Oct 01 2007
About Lolly
Thank you for visiting my blog, LollyKnitting Around!
My “real” name is Lauren Weinhold, and I live happily with my husband, Kris, and my pets in the Washington, DC suburbs of Maryland. I work as an 
archivist and records manager at a research institution. I am also a registered yoga teacher and teach a few classes each week.
This blog was born from my passion for writing, crafts and do-it-yourself projects. I learned to knit in November 2003, and discovered the vibrant community of crafters online soon afterward. I jumped into the blogosphere in 2003 on Livejournal, where I primarily reviewed books I was reading. As my love for knitting increased, I decided to start this blog in July 2004. Although my blog’s title relates to my favorite craft, which I write about often, I also write extensively about my travels, yoga, books, gardening and veganism, hockey, nature and hiking, and whatever else I happen to be thinking about at the moment…
Email: Lollyknit@gmail.com
Twitter ID: @LWeinhold
Ravelry ID: Lolly
Flickr ID: Lollyknit
If you are new to my blog, you may want to see:
- My gallery of Finished Crafts.
- My Flickr Photos, an online photo-sharing community.
- Project Spectrum: an annual celebration of color and crafting.
- Annual “Socktoberfest” a handcrafted sock festival in the month of October.
I have received some lovely feedback and emails over the years that this blog has been on the Web. Several people ask me questions about things (other than my knitting) that they learned from reading my blog… I decided to answer some of those questions here:
-
Do you go by Lauren or Lolly?
Both! Lauren is my given name and I use it in professional settings. My family and friends call me Lolly, my nickname since childhood (from the Schoolhouse Rock television show - my mother used to sing this to me when I was a baby, and it stuck!) If we meet in the future, you can feel free to call me either name 
- What kind of camera do you use? lenses?
I use the Canon Digital Rebel XTi and the Canon 40D with assorted lenses in my blog photography. My closeups (mostly yarn/knitting, food and plant photographs) are shot with a 100mm Macro lens or the L-series 24-70mm
f/2.8, and my travel and nature photography uses the same L-series lens and the 10-20mm wide-angle lens. For outdoor shots, I am quite fond of the polarized filter that fits on the lenses. I began using a light box for many of my still object photographs in late summer 2007, and I wrote up a do-it-yourself tutorial to construct your own light box for photography. I frequently write up photography posts/tutorials on this blog – you can see the archive of those posts here.
I use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom to process my photos.
My husband and I got into photography as a way to better document both of our hobbies: travel (both), crafts (me), and aquariums/plants/fish (him). We bought our first digital SLR camera in 2006, and slowly began buying new lenses. We now have 2 Digital SLRs and love photography!
- What happened to your health in 2008? Didn’t you get sick?
I contracted Lyme disease and two erious co-infections (Babesiosis and bartonella) while hiking and mountain biking here in Maryland. Over the next two months, I became very ill. I found a doctor familiar with the disease, and with her help, I committed to a very strict diet that would help me and not inhibit the work of the medicines I was taking to get rid of the diseases. In August 2008, I started a vegan diet, and also restricted my gluten and sugar intake to zero. In time, with the help of the medicine, supplements, and the diet/lifestyle change, I began to regain my strength. Once I felt comfortable, I returned to exercise, specifically yoga and some cardiovascular activity. I was in treatment for a full nine months – heavy medications and many blood tests. While I am still under supervision from my doctor, I feel better than ever before, and have regained much of my health. Lyme Disease and the two co-infections seriously affected my life, and I caught them *very* early in the process. Please check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks. I blogged more about Lyme and my personal story during Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May 2009.
- How long have you practiced yoga? What kind of yoga do you practice?
I first started “doing” yoga poses when I was in my teens, probably about 15 or 16 years of age. I used a book to guide me through some of the postures. It was not until college that I tried taking classes with trained teachers in studios. I attended several basic hatha yoga classes at studios , and then moved to a studio attached to my gym in 2006. In 2008, I began taking classes at a well-respected studio in my county. While the studio is not affiliated with one tradition or style of yoga, my teachers are certified Anusara instructors. In November 2009, I received my Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) accreditation. I teach one class at my workplace, and I hope to teach classes and/or workshops in my community in the near future. In January 2010, I started an Anusara Immersion program, a personal journey where I learn more about the roots of Anusara yoga, the philosophies, Sanskrit, and deepen my own practice through study and action. My interests in yoga are plenty – I am very interested in the philosophy, Sanskrit language, chanting, meditation, breath work (pranayama) and the actual asana physical practice. I have worked with beginners and intermediate students in many different age groups – primarily adults. I teach three classes a week in corporate environments and really enjoy sharing yoga with my students. I have an interest in working with special populations as well as learning more about therapeutics.
