Those moments when we are so excited to create
we push ourselves through another stitch, another row, another chart repeat
and as we do
we
Once it is finished, off the needles, out of the basin, and finally dry
the joy of seeing the work of our hands is something to savor
It is a beautiful reflection
of many, many things.
Enjoy the beauty you create today!
~xoxo, melissa
You have been so patient, waiting for the release of the next issue of 6 Bits Storybooks, and I am so, so thankful.
When I planned the release of this issue I knew I wanted to bring in new designers to work alongside. You, Dear Reader, would meet 2 additional knitters and hear their stories. I was very excited about this!
On a personal level, I knew I would be moving mid- to late- Autumn this year, so I laid careful plans and timed things out with that in mind.
Life decided it might be more fun to see how far I could be stretched...
In April my husband left for our new home, several months earlier than planned, and without me and the kids--- which was not the plan. Or at least it wasn't my plan anyway...
Suddenly I became a pseudo-single mom, running the home, homeschool, preparations for an out of U.S. move and managing the creation of Reflect. I kept telling myself "It'll be fine, no big deal! You have lived through hard times before."
These have been the hardest 9 weeks of my life.
I have cried in the shower like a baby (on rare days when I have managed a shower).
I have had to apologize more times than I can count and ask for forgiveness, it seems, on an hourly basis.
I have messed up more things than I have executed well and learned how deeply I can be humbled each day.
I have not taken any of the advice and encouragement I give so often to others, instead opting for a stiff neck and tight lips that refuse to ask for help.
A grown woman should be able to do all things perfectly and beautifully and on her own without a handout...
NOT IN REAL LIFE
Help is so hard to ask for, and I thought it meant I was a better person if I didn't ask. After all, if I am in this situation I must have some lesson to learn from it, right?
It took me until the end of the 7th week to realize perhaps the lesson I need to learn is to stop trying to have it together when I really do not have it together.
I really have not had it together.
And I was afraid to show you.
I have been on empty.
No cute tweets. No pretty Instagram pictures. No uplifting blog posts. No showers for a couple days in a row is nothing to share with online pals---can I get an Amen on that?
Now, I am not having a nervous breakdown---yet. But I do have a stomach of knots similar to the worst yarn barf you've ever had to deal with. And largely in part because of my own doing.
I should have shared this a while ago, but I thought in between wrapping up school on a happy note and trying to find a house overseas for our family with running water* and end of year things for the kids and helping my husband who was far away and not doing well and organizing a household of five for moving day which was several months earlier than planned and driving the dog to Atlanta and back in one day because it had to be done to get her where we were moving and I needed to be back for an appointment that could not be changed on the next day and the library books that needed to go back because they were renewed past their limit... ARRRG!
I thought I could make time for putting all the pieces together.
I was wrong.
Bottom line:
I want Reflect to be something I am proud to share with You.
And to do that I need a few things:
First, I need to apologize to You for not keeping You more in the loop. I ask for your forgiveness please.
Second, I need time. I am writing this on the floor amongst boxes as we just landed Saturday night to our new home. My life is in disarray, but we are all together now and that gives me a little more breathing space each day. So I can work to finalize things. Sarah, the managing editor, and I will be meeting to talk over the final pieces that need to be ordered and what timeline that looks to be. I would love to tell you Reflect will be in your inbox on 6.16.16 because that is catchy and looks good and seems do-able.
I will give you a date after we talk and plan.
The little pieces need to go together just as nicely as the beautiful big pieces!
Articles have been done and are great! Patterns are photographed and written in a layout I think you will love. Now I need to work on setting them all out as I imagined, as a beautiful treat.
With love and aloha from a humbled heart,
Melissa
*We found a house with water, but from a cistern, or rain catch. We are embarking on a new journey where we will learn quickly how to live with a conservationists heart.
Aloha Friends! So last week was hijacked, my internet decided to take a Spring vacation from Monday night to Thursday and then on Thursday Mother Nature saw fit to give us the most beautiful storm...it really was so very, very lovely and powerful and refreshing...but we lost power and then...you guessed it! we were offline once again. (Update: I kid you not, both yesterday & today our internet is in and out! If you are reading or listening to this it is nothing short of a frustration filled miracle!)
Instead of just posting the steps as they were to go last week, I thought I would give you the next steps and challenge you to do them for 20 to 30 minutes everyday.
