Connecting

After completing a few big projects, I took a little break from knitting to do some "nesting" & work on one of my other favourite art forms: embroidery. Now, I do stamped embroidery so you may wonder wherein lies the art. The fact is, I used none of the colours called for an just chose the colours I wanted to use. It's simple but I think it's going to really look amazing once it's completed and laundered.
While I was working on this project (it's a small table topper), I got to thinking how calm both knitting and embroidery make me feel, and how connected. By and large crafting is not a group activity unless you live in an area with a crafting circle. Which I don't. So you may well wonder how I could possibly feel connected. Well, the question really is: to whom do I feel connected?
It's kind of ironic that in this hyper-connected world of social media and electronic gadgets galore, many are more disconnected than ever. I know of several people that are, tragically, losing their ability to connect with other people on a basic, human level. Whereas I can go several days and not look at my phone, I know people who obsessively check their phone many many times during one meal. With me. Although I know this is rude, I don't really mind it. But it is saddening. So again, the question is: to whom do I feel connected?
In the past, the art of knitting was equally engaged in by members of both sexes while embroidery has been a female-dominant art for generations. Attitudes have shifted throughout the ages and it's no longer unacceptable for anyone to enjoy these art forms. However, people who enjoy these things are not always seen as "normal". Full disclosure - some individuals with no knowledge of history will not understand, for instance, a male learning to knit and might mock such a man. (But the rest of us stand up and say, "oooooohhh yeah!")
When I knit or embroider, am I connecting to those immediately around me? Not always. Am I connecting with the greater community online? Sometimes. Am I connecting more with women or feminism than men? Not really. The people I really feel like I am connecting with are my forebears. The women and men who have gone before me that developed these art forms. I feel connected to the people who invented double-pointed needles. To the person who first formed a French Knot. To my grandmothers and my great-grandmothers. To the boy soldiers in WWI that knitted socks for themselves for the winter months. To the fishermen who spent long hours knitting heavy, rustic guernsey sweaters in preparation for the coming season. To the women who created breath-taking tapestries and samplers because, frankly, that's all they were allowed to do. To all the nameless people that created heirloom arts that have endured for millennia. To the brave and ingenious men and women who have passed quietly into that good night but left an indelible mark on those who followed after.
Perhaps I'm over-thinking this but it feels really good to feel so connected to real people, to a widely unknown history and to a future generation. Because I believe that knitting, crocheting, tatting, embroidery and all other tangible art forms will live on because people like pretty things, because no matter how dope your avitar's threads are, you can't wear that teenie tiny digital sweater, and because people will always want to feel connected.

(Can you tell, I'm a hugger?)

Love and great music be with you.

When Colour Marries Texture

I had an interesting conversation with a non-knitting friend of mine, Sarah, about something she'd seen on PBS about Latvian knitted fabrics. She was very impressed by the colour work (and quite right, too!). It got me thinking about how some people are colour people and some people are texture people.

Sarah is an artists whose preference is the medium of paint so it really kind of makes sense that she's a colour person. I tend to enjoy creating textured fabrics more than colour work which is probably why I use a lot of solid-coloured yarns or hand-painted or kettle-dyed if I want some variation (textures tend to be obscured if you're using varigated yarns or any kind of colour work). But, what I really love is when a great colour comes together with texture and creates something magical.

Case-in-point: my all-time favourite shawl pattern the Fylleryd shawl by Mia Rinde. It's a stunning Estonian lace style shawl with lots of nupps (miniature bobbles mimicking lilies of the valley). I have made this shawl about 9 times and every time the results are very pleasing. I've made several in white, one in bright yellow and one in a deep purple/burgundy. I am currently making a pink one with a much heavier yarn (about four times heavier than the lace weight that is called for). No matter how many times I work this pattern, I get a little thrill when it comes off the needles. And seeing the gorgeous lace pattern bloom when I block the finished item is just a feeling you can't describe. As good as these feelings are, though, when you use a great colour -- it's off the charts!

Anyway, I don't know if I had a point but there you go.

Just a little randomness: Nick Offerman says that everyone should learn how to knit. Of course, I'm paraphrasing.

I was at the doctor the other day and I was talking to a nurse who is a knitter. She was making a pattern for socks and was thinking about publication. I was terribly excited for her but she said that all her "work friends" thought she was nuts and needs to get a life. Hey guys: lay off your knitter friends! Even if you don't "get it" it's not weird or a waste. Be nice and you may even get stuff. ;0)

Peace and lovelyness be with you!