- What in the world is a vegan?
summer of 2008, when I got Lyme disease, I decided to take my diet a step further and become a vegan. Initially, I did this for health reasons – I also cut out most sugars and gluten at the time – and dairy products just became lumped in with the rest. This diet helped me feel so much better, so for that reason, I stuck with it. Now, a year and a half in to veganism, I have also embraced many of the ethical reasons to eschew dairy and egg products. I do wear animal fibers (like wool) and use them in my knitting, and I occasionally eat honey harvested by my family – these things would make me “not a vegan” by some standards – but I fully embrace the vegan diet and would be happy to share more information if you are interested. I like to show people that being a vegan is not about restrictions – since becoming a vegan, I have fallen even more in love with food and the creativity of cooking!
What a great introduction, and I love your new look (haircut and blog look)!
I do hope you get published soon – it’s an amazing feeling of accomplishement.
I have had a few articles published and several catalogue entries (in my previous life as an Egyptologist!) and I think the best of it though was seeing my parents burst with pride!
Oh and by the way, your photos are getting better and better!
Lolly, I love the new look of the blog. Everything looks so well arranged.
Hello Miss lolly my name is Eugenie I live in Montreal mom of three boys 12- 10- 8 – years old, I find your blog and I loved , I love knitting from I was a child my grand mother and my mother show mw how to do , then is my passion I knitt for a french compagnie Phildar, and friends . Im sorry for my English I was born in chile and i speak more french then english a few word to say to you cogratulation and beautifull blogs, the pictures,. my son who love photograph make the box you show in your site a few days ago, to take some pictures and he love the result thanks a lot and magnificent photos from Peru good luck with your projects
Hi Lolly,
Your site is beautiful. Making a photo box was on my list already, and then I found your tutorial complete with sample photos — awesome! Do you have a “subscribe to this blog” somewhere on the site? I am not finding it and would love to stay current with your projects and posts. Thanks!
Hey Girl!
You look fantastic and I am SO proud of you! Loosing weight is no easy thing! And your web site is SO beautiful! Very professional. I was excited to see that my little jar from Thailand made it into the light box portion of your site:)! I love your photos! So vibrant! Hope to hear from you soon! xoxo, Tracy
Hey Lauren! I just started reading your blog and I had to comment after seeing you were from MD, grew up in WV and have a husband named Kris! I live probably no more than an hour from you, my husband grew up in WV and his name is Kris as well! Too funny! I love your new blog and photos! Can’t wait to see more in the future!
Lauren——
Pretty please pop me an email? I have a request that I’d like to email YOU!!!!! That sounded really complicated didn’t it? I don’t see an email addy on your site or I’d circumvent the whole mess……….
THANKS, I appreciate it!
Hey! I stumbled upon your blog today – I really enjoy reading it! I too am a knitting archivist (and from Alabama, no less!), so I can definitely identify with your writings. Thanks so much for your great website. I plan on visiting often. All best and good luck!
Hi! I stumbled upon your blog from a link leading to your gorgeous sweater – love it! I too live in the DC Suburbs so it is always great to read another blog from someone nearby and a knitter makes it even better. Nice to meet you!
Nice to meet you. I’m looking to get a new camera and you are now the 2nd person using Canon Digital EOS Rebel XTi Kathy (Grumperina) uses it. Your blog came up as a side bar in my google reader. You are right in my backyard. I also read Strobist so I can learn more about taking better photos. You will be in my reader!! Now onto more reading, your blog is great and I have only made it to your current post and About me!
Hey there chickie!!
Hope all is going well for you in 2008! Your site is just wonderful.
Would you mind sending me your mailing address? I have some pictures to share from Chicago.
Sorry it has been so long since I’ve sent a message.
I could not find your email address, so this was the only was to get a message to you.
Take care and talk soon,
Paige
Dear Lolly,
You have been working a lot in your blog. Incredible!
