A few days ago I came to the sad realization that the title of this blog is now outdated. The balloon element of “Of Writing and Knitting, Tunes and Balloons” is no longer appropriate to include, as I had to quit my fabulous party store gig in order to go to college in eight days.
And can I just say how sad it makes me? I loved my party store job. I loved blowing up balloons for people, and being able to tell them just where the birthday candles were located. I loved being able to recommend patterns for plates and napkins for a toddler’s birthday party. I loved being the candy department specialist who knows every single kind of lollipop we carry. I will miss it a lot, and can assume that any job I get at Dream School won’t match up to it. And that’s even with the chance that I can get a job that’s related to my major. I don’t know how big of a chance that is…
After thinking about it for awhile, I decided to keep “balloons” in my blog title. Because even if I’m not working with balloons, they’re a good thing to know about. Information about helium shortages? Priceless. Knowing how to sculpt centerpieces out of one mylar, eight 5″ latex balloons, a gumdrop balloons weight and a piece of ribbon? That’s invaluable information that I will cherish for years to come, when I’m making balloon centerpieces for my children’s birthday parties.
So the balloons stay.
While I’ve been pondering the fate of my blog’s name, I’ve been doing a considerable amount of knitting. Shelly’s Printed Silk Cardigan is almost done. I’m halfway through the second sleeve, and then all I have is the trim on the two front pieces (yeah, that’s all I have. Sometimes the stupid trim is the longest part.). I’m trying to finish as fast as I can so that I can hopefully block and assemble it before I go to school. In eight days!!!
The sleeves don’t require any chart reading, which is a welcome break. During the pieces that required chart reading, though, I got seriously frustrated, and stopped to make a weekend instant gratification project:
Specs:
Name – A Slouch that’s Probably Just Going to be for Winter
Pattern – A Slouch for All Seasons by Melissa Lynn
Needles – US 5 circulars, US 8 circulars, US 8 dpns
Yarn – Cascade 220 Wool
End Result – Quick, fun, easy, pink. Love it.
I also took a trip with Shelly to my yarn lady, where I picked up a skein of Silky Alpaca Lace from Classic Elite Yarns for this scarf, which is a free Berroco pattern. I swear, I get more excited about Berroco’s free Friday patterns than I do when the new Knittys come out.
I haven’t started working with the yarn yet, because I want to finish Shelly’s sweater, and save the yarn for college, but I love it already. I just want to rub my face in it, which I decided isn’t weird, just passionate.
I also bought some bamboo needles, which I’ve always wanted to try, but for some reason I always thought that they were so much more expensive that Boye or Susan Bates needles. I noticed, though, that they were almost the same price at Michael’s, and I’m excited about finally being able to try them.
I also bought some yarn at Michael’s to make a sweater for the baby my (former) party store manager is having. I haven’t picked out a pattern yet, so there won’t be pictures until that happens.
Song of the Day:
“She’s talking in her sleep, it’s keeping me awake, and Anna begins to toss and turn. Every word she speaks is nonsense but I understand it all.” -Counting Crows, “Anna Begins“