Absences and Teenie Tinies and Get-Togethers

Hello you! You know who you are. Because it's you, isn't it?

It has been a crazy few months to say the LEAST. The last time we met, I was in the middle of a huge commission (which went rather smoothly, I'm relieved to say!) and then I had to finish a correspondence course I was taking for writing (I passed). Things have mercifully slowed down to a more tolerable pace in some areas but have been geared up in others. Anyway...

I recently attended the 24th annual Gallifrey One in Los Angeles, CA. This is a 3-day Doctor Who convention. (Oh yes. I'm one of those people.) It was a lot of fun and I want to give a huge shout-out to all of the awesome people I hung out with but especially Cheryl & Daisy from The Sonic Toolbox, Chip from The Two Minute Time Lord, Andrew, Chris A., Chris S. & Laura from The OodCast. These are some of the loveliest people you'd ever want to meet and you should all listen to their podcasts. I also want to say hi to Nick Briggs (a.k.a. Dalekface), Jason Haigh-Ellery, Tony Lee, Nick Pegg and Richard Dinnick*. All very talented very sweet men (well...mostly. You know who you are. ;0) ) And a very special hello to Ken Deep. He is helping to organize a DW convention in Long Island, NY and if you have a chance, you should support this small but worthy group.**
For Gally, I made and distributed over 30 Teenie Tinies. About 11 of those were teenie tiny Cybermen which went to a select group of strangers. ;0)

Two of the recipients of TTC's were Mark Strickson and Shaun Dingwall. Meeting them also happen to be in my personal highlights from the weekend. (Shaun said I have a lovely smile... *swoon* but I was too chicken-hearted to stand & talk to him. CURSE my random shyness...) So you will never ready this...but hey guys!

Every year, Gally holds an auction for charity. This year, the charity was Alex's Lemonade Stand***. I auctioned off a set of 11 Doctors. Well...I say "a set of 11" but actually it came out to 4 sets of 2-3 Doctors (the auctioneer wisely divided the lots to get a better price).

I will be offering Teenie Tinies for $.75 a piece or 6 for $4.00. I might be able to do a deal on bulk orders. If you are ordering a big-ticket item, I may be able to throw one or two into the bargain, but you must request it and cite code: TTG1 when you order. And please specify if you want to pick critters out or want more of a grab bag.

I guess the point I'm making...and really all else I'm going to say is I'm sorry that I was gone so long. I hope to be more regular in my posts and I hope that you will stick with me!
Loads of love to all!

*Most of these guys are from or have done work for Big Finish. Check out bigfinish.com for more information and for GREAT full-cast audiobooks. I mean it. Do it. And remember: Subscribers get more at Bigfinish.com!

**For tickets and more information, go to longislanddoctorwho.com

***For More information or to donate to Alex's Lemonade Stand, go to alexslemonade.org. This foundation has an inspiring and heartbreaking background and is definitely a worthy cause!

Moving Apologies, Commissions & Mentions

First, I'd like to apologize for being so long absent. I am in the middle of a move and have been swamped. I think I can reasonably assure you that my posts will be somewhat spotty for a while due to this fact. Sorry. :0(

I've already mentioned in previous posts that I am working on a rather large commission. I am now about 1/4 of the way finished. The timeline was moved up so, I'm not gonna lie, I panicked when she told me the dates. I have another promotional 'commission' coming up at the same time. Panic mode time if ever there were one! Just gotta keep breathing and everything will be all right, David. (Ten points if you can correctly identify the source of that.)

I'm discovering something about myself...I love not feeling invisible. Weird, isn't it? I mention this because I love it when I send feedback to a company or a podcast and I get a response or mention. Also, if I get a retweet or reply to a tweet. I get all giggly. Is this normal? Do I actually care? Erm...not really. :0)

Recently, I was mentioned on the Big Finish podcast. As I've said before, I love this podcast and the guys who run it. Earlier this year, I made some Freds for them and was promised (though, honestly, I never expected it) that they would be mentioned on the podcast. I didn't hear anything but was assured via email that my gifts had been received and enjoyed, so I was happy. Then, out of the blue, the Freds were mentioned and copious thanks heaped on my head. Hey Paul, Nick & David; Thanks, guys! I'm glad you enjoy them!

