The Lost Year

it's been nearly a year since my last post. (i'm alive)

see, last year was my first year as a full-time high school science teacher. it was insane, fantastic, and immensely time consuming. i was THE science teacher at a 7-12 school and i had a 45 minute commute each way, which meant there was little time left for anything else.

this year, however, i am teaching science at Inspire School of Arts and Sciences in Chico. i still don't have much free time, but i WILL be getting creative again. In the spring semester i teach an elective class that i'm calling "fiber arts." it's an introductory class covering knitting, crocheting, hand sewing, machine sewing, weaving and dyeing. seriously. i know; pinch me, i must be dreaming.

the students at this school are refreshingly clever, creative, and inventive. they all seem desperate to set themselves apart and be unique; but in that endeavor they are a family. it almost feels like the "misfits" crew from Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. basically, they're awesome.

they've inspired me.

i hope to get inspired enough to make some new patterns in the future. for now, here's the missing year in pictures (many things were knit but i didn't get the chance to photograph them. bummer.)

baby "moc-a-soc" for a friend's baby boy (i made two...naturally)

checkered baby blanket for another friend's new baby bo

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wisteria scarf from twinkle weekend knits, twinkle yarn in baby pink (2 skeins)

chunky cowl. plymouth baby alpaca, 1 skein, stockinette in the round on size US 15

"Jane" by Jane Richmond. I lost the yarn band...but it's wool. also made it in yellow like the original pattern for a friend, but i didn't get a photo.