New Painting: What do you See/ Feel?

Hi,

Here is a piece I did on Wednesday. What do you see in it? Does it evoke any specific emotions? I would really appreciate any feedback you have to offer. Thanks!

P.S. I am putting the finishing touches on the blue summer shawl. I am currently weaving in the ends and will attach the fringe to tomorrow. I should be posting that one soon.

Ta,

Eryka

Knitting Meme: I’ve Come to Realize...

I just saw this on post on Karen’s Blog, and I felt obligated to complete it. I have been inactive in the knitosphere for so long, I feel like I need to do something to rebuild my "stick-cred". So here are my responses. Like Karen, I included cute pictures to entice you to read to the end. Enjoy.

I've Come to Realize....

1. I’ve come to realize that my chest-size…Ok just as it is.

2. I’ve come to realize that my job…is what ever I decide it is.

3. I’ve come to realize that when I’m driving…I am talking to myself about random things.

4. I’ve come to realize that I need…Continue exploring my creative self!

5. I’ve come to realize that I have lost…My belief that most of our political leaders are committed to solving community issues.

6. I’ve come to realize that I hate it when…The world is too much with me.

7. I’ve come to realize that if I’m drunk…I will be on the floor after a glass of wine or two so…let’s not get me drunk.

8. I’ve come to realize that money…Pays the bills but it cannot make you a better person.

9. I’ve come to realize that certain people…Are too emotionally-damaged to experience real love.

10. I’ve come to realize that I’ll always …Be an emotional person.

11. I’ve come to realize that my siblings…That my brother is a great father.

12. I’ve come to realize that my mom…Had a pretty rough road to walk, but she did it successfully.

13. I’ve come to realize that my cell phone…Is a lifeline.

14. I’ve come to realize that when I woke up this morning…That I love my dog.

15. I’ve come to realize that last night before I went to sleep…There is so much great information in the Bible I wish I could absorb it instantly. But I can only do it one verse at a time.

16. I’ve come to realize that right now I am thinking…I should be going to bed, I can only watch so much King of the Hill.

17. I’ve come to realize that my dad…Is my dad.

18. I’ve come to realize that when I get on Facebook…I am looking for a sip of companionship.

19. I’ve come to realize that today…Was challenging but important. Growth cannot come without doing the work.


20. I’ve come to realize that tonight…Has been an accomplishment!

21. I’ve come to realize that tomorrow…Will involve more hard work!

22. I’ve come to realize that I really want to…Have a happy, healthy and successful life.

23. I’ve come to realize that the person who is most likely to repost this is…Another knitting blogger or a friend on Facebook.

24. I’ve come to realize that life…Is about being a perpetual learner.

25. I’ve come to realize that this weekend…I haven’t thought that far ahead!

26. I’ve come to realize that marriage…Is hard.

27. I’ve come to realize that my friends…Are few but good!

28. I’ve come to realize that this year…Has been a life changing experience.

29. I’ve come to realize that my ex is…In need of prayer…a lot of serious prayer.

30. I’ve come to realize that maybe I should…Live with fewer rules.

31. I’ve come to realize that I love…GOD, my family, my dog, knitting, and painting.

32. I’ve come to realize that I don’t understand…What motivates people to act in unjust ways.

33. I’ve come to realize my past…Made me who I am.

34. I’ve come to realize that parties…Are fun with the right people and costumes!!

35. I’ve come to realize that I’m totally terrified…Of banality.

Confessions of a Wayward Knitter

I have a confession to make... I have at least five active, incomplete knitting projects. That's right: incomplete. Most of them are nearly complete, but they are still incomplete. In fact, I have not completed a knitting project since June 1.

During the past few months, I have been knitting, and it has been a true balm for my soul. But my energies have been so unfocused, completion fiber-wise seems to elude me.

My unfinished Spencer sweater sits patiently on the work table in my studio; a light summer shawl hangs lazily on the back of a rocking chair.

A fabulous grey bag sits bundled by my bed awaiting its final decrease rows and shaping; and the feather & fan shawl that taught me the limits of knitting in church is tucked inside my tote bag for knitting on the go.

We all know that the creative arts are healing. And in my quest to rebuild, it seems as if I have been searching for an artistic quick-fix, something that I can do in a few short hours and achieve the endorphin rush that comes with completing something created by your own hand. A pick me up as it were.