I have been asked this question a few times and it deserves a bit of attention, so before we hop in to our tasks, let me share with you why "every day" is how I am doing things instead of all at once:
And now lets roll up our sleeves & get to it!
Look at the Pinterest board you created or inspirational photos that speak to you. Find one sweeping characteristic that you notice you are drawn to: A CHARACTERISTIC not an item. Like the lovely way the desk is clear and tidy and everything in its spot, don't decide you need a bunch of files and baskets like the image shows. Love the bookshelf free from clutter, don't make a list of what to buy from Mart-Mart. Want a spot to rest and look out the window, don't lament that it is from Famous Furniture Store and you can't afford it. Notice a trait about the room, just one trait, and jot it down on a sticky note or paper with washi tape and put it up on the wall in a prominent place.
For this you need:
--->> Avoid the box of misplaced items that you stuck in an obnoxiously inconvenient spot (at the time of this writing I walk around my box about 20 times a day, grumbling and vowing to keep things in the right spot once I get them out of the blasted box and away! And that my friends is the whole inconvenient purpose of sticking it where I did!
At the end of the 20 minutes you must do each of these things before you say you are done:
Commit to doing these steps once each day this week. Feeling ambitious? Do it twice a day here and there, but definitely do it at different times, don't set the timer for 40 minutes and do an extra long session. It will loose it's fun and purpose. And don't skip the sticky note part! We need a nice collection for our re-arranging/re-vamping session next week and these little guys are foundational.
Well if by some miracle the cable folks have sorted things out, then you have a few things to do with me this week. Yes! I am working alongside of you. It is nice to be in this together!
With aloha,
Melissa
{Today you can read or listen to the post!}
Keeping that truth at the forefront of our tidy it up movement will keep all that I share in days ahead in the proper perspective. Are most things in your area organized and clutter free? If so there will be days you can skip and just add to your inspirational Pinterest board. Has your dreamy refuge become a place of angst over the clutter and you can't imagine it getting better? For you: deep breaths and keep your chin up. It may not be perfect by the end of April, but it will be better!
Today we give ourselves some breathing room to make all that magical improvement happen. Here's how:
Remember this is my plan, for my space that needs Spring cleaning and you should modify it
With your back to the boxes, look over your space.
I sighed.
I had several things on my desk, which is a huge 6 foot desk, and my bookshelf right beside it. Having most of the out of place items off the desk and shelves made me feel good!
Grab some water real quick and repeat the exercise once more, perhaps focusing on a different corner of your studio or nook. Set the timer for 5 minutes this time and move fast!
When you are done:
All done? Snap a picture of a neat and tidy spot! Even if it is a 2 inch by 2 inch dusted corner of a shelf THAT IS RECLAIMED SPACE! Keep it on your phone to look back on to remind yourself that small starts are worth acknowledging. BRAVER? then post your pic on IG, twitter, FB---wherever! and tag me in it so I can see. Use our hashtag #MakingSpaceForCreativity.
That is it for today!
See you tomorrow for a bit of fun and continued improvement!
Do Let Me Know YOU Are Here! I would love to encourage you! So, catch me up below! Also, check in and encourage one another below!
The part that excited some people about cleaning can often be the part that scares others:
Let's see if we all can't ease in to this in a way that is enjoyable for all!
Day 1 was yesterday... simply deciding you wanted to do be a part of this (not sure what we are doing? read this post). It may have been an instant decision, or it may have been mulled over for the day, or you may be joining in on April 20th---a future time as I write, but the perfect moment for you! When isn't important- the decision is!
Day 2 is today... This isn't super complicated but definitely needs a bit of thought from us.
Grab a notebook, pencil/pen, and a timer. Find a place where you can sit and not see your craft room, desk, creative corner---whatever you call the space where you keep your knitting related things. Do this bit somewhere else you can be comfy! (Yes! treating yourself to a moment on the front porch works! Absolutely you can stay in bed for this! In your home or at the local café makes no difference, just don't be anywhere near the area we are going to revamp!
Flip the page and write "BETTER STUFF" and list all the things you think would make your spot better---and by "better" I mean STELLAR--- But only use 2 word blurbs that are super specific!
For instance you may think "I want it clean with everything organized so I know exactly where things are when I wan them!" but you can't write that!
