Monday, June 21, 2010

Shawls shawls and more shawls

I don't think I have anything else in mind right now. This is obsessive startitis phenomenon is
taking up all my energy these days. It's one start today, another tomorrow, or better yet, two or three on one day.

While looking for something in my stash room (yes, I have a room for my hoarded yarns and other important items) I find interesting yarn and then I must try it. Sometimes I like the pattern and sometimes not, but if I like the pattern, I go and find some other yarn that might look even better on that project.
Tell me if I am weird, I have four shawl starts on the table and one in my bag, which is almost finished. Oops, no, I still have to knit about four rows with 336 stitches, then double the stitches and then knit about 20 something rows. I forgot how many. The shawl is designed by Myra Wood and is called Damselfly Shawl.

I have great knitting time when watching the World Cup games. I have not made too many mistakes, but indeed a few. Frogging has been minimal, because my mistakes have not been design features, but actual missed stitches, which would have spoiled the look even with my Noro yarn. So, what I have done, I added a missing stitch, or knitted two together when I had too many. That has happened with this one.
I am now on the last chart of the pattern and have 672 stitches on this project. In the picture it's hard to see, because my cable/needle is only 100 cm long and the shawl circ is way bigger than that. I can't wait to finish this one and show off.
I also joined a Collage Swap group, and this is my first ever collage. I was supposed to do two of them, but I am not very good at reading rules, so I missed that part. I must work on the second one tonight, so not too much knitting done on the shawl. Yeah, right.
It's raining and the traffic flows with the rain, miserably.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Where is my doll?

Hugo, the teddy bear was missing almost a year. He was found by his cousin Oscar.
The two of them are playing happily and I am keeping my eyes on them every chance I get.
The World Cup starts tomorrow. I made a doll four years ago to represent Lionel Messi. but he's hiding. I can't believe this. I just saw him the other day, and now can't find him. There is no hope in finding anything that I am looking for, unless I am looking for something else.





Yesterday I went nuts looking for my Messi doll, instead found some neat papers and stickers for collage art, and some not quite finished ATC creations.
I was also looking for yarn to make a gift for my SIL, but did not find the one I was looking for, of course, but I did find some nice "Muse" yarn, that I had won in a raffle at our local knitting group meeting.


I am using a very commen ripple pattern, which suits this yarn very nicely. The scarf is supposed to be light and airy, because it's a summer scarf.

Once I get home tonight, after my granddaughter's dance recital,
I will make another doll. It would be faster and less frustrating than look for a doll that refuses to let his whereabouts known.
Then I will have two of them, because I know, I just know, that once I have made the other doll, the original will show up. It's the way it is.

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Another "Here I go again"

This time it's creating collage picture. Is that the correct definition? I've never done this, on purpose. When I was a teenager, I used to make cards with somewhat similar method, but theywere not called collage, they were called self-made cards.

I don't have a picture to show yet, since I just started. I got the inspiration form Janet's blog.She's an expert on this kind of art, and very good at it too. Just take a look, and WOW.

This new "hobby" is probably going to last only for a few creations, just like when I was makingATCs. I made maybe four or five, bought all kinds of papers, cut paper in the right size, and put everything in an "art" box. They are still there, untouched. BUT I have a need to try different things, and eventually something sticks with me. Just like Zentangle drawing. I think that is one wonderful and relaxing method of guiding a pen on a paper.
Oh, and another thing, too, the watercolors, hmph, had to try that one, too. Fortunately I didn't get to go to any art supply stores to buy something that I already have. Like brushes, I found tons of them, and watercolor buttons, oodles, I also found some acrylic paint tubes, and that tickles my inspiration regarding this collage creation I am going to do when I get home tonight.
Of course I will do some knitting first, since one shawl is almost finished. I am on the cast off row, but there are over 200 stitches, so it's going to take a while. I'll post a picture of that here.

The pattern is Forest Canopy Shawl and yarn is Woolen Rabbit Oasis, which is silk and camel.It's a nice yarn.
Any other projects that are waiting for my attention might get in the way of my new interest. However, I am not always so sure of my actions, and don't like making plans, so I just might do some collage art tonight.
I must mention here that the International Freeform 2010 Challenge book is now available here. The book is amazing. You would be able to see the wonderful art in this book that was created by over 60 members. You will be very pleased to see all the eye-candy in this book.

Friday, June 04, 2010

From one thing to another

During this week I have crocheted scrumbles, crocheted a few hexagon motifs, knitted mitered squares to make a bag. I also doodled and tested watercolors on my doodles. What a fun experience.

There is way too many things right now that I want to do. Weaving is one of those things that I have not done for a long time. After seeing Zann Carter's work, I wanted to take my weaving loom out and do something. Sure, I did and headed towards my stash room to get the loom. I got sidetracked, saw some painting material, and picked up a watercolor pad and started playing. Needless to say, the weaving loom is still in the stash room.


These two drawings are my watercolor practice projects. They are both unfinished, at least the one with small circles. Not so sure about the other one. I might just leave it as is.