Chickenlips Knitting

Today, I became the newest staff member of the Dublin Bay Knitting Company.

Monday morning, I'm giving two weeks' notice at my current job. A job that not so long ago, I dreamed of having, but now has become a rat race, golden handcuffs, routine drudgery, whatever you want to call it. A major impediment to what I really want to do...which is to have my hands in fiber every possible waking moment. (I mean, is that too much to ask?!)

Life seems rather surreal right now...kind of like rappelling down a steep rock face (which I've never done, but it sounds cool.) The ropes are securely fastened, but I'm taking that first step into what seems like nothingness. It's exhilarating and terrifying, leaving behind the familiar and proven for the untried.

I just wish my family was happy for me...but we can't have everything.

Because I'll be working just part time at the shop and teaching Saturday beginning knit classes, and on my days "off" I'll be working at home trying to get my Etsy shop and website plans off the ground, my income is going to be reduced by about 60% or more, at least for a while. You'd think that by now, I would be used to a certain husband's dissatisfaction about how much (or how little) money we have--it's always been his main gripe no matter what the circumstances, so why should I care? However, I can't deny feeling as though my parade's been rained all over. Michelle, of course, is doing what she's best at, being a snotty teenager. I just take that in stride, even though it's hard sometimes.

I know you guys are happy for me, and I certainly know that Tricia and Jennifer at Dublin Bay are happy I'll be helping out. I'll be there next Saturday afternoon, and the Saturday after that. Which happens to be the weekend of OFFF, but how can I complain? I'll be at a yarn shop, for the love of Pete! A really nice yarn shop! So come by and say hi!

Weekend plans

I got some of these in the mail this week.

Much in the same way that I couldn't knit a sweater as soon as I learned to cast-on, knit and purl, mixing colors is not at all intuitive for me. My most recent dyeing effort fell far short of the mark, so I'll be overdyeing the skein without having to mix any colors. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and hoping I'll have something pretty to show you in a couple of days!