Instead try "organize stash"
"easy access"
"trackable inventory"
Just get writing because the 5 minutes goes by fast
Day 3: Tomorrow & each Sunday this month we don't "do" anything. It is a day to catch up. Right now it may not seem like much, but we are easing in to things and will be adding more and more as we go. Enjoy the simplicity of starting something new!
I will see you here Monday when we will roll up our sleeves to dive in a bit more!
It is Spring and the instagram feeds are lovely! Just a magnificent display of tidy flowers and fresh knits and zen spaces and #nonfrizzyhair...
And then there is ME...
digging in to spring...
or perhaps digging out of winter?
Or (let's be honest Melissa)
I know, I know! I do encourage everyone to be neat and tidy knitters. I want the best for you ---and for me. I totally chatted up this topic with a former guest on Episode 16 and if I talked about it, I should be a pro practicing it, right?
Even my best routines and habits need revamping from time to time.
April is getting ready to start, Spring energy is blooming everywhere and I am preparing to move about 1500 miles away. I should probably organize and refine my tidying habits.
We clean up together. And we do it slowly, intentionally, merrily and with accountability! That way we don't have any unnecessary craziness that is self inflicted! (anyone get enough crazy externally?)
So slow, steady, smiling & sharing is how I have it planned.
April has 30 days. Why not take advantage of each of them?
Each day we do a little bit, and there will be days where it really is just a little bit!
We will be less likely to feel overwhelmed and more likely to be eager to continue (Always leave them wanting more I hear!)
We are cleaning and organizing here, not slaying dragons right? (Remind me of that in to week 3...) We should be able to keep a smile on our face and some merry-making messages to each other in the mix! And I have some ideas to keep you cheerful as well go!
Can we be authentic you and me for the month of April? Yup, that does mean we have to share "before" images. Misery loves company, but shame-filled mess makers NEED company!
Besides, if you tell others you are going to do something, you are more likely to follow through on your commitments. Make the commitment FOR YOURSELF, share that commitment WITH OTHERS and do something that may inspire EVERYONE!
Whew! For a sec I was worried. It will be me and you, and maybe a few others?
Right now, comment below, tell me you are here and tell me all the great ways you keep organized and ONLY ONE THING you make a #JuMbLeDclutteredMESS
And then be sure to pop back in here tomorrow (April Fools Day-- kinda fits!)
I am super stoked! Believe you me, this will be fun. And at the end, you and me, we will have some stories to share!
xo,
melissa
ps. if you are going to be a part of this why not share the opportunity with others! you and i both know we are not the only ones with yarn explosions in every room, projects hiding the last dinosaur and a secret fear of never being found if our mountain of knitting patterns topples over! yes...there are more of us out there!
This week the podcast is just me, Melissa, chatting with you about my daydreaming tendencies...and the effects they have on my knitting. They are good & sometimes self-sabotaging. I wonder if I am any different than you?
As Spring seems to be erupting all around me and as I am purging and packing for our move that is coming up faster than I thought, I find myself escaping to more and more moments standing in front of an open window enjoying a breeze. Those moments last just a few seconds, but stay with me long enough to get me to the next. Is your knitting ever like that? A series of stolen moments, either to work one row or one stitch, maybe just time enough to ball your potential yarn...or as I find myself looking and looking and looking and daydreaming happily (but getting not much accomplished).
Hurrah for Springtime!
This week apart from the podcast our friend Hannah had her surgery. I wish I could say she is happily up drinking tea and feeling good. She has a long road ahead and I will keep you posted as I hear news.
In the meantime, if you have knit a #HatsForHannah hat, you may mail them on to 6 Bits through the end of March. Send them to :
6 Bits Sotrybooks PO Box 297 Holly Ridge, NC 28445
Hannah's Courage is available for $3 on Ravelry
If you have already knit this hat it will be so exciting to see your projects added and linked to the pattern!
And if you were part of the MKAL on Periscope the final pattern will be delivered to your inbox. Perhaps you will consider gifting the pattern to someone as all proceeds will be given to Hannah to help with her expenses.
Aloha You Guys!
Some of you were real sports about my first periscope segment** sharing a mystery knit a long---and I am super thankful for that!