So to that end, I started sewing, drawing, decoupaging and watercoloring. I even contemplated sculpture.

I joined a sewing class and finished my very first project...a tote bag! Unfortunately, the teacher went on vacation, and won't be back until October. I was supposed to be working on a quilting project in the meantime, but I got started drawing, and got distracted.

I found that I enjoy drawing, and I did some rather creative images, but a friend of my was extolling the virtues of watercolor pencils and as you can guess I jumped on that bandwagon!

I enjoy watercoloring with the pencils, but I want to learn how to do it "for real" like with brushes and everything. So I am trying to find an affordable class that works with my schedule otherwise, I will have to watch the videos on the Internet, but I dont think that will be the same.

In the meantime I turned to decoupage. I found a box of 2-inch square tiles by a neighbors house and thought they would be great to decoupage and turn into magnets. What fun! ...now what do I do with them?

Then I realized that the third anniversary of my Quit date is coming up. As of December 10, 2009, I would have NOT smoked 21,000 cigarettes. Can you believe it! Can you imagine what 21,000 cigarettes would look like?

Well I wanted to create that visual. So I set out to collect 21,000 cigarette butts to create a sculpture. OK, now while it seemed intriguing conceptually, it presented several challenges practically. First, picking up other peoples cigarette butts is nasty. Second, they stink to high heaven even if you keep them in a Ziploc bag in the garage. And can you imagine how long it will take to collect 21,000 cigarette butts!!!

No, in the end, I realized that I have been multitasking, which of course translates to not getting very much done over a long period of time. So I here and now, I am committing myself to finishing the aforementioned knitting projects first. And once I have done so, I will then move on to some of the other activities.

I think I will continue to pursue the sewing, drawing and watercoloring though, but with proper training and the appropriate amount of time dedicated to each craft.

Ta,

Eryka

Yard Work: Great Therapy!

Hi all,

A few months ago, the city started a "street enhancement" project. It involved removing the curve in the street in front of my house, widening the sidewalks and repaving the road. As a result, my front yard nearly doubled in size! They also put down new sod, which is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, it made my existing grass look rather sad. So over the past few days, I have been putting my efforts to get my old grass to look like the new grass.

When I went out this morning, my next door neighbor was having a birthday party for her niece. And as the cousins and friends started to gather, they became instantly enamored with Kobe Jackson! And oddly enough, he was equally as taken with them! The girls even help me spread some of the grass seed. I had such a good time with them. We played a guessing game while the adults were inside getting the party ready, then they went on with the party....and I got back to work!

I filled in the sections were there was no grass at all. These were planned flower beds, but lets face it, after three years, they have produced nothing but ill-placed, sad looking, flower and a plethora of weeds! Once the seed and fertilizer were down, I covered the areas with the growing mat stuff. When the city waters in the morning, they use a water cannon, which washed away my previous seeds!

With the main body of the yard I raked the dried grass put down seed and starter fertilizer. I hope I get some grass soon! One of the men hired by the city was kind enough to give me a big bucket of the industrial strength fast growing seed they use for the parks and what not.

Here is what it looks like now: I hope it grows. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

PS. I promise to write about knitting soon!

Ta!

Eryka

Found out where I CAN'T Knit: Church!

As many of you know, I have been known to boldly knit anywhere: in the park, in the library, at a bar, at a concert, etc. Well, this past Sunday, I took a shawl I just started working on with me to church, thinking I could bust out a few rows. It is a simple pattern, a nice feather & fan worked in a lovely yarn variegated yarn.


Unfortunately, I chose that morning to sit in the second row...right next to "Mother Smith" (her first husband designed the existing church, and her current her husband is Reverend Smith). I was also directly in the line of sight of Reverend Reff, our Pastor and Presiding Elder, as he made his way to the pulpit. Well let just say, between the looks from the pulpit and the "gentle direction" from Mother Smith. Knitting in church is definitely out!

Lesson learned!

Slowly Opening the Door

I haven't been in this room in so long. I thought I would peek my head in and see how it looks. Bit of dust here and there...but my yarn seems ok...several unfinished projects, including the Spencer sweater...Well, I will deal with those later, when I am stronger.