My New Job

I don't think that I posted about quiting my job at the end of December. Well I did. And at the time I wasn't sure how it was going to work out since I didn't have another job lined up.

I wanted to take a month or so off to figure out what was next. After over a year of driving into Austin from Marble Falls which is about an hour each way (if I'm lucky), I was worn out. The project I was on was at a stand still and I was pretty bored, so I decided to make the move.

I figured I could work more on my podcast, write more knitting articles, and get more stuff up on the website like the wrist warmer pattern generator and free knitting pattern directory. And I did get a podcast out in January. And I did get a lot done on the website in January. But by the end of January, I was a little stir crazy being at home all the time. However, I wasn't ready to make that commute again.

So I took on a little temp job that has turned into a programming contract with a local online cosmetic and skin care company. They have two websites, BeautyCheap.com and BeautyRiche.com. They sell at the higher end of the market (can you say $65 for eye cream... but honestly I've been using some samples of the Teamine, and I really love it!!!).

I've learned a whole lot about skin care and mineral makeup just listening to my boss/client and her employee, Christine, take orders on the phone. And of course, I've been reading about the products. Who knew that higher price makeup and skin care can really be better then the lower price stuff I've been buying? I do love my Mary Kay though! And I can afford their products. But I do get a discount on my purchases at Beauty Riche.... There goes all my money (must save for yarn, must save for yarn, must save for yarn!!!)

Anyway, during February, I was working in the mornings at Beauty Riche and in the afternoons I was running into Austin to do mystery shops (I had set these up before I took the job/contract). So I didn't get anything done hardly on the Knitting News Cast site, no podcast and no articles!

But that is changing now. I've cut back on the mystery shopping this month and plan on doing even less or any next month, so I won't have to go into Austin much, though I will probably go in at least once every week or so. I'm working 30 hours a week at Beauty Riche. And between that and no long commute, I'll have more time for knitting and my websites.

I have started a beauty blog to keep track of all the stuff I'm learning. It is called Beauty For Geeks, because I am a computer geek after all! And of course, the more I learn about skin care and makeup, the more I want to learn and try out. I've started reading some great beauty blogs too.

Knitting, blogging, podcasting, surfing, and beauty/skin care.... What is a girl to do?!?!

Stitch N' Pitch Anyone?

There are two Stitch N' Pitch events in Texas this year. The first one is May 6th in Dallas at a Texas Rangers' game. The other one is August 12 at an Houston Astros' game.

August in Houston? Knitting? I'm not too sure about that unless the arena is air conditioned which I doubt.

Anyway, I think I'd like to go to the one in Dallas (and possibily Houston). Any other Texas Knitters going to either game?!?!

Knitted Summer Top

This is the back of a short sleeve top I've started. I'm designing it as I go along. I really like the yarns I'm using. The main color yarn is Online Linie 12 Clip, color number 20 which is a 100% cotton yarn.

When I translated the page using Babel Fish it says:
"High gloss by use of all-finest Egyptian Mako cotton. Quality of many years and proven. Softly and pleasantly on the skin. Mad cord picture."

The other yarn I'm using is Maggi Knits' Maggi's Mist Slub in color 04.

YouTube Video

Cyndilou posted a video clip from Meet The Bloggers. In it, Jo from half-sheep asks me about how I got started podcasting. Check it out!

Meet The Bloggers

I went to the monthly Sunday morning brunch at Hill Country Weavers this morning. It was a special SXSW Meet The Bloggers event. Since SXSW Interactive is going on there are several knitting podcasters and bloggers in town.

Jenny from Stash and Burner and Christine from Pointy Sticks were the two other podcasters there besides myself. Jenny has just started her podcast and I haven't listened to it yet. Will have download it and take a listen. Staci who blogs at Very Pink and is a sometimes guest on Pointy Sticks was also there.

Bloggers included Caro from Split Yarn, Julia from Yarn Maven, Cyndi from Crafts By Cyndilou, and Kristin from Yarn & Order.

Suzanne, the owner of Hill Country Weavers, Jo from Dallas, Glenda, who was in my sweater class a couple of years ago, and Judy were also there. Harold (Jenny's husband(?boyfriend?) from Six Apart also came along as well as some other people who's name or card I didn't get.

I had a great time hanging out, eating kolaches, and knitting. And it was great meeting knitters who have listened to my podcast. Now I must get another episode out!

Finaly! A FO

 I finally finshed the tank top I started last year from The Yarn Girls Too, Beyond The Basics book. I started it over a year ago and got frustrated with the yarn choice and having to rip it out and redo the bottom. So I put it aside in one of my knitting bags. Well, it is starting to warm up again and although I have another UFO cardigan project, I thought I'd knit a tank and finish the cardigan in October when it gets cold again. I don't want a big pile of wool sitting in my lap this summer!

I didn't remember how far I had gotten with the tank top. I figured I would just rip the whole thing out and start over. But when I pulled it out of the bag, all but the finishing for the neckline and armholes needed to be done. Plus a ton of ends to weave in. That must have been what did me in. All those ends. So I spent an hour sewing them in and the afternoon knitting the neckline and armholes.

And Yeah! It is done. It needs to be blocked but then I can wear it. And you know, I actually like the yarn now. It feels cool. And of course, I love the color.

I'm going to make a short sleeve top from the book next. I really like all the patterns in the book. They are basic patterns that you can do a lot with. I could use only that book for the rest of my knitting life and never run out of patterns to use. I like it that much!

But of course, I do like other knitting books. I have a ton of them. And I just got a preview of Amy Singer's latest book which I'm going to review soon on the Knitting News Cast.

But last night I was looking on Knit Picks at the cotton yarns. When I'm in Austin on Monday I think I'll go by Hill Country Weavers and see if there is a yarn there that speaks to me.