To that end, I wanted to share a couple of gorgeous online workshops I’m participating in this winter.

A Lovely Venture by Julie Wray of Olivine’s Charm School

This is an online workshop geared toward creative women who have or are thinking about starting their own businesses.  There’s a lot of frank sharing and prompts for self-reflection and list-making so far, which I think would have really helped me out when I was first forming my ideas and strategies for Stash.  This is a go-at-your-own-pace course, with a Facebook Group for sharing and networking among participants.  I’m hoping to get inspired and learn some new tricks for vamping up the creativity and efficiency of my business.

Whole Foods Workshop by Heather of Beauty that Moves

I first participated in Heather’s 30 Day Vegan Diet last spring, and found it to be a wonderful experience.  A bit radical, cutting all animal products out of one’s diet for a month, but it was just the challenge I needed.  At the time I had been thinking a lot about changing the way I ate and was seriously considering eliminating meat from my daily diet.  After this experience, with the help of recipes, thoughtful blog posts, and the comments of other participants, I felt I had the tools and knowledge to venture out into the world of vegetarianism.  I’ve had my temptations (the smell of a sizzling steak still makes my mouth water, and I’ve had the occasional bite of bacon or seafood), but for the most part I haven’t looked back.

Since going back to work this fall, our family meals have really taken a nosedive.  We used to eat about 90% of our food made from scratch, and would enjoy eating restaurant food about twice a week.  Lately there has been a lot more convenience foods and takeout, and I think we’re all feeling the effects.  I’m looking forward to the inspiration, challenge, and changes that learning more about whole foods cooking may ignite.  And I hope we all start feeling brighter and more energetic, too!

What’s new for you this year?  What changes or challenges are you looking forward to making?

Book: The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenedies Knit: Hitchhiker Scarf in Madelinetosh Sock’s Black Velvet

This week I’m celebrating the discoveries of others: a book that one of my friends and her husband read in record time, and a knit another friend recommended via Facebook. Whether it’s lack of imagination, or feeling inspired at just the right moment, both the book and the knit are perfect for right now.

This scarf is just the antidote to the single skein of sock yarn dilemma (when you don’t want to knit socks!); you just knit until you’re almost out of yarn, maximizing yardage and garter stitch bliss.  I can often be heard muttering “just one more tooth…”.  The book is a coming of age novel about recent college graduates in the 1980s.  Alternately heady and intimate, it is reminiscent of my Freshman year stint as an English major.  I can tell this will be something I can really sink my teeth into.

Like many of you, I’m feeling inspired to knit down my stash right now. I’ve been casting on new projects with home stash and shop stash like crazy.  To help the matter along, I have some new destash yarn for sale over on Ravelry.  There may even be a giveaway or two in the near future.

What’s in your project bag and on your nightstand this week?

*Yarn Along, from Ginny @ small things: ~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?

Some moments I’d like to remember:

Thick, fresh snow and first footprints

Impromptu snow angels

Family picnic in the snow

Piping hot cocoa, cooled down with the addition of small handfuls of snow

Feeling the warmth of all those handknits, and seeing my loves kept warm in them

Stomping, shimmying, sliding, tasting, and throwing of the snow.

A few hours of knitting and napping in the car as Sweetie drove there and home again.

• Pattern: Cream + Sugar Cowl by Alana Dakos, Ravelled here
• Yarn: Pigeonroof Studios Super Sock in Dragon
• Mods: didn’t notice the p2togs sprinkled in the chart; design feature!

This is a little something I started knitting in the car on a short road trip last fall, and promptly put away after completing the ribbing.  I often do that.  In fact, I have the ribbing of a hat in my knitting bag right now, just waiting for the right block of quiet time to tackle the cable chart!  Anyway, I picked it back up in December and worked on it pretty consistently as a counterpoint to my bulky Oatmeal sweater.

Overall this is a really simple, pretty pattern with decreases and cabling happening every few rows.  I loved working with this yarn and all its subtle, luminous colors (most accurate in 2nd photo).  This was originally meant to be a shop sample, but somewhere along the way I decided it would make a lovely gift for PB’s babysitter.  And now, after wearing it to and from work for a couple of days, I’m tempted to keep it…

• Pattern: Oatmeal Pullover, Ravelry notes here
• Yarn: Sweet Georgia Superwash Chunky in Steel, 5 skeins
• Needles: US size 11 and 10.5
• Mods: Knit longer sleeves, shortened the body to better fit my torso, threw in a few decreases every few rows after the bustline…

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the instant-gratification project I was hoping for. Most of it was operator error as I made rookie mistake after rookie mistake! I think sometimes as knitters we take the basics for granted and it comes back to hurt us when we least expect it.

