Thursday, September 22, 2011

Rolling with the Flow and Addiction Issues


Our local yarn store is shifting directions back to a focus on weaving, the owner's true love.  She will still carry some of my favorite yarns, so I will not be completely without supply.  But, I am addicted to the color, texture, feel, smell, and possibilities of yarn.  This has thrown me into a tailspin.


Which explains this giant trash bag full of yarn.  A full blown panic attack about whether I can get my drug of choice!  Now, this bag is full of angst... what will I do with this... how much will I need... too much... not enough... oh, but what about the ones I had to leave behind!  Panic, I tell you!


I keep waiting for myself to calm from this news.  I haven't yet.  I'm trying to roll with the flow.  But, change is not always (read seldom) easy for me.  I have loved gathering there with my friends over the past two years.  Change can be for the good and I know this will be fine... I'm just not there today.


In the meantime, I have started to work on this beast this beauty!  LOL!  I am excited to see it progress.  Knitting time has been sparse lately (along with blogging time).


I have finished Phase I  and look forward to showing you the finished project (still have Phase II and Phase III to go!


Learned a new trick of the Kitchner Stitch... an invisible (well almost) between these two panels.  Have I mentioned I love driving myself crazy challenging myself with learning new things?


I also had one of my paintings framed to stir that addiction... just in case I need a diversion from not having my knitting spot.  ;)  Hope you are all having a wonderful week!!

blessings ~
tanna

47 comments:

Vickie said...

Girl, you've got SOME addiction there! Well, you could still get your girlfriends together somewhere else to knit and visit - doesn't have to be at the store!

Beautiful scarf (?) that you're doing there. That's alot of work!

And your sunflower turned out Beautifully! I love it!

Deb said...

now that is a lot of yarn...I love love love your sunflower...the frame just sets it off...

TexWisGirl said...

you are cracking me up! or perhaps you're on yarn crack! :) there are worse addictions, for sure, and you at least admit to yours!!!

Jen Price said...

Beautiful painting! All that yarn looks so amazing. I would have a hard time choosing! Can't wait to see your finished piece. It looks so lovely!

Julie Harward said...

What you call addiction, I would call a wonderful talent...you do such beautiful work! ;D

R-Eight said...

Feeling the same way about Rose Path. I sent her my wish list yesterday.

Karolee said...

Honey... I can totally relate! So much so that I'm opening a store and everytime I get a new shipment of yarn I want to close the store and hoard it all for myself. haha.

Beautiful lace work! I'm working on my first big lace project and am a bit nervous about blocking it when it is finished. But I'll be fearless and plug ahead.

Great that you've learned the kitchner! I love that stitch! I tell my students to make sure no one is around to interupt them when working on it. It is so easy to lose your place when you get distracted.

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

I am thinking maybe I am lucky not to have a nice yarn shop near me ha ha!! I totally understand, and with each purchase you rationalize the expense and know it will be worth it..right? I'd go back and get another bag full. You can always sell it on Ravelry, right? Love your project.......Susan (sigh)

Kelly said...

Wow! I'm impressed. I've never knitted but am so amazed when I see what other people can do.....all by hand. It must take alot of patience. I would want it finished in a day! I know you must be so excited to have all that yarn. Pondering what you'll make with it is as much fun as the actual project I bet.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

It's amazing to me to see a pile of beautiful yarn and know what can be made from it with talent like yours! Love the framed sunflower!!

Dianne said...

Wow! Gorgeous yarns! I love your knitting project and the lovely framed painting.

Blessings,
Dianne

www.mysouthernheart.com
www.campbellkidsfarm.com

From the Kitchen said...

I'm suggesting you look for a local chapter of Knitters Anonymous!! Well, not really. Where would your little men be without their adorable little sweaters and hats? Where would you be without your lovely shawls, shrugs and sweaters? There are worse addictions--cookbooks for example. I'm not sure what you are making but it is lovely. It reminds me of my grandmother's table cloths and bed covers. Alas, I have none of them--just sweet memories.

Love the framed art!!

Best,
Bonnie

nanny said...

Your talents have no boundaries.....everything you attempt becomes a work of art!

The frame is perfect. So Beautiful.

Is your newest beauty knitting? It looks like crochet. So delicate, can't wait to see the next phase.

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

All that yarn is so beautiful! I love the one with tans and grays... gorgeous. Can not wait to see what you create with all of that! And your sunflower is beautiful! Your talents inspire me. :)

Susan McClaskey said...

