Started my Rowan Pipsqueaks sleeves last night. This had been back-burnered, but when your child says "It will be ready for Thanksgiving at Grandma's won't it???" you get cracking. Hope I don't run out of yarn - it's going to be close.
Worked on Cozy today. I'm liking it a lot now. On ball three of eight, so I think it will be a good size.
If you've read more than one or two posts of this blog you might be wondering just where do I put it all? Well, my dad ran a military warehouse for many years, then a flea market booth for years after that, and his garage and basement still look like a demonic elf's workshop, so I guess there's a bit of the collector and obsessive organizer in my blood. Add to that my mother who loves books and knitting and you can see that I'm destined to be a knitter with large stash and loads of books. My saving grace is that I've moved over 20 times since the age of 18 (not making that number up), so I've gotten good at purging. And, ironically, my husband is a bit of a minimalist. Cosmic humor in action.
Our house is spacious by global standards, but average and w/o storage by N. American standards. No basement, no attic, no spare rooms, both cars parked in the small two-car garage. The office serves as the craft and guest room. And I do scrapbooking, quilting, stamping and knitting. Thank goodness I have a walk-in closet and not too many clothes or shoes. Now, as I type this I realize I've put myself into a position... do I go take honest photos of my stashes or do I save post this until after I've tidied?
First, for the hidden stash: These chests are in our living room. They're designed for storage and are perfect for yarn! I only store cottons and synthetics in here. I love that I'm actively using these gorgeous pieces which were intended to be used daily. Our living room was basically empty for the first 3+ years here, so it's nice to have some color in there now.
Active projects end up in one of several bags that float around the house and into the minivan (yeah, I've given over to the whole mom thing). They seem to end up piled here in the family room more often than not:
Hum..., now for my closet, the private zone, the disaster zone. Mind you, it's about as bad as it ever gets since I've not been able to bend for a month. It actually makes me nuts every time I go in there, but I just have to close my eyes and wait. Every closet in the house looks like this right now, which I take as evidence that I am the only one who does a darned thing about it. Everything keeps getting thrown into teetering stacks, and when a stack falls (which they're prone to do - gravity is wicked, as any of us 40 and over can attest), I have to let it lay or I'll find myself on the floor next to it in agony.
Well, brutal honesty might just give someone out there a laugh and make you feel a little less out of control. Go ahead, call your significant other over and say "Look here honey - she's SO MUCH WORSE than I am!" Go ahead, click to enlarge if you dare. I'll be your comparison point, consider it my gift to all knitters today:
When it's clean and neat the metal shelf is great - very solid (Costco). I recently got this pocket storage thingy at one of the bed/bath places to hang on the end. It's perfect for sock and scarf projects.
Looking around I noticed a few more "hidden" stashes - like this one in plain sight, but so subtle, so quiet up there. What exactly is in that basket on top the bookshelves? Hum. A giant throw with no name using all the blue and purple yarns that I bought early in my knitting life. I'll get this down someday and share.
Now the fun (and slightly scary) part of the this little exercise is that I've found a bunch of projects that I'm adding to my WIP gallery right now. Not everything - that would be a bit overwhelming even for me, but a bunch of half-done things. Maybe they'll get done now? Also dug out and photographed a few more finished pieces, which you'll find in that gallery. My first sweater and first scarf are out there now. I've got a photo album of all projects, but the first two years were done on film, so if I gave the item away there are no digital pics to upload. Memories...
Oh, and just to prove I do other things, here are the apple-walnut-cranberry-oatmeal muffins that we made while I was playing yarn photographer. My girls love my muffins, which makes me feel down right maternal (which isn't always the case). Yummy.
Just came across your blog--nice to meet you!
You are much more organized than me with your stash--I have resolved to get things organized soon though. Too bad I don't have the lovely Tibetan piece that you have! So nice! :)
Have a lovely weekend!
Posted by: Lauren | November 12, 2004 at 08:01 PM
Nancy - soooo much yummy yarn!! I really love the cabinet you have it in in your living room - gorgeous. I think I may have to hop on a plane to raid your stash! :)
Posted by: Jackie | November 13, 2004 at 04:36 AM