Girl Who Knits

I am a fan of reality shows.  You know how they always have certain archetypes?  Like the "cute one" and the "annoying one"...or is that boy bands?  Either way, I think it is safe to say I when it comes to the Amazing Lace, I am the "one that got voted off on the first episode."  I was always so embarrassed for that person on Survivor and now I can empathize.  Of course it is worse for me because no one actually gets voted off the Amazing Lace.  Yup, I did it to myself.

I don't know what happened.  The concept was awesome and I thought the challenges were cool...I think it comes down to the lace.  For me, it was not a summer inspired by lace.  Sure I finished Hedera and the cool hemp ponchette, but let's be honest shall we?  I joined the amazing lace with visions of an intricate scarf or shawl.  After I finished the edging of the trellis scarf, I completely lost interest.  Do you ever feel like you have to knit a project?  Like once you cast on you are obligated to I don't know who (the yarn, the pattern, your blog) to finish?  I just need to remind myself that I will knit what I want and when I want.  It is my choice.  So will I finish Trellis?  Maybe.  I just don't know.  Depends how I feel.  There are some other lace projects I would like to make too.  But right now I have to be true to what is inspiring me.  And I am all about the sweater right now. 

So I do feel a bit like a loser that didn't fully participate in all the Amazing Lace challenges, but I just have to be me.  I simply wasn't feeling it.  Just keeping it real folks. 

P.S. I worked late last night and missed SnB but now I have the rest of the week off work.  Know what I am doing?  Yup.  Knitting.  And cleaning my house, but mostly knitting. Maybe even visiting a couple LYSs that I don't normally get to.  So. Fun.  Next up on the blog, a finished Molly...stay tuned.

Indecision is

the girl who knits lace burden

inconstant, fickle

like in love she goes

through patterns with interest

peaked and then waning

trellis was the first

unfinished, sits abandoned

wanting to be knit

Green Hedera sock

lunch knitting, social buddy

one but toe complete.

a cool hemp ponchette

pretty and hippie friendly

new love--pray it lasts

there are yet others

mim mountian peak out of reach

pattern incomplete

fidelity is

impossible for this girl

who knits much lace.  Next?

What follows is my first entry in The Amazing Lace. 

This summer, I am not racing around the world.  My every move is not being filmed and viewed by a global audience.  I am not in the running for a million dollars.  Funny, even writing that makes me a little depressed.  It's just...my life is not very exciting.  Mundane really.  I work, work out, eat, and knit.  Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad life.  I make a decent living, have great friends, the best family, and a hobby I am passionate about.  Life is good.  I just have no adventure. 

Folks, I want adventure.  I want a challenge.  I want love and excitement and thrills.  I want the unexpected and unpredictable.  Enter...lace.  (Don't laugh--this my team I am talking about and loyal to a fault, I have my lace's back.)

Yes, lace and I are joining forces to give my life the spark it so desperately needs.   

As for the team...my name is Erin.  I am 30 years old, love peanut butter anything, and think British people are smarter than everyone else...you know, it's the accent.  For the record, I'm not British.  My imagination is most active in the mornings while I am driving to work.  That is when I daydream about the big promotion I am going to get or the old crush I will run into or how much I will win in the lottery I didn't enter.  On Friday's morning drive I had an impression...this lace is going to lead me somewhere good.  Where I am not sure.  But somewhere.  Good.  The lace could be several projects but will start with the Trellis Scarf from Spring Interweave 06.  Yarn: Kaalund Expressions.  So far we like each other.  We can't hangout all the time because I get testy and he gets too complicated.  I am worried he has issues.  It is probably more likely however that the issues are mine.    

Our first date (and official team photo):

So what do we hope to accomplish?  The way I see it, there is a difference between knitting lace and knitting in the Amazing Lace.  I want to produce at least one (hopefully more) beautiful lace garments sure, but what will make it amazing?  What can a simple partnership with lace bring my life?  Honestly, I don't know.  But hey, isn't finding out part of the fun?  See?  The adventure is already beginning.  

My first teammate for the Amazing Lace is...

the Baltic Sea Stole! 

It came down to Icarus and the Baltic Stole.  Thanks for all your comments, the advice really helped me narrow my choices.  It was tough but I settled on the stole because I love it and I already have the yarn (see right) I want to use for it.  That is Kaalund Expressions in Wild Oak colorway.  I know it is going to be difficult (lace pattern on every row!) but I am excited to see just how difficult.  I still want to do Icarus (and most likely Print 'o the Wave too) so I will be keeping my eyes peeled for great yarn to use for those projects.  Who knows, maybe the summer of lace will bring more then one teammate.

It is the sister/roommate Kara's birthday today (go and wish her a happy birthday!).  I don't know how I feel about her getting older.  Is it bad that her turning 27 makes me think that I will be turning 31 this year.  Yikes!  To sum Kara up, well there is no way to sum her up.  She is funny and beautiful and creative and clever and the best. roommate. ever.  I thought I was done with roommates but when both of us needed a place to live at the same time I felt right about living with Kara and am so glad I listened to my gut.  We are completely different and totally the same.  We share many obsessions including knitting, Gilmore Girls, and Baskin Robbins ice cream.  There is no one I would rather knit with than Kara.  I just love my girl.

Here are some pictures from yesterday's Happi-tiser (Kara calls them Happi-tisers because appetisers make her happy) picnic:

Good times at the park (Kara's the one with the tiara.)

My poor attempt at cupcake decoration...they tasted good though.

Niece Ellie loving her cupcake.

It was good times.

And finally...Mom.  For those of you that don't know, my parents live in Hong Kong.  So, they live far.  I miss them always but on days like today the distance hurts a little more.  If they were living near, today we would all get together for a big mother's day dinner.  Maybe we would sit outside because it has been so nice.  We would share inside family jokes and there would be lots of hugging and teasing going on.  I am sure at some point we would also watch the Survivor finale together (Kara, Dad and I have fun watching that show together.)  We are a close family and we get, love, support, and accept each other. 

There is one thing we all feel passionate about.  That is, our mother.  Mom is and always will be, the heart of our family.  She is smart, kind, thoughtful, and compassionate.  Everyone loves being around my Mom.  She is the best teacher I have ever had.  She is wise and is not afraid to share her mind.  She cooks, sews, reads, travels the world, teaches, adjusts to new cultures, worries over her unmarried daughters (think Pride & Prejudice), and delights in the successes of her children.  If I am blessed with a family of my own someday, I hope I can be even a fraction of the woman and mother she is.  I love you Mom.  Happy Mother's Day.