I hear you. I understand you. (I could open my own private yarn shop and I'm still buying yarn.) However, I find it best to have a (considerable) stash, especially when the creative juices are flowing. Just taking your stash out and looking at it from time to time can be calming... I have found in my area that the pattern seems to be when one yarn shop closes another opens before too long. Hopefully that will be the case for you. When my partners and I closed our yarn shop several years ago, we had that scary thought of, "who will we knit with now?" With that in mind we formed our weekly knitting group (i.e. my knitting buddies) and rotate around to each others houses for our weekly therapy/knitting. Looking forward to seeing what your newest project developes into. I find lace knitting to be the most challenging kind. It's so hard to fix mistakes. Carry on and continue knitting...so much yarn, so little time.
Best,
Susan

Tanna said...

LOL! You can tell the other addicts! Nanny, it is knitting. I like crochet, but somehow I don't have the same sort of weakness for it. ;) You can click on the part about 'beast' to see what it is going to be... I hope.

Bonnie, I had that very discussion with one of my good friends over lunch today. Hello, my name is Tanna. I'm a knitter. ;)

Donna said...

Tanna, you have so many wonderful talents! I am not a yarn or knitting addict, but I can feel your pain. Maybe you should start having the knitters gather on your beautiful front porch! I'm sure they are suffering from withdrawal, too.

Donna said...

Ooops. Forgot to tell you that I love your sunflower!

Catherine said...

Dear Tanna, I understand completely! Change does not come easy for me either. I am a creature of habit. I know this and my car knows this.(LOL)!! Well, your painting and your projuect are beautiful. I have not had much time for blogging either. I truly miss the contact with my friends. It is both comforting and much needed. Blessings my friend, Catherine xo

Emily said...

I almost would like to face plant into the pile of that beautiful yarn and inhale. LOL It's intoxicating like a freshly raked pile of leaves.

Your painting is beautiful! You are so artistic!

And lace, too? No wonder you have been quiet lately ;) Beautiful!

Chatty Crone said...

You have a GREAT addiction there - wish they were all that good for us. And love your painting of the sunflower. sandie

Debbie said...

OK, I guess I haven't been here long enough to know that you PAINT too? You are really a multi talented artist!

I think you got some beautiful colors in your addiction bag.

I'm sorry about the shop changing. I do understand. I do NOT do change well. I was going to suggest that you invite fellow knitters to gather in the home, but I see someone else already did.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh so like my mom and her quilting...and she is going to win when she dies by having the most material...LOL She bought a house with the whole upstairs set up for women to come quilt

Your work is beautiful...and I love that you challenge yourself to learn new things...that challenges me

California Girl said...

Tanna, I so love the sunflower. It's still decorating "Empty Nest". The yarn colors are compellingly beautiful. I wish I knew how to knit. Just the idea of working with beautiful yarn and making something...ahhh.

Shug said...

Oh my goodness....I do love that picture...I am very fond of sunflowers, and you really did a great job on this one...

I would say that you have a WHOLE lot of yarn on hand.. this means you have lots to do!!
Hugs,
shug

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Your addiction is knitting and mine is painting and blogging. I guess we all have our hang ups. Have a wonderful weekend.

Cindy said...

You are a very talented lady, I love to see knitting and weaving, but it isn't something that I have mastered. I tried crocheting recently for the umpteenth time and I still wasn't able to do it nicely.
I LOVE that sunflower painting. Beautiful!!!
Hugs, Cindy

Stacey said...

I love how your name is on the big bag marking it and claiming it as yours! The yarns are just beautiful. I think I would be feeling the same way...wanting to buy as much as I can and then wondering if I might need some more. Your sunflower still brings a huge smile to my face each time I see it. You are so talented!

Anonymous said...

If you lived next door to me, I would be at your house every day trying to learn to knit. I would bring new yarn to bribe you.

podso said...

Well Tanna, I feel your pain. Maybe it's part of growing older and hanging around for awhile, seeing changes like this come, favorite places closing their doors. etc. At least you'll be able to get some yarn there, but it's never quite the same, is it? I always love it when you post photos of your yarn--just delicious looking. And the new project...love the delicate nature and the color! Have a good weekend!

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

All the wonderful color!! No wonder you feel a panic! The runner is so delicate and beautiful.

I have to tell you that my Nana (98 yrs) has a guest room and every bureau drawer and the entire closet is FULL of yarn!!! It is fun to look at and PICK from when she does a project! Her own little store!

