8 Years
Eight years have gone by. So much has happened during these past eight years, but this day still stings. I know it always will and I think that I am finally coming to terms with that. This is the first year that I have not had panic and anxiety leading up to today. Â I know that is a good thing, but part of me feels guilty for it. My greatest fear is to forget, to no longer feel, to have them fall away from my mind and heart.
‘Perhaps they are not stars, but rather opening in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy’ -author unknown
Tonight, I will look up into the stars and know that you are both shining down on us. Happy 8th Birthday, Mary and Christopher. I love you, always.
Joseph 6.11
Joseph 6.10
Meet Debbie
I made the decision this year to be more mindful with my crafting. This ranges from being more deliberate in planning what projects I take on and organizing my yarn stash and art supplies so that I know exactly what I have and will use to being more aware of wear my “craft dollars” are being spent. I’ll be going more in depth in lots of these areas, but for now, I wanted to share something I’m really excited about.
I’ve become a virtual shepherd or shepherdess (VS)  by supporting the “Follow My Fleece” project  on Patreon for Prado De Lana Sheep Farm. Each VS subscriber receives monthly updates through videos, live chats, personalized emails, and snail mail about your chosen sheep.  Contributions help Prado de Lana run their small farm, keep their flock healthy, and continue to educate about wool and rare breeds. Also as a VS, I’ll be sent yarn from my sheep  once she has been fleeced and the wool is spun into yarn.
The idea that if I forgo one or two lattes A MONTH I could support a small family-run farm that believes in sustainable agriculture practices, know where my yarn is sources, and get lots of sheepy-goodness in the bargain was a no brainer. So without further ado, meet Debbie!
Finishes of 2018
I finished over 20 knitting projects this year, including three pullovers, two tops and five pairs of socks! Most are shown above, however there were a few gifted items that I forgot to photograph before I gave them away. Stripes were definitely a theme (one that I’m sure will continue) as was many of shades of blue. Â That’s over 12,000 yards of yarn and I can’t even imagine how many individual stitches!
My “Make Nine” in 2019
After a lot of thought, I’ve finally decided on my “Make Nine” for 2019. Some patterns have been in my Ravelry queue for a while others are recent pattern releases. Cardigans, color work, and geometric shapes are all capturing my eye and making my fingers eager to knit. Â I usually have 2-3 projects going at the same time, so I feel that I have a pretty good mix to choose from. Now I just need to go through my stash to make my yarn choices and decide which one will be my first cast-on for the year!
Here’s the Ravelry links to the patterns:
- Stillwater
- The Owen Hat
- Nordiska
- Kelderhouse
- Tecumseh
- Summer Bursts in June
- Lineate
- Bradford Road
- Carbeth Cardigan