Life Lately

These are just two of the very few pictures I have taken the last few weeks.

Tomorrow marks three weeks since I graduated from college. Boy has a lot of time passed since this post over five years ago. Now I'm all graduated and these first few weeks out has been a decent amount of reading (for FUN!) and spending the days with the animals. I started back at work after being home for a week, but it's not nearly as much as I'm used to, so I'm beginning to slowly make my way through a mega to-do list, which includes things like organizing the pictures on my hard drive, cleaning up my Spotify playlists, and unsubscribing from emails that want me to buy from their sale. Needless to say, I'm having a blast, all while watching ER on the side (so.good!!).

So why this blog post? To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I think in some ways I wanted to update loved ones on what I'm doing because I forget that people don't know.

It's just over 70 days now until I move into my apartment in Florida to participate in the Disney College Program. I will be there until January working custodial in one of the parks or resorts. I found out in February and it still doesn't feel real! I've been getting more excited as I see other people moving in and also as I've gotten to know the four other Christian women that I will hopefully be roommates with! Until then, though, another thing on my list is to make my bucket list for my time there, which will certainly include riding as many rides as I can!

Now, if you'll excuse me, this post has taken way longer than expected because I've got ER on and it's about time I move on with today's to-do list!

- rl

FO Friday: Simple Crochet Shrug

Heeeeeeeeeeeeey look I'm blogging! A finished object (FO)! Shocking, I know. This was one of 20 projects I had marked on ravelry to finish up in some way. For this project, it was that it needed to be seamed together and then photographed. That's it. It took me less than thirty minutes to seam it Wednesday night while hanging out with my friend Emily, then before work yesterday I posed for some pictures in it.

It could definitely be better. First, I would not toss out the leftover yarn I had, so that I could seam it using matching yarn. While the contrasting color would be nice in certain palletes, I'm not sure this was the one to experiment on. Good thing it's for me and perfectly matching is not really my style. The second thing I would change would be the drape of the fabric. While it will be nice to have a cozy + warm shrug for classes and cold dorm rooms, I originally wanted something that was a lot lighter. Thankfully, it's a very simple pattern, so I definitely can see myself making at least one more of these and perfecting it as I go.

Regarding blogging, I definitely want to get back into it. Since arriving back home, it has simply been my priority to spend time with loved ones, work, and get various things organized. Now that my books are mostly organized and over half of the Ravelry projects I was stressing out about have been settled, I can start to think about blogging and getting back into creating things (like the sweater I cast on yesterday!!!).

See ya soon!
- rl

(Kind-of) A Knitting Update

(photo taken on my iPhone 5S and edited with VSCOcam, just for fun)

This is my knitting drawer at the moment. A little crazy, right? There are three complete projects, one almost-complete project, one work-in-progress, several balls of yarn for future projects, and my other knitting notions. It's not as disorganized as it sounds, but just about. I'll be home in two and a half weeks (!!!!!!) which is when I plan on updating the 15+ (I KNOW.) projects I have that are all kinds of crazy on Ravelry. That will take several hours, but it will so be worth it.

There have been a lot of thoughts floating in my head lately about knitting and crocheting. I can't wait to get organized and start making some really cool stuff this summer. I don't have any specific plans, except maybe to try some complicated stuff and save the simpler things for the school year.

In other news, THREE BLOG POSTS IN ONE WEEK. It's a miracle! Let's see if I can keep this up, and even increase it!

- rl

To a Most Beloved Sister,

Today is this cutie's birthday! This was her last month, trying to get the hang of crochet. After a craft night with friends we happen to work with, we headed over to one's apartment to watch Austenland. Such a hilarious movie for us Pride & Prejudice fans! My mom had helped Jenna learn to crochet a few days before this, so we had gone over the basics again and she got a lot done! It's so much fun to watch people learn how to knit.

Today, though, Jenna is probably at work. I wish I was with you, Jenna! Our working together last year made us a lot closer, so it's such a treat now when I come back home and we see each other almost daily again. Jenna's the best sister (and manager!) a girl could ask for. J-bird, you inspire me all the time. I miss you daily. I love you dearly. See you in two weeks!

- rl

Thoughtful Gifts

This picture shows some pretty thoughtful gifts from loved ones! On top is the care package that came in the mail today from one of my managers at my store in Dallas. We had a girl's night at her house the week before I left. Jenna and I just made bookmarks, but she asked me to make a list of sewn goods for her to make for me. A few weeks later and I have a few flannel pillowcases, a set of hats and gloves, and animal crackers to enjoy! I'm not sure Diane will ever end up reading this post, but thank you!! I can't wait to learn to sew from you this summer!

In the background is the blanket Ally, my roommate, crocheted for me!! Yes, really. She started it last semester in front of me, but she told me it was a purse. I didn't think it would end up as a purse, but I didn't expect it would be for me either! She had it on my bed when I came back, and it's pretty much been here ever since. I love it so much, Ally! I'm so thankful we're roommates!

