Find the free pattern in my Craftsy shop: https://www.craftsy.com/crocheting/patterns/the-season-graphghan/656110
10 Saturday Nov 2018
Posted Crafting/Crocheting/Sewing, crochet
inFind the free pattern in my Craftsy shop: https://www.craftsy.com/crocheting/patterns/the-season-graphghan/656110
15 Monday May 2017
Posted Books/Reading/Libraries, crochet, Life + Learning, writing
inI’ve entered into a period of reflection in my life… Or had a strange dream.
For as long as I can remember, my dreams have predicated my reality. Is that even the right word? Well, to be sure, it is the right word for the feeling but grammar may dictate I look another way.
But back on subject…
My significant others have awakened to find me furious with them for dream cheating. And not in the playful way of some. No, I was honest to god angry. To be fair (to myself), I have never dreamed of a slight like this from a partner when they were indeed guileless.
Others have come back to me days, months, and even years later to bring up a dream I told them about that came true in some fashion for them.
My dream life is an oddly interactive thing. It is a world unto itself wherein events conspire and collude and time doesn’t pass the same but does seem to revolve in some weird way.
Why am I babbling about the esoteric? Because.
Lately, I’ve had a block in my creativity. Books languish as I find myself unable to write a man who expresses compassion, art all seems trite and forced, and my crochet work…
I can’t finish a project. I have many on my hook, many more in the planning stages. But when it comes to finishing things off, I have yet to manage to get even the smallest thing done.
For my sister’s birthday, I was working on an art bag. Not a bag for art but one that was art in and of itself. Except, I found myself writing the pattern at the same time and frustration grew.
For Mother’s Day, I was at a loss. In the end, I made two bookmarks. The first was passable but the second was cute enough that I wanted to keep it myself (‘Those are always the best gifts’, so say my mom).
But still, I remained stunted. I put the bag to the side and began working on a Gilmore Girls themed… something for my sister.
Then I woke this morning. My dream was fresh and a bit terrifying in its regularity. And suddenly, I felt the urge to write. You see, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time living in a world dictated by fear and distracted by the mundane. Last night, something clicked within me and when I awoke this morning, the dream had done as dreams do and I felt, if not a release of pressure, at least the will to fight against it.
In my time, I’ve had these moments of clarity when I realized that something had to shake. In the past, when I haven’t followed through, I’ve lived to taste regret. On the occasion when I’ve picked up the thread and taken decisive steps to see it to fruition, I’ve become better for it.
So today, I’m picking up that thread.
What am I reading?
A lot. I’m a bit promiscuous when reading and rarely read one at a time. The two that jump out at me are ‘Big Magic’ and ‘Kushiel’s Dart’. I love the latter, the first is somewhat interesting (especially in regards to ideas and their travels but more on that in a different post).
What am I writing?
Ah, but wouldn’t you like to know? I’ve got a story that’s been burning to be written for years. My new mood demands I continue it. In another name, there are some things that I’ve had on the backburner, we’ll see if I get to them.
And what of any art?
I want, badly, to play with clay. I have designs and shapes that bump around in my head and they want to be made tangible only in clay. As that is not an option (I don’t have the space for a kiln, much less the resources to make/buy one), I’m going to try something with fiber.
For an equally long time (this block has been within me for… Longer than I care to admit), I’ve wanted to try a certain technique with crochet. Today feels like it’ll be that day.
Additionally, I have some pieces to finish up and publish in the subscription pack. I’m attempting to work through my stash which is not so great for this but works just fine for the crochet art.
Today’s dream was and is just what I needed: a resounding kick in the asset. I’ve come to the realization that things need to change and I must put aside my fear to do so. Additionally, I’ve been reminded of my mantra: ‘Following whichever path I like… Beaten or not.’
So up for the rest of the year:
03 Sunday Jan 2016
I’m adding some new freebies to the shop this weekend. They won’t all remain free so get them while the getting is good!
My kids and I are deep in a Harry Potter marathon so the first patterns I’m adding are all related to that!
Be sure to check out the other freebies that I’ve added since I last posted like Star Wars, Piglet, Winnie the Pooh, and a larger version of the Elvis written graph and more!
Lastly, the end of my pattern sale had to come at some point. I’ve extended it a few times but on Monday, January 4th I’m ending it.
So check out the sale while you’ve got the chance. It’s over 115 of my paid patterns for only $1.50.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays!
24 Wednesday Jun 2009
Posted Books/Reading/Libraries, crochet
inSo, the first Christmas gift that I’m working on is a round ripple for Dul. I’m not sure on sizing, I’m just going to go with it until it feels right. I want him to be able to wrap up in it so I know it will be about his body size but we’ll see. I’m using stash yarn to get this done.
I put down Water Cooler Diaries as I’m not in the mood for a compilation right now. Instead, I’ve begun to read New Moon. I think I might be a bit tapped out on that though. I’m only in the first few pages and Bella is already annoying me with her whining. This is the way I see it. Eventually, Edward can turn her into a vampire. If she stops whining about it and goes to college, by the time she graduates she’ll only be 22. 22 year olds don’t look much older than 17 year olds. Four years into the relationship (as opposed to a few months) might make Edward see it in a different way. Also, it gives her time to change her mind. She doesn’t know anything about life yet. Can he have kids? Does she want kids? And so on. So, I might hibernate that book and pick up one of the others. I believe this just may be the first book I’ve run into where I can stomach the movie better than the book. I’m going to give it a few chapters to get better though.
03 Wednesday Jun 2009
Posted crochet, Life + Learning
inWith June and the onset of horrible heat, my mind turns toward happier times. Winter. I have six months to get my Christmas presents together. This year I’m going to buckle down and get them done. My list so far:
Husband
Fin
Dul
Belle
Mom
Dad
Sister
Brother
This is a working list that I’ll add to over time. In addition, I want to buy many patterns from KTBdesigns. There are so many cool designs there that naming them all would entail me naming at least half (if not three fourths) of the store.
Planet June has some dinosaur patterns that I must get. I haven’t looked around the whole site yet but there is also a llama pattern that I might get.
Loving all things Harry Potter as I do led me to want to make