The Point of No Return

You know how sometimes you learn a new skill and then you see a million ways to use it? Or you're out and see some beautiful color combination in the sky or in some flower? Before we started this book, it wasn't such a problem -- I'd just buy more yarn for whatever crazy idea I had and then make up a project box and add to my stash closet. Did I mention the 100+ project boxes in my stash closet? So the only real "harm" was the increase in my stash, but it helped the economy because I bought the yarn, and a project box, so really, it was a win-win. Right?

Now it's a whole different story. Because we plan Deep South Knitting to be the first in a whole series of books, and because I've been doing a bit of traveling recently and have more planned over the next few months, I am being whipped around by inspiration EVERYWHERE. When I was in Seattle and Alaska, I ended up designing 3 sweaters for the next book -- Seaside Knitting. At least I haven't cast any of them on yet. I used to say "I need a vacation" when my brain started to overheat like this. Yeah, not working out so well right now.

I'm headed to Scottsdale with Mr. PurlQueen in January for the only annual conference he ever really asks me to go with, and this time it happens to be in Scottsdale. It just so happens that Wild West Knitting will include Arizona, and I was thinking I'd spend my days while he's in workshops doing some local yarn crawls for our Planet Purl travel blogs. So while perusing the brochure pages, I was struck with an onslaught of inspiration just from the photos in the dang brochure. Crikie! What's going to happen when I'm actually there in person?

Thank goodness I have a huge whirlpool tub in my bathroom. It's the only place where I can't knit so I make myself climb in every night with a non-knitting-related book and and a cold beverage (OK, usually a cocktail) and try to disengage my knitting-fevered brain for an hour.

For Deep South Knitting, my sketch book is overflowing, I'm knitting until my arms are sore, I'm hardly sleeping as it is and I'm even dreaming about knitting, now.

I'm afraid I've stepped over some edge from which there's no return. Tomorrow and Wednesday I'm lucky enough to be able to attend workshops with Cat Bordhi, one on socks the other on moebius. I was doing my "homework" for the moebius class this morning, and my poor brain started working out a moebius pattern for Deep South Knitting. If it works out, it's going to be an absolutely gorgeous and feminine "jeans jacket" alternative. I know it's only 11:00 a.m., but I think I need to get into that bathtub now before something in my head short-circuits. Too early for a pina colada?