I have taken a more permanent position at Equinox which I am very excited about. Equinox is a great company with a lot of potential and I am very excited to work for them, learn from them, and help them out with what I have to bring to the table. But for some reason taking the head design position makes me feel like I just shut the door on adventure and exploration and locked the key caging myself in central PA. I have been continuing to tell myself these past couple weeks what I have told myself before - that adventure is anywhere you make it, you don't need to be on the beaches of the west coast or in the mountains of the Adirondacks, or in the Red River Gorge of Kentucky. But when I read about or interact with traveling vagabonds, " restless transplants", climber bums, surf bums, or just adventure loving people it stokes that ever burning flame inside of me to pack the essentials in quiashia and just go. Nothing is permanent or forever and I know that my adventure wont stop at being a Sherpa for La Vida, or a Climber bum in the Red River Gorge, or a designer for Equinox, there is much more out there in this great big world and I will explore it but all in due time. So for now my adventure is designing at Equinox LTD in central Pennsylvania.

visit A Restless Transplant and see if you get as inspired as I did reading through it

Even though it is cliche to say - i think that it is true for my life

2 things I know i will do at some point in my life:  surf and bum on the west coast

My very own

Today I got my very own industrial sewing machine in the Design Area!!!! Now I don't have to dance around the head designer/prototyper and figure out other things to do when she needs the machine! So exciting!!!

Such a beautiful sight:)



The Design Area: A total mess this week, its not usually this messy
but sometimes it gets a little crazy in here:)



One of my projects: Trail Gaiter makeover.
Looks like the pair will weigh a little over 4 ounces!

 


Water-proof fabric for the bottom, breathable lightweight fabric for the top,
 Elastic pull to cinch the top of the gaiter to stay in place, Velcro closure system
with secondary Velcro placement to ensure your gaiter to stays closed



Pennsylvania: The state of independence

On my drive back from Boston two weeks ago I chuckled when I drove across the state line of PA. The sign  on the side of the road welcomed me and stated Pennsylvania as the "State of Independence" I thought that was quite fitting for me and my situation in PA. Living alone with my dog in a big house, working as a designer and prototyper for a backpacking company, and being very far away from the "college scene" that I was so immersed in last year. 

I wanted to show you guys photos of my new home, and I know I promised photos a while ago, so, without further adieu: 

The Berwick House

the long drive heading down to the house that reminds me everyday that I am on it of all the times my family came to visit my grandparents for the weekend and all the wonderful memories we have in this place

the driveway and front of the house

a part of the back yard

the back of the house

 As my studio, I took over the garage in the basement, this way on nice sunny days I can open up the door and sew in the sunshine. When I first moved in, I was able to sew while sunbathing in my bikini and I couldn't think of a better place to be learning how to sew. Molly has groundhogs and squirrels to chase after and spends times watching the birds, just as I do from my sewing chair n cutting table. Molly enjoys being able to be in the sunshine and fresh air just as much as I do while I'm working on creating fun stuff:)

I think I can handle this view:)

since i don't have internet, this book, loaned to me by my coworker
has been my sewing bible for the past month. I highly recommend it.

Supplies left by my grandmother

more supplies, I will probably never be able to use it all 

what my drive home from work mostly consists of

an after work routine that molly and I have gotten into: Fetch

she has gotten quite good at it

Molly the guard dog:)

Well I hope you have enjoyed getting a sneak peek at where I'm living. You can always come visit what I like to joke and call "The KB resort":)

Red River Gorge Torrent

This past weekend was spent at my old stomping grounds: The Red River Gorge. I spent as many weekends as I could the second half of college down in KY climbing. This past weekend my old climbing buddies got a cabin at Torrent. This crag has been closed to the public for some years now due to climbers not being respectful of the private owners rules and wishes, now the crag is only open to those who pay to stay in the cabins. I went last year with this group of climbers from Columbus and loved it! Waking up and looking out your window and having the rock 20 feet from your window- SO great!!

we got the climber's cabin:)

the view from my bed- looking at the warm up climbs for the day

the door to the "climbers cabin"

the gear stash outside

one of my favorite climbs in the red. Name: "pocket pussy" - the guys loved this one and never ran out of jokes for it

warm up for the day

Within the first 15 feet Kentucky rock showed me how angry it was that I had left it for 6 months without a note, phone call, or even a visit. I, somehow, in my attempt to get back in the zone, stupidly grabbed for a draw and got the end of my pinky caught inbetween the bolt and the caribiner on the draw. I blame it on not climbing for so long and feeling a little freaked out for some reason, but I re-learned the lesson to keep your hands away from metal even if your taking a break on your warm up while top roping.

nightly festivities in the cabin

the two boys that came along, sported their Halloween costumes to show us all, we had a ripped spiderman and  a ninja climbing around the cabin all night:)

my friend and i that didn't have too much time to plan, went to Rock House cafe that just opened for breakfast both days. It was delicious. A little more upscale than other places geared towards climbers but still really nice. Along with Miguels pizza shop, you should try this place as well.

"group photo" minus 5 people including the two little boys that came for the weekend

Overall great weekend. I am just as sore from laughing as I am from climbing. I realized just how blessed I am to have such a loving and supportive community of climbers in Columbus. I hope to be able to cilmb with them for many years to come.