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Hi Tanna, your wrap is coming along nicely. Sorry to hear about the knitting shop. Looks like you have enough yarn there to keep you going for a while, but then again, even when we have enough, we want more, more, more. Maybe you will take up weaving. :) Hope you have a fab Friday. Tammy

Stitchfork said...

Wow, some beautiful knitting you have going there Tanna! And can relate your yarn addiction to threads - feel your pain!
xo Cathy

jeanelledge said...

I feel your pain!! The trick for me was buying the yarn over a 5 day period and bringing it home in separate bags...doesn't look quite so much like an addiction that way:). How is the Faire Isle glove going?

Ana said...

Wow Tanna,
Your new project is turning out beautifully...I love the knitted lace look. Is it really hard to do? Can't wait to see it done. Have a wonderful weekend my dear friend.

Hugs and Kisses,
♥Ana

Amanda said...

I'm still so sad for you that your little shop is closing. I guess the silver lining is getting to feed your addiction at half price. =) I know you talk about being stressed about whether you'll have enough of one color or another to do your projects, but your talent knows no bounds, and you'll be able to figure out how to make it all come together in one way or another.

And I love how your sunflower looks in the frame. Gorgeous!!

Anonymous said...

I just HATE it when one of my favorite stores close! It's like - hey, where are you going? I've been your loyal customer for x years and now you're leaving me? How could you? My fav sewing shop closed two years ago, and I haven't been the same since. Maybe you and I should attend therapy together. Yet, we live on. :) Love ya, girl!

Tanja said...

Tanna, such things happen with me and not seldom. I can feel the same about changing,and most of thame turned out to be good. If you look for best of the thing you will get (find) it. And you know, we say in Russia you don't know where you lose and where you find. For something this change will be good.
Do You know how sunflower manages it? Turn to the sun all the day! And you paint this symbol!Is it not a sign? Why did you like to paint this and not another flower? May be it tought you...Oh, sorry too much philosophy

Sandi said...

Hi, Tanna! I've missed keeping up with you...and your addictions. : )

Looking at the yarn, I could almost smell that wooly scent. The sister of an ex-sister-in-law is the sales rep for some kind of exclusive yarn. I know she sells to a local shop not far from me. I keep thinking I'm going to stop by, but I can only handle so many passions while working 60+ hours a week.

LOVE the sunflower!!!! It is beautiful!

Have you ever thought of renting out a room on a weekly bases and letting a boarder simply sit and rest in all your addictions? : )

Many Blessings ~ Sandi

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Isn't it amazing how a place can gather a group that feels like family to us?

This kind of change IS tough, but can't you still go and settle down with friends and knit? Surely the owner would still want this???

All joys,

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

no spring chicken said...

Where to begin? I guess I'll start with the only part I can fully relate to... the yarn store panic. I'm drawn in the door as if by some magnetic pull. I begin looking. My heart begins to race, not because of the goodness in the shelves but because I begin to panic over the choices to be made. If I'm not there with a specific project in mind it is overwhelming. Just as you described, "how much will I need? What will I use it for?" I can't even imagine knowing that the choices were going to be disappearing! You sound sane... ;)

On to what I only sit in awe of... your talent and your ability to produce beauty! How do you do it all? I am actually watching you oh so carefully. I'm praying, "Lord, can I be like Tanna when all my kiddos are grown?"

Blessings, Debbie

theUngourmet said...

Gorgeous yarns! Your knitting project is incredible! I can't imagine having the patience for something so intricate. You're amazing! Have a wonderful week! :)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I can understand your panic over the change in your yarn store's focus. I felt so sad when the only craft store near where I lived closed and I've been a lot less creative since that happened. The internet is a wonderful source of supplies and instructions but it is not the same as a cozy place where you can get inspiration and hands on help. Did you ever consider opening your own store, Tanna? You certianly have the expertize in knitting and yarn selection to help make that a reality.

My mother-in-law made a beautiful lace coverlet like the one you are making for each of her children as a wedding gift. I'll be passing it on to my daughter at her bridal shower. It is a family heirloom!

Tricia @ Saving room for dessert said...

Tanna you had me laughing through the entire post! Love your special problem. Hope you can find the right kind of help :) I love, LOVE that watercolor sunflower. Really fantastic! You are so talented.

Catherine Anne said...

I LOVE LOVE your home! What a blessing~

Nancy's Notes said...

Oh Tanna, could we be long lost twins, you do crack me up! What a fabulous project and look at that painting, I love it!

Nancy

karen said...

If you ever need help knitting through that yarn give me a holler!! I would love to help you out ;)

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Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.