Sean's Soapbox

Hello-Hello

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:36:55 +0000

Honestly, I’ve tried to be better about blogging. It seems that I can write (several) FaceBook posts a day but writing a blog entry escapes me. It may be because I can post to FB from my phone…but I can also blog from my phone. I think it has more to do with the length of the post. FB posts are more like thoughts…single thoughts. To me, a Blog entry is more like a story. Stories take longer to write.

If you follow my on FaceBook, you’ll know that I’m working a lot. Waiting tables can be a lot of fun (seriously). But physically it is tremendously draining. I think the solution is going to be finding a pair of shoes that I can stand in for 8-12 hours.

Then there are the kids…the 3 dogs that we share our life with. They are constantly demanding our attention!

Bentley loves his cuddle!

On the knitting front, I try hard every day to work on my book. What that entails, lately, is knitting the items in the book. I know I should farm these out to other knitters. But my “design” style is to make it up as I go. That’s a tough direction to write. AND, what’s frustrating is, I can’t show you what I’m doing. I will however show you a swatch. Get your hands on Classic Elite’s Portland Tweed and START KNITTING. It’s an amazing yarn. (By the way, the color I’m using is #5036. Don’t ask for details, I can’t give ‘em. =0)

a little swatch from what I'm working on

So, that’s enough for now. In the next hour, I’ve got to shower, walk the dogs again, get some knitting in, respond to a few important emails, get dressed, get to the restaurant and work until 5…that’s 11-5, a long shift. But then I have the weekend OFF to spend with my honey. Sunday we head to NH for a combined birthday celebration for all the kids (and a chance for Gretl and Bentley to chase the chickens again.)

Is that a hint of fall I smell in the air? Not if you look at the forecast…90° on Sunday?

That’s it from here…off to the crazy whirl-wind!

The Next Step

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:58:26 +0000

So, if you’ve been following, it’s been an exciting time for me as of late. Today, I’ll be offering a pattern for sale, my first self-published pattern. Of course I’ve been writing, re-writing, tweaking the design, etc. But, I’m soon ready to send pattern #1 out into the world. The design:

… was influenced by Cat Bordi’s Swirling Capes design from her book, A Treasury of Magical Knitting and by Sivia Harding’s Harmonia’s Rings Cowl. I’ve been wanting to design something that grows from the magic of a moebius, but was looking to create something for summer, a garment that you could throw over your shoulders on a cool summer night or to wear in an office where the air conditioning might be a little cool. This was the result.

The pattern will be available for sale on Ravelry.com. If you’re not a member of Ravelry and want to buy it, please follow the link at the bottom of this blog post.

And special thanks to my friend, Kendra, for volunteering as my model.

Here are some shots of the capelet

Sean Riley's Moebius Capelet

buy now

Puppyhood Adventures

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:31:46 +0000

Little Boy Bentley, new to our family.

If you had asked me 2, 3, 4 months ago, I would have laughed at you if you suggested we get another dog, let alone a puppy. Yes, Michael and I scan the MSCPA and other “rescue” sites oooh-ing and aaah-ing over the puppys. Here and there we say, “Oh, let’s get that one.” But I thought it was much like oooh-ing and aaah-ing over the property listings that we also look at. “Honey, let’s buy that place.” Or, “Do you think that 4 bedrooms is too big for what we need.” That kind of stuff. It’s all a game. (That is except winning the HGTV Green House. That we are winning and moving to Plymouth, Ma when we do! Just by the way.)

Bentley, in my arms

So when Michael, much like many morning before it, said, “Oh, look at Bentley. Let’s get him.” I said, “OK.” Lo and behold, he called. That was Saturday. On Monday, we were walking home from the park with Bentley in tow to — get this — see how things go “over night.”. Off to Petco we went, bought a bed, food, treats…the whole thing. Of course I was completely smitten. Completely and utterly. I’ve never owned a puppy. Luke was 2 when we adopted him.

Play with me!

