About a month a go, I bravely went to The Little Red Mitten, for knit group, with my bank card. I told myself, “Just get the 4mm Chiagoo needle tips and NOTHING ELSE!” Right! I’m sure you can all say you’ve been there.

Hanging teasingly on the peg board was that beautiful Orchid, multi-shade, Malabrigo wool and….it was on sale! I made myself go back to the knitting group. I pulled my knitting out of my bag, berating myself, “NO! You don’t need it!”

Suddenly, I stood up, grabbed my wallet and walked to the front of the shop. I knew it……all was lost……that wool was coming home with me! I mean after all, my good friend had given me a beautiful book about Estonian Lace. It doesn’t have to be white, does it? Really? Imagine how happy my friend will be to see me working on a pattern from that lovely book. Perfect logic, right?

My beautiful Malabrigo wool has become the bane of my existence, my Nemesis if you will. Three different cast-ons and many rows of stitching later, I came to realize it may be some time before I find the right project. The hurdle is the preciousness of this wool. My budget doesn’t typically allow for this type of expense…. so I’m a little protective of this soft, wonderful fiber.

Thumbing through this book, trying to picture each piece knit with my orchid yarn, I decided the “Lilac Leaf Shawl” would be perfect. So I cast on and knit 32 rows…..

It was very pretty but I just wasn’t feeling it. Nupps are a new technique and I was enjoying learning how to do those. The various little tricks to make them stand out. (Here’s a tip for an Estonian Lace newbie: place a stitch marker at the beginning of your nupp and at the end. It’s a Godsend on the return row.) I think my friend my be onto something…. When I tackle an Estonian Lace piece I’m going to use that ball of white lace wool she gave me.

So I pulled it out. What now? Ravelry of course! How many of you have spent countless hours surfing Ravelry? After all there must be thousands of patterns there. NOPE. Nothing really caught my eye. WTH?

Putting this beloved wool aside I decided on Socks. Knitting socks usually fills my void and gets me fired up again… and they have, sort of. They are quite pretty I.M.H.O..

This piece is soft and light. I like the way the various shades stand out with the stitches used. The chart is easy to read and the stitches are simple. I can picture myself wearing this shawl on a spring day or a summer evening. Hopefully, I complete the shawl without loosing faith in it.

I have to think it’s just an “after the holidays knitter’s slump”. I spent four months frantically knitting sweaters and hats. I stressed out over getting done in time to not feel stressed over Christmas. I did get them done….but I still stressed over Christmas. LOL!! I guess that’s part of the appeal? As usual, I vowed to start my Christmas knitting right after New Years. Have I? Not yet but I’m going to guess I’m not alone.

Until next time friends…

When I stumbled across bullet journals on social media I had no idea what they were. I knew I wanted to know!

Last week yakk’n in the PYPT after chat, when several people expressed an interest in the topic (and suggested it would make a good post) I decided to share! LOL

In a nutshell, a bullet journal is a system that allows you to make short or “rapid” notes about EVERYTHING in your life while having it organized. WHAT??!! It really is just such a system and it works for everyone. Consider it your analog environment where you are the programmer.

Before you go running for the hills…wait… it’s really easy and enjoyable. BEST of all you don’t need to buy any fancy tools. I mean you can, but in my case the Dollar Store is my friend.

I started out using a simple everyday, spiral bound notebook, a small ruler and a set of 6 Sharpie pens. The Sharpie pens were an expense but I bought them with my birthday money. (These are nice pens for drawing knitting and crochet diagrams. )

What is Most Commonly Included if you like.

An Index is a good idea.

(This note book is a specialized product for Bullet Journaling. It’s called “Scribbles that Matter” …love that name)

In order to use your index you must number your pages. Here a nice trick: in small lettering write the topic on the corner of your page. When you are thumbing through it helps you find things fast.

The idea of rapid note taking is that you write your “notes” in very short (five words or less short …if you can) point form. Just write it where you need it… i.e. to-do list or your current day spread. Then when you have a minute you use your symbols to categorize your rapid notes.

Next on your list is A Year At A Glance

The best feature of this form of journaling is the freedom to create it however you choose. I’ve seen sites where artists have created water colour paintings on many pages. Over this they would draw their layouts. They were stunning!!

I prefer a simple approach. I do enjoy playing around with layouts and colouring but I don’t always have the time. If you are interested in some eye candy go to Pinterest and search “bullet journal layout”. Grab a cup of tea because you may be awhile.

I like my year at a glance to include birthdays, anniversaries or any important recurring dates. Colour coded circles can help track events such as holidays, workshops etc..

The Monthly Spread

For me the monthly spread is more of a habit than a need. I make them thinking I’ll use them but I rarely do. I tend to write what I need in my weekly spread. You’ll see why. If you are a “monthly spread” type of person there are lots of great ideas out there for the more creatively inclined.

My Favorite, Most used Module in my Journal is The Weekly Spread

This is the layout I was playing with during my “Pre-Steem” days. LOL It’s so handy. The little month at a glance and the habit tracker are ingenious. Oh yes…. I borrowed bits of many journalers’ designs. Thank you to all. If you find something of mine you like please use it! Play around and have fun.

This is my current spread. Ultra Simple. But it still works. Everything I need for Steem and the real world are all in one place.

From this point on it’s all up to you. You can store your contacts (I belong to a knitter’s group at the local library and can quickly find an email address.) It’s a good medium to track your goals and use mind maps. You can write your daily devotions. If you are a writer you can free associate, write key word pages etc. What ever helps your creative process is possible. As long as it’s analog….

I like to organize my holiday activities, meals and gifts. Or whatever we happen to be doing..LOL!

This is my main Christmas page. As a knitter, during the holidays, this has saved me so much hassle! I listed what page each of my projects was on. Each project is different so I needed various ways to create and track my progress. Here are some of my spreads:

The left page helped me track all of the Christmas projects in production. On the right page I drew the chart for a simple scarf with a DNA helix. I knew I would need it although I was in the middle of my grandson’s sweaters. Perfect.

Create it! Label it! List it!

This is my daughter’s sweater. (Oblique from Knitty )There are several charts and I have to be able use my pencil to keep track of where I am. This is a valuable tool for me! It works! When I leave for knitting group on Wednesdays I just grab my knitting bag and my journal. I have everything I need.

You know those pesky but very important “Laundry Care” symbols that are on clothes and balls of fiber?

Yes it took me a bit of time but now I have them at my fingertips!

If you have a notebook laying around give it a try. You may find it is just what you need!

Until next time friends…