Other stuff

There was more I wanted to say in the last update, but I think it needed it's own post.

In the spirit of my new 2011 mantra, I finished a few knitting items on my list. Most notably, my first ever, completely from scratch hat!

I <3 making stupid faces.

It's rough around the edges, but I'm kind of in love with it anyway.

Up next, alpaca wool that I washed and carded myself. I have a trashbag full of this stuff. What am I gonna do with it?

Note the blurry orange blob in the background. That's the cat, Conan O'Brian.

Singin' in the Rain

Last month, I had the pleasure of working with two wonderful people on my first real attempt at a photo shoot. It was good practice for me, and I could not have asked for more photogenic subjects! Their energy, love, and enthusiasm really made my work easy.

In doing this photo shoot, I realize the importance of framing before ever clicking the camera. I had a lot of great shots, but since I'm somewhat new at this, some of the shoots could not be edited the way I like because I didn't frame it correctly to begin with. One thing that I tend to lack in whatever I do is planning. I don't plan for what I want, I just like to see what happens through the view finder. Unfortunately, there are a lot of photographers out there who do this, usually hobbyists trying to do this as a side gig. I myself am a hobbyist, what with a full time job and grad school taking center stage, but I really want to work at becoming a professional. I want to make sure everything is framed, everything is accounted for, before I start clicking away.

Not to say that candid photos are not great, but you can't have great candid photos without great preparation, right?

Anyhow, here are a few sneak peaks. Please excuse the logo, I'm still working on it! :)

Not bad, for a first shoot :)

2010 Wrap up?

I'm not one for resolutions, but I am someone who likes to make goals. It's a strange combination. This year, in place of a list of resolutions, I have favored the trend of a mantra. One word or a phrase that will embody the spirit of 2011. For me, it will be"Accomplish" The idea is to stop procrastinating. Stop spending time on meaning less things (I'm looking at you, Facebook) and accomplish what you set out to do.

I want to apply this to grad school, of course, but I also want to apply this to the rest of my life. No more loafing. Finish those sweaters! Design that sock! Buy that spinning wheel! Start a lasagna garden! Do more photoshoots! All of these things require time and effort and this year I am not going to be lazy! And somewhere in there, if I could just update this blog once a week, I would be so happy. Baby steps though... baby steps.

2010 was successful in my book. Of the five things I wanted to achieve, I did four. I knit a sweater, I bought a house, I learned to spin and I had a garden.

So 2011, let's see what happens, eh?

Mama's Pearl

Some days you just gotta put on some Jackson 5 and dance around like an idiot. Ya know? I've been stuck at home for hours without human contact. I think I've got cabin fever. Ha!

I've spent the last five hours by myself in the house knitting and writing a term paper. I feel at once productive and a slacker. I did get some homework done, and I managed to finish a baby sweater. But at the same time there is so much MORE homework I should be doing, not to mention a thesis I should be writing, and I'd rather just look up pretty stuff on Ravelry or watch trashy reality tv.

 Speaking of, I just finished "If I Can Dream". The latest brain child by Simon "The Jerk from American Idol" Fuller. It was.... interesting? Five ridiculously good looking young folks get the opportunity to make it in hollywood and they spend their time complaining, sleeping or turning down roles. The only one I could understand was when the conservative girl didn't want to bare her breasts. I agreed with that... but all the others? Wha? In the end I ended up liking the obnoxious kid from American Idol because he was at least out there, you know, trying to do something.

I wish there was an "If I Can Dream" where people give me lots of yarn, sheep, alpaca, a spinning wheel and money to support myself. We could follow my progress into the world of fiber art and see if I could make it as a maker of yarn and designer of knitwear. You guys would watch, right?

Maybe we could start a letter writing campaign to.... Debbie Bliss? Interweave? Someone give me a chance!

:)

Gobble Gobble

I have started countless posts in my head, typically while driving to and fro about my day. I promise, each and every last one was going to be amazing. And now, I sit here compelling myself to write something half way decent.

I blame all the papers I've had to write these past few weeks.

I know I wanted to talk about being a behavior analyst.

I also wanted to talk about being a knitter.

Some days, the two just seem to go along hand in hand, and somedays I feel bad for being more into one than the other. Usually, I feel guilty for the knitting, because far too often I put off my homework to play with sticks and strings. Three times this week I have given serious thought to just give up pursing a Masters and live a life of fiber. But I bet that's just the stress talking.

For some reason, this season I have been waaaay into things yarn related. I found a few wonderful blogs to read and their craftyness has just inspired me to start designing. I have so many good ideas, but I lack the time and discipline for sitting down and making it happen. A quick look into The Closet of Unfinished Business will tell you that. So many sweaters! I have to buy new needles because all of mine are on sweaters.

Maybe 2011 will bring a much needed focus. Or at least a new sweater :)