Beginning the new year
As the new year stuff finally starts to lose a little of its shiny, I’m faced with a stack of things to get done. I’ve been working out my production schedule, getting materials and supplies lined up, and arranging for the final rounds of patterns I’ll be using.
The worst part of diving into the stack of stuff to work on? I have to clean my sewing room and get it back under control. The holidays seem to throw the worst of that out of whack. However, it does mean I get to change out the movies, tv shows, and music I listen to while I’m working.
Another bright side is that my favorite iron (that took a swan dive off my ironing board) was replaced by the manufacturing company. I’m looking forward to the new one coming out of the box. I need to make sure that particular tool doesn’t do another ‘run away’ attempt. This means some of the shelving/horizontal space I have around my ironing board needs to be cleared. I definitely need to change how that area of the room works and make it more efficient.
Speaking of “bright” things… My design wall received a wonderful upgrade for Christmas!! I have light fixtures hanging from my ceiling that throw extremely bright lights at my design wall. If I turn my light wall and those light fixtures on, I’m gonna need sunglasses and sun screen. It gets REALLY bright in there. This means my goose neck lamps can be moved back to the living room, where they can better be put to use.
Also, because I seem to like to book my time pretty heavy, I signed up for a KAL (knit along). With that particular project, I will be learning how to knit socks from the toe up, how to knit two socks at a time, and how to make cable socks. Yes, I’m using yarn from my stash. The KAL has four clues for the month of January (one released on each consecutive Wednesday), so that should be plenty of time for me to figure out all the ‘new to me’ techniques.
I hope all of you are having a wonderful start to the new year!! I’ll be keeping myself in stitches.
Why Fibre Ninja... Partly because it's a neat name, and mostly because I can work with so many different kinds of fiber and craft mediums. I do a lot of different kinds of needlework and create even more things using those skill sets. I like to make things. I grew up in a household that firmly believed in "make do or do with out". If you could make it, all that much better. I come by my skill sets naturally. Or, if you prefer, my dad was a mechanic and mom was always doing some sort of needlework. My grandmothers, on both sides, were pretty handy with needle crafts, too. What skill sets I didn't grow up using, I learned. Some of skills were self-taught, while others I was fortunate enough to have friends help me out. I don't kid around when I say books are some of the most important tools a person can have. If you're willing to read and figure it out, you can teach yourself how to just about anything. Speaking of getting to know me, here are some basics, I've been - Quilting since I was 20 - Crocheting since I was 5 - Knitting since I was 38 - Bobbin lace making off and on since I was 32 - Embroidering since I was old enough to be trusted with a sharp needle and scissors - Tablet/card weaving off an on since I was 42 So none of this has been a "flight of fancy" for me. I'm not saying some of things I've made haven't been for the pure joy of "why not?" Because, let's face it, if it's not fun to make, why do it?