The Poppy Project

So Knitmonton is at it again... another yarn bombing adventure! In case you don't know about this Edmonton group... in their words... "We love our city so much that we want to make it even prettier... one yarn-bomb at a time. It's about bringing joy to the everyday of life."

Knitmonton has completed a number of yarn graffiti projects that helped pretty up the city over the past couple of years. Yarn bombing with scarves for the Bissell Centre, sunflower garden for the Alzheimer Centre, pink ribbons for a cancer walk is but a few events this group has been the shenanigators for.

It is their latest project that is very special and it involves poppies... lots and lots of poppies for their Valour Poppy Project for Valour House. Following the lead of many of our local knitters, crocheting the poppies is certainly a faster process and apparently, Knitmonton needs a lot. 

I best be getting started lest I get left behind in the dust of Loopysue... she is one fast knitter/crochet artist! Oh heck, I'll be left in her dust no matter what but we are ever so grateful she is so fast to make up for the rest of us. It's good to have a friends whose strengths make up for our weaknesses, is it not? They make our lives richer while we can only hope to do the same for them. 

Do you want to help? Go to Knitmonton's website or their Facebook page for details... now back to to mini-poppies...

I'd rather be doing...

Three months later and I finally got those dang baby blankets done! Yes, plural... ’cuz the boss went and had twins. Silly me for choosing to make blankets instead of my usual baby tam and booties. I was feeling all smug with my new found crochet skills that showing them off by 'whipping up' the rainbow circular blanket seemed like a good idea at the time. Remind me not to do that again. First thing I did when the last knot was finally tied off? I immediately started knitting fingerless mitts and the right hand cosy was completed in a day... and all the while watching a Doctor Who marathon on the telle!

I'm so in the mood for fast knits right now but I have projects on the go that do require attention. Sadly tho, I just want to stash dive and start new projects because... well... did I mention the crocheting two blankets when the only thing exciting about them was changing colours?! The other reason for doing quick and immediate gratification knits? I'm back in school! Yup, this ol' bird is taking a University Extension course on the Fundamentals of Adult Education (insert ironic laugh here) and all I wanna do is knit!

I'm not a good student. I can always find something better to do than complete the required readings, write the necessary papers (took me half a day to write the opening paragraph on the first paper)... even going to class after work is a chore. This being "accountable for my learning" is for the birds. Don't get me wrong... I love learning new things. I love the anticipation of what's to come... the books... listening to others in the discussions but I have way too many squirrel moments. I can always find something better to do while waiting for a flurry of writing creativity to begin. I even understand the main issue for me... perfection. If I can't do it right the first time, I procrastinate. It's not that I'm a bad student... it's that lil' high school kid inside me screams every so often that 'I'm not good enough'. And so the procrastination and house cleansing and yarn sorting and pattern searching commences. But much like those baby blankets, if I persevere long enough I will get the results I need... then I can treat myself to a luxery knit to celebrate.

Guess I should finish up the last Christmas knit gifts before I begin new ones, huh?! Oooo... some green mereno silk blend just caught my eye... wait, it that bison yarn... oh, my...