Here's the scoop:
I love Hannah. She is the awesome creative gal who graces the cover of our second issue DWELL. She's had better days, and we want to bring more of them to her...in soft knitted hats! (I promise to share more of her story this weekend, but for now here is the quick version: She is young (25) and is having brain surgery (to remove a portion of her brain) and it is happening soon (March 10-17). She doesn't knit...but she has an army of knitters here that can knit whatever bit of magic she needs.
So I am sharing with you an opportunity to knit a special hat, or two...or three... and do it with me as I share little bits and ideas and encouragement along the way on Periscope.
All the details can be emailed to you...
and it sounds and looks much more professional once it lands in your inbox--I pinky promise!
This opportunity is seriously not just a chance for us to give a gift to Hannah, who is already excited about sharing lots of hats with others she meets at the hospital...it is also a way for me to selfishly force myself in to a happier spot. It sucks when life can't be lovely and easy for everyone. This PeriscopeMysteryKnitA Long (PMKAL) is my selfish way of trying to do something positive with some incredible people (YOU!) in the hopes of making LOTS of us feel better.
Feel better
knitting a hat for Hannah
Or for yourself
Or for people in your local area
or whatever!
Want to be a part of this and get the pattern clues delivered to your inbox each time they are added? {You will need to head over to our shop for a copy now that the KAL is complete!}
And yup! there will definitely be more info headed your way via email to cover specifics if you want to get your hat to Hannah!
And before I go, can I just tell you how much you being a part of my world means? It means so, so much. I am very thankful to you!
With love and aloha,
Melissa
and if you want to share this with others....DO IT! The hat pattern is so fun! I can't wait to show you!
**and if you are looking for me on Periscope I am MSkiKnits
{{Aloha Everyone!
I had no idea that our Episode 11 podcast wasn't showing up on our Podcast page! Until we work out how add it to the others in the collection I am posting the info here. Enjoy!}}
Today we spend time learning from our guest what goes in to publishing and self-publishing a book. She should know as she now has 8 books under her belt! More on her in a moment!
I would like to thank our sponsor for this episode:
Space Monster Club from Space Cadet Yarn: There is nothing in the whole world like a skein of lovely, smooshy, thick yarn to make you want to pick it up, squish it… dive right into it!
As a member of the SpaceMonsters Mega Club, you receive:
•A fantastic parcel delivered to their door every other month, containing a beautiful skein of SpaceCadet® yarn in worsted or bulky weight
•The SpaceCadet’s Log exploring the inspiration for each colourway.
•A fantastic SpaceMonsters gift tucked into every third parcel!
Membership is open only until 20 Dec 2015 and space is limited. Head here to save yourself a place http://spacecadetyarn.com/the-spacemonster-mega-yarn-club/
Now today we spend time learning what goes in to publishing. Be it a single stand alone pattern, or an entire book our "Violently Domestic" author can share lots of stories about her experience with both---and from the perspectives of being published and self publishing.
I know listening to Hunter Hammersen share some deeper stories about her newest book Fine Things for Plain Occasions is going to be a treat, but in the spirit of aloha and going the extra mile, she shares with you a free pattern!
And if you have the beautiful new book Fine Things for Plain Occasions have it on hand as we chat! It will make the fun of this week more interactive!
As always if you like what you hear share us with your friends! Growing our story only makes it better! And if you really love what you hear be sure to leave us an iTunes review for an opportunity to win free yarn every month!
Ready to listen? Click here
Our UNEARTH Kal is an opportunity to join in for encouragement as we knit projects from our first issue. This time of fun together begins November 2, 2015 and lasts until January 2, 2016.
Categories that are open to all participants:
For those knitters who start and finish an entire project form Issue 1 UNEARTH. Enter as many Finished Objects as you like in this category, they just need to start and end on the official KAL dates.
This time of year there are so many things happening, our attention and time have many demands that may keep us from finishing projects before the end of the KAL. To keep that fact from deterring knitters from joining, we want to embrace that and use it as a starting point! So start your project on November 2nd and simply be proud of what you do knit! Share your progress in this thread and let that be your story!
For every issue we want to dig deeper in to the story behind a particular yarn. For UNEARTH our special character is Infinite Twist. This category is for anything knitters want to create using Helix yarn. Cate Carter-Evans will be popping in this thread to share as she knits an extra long version of Cairns in the beautiful badlands colourway.
