tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46763966836013151062011-07-08T03:43:34.764-05:00Adventures with yoga and yarn.Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.comBlogger331100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-77215601655732511352009-12-15T10:06:00.003-06:002009-12-15T10:30:57.212-06:00

OK, I know some of you are now shaking your head, rolling your eyes, and saying, "Just make up your mind, would ya?"Let me explain...I miss my little yoga dedicated space over at Happy Daisy Yoga. I do. And so the yoga part of Namaste & Knitting is moving back to that bloggy space. Nuff said.Creating...whether it be knitting or quilting or Halloween costume making or whatever crazy idea creeps

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-17178023243154035592009-12-13T14:11:00.003-06:002009-12-13T14:48:46.059-06:00

My husband and I took advantage of the break in our wintry Iowa weather yesterday to drop this girls off with his Aunt so we could go Christmas shopping together. (It was like a date...only in the day...which meant neither of us were tired and cranky yet. We had a lovely time.) Our gift shopping took us a whooping 90 minutes at one store. (We really only buy gifts for our girls so shopping is

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-54689762532180071562009-12-09T16:20:00.003-06:002009-12-09T19:04:43.511-06:00

My quilt top is done! What a lovely snow day project. I've had this design rolling around in my head for about 3 weeks and "Iowadeathstorm09" (as it has been labeled on Twitter) provided me a reason not to leave the house today (actually it took away the ABILITY to leave the house today), which meant plenty of time to sew. I present to you..."Lost in the Twilight" It measures about 55" x 75"

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-76979551075029470132009-12-09T11:27:00.004-06:002009-12-09T12:03:02.520-06:00

Iowa winter weather has arrived. Yesterday before the snow totally kept us home bound I ran to the grocery store and made a stop at the quilt shop for fabric for the lap quilt that has been designing in my head for the last 3 weeks. Yesterday I got 3 of the the 6 large blocks I'll need for the quilt finished...Today I hope to get the top finished. Yea for snow!~namaste~

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-56229580007656339502009-12-07T14:00:00.006-06:002009-12-07T15:09:27.319-06:00

I have so much I want to share today...First, a couple of words of thanks.I was amazed (and deeply honored once the shock wore off) to learn that Roseanne over at it's all yoga, baby included one of my posts here in her review of her top 15 yoga blog posts of 2009. Roseanne, if Canada wasn't so far to travel, I'd run over and give you a big hug of thanks. I have a feeling the two of use could

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-81622154177461436232009-12-03T08:50:00.004-06:002009-12-03T09:04:13.920-06:00

A yoga teacher.Someone who teaches yoga.To me there is a difference between those two statements.I strive to be the former.Though sometimes, especially when faced with adversity in my professional world, I worry that I slip into the later.It's a fine line. An area with many varying shades of gray. Sometimes it can all get so overwhelming I just want to throw in the towel and do something totally

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-582265157892986592009-12-01T08:51:00.003-06:002009-12-01T09:46:28.411-06:00

My family and I traveled to the KC metro area this past weekend to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my in-laws. On Friday morning I met my good friend Monica (who lives here in Grinnell but who was also in the KC metro area for the weekend visiting family) for a Vinyasa class at Yoga Gallery.(Side note: Many of the teacher at Yoga Gallery have studied with Max Strom. I studied with Max at the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-5549640194410176622009-11-23T14:20:00.005-06:002009-11-23T14:48:59.134-06:00

I'm still here.Simply been busy teaching here.And here.Writing this.Keeping track of these.AND creating in my new crafty space when I get the chance.(There's been a bit of knitting mixed in there too of course!)Last week at the shop we announced our Holiday Stocking Challenge and of course, I can't back down from a challenge. (Even though employees can't win anything.) So I've been working on

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-29788806051578764772009-11-15T13:07:00.006-06:002009-11-15T13:49:05.298-06:00

We live in a small 3 bedroom house. Even though we have 2 kids, they thankfully are happy to share a room, leaving our 3rd bedroom to serve as an office-plus. The "plus" part has changed over the years from: "room in which we pile crap we're too lazy to take downstairs", to sewing room, to spare bedroom, to once again...sewing room!We've been busy around here the past 2 days creating a little

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-23550694730755306212009-11-08T15:19:00.003-06:002009-11-09T14:46:43.890-06:00

I have been super excited to start my first pair of socks with "knitting season" in full swing. So I ordered some a whole set of sock sized double point needles (DPNs) and sock yarn. By Thursday night I couldn't wait any longer to cast on...yes, even with 2 other projects currently on the needles. Variety is the spice of life.Do you want the good news or bad news first?The good news...things

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-91536035747978987912009-11-07T09:47:00.004-06:002009-11-07T10:08:42.409-06:00

