Neglect

I've been neglecting you, dear blog.

It's not anything personal. I SWEAR! I just haven't finished anything new recently. That should be changing shortly...I WILL finish my new Queen Anne's Lace scarf this week! I SWEAR!

I've also started a big project, but alas! I can't post progress photos due to the fact that it is a birthday gift for someone. (No peeking, Cara!) But I will post it in May, after it's been opened.

So, dear blog, this photoless, mini post will have to suffice.
For now.

When Inspiration Strikes

Sometimes we see or feel things - shapes, colors, moods - that fill us with a desire to create. How can I work that color combination into my work? How can I use that shape to create something new? How can I translate that feeling into something everyone can understand?

Good questions, no?

Take mood boards, for example. Interior Designers use them to pull themes together. Artists might collect bits and bobs - now trendily called "ephemera" - for texture or color reference. We constantly surround ourselves with things we are drawn to. Myself, I need to get better about taking pictures of things I see that inspire me. Like these Chihuly Onions for example:




Is it just the color? Is it the shape that appeals to me? Was it the beautiful, hot summer day that I want to relive? Is the fact that I WANT a piece of Chihuly but can't afford it? Only time will tell...

Crafty Is As Crafty Does

I gotta remember to start taking pictures more often.

For instance, this weekend at the Open Studio would have been a perfect time to take some photos of various crafty folk working and talking and having a good time. Would have had some great projects to show, too.

I mean it's not like I didn't have my camera with me. How do you think I got the pics of Victoria's scarf on here???

Oh well. I'll remember.
Eventually.

I Had to Look It Up...

Does anybody know where Gambia is?

I mean I assumed it was in Africa or something, but I didn't know exactly WHERE. I had to Google it. Oh, come on! I'm not the only one!I have a favorite world traveler who is there now. Lucky girl. She's quite the adventurer. I think she was in Morocco not too many months back. I try not to be jealous. Afterall,she can't do THIS:







I hope she stays safe and this scarf...well, I don't think it will be waiting for her when she gets home, but it will arrive not too long after.

What's That Noise??

Listen...Can you hear it?

It's SPRING calling. It wants to come over.
But apparently not this weekend. Frost by Sunday!
...which is why I haven't set my plants out yet.
But I can't WAIT until my porch looks like this again:



...sigh...I'm so impatient.
Hurry up and leave already Winter.
I've had enough.

Tie One On

Hemp.
Beads.
Knots.

That's it. Don't you wish YOU had thought of it??

Pain In The...

Not the gift recipient. The yarn. Nightmare to work with.

Snags. Knots. Twists. I'm thinking there is a reason it has since been discontinued. So glad I've got two more skeins to work with. Lucky me.




Anyway, this is part deux of the Christmas in February post. This was the scarf I made for Emily. It actually looks really pretty and is quite soft. Just a nightmare - that YARN! Ugh. But I do love the color changes. So subtle. These colors remind me of a box of chocolates. Probably why Emily liked it so much, too!

Better Than Christmas in JULY

I finally made it out to Em's in February. President's Day actually. With the Christmas gifts. (Hey! Who doesn't give gifts on President's Day?!? You people just don't understand the holiday!)





Anyway...so here are the hats I made for the girls. Pink was for Lily. Purple for Vivien. HOWEVER...I think Lily is probably wearing both of them. Pink is her favorite color, but since Vivien didn't want to wear her hat that particular day...Lily decided to claim it as her own.

Ah...sibling rivalry. It begins early.







Will post the other gifts another day. Probably July.