Friday, September 30, 2011

Change is gonna come. . .

Hey Y'all,

My blog has been quite stagnant for a while and please accept my heartfelt apologies.  There will be changes soon.  A new look is coming.


Stay tuned for a grand re-opening

Blessings,
Gwynne

Thursday, February 24, 2011

How Much is Too Much?

February is  almost over.  January seemed to go very quickly, but I guess that is something people say as they get older. 

I have been doing a lot  more contemplating than writing so far this year and I have to tell you one of the reasons why.  I spend a fair amount of time exploring, lurking and chatting, tweeting and posting on websites, like Twitter, Facebook and Ravelry.  As I read posts/tweets that others write I am struck by how much oversharing is out there.  I ask, "How much is too much?"

There are forums and friends and people to follow and companies that have an online presence.  Do people who use these sites realize or care that what they share is out there FOREVER?  I understand some folks are lonely in their offline lives or things are too challenging IRL, but I say to you with love -- please get a grip.  Going online and ranting is not going to change anything in the long run.  Deal with it and move on.

As a child, my family moved from place to place to accomodate my father's job and we children spent a lot of time adapting to new surroundings, getting comfortable, and then leaving.  Most times upon leaving we would be devastated by having to leave friends that we hoped to have forever and never speaking to them or seeing them again. I do understand the need to belong, to belong to groups or even lead groups.  These social networks seemed to have tapped into that need and people are diving into the shallow end from the high dive.  While it is great to converse with like-minded people, Ask yourself:

1. Why am I following this subject? Why am I in this group?
1. Are they genuinely my friends? Do I really know/like them?
2. What am I getting from this? 
2. Is this too much information I am putting out here? Am I talking too much, oversharing?
3. Is what I am saying relevant to the topic? Am I derailing things to make it about me?
4. Are there any unwritten rules  I am breaking?
5. Have I even bothered to read the rules and guidelines before posting?

All it takes is one person or incident to change the dynamics of a group forever.  It doesn't matter how well intentioned the act -- there are folks that will not forgive and can not forget because it is there to be re-hashed for eternity.  Just be careful out there.

But on another front, I have been knitting up a storm and given myself a HUGE case of startitis. Another case of how much is too much.  I have started so many projects this year and it is only February!  if this keeps up all of my needles will be in use.  That will probably be the only way to cure it. Though I hope  I can finish them because I see a few more in the near future, heh.  I'll show you some that I have begun and which ones are haunting my dreams next time.

A few of my recent FOs (finished objects for you muggles) here:


Tetsobou Hat in Malabrigo Sock


  

Norie Hat in SG Traveller



Gridiron Socks in SG Bugga



Loafers in Dragonfly Fibers Dragon Worsted

Moonlight Spiracles in SG QED
 Until next time, Blessings

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Keeping It Real

Hello New Year, Hello Blog again!

I have been MIA on my blog for quite a while and it feels so good to be back.  There had been so much happening over the last quarter of 2010 - head spinning and all that. 

With all of the turmoil wrapped up and put away, it is now time to GET REAL and KEEP IT REAL.  I will not make resolutions.  I will not judge.  I will just live as happy and healthy a life as I can.  More random acts of kindness will be performed more than in the past.  I just love the idea of anonymous blessings.  I may even try a giveaway or two!



My knitting life has been a great sustaining force in my life and will continue to be.  I thank all of the wonderful people that have touched me and have allowed me to touch them with this craft I like to call, Artistry.   

My family is my inspiration each moment; happy sad, funny, supportive, loving, mischievious, stubborn, and sweet.

Such a textured life.  Thank you and Blessings.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Favorites are Better - Late, But Better

OK, Here is the list I promised for yesterday.  Sorry it's a little late.  I really had so many that I had to whittle it down some. 