I missed posting for Fab Friday.But I have a perfectly acceptable excuse.I was too busy having fun with these two...And what a great day we did have! Slept in a bit. (No school for my oldest thanks to parent-teacher conferences.) Yoga with my lovely senior class. Then BEAUTIFUL weather meant we could enjoy traveling by foot all around downtown. We visited our NEW AMAZING community library.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-584498063388991242009-11-05T09:47:00.004-06:002009-11-05T10:06:32.155-06:00

What is Yarnica you ask?Well, last year, after receiving my first yarn order from Knit Picks, I decided to declare yarn delivery days as their own holiday...and Yarnica was born! The cool think about Yarnica...it can happen several times a year, at any time. Celebration is not tied to a month, a day, a date...budget allowing you could celebrate Yarnica every week if you wanted. (OK, that might be

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-30214645919702511952009-11-04T11:07:00.005-06:002009-11-04T11:52:25.133-06:00

Feels a little like giving up.I often find it hard to distinguish between the two.I'd like to think that letting go means you have set an intention, worked towards reaching your goal to the best of your ability, and then are able to release your pursuit without regrets if it becomes clear that the path you have chosen is not right for you at that time.But for me it still feels a little like just

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-67773801818885325652009-11-02T14:23:00.003-06:002009-11-02T14:57:25.362-06:00

I have a confession...I have a love-hate relationship with Halloween. Love it because it's the one time of year I regularly get to put my crafty skills to work for the enjoyment of my girlies. Hate...because I have to put my crafty skills to work for the enjoyment of my girlies...and there is a deadline involved. (Which, honestly, is a good thing or costumes would never get finished!)Out of the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-36410193459725550012009-10-30T10:47:00.003-05:002009-10-30T11:01:29.441-05:00

Today's Fab Friday brought to you by the force...(Fitting with Halloween less than 24 hrs away...don't cha think?)I imagine if you took Scott (my hubby) and I, threw us in a bag, shook it up, and dumped it out...this is what would you would get. A little more sports wear would need to be involved...football pants, basketball jersey, soccer shin guards, baseball cleats...and some crafty, knitting

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-35040937963204530472009-10-28T22:33:00.004-05:002009-10-29T00:04:02.180-05:00

Almost a month ago (how did that much time pass so fast?) Roseanne over at its all yoga, baby tagged me with a meme. (Remember, I talked about it here.) And I publicly agreed to play along. And while that promise has been on my mind a lot lately, when I sit down to write 7 things about me and my yoga (or yoga in general for that matter), my mind goes blank. My fingers can't find the right keys.

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-69894298791933421172009-10-27T08:49:00.001-05:002009-10-27T09:28:29.032-05:00

Last spring while visiting my Mom in western Nebraska, we checked out a new fiber farm nearby, Red Barn Fiber Processing. It's a venture opened by a "retired" couple on a few acres of Nebraska farm ground. They raise llamas (and had plans to add yak and alpaca to the farm once the newly planted pastures could sustain a larger herd); offer all the various steps involved in fiber processing; and

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-68336820944515162582009-10-23T12:47:00.003-05:002009-10-23T13:11:10.476-05:00

This week has been full of new adventures and surprises and good news (that I can't actually share until later next week), and at this moment I am totally crashing from it all. I have been so focused on my little web redesign project over here, and my new blogging adventure over here (and playing on Photoshop creating graphics for it all), that I haven't had much time or energy devoted to

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-38266093385474429562009-10-19T20:47:00.000-05:002009-10-19T21:28:39.062-05:00

As a new knitter, I still get VERY excited when I tackle a new knitting skill. This post is brought to you by thumbs!It only took me 9 months after first picking up the needles to FINALLY make myself a pair of fingerless mitts beyond that first cotton pair knit flat and sewn together with a simple hole for the thumb. Why is that? I mean why do we often put making ourselves something last on the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-90453573399518046722009-10-18T20:50:00.004-05:002009-10-18T21:41:10.342-05:00

I'm so excited to share with you my most recent news! After 5 years of blogging, countless hours playing around on facebook, and more than a few more trying to weave my way through the world of Photoshop, I'm finally getting the opportunity to put the skills and knowledge I've picked up along the way to use for something besides my own entertainment. Woo Hoo!A friend of mine (and her mother) own

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-22703006893850680782009-10-16T08:16:00.006-05:002009-10-16T14:20:53.972-05:00

Today's Fab Fun Friday is brought to you by Danbo.Who is Danbo you ask?This is Danbo...Apparently Danbo (aka Danboard) is a character from the popular Japanese series Yotsuba&!. (Sometimes not having cable puts us a little behind the times, and having not really gotten into the Japanese anime scene would be one of those areas in which we are totally out of the loop.) Amazon Japan latched onto

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-42021926199008217722009-10-13T13:51:00.005-05:002009-10-13T14:54:17.647-05:00

