Painting color drenched artworks of places and things I love
Back in the game. Something told me I need to return to the blog. Was it Mr. Resistance? The Muse? The Universe?
Does it matter? Probably doesn’t, but I’ve learned to listen to the wind and it’s whispers.
To welcome you back, as well as my brain, here’s an update from the Etsy shop that I’ve revived.
Take a peek at the two items I’ve added to the shop. More are coming in the days ahead.
Thanks for hanging in there while I figure it all out.
What’s new in the art world, here in my little studio? Lots of daydreaming, some process painting, more daydreaming, and now that the weather is changing knitting could happen soon.
Before I talk about knitting, let me show you the latest watercolor painting. Try to remember I’m working on the process, ok? That’s what I keep telling myself. Ahem.
I already worked this in the hated acrylic paints, but decided to revisit the scene using old school Maribu watercolors. Why not? I really enjoyed this day of plein air painting with a new/old friend I made online and finally met in person this day, so it was special. As we were leaving the flower nursery we were at we found these great tractors and took photos to paint from later on.
Now, about the knitting. Wintry weather makes me want to knit wooly and warm things so I’ve been looking over my yarn stash, and hunting for patterns. That’s the daydreaming part.
We now have a 4 month old grandson to knit for. Thrills!
Beyond knitting baby items I found this article on how knitting is healthy to do titled “5 Reasons Knitting is Good for You.” Perfect! That’s just what I need to hear, so I can keep on buying, oops, knitting with yarn.
Did you know that an hour of knitting burns 55 calories? Yes!
Knitting helps keep dementia at bay? Perfect!
Want to tamp down that ‘fight or flight’ response? Yep, knitting can do that.
Now if I could paint and knit simultaneously that’d be a great thing.
It’s only because I feel like such a philistine spending all that time in hair and makeup that I started to knit. I used to spend that time studying Italian and French. Then after I had two kids, my brain turned to mush and I took up knitting. ~Felicity Huffman, actress
Knitting is usually relaxing. I enjoy the feel of the yarn running through my fingers as I knit. The clicking sound of my needles is comforting and almost musical. The colors of most of the yarns I choose please me as well. The whole action of knitting, the process, is something I’m addicted to.
See this lovely little swatch of knitting? It’s so innocent as it sits waiting for me to pick it up and continue the click-clack of the needles, the rhythm of knit stitches humming along.
Just look at it. Quiet. Waiting. Pretty yarn.
Don’t be fooled, it’s a monster laying in wait.
I have knit this piece, and ripped it out to that little hole more times in the last day than I can remember. It makes me want to poke my eyes out. It is by no means a simple little knit, as advertised. No way, no how.
It’s a beast.
Just knit stitch in a pinwheel pattern they say, change colors every ten rows as you increase, then do a provisional cast on for the sleeves…
Stop the music! Their instructions for this cast on is so weird I abandoned it and searched the internet for something usable, which I found thank you very much. Still, I ripped and re-knit, finding my count off, the yarn overs unknit, dropped, you name it. Rip again. It’s my newest excuse not to paint, since I have to get this to a place where I can relax a bit.
Resistance, much?
Halloween has come and gone. November is in full swing here in New York, with windy and cool weather creeping in. Besides the weather, Daylight Savings Time will make our days darker and drearier than necessary. I’m so not interested in winter.
What’s great about this season? Knitting happens a lot.
As you can see I’m knitting something new. New colorful yarns are delicious. Knitting with them is a feast for the eyes and fingers. Yes, delicious.
I’m not so sure about the pattern I chose to knit though. There’s some new things I need to learn how to do so I can continue. Counting stitches gives me a headache, yarn overs can slip off my needles if I’m not careful, and the stitches on the stitch holders with the provisional cast-ons keep getting in my way.
Until I get past a certain point in this piece of knitting, there will be no painting fun happening. Or any other fun around here.
This is serious business. Ahem.
Well, here we are at WordPress, trying my best to get myself together and move the blog along. Mr. Resistance is doing his very best to make me crazy. If Mr. Resistance doesn’t make me crazy, WordPress definitely will do the job.
It’s a steep learning curve and it’s embarrassing how hard it really is to be up and running. Everyone says Use WordPress, it’s professional looking, it is so easy to use, you’ll feel like a rock star. To be perfectly honest, I feel like an idiot. This is stuff that kids probably can do blindfolded. Me? Meh.
First you need to find a host. Then you need to decide on a “theme.” After that, which in itself could give you anxiety, you need to configure the whole shebang. I don’t know who those people are that think this is easy. They must be making money telling people anyone can do this.
Who are those people?
Little old artist me is doing her best to keep it together, yes I am.
Who could paint? This is ridiculous. But I can knit! Yeah, knitting is happening here. This adorable little baby boy’s hat was knit in one sitting while watching some dopey thing on TV. Lovely blue wool yarn will keep a baby nice and warm. Sized to fit a newborn to maybe a year old. My granddaughter pulled it on her own head the other day and she’s two and a half now.
I won’t be comfortable with this new platform until I’m done customizing it, and learning how to even add content. Typing my thoughts, wrapping them around my photos, adding captions, and whatever else, is taking up much of my energy.