I cast on for this sweater three or four times, for various reasons: wrong number cast on, changed needle size, worked a few inches in grey and yellow stripes, ripped back, cast on again… I even played around with the increases, doing the every other row increase I was used to before I decided to rip out and just follow the pattern. Why is that so hard to do?! The resulting raglan and neckline are interesting, but not the greatest fit for me.

After all these hurdles, I was able to knit the body in about a week and a half. Then it sat. And sat. For some reason picking up stitches to knit the sleeves seemed too laborious, and I procrastinated. But once I went ahead and did it, each sleeve only took an evening to knit. Of course there was the slight issue where the second sleeve was knit on a half-size smaller needle. After a deep breath I ripped it all out, found the correct needles, and reknit.  It wasn’t until I was about to start the ribbing on the cuff of the third sleeve that I noticed I was one stitch short. I was not about to rip it out again, dammit! So I made a stitch and moved on. I think that’s called “making it work.” ; )

In the end, I am really happy with this sweater. The Sweet Georgia yarn was soft and lofty to work with, and the colors are stunningly vibrant and rich. I have my eye on just about every color way we carry at the shop!

They say that the days pass slowly, but the years pass quickly. How true that feels today, on Peaceful Baby’s second birthday! I suppose she is officially  Peaceful Toddler now, what with her walking, jumping, climbing, talking, singing, and having definite ideas about the way things should go.

It has been such an adventure and a privilege parenting this magical little one. From those first uncertain days and sleepless nights to now, where we know just a little bit more of what we’re doing.  There’s still plenty of uncertainty, but each day that we get to see more of who she is, the more certain I become that I love being her mama.  And I am most certainly looking forward to the coming year and all its joys and challenges.

Happy Birthday!

Sometimes you just need to stop and peel a tiny clementine.  Forget about all those other thoughts buzzing around in your sleep-deprived, anxious head and stop.  Notice.  Smell.  Feel the moment.

It’s been a Monday, I tell you what.  This whole working mom gig is hard, despite all of its benefits and rewards.  I have played both sides of the working mom/stay at home mom fence, and neither job is easy.  Being a parent is hard work, and even though I have nearly 2 years experince now, I’m still learning every day!

I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and uncertain about a lot of things both at home and at work this morning.  After a few tears over coffee with my mom, I succeeded in turning the day around.  Things on my to-do list and my wishlist were accomplished: making an appointment for a long over-due haircut; sipping tea, knitting, and watching Top Chef with my mom; starting the heap of laundry; cleaning the kitchen.

My mind is a bit calmer now and things are feeling better.  I am trying to remind myself to stop and breathe when things get hectic internally or externally. Peel an orange, notice the simple, cheerful things in these dreary winter days.  In addition to the clementines, I am finding comfort and cheer in glittery nail polish, cinnamon-scented tea, birthday balloons, the promise of a new book on the nightstand, connecting with friends, and daydreaming of the next knitting project.

What’s bringing you calm, cheer, and comfort this winter?

Granted, I snuck it on while she was busy at playing, but she did leave it on all day.  It’s a perfect fit, and I am back to thinking about making her another sweater this winter.  Cinnamon, Tea Leaves, Petite Facile, Milo, Phoebe’s Sweater, and Camilla Kid are all strong contenders.

What are you dreaming of knitting next?

I’m always excited about the start of a new year.  For me, it’s like a fresh notebook, a hot bath, and a triple scoop of ice cream all in one: sweet, inviting, and so ripe with delicious possibility.  2011 was a banner year for me and my Dream of becoming a yarn shop owner.  How delicious it is to see one’s dream grow from a seed to seedling!  It has been a lot of work and meant an immeasurable amount of change for our little family, but bit by bit we are adjusting and creating a new normal.

For 2012 I hope to find a little more breathing room and balance as we continue to find our way.  I also have a slew of new dreams, both large and small that need tending this year:  Find our dream family home.  Get regular haircuts.  Tend chickens.  Buy better bras.  Go on a vacation.  Knit through my sock yarn stash.  Make more food from scratch.  Read all the books on my nightstand.  Create a mobile yarn shop.

I’m a dreamer, always have been, and one dream coming to fruition only stokes the other little dreams into bigger flames!

What are your dreams for 2012?

Some special moments with Granny and the menagerie:

Happy weekending! I hope you have a safe and fun New Year weekend.