Founder's Week started here at Moody tonight. I wasn't able to go because of work, but I'm looking forward to attending as the week goes on! The part I'm looking forward to the most, however, comes Friday morning when my mom's boss, Dr. Ramesh Richard, is speaking. I've known this evangelist for the 15 years my mom has worked for him, and I'm looking forward to hearing him speak in this place I now call home. I'll be assisting at his book table after his message, which should be fun as well.

Here's to a week of sermons, knitting, and trying to get motivated to work on this New Testament Reading Report due next week!

- rl

Cherry Coke + Crochet

325/365

Only 40 days left of 2014?! How is that even possible?

Today I've been sipping on this bottle of Cherry Coke from class the other day. Our professor had us going on a scavenger hunt, and it wrapped up with us getting a drink (put on his account) and meeting him to discuss. Pretty sweet. I'm thankful for the professors I've had so far + the fact that the north seems to be into Cherry Coke as much as I am!

Tonight I had to tear out at least five rows of my current crochet project because my count was off. Marika and I watched The Hunger Games, and hope to rewatch Catching Fire before making time for Mockingjay: Part 1 at some point soon. I worked on my crochet while she worked on hers, which involved learning some new things for both of us. She was able to get the hang of it, though, which is awesome!

Now I've got some counting to do to get this project sorted out before I go to bed. I absolutely cannot sleep knowing it's all messed up.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Licensing Relief

Lines on the wall before 4pm. What even, Chicago?

317/365 - the turkey decoration my mom sent my sister with for me decorate with! so cute

It has almost been one year since I officially opened my Etsy shop. I never sold anything on there, which was only slightly disappointing. I never put anything else on there once I started knitting and crocheting this year because I wasn't sure about the legalities of it all. I had seen the designers specify on some patterns, but not all. For whatever reason, I only just now did a little bit of research, and was very pleased with the results.

Note: this is my understanding of it all after reading some comments, etc on Ravelry for the US. I definitely plan on doing some more research and if you know anything please let me know!

It's a matter of licensing, not copyright. By designing the pattern, the designer has the rights for the pattern itself, including the words and images. They do not have control over what I make with the pattern, however. So if they say a pattern is for personal use only, I cannot charge someone for the pattern because it's not mine. I can, however, make the item they provided the instructions to and then sell that product.

This has been the thing holding me back from using Etsy more. I was very purposeful with my business cards, I used the phrase "custom knits" so then it would come from the angle that people would find a pattern they liked then have me make it for them, therefore making it personalized and custom, not just a direct product from the pattern. I'm not sure if that even makes sense, but it does in my head so I stuck with it.

Now? I'm not sure. I know I want to sell things I make, but not necessarily at such a level that some do, especially while I'm in school. I am able to get a decent amount of knitting in, especially with classes, etc., but I don't really want the pressure to have to keep a shop fully stocked.

No matter how I go about my knitting now that I have this knowledge, I want to make it clear that I will always make it clear that it is not my pattern. Maybe I will one day make my own patterns, but I'm not seeing that happening anytime soon. Maybe a few tweaks here and there, but not from scratch.

I still have ideas for from the Maker. It is a collaboration I dream about daily, but one I'm not quite ready for. It will be a baby step thing, which is fine by me.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

WIP Wednesday

It's been two weeks since the last WIP Wednesday, but I don't think I've made too much progress. The hat I'm working on (aka the mobile project) is almost done despite only being worked on during chapel and classes. I just started the decreases in my 8am and will be continuing during chapel and my noon class. (:

My shrug is SO CLOSE to being completed and I really need to finish it. It's driving me insane. I also cannot decide whether or not it's possible to finish the backpack before/during Christmas breaks, so we'll see. These baby booties, though...I don't even know. I hate straight knitting.

- rl

Self Portrait (45/52)

313/365

Today was nice. I did a little bit of homework, but more importantly I made some fun memories with friends. I ended the night with ripping back on the shrug I am this close to finishing, then watching Gilmore Girls and snacking. Guys, I really want to finish this shrug soon! Christmas projects need to be started!!

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

WIP Wednesday

My main progress this week: the backpack! I can't believe it, but it appears that I finished four rows this week. That's about two hours of work. Not too shabby. My college writing professor thinks I'm crazy, but what better time to work on it than while we discuss each other's essays?

Other than that, not much work done over here. I haven't really been in the mood to knit. I'm still working on finding my groove. The last few weeks were jumbled, but now it's the second half of the semester, which means things are starting to be due, on time of Christmas crafting! I need to create an excel sheet or something to keep track of it all so it will stop clogging my brain.

The first two pictures are old, because I didn't work on either this week. Whoops. The bottom two pictures, which I just took, look a little fuzzy, though, which makes me think it's time to clean Margo (my camera). I got a camera cleaning kit for Christmas last year and have been scared to use it, but maybe I can find some people on campus that know what to do.

Now if you'l excuse me, I'm (finally!!) about 20 pages from finishing the book shown in the first picture, and I've got work soon. I can't believe October is almost over!!

- rl

WIP Wednesday

I have way too many projects going on! I haven't even worked on either of the top two projects, so those are both old pictures. I casted on this bottom project this morning because it's much easier to carry around than straight needles, but really it's the project on the straight needles that have higher priority...maybe I overthink things sometimes. (:

- rl

Project 24/52: Urban Jungle Crocheted Slouchy Beanie

I have lots of projects I really need to blog about...so I'm working on that!