I like it but … I would like to find all pullovers you have done -like a gallery- as before. I found it more difficult to find them now. I like Eunny’s with the list of knitted items.
What do you think? It’s just an idea, I hope you don’t mind I say it here.
All the best for you!
Hi Lolly,
You don’t know me but I know you. You have been an inspiration to me through all the different areas of your life. I “met” you through project spectrum a couple years ago.
I am adding you to my Tagged list because I would enjoy to hear your answers. See here for details:
http://knittedkitty.blogspot.com/2008/03/tagim-it.html
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading your blog. It is so well written and insightful, a joy to read. I love all your beautiful pictures too! So many things you write about are things I am interested in too. The books you read( I just finished In Defense of Food, and Omnivore’s Dilemma, and I just found The Zookeepers Wife at the library a few days ago) and the places you go( my fiance and I have plans to go to Nova Scotia soon) and the work you do. I just started working at a library and have plans to return to school to earn my MLS soon. I even played the trumpet in the band too!
Hey lolly, It’s amazing who you come across when searching the web! Reading this About page, you and I are almost identical in our interests, and except for the decades in between our ages; you’re younger, good looking, blonde; me, well, let’s say I’ve seen better days! :O) What is it about the ‘lolly’ name that gets it chosen? Why did you choose it? For me, it can mean a number of things — LOL-ly (I’m sure you know what that bit of computer jargon is all about, and it describes what I like to do the most), lolling about, lolly meaning candy, and so on. Of course, lolly also is not my real name (you can find that out by emailing me) and I live on the other side of the world from you, in Australia. So, small world… Cheers!
Lolly,
I’ve been quietly reading your blog for the past four years, having stumbled onto it from…well I can’t even remember where. I’ve never commented, but have been following you quietly. This is one of my happy “go-to” places on the web. It’s always beautiful, always peaceful to come here and read and muse. Thank you for that, for creating this little haven. It’s very touching, what you do and share with your art (knitting..photography..writing…) Thank you.
Chloe
[...] A quick thanks to LollyKnit, for making her photos of Kinokuniya in NYC available for use through creative [...]
I just stumbled upon your blog tonight (through a Ravelry link, I think)…it’s wonderful! I share a lot of your interests, including knitting and photography. All of your artwork is beautiful. I’ll be back often!
Lisa
Hi, great blog! I just added it to my Google Reader’s subscription list. Do you have a Twitter?
Thanks!
Lauren! It was so great to see you again in Silver Spring. What a beautiful website you have here, if I ever take the knitting plunge I’ll be sure to let you know!
Was just admiring your mum’s Aspa shawl as I am making the same one!! It is turning out well, but I was wondering about colour changes from one skein to the next. It is not easy to blend the yarn by carrying it up using two balls, and I assume the designer simply used one ball then the second. I think also the fact that the stitches are loose hides any colour demarcation. Was this the case in your mum’s shawl!! Can you see a colour change?
I’ve been reading your blog for the knitting, but I’m a vegetarian wanting to become vegan. Can you recommend any easy & simple vegan cookbooks? I work full-time and am in school, so I don’t have the time or energy for anything even slightly complicated. I also have zero cooking experience
Thanks!
Dear Lolly,
I am a beginner knitter and got to your site lookign for knitting blogs. Soon enough though I realsied your blog is a real gem and there is so much more I got a lot from reading your posts than just knitting.
I am a “most often” vegan and also love practicing yoga… though I am no where as good as you.
Thank you for being an inpiration for folks like me, in so may areas.
Hi Lolly!
I love following your blog!
As an history-student at Southern Denmark University, I also LOVE that you are an archivist – that must be one of the most interesting jobs I can emagine.
I wish you well in your weightloss program and hope you will recover full from the Lyme Desease.
/Julia
Hey Lolly, so good to meet you in our class yesterday. I don’t know why it took until the end of the class to realize it was you. Now that I look at your blog again, there were a million clues, but the one that did it was when you mentioned yoga! Anyway, I think we’re going to have a lot of fun making these Dales (I hope!) and I look forward to seeing you in class!
I really love your blog. So inspiring!
Love your blog. And thanks for your comment on mine, back in November (on wool use and vegan diets).
I knit too…though not nearly as well as you! I will find inspiration here, however!!
Elaine
I love the honey wedding favor idea… so cute!!!!