for my sisters, a scarf for my mom, dishcloths for some friends, and possibly even more. My R.A. (resident assistant) even started what will hopefully become a weekly Stitch & Bitch over the course of the next semester.

In addition to the knitting, I've been gettin' my craft on in some other ways. Melanie and I started a friendship journal to send back and forth, the crazier the better, in addition to the letters we've been writing. I have been having so much fun with this Journal of Random Thoughts! Seriously, go make one with a friend right now. Our goal is to cover every page with drawings, musings, stickers, and whatever strikes our fancy, almost like a scrapbook. The only question is who will keep it in the end...

Speaking of scrapbooking, I miss it! I can't wait to go cropping crazy over my month-long winter break from school, which starts Friday! I'm also hoping to get my feet wet with some other crafts like some more jewelry making or beading, soap making, more stationary/letter writing related crafts, and so much more. My mom has loads of beads and plenty of beading supplies; maybe I'll make some shiny stitch markers? I also really miss my sewing machine, but I'm not sure how much access I will have to Brother (my sewing machine) because my real brother is staying at the house, in the exact room where all my craft stuff lives.

I'm counting down the days until the end of the semester, when I will be completely done worrying about academics until January. Today was my history final, the first of the week, and I think I did all right despite it being held at 8 a.m. on a Monday morning! Two more finals this week and then back to Pueblo on Friday. I think I left my camera at home over Thanksgiving break, so no pictures of all the exciting projects I've been working on just yet.

coffee & cashmere and more coffee,
Lulu

A Crafty Cha-Ching!

Finally, I have evidence of a finished object to share.

Pattern: Cha~Ching by Rachel van Schie

Size: One Size. Mine measures just less than one foot wide and about 10 inches tall.

Yarn: About half a large skein of Sugar & Cream in Hot Green

Needles: Knit on size 7 US Knit Picks Harmony options

Mods: None.

Started: Sometime in late-ish October 2008

Finished: November 7, 2008

I liked the pattern a lot and look forward to knitting more of her patterns. It was clearly written and easy to follow. I enjoyed how the seed stitch border made it a bit different. Plus this dishcloth feels a bit larger than other ones I've made. This will be a Christmas present to one of my best friends Cassy, who is known for being incredibly frugal!

Also, I'd like to wish everybody: Happy Veteran's Day! I'm so grateful to the thousands of men and women who give so much as members of our military, both past and present. To all of those selfless people, a heart felt thanks.

Blogging is Hard Work!

Someday I would love to be a famous blogger, or at the very least, more well-known than I am now. I'm very thankful to all my readers, but sooner or later, I want more! I've been playing around with the idea of getting my own domain name and website, slowly expanding my empire. Maybe I'll even dabble in podcasting, designing, or selling hand-dyed or handspun yarn. As Ms Violet from Lime n Violet calls herself a "knitting rockstar", and that is what I want to be someday.

I recently wrote a letter to one of my best friends from high school who is hoping to start up her own Etsy shop soon selling her own jewelry and other trinkets. I told her that we should join forces and start our own website based on all our crafting, linking to our own Etsy shop as well as the shops of others. We could each blog about our creations, give tips and tutorials for others, or maybe even put out our own online crafting zine. I personally want to take off with this idea and run with it, but maybe I should focus on my own blog first, especially since I don't even have a name for my company-to-be.

From what I've seen, pretty much all of my readers are bloggers themselves, so I know you will all understand when I say that blogging is hard work. I love having yet another creative outlet and a way to show off my craft-related things; however, it sometimes I feel bad if I don't post at least once a week or more or if my posts are short or my pictures are bad or nonexistent. As rewarding as having my blog is, once in a while, I feel more stress than pleasure; I'm sure that is all because of college and work. I know that this will pass with time though.

So dear readers, from one blogger to another, what are your blogging goals? How do you deal with that little voice in the back of your head telling you to update more? How did you come up with your clever blog names or even chose a host? Please share all your silly stories with me for I am always eager to know more about other people's blogging experiences.

coffee and cashmere,
Lulu

Happy Birthday Sisters!!

Okay, I haven't really fallen off the face of the earth just yet. College is just kicking my butt, but there has been knitting! However, today I am busy with wishing my two baby sisters a happy fourteenth birthday!! (Well, that and midterms of course, but we're not going to talk about that.)

HAPPY FOURTEENTH BIRTHDAY
RACHEL AND GINA!!

I am so proud of my sisters and very sorry that I can't be home with them to celebrate their first birthday of high school! I love and miss you girls!!

coffee and cashmere,
Lulu

When I Really Should Be Studying

I'm trying to write a blog entry about the amazing insanity called college life, but words can describe the roller coaster ride I've been experiencing since the end of August.

My dad came to visit me this past Sunday, which was the first time he has been to the university since he attended in the mid-sixties! The only thing on West Campus then(my side of campus) was the residence hall I live in now, and even Central Campus has changed so much since then. It was such an amazing experience to share with my father, alumnus of the same institute of higher education that I chose. I just can't wait to go to a football game with him in a few weeks!

Sadly, not a lot of knitting has been going on. I couple dishcloths from Knitty's Back to School pattern before I came to college, and I had fully planned on finishing them for myself but that hasn't happened. There are a couple girls in my history of sex and sexuality class who knit or crochet, so at least I don't feel completely bizarre when I pull out my needles in class.

There are only 104 days until Christmas so I really need to get started on my holiday knitting! I see lots of hats and dishcloths in my future, possibly with some fingerless gloves thrown in for good measure. If nothing else, "I.O.U. one knitted gift" coupons should suffice?

Off to psych class. Maybe I'll get on the ball and take more pictures of my cubby hole called a dorm room.

coffee and cashmere (ha, on my budget? No way!),
Lulu