Wednesday, November 26, 2014

WIP Wednesday Round-up

I haven't done many WIP Wednesday posts as of late, but it seemed fitting for today because I have so many WIPs happening around here and being home for the holiday this week is giving me lots of time to work on them!

I'm still knitting balls, and although this photo looks exactly like the last one, I promise it's a different ball. I'm discovering different ways of making them using short-rows. I even made a square by accident last week!


This scarf has been on the needles for a couple months now. It's my "movie theater" scarf - I take it with my anywhere that I can knit without looking. It's been to three movies, a couple of knit groups and of course my couch! I'm really excited to finish it and I'm hoping that will happen between the movie tonight and the plane ride Saturday. 



My "Texas Tell it!" is going well also. It's so easy (Although those short rows aren't the most fun when you have to purl). I finally hit the second color - the blue - and it's turning out really beautiful. I didn't bring the light brown with me back to Kansas though so if I get to that point before the weekend I'll have to put it on hold.



Finally, I was going through my yarn stash here and found this scarf that I started over four years ago. When I started it I was only about a year into my knitting career and I was struggling through it. I decided to pull it out and take a crack at it, and now it's flying off the needles. I guess that goes to show how much better I've gotten over the past years!



Weekly Inspirations:
Knitting: I have a few Christmas presents on the horizon, including another one of my cat hats (for my sister) and a market bag (for my secret santa).
Art: Some of my former classmates are having their BFA shows coming up. I'm really sad that I am going to miss them (being in TX) but I can't wait to see the photos from the show. This one in particular I am really sad about missing!
Food: I had planned on making this pumpkin/pecan pie for the holiday tomorrow, but extenuating circumstances may change that. Either way, this recipe is on my radar.
Life: Speaking of extenuating circumstances - my dad fell at work this morning and broke his knee. So the holiday is pretty much shot for us and he's pretty much bound to his chair for the next month. I am really feeling for him and everything he's about to go through...

If you are in the US, I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. And if not, I hope you are enjoying your week.

~Lisa




Monday, November 17, 2014

Keeping Warm

Brrrrr. It's been in the 30's and 40's the past few days here in Texas, and it's also been drizzling like crazy. It's days like today when I really just need some tea and a good knit project to keep me happy. Luckily, I have several.

I'm working on making my sculptures larger. Thus larger balls are needed. As much as I love working in the round, sometimes you need to change things up. So I'm doing short row wedges. It's actually really fun!


Playfully titled "Texas Tell it", my sweater is going really fast. I cast-on last Sunday and am already past the arm holes and working the short row body. I didn't think I'd knit this fast, but I was also waiting on more white yarn to arrive via snail mail before starting more sculptures. The initial cast on and sleeves sounded really confusing, but after doing them, they weren't that bad. I'm excited to add the blue soon!


Another fun adventure I'm having is with poetry and publishing. If you haven't seen my site lately, I have been writing poems to go with my art (Go to oil paintings, and click on on to see). Also, this is just a black and white proto-type, but I am working on a 'zine that includes my art and poetry, as well as a free knit pattern and recipe. I am hoping to sell them around here for a bit of extra cash. 


 I went up to Austin yesterday and had probably the best day I've had in Texas so far. The weather was nasty drizzle, but not too cold.  I went down for the E.A.S.T. Austin open studio tour, which is a weekend when over 200 artists open their studios up for people to come tour. I am so happy that I went because I met some amazing artist and got a chance to finally see Austin. Safe to say I want to move there.  Above is my collection of cards and such from the day.

 Weekly Inspirations:
Art: I can't decide which art I saw that was my favorite yesterday, but I did meet some great people. The ones that stood out were: Micheal Garcia . Rebecca KlierKanya LyonsMiabella Mojica ,Brandon C. EllisSave the HumansJennifer Balkin
Knitting: All the ladies in my knit group seem to be working on scarves and shawls. And man there are some pretty ones. One of my favorites is Ashburn
Food: I made roasted vegetables for the first time last week, with this recipe. It turned out amazing!
Life: I've been revamping my Etsy store. I added even more cards and also changed the logos. Check it out !
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I hope that whether it's cold or warm on your part of the world, you are having a good week :)

~Lisa

Monday, November 3, 2014

Life is...

Life is...


A good book and a warm cup of tea.
(Allegiant by Veronia Roth and Orange Senacha Green from Two Leaves)


Perfectly cooked black beans with brown rice and cauliflower.
(Beans from a kit that started out dry)


A new and exciting sculpture/installation idea.
(that came to me at 1am Saturday)


Meeting gauge and winding all the MC yarn for my next sweater.
(Tell it Slant by Mary Annarella) 


Two full bags of pecans picked from my own backyard.
(Now what should I do with them?) 


Discovering a new love in the form of poetry and open mic.
(Mic Check Poetry, downtown Bryan)

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A studio full of new art.
(Open house is this Saturday!)




What is life to you? 

~Lisa