Potential

As Bailey acclimates to his new home, and we fall ever more deeply in love with our new pet, I'm thinking a lot this week about the beginnings of things. 

Whatever I'm working on, at whatever the stage of the process, I'm always looking ahead to the next thing.  It's not proactivity, or project management, or anything else so noble:  It's good old fashioned Start-Itis.  String Lust.  Wanton neglect of the old in pursuit of the new.  I'm meant to be working a button band for the last thing, but all I can think about is the new blue hat, still in skein form.

We knitters all suffer from this need to move on, to some degree.  It's part of the whole Knitter Mystique.  I'm wondering if there isn't some way to harness the crazy energy of the infatuation stage of a project.  Then I could lay it aside for later, when the Doldrums hit.  Imagine going to the cupboard for a wee dram of New Project Excitement, just when the sea of stockinette, or the nasty heel turn from hell rob us of our knitting momentum...

There must be a way.  I'm sure it would involve some sort of suction, and probably a distillation process.  Then, of course the patenting would be a nightmare, but well worth the trouble...I'll leave those details to my people. 

When I get some people, that is.

For now, my only assistant is a sassy blonde, who would like his ears scratched, please, as soon as possible.

The excitement of the beginning is all about the clean slate, for me.  As long as the yarn is still in skeins, I've yet to make a single mistake.  The project is still completely perfect, as long as it's only in my head.  I can see how someone with this mindset would eventually find themselves with a house full of yarn, and not a single finished object to show for it.  Not that I would know personally, you understand - this is entirely speculation.  Perfectionist Much?

Fortunately for me (so far), my unbridled lust desire to play with the string always overcomes my need to preserve its unspoilt beauty.  Sooner or later I always cast on.  Binding off, of course, is another matter entirely.  And what goes on in between may or may not be made of magic.  I suppose that's the really driving force for me:  What makes one song a hit and another one elevator music?  We'll never know why some designs are loved and others tank.  And dreaming up the next one is where all the charm lay for me.

One thing is for certain:  My production schedule is really going to take off once these Scottish Terriers learn to knit.

Mischief Managed

First thing this morning at our house, Phillip was awakened by pounding:

Phillip:        (dubiously) Whatcha doin' there?
 

Me:            Project Management.
Phillip:       Oh.  Because to the untrained eye, a woman swinging a hammer might look like she's starting a project.
Me:            That's not what's happening here.  This is creating a project management system, so that I can stop the swirling of soup that is happening in my brain, each time I think of another thing I'm supposed to not forget.
Phillip:        Most people would use a spreadsheet.
Me:            Have you met most people?
Phillip:        Yes, and they cannot knit.
Me:            Precisely.  Nor can they manage projects.  At least not my projects, which are many, bizarre, and diverse.
Phillip:        (bemused) Carry on then.  But you do know you can buy calendars and such for this?
Me:            Those are for regular people.  Not Knitters.
Phillip:        I love the fact that for you, Project Management involves hand tools.

L A T E R . . . 

Me:             Look dear, it's finished!
Phillip:        Cool!  Can I have one too?
Me:            Yes, but not as cool as this one.
Phillip:        Why not?
Me:            Because you don't know how to knit.
Phillip:        Fair enough.

Rare Gems prizes get mailed tomorrow.  Congratulations, Martha from Billings, who correctly guessed which skein had her name on it!

Another Day in Paradise

Located in Spokane, WA, where the high temperature this weekend was 24 degrees Fahrenheit, (minus wind chill), it might not be the paradise you normally think of...

Paradise Fibers operates inside this warehouse in Spokane, WA.  You may know them as outstanding online retailers of all things knitty, spinny, weavy, and yarny.  However, the warehouse is open to the public, and inside is a treasure trove.  It's not your average LYS.  The Paradise warehouse is chock-full of inventory, so while there's no room for squishy chairs (except in the classroom space), you will find whatever you're looking for in ALL the colors.  That's right.  The yarn racks at Paradise soar skyward, way higher than my head, and the needle collection hanging on the walls climbs all the way up to the ceiling (thanks, Sara, for getting the ladder to reach the 9" size 2 Addi circular I was admiring).  

Here are Sara, Chantal, Mimi and Kathleen at the book signing.  Just behind Sara in this picture, and to the left of the giant floor loom, is a collection of about 25 spinning wheels.  I got to stand in front of them to teach classes, and turn around and pet them any time I wanted (which I did).

I also met the lovely and talented Kathleen Cubeley, of Knitting Daily.  Subscribers to her insightful blog get daily updates on techniques, invitations to knitalongs, and the lowdown on new knitting publications.  You should sign up immediately, because she also is in the habit of sending out coupons and freebies, and what's not to love there?

I thought I had left Paradise, if only to eat dinner.  Little did I know that Kathleen would deliver me to the completely sublime Gordy's Sitchuan Cafe, where we ate dumplings, spicy noodles, and succulent lemon chicken.  Not much of a cook myself (smoke alarm vs. oven timer debate still undecided), I harbor deep appreciation for people who know their way around a noodle.  Let me assure you that the staff of Gordy's do.  Note also:  That is a dusting of powdery snow on the ground behind us - we so seldom see snow where I'm from that it felt like nature was throwing me a party.  

I finished a secret Christmas present on this trip, and cast on for another version of the Magic Carpet Socks - they are kinda addictive, if I do say so myself...Wait till you try them!  

And now I'm back below decks, rowing with the rest of the slaves, at my day job.  Paradise, once found,  is hard to leave behind.