print, paper, pencil

camilla engman is another lovely lady whose art i simply cannot get enough of. camilla is from sweeden and not only do i love her name, i love her sensibilities as an artist. quirky, funny, sometimes sad, and always nostalgic, camilla's work is just beautiful. she works in print, paper, and pencil and i only wish she designed clothes. fierce.

seasonal inspiration

when I'm not knitting, I'm busy dreaming about all of the other art projects I would embark upon if I had more time, money, and most of all, bravery. it's artists like ana ventura who nudge me towards dropping my hefty law books and picking up a paintbrush. ana is from portugal (*swoon*) and i'd probably give an arm just to travel to her beautiful country and spend a day in her artists' studio. thanks, ana!

i thought her winter/spring prints would be a nice gesture towards the coming of april and the recent change in seasons.


winter.


spring.



and it's "fairy-tale modern" images like these that make me want to hang ana's work on every wall i own!

oh hello...

It has, indeed, been a long while since I've last picked up my knitting needles. Or posted on this blog for that matter. But if there is one thing that gets me knitting each year, it is my Dad's birthday. Three years ago, I was shocked when my Dad actually wore the scarf that I made for him (he'd never worn, nonetheless owned a scarf). For a guy who wears mostly flannel, I figured the scarf would be a gesture and nothing more. Imagine my surprise when he not only wore the scarf, but brought it EVERYWHERE. Since then, it has become something of a tradition for me to knit a scarf for him each year on his birthday.



I'm always experimenting with new colors, shapes, and styles when it comes to making these birthday scarves. First year: dark green and chunky. Year two: mauve and stylized. This year: light blue, knee-length, skinny scarf. I'm loving the pattern too: it reminds me of train tracks. Or sewing stitches. Or match-sticks. Or maybe birthday candles.

Knitting and Fitting

I've knit the same hat twice this past week. And I've had to take both of them apart. After spending a few hours on my first attempt, I ended up with what looked like a frumpy bonnet, tried again decreasing stiches and doubling the yarn, only to produce a puffy awkwardly shaped mushroom top. Neither were wearable though I managed to knit the second hat with a bit more precision than the first.

The pattern is deceptively simple: Grumperina's Odessa hat but I'm quickly learning that there is much more to knitting a hat than mastering a pattern. No matter how well-crafted the pattern, you better have the right fit because no one wants to wear a knitted yamaka (hat too small) or Little Bo Peep bonnet (hat too big).

At this point, I'm tempted to tear the pattern into tiny little pieces and kick the sea-green yarn I've been working this monster on in order to erase all of the tension and dissapointment of the last few days. But I can't help but yearn for my own "copy" of this cute, chique little hat. Plus, Shedir is on the horizon which not only needs to be fitted but has a wicked pattern to it as well. Might as well master fitting on a project that has an easy comfortable pattern.

So. I've decided to become a "swatcher" (aka. one who uses swatches before knitting an entire project only to discover after hours of work that the guage is off). Swatching involves a bit of delayed gratification but at this point, I think it's worth it. And before I take another look at Odessa, I'm going to have to pick up my scarf and remind myself of the pleasures of knitting.

S.W.A.K.

If today is Valentine's Day, then it is only reasonable that I declare my love, publicly, for knitting. I can't say that I've bought chocolates or flowers for my yarn, but I'll confess that my heaping stack of textiles lies near and dear to my heart. So many colors! So many hours spent together! So many late night escapades!

This is not to say that things haven't been rough or that everything always works out perfectly. Just last night I had to tear apart a hat I spent hours working on and wanted to chuck the ball of yarn out the window. The brim was so big and loopy it looked like a "Little Raggamuffin Cap." So much for casting-on 110 stitches...I'm giving it another go with 80 sts and doubling up the yarn.

Maybe by tomorrow, my torrid lover (that is, knitting) will be back on my good side.

Showing Off

Anna's Handwarmers:

Friday is flying

I'm posting from work. Again. But today is going wonderfully, not just because it's Friday, but because all of the painful obligations I thought would make my day drag are actually passing by without much notice. It's like I'm checking things off of my "to-do" list with ease. When in life does that ever happen? Rarely, so I'm soaking it up and attributing my happy high to the weather (the sun is finally showing its face!). I even pumped out a good chunk of my thesis chapter that is due today. Knitting is good for getting things done. Knit for an hour, work for an hour, knit for an hour, work... It's like the positive reinforcement sticker system they use in preschool to get you to do your coloring. Turn in an assignment and you get...a sticker! I've grown up from this model, though. Now it's: turn in an assignment and you get...to knit!

I'm inching towards finishing a nice set of handwarmers for a friend; I've got to get them done by Sunday afternoon when I'm meeting her for lunch. There is nothing more rewarding than giving someone a gift that matches them nicely. I saw the pattern that I'm working and thought immediately of her. Now, it's a matter of deadline.

Also, I'm thinking of knitting up a yoga bag...all I need is a good yarn.