Ahhh Sunday

Only one MUST DO commitment today, so its time to cut a new top and re-do the beginning of new cowl design!

What are you doing this Sunday?

Kx.

Things to notice

As I was sitting in the kitchen this morning, ignoring the washing up, I saw this outside my window. 

Two crows were sitting blissfully together, hopping to and fro, preening each other in the morning sun. There have been a lot more birds coming into the garden as things become drier and drier. 

I have mixed feelings about crows. As a child they were cruel creatures, a symbol of drought and death. Feasting on the nearly dead ewes and lambs when no other food was available. 

Since moving here I've seen another side to them. I've witnessed them deftly open a child's bag to get out food. When they come across a sandwich crust too dry to eat they flap over to the bubblers, moisten the crust and eat it. 

Aesop wrote about their intelligence in his fables. While living in Japan I learnt of the admiration that they are held in there. In fact, it was only upon seeing this pair of crows that I remembered an artisan Inkan or Japanese seal carver I spent time with. He was a gentle and kind man, curious about the world and I admired the fact that, though he lived in the centre of the second biggest city in Japan, he lived a creative life, carving into wood or stone the symbols of business people around him. 

We were discussing the things which our cultures defined beauty by. My views on crows changed when he described the long hair on a beautiful girl as the colour of a crow's wing. He said it was an old standard of beauty, hair that was black and glossy, catching the sunshine. 

Now, when the crows look down on me I admire their glossy feathers and forgive them their need to seek sustenance in unpleasant ways during drought. 

To me they are things to notice. What are yours?

Kx.

Signs of Spring.

I rushed into marriage.

If we had lived together beforehand it would never have lasted. Before we met he had never put a seed into the ground, or felt the earth on his hands. He had never gathered food brought about as a direct result of his labours. 

That changed when we moved in together. Now, while he's quite happy to let me do the gardening and the gathering, I think he understands the peace I find in the quiet of the garden. Maybe he needs to revisit it too. 

The signs of spring are all around me. My stocks of verjuice from the summer are nearly exhausted, but the grapevine will soon be laden with more. I'll share a few with the spotted bower birds and turn the rest into verjuice to remind me of summer in the depths of winter. 

I am thankful.

On inspiration...

How do artists get their ideas? How do musicians put down the beginnings of their next song? When a sculptor puts their hands on a block of marble, how do they know what to create?

Over the years of talking to artists and craft people of all sorts, it seems that the way inspiration strikes is a very individual thing.

Some words, a colour, a riff instantly played, the texture of a yarn or fabric can be enough to lead someone on a creative journey.

At other times inspiration can be born of need. A little person needs some mitts, there is a deadline to meet...

I took my inspiration today from the colours in this yarn.

 

Its a colourway called 'Wildflowers' and is among Kristen from Skein Yarns' first release of handpainted yarn.

 

I've got an idea and once this fabulous yarn is in my hot little hands I'll show how it has inspired me!

 

 



Roll on 2012

I've got some plans for 2012.

But, first I need to make a space for myself. A studio. An area to create and inspire.

The TGWH rearranged the spare room back in July...without me... It was traumatic to come home and find everything dumped on the bed, but it needed to be done. All this rearranging also exposed some rather unpleasant reminders of autumn's mouse plague, but that is a whole post by itself.

Right now I'm going through things and trying to break my hoarding habits. What do you do with a cross stitch that you started 15 years ago? I can't throw it out, its too far along, but I'm never going to finish it!

I know the feeling that I want the space to have.

Calm                      Vintage                     Inspiring

This would look better if there was yarn everlywhere...

Mmmm, a bit too much dark wood for me, but wouldn't you just love to have a space this roomy?

*Note to self, must include a comfy chair.

KAL

Life is full of acronyms. The one that I have been wrapped up in for the last few months is KAL or Knit Along.

A group agree to knit an item or a specific pattern, or anything really! Sometimes there is a deadline, sometimes not. I really enjoy the encouragement and fun that ensues when you join a KAL on www.ravelry.com with people from all over the world.

Most of the KALs I've joined have seen me using Skein Yarns, which are just lovely. We've made a few things...

I suggested a 'Brooklet' KAL...

 Took part in a Lacweight Cardigan KAL...(gold star for perseverence!)

I used a lovely Skein Yarn for the Rustling Leaves Beret KAL and Skein Gift KAL

and finished my 'Yarrowitch' for a shawl KAL. 

I love seeing what others make for the KALs and giving encouragement when they feel like frogging their creation.

THOUGH...it has becoming a little obsessive and in 2012 I'm going to try and reign it in a little.

One I will be doing and completing is this one...

7 pairs of socks in 2012 all made in beautiful Posh Yarn. Dee and Tony dye fabulous colours. I've already got a limey green, a vibrant melony orange, and a foresty green stashed and look forward to collecting more.

Choosing patterns to knit these seven socks is going to be a delight! There are so many wonderful designs and I'd really like to challenge myself to learning some new techniques. Do you think you might join us?