Now, Gretl was happy to meet him and that first day they played and played. And played and played…and played and played. They continue to play, all through the house, all through the day!

Miss Gretl, perhaps a bit pooped

Pausing occasionally to sleep.

How can this be comfortable?

Even the little prince pauses every now and again, although what with some of the positions he gets in, I don’t know how restful it is!

The regal, old man, Luke

Then, on Tuesday, we went to pick up Luke. Remember him? Yes, Luke is alive and well and wondering what the hell we were thinking of. Now he has to get used to a new puppy! Lukily for us, Luke is the most easy going dog there is and took the new addition in stride. He even goes to investigate and make sure every one is OK when the Gretl/Bentley “play” elicits a YELP from the boy. (or girl…he can give it too.)

Walks with the 3 are adventuresome. What with 3 leashes, 3 different sizes, and gaits. I have to admit that as soon as we’re out of the building, they all come off the leash and it’s like a little parade…me with the poop bags (3 bags of poop when we’re done) following behind.

It’ll get easier, right?

Everything will settle down and I’ll get some knitting done, right?

Right?

It’s Been a Good Month

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:34:13 +0000

OK…so it’s shaping up to be a good month (as I mentioned in an earlier post…there’s LOTS happening).

Meet Bentley, our new puppy. He’s crazy full of energy, super inquisitive, and is wearing his big sister, Gretl, OUT!

The next design of mine, designed in collaboration with Jamie Dixon of Scout’s Swag, is a pair of socks which will be part of the designs offered on the Petite Purls Summer 2010 collection.

The Sk8er Chick Sock was born from a conversation about designing an ironic sock. Jamie Dixon, of Scout’s Swag and I were going back and forth about design ideas and the idea of a hot pink and black colorway knitted up in lace and ruffles really tickled both of us. She dyed the custom color and the swatching began. And as soon as it did the design idea took off. There were a few design vs practicality hurdles to overcome, but I think I did.

I think the site goes live this afternoon…so check it out when you get a moment!

I’m really loving seeing the fruits of my labors…I have to admit that it’s really very exciting.

Design Work

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:14:23 +0000

I’m so excited. I just surfed on over to Universal Yarn’s site and see that they’ve added their new line of Debbie Macomber yarns. I designed one of the garments for the accompanying booklets.

These design projects are funny. They have to be a secret and are done so far in advance of publication. It’s almost a little treat when they go live. I wonder who will knit this. The yarn is LOVELY and terrific to work with. Visionray is a color right up my alley!

Soon to be published is a design I did for Petit Purls and I have a sock design in an upcoming book, Brave New Knits, by Julie Turjoman. Exciting times ahead, eh?

Stay tuned.

Hmmmm…Comfortable?

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:37:22 +0000

Ugh. Can it be that I let things slip this far? You see it all started near Mother’s Day when dad mentioned to me that I looked a little more “comfortable” than I did last time he saw me. I choose to take that as meaning that I look relaxed and happy not fat as a pig. But numbers don’t lie and I stepped on the scale this morning and to my horror and dismay, I’ve gained back 12 of the 40 I lost. Hmmm. Perhaps it IS that I’m in a much happier place and that despair and depression don’t play a part in my home life anymore. AND food is celebration. BUT, it stops here. It stops now!

So, finished the little sweater for Michael’s nephew. Finished it in the car on the way to Newtown, PA as a matter of fact. But I think it came out lovely. AND, think it’s a pattern that will be in the book. However, in a moment of unexpected inspiration I had an idea, a design idea that combines three existing and popular designs. I cast on this morning and we’re going to see how this comes together. Perhaps some knitting in the park during this LOVELY day.

So stay tuned on both fronts. Hope your day is as lovely as mine…About 85, no humidity, no clouds…I got grass and some shade under a tree in my near future!

Stephen West is Coming

admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:16:52 +0000

I don’t know really where to leave this information. Here or on my Personalknitter.com web site. Maybe both. We shall see. (I’ve gotta get the blog working on the personal knitter site first.)

