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My blog posts have been pretty sparse, no? Well, there's a good reason! I've actually accomplished A LOT in the craft department, but my computer is M.I.A. when it comes to uploading things. And after taking it to multiple places, it's official, I need a new laptop.

So, I'm saving to buy a MacBook. Finally. The only problem is, I've got this possible thing happening in August where I might be in Japan for a year, and I need a little startup money. So, in addition to my regular income savings, I was thinking, maybe I should get a second job for all these extra things I have to save for pretty quickly...?

Rewind to last weekend, where I attended the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival (amazing!) and bought a drop spindle. Yes. FINALLY. I also got about 8 oz of some beautiful roving, went home, and starting spinning away.

Well, my first skein turned out not too good, as I only got 25 yds out of 4 oz....about an 8th of what it should be at worsted weight. Nevertheless, I was proud and determined to master it. So, I kept spinning, and even went back to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Fest on Sunday to purchase more roving. Then, on Sunday night, after watching and reading countless tutorials, I got it. It finally clicked what I was doing wrong and how to pre-draft properly and the whole nine yards (pun intended).

So, I've spun up a few VERY nice skeins since then, set the spin in them, and thought; "I have enough yarn, what am I going to do with this?" So, in the next week or two, I'm opening up shop on Etsy and selling my spun items. And, everything I spin will either be from local farms or recycled mill-end rovings (which are still top quality and perfect for handspinners, they just aren't suitable for machine spinning. So, they throw it out unless nice people like me buy it)! So as soon as I get my shop going, I'll let you know and put a little shop widget on here. If you mention my blog, I may even give you a little discount.

So, project "Cil needs extra money to buy a new computer and go to Japan" is solved! I figure, why go back to waitressing part time in addition to my full job when I can sell high-quality spun yarn? Especially since I love it so much. Seriously. If you don't spin already, you should start. It's wonderful.

Well, there's my future business plug for the day. In other news, work has been super slow lately. It's only noon and I feel like I've been here for 19 hours. I bought "Twilight Princess" for the Wii recently, and it's really good. Although I feel like it rips off Okami just a bit (best game EVER). Lately I've been feeling like playing some Final Fantasy. It's been a while.

More to come. Lots of pending excitement that I hope pans out. Stay classy guys.

Enthusiasm!

So, long time no post, eh? I was quite busy with school finals a week ago, but now it's finally over, grades are good, and I graduate next weekend. Pretty awesome.

So, with coffee in my arsenal this evening, I've been thinking about all the things in DC/VA/MD that I'm excited about. We'll start with the knitting related events.


Stitches East is in Baltimore again this year (in November), which means I'll be going. I'm going to save up money to buy stuff (especially at ze Ravelry booth), and I'm also hoping to pick up lots of yarn manufacturer swag. Plus, check out all those handmade needles above that were in last year's Stitches East convention...I want them.


I obviously won't be going this year, but this weekend is the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, and it looks so great. They require certification that the sheep presented in the festival are well taken care of and in good health, which is cool. Look at all those fleeces! By next May, I think I'll be able to go, as well as pick up some tips for my spinner's education, I need to buy a drop spindle kit soon! Spinning is a great way to knit eco-friendly, and all the great sheep farms in the VA are definitely going to be worth a visit.


Also, I'm not into sports, but Stitch N' Pitch looks like it will be fun, and I hope to attend an event this summer after I move. I love the idea of going to an Orioles/Nationals game, and Stitch N' Pitch are a group of knitters that sit together, knit, and watch the games. I think it sounds...awesome. I've never been to a big Baseball game and I love the idea of it.

Other things I want to check out soon after I move include:
-Capitol Hill, as I've never been, and I'd like to see the Vietnam memorial
-The DC zoo (they have Pandas, how cool is that?)
-The Smithsonian museums, the National Building Museum, and the National Gallery museum, which I've wanted to visit since I was a kid
-DuPont circle, which gives me hope that going to bars may indeed become fun again
-the Pontomac River, which is a great nature/fishing site. Unless I eat what I catch, I wouldn't fish, but maybe I could learn something about cleaning caught fish? The though kind of grosses me out, but either way, it's supposed to be really beautiful
-Bethesda Row in Bethesda, MD. It's about a half hour away and it has a ton of awesome restaurants and shops, as well as a massive movie theater which specializes in independent and art house films. Pretty awesome.
-The Stitch DC shops, which are 3 amazing yarn shops that have classes and such, as well as weekly stitch n' bitches
-Baltimore. I'm really fascinated with this city, and I cannot wait to visit it. I've been told that its a 40 minute train ride away and it seems like a really awesome and artistic/musical city. When Blake and I can afford a place of our own, maybe we'll move there, as we can still work in DC/VA. Plus, if I ever get married, Ace of Cakes will definitely make my wedding cake. yes.
-The DC Craft Mafia, a group of young DIYers that seems like it would be fun to get involved with.

So basically, there's so much to do, and I think there will be lots of crafting, book-reading, game-loving, good movie/music enthusiasts that Blake and I can befriend. I think you guys need to come visit lots, and then move there. I'm so excited to be in the center of all of it. I plan to spend my first couple of weekends riding the metro and exploring.

In my own knitting FO/WIP news, I completed Stella's sweater, which you can check out on my Ravelry, but the bottle holder is still in progress. I'll get it done, give them to Erin, and post pictures soon!