Job Hunting

Some minor progress on the job hunting front. I spoke to one company last week and was encouraged to apply for a couple of positions. The company is currently going through a growth phase so there are several opportunities available now and in the near future. I have also been playing phone tag with another lead, a result of networking from 2-3 months ago. Again, only an opportunity for a 'discussion' but at least its putting myself out there.

I went to an interview with a recruitment agency last week too. I was specifically called in to talk about a sales roles, however there was a requirement to fill in an on-line psych test beforehand. This showed that I was not cut out for sales, which is probably true, but it also showed that I should stick to the type of roles that I have been doing for years. I pointed out to the recruiter that this test was obviously wrong because I wasn't happy in those roles and really needed a change. She just felt that my resume showed that I was an exact match to the test (and thus not good for the role she was interviewing for). When she was talking about how it looked like my preference was for things to be 'right' rather than just good enough to meet financial or timing limits, I wondered if I would have been better off providing a CV with spelling errors, or even better some of my knitting. She would have soon seen lots of dodgy finishing techniques!

In other knitting news, the cardigan is in the mail, the bolero has another seam done (good example of dodgy seaming here) and the latest project as mentioned in the last blog entry has been started. I'm doing it in a lovely royal blue colour cashmere/wool/acrylic mix. Yes, I know, but the acrylic part keeps the cost down, and its still soft. The store only had a couple of colours left (the other was insipid beige) as the yarn is being discontinued.

Finally - A finished Object!!!!

Yay, I finally finished my niece's cardigan. I know it looked promising a couple of weeks ago when I did a burst of seaming. However, the remainder of the seaming and sewing on the butttons and the never-ending weaving of ends from the intarsia flowers have taken a while. I still can't get the photos to download from my phone (I choose to blame the age of my computer, rather than any lack of skill on my part), so I will ask my sister to provide one with my niece wearing the item.

I've also decided on what to do next. I've been very good, even though I bought the yarn on Wednesday I was determined not to start a new project without finishing one first. I have selected this design from the current issue of Vogue Knitting. I am also very tempted by the girly pink & cream skirt on the cover.

I do

Now don't get excited. While it is true on Wednesday, I did say "I do", while holding a flower, it was the agreement that I perform the duties of Secretary for our local Zonta club. However, since I don't have any forseeable opportunity to say those words at a wedding, I have to take the opportunity when I can. It was the induction of the new Board for the year and we all got yellow roses, a club symbol.

We also spent some time talking about local and international service projects. Last year and this year our fundraising efforts have supported Elsie's Womens Refuge . We provided computers and furniture so that women staying there have computer access and training opportunities. Its so frustrating to hear some of the stories. Beds quickly fill up, so there is never enough space for women who need it. There is some ability to put some of them up in motel rooms, but that leaves them isolated and/or trying to look after children in a limited space, making it even more likely they will return home. Other women affected are immigrants who may effectively be mail-order brides. Their partner's may maintain control the women by using threats of deportation. We're still determing the exact form our support will take, but its definitely a worthy project.

One of the members also presented on the International projects that Zonta organises. A portion of our fundraising goes to these efforts, so some people protest about not seeing the results. However, as our speaker noted "If poverty had a face, it would be female". The numbers are horrifying.
- Globally, more than 80% of women do not have sufficient knowledge about HIV/AIDS and many women do not have the power to say no to sex with an infected partner.
-Every year an estimated 4 million women and girls are bought and sold worldwide.
-Female illiteracy rates remain higher than men.
The Zonta projects, often together with CARE or the United Nations are providing programs that help women gain education, access to finance and improved health, but there is such a long way to go.

I am tutoring a mature age student, who has had lots of dealing with social aid projects. She told me a story about her work that would be funny, if it didn't have such potentially devasting consequences. She was involved with a group providing safe sex and contraception education to people in the Solomon Islands. The use of condoms was demonstrated on bananas, so many of the men would place a condom covered banana next to the bed telling their partners that it was now safe to have sex. The women were left wondering why they still got pregnant.

Yes, I know, kind of a depressing post, but its also good to know that people are still out there tyring to make changes in the world and if I can contribute in some way that will be a good thing.

Decisions, decisions....

What will I knit next? Now don't get excited, this doesn't actually mean I've finished anything. I did so a seaming spree on the cardigan so I could take it to SnB. Just enough to show the shape, there is still a bit to go. I also made it to the button shop and bought some cute pink flower buttons, which also have to sewn on. (I realized I have expensive button tastes - many of the ones I looked at were $3-$5 each, too expensive to have seven on a child's cardigan, but the ones I really liked were $21 each). In other progress I have almost finished the sleeves for the bolero.

Nonetheless I need to have in mind what I will do next (so I have something to work on to avoid sewing seams). I've been thinking about the muti-coloured Solstice or Millefiori from Jo Sharp's Knitting Emporium , or maybe something from the Vintage Knits book I bought last year. Of course, The Amazing Lace is starting up soon so a lace something or other might also be good. What to do?

Almost Finished!

I'm getting very excited, I've almost finished my niece's cardigan. This morning I finished the neckband, so just the side and sleeve seams to go. Unfortunately, I went to the button shop today to hopefully find some cute buttons, but it was closed. I thought it was open all weekend, but apparently only Saturday. I almost went yesterday too, but after tutoring turned into three hours and I did my grocery shopping I thought it was too late. Oh well, there's always Lincraft, and at the rate I avoid seaming I doubt the cardigan will be finished before next Saturday. It will be nice to have a finished object that occurred during the (admitted short) lifetime of this blog.

While avoiding the depressing job searching I found a link to an International Knit in Public Day for June 10. Definitely something to put on the calendar.