What a great way to plug in too! Use the hashtags: #UnearthKal #6BitsStorybooks for any and all work you are doing. Be sure to tag us as @6.Bits.Storybooks too! That is the fastest way to grab our attention and we definitely want to see what you are up to!
In addition to choosing winners from each of the above categories, we are excited about a different twist as an option for any and everyone to plug in to win prizes!
Wonder how that works? Simple! First be sure you are following us. Use the hashtags on Instagram to see what others are knitting. In the comments below their post cheer them on! This is an awesome way to join in the Unearth KAL even if you can't knit a project. It also weaves our stories together a bit more intentionally!
There will be 1 winner from each category except the Illustrate Kindness. We plan to choose 3 winners from that one! So be sure to use the hashtags when posting so everyone can see your beautiful knitting skills and cheer you on in your project!
Care to share what you think you may be knitting with us? We can't wait to hear your ideas!
The work that went in to this surprised me.
Not only that it was hard work, but what surprised me even more was the work that the collaborators for this issue did.
Heart and soul. Sweat and laughter. A few tears (from me, of course).
And today I am sighing and still crying.
But out of gratitude to everyone for the kindness and aloha you are sharing.
Today I squeal in delight because a great team made a beautiful thing and now others can make it even better!
Mahalo nui ya'll!
--Melissa
Here is some pictures to illustrate our little chat in the last podcast episode!
My name is Liesl. I live in the lovely Garden State. My days are spent knitting, dyeing yarn with plants, sewing, gardening, keeping chickens, finding beauty in the everyday and crafting a handmade life. I’m currently on a mission to bring our small farm, Buckaloo View, back to life. My family started farming here over a hundred years ago, but it hasn’t been a working farm since before I was born. The idea of being a farmer is both scary and exciting, but it’s deep in my bones. My dream is to eventually get goats and sheep. It’s been a joy to share this adventure, from the joys to the challenges and everything in between, via Instagram, my blog and occasionally, podcasts.
If you saw the update to the September calendar, you read about Nathan Smith. His story can be seen more vividly than read.
Robert Herrick said it beautifully
“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.
”
Perhaps for you it conjures to mind the beautiful Waterhouse painting, fair maidens picking blooms.For me it brings to mind the way Melody and I met. That, Friends, is a story you will hear in more detail at a later time, but today I want to show you. I invited her some time ago to be part of an activity, one that I remember her laughing a bit and asking several times for clarification as to what I meant.
"Melody, I want you to take readers on a walk. Head out away from your doorstep for 20 minutes, then simply walk them back."
It seemed too simple. But after many moments chatting through the idea we agreed it was exactly that simple.
We all love beautiful things. Sometimes we see others enjoying those moments and we want to learn, rather we want to be helped to understand how we can enjoy those moments too.
So Dear Ones, enjoy the moment.
Stephanie Alford has been fascinated by fiber all her life. A knitter since the age of 19, she joined a local spinning group near her home in rural England in her 20s, and then taught herself to dye after moving back to the States in her 30s. Along the way she learned a bit of weaving, a little crochet, and picked up a degree in Textiles and Clothing. Now the Dyer and Head SpaceCadet at SpaceCadet® Yarn, she has discovered that she was in training for her dream job all along.
Introductions, I have noticed, happen in many ways.
A friend shares a friend and connects one to another. It lifts the awkward feeling that sometimes accompanies being vulnerable. We step forward and introduce ourselves to someone we have seen before as they look familiar and we want to create (hopefully) a more meaningful relationship. And then there is the way I find myself making introductions...
I watch and enjoy someone, curiosity or appreciation drawing me to what they are doing and then something changes. I realize I would love to know them. I realize that what they are about and it resonates deeply with me. And then I simply write them a note:
I want to be friends.
This is the note from me to you saying that. It is also a note from Melody and everyone else who has a story that creates 6 Bits.
A note simply, unashamedly, honestly saying: I want to be friends.
And let's do that in a variety of different ways. I encourage you, actually I am thrilled to invite you, to visit our calendar and see what we have planned to connect with you these next several weeks. We even have a handy way to add reminders to your calendar as to not miss things!
We will share our selves and our stories with you. We look forward to you doing the same in any way you feel comfortable.
We want to be friends.
With aloha,
Melissa
