From the land of fiction

I decided that I would experiment with the Blogger app on my new iPod. So, here I am, posting from backstage during act two of the play I'm currently in. Here is a (bad quality) picture of my massive, seemingly never-ending Mara, who is doing double duty as a prop. Since I have a good bit of downtime in act two, I get to do at least a little bit of knitting every night. I am really looking forward to finding but how big this baby is off the needles. Also, my costumer for the production, who is also a friend and fellow needle worker, told me that I could wear it in the show if I finished it before the end of the run. So, I have renewed motivation to finish it soon! Be back soon with pictures of my finish-it-upitis.

Travels

My Traveling Woman is finished.





The Details:
Pattern:Traveling Woman by Liz Abinanthe
Yarn: Knitpicks Palette in "Fairy Tale"
Needles: US 5 KA Bamboo Circulars for the body, US 8 KA Bamboo Circulars for the bind off. (I'm really glad I did this, my bind off had tons of stretch.)


When I cast on for this shawl, I planned for it to be a clever project while on my trip to Memphis to perform the Brahms requiem with the choir. A fourteen hour round trip, my knitter friend Amanda (bicyclefairy on Ravelry) at my side, I figured I'd be nearly done by the time I got home, and I'd be able to say that I made "Traveling Woman" on my trip.



Well, first of all, this shawl took me two months to finish, partially because it was the hardest thing I've made so far, and partially because I've been busier than I've ever been in my life. There was a great deal of physical journeying before it was done.

However, I had no idea when I started this project how much of a mental and emotional journey I would go though before I bound off. In the course of this shawl, I performed two requiems, an opera, and Carmina Burana. The Brahms requiem changed my life. I came home from Memphis a new and better musician, and my eyes were permanently open to why I do what I do. The independence of the trip was needed, especially since I had some family problems a few days beforehand. I think, in some ways, the problems that I was having before I left were really what sparked the change in mindset.



Anyway, I feel like all of the things that have gone on in the past few months have changed the way I think. I am a much better performer now, because I've finally figured out how I feel about my career. I have also figured out how I feel about people in my life that have brought me nothing but sorrow.



I've spent much of the last two years missing my friends, because I "don't have time" to see them. Well, I've been making time.






and it's been amazing.





I also sat back and really assessed what in my life makes me happy, and what doesn't. As a result, this will be the first summer of my adult life that I will not be working myself to death at a place where I am both unappreciated and unsatisfied.

This summer will be a summer of knitting, books, movies, and most importantly, friends. I'm not going to be wasting any more of my time.

As happy as I am, both with the shawl and my revelations, I bound off in sadness, because I found out last night that a dear friend of mine will be having heart surgery on Monday. He is elderly, and this will be hard, no matter what the outcome. I have been praying for him day and night, and I hope that anyone inclined to pray who reads this will also offer their prayers for Mr. Bill Thomas.



So, as I sit now with my Traveling Woman wrapped around my shoulders, I know that it was not physical travels that lay before me, but a journey to a better realization of who I am, and what's truly important to me.

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.

Crunch

I have never been this busy in my entire life. I realized this afternoon, when I began to feel inexplicably ill, that I had not eaten since 3pm yesterday. I forgot to eat for 26 hours. I don't think I've ever been that busy before.

The opera is approaching, and I think it's going to be a damned good show. I'll be sad when it's over, but I will also finally get some rest.

In yarny news, I finished my brother's scarf. I will be uploading pictures of it, but I never seem to be at my own computer anymore. There are pictures on Ravelry, for now.

I decided that I wanted my first shawl to be Mary-Heather's Simple Things. Originally, I was going to do Gaenor first, but because Mary-Heather was the one who pretty much gave me that last nudge towards learning to knit, and my Malabrigo Sock in "Archangel" is going to be perfect for that pattern, I decided to start with that. Unfortunately, my prediction that I would be a tight knitter, as I am a crocheter, was incorrect, and I don't have needles small enough to do Simple Things right now. So, I'm going to have to wait until I do. I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to get to the yarn store and get them. I'm thinking of ordering them online, but I'm not sure yet. Regardless, my Simple Things is going to have to wait until I can get 3.5 and 3.25 needles, and figure out which ones will make the fabric come out like it should.

Hopefully I will be able to post again soon with lovely pictures and good news all around. This week is dress rehearsals and such, and the show opens on Friday with the other cast, and our performance is Saturday. I can't believe it's time.