It's been awhile.....

So I subscribe to the Sterling blog (you can check it out as well, listed under the blogs that I follow "Amazing places; Invaluable information" over on the right there) and this was posted recently.

Yet another thing to be wildly excited about at Sterling College!

I knew about the senior final project since day one when I first started my Sterling research. And in typical fashion, started thinking of these wildly grandiose ideas of what to do for a senior final (travel to Africa and start a sustainable co-op farm; or South America; or Alaska; or right here in my back-yard). But truthfully, everything felt a little too big (at least for now, who knows, maybe one of these really will become my final) but at this point in time, I think it's finally sinking in the reality of what I'm doing here. I'm literally uprooting my life and diving head first into something brand new--again, typical me. Go big or go home right? So it's nice to know that I can maybe pull back on the crazy reigns a bit when it comes to the final bang.

Updates:
As of two weeks ago, I'm all finalized for my week-long college tour trip out to Sterling. Countdown: T-minus 6 days! Flight, sick rental car deal, and even better, staying with Phyllis at the Bricabode Bed and Breakfast for a discounted rate (even cooler, she said she would hold the room for rent until I give her a final decision on whether or not I'm going to rent from her for the fall semester).

It goes without saying, I'm stupid excited!

Knitting projects are coming along--I'll admit, I pulled the sweater apart a few weeks ago and started from scratch. I decided last minute (again, my typical knitting style) that I wanted to up the size by one and that meant that I needed more yarn in order to complete the project in it's new size; so I placed my order (chose to add a little black to the grey and orange mix) and started over as soon as it arrived. It's coming along quite nicely!

I took a quick break from all the small knitting (and mostly because we had some family coming to town) to knit up a quick rag rug for the bathroom. Nothing spectacular but it was fast and fun but I learned I need a longer set of my size 19's if I'm ever to do that again. Simple, to the point, gets the job done (I really need to figure out how to bind off in a way that it doesn't pinch the work at the end of my flat rectangular pieces...)

And last but not least, the little beach wrap I'm making for someone very special. It's fun and I think it's coming out beautifully! It requires me to pay very close attention to each and every line in the progression that I'm working. Have only had to take it apart once due to a major mess up that I wasn't able to fudge around but it's going quickly and I'm loving it!

Love!

Knitty progress; funky ceramics

Well, the semester is officially over (I admit, I didn't complete my ceramics final. I do plan to be in and out of the studio as much as I possibly can this summer though; I DO want to finish the bird mugs I've started and maybe even sneak in a few more yarn bowls if I can)!

Speaking of yarn bowls, check these out!
I nabbed the idea from something I came across on Etsy a while back so I can't take originality-of-idea credit but I think mine are a little more fun. I've found my new favorite glaze: shino. Gorgeous, creamy, and beautifully unpredictable.

These turned out quite simple but if you'll notice the wavy edge of the 'yarn' bowl has a dreamy burnished accent; the best part about the shino glaze is that it can "borrow" color-accents from kiln neighbors (these clearly we're kind of on their own inside the kiln but I just love them)! I used a simple slip to force the engraved letters to pop; I just love the way it turned out, especially the "Knit" and "Purl" bowls.
  

I think my favorite piece of these is that the shino came out all crackled like these bowls are generations old.

I've been working like crazy in all my free time on the sweater (want to be sure and get it done before Sterling in the fall but even more, so that I can also complete the other 3 1/2 projects I want to finish this summer before school starts again)!

And of course, I HAD to use my new yarn bowl!

First knitty post, first sweater!

So tonight I finally started the sweater my Mom and Mama Jean "bought" for me for Christmas last year--my Mom purchased the buttery-soft bamboo needle collection, Mama Jean bought the gorgeous yarn (which was purchased from ForestGreener at her eBay store), and I found the pattern. It's not technically the first sweater I've ever made in my knitting career (I made a sick rasta baby v-neck sweater a few years ago that was gifted to a lucky little new-born somewhere in California) but it is the first adult sweater and I'll admit, all my firsts usually wind up for me; so it's my first sweater.

For Steve's birthday "celebration" tonight, he chose to sit back, relax with a Lost mini-marathon, splurge on left-over Chinese food and hang out with me quietly at home! I'm greatly enjoying our little date-night-it/birthday celebration, but of course, I can't just sit and watch; I have to have something to keep me and my antsy hands busy.

After a long, but wildly successful full semester, I have about a month before my grueling summer kicks in--including more class, work, work, work, and hopefully as much camping/rafting/outside crazy time I can possibly find to squeeze in between--so of course, I can't wait to knit as much as possible before, during, and after all of that.

So I finally picked up the needles again and here's the progress so far:










Love!

ForestGreener eBay Storefront

Words cannot describe

I just wanted to share quickly the A.mazing day I've had!

First, although my little Peach was a little clumsy and we had a few bumps and scares today, I was so happy to see her beautiful smiling face and spend my day back to normal! She was literally sparkling sunshine from her little face this morning as she came running down the hall toward me! Oh how I crazy love that tiny amazing being!

Then, upon arriving home and getting myself put together for yoga at the Botanic Gardens (yep, that's what I said, yoga at the Botanic Gardens!) I see a fatty envelope on the table from Sterling. I'm thinking, 'oh, it's the medical form and equipment list I'm expecting' so I actually almost left for yoga without even opening the letter... but my curiosity got the better of me.

I have been awarded (completely aside from the government pell grant of $5,550 and any private grant/scholarships I haven't yet researched/applied for) $21,000 from Sterling College for the 2011/2012 school year!!! Yes, twenty-one thousand dollars of FREE money has been handed to me! Again, this is not including the federal grant, private award money or even the work-study and other programs the school also grants tuition credit for partaking in. Bottom line, I'm looking at maybe $10,000 worth of student loans for the next school year.

I'm speechless.

So then I floated on my pure elation off to yoga for the evening. I had the most amazing yoga experience tonight, like nothing I've ever experienced before (granted this is probably about the fourth time in my life I've ever done yoga). It was much less strenuous and really allowed me to get into the moment, the spirit of myself, and my spirituality. Tonight opened my eyes to what I have always felt everyone else in the world already knew about yoga-how utterly amazing and relieving it is-and to my happy surprise, I learned that it doesn't always have to wail on you when you least expect it. Tonights yoga session wholly grounded within me why I've held onto this desire to get into it, but also showed me-without killing me-just how necessary it is for someone like me. During our meditative cool down period, I started to cry due to my pure appreciation for what I've been blessed with. To receive the acceptance letter was a life-changing moment but it solidified the fear of this financial investment I'm about to take on. And then this happens.

THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE GIFTED ME!
Love!