Christmas Mania

During the year I knit things here and there and think, "I could give that to someone for Christmas." It's not well thought out, it's just kind of vague. Then the Christmas season comes and I freak out. "I need to make 5 hats, three pairs of socks, four pairs of mittens, what's the best yarn for this children's project? What is this person's favorite color?" etc.  I have to get specific so I start stash diving for the perfect yarn for each project. Of course, none of the yarns I come up with are quite right, or I get distracted and see all my beautiful yarn and all it's potential and I cast on a bunch of non-christmas projects, and before I know it, I'm up to my ears in projects. That's when I have to give myself a talking to and get with the Christmas knitting program. So here's where I am now:

Two right mittens. (I could blame this on that I have a toddler, but let's face it, I probably would have made this mistake at any point in my knitting life).

Two baby mittens which I'm trying to knit at the same time so it gives me the illusion of going faster. 

A half knitted toy, also, I freaked out and cast on a pair of socks for no one in particular, as well as a lace weight shawl. I have three hats done but I 

still need to start one more. We'll see what happens. There's still time.

On an arts note, I watched the film "YARN" written by Krishan Arora and directed by Heather Millard, Una Lorenzen, and Þórdur Bragi Jónsson. It features quotes written and read by Barbara Kingsolver which were lovely and poetic. It focuses on four artistic perspectives. I found it interesting that crochet was the focus of three out of the four artists. Crochet is often overshadowed by knitting. But these women brought to light some ways in which crochet is strong and well suited for certain projects. It was a film worth watching. It was thought provoking for me. I loved watching the artistic thought behind the nets which were created for children to play on. There is a rebellious thread running through the film which I also appreciate, and the subject matter is well suited to the fluidity of film.

Well, I had better post this before days go by. Back to the Christmas knitting!

Let's Begin Again

Well, it's been a few years since my last post. I've hemmed and hawed about deleting my blog, the blogosphere is so saturated now. Do I have anything to contribute? And I'm kind of a private person, so I had to think about it for a while. Ultimately, I need to practice writing or I will forget all the beautiful vocabulary words I have learned over my lifetime like denouement and languor. And there is a difference when people can actually read your work. It creates a sort of accountability.

Making and crafting will still be a main focus but there will be other life reflections too. Not to get all profound or anything, but just to notice things out loud. 
In the creative realm since I last wrote, I There are so many topics i could have been writing about; like learning to knit, crafting mistakes, grieving and making, screen printing, candle making, humming bird battles, weaving, plus all the inspiring makers I have come across over the past few years. So, I will write up some flashback posts as well as some current event posts and see where that leads me.

Picture Frames Mural

This is another work related craft. It could be cute in someone's home as well! I use it to post the children's art. I just painted the frames directly onto the wall with acrylic paint. You can't really tell in this picture but I mixed silver into the black so it wouldn't be so stark.

This is one of my favorite things ever. I had to kind of walk on the construction area to get the picture and the next day it was gone. Good thing I snapped a picture!

Origami Cows 1-6

This is work related crafting. First, I folded origami cows and then I contact papered them to the wall so the children could see and touch them, but could not rip them off as children are so inclined to do. We have fun counting the cows and mooing!

Dr. Quinn's Shawl

The word crochet for you may bring up images of Grandmas and Great Aunts making doilies that go on the top of every piece of furniture. But though this may have been true, crochet has come a long way. Crocheted items pop up every where. I was watching "Nine To Five" the other day during the party scene at Doralee's house (Dolly Parton) and there is a cool retro crocheted daisy blanket on the back of the couch. And check out my blog post "Lil Mama's Hat," (feb 2010), now that is hip crochet. Oh, and if you ever watch "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," there are crocheted shawls everywhere. Shawls never go out of style do they?



Classic Dr. Quinn expression.



Then,

 I'll admit, I watched Project Runway this year and I was looking at http://www.zeitgeistudios.com/ which Gretchen Jones collaborates with. I found a cool crocheted dress (technically hairpin lace) that she recomends posted today for outfits to wear this week or even next. Who knows?




Now.
http://www.zeitgeistudios.com/category/fashion/

 

 There will always be a place in the world for crochet and don't think I won't be looking

 and telling you about it!

Peter Piper's Invited

So, I follow in pioneer footsteps even now when I could just go to the store. The best part is that I won't starve if I don't can my cucumbers. And there were a lot of them in my garden this year. Lemon cucumbers to be exact, which don't taste lemony, but look like lemons.

I looked for a pickle recipe specifically for them and found one at the Jillicious blog: http://jilliciousdiscoveries.blogspot.com/search/label/pickles 

That's where you can find how to pickle your own. Thanks Jill!



Sterilize!




Cook.





Wait.

 So I made her bread and butter pickle recipe and her quick pickle recipe, (and took pics in the style of Jillicious), and then decided to pickle some jalapenos too; which did all right this summer in the garden despite the short amount of warm weather. And some carrots -- I put the carrots in the leftover pepper juice so they will be spicy too! Jill's quick pickle recipe turned out yummy and fresh. I haven't tried the processed veggies yet because they are still in the waiting stages. Anyone can do quick pickles for a potluck. They don't take long and they go great as a fresh side or mixed in a salad.




Quick Pickles



Spicy!