A Chance.

My blog is looking quite lonely and empty, so I decided it was time to pop on briefly to give it an update.

I received a notification in the mail yesterday about a new knitting competition that is being run by the Australian Country Spinners. Monetary prizes aside, one lucky entrant will be selected to partake in designing a limited knitwear collection for Autumn/Winter 2012 with ACS. How exciting is that?! Being a knitwear designer is one of those things I've fantasised about, but knew it would probably never eventuate; so this competition, if anything, is a good outlet for my crazy, creative side to go full-out wild with designing (probably not something I would have thought about being able to do in the past, but I think I've exposed myself to sufficient designs, actual completed projects, and endless inspiration from knitting mags in the past year or so to boost my knitting confidence a tad), and gives me the opportunity to say, 'hey, at least I've tried', even if I fail. And I will end up with an original design of my own at the end - so there's no loss really :)

I've got until the end of July, but with all the assignments and exams coming up, it might just be enough time for me to pump out an original design - hopefully! So I'll have to put all my knitting projects on hold.. I've just finished knitting my 8th premmie beanie last night, after not being able to knit for several weeks due to assignments :( My target for this Autumn/Winter is a minimum of 20 beanies to donate to the hospital, so I'm *almost* half-way there! This year, I've decided to knit a few different sizes to accommodate for the different head sizes, and so far I'm sticking with the floral theme.

I've also recently received some Sublime extra fine merino yarn in the mail, which is to knit a cute bear-ear-beanie for one of my music teacher's 11-month old. I was going to start that last night, but I haven't quite decided whether I should knit the size for 6-12mo olds or the size for 1-2yos. Any ideas how fast baby heads grow? I will probably end up knitting the bigger size, as the baby has a pretty big head and I'll want to extend the wearable period of the beanie.

Over the past few months, I've been receiving quite a bit of yarn in the mail - online yarn shops are both a blessing and a curse :P Knitting addiction aside, how easy is it to spend past your budget with this sort of convenience at your fingertips? Obviously, as mentioned before, I'll have to put my projects - both queued and in-progress ones - on hold for the time being, but I cannot wait to finally knit the adorable 'Beauty' puff-sleeved cardigan by Purl Alpaca Designs; the Gatsby dress from Interweave; and I am really wanting to finish the shawl I've started knitting from one of my regular UK knitting mags. I recently bought another knitting magazine, also a UK published one, for the Parisian-inspired designs advertised on the cover. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. It also made me realise that if I could possibly ever cut my addiction to buying knitting magazines, I would save more than $50/month!

Reading the introduction to Joanne Chang's "Flour" cookbook has inspired me to follow my baking dreams again. I was on the verge of signing up to a Wilton Method cake decorating course, but the distance for travel required was a big deterrant for me. Then there's also the option of doing the baking and pastry course at Le Cordon Bleu interstate. But that would require a total change of environment and lifestyle for at least 9 months, plus they require you to do 2 years of work experience afterwards before you can attain the diploma. I've gotten so used to my current work place and grown to like all my colleagues, that to start all over again at a different place, in a different state, would be quite a big thing for me. Not to mention that it would mean quitting my current studies and moving away from family. The main thing though, is that when I first thought of doing the diploma, it's for interest-sake only... I don't intend to make a living out of it. Although the thought of being able to make a living out of creating delicious cakes and pastries that people will thank you for is lovely indeed, I don't think I have the guts and perseverence to make such a radical lifestyle/career change, like Joanne did (Harvard degree in maths and economics to pastry chef! Respect.) so I don't know if this going-back-and-forth with knowledge attainment in different areas is really worth the time and money. When you hit a certain age, every year - nay, every day! - really starts to count. If only I could be given a sign to let me know what path I should choose to follow! So many interests; so little time in life.