July

Here it is: July.  The year is officially more than half over and man is time going fast. I always find myself thinking there isn't enough time to get things done, and that nothing is getting done.  And then I go to write up a blog post and discover that maybe things are, in fact, getting done.

For example, the above two paintings.  I am constantly complaining that painting isn't happening, yet it must be because I finished two recently.  Although... it did take me a month to do them and they are only 9x12 each.  I'd like to blame the mess that comes with oil painting and the fact that sometimes I just don't want to get messy. 

I finished my "Gone Fishing" Socks shortly after my last blog post, and have already worn and washed them once.  Surprisingly the color didn't fade (yet) as much as I thought.  But man, photographing that YELLOW was a pain!

Something else that I finished was a quickie wedding gift for my cousin's wedding this weekend.  While I will not be attending, I wanted to send them something special since we used to be close growing up.  I made four dishcloths with Rowan Cotton.  I have come to really like this yearn for dishcloths because it has a nice stitch definition and holds up well. Two have hearts and two have their initials, both of which are R.

Onto the WIPS, I started a cowl recently with some lovely lace I purchased on a visit to Hill Country Weavers in Austin.  I had never been to that shop before but had heard many things.   It was a bit overwhelming. Picture a small house, every room filled floor to ceiling with yarn.  Luckily I was able to find a pattern I liked in my most recent Spring 2016 Knitscene and work from that.  The yarn is Anzula Meridian, which is a lovely blend of Tencil, Alpaca and Nylon.  Perfect for a summer cowl!

Because I haven't spun in awhile and finally have some extra time, I joined my LYS's Tour de Fleece team.  My goal is to finish up my current project - 1 ply of alpaca and 1 ply of merino with sparkle - and then move onto some rainbow BFL I have.  So far things are progressing fast. 

Inspirations:

Knitting: Shortly after the Spring issue arrived (Likely because I subscribed late), the Fall 2016 KnitScene also came in my box.  And once again, there are many projects I need in my life, including: Barton Cowl, Perigee Socks and Maya Hat and MIttens

Art: Check out Meghan Shimek! Her art is so wild, with it's use of thick, heavy fiber.  It definitely gives me some ideas.
Cooking: We had a going away party for one of our ladies at knit group yesterday.  Since she's moving to CO, we did Tex Mex and I made Tres Leches cake.  I turned out wonderful!
Life:   This Austin based band, MCG, visited Bryan for a free concert last week.  I fell madly in love and quickly snatched their 3 song EP and a T-shirt.  Click below to listen to one of my favorites. 

If you're in the States, I hope you have a wonderful Independence Day, and if not, I hope you have a wonderful Monday! Please comment below so that I know you came by :) 

~Lisa

Because it's Friday

And that's all the excuse I need to update.

Ok actually I needed to have things to share. I don't want to post and not have anything new to report.  Luckily, I am FINALLY getting stuff done around here. 

This painting for example.  It has been on my easel for much longer than it needed to be, mostly because I have only been hitting studio once a week.  I want to blame work, but let's be honest, I'm just lazy.  Luckily, I finished it this morning :) 

My "Gone Fishing" socks are taking longer than I'd like also, with only one done and only to the heel on the second.  But it's my only knitting priority now so we would be good to go on finishing it soon!

Part of the reason I haven't hit the socks is that I was working on these baby items for a friend.  Using some leftover Berocco Comfort Sock from a pair a few years ago, I was able to whip all of these guys out and STILL have some yarn left.  Talk about going far. 

I started on my second ply for the alpaca.  It's a basic merino held with some sparkle.  It's slow going because my footman cord (handmade wheel remember?) broke and I've been (no surprise) too lazy to fix it. 

 Inspirations:

Knitting: I added two new books to my library this week: French Girl Knits: Accessories and Vintage Modern Knits.  Both were in bargain at Hastings and they had a buy 1 get 1 on bargain books.  I am really liking the French Girl book so far - some super cute hats are calling my name!
Art:  Check out the artist of the month at my local cafe! Taiwo Thompson just moved to the States and is dong some amazing things!
Food: Look! I posted a recipe! Sausage, zucchini and chard tacos and man oh man are they delicious!
Life:  Other things going on in my life that make good excuses not to blog: private lessons, adult knit class once a week, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mic Check Poetry, WORK.

So that's where I stand right now.  How about yourself? Enjoying the summer yet?

~Lisa 

Day by Day

Isn't life crazy sometimes? I feel like all of the days just sort of blend into one long day.  Take, for example, my 50 hour work week last week. How did I survive that? I don't know, but here I am, back at it again this week. 

Enough about work, lets talk about something more important: Art! So many things are still happening around here, where do I begin?

Knitting:

I've had a bit more downtime this week, and as such my current pair of socks are flying along.  The first one is almost done and then the second will hit the needles.  I am loving the way my handdyed yarn is pooling, but afraid it may fade with washing. Time will tell.

I'm titling these socks "Gone Fishing" for three reasons: 1) They remind me of Nemo 2) The diagonal pattern is very ocean-y and 3) I'm using the fish lips kiss heel.  

