Creativity

Apparently I have lost the ability to knit in the round without flipping it inside out and working on the wrong side without noticing, despite having knit in the round with no problems for years.  I ran into that a couple of times while making the Gap-tastic cowls, but I figured that was just repetitive project fatigue and the fact that the pattern looked the same on either side.  But now I've done it with the Honey Cowl, which looks obviously different on the right and wrong sides.  WTH?  I think it may have had something to do with watching old episodes of Downton Abbey on my iPad. Oh well, it just means more knitting time, doesn't it?

I still haven't started sewing the felted wool squares together, but I did buy a few more sweaters this past weekend to add a color boost to the pile.  I don't know why I am so hesitant to begin sewing again.  I'll have to give some thought to that.

The main creative endeavor I have been consistent in is my photography project.  It's been invigorating to walk to the beach every morning, even if it's only for a few minutes. It's helping me appreciate my proximity to the beach even more than I usually do, especially since I missed out on so much beach time last summer due to my broken foot.  This photo was taken a couple of days ago just after sunrise.  I love the glow and the way the water looks.

I've also been trying to keep up with housekeeping more than I usually do; I know that I feel more creative in a calm and uncluttered environment, so that was my impetus, but I also think it is a way to be more aware of my surroundings, as well as an expression of gratitude, if that makes sense.  Trying to recognize my good fortune while taking care of my belongings is better than grumbling about the clutter and work.

More Project Plans

When does the list of planned projects reach critical mass?  There are so many fabulous project ideas out there, that I think I'm reaching the point of project paralysis.  For instance, this one from PurlBee is perfect for the fabric I bought from Alewives right before Christmas.  But, I still have all the felt squares to sew together for the blanket that was inspired by this PurlBee project, plus all the thrifted sheets I want to use to make these throws, also from the list of PurlBee projects.  And that's not even counting the knit projects I have in progress or in my queue.  Or the house projects I want to do, like painting the kitchen and front porch, or sewing curtains for the sunroom.  So I think I'm going to curl up on the couch and watch the new episode of Downton Abbey while I finish my brown cowl.  In between eating bites of Ben & Jerry's Heath Bar Crunch.  That sounds like the perfect project for a Sunday night.

Colorwork

I wish this was about my colorwork effort, but it's about Stephanie's first and excellent colorwork project, pre-blocked.

It's an Interweave Knits pattern she saw last year, and I bought the yarn for her in September for her birthday, after she decided she wanted to make them.  The fact that she had never done colorwork did not concern her at all.  She decided to do it, and that was that.  Pretty cool.

Sheets, Sweaters, and Random Thoughts

I finished cutting out the wool squares and I'm looking forward to playing with the arrangement.

I've also been wanting to do something with my collection of thrifted sheets and instead of just hoarding them.  Now I have two different project ideas:  this from PurlBee and this from whipup.  

I still haven't shared some of my Christmas gifts, so I'll have to work on remedying that. My oldest, Meredith, gave me a bunch of knitting and crafting books that she had in her collection.  In addition, she gave me a gorgeous skein of Malabrigo yarn and a handmade button from Kate Davies' wool!  Isn't that awesome?

Stephanie gave me a handmade bar of soap, cause she knows how much I love good soap.  It smells yummy!   It's in a yarn basket now, but I'll use it soon.  And Melissa gave me a book by Eric Carle, a children's author we all loved when the girls were little. 

I started my weekend off by taking a bath and getting into my pajamas as soon as I got home from work.  Oh, and I ate some Ben & Jerry's Heath Bar Crunch ice cream while reading a book.  Hope your weekend is just as decadent!  

Creating and Crafting

Is there a difference?  I'm not sure.  Is photography a craft?

I am enjoying my new blog; getting up in the morning and walking the three blocks to the beach has been exhilarating, especially with the drop in temperature this week.  It finally feels like winter around here, and winter weather always seems to give me energy.  I have also noticed that i'm smiling as I make my way back from the beach, anxious to upload the photographs as soon as I can, even if it delays me leaving for work.  

I met with a former principal yesterday to discuss my tentative plan to transfer to high school, and I think I am going to pursue it, despite my nervousness.  This year marks the halfway point of my career (I have to work thirty years to get my full pension) and I think it is the right time to make a change.

Last night, I finished cutting out the squares from the pile of thrifted and felted sweaters, and ended up with 70 squares.  I am looking forward to playing with the layout before I start stitching.  It's an interesting blend of interests, this project.  My love of thriftiness and wool integrated with a former passion:  sewing.  I used to sew a lot when my girls were little, pre-Internet days.  I made curtains, costumes, and children's clothes and I really enjoyed it, but I drifted away from it once I started teaching. 

I am so tired this afternoon, and I'm feeling just achy enough to worry about getting sick.  I need to take a warm bath and snuggle in for the night.  But first, I want to share a couple of photographs from this morning's walk.

New Project

While watching television tonight, I was able to cut 31 squares out of the 6.5 sweaters (I had already used part of one of the sweaters for a cat toy).  

Plus, I now have a new pair of wrist warmers, which will come in handy, now that we are finally getting some "cold" weather.  True, it's only in the thirties, but it's the coldest it's been this winter.  I like it when it's brisk like this; it seems to make me more energetic.

I have at least six more felted sweaters left to cut up, so I should be able to start sewing the squares together by the weekend.  

 

I have a bunch of scraps left that I don't know what to do with, but I hate to throw them away.  Any ideas?

New Year, New Ambitions

My new blog is up and running.  It seems weird to have two blogs to maintain, but they each have a totally different purpose, so it makes sense to me.  Please let me know your thoughts and/or suggestions about it.

I have some time alone tonight, as Steve has left to take Stephanie back to Richmond and will be gone about three hours.  I stopped by the library for a couple of DVDs, as our Netflix delivery is out of sync, due to the holiday weekend.  I was thinking of knitting, but I've decided to tackle a version of PurlBee's wool throw.  Instead of using the wool felt they suggest, I'm going to try it with the thrifted sweaters I've already felted.  I know it'll be different, but I think it may look interesting.  I cut out a template using a cereal box and I am going to cut out squares as long as my hands can handle it.  When they get tired, I'll switch to the cowl I've managed to screw up, despite the simplicity of the pattern and the number of times I've knit it over the past two weeks.  Kind of ridiculous, but there it is.  In the meantime, here's another photo of the girls wearing theirs:

Pretty cute, if I say so myself.