As my life implodes...

Sorry for the silence. My life literally imploded, which made finding time to post, let alone inclination to expound bloggerly upon the happenings, nigh impossible.

As most of my few remaining readers know, almost immediately from returning from the US, I interviewed for and was offered a new position. It is still in Edmonton, still in the pseudo-public sector, but has less all-encompassing responsibility, and I'll be working as part of a team devoted to communications for pretty much the first time since I graduated university. It is a good move, and I'm looking forward to it. But the five weeks notice I gave the AFA have proven a bit of a test to my nerves. I want to leave the AFA well prepared to weather my absence as the season starts, but as far as I know, a new ED has not been hired. It's a situation not designed to make me feel relaxed.

But I can't let it get to me (easier said than done, I know), so instead, I'm going to present those of you who've hung in there with some knitting pictures, and a new feature: The One-Line Book Review. First, knitting!

As I'm going to be an aunt soon, here is my first Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann (Rav link):


The Garter Stitch Blob shot. Yes, it really is a jacket... Just wait... Click to embiggen so it doesn't look so blurry.


Half-folded! EZ really was a genius!


Surprise! One Baby Surprise Jacket!

The shoulder seams are sewed, and now I'm just waiting for my new niecphew to tell me which side to sew the lovely pewter Viking ship buttons on, and we're golden!

Now for a project with the undescriptive name of Lobster, but is a circular needle holder (Rav link):


My first felted object. Now that was interesting... But I won't bore you with felting shenanigans. Here it is in its place of honour behind the library door. I used my Lee Valley Victorian Spring Clip, which I've had forever, to hang it on the wall. Extra spiffy stitch markers are held on the bottom portion with an extra stitch holder.


I straightened all my circular needle cords with boiling water, then strung them through the (thankfully not completely felted together) needle loops. And voila! A strange-looking but totally useful storage for circular needles!

This was a quick knit, and in the end satisfying despite felting almost-disaster, and I think I'd like to make a few more, one for straights and at least one for DPNs (more if I have more than 11 sets of DPNs. I'll have to check). But I have many works in progress to get through before I'm ready to cast another on. The circs were the important ones, and they are now stored happily, hanging behind the library door.

My first One-Line Book Review will be for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith: Fine satire, rarely over the top; well worth the read even if you don't like zombies (or if you like zombies but don't like Jane Austen).

And now an obligatory cute dog shot before I sign off for the day. There is more knitting photos to come (as soon as I, you know, take them...), and as I count down to my last day as the Queen of Swords (professionally, at least), I hope to update you a little more frequently.


Nom nom nom...