Lots of Jobbing!

Man, it seems like I say this every time I post.  I have been obscenely busy the last few weeks!  I told you about my new job with Fifth House Ensemble here in Chicago, well in addition to that, I got another new job as a barista, too!  (If you're in Chicago & want to know where so you can visit me, let me know & I'll share!)  And, of course, still running my last show at VG.  I thought I wouldn't be starting the barista training/job until after my show at VG closed (yesterday), but I was wrong.

So, for the last few weeks, I've been working 3 jobs.  But, now that the show is closed, I can focus on repping Fifth House on the interwebs (that's right, I run their blog, twitter, and facebook!) & making lots of coffee!  Check us out!

I did get to spend Memorial day laying in the sun, reading, and riding my bike out at Montrose Harbor!  Included pictures are from that gloriously relaxing day.

As far as crocheting goes, I'm working on cranking out Wedding Afghan #2!  This BFF's wedding I'm in isn't until August, BUT her shower is on 6/25, AND I was able to get off work so I can go.  So I'm trying to get it finished to give her at the shower.  We'll see how that goes.  It's hard to crochet an afghan when you don't have AC...

New Yarn

Above & Below:  new yarn bought in Oberlin.  A bunch of threads + some ribbon.  Methinks a cute springy scarf is in order!

Below:  Not yarn...  At the final performances of The Weaver's Tale with Fifth-House, they presented me with a HUGE, GENEROUS gift certificate to my favorite Chicago Yarn Store (Loopy).  These aren't something I'd normally buy, but with my fancy gift certificate?  Yes sir!  A pouch for crochet hooks & a case for notions (with a magnet for my needles!).  By Namaste.

 Above & Below:  This is the yarn I used for my drop stitch knitted circle scarf, that I never really posted about, but I did post some pictures of it.  I'm basically in LOVE with it.  Super-wash Merino.  SUPER SOFT.  and BRIGHT COLORS!  These hanks were on the sale shelves at Loopy (and are usually out of my budget), so I couldn't pass them up.  Especially with a gift certificate!  I still have one wound hank left from when my mom bought me two hanks for my birthday, so I have a total of 4 (at 225 yards each, worsted weight).  Not sure yet what I'll do with them...but I'm excited nonetheless!

And lastly, Above:  I also have one small ball of this already, but these guys were also in the sale area at Loopy.  When I got the first ball, there was only one, but now that I have three, I think something awesome is in order!

I'm Alive, and I have a New Job!

Wow...it's been a while.  Things have been pretty crazy, but at the same time, I haven't had much to blog about.  I was home in Indy, mom & I visited g-ma & family for Mother's Day, back to Indy, then the following weekend in a wedding the wedding in Cinci, then back to Chicago a few days later to start back at work right away.  My new show is open & running, and I have to say that this is one of the most talented casts I've worked with so far.  I love listening to them tell their story every night.  (I listen b/c from where I am backstage, I can't see them.)

But there is one big thing to report...I have a new job!  This past year, I did some stage managing for a group here in Chicago called Fifth-House Ensemble.  They're a chamber orchestra (10 musicians), who specialize in innovative, mixed media performances. This season, they put together a series (3) shows that used actors to tell fairy tales with movement set to their music.  The shows were directed by a director I worked with my two years at ISF; she's brilliant, and I love her, so I agreed to do the work for free.  Obviously, the shows turned out amazingly.

While in Indy, I got a phone call from their Executive Director.  The person who had been helping with their Operations & Marketing was leaving, and she was curious if it was something I'd be interested in doing.  Long story short, I'm the new Operations & Marketing Director for Fifth-House Ensemble!!!

I started my training this week, and am super excited to get going!  Today was my first staff meeting, and I already had some ideas & thoughts to share.  One of my current tasks is brainstorming ways to boost their social media use.  Obviously, an exciting task for me, the Twitter & Facebook obsessive!  I think my work with their blog, twitter, and facebook will be my favorite part of my job!  I will also be helping a little with their education & outreach programs.  Mostly scheduling, I imagine.  Bringing the arts to children is something I believe in very strongly; I think children experiencing the arts is crucial to their development & growth as humans, even if they don't end up pursuing the arts as a profession or hobby.  So, obviously, I'm super excited about this part of my job too.

The pictures I've dispersed throughout this post are from my time in Oberlin visiting my g-ma and from the wedding in Cinci.

Age

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

Someone my mom and I have known for years, who passed away a few years ago, used to say that.  He owned a gym.

Me?

Well, I’m conflicted.  I’m part 11 year old and part 75 year old.  You?

Also, those are some gratuitous spring pictures from around my hood today :)  You're welcome.

Yarny Pictures

Yarn, in its various forms, is one of my favorite things to photograph.  Here's some of my recent pics:

scraps from weaving in ends of my granny square blanket

scraps, but with the wrong focus...i think it looks cool :)

a heart i made for a friend of mine :)

I've decided to collect my yarn scraps in this mason jar.  So far it's mostly granny blanket scraps, but there will be more, I promise!

My Current Yarning

What's been keeping me busy on my crochet hook recently?  Aside from crocheting up washcloths for my Etsy Shop, this stuff:

 A shawl for the weddings I'm in this summer.  The first one is in May, so there's a chance it will be chilly.  Using Caron Simply Soft (with which  I have a love/hate relationship).  Bridesmaid dress #1 is a champagne/beige color & dress #2 is purple.  So basically this ripple shawl will be perfect.

The other floor manager on my current show has a 11 month old son.  Sunday will be his first Easter.  She saw me making some Bunnies & Chickies for other people, and she requested one of each for Charlie's First Easter Basket.  She already had some yarn for me to use.  I had been making these with Vanna's Choice Baby, so worsted weight.  These little guys are in Bernat Softee Baby, which is significantly thinner.  So these guys are a little smaller.  But equally as adorable!