Etsy:

I have been working on more clay bead markers, and am really proud of the current sets I have up on my Etsy shop.  Each set is a different color from the rainbow and all the beads are 100% unique.  The swirl thing is something I learned as a child and have always loved to do.

Speaking of Etsy, my shop was recently featured on My Sister's Knitter Blog! And if you hurry you can even enter for a chance to win a pair of my shoes ;)

Art:

I finished my large water-scape painting on Monday. I have yet to take a good photo of it, so the color is a bit off, but you can get a feel either way.  I am really happy with this painting.  It forced me to see layers and transparency in a whole new light.

Weekly Inspirations:

Knitting:  Not that you need to go peeking at my stash, but I had the day off yesterday and finally cataloged everything I didn't have on Ravelry. 30+ entries! Most of them came from an older lady who donated a ton to me last year.

Painting: I went to Houston last week and one of my favorite galleries let me peek at these.  Aren't they just right up the alley of where I've been going with my paintings lately???
Food: I got the Chococo Cookbook at Hastings for $1 about a month ago.  Most of the recipes are fairly simple and all sound delicious.  Now I just need to find someone to bake them for!
Life:  My garden is in bloom! I have a pepper plant with a flower, and lots of turning tomatoes! I also planted some flowers and they smell amazing.  I am really in love with my little garden.

I hope you all have a fantastic week.  I am linking up with Yarn Along today :) 

~Lisa

TGIFriday Night

Maybe blogging should just be a monthly thing, as it seems that's all I really have time for these days.  Between 30+ hour (and split shift) work days, teaching after school and all my volunteer commitments, life just seems too busy to sit down and blog regularly.

But that doesn't mean things haven't been happening around here, for they definitely have. Just not the same ways they used to.

For one, I've been spinning a lot more.  I finally got my wheel to spin consistently AND was given two more bobbins that fit it, so the wheel has been turning a lot more.  So much that I finished this gorgeous purple alpaca in two weeks (a feet for me!). The question is, what will I ply it with? I want to maybe do something shiny, silver...

I also unearthed some polymer (Sculpy) clay and have sense become re-addicted to bead making. So much that I am working on a new line of markers to utilize they beads.  Currently I have some Earth Day markers up, but I have some rainbow ones in the works as well.

Somehow painting is happening as well, despite my random schedule.  This is my most recent, which is about half done.  The plan is to have those balls floating in water, so I want to do some layers to make some fall back and some com forward.  Isn't it wild!?

My art classes ended this week and despite my anticipation at the extra free time, I was almost in tears after the last one.  The kids this year - every single one - were absolutely stunning and inspiring and fabulous.  There just are too many words to say how proud I am of them all.

I also finished my Mix Tape this month, in fact it has been almost a month since it came off the needles.  I really like the colors and feel, but it's got an awkward shape, so I haven't found a way to wear it that makes me happy (and thus the hanging photo). 

Sadly, that's the only knit news I have, for I have been spinning and painting so much that knitting has kind of taken a back seat.  Hopefully soon it will get picked up.

Weekly Monthly Inspirations:

Knitting: Just look at Andi's sock collection! I love it so very very much. I can't imagine ever having a collection so beautiful as her's (and a good portion are just vanilla socks in great yarns!)
Art: Three new artists at Navasota again! Abby, Christy and Eric are all living at the house and creating wonderful things. I have met Abby, who is a fiber artist, and she is fabulous :)
Food:  No recipes to share, just that I have been getting weekly produce baskets and working from them to make delicious meals.  I never knew stir fried chard and onions were actually delicious!

Life: Relay for Life is next week and I joined again! Want to contribute? Watch my video then go HERE HERE HERE !! to donate to my cause.  Even $5 can make a difference.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week, and if I don't see you before then, a wonderful May ;)

~Lisa

Everything but Knitting

As much as knitting is a part of my life, I feel like I have barely had time to knit lately, let alone breathe...

Don't get me wrong, good things are happening, and many of them are artsy/crafty.  Knitting just isn't one of them.

For example, I unearthed a stack of greeting cards that wasn't on my shop already.  Instead of just listing them alone, I decided I wanted to make markers to match. Thus these cool sets were born. Now on Etsy, $10 gets you five markers and a matching card. 

Maybe it's been all the painting that has been happening.  With a group show opening this week, I knew I wanted to finish my current painting in time. AND I DID! Barely, but I did. It's 40 x 32 and I honestly can't remember what I titled it right now...

It's a single tree overlooking the water. Can you tell? 

I did get some spinning done this weekend.  Does that count towards knitting? I finally have all my yarn spun for what I hope to be a zickzack scarf.

I've also been busy trying to practice good food habits. I found a local farm that does produce baskets by the week and was able to acquire this last week.  It has so many wonderful things in it for a very low cost. 

One of the things was a beet, which I don't really have experience with.  I decided to roast it with some sweet potato.  Paired with orange pork chops and orange quinoa, it turned out amazing!