Anyway, do you know Stephen West? If not, maybe you should. He’s got this amazing design sense. Westknits on Ravelry, he’s got an amazing following and the cause is a good one. Just look at these fresh, clean designs of his. And, I’ll be there and we’ll get to say “Hi.”

So, Stephen is headed north to the Boston Area and is going to be at Seedstitch in Salem, MA. I’m encouraging you to come out and listen to him. He’ll inspire you! Check out Seedstitch‘s website for more information.

Hope you get to see Stephen and I hope I get to see you guys!

Seriously? (or Collapse at Brunch)

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 21:20:34 +0000

OK, so…here we are (Eileen, Michael and I) enjoying a lovely brunch at Ledge in the Lower Mills area of Dorchester. We’ve had a glass of sangria, the sun is shining. I think I’m looking OK. Got my “Lucky” jeans on which means my butt looks good. We’re enjoying the day. Then I hear a crack. It seemed to be coming from my chair, so I look down…yes, the side of my chair is coming apart from the seat…”I’d better get up,” I think, “before the whole thing falls apart.” Too late. As I try to stand up, the left side of the chair starts to come apart and I instantly loos about 4″ of altitude, then in a second drops, more cracking, this time loud, “CRACK”s and next thing I know I’m in a pile of rubble, sangria in my lap…The chair collapsed on me, in the patio of a nice restaurant, FULL of people. The waitress (it was her first day, by the way) and the manager come over ALL a frenzy. I’m dazed and I think my leg might be bleeding (but it wasn’t…just a scrape). I jump up, bow to the other diners and say, “I’m really not that fat.” ::applause:: ::applause:: and I head to the bathroom to take a peek at my leg…Michael follows closely behind.

Then we start laughing…I mean REALLY laughing. BELLY laughing. This is pretend, right? This isn’t happening to me. The manager is all nervous, comping my brunch and handing me a $25.00 gift card, repeatedly saying how sorry he was. All I could say was I didn’t think I was hurt and that I had noticed that the chair did seem a little wobbly. And on that note….we left.

Cue your own laughter.

(side note: left arm, shoulder, shoulder blade, all stiffened throughout the day…OUCH!)

Memory

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:37:46 +0000

I have a freakishly-accurate memory for details…even conversations and phrases used in a conversation. Some may say it’s faulty (yes, sister…it WAS in Kings Plaza in Plaistow where you asked Dad if he wanted his Shitz (instead of Schlitz) beer. LOL). And some find it completely annoying. Anyway, someone once said to me:

“Discipline” is doing what you don’t want to do, when you don’t want to do it, to the very best of your ability.

It was one of the only things from this group that I’ve “kept” as a valuable truth. But blast it all if I don’t want to be undisciplined just now…even writing this means I’m not doing what I don’t want to do, but must do. UGH…off I go to do it.

Starting to See It

admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:25:06 +0000

OK, so I’m starting to recognize how my mind and body work around this writing thing. It truly isn’t something that can be forced. I’ve tried. I only have had to go back and re-write what I forced. But as time (and sometimes days) passed without writing, I’ve beaten myself up for not writing. But the writing doesn’t come or is bad…but I should be writing. right?

So, I started making mental notes of when the writing flows a bit easier, and when it’s harder. I think, for me, writing is easier in the mornings. Editing, designing and knitting flow best in the afternoon and evening hours. So enough of this self-flagellation. I’m going to listen to my mind and body as they discover this book hidden deep with-in the subconscious. It definitely isn’t something that can be dug out with brute force. It’s more the way an archaeologist digs…gentle brush strokes that oh, so, slowly expose what’s buried.

Here’s a little picture of my boys. I’ve been teching myself Photoshop and Illustrator in the non-writing moments. This is something I did in a little tutorial.

It’s a gorgeous day here in the Northeast. I’m going to go back, write some more until the well is dry for the morning. I definitely see some park-time with the dogs in my near future. Then a Drum Corps movie this evening…to gets the folks excited for the Drum Corps season coming up. How I love me a “horn line” blaring!