And the wedding afghan for BFF bride #1.  I took quite a long hiatus from it...look, I just needed a break.  But since the wedding is on 5/14, I've got to get my rear in gear!  I've gotta make 17 more granny squares, finish stitching them all together, and then crochet a lovely granny border. 

So clearly, if I'm working on anything but the shawl or afghan between now and their May 14th due date, slap me, k?  Once you're done reading, check out my Etsy Shop, deeter's yarnings, for some awesome washcloths!!!

ABCs of Me!

If you follow the same people I do on Twitter, you know that the ABCs of Me blog posts have been going around.  Two of my favorite yarn tweeters/bloggers did it, so why not join in?  Those people?  Allyson at The Sweatshop of Love and Amy who is Threadpanda.  I had rehearsal during the day yesterday, then had to run work (and personal) errands, and then I headed to work at the theatre for last night's show.  So I barely had time to read their posts and definitely didn't have time to post.  Today, I'm all in!


A. Age:  25

B. Bed size:  Full -- I just got a new mattress, and my  bed is an antique from my grandmother (and older, I think).

C. Chore you hate:  All of them...but the worst would be cleaning my room...

D. Dogs:  My favorite.  I've got one back home in Indy that I miss TERRIBLY.

Bailey Dog!

 

E. Essential start to your day:  Pressing snooze a bunch of times.  And a bowl of cereal.

F. Favorite color:  Blue.  Ask anyone who knows me...almost everything I own is blue.  And I've been dying to crochet a blue & peach  something or other for myself.

G. Gold or silver: White gold.

H. Height: 5’4″

I. Instruments you play: In 3rd grade, I started on Viola then switched to Violin.  Then in 5th grade switched to the Trumpet, but I couldn't buzz my lips so I switched to Clarinet.  After I caught up to the class in my private Clarinet lessons, I took Piano lessons.  I played the Clarinet from 5th grade through college.  Heck Yes Notre Dame Marching Band!

J. Job title:  Stage Manager/Floor Manager

K. Kids:  None...but I adore my cousin's adorable kids!

They have a sister too, but I don't have any pictures of her.

L. Live:  Chicago (Uptown)

M. Mom’s name: Ellen.  Same as Threadpanda's!  Crazy!

N. Nicknames:  Everyone from college calls me Deet or Deeter.  My BFFs from high school call me Ro.

O. Overnight hospital stays: Nope.  But I went to the ER recently!

P. Pet peeve:  Like Allyson at the Sweatshop, I HATE being able to hear people chew.  Basically it makes me want to hit them.  Also...SLURPING.  Blech.

Q. Quote from a movie:  YOU PLAY BALL LIKE A GIRL!

R. Right or left handed: Right.

S. Siblings:  Only child. 

T. Time you wake up: HA!  As late as possible.  When I'm running shows and working at night, I generally don't wake up til about 10.

U. Underwear:  The Hipster Briefs from Target!

V. Vegetables you dislike: Unfortunately, a lot of them.  But asparagus is the worst.  Worst.

W. What makes you run late: Snooze button.  Or yarn.

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Ankle, sternum, and a CT on my head once.

Y. Yummy food you make: COOKIES!  Mom's oatmeal chocolate chip & my no-bake!

Z. Zoo – favorite animal: Giraffes and Penguins!  

Wordless Wednesday, a little late

Wordless Wednesday: FO Roommate's Birthday Circle Scarf

Whoops!

Hey Friends!  It's been a while, no?  I've been pretty busy since I went back to work...which, let me tell you, is a GOOD THING.  This week was particularly crazy...teching for a benefit, working the benefit, babysitting, opening our show, and shows shows shows!  I even found time to finally go out for some drinks after the show last night (new friends, yay! (VG box office folk)) AND have a wonderful breakfast for a friend's birthday today!  For a 65 year old lame old lady like me, that's exciting!  But because of the fun, and having two shows today, I'm t-i-r-e-d. 

So, in lieu (sp??) of a big, lovely post, here are some pictures to keep you sated.  Enjoy!

Botched Baking

As soon as I got back to work at VG, I got bombarded with requests for cookies.  After 2 weeks of being back, I finally had time to make some today.  The VG favorite are the chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookies that I make, so I went with those.  And this time, I added coconut...one of my favorite things ever.  EVER. 

 

After the cookies, I wanted to make some muffins.  While prepping, I realized we were out of eggs (although I feel like I just bought some...), and I couldn't find the muffin pan liners.  So I sprayed my pan with Pam & ran across the street to our little Fiesta Mini Mart to get some eggs.  They had liners too!  So I made the muffins, and I used the liners.  A couple minutes before the muffins were done, one of the 2 smoke detectors in our hallway went off.  I shut it off, and then went to take the muffins out.  As soon as I opened the oven, the carbon monoxide detector went off, and then BOTH of the smoke detectors went off in the hall.  We've taken the batteries out of the one in the kitchen.  

Turns out the bottom of all of the muffins are black.  Apparently Pam+liners=burnt muffins and lots of beeping.

At least the cookies turned out deliciously. 

Birthday!!!

Wednesday was my birthday!  25!  Whoa!  Mom came up Tuesday night & stayed with me through Thursday.  Then Dad joined us on Friday & they stayed downtown & left this morning.  Mom and I had wonderful Birthday Brunch, went to my favorite yarn store, saw a photo exhibit at the Cultural Center that I'd been dying to see, bought new makeup at Macy's, and had dinner at Potbelly's.  Here are some photos from the week: