Living My Dream

Knitting for me is like breathing. It’s something I have to do everyday. No exceptions.

When I embarked on this journey of mine a few short years ago, I had no idea, not in my wildest dreams I would be where I am today. I had no idea I would actually be doing on a daily basis, what I am so passionate about, and that I would be getting paid to do it. For me that is the icing on the cake.

When I started this journey, when I had a glimmer of an idea to become a designer, another little glimmer shot through me. That glimmer, that little idea was “wouldn’t it be cool to work for a really awesome yarn company and design for them?” I guess I just put that idea out there and let it go for a while. I mean, really? What are the chances of that happening? Most of the yarn companies I was aware of at the time weren’t anywhere near me geographically. It just didn’t seem like a possibility to me.

Well, as my Mom has always told me “never say never”. I know Mom, I DID become a bookkeeper 🙂

As it turns out, THE COOLEST YARN COMPANY is right in my backyard, so to speak.

It all started while hanging out at my favorite LYS – Knit Purl – (check out their beautiful new website. It rocks!) They needed some bookkeeping help, so I started “filling in”. Well, about a year and a half later, I’ve handed over the bookkeeping duties and am now working three days a week with the design team for Shibui Knits. If you weren’t aware, Knit Purl and Shibui Knits are sister companies.

That’s right. I get paid to knit, design, engineer, sketch, swatch, calculate, collaborate, rip out and swatch again, dream, turn those dreams into reality, write patterns, and knit and knit and knit. I get to knit and create with the best yarn on the planet. I also get to work with some of the most creative and genuinely caring people I have ever had the honor to know. I feel like I have come home. And it’s true when they say “Home is where the heart is.”

I am truly living my dream. I am one of the extremely blessed people that realized my passion in life and was able to find a way to enjoy it every day.

Dare to dream. Have the courage. Take a leap of faith. It doesn’t cost you anything. It may not seem remotely possible at the time, but you never know. If you truly love something, spend time with it. Nurture it. Encourage the dream to grow. You might just surprise yourself and one day find yourself living smack dab in the middle of that dream.

As always,
Happy Knitting!
Shellie