Pumpkin Sunrise

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my blog post on creativity    I enjoyed reading all of your experiences with fostering creativity in your daily lives.  Don't you wish we could all get together, sit and create?  That would be neat. Today's post is feathering out that creative post.  Adding more details and exploring what inspires me.  As a knitter, I have been the kind of person who buys yarns because I like them.  I consider them my 'palette' to choose from when I am making new projects.  I rarely buy a pattern then seek a yarn, it happens but not very often. I tend to enter a yarn store and see what strikes my fancy.  I love fingering weight wool and lately I've been stocking up on DK wool  I tend to pick indie dyers or locally sourced wool when I'm on vacation.  I go in spurts when I purchase yarn - definitely more so in the fall and winter because those are the seasons for wool wearing. I have at my fingertips many choices to create,

The last cowl has finally dried and now I can post a photo for the three of them.  I'm only creating one project page on Ravelry.  These cowls are delightfully soft and lush.  100% Alpaca wool is something to feel in the hands while knitting.  Also, the alpaca will give a nice drape when the cowl is worn. I know I swore off this pattern, but I have two more alpaca skeins that are begging me to make a fourth cowl.  I also need to make one more in pink for a holiday gift for my dog groomer/dog trainer friend (mother of the toddler).  You've been forewarned. I started a new shawl this morning, yet another holiday gift.  I needed a super simple knit that needs minimal attention or notions in the bag for my work days when the toddler is napping.  I picked the spindrift shawl , which I knitted before and loved the pattern.  Last night, I started a hat with larger needles and hopefully I'll have a bit more common sense on sizing.  Love the red and gray wool toget

I would mark this weekend as the perfect weekend ever.  Let me tell you all about it! The weather was fantastic.  Low humidity, somewhat sunny skies, a distinct chill in the air and yes, the heat is on instead of the AC.  Also, the new heat pump is pretty awesome.  I'm gaining understanding that this new system is variable, that means it's magical and can tell what I think is comfortable. Also because of the new system, we both realize how crappy the 16 year old system was performing.  Now to see if there is a slight reduction in my electric bill, I can dream. I walked two days in a row, with a fleece jacket......and a woolen hat!  I told you this weekend was a banner weekend.  I did a little knitting, a little reading and I also did some sketching.  A tiny bit but those baby steps will lead to something bigger. Thank you for telling me about your creative processes and what you learn.  I've learned I'm not alone and there is no right way about it.  I

I've created a habit of taking Frodo outside for a walk about in the yard and I grab the big camera to accompany us.  Same yard, over and over.  I marvel over how even though the yard is the same, through a camera lens I find exquisite details that I would not even glance at as a scurry about my days. My camera yields to a meaningful pause in my day to stop and 'see' nature's beauty.  How sad at times that I allow the busyness of the world, the eternally changing news feed to infiltrate my creativity. And yet, I don't.  I do take time out of my day and take a break from the world to walk around my yard with a camera.  I need more of this habit and less of my other habits that do not support creativity. I walked about the yard feeling so fresh and happy!  How nice to see Fall arriving in leaps and bounds.  I drive into my driveway daily and I don't think I even notice the details of the leaves changing.  Or the way the light angles are shifting ever s

Oh hey!  I finished another cowl. I continue to maintain my cowl a week production. The above cowl is the third one in the same yarn, same color.  This might be the last one in this pattern in any color. I'm getting a little cowl-knitting weary.  Don't be surprised, but I might switch to a hat knitting frenzy.  I have a few people I know who could do with a knitted hat.  Also, I have a goal of using up the scraps of my worsted weight.  I can't wait to start and show you all.  My sister's hat saw a wee bit of attention one night.  However, my obsession of finishing the cowls over took my intentions.  I finished Catcher in the Rye  and LOVED it.  I went to Catholic schools for my entire education and I can see why this was not a book we read in the curriculum.  Too many swears (but I love them) and adult themes.  Holden's attitude and his cynicism was in step with my running commentary on what I encounter inside my head.  I keep a lot bottled up in

This was a good weekend in so many ways.  Last weekend we were traveling, this weekend was a stay-at-home-do-nothing weekend.  But I did lots.  Yesterday, I worked on my second 'neutral' cowl out of three.  I don't think I have enough yarn for four, but you never know.  After I sang the praises of knitting the same thing over and over again, I'm starting to feel a little bit like I'm ready for something else.  So I went on Ravelry and spent ages looking at patterns.  I'm specifically interested in using up scrap worsted weight wool. Holly the cat in the SAFE zone but being a nosy little cat. Today I rearranged my wools, mostly the DK and worsted weight.  I have a lot of both, yet not enough in certain colors.  After blissfully perusing my stash, I made a list of order of importance for knitting the rest of the gifts.  I still have a lot of knitting to do, good thing I'm into knitting for others this season. Holly the cat likes to bat

Yesterday was 20 years since my mother passed away.  I like that this remarkable day is also the Feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi.  Twenty years have flown by, twenty years I've lived without her here on earth.  I'm tethered to her memory through my sister, my dad and my aunt.  I clearly remember thinking how I could not imagine life without her presence.  She was my go to person to ask for advice, not that I agreed with her or adopted her advice.  Yet, twenty years have been successful living.  Sometimes I get jealous of people who have moms.  But then I know people who are only children and are jealous that I have a sister. My mom was creative, smart but introverted.  She was not a risk taker and preferred making surefire safe decisions.  She was also stubborn and opinionated, both qualities I share with her at times when I truly believe I am in the right (I frequently am). Some people work on saying 'no' to others because they always agree and need to

I've got lots of happy knitting, are you ready?  First off, I started my sister's holiday hat, she loved the one I made last year so I'm making another in a different color.  I do love to knit the same patterns over again. Speaking about knitting the same thing over and over again, I started another cowl .  I'm trying to knit three more by the end of the month.  I really enjoy monotony probably due to the stress I experienced last month.   Having now stress is blissful and no stress knitting is even better! I finished reading Lord of the Flies  and while I'm glad I read the book, it really didn't do too much for me.  Let's just say there was too much savagery for my liking and pig killing isn't my jam.  And Piggy!!  My favorite character DIED and yet Jack who I despised, lived.  Oh the in-humanity (which is the point of the book I guess),  Yesterday, I started reading Catcher in the Rye  and starting from the first sentence, I love it.