I bring you… my first art yarn!

I used 1.5oz of leftover handpainted merino plied with thread strung with star sequins.  I should say I AM using… because I’m not done yet.  I’ve used five packages of sequins so far, and I’ll probably need another two to finish.  No idea how much yardage I’ll have, but I’m hoping for at least 100 yds.  I’m so thrilled with this yarn!  It’s been really fun experimenting with slubs and plying techniques and just letting it become what it wants to become.  It’s taking FOREVER though - now I understand why people charge so much for handspun art yarn!

Every once in a while I get these crazy cleaning/nesting urges - and apparently today (last night, technically) was one of those days.  We put the baseboards back in the bathroom, tried to put up the crown molding but had some technical difficulties, and then Adam and I both cleaned up our offices.  Adam cleaned the kitchen, I cleaned the bathroom, there was vacuuming… I didn’t knit a stitch tonight, but I’m letting go of the ravelympic deadline.  The vest is coming along really well and probably could have been finished on time if I had knit all night tonight, but I didn’t want to force it.  School is starting Monday (only one class this semester), I’m still waiting on my interview for the promotion at work, and I’m ready to take it easy for a while.  I’m trying to be good to myself for a couple months, especially since I’m back to the work-and-school-full-time thing in January.

I’ve done enough deadline knitting (both test knits and self-imposed deadlines) and I’m ready to take a more laid-back approach and just knit (spin, sew, etc) as the mood strikes.  Earlier tonight I decided to set aside the Ivy League Vest for the night and spin some art yarn, so I took some leftover rainbow merino roving, thread, and star-shaped sequins and went to town.  I used the journey wheel to try to get a thicker more uneven yarn (now that I’m good at spinning thin and consistent it feels impossible to spin thick again), strung the sequins on the thread, and plied the merino singles with the thread.  I just slid sequins up into place randomly, and I’m loving the results.  I only bought one pack of sequins which was SO not enough (who knew I was such a sparkly kind of gal?) so I need to go to the store tomorrow and pick up two or three more bags to finish up.  I’m not sure what kind of yardage I’ll end up with (50?  80?) but the process is so much fun!

Mandatory call-out was cancelled at 6am this morning, just as people were arriving.  Storm turned towards the east side of the state, so all we will probably get will be wind and rain.  Some models show it turning westward so we may be in for a few days of rain, but that’s normal this time of year anyway.

I may as well leave my bags packed though - another wave coming across the atlantic… but it’s that time of year.

Per the email I got last night, I’ll get my mandatory hurricane call-in today “sometime after 8am”.  Does this mean 8am?  noon?  10pm?  I need a PLAN, people!  I have stuff to get done before I go to work!  And I would prefer to get some sleep…

We have been told to plan to stay “for no less than 3 days”, but that they will try to get us home sooner.  I’m stocked up on Dinty Moore beef stew (gluten free - says so on the label!), doritos, and water - just need to pack some knitting and I’ll be good to go.  It doesn’t look like the storm will be too bad, but I’m planning for the worst just in case.

http://www.weather.com/maps/news/atlstorm6/projectedpath_large.html

I’m headed out to buy supplies on my way to work.  I’m working overtime shifts tonight and tomorrow, which leaves me just monday to get ready if the storm is actually coming this way.  I don’t know if or when we’ll get called into work, but I’m guessing sometime Monday night - my one night off this weekend.  Grrrr.  And I have an orthodontist appointment tuesday, an an interview Monday afternoon - can we reschedule this storm please?