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Knitting for the Soul

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

The book is almost ready!

Some of you may know that one of my personal goals this year was to write a knitting-related book. While much of it has been floating around in my head for the past few years, I finally started committing the words to paper (so to speak) last year. After an extended absence to attend to a family crisis, I started again a month or so ago. I actually found that finishing the book has been an important part in the healing process for me. To my surprise, it was much easier to write when I came back to it. I think the pain, introspection, and insights that came during the course of the crisis have made the book better. At least I hope that's the case. So even though I'd hoped to be in print before now, I'm confident that things are unfolding as they should and that when the book is ready, that will be just the "right time" for it to be published.

In addition to finishing the text, I spent about a month agonizing over the front cover. I had no idea how much thought/care goes into choosing the right "face" to put on your heart before you put it out there for the world to see. Since it's a knitting-related book, I knew I needed yarn that would make a "statement", but I had no idea what texture or color(s) to use. I visited several shops, but had not idea what I was looking for so it was impossible to ask for help. I just decided that I'd know it when I saw it.

I found it 2 weeks ago and after nearly fainting from the price, I knew that I had to have it. It was absolutely perfect! Then, to confirm that I was on the right track about the cover and some other personal decisions I've made recently, I had a very synchronistic experience. Three days after getting the yarn, I decided to look at the label to see who the manufacturer was. I hadn't even thought to look at the label before then because I didn't want to be reminded of how much I'd spent for the yarn (LOL). I really did laugh out loud when I realized that the yarn was hand-dyed by a company I'd never heard of in St. Petersburg FL. Trust me when I tell you that of all the cities in the world for that yarn to come from, the fact that it came from St. Pete was truly a confirmation for me. (More on that later).

My next bit of stress was figuring out how to capture this gorgeous yarn on the book cover. I posted a request for a local photographer on guru.com, but realized that I'd spent so much for the yarn that I'd blown my photography budget. So I took the digital camera outside and started to play around. It took a few attempts, but I finally came up with something I'm truly happy with. I'm not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but I must admit that it was a wonderfully cool to create the cover art myself.

Tomorrow is my self-imposed deadline for my final draft of the manuscript. Then it's off to 2 friends for proofing/editing and another for a blurb for the back cover. Once I get everybody's comments back and make the final edits, I'll be good to go!

Check back soon and I'll let you know how you can get your very own copy! :)

Friday, April 08, 2005

On my knees... AGAIN!!!

It happened again. You may remember that I blogged a while back about how every single time I reach the end of my self and I ask for help, God comes through for me, usually in ways even more awesome than I could have asked for. The "logical" thing to do then, would be to stay on my knees, inviting him to keep me on track rather than pulling me back on track. But of course, I never claimed to be logical, although I really do try.

What I am is reactionary... to a fault. I know what I'm supposed to be doing, but I get so caught up in the drama-du-jour, that before I know it, I've fallen off of the proverbial wagon and back into an emotional morass. Which is where I've been waddling for the past few months while trying on my own, unsuccessfully I might add, to deal with a host of personal and family crises.

Well, on Sunday, I finally came up for air long enough to realize where I was and what I was doing, and I realized that it wasn't at all where I wanted to be. Again, I went to Him, and again, He came through. I can't begin to tell you how many unexpected but much needed blessings have come my way in the past few days... financial, emotional and otherwise. Hopefully I'll be able to stop kicking myself for my stupidity (in trying to handle things on my own for so long) for long enough to give God the thanks and praise that He deserves. So I'm saying it publically... if you're struggling with doubts, concerns, fears or simply feeling a touch of the blues, don't waste another minute trying to think, reason or rationalize your way out of it. The solution you seek is simple... just ask!

Saturday, April 02, 2005

New for Spring

Yes, I have completion issues. Never mind that I have 3 sweaters in various stages of completion, Spring has arrived and I need to knit something springlike. The minute I saw this beauty in the newest edition of Vogue Knitting, I knew I had to knit it. I don't usually wear blues, but I'm stepping out of my comfort zone this spring. In honor of the new me, I picked up a lovely shade of spring blue from www.elann.com. The yarn is wonderful and the price was unbelievable! If you haven't visited their site, do take a look.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

One stitch at a time

I feel like I've been away at rehab. It's been way too long since I've blogged on a regular basis and that's mainly because I haven't been knitting much lately thanks to my lovely run-in with tendonitis/carpal tunnel. As if that wasn't enough, I've definitely also been suffering from NKSD - "Non-Knitter's Stress Disorder". As much as it hurts to knit these days, it hurts more NOT to! I don't think I realized how important knitting was in my life until I tried to live without it. I can't. So I'm back.

One of the things I noticed recently was that every time I thought about starting to knit again, I found myself feeling anxious and overwhelmed. I think a small part of it was the thought of more pain. But I think that more importantly I was becoming frustrated with the thought of not being able to dedicate hours at a time to knitting the way I used to. Never mind that that's probably why I'm in this mess! Anyway, I had to remind myself that for me, knitting is about the process, not the end product. Of course, the sweaters are great, but the real joy is in the act of knitting. That said, I can chose to stay paralyzed by the limitations of my injury or I can focus my energies on truly enjoying the time I spend knitting, as limited as it may be for a while. I choose the latter.

So I'm starting my 12-step program today and taking it one day at a time. After all, just as a journey begins wit h a single step, a sweater begins with a single stitch. I've got two relatively quick projects that I need to finish up and get off my plate over the next few days, and then it's off to my new spring sweater (see my next post).

Happy Spring!