My Favorite Things
  • My wonderful husband - what a blessing
  • My children - my miracles
  • My sisters & brothers
  • Denzel Washington movies
  • Turkey salad - OMG
  • Spinach salad with cranberry vinagrette
  • Grilled Swordfish with lime & chipotle sauce
  • Knitting with my favorite yarns:
    • The Sanguine Gryphon
    • Dragonfly Fibers
    • Madelinetosh
    • Dream in Color
    • Kauni / Evilla
    • there are more but let's keep it short
  • Authentic Friends that will tell you the truth lovingly
  • Ravelry
  • Local LYSs - you know who you are. . .
  • My home
  • My doctors
  • My neighbors

I reserve the right to revisit this list and add to it with wild abandon.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Hello, Long Time No Hear. . .

I haven't posted in such a long time.  It is not that I didn't have anything to say -- I just didn't feel I had anything worthwhile to blog about.  I have been feeling all kinds of frustration with the smallest things and whining just isn't my thing.

I will, however, provide a list of things that are NOT my favorite things this week followed by a list of my favorite things next week.

NOT My Favorite Things List (Part 1)
  • Gossipy people
  • People that enjoy disparaging others
  • Falling in the toilet in the middle of the night
  • Book smarts but no common sense
  • Expecting more of others that one gives
  • Brown-nosing (so transparently)
  • Elitists
  • Sinful Religious folks that judge
  • Perfect people - they are everywhere
  • Soggy piecrust
  • BAD Coffee - grrrrrrr
  • Ugly yarn - yes not all yarn is equal. . .
  • Knitting patterns for sale that should be free
  • Automated Customer Service - where is everybody?!!!
  • Tropical temperatures
  • Hot Flashes
  • Muscle tremors

I think that will do for now.  I reserve the right the revisit this list when this mood strikes again.  Tomorrow the My Favorite Things List

Friday, July 16, 2010

Shawls. . .

I love shawls.  So much so that I have to have one on needles at all times.  It just so happens that I have two going now and am contemplating another two. 

I am currently knitting on The Curator Shawl by Grace Anna Farrow.  A lovely designer that I get the opportunity to chat with on Ravelry.com from time to time.  Her aesthetic is clean lines and simple beautiful colors, a fan, I am in my best Yodaspeak.  I am making the square version, but somewhat smaller than the pattern calls for -- but loving this so far.  I have finally begun the decrease side so the finish line is within sight.  The yarn is Fleece Artist Blue Face Leicester 2/8, in the Masala colorway.  So festive and summery; I think it will block out to a decent real woman size, heh.  I hope to finish this before the end of the month so I can proudly flaunt it.

The other shawl on the needles is the Melon Pattern for a Shawl or Scarf from Victorian Lace Today.  I signed up for a KAL (knit-a-long for non-knitters) in the Dragonfly Fibers Ravelry Group.  This is a lovely group of knitters that love Dragonfly Fibers yarns.  The inspiration behind these gorgeous yarns is the wonderful Kate Chiocchio. Love her! 

The yarn I am using for this shawl is Dragon Lace in the Fire Star colorway.  The most beautiful red with golden highlights and . .  just WOW! I would love to have some of this in her Velvet Underground colorway -- maybe it will be a future request. 

I made good progress on it thus far but had to put it down for a little while to finish the Curator.  I want to use it on a trip my hubby and I are taking at the end of the month.

The other two shawls I am loving and itching to start are Veera Välimäki's 3/4 Hap Shawl and Veronik Avery's Travel Shawl from her new book which I have mentioned in previous entries.  I don't know how much longer I can hold out.

Wish me luck!

Blessings

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

A New Day


I am feeling very grateful today.  So many things I could be unhappy about but why waste the energy.  I have a lot of things to do each day and am glad that I can do them -- maybe not all in a day, but slowly and surely complete portions of tasks daily.

If you are feeling low today, I hope you can take the time to remember that you woke up and felt the Sun on your face and maybe heard birds chirping.  And that is just the start.

Blessings-