I also enjoy sending feedback to The Sonic Toolbox partially because I really enjoy this podcast and want to interact in the discussions and partly because it's interesting to hear my words said by someone else...even if autocorrect does try to make me look like a total prat. Anyway just a thought I was thinking and wanted to share.

To listen to the Big Finish podcast, go to bigfinish.com and click the link or download in iTunes. Also, be sure to check out "Dark Eyes" and all the other wonderful productions from Big Finish across many ranges. (Among them: Sherlock Holmes, Blake's 7, Drama Showcase, Dark Shadows and of course, Doctor Who)

To listen to The Sonic Toolbox, go to thesonictoolbox.blogspot.com or download in iTunes.

Freds are fun for everyone! $25.00 on commission. I will post a photo gallery so you can check them out.

Keep safe and warm out there!

BTW

I keep forgetting to say: if you read my blog and enjoy it or have anything to say about it, please leave a comment so I know I'm not just talking to myself. Thanks!

A Website and Other Endevours

I now have a website where you can make comments about anything I have made/you have bought and from where you can place orders. It is a work-in-progress, so please be patient and check back often. It is WarmGlowKnits.com check it out! :0)


Like most knitters, I also have other artistic outlets. I sing a little, dance a little, but my favourite artistic thing to do outside of knitting is writing. I love words and composition. The pure joy one gets from creating a character and making them grow through tragedy or love, or whatever their story is, is just so...fulfilling. I am working on several stories in my head at any given time and and actively writing at least two. The editing process...well, that's certainly not my favourite part but I do enjoy seeing how you can uncover the beauty at the heart of a story once you slough off all the unnecessary verbiage and how real the characters can become to the reader when you reduce all the "high-faluting mumbo-jumbo" as Gilbert Blythe would say. Anyway I am working on an idea that I may be able to tell you more about later. For now, thanks for reading!

Read on, write on, live on, rock on!

Vineyard, Accomplishments, Six Cute Boys and One Gorgeous Gal

I just completed my 7th Fylleryd Shawl. I love everything about this pattern. This one was made from Shadow Lace in the Vineyard Heather colourway from knitpicks. (P.S. when you misspell "Heather" iPad will suggest you either meant "Heather" or "Heathen". Ah the gulf between those two words. It's big.)
Anyway, I love this yarn and the colour is fantastic! Basically, it's deep purple but there is just enough red in the strand to be visible as you're working it. I have yet to block it but I am so excited to see it finished!

I turn 27 this week. I am not concerned about turning 30. I know I will still look much younger than I am and that I will still be annoyed by that fact. (As a side note, a couple of college kids stopped at my door and when I told them my age their jaws literally dropped. They thought I was 18...) And so the fact that 30 is only 3 years away means nothing to me. However, every year I think about turning one year older and wonder how this happened. And occasionally feel like I haven't accomplished anything. And I should have, right? I mean, by 27 I should have done SOMETHING, you know? So I decided instead of sitting around in a puddle of my own discontent, I would put together a list of 27 things I have accomplished in my 27 years on this planet. It's not finished. You'll have to wait. And there you have that.

While I knit, I watch TV. I admit it. Recently, I've been watching "Malcolm in the Middle" on Netflix. I have come to love this show. There's the obvious silliness (I mean roll-your-eyes ridiculousness), but there's a whole lot of heart which I really like. Bryan Cranston' & Jane Kaczmarek's performances in the episode "Hal Grieves" was subtle and absolutely beautiful. Although Reese was a total slime ball thug on the surface, there was a quiet pain beneath that which was so true to life (often the "toughest", scariest people are really just the most damaged). Dewey, ah Dewey. He just makes me smile. In the first couple seasons, the character reminds me a little of myself at that age. Every time I hear that little lisp and see the dimple in his chin I just want to give him a cuddle. (Yes, I know Eric Per Sullivan is now 20-something and probably bigger than I am but I. Don't. Care.) I have the least to say about Francis & Malcolm. I like these characters and there are some lovely moments from both Frankie Muniz and Christopher Kennedy Masterson but overall I didn't find them quite as interesting as the other characters. All-in-all, I think that this show was well cast and beautifully acted. I will now hold up my hand and declare that, yes, I am a fan.

Peace out, y'all.