Please, don’t call this a comeback. Please.
Two years ago, I stopped blogging. I blogged for a while, found success, got a new job, got bored and decided to move on. I’ve been asked a lot if I missed blogging (I did…sometimes), would I ever come back (never say never) and if I did come back would I blog about the same thing again (probably not). I’ve changed since I started my old blog way back in 2008. Here are a few ways that I’ve changed since I last blogged:
- I’m 36 now (almost 37). I was still in my 20’s when I started blogging. Oh how much you grow in your 30’s.
- I got a dog. No, I did not have a baby, but I did find a furry senior rescue named Cher who lights up my life and sheds like crazy in the summer.
- I took my knitting skills up a notch. When I was blogging I was just learning how to knit and now I’m a sweater knitting fool!
- My father passed away. My family has always been a priority but for the last year I spent as much of my free time as I could with my family, especially my Dad.
- I’m an adjunct professor now. My day job is all about social media and web content strategy and I’m sharing that knowledge with undergrads. I’m an adjunct professor at Howard University and oddly enough, I make my students blog!
- I finally have something to say. When I stopped blogging before I didn’t feel like I had anything interesting to add to the blogosphere, I just didn’t feel like sharing anymore. I may not have anything interesting to say (to you) but at least I feel like sharing again!
Those are pretty significant changes, right? So what’s the same?
- Same voice, same silliness, same DWJ.
- I’m still married! 12 years and counting and couldn’t love that guy more.
- I still love beauty and accessories but I’ve paired down things more and more. I’ve been working on focusing on just what I love and it’s a lot easier when you don’t have a million products to sort through.
- Still colorful. My love of color still exists and is very apparent in my choices of yarn (I don’t really do neutrals).
So what’s this blog all about?
I’ve decided to return to the blogosphere to share what brings me joy. I love knitting and have found over the last 2 years knitting has filled my life with a new passion, new friends and a joy I hadn’t felt for awhile (try not to smile when you wrap a friend’s newborn in a blanket you hand knit, I dare you!). Plus I love the community around knitting/crochet/yarn. The other part of this joy is that I try to consciously choose joy in my life. Losing a loved one is hard but what’s harder is every day life after that person is gone. I’ve been fortunate to have a wonderful family and amazing friends who fill my life with joy and have helped me get through the hard days. I hope that maybe I can give back just a little bit of that joy to you via this blog.
So here I am, knitting needles in hand ready to share what I’m making, what’s inspiring me and what brings me joy in life. Welcome back, I’ve missed you.
Yards of Happiness 
We’ve missed you too! I’ve always loved your voice and perspective, and am thrilled you’re going to be sharing it with the written word again! Welcome back, old friend! 🙂
Welcome back, DWJ!!!
Also, I cannot believe you made that sweater.
I make lots of sweaters! I’m a sweater making fool.
So happy to hear- this I have been following you for years..This is your SisterFriend from Bixby Knolls Long Beach, CA. Welcome Back my Friend!!!
Thanks! I’m happy to be back!
So happy I found your blog through Ravelry – I’m not a big blog reader but am enjoying yours.
We share two things – love of knitting, and joy. I began knitting over 45 years ago sitting with my grandmother – she was proud I was taking up her avocation.
The “Joy” is a choice I quite literally made – on my 40th birthday I began using that name online, and shortly thereafter changed my first name legally to Joy. My husband of twenty years called me “Honey” or “Dear” for a couple of years while he got used to it. 🙂
It has made the world of difference in my outlook and in my feelings about myself. I am happy to see you “choose Joy”.
I’m so happy you found me too! I do think sometimes joy is a choice in life – it’s easier to choose everything but joy. Welcome!!
Hello, my name is Denise I am a newbie to the knitting world. I was on Pintrest on it was a list of 1oo best knitting blogs so I took a look. Seeing that you are Africian American I became interested in your blog and also looked you up on Instagram. Your sweaters are beautiful I haven’t gotten to that step yet but will one day. I’m currently working on a blanket for my granddaughter. I will continue flowing your blog thank you for the inspiration!!! Oh I live in Buffalo, New York.
Hi Denise and welcome ☺️ I started out knitting baby blankets too, so don’t worry if you want to make sweaters you’ll get there!
Found you on Instagram. Love your projects! You are a prolific knitter. Don’t know where you find the time to knit and work full time as well. I really like your style.
I tell people I think because I don’t have children I have a bit more time to myself 😉
hmm, I found you through a Ravelry post for Bragita. I read that and clicked over to the blog to see what you had to say about that ridiculously low neck line and because I loved your photos of the sweater. Then I read this and felt a couple connections so I thought I would add you to my blog reader and get to know you.
I found you on the Pom Cast this week and immediately related to your love of color and of Cher and Jelly Bean (among other things). I love how you think too! Looking forward to reading more. Who knows? Maybe I’ll start blogging again too thanks to your words about coming back. Nice to have found you!
Thank you and welcome, ☺️
Hi I found you on Instagram, I like knitting, dogs/cats, I rarely wear colors, I do wear a lot of black sometimes neutrals or white.
I’m not really a happy person (all the time), but when I see your story’s and/or pictures on Instagram (and now your blog!!) I feel uplifted. Your words (s.a. happiness and joy) on social media reach all over the world.
Definitely to the Netherlands 😉 . Love to have found you!!!
Well what a great way to start the day! I’m happy to share some joy and hey, put on a little color and it just might perk you up 😉
Hi just discovered voy. My granddaughter goes to Howard and is a beginner in knitting my name is Connie Henderson
You started in 2011? Here’s what I know about you just by looking at your work and not knowing a single other ting about you. You are good at math calculations! You do swatches, and you measure for what you’re making, and you count and you calculate. There’s no way you make that many perfectly sized things without that. AMIRIGHT?
Dana- I can’t believe how much we have in common. I’m double your age and getting ready to retire from Davidson College as a staff member. I have had chihuahua’s since I was 4 years old. I love to knit but have never had the nerve to tackle a sweater. I’d love to knit a sweater for my chi- his name is Cocoa and he looks so much like your Jellybean. I found you through the MDK website and I was on there because one of the owners graduated from Davidson College and I had a copy of her book Mason Dixon Knitting. I live in NC.
I feel like I’ve made a new friend and look forward to growing our friendship.