I have been struggling to find time to post to my blog. I hope my readers hang in there, as I have so many beautiful handmade works and projects to share with you. Since the move, though, the number of things happening here with the kids and my work and all that has to be done with this new house overwhelm my free time. I prioritize my family, then my job (which is part time). My creative life and my blog take up whatever time is left over, which has been minimal to say the least. I'm not sure if I truly have less time than I did when I was in Boulder, or if its partly just the emotional toll that moving across the country takes after being in one place for twelve years. Whatever it is, all the extra "oomph" I usually have has been sapped out of me. I've been looking for it--it's like its packed away somewhere in the pile of boxes in the basement, maybe with all the yarn I am sure I had that I can't find.
But, I'm feeling a changing tide, or at least some increased velocity in this whirlpool I'm in. I'm thinking it just might spit me back into the flow of life soon. Sometimes, I think we all need something to come along and remind us of what we really want out of life.
My mother sent me this video the other day and it inspired me so much, I watched it five times. When I hear Alan Watts speak, he makes me happy. He makes me believe that all things are possible. Not only are they possible, but that it is truly essential to pursue what you love, and the life that you want will and can happen.
Here are some of his essential questions:
What would you like to do if money were no object? How would you REALLY enjoy spending your life? What do you desire?
He states: "Better to have a short life that is FULL of what you like doing than a LONG life spent a miserable way.
But please take the three minutes to watch this video, you'll be glad that you did.
I think I need to find the faith to simply "dive in" to a life in which creativity is my focus and my career. Thinking on this reminds me of the post I did a couple of months ago on open-ended creativity when I worked embroidery and paint into an empty piece of cloth (below). Creating something out of nothing is scary because you don't know what it will look like or even where to start sometimes. Or, once you have started, perhaps you get to a part where you are stuck and you don't like it and something feels "not right." But if you get back to creating your work with a little of what you like and build on it with more, it almost always works out.
So, I'm going to take this minor slow down over the last five months as a brief hiatus on my path to the creative life that I want. I am going to take the time to ponder Watt's essential question: "What do you desire?" Won't you think on it with me?
I'm in love with chunky cowls. I hear people say they can't pull it off, but they can. A beautiful chunky knit looks great on everyone! I wrote up this little pattern for the Katy Cowl for my brand new knitters at the CED Art Retreat in Lake Tahoe. You should have seen the brilliant progress my brand new knitters made--I was so proud of them. This cowl is a perfect beginning knitter's project. Or, it is perfect for the experienced knitter to click away mindlessly in the car, at practice, on the airplane, in front of the tv, etc. I have already made up three of them as easy, but stylish gifts for friends and family. You can find the pattern here on ravelry or here on a google reader to download right away.
I used Lion Brand Thick and Quick in Fisherman on the cream cowl and Tahki Stacy Charles Montana, 100% pure new wool, on the gray cowl. I like to use the Lion Brand because if you get the yarn on sale, this cowl costs less than $20 to make. Perfect! I added a couple of pink stripes to the gray cowl--fun! This would be perfect for a college kiddo to sport their colors.
Frankly, I'm just in love with how super bulky knit yarn looks so yummy just sitting there. It's starting to get colder here, so I've been throwing these cowls on in the wee hours when I'm walking Lucy. The cowl has a moebius twist in it which makes it fit nicely when your wrapping it twice.
Here it is on my lovely sister, Katy, hence the name. Do try to whip one of these up for yourself. You'll be glad you did!
Never underestimate the power of sending a beautiful handmade gift in the mail. This package arrived yesterday, much to my delight. My friend from Colorado, Kate, was returning a sample I had knit for our local yarn shop of a green version of the sophisticate cardigan, a pattern for which I published last year. To my delight, enclosed was a sweet, heartfelt hand-written note. That alone made my day. I will stand by snail mail to my dying hours. That note made me feel like I had just had a lovely coffee with Kate, knitting away and chatting, just like we used to.
In addition, though, I was beside myself to find a stunning handmade gift--little fingerless mitts from a Churchmouse pattern out of some gorgeous Road to China Light yarn. The joy I received from putting on these little mitts, and feeling loved and hugged through them, by my dear friend Kate is hard to put into words. They are soft and warm and full of light, just like Kate. I will feel cherished every time I put them on.
So, you know she has a hand-written thank you coming . . . but until then, here is my digital THANK YOU, KATE!!
Send some handmade love today . . . you may just make someones winter!
I don't know how many of you have more than one child, but it can be challenging handling five feisty personalities in one family (and, yes, I'm including myself!). My three kids are so close together in age, I sometimes wonder about just how crazy I was to do it this way. My two boys are 13 months apart. My daughter is 19 months younger than the middle guy (below). My husband and I thought that if they were really close together in age, we would be able to do more things together as a family and all enjoy them together. We pictured skiing down the same runs together, watching the same movies together, or going to Disneyland and all enjoying it together. This has been true for the most part--our kids are similar enough in ability and maturity to be able to do these things as a family. That has been wonderful and such a gift. However, I have come to realize that "together" isn't always what its cracked up to be. It turns out that "together," we still fight about which ski run to take, disagree about which movie to watch, and desperately want to go on different rides at Disneyland.The other Saturday, as I prepped to take my dog for a walk, my kids started fighting. Allie wanted to come with me, but Charlie, (my oldest, above) wanted to go by himself with me. I just couldn't take the "together" arguing any more. I imagined the sniping that was likely to occur the entire walk and the rest of the day--once they get annoyed with each other, it persists over an untold number of topics.I told Allie that I was going to take only Charlie. Well, you would have thought the world was ending. It was hard to leave my screaming seven year old in hysterics on the sidewalk (hoping she'd be smart enough to return to the house). I explained loudly that I would take her by herself when I got back. Sure enough, that's what I did. The quality of the walks with each child made every extra minute worthwhile. Not only did the dog get multiple walks (all good), but I was able to really talk with each child. We chatted about how school was going, what their friends are like, which teachers are their favorites, what books they've been reading, etc. Now, I spend a lot of time with my children, but I got more out of the 45 minutes with each of them alone than I do in a month most times. I spend a healthy bit of time saying good night to each of them one-on-one, but extended-strolling sort of conversation beats the pants off the we're-all-sleepy kind of talk any day. That Saturday made me a happy camper.In this busy world, in a family with multiple kids, in the passion and throws of getting things done in life, it's easy to forget how vital that one-on-one relationship is. So don't forget to do it when you get the opportunity. Your relationship with the kids will thrive on it. And, these one-on-one walks, they might just keep me sane, too.