Theoretically, this hat is awesome. It's basic yet interesting. Fundamentally, however, it's too long. Maybe I went on for too long, but when you first put this thing on you look like one of the guards in front of Buckingham Palace. So there's that. It is a slouchy hat, though, so it does its job in that department...but it's still really long.

I used basic Red Heart yarn but it feels nice, so that's a plus, and the hardest part of it all was picking up the stitches for the body of the hat, and that wasn't even all that hard. So basically it was worth it, and I will definitely be making it again, but it's not the perfect hat.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

WIP Wednesday

Same picture from last week...I haven't even touched it this week!

This color is so off. Click here for a slightly more accurate picture.  

Soooo...some progress this week! I'm so behind on staying updated on Ravelry! It's driving me crazy! I've recently started reading a chapter or so each night in the book I'm on, which is helping to get through it! Every little bit helps! This week is Missions Conference at school so I've been knitting through all the sessions. Woo!

- rl

Taking a Breather

284/365

This was my view for a few minutes this afternoon. Between thrifting in Albany Park then eating Subway while watching Sherlock and going to work, I sat in my favorite room across the hall and did a little crochet. I also got persuaded to maybe possibly walking in the Hot Chocolate run here in a few weeks. Tomorrow, however, is the Chicago marathon! I'm not sure how it's going to mess with my day, but I'm pretty excited to see a little of it, especially since the course goes down two of the streets that Moody is on - LaSalle for mile 3.5 and Wells for mile 11.5. Looking at the map again just now makes me a bit concerned as to how we'll get to church...but we'll figure it out!

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Attempting Homework

282/365

This is what it looks like when I attempt to work on my Old Testament reading report...it takes me a while. I thought I had a good system down, but it may need to be adjusted. I still have a week and a half until it's due, and some time set aside this weekend to work on it, but I just really want to be done. I'm already trying to figure out how I can get the next one done way ahead of time.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

WIP Wednesday

The thing about work in progress Wednesday is that it all seems to depend on what time of day I take these pictures. I need natural light for good pictures, yet it just so happens that I end up working on projects Wednesday evening...Anyhow, I finished the bottom project, as well as completed six or so rows in the top project.

- rl

WIP Wednesday

So I totally posted the wrong thing today. It has been reverted to a draft as soon as I realized it and now here we are. I have a ton of projects going right now, but the first two, the knit projects, will be done in a few days because they're custom orders for people. The backpack is getting progress when I'm not doing an order, and I don't feel like finishing the shrug until I feel like blocking it, because just look at those wonky lines!

- rl

WIP Wednesday

Not much progress on these particular projects this week, but on a few others, which have already been completed! Two hats or so? Each project has it's purpose:
- backpack is for while I read the Old Testament. I need to get into a nightly routine so I can get this second paper done quickly, but for the most part I knit one of the repeats (7 stitches) after I finish a chapter.
- shrug is for when I'm somewhere on the floor and want to do something. I need to finish it this weekend so I can start wearing it!
- hats (not shown, because they're done) are for chapel and class. Yes, really. With permission, and only when it's appropriate. It really helps me to pay attention, so I think it's worth it.

- rl

Project 22/52: Shanti Hat

Once upon a time I followed 1.3 million instagram accounts relating to fiber. That may be a slight exaggeration, but you get the idea: I follow lots of knitters and crocheters online. Why? Mainly because it keeps me accountable to continue knitting and not just drop away from it. Also because it is very inspiring to see what other people are doing.

One of my favorite accounts I follow would have to be Robyn Devine at She Makes Hats. And, boy, does she make hats! She's got an incredible mission in life that involves her posting hats all the time and making her own patterns, and this is one of those patterns I've seen her post about again and again since it was released in May. It's so adorable!

I had trouble with it at first, but after talking to a few other crocheters here and school and directly contacting Robyn through instagram I've made two (this one was first) since I started it Tuesday night in TBK (Taco Burrito King...24-hour taco place a block from school that a lot of people are obsessed with...but I have yet to try it despite being in there twice now...ANYWAY). I really adore this pattern, I just wish I could get the hats to be a little thicker. I'll have to find a smaller hook and try that on my third attempt for this hat.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

WIP Wednesday

While it doesn't look like I made a lot of progress on anything this week, I actually completed three different projects! Yes, really. One has already been blogged, then the next two will come Thursday and Friday. I pulled my backpack out again (it didn't hibernate very long...) and have decided I will attempt to work on it while doing my reading for Old Testament. Read one chapter, crochet a little, repeat. The shrug has been ignored because it is very annoying to pull the yarn. I put A Royal Match on hold, then realized it will be a good book to read on the go (during breaks at work, on the el to Target, etc), while my Jane Austen bind up can sit in my room and get a little bit read each day. The thing is huge and has all seven books, and I suspect it will take me a year to get through it all, which is fine with me.

I hate really large paragraphs, but I've got a lot to do, so this will have to be fine! (:

- rl