The Right Direction

Hello all. Suddenly, it's been almost a month since I made a post. I haven't been knitting much, because my job's been keeping me really busy. But, I've made a lot of changes in the past few days, including leaving that job, and now I'm moving in a direction that is much better for me.

So, today I did pretty much nothing but work on my Mara. I watched two of my favorite movies to knit to, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley.

The garter stitch is taking a long time, but I know I'm going to love the finished product. I have four balls of Palette, which I was originally going to use to make 198 Yards of Heaven. However, that project stayed in hibernation for a really long time, because the pattern was driving me insane. I had named that shawl "Welcome to Blue Heaven" in reference to the anime Outlaw Star. After frogging the shawl, I decided that I still wanted the anime reference, so the Mara's name is Melfina, after the main female character from the same anime. I named it after her because she is pretty much identified with the color blue for most of the show:



I'm not sure if I'm going to use three of the balls or all four, but I plan to make it big, almost cape-like, so I can wear it as an outer layer. I'm about a quarter into the second ball, so I have a while to go. I'll take a picture outside tomorrow, while Ben and I enjoy an adventure-filled day in town.

More soon! I have a feeling I'll be knitting a lot.

Clear Skies

The sky has been blue for the first time in a while lately.




Ignore the palm trees. They are not a natural element of my environment in any way. It's just my university's attempt at being decorative.

I got a better picture of my Simple Things.


Comically, I am wearing the exact same thing in this picture that I was when I took the last picture. Having it pinned this way really shows it off better, though. I've worn it like this almost every day since I've finished it. It's so soft and the colors cheer me up over and over again.

Gaenor is coming along. I'm about 25% done. This is a good thing, because I made a deal with myself that I wouldn't buy any more yarn until I completed three projects from stash yarn, and I have yarn reserved for purchase on Monday. At this rate, Gaenor will (read: had better be) done by then. I always keep my promises.

Midterms are approaching, which has me slightly tense, but I'm trying to keep more calm this time. I have a big test on two movements of Brahms tomorrow, and three midterms next week. In the meantime, I've got some lovely stitch markers in the mail to look forward to.

Deep Breath

This week, this month, the past six months have all been leading up to today. Tonight, for the first and last time, I'm going to go sing my role in the opera. I'm a little anxious, but I always am when I'm waiting to get started. Once I'm up there, I feel great.

It's been a very hectic time for me. The construction in the city has only made it harder to get around, but I try to enjoy the little moments, regardless. I think that may be another reason why I wanted to do Simple Things first. It's all about the mindset. Enjoying little moments of beauty is what makes life worth living.



Here are the long-awaited photos of my brother's scarf:






He really likes it, but of course it's gotten warm since I made it, so he can't wear it. That's how it always goes, though. I made it with Impeccable, by Loops & Threads, and killed the acrylic by ironing it with a wet cloth over it.

Sunday, the Saints play in the Superbowl. That's really all I'm going to say about it. We'll see how it goes.

I finally managed to sit down and start my Simple Things shawl yesterday. I had been waiting on the right needles to come in the mail. I planted my butt in a sunny side room of my university's library, and cast on several times until I was finally satisfied. Since then, I've done quite a bit of it, and I'm quite pleased so far! I'm loving the pattern. It's so clear and approachable. Mary-Heather's pattern writing style makes me feel very comfortable. I'm going to work on it for a while before I leave to do the show tonight.






By the next time I post here, all of my work for Pirates will have culminated in-- God willing--a fantastic show, and we'll know who won the SuperBowl.

Everyone, take a deep breath.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus

Dominus Deus Sabbaoth...

I cannot get the Verdi Requiem out of my head. I just came from choir, where we've been working on it for over an hour. I may be doomed for the rest of the day. It's just so darned catchy.

Today's been an interesting kind of day. I have lots of breaks as it is on Fridays, but now I'm off until 6, when opera starts. It ends at 10. This makes me sad. I want to go home and enjoy my Friday night. Oh, well.

I'm not getting much of a weekend, either, due to a wedding that I'm singing, and several rehearsals and other musical obligations. Maybe next weekend, right? Ha.


On a lighter note, my friend Amanda is well on her way to becoming as much of a fiber freak as I am. She's trawling Rav with the best of us now.

Things are going to be very relaxing for the next couple of hours. Me, coffee, Ravelry, my Cranberry (which I will finally work on for a change) and a quiet, warm, dry library. Under the circumstances, I don't think that I could ask for more.

Playing catch-up

Well, I've definitely neglected the blog over the past four days. I've been in a mad rush to get things taken care of before I go back to school, and I'm just not getting anywhere. We have plans to go see friends pretty much every day until I go back, and I have so much laundry backed up, and cleaning to do, and then there's Brahms...

But, even though I'm coming out of this holiday with very little net sleep gain (if any), I'm going to make the best of it. I'm afraid this is going to be a bit of a drive-by blogging, because I have to go work on Brahms before I have to leave.

In recent news, my Animal Parade Bag has arrived from Ravelry!





I feel like I've been talking about something I bought, or plan to buy, in every blog update. I promise, I don't usually buy stuff constantly. It just happened that I did a good bit of buying/planning to buy, and started this blog at the same time. After my sheepy bracelet arrives from watersedgejewelry, I'll be done spending for quite a while. I can't wait for my little flock of sheep to arrive!

Ben and I saw The Princess and the Frog last night. I have to say, it's one of the best movies that Disney has made since I was a child. I completely recommend this movie to everyone, male and female, young and old. It's just an amazing movie. It blew me away.

Well, I have to get back to Brahms. I'm pretty much done, but I need to polish a bunch before that audition happens. The Pantomime is coming along nicely, I'm sorta running on faith that I'm not going to run out of yarn by tweaking the pattern the way that I am. Wish me luck!