Thursday, April 21, 2011

Ups and Downs

I have been having trouble sleeping and even had panic attaches.  My job is moving out of state and I need to apply for a new one.  Finding jobs is a hard thing to do and I have been stressed about it.  That is the down.

After a couple of weeks of problems, I have started applying for different jobs and looking in all the possibilities.  More importantly, I have been trying to redirect my emotions so that I do not have the stress and am getting more done.  (I'm not sure if I am getting more done, but I am reading and working to relax.)

My up is going to see things and spending time with people I enjoy and doing my craft.

I had yesterday and today off and spent yesterday with Mom, my sister and my daughter at the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point.

A hill of tulips and daffodils.



It has been cool this year and only about half the tulips were out this week.  There was still lots to see and I loved the hyacinths.  They were all shades of purples, pinks, and violets.






And there were some beautiful miniature daffodils that I just thought were great.


It was a very nice day and we enjoyed ourselves.

Today we have had rain off and on, and a heavy wind.  Unfortunately, the wind took down a part of our back fence so we will have to add that to the list of jobs to be done.  The spring rains are continuing.  These showers will bring more flowers and the green growing things we need.


I have not been doing much weaving, but I have been knitting and also I took a three day workshop with Sharon Alderman.  We were doing color studies with Color-Aid paper.  It was great to see how to "shift" the color to look like a different color by putting it with other colors.  I want to continue to play with the papers and do a couple more experiments for my notes.  I finished one that I had started in the class and I have laid out colors for another one that I need to cut.  I have been re-reading the books on color, and thinking about how I use color in my work.

My craft is proceeding in the knitting area.  In fact, I have started several projects, I think as an escape from the worry of my work-life.  I have been doing a pair of socks with some Mini Mochie that I had.  This has been my TV project lately.
The first sock is almost done.

I also got excited about a bag pattern by Anne Carroll.  It is enterlac stitch and I have finally gotten comfortable with knitting "to and fro" as Priscilla Gibbson-Roberts used to say.  I got some great yarn from my LYS and started on the project.  It is looking pretty good.  When I finish knitting, it will go into the washer to felt it.





I saw a pattern for a purse organizer that can be moved from bag to bag as you change.  I think that would be a good piece to add to my bags.  Then I would have less problem of using the same bag all the time.




I also fell in love with the cover of the new Knitting Traditions and started the fingerless mitts.

I have one mostly finished (I need to finish the ends...a little challenging with this pattern with all the color changes).

As you can see there are a lot of ends.

Anyway, this has been how I have been staying sane...or somewhat sane.  I know we all have the challenges that we face and each has to be met the best way we can.