I'm pretty sure my yoga practice has helped me better "pick my battles." Admittedly, I can be pretty stubborn. A bit of a perfectionist even. While at times those traits can come in handy, they have also caused a few growing pains over the years...at home, professionally, even in my crafting world.My Mom is a lovely quilter. Last spring when we were visiting her over my daughter's school break

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-77130572447591467822009-10-11T11:55:00.003-05:002009-10-11T12:39:47.244-05:00

Roseanne over at it's all yoga, baby has a way of prompting great discussions with her posts. Today she addressed the dangers of yoga. As I was writing up my comment to her post, I realized it was becoming a bit more than just a comment, and so decided to post my thoughts here instead. (Duh!)Go check out Roseanne's post. Get a sense for where I stand on the subject. And then let your own view

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-37412334733441430022009-10-09T12:56:00.003-05:002009-10-09T14:03:51.949-05:00

It's Friday...already...again!(Not that I'm complaining, just wondering where the time does go?!?!)Today's Fab Fun Friday is dedicated to knitting. Specifically knitting beyond woolen mittens, hats, gloves, scarves, sweaters and the such.Dedicated to things like speed knitting! The next new Olympic sport maybe? Laugh all you want Doubty Mustafas, but do you hold a Guinness World Record? Miriam

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-28110622798198784092009-10-06T17:33:00.002-05:002009-10-07T15:17:42.045-05:00

Last winter, as I was very first dipping my toes into the vast ocean that is the knitting/yarn world, I ordered Leigh Radford's book OneSkein with my first yarn order from KnitPicks. I'm convinced that both that book AND discovering KnitPicks are HUGE factors in being quickly, painlessly, and completely sucked into the knitting universe.(I plan on talking about my KnitPicks love later...but

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-40511440310773236202009-10-05T14:00:00.003-05:002009-10-05T14:54:43.022-05:00

You know what I love about blogging?The community.Sure, we all have our connections in the communities in which we live. Other parents met through our kids activities. Friends and co-workers brought together both my mutual interests AND physical local. But blogging allow you to strengthen your community web regardless of location. It allows people (from the comfort of their own home and when it

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-39306604126075819602009-10-02T08:24:00.003-05:002009-10-02T14:32:45.290-05:00

No yoga or knitting today...but oh the fun!I have over the past 2 years had the privileged to get to know, spend time with, and even lend a helping hand to a group of artists who are working on a collaborative art adventure called Tiny Circus. You can read about what they do on their website so I won't go into detail here. Basically their focus is teaching about (which has included a fair amount

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-25342213747813496072009-09-30T11:03:00.003-05:002009-09-30T11:30:40.844-05:00

I have a confession. I'm obsessed with making hand-warmers. Fingerless mitts. Whatever you call them, I just can't seem to get enough of them!Actually this whole knitting adventure started because I wanted a pair and I figured why buy some when I could learn how to make them myself. (I'm sometimes stubborn that way.)It started with these:Which lead to these:After some design changes (additions of

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-64929153595228462332009-09-29T09:34:00.004-05:002009-09-29T09:41:15.420-05:00

No yarn or yoga talk today. Just some love for my (as of Sunday) 8-year-old.(Who is learning to knit! There we go...I snuck in some yarn reference.)How quickly they do grow up!~namaste~

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-76770619758744450852009-09-28T11:04:00.003-05:002009-09-28T15:31:18.859-05:00

This morning as I scrolled though my blog reader, reading about fall baking, alpaca farm visits, finding balance in one's commitments and of course yoga, my attention was turned towards two of the younger/newer/up and coming celebrity yoga teachers (here and here) making a splash these days and it got me to thinking...What is the current western image of yoga?Yoga first made it's big splash here

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-77777109155149859112009-09-25T14:28:00.005-05:002009-09-25T16:04:43.965-05:00

After teaching my last class of the week on Friday my body and brain often take a joint sigh of relief, ready for a little fun. Don't get me wrong, teaching is fun, but it's nice to take a break from being "on" all the time too. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who feels this way. So I've decided Friday postings will be all about fabulously fun funniness. A little laughter to feed the

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-18586007454719114032009-09-23T12:51:00.000-05:002009-09-23T14:48:09.092-05:00

As often happens when I start a new adventure, I'm a bit crazy with excitement about this little blog. Posts are swirling around in my head like brightly colored spin art.But first, I feel as if there should be a beginning to all this madness. A bit of order amongst the chaos.10 years ago, with the help of Rodney Yee, Tracey Rich, and Ganga White, I began practicing yoga in my living room. (You

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4676396683601315106.post-14582764165177493692009-09-21T14:29:00.000-05:002009-09-21T14:37:31.067-05:00

"Fuel your passions," she said.And that, my friends, is exactly what I intent to do. Let the fires burn warm and bright!I hope that along the way, I can inspire you to do the same.~ namaste ~

Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07478907565207389300noreply@blogger.com0