Weekly Inspirations:

Knitting:  I discovered this designer today, Casapinka, and I love her use of lace and color. I really do want to knit them all! My favorite right now is Kitty Invisibility Cloak.
Art: The new artists have moved into the Horlock House (my old residency).  I'm so excited that one is a fiber artist!
Food: Besides the above, I also made green onion pancakes with the massive bunch in my basket.  I had never even heard of them until I did a google search, and all they are is flour and water, but man they are good! 

Life: I am starting to pull some night shifts at my job, which is great.  But that means less me time, which is not great.  How is that inspiring? I'll let you know when I find out.

Have a wonderful week!

~Lisa

Mix-Tape of Emotions

Remember MixTapes? I barely do, having not been an 80's child.  I do remember mix CD's but that's not even the same.  I have fond memories of recording myself singing crappy stuff on my dad's tape player however.  Some days I even find myself wishing to go back to those days.  

I am rambling today because my life is pretty much at that point - a MixTape of emotions and events and really no clear definition.  Ever feel that way?

I guess it starts with these mitts, which I cast-on after finishing the hat, but have sadly reached a point where I am not going to have enough yarn.  My LYS has more BUT it's expensive....decisions need to be made, for I really do like these....

Back on the discussion of MixTapes, the above shawl is titled "Mixtape". It's a design from the Hill Country Yarn Crawl last fall and I have been wanting to knit it for awhile. It finally felt like time and I cast on a few weeks back.  I love the texture and feel of the Shibui yarns - a merino sock held with a lace mohair - as well as how fast this pattern is working up.  

Mixing is a pretty common theme right now.  I needed a mindless knit and finally got around to contributing to the Knitting Guild's charity project - knitting Twiddlemuffs for dementia patients. The idea is simple - using washable scrap yarn create a cuff that has pulls and bobble and texture so they have something to do with their hands.  It's so cleaver!

Back in my studio I'm also mixing things up.  Working big again AND trying new compositions.  This is the first of (hopefully) many painting involving floating forms.  In this case we have a cliff with the pink tree looking over the water.  It's going to be more obvious once I layer on some color to make the forms fall back into the water. 

Weekly Inspirations:

Knitting:  A member of my Guild brought some of these DPN Holders last week. How clever is that? I want to learn to sew just so I can make some!
Art: I visited Houston yesterday (and what an amazing day it was!) and saw this amazing artist - Janavi Folmsbee - at a local gallery.  Isn't it just SO PERFECT for what I am doing in my own art?!!
Food: I've been baking a bit more at work (so far I've struck out most times due to dry cakes).  Last week I decided to do a mint marble cake for St. Pat's day and used this recipe.  Replace the vanilla with mint in half and add green color. It's actually really good :)
Life:  The Gallery I mentioned above is the Samara Gallery in Houston, and it is amazing. AND I talked to the owner and gave him my card.  Fingers crossed something happens!

 Hope you all have a wonderful week!

~Lisa

My Knitted Life

Lately it seems like I have been (even more) obsessed with my yarn and needles.  It's like if I am not working, I am knitting.  Maybe it's because I need a bit of control in my life.  Things always seem out of control lately, but when I pick up my needles, all of my control comes back. Do you ever experience that?

I started this hat a few weeks back with the intent of using a woven motif (here) for the body portion.  The yarn had other ideas and I changed it to a slipped stitch checkerboard.  The yarn is a couple of 150yd mill end skeins from a local alpaca ranch, and the hat ended up a bit tight.  It's still warm and still fits, but I would definitely add about ten stitches next time.

Pouting because it's tight :( 

Oddly enough, those skeins lasted through the whole thing and I even had extra! Enough to cast on a pair of mitts.  The first mitt is already done and I know I will have more than enough to make it's mate.

Because my life revolves around all things knitted, I finished another knitted landscape. This one is only 9x6 - I'm enjoying this size!  My current theme within the landscapes is "Lollipops and Gumdrops".  The idea came to me randomly one night and I am running with it.  I am hoping to do lots of Lollipop Trees and floating "Gumdrops" (Knitted balls). I have a show in September and I want this to be the show title. 

If you've read any of my previous posts you may remember that I am involved with a local poetry group.  While I am not nearly as impressive as many of the others, I am excited to say that I finally got up on stage and read FROM MEMORY. And the poem? It's about knitting! haha! Even my poetry life has yarn in it!

Listen here if you don't mind a crappy recording!

Weekly Inspirations:

Knitting: One of the ladies in my knit group mentioned she likes to get on the top 20 trending for Ravelry, which tends to include a lot of patterns that are limited time on sale. What a genius idea!
Art: You should see what Scotty Gorham is doing! He was in the last group for the residency I did last year.  He just finished installing one of the largest neon installations in the country!
Food:  I made this coconut curry yesterday and it was fantastic.  Although I overcooked the vegetables, it turned out super delicious!
Life: A friend recommended the book "A Creative Habit" by Twyla Tharp.I'm two chapters in and already seeing some major inspiration. 

Yup, that's my life.  How is your's these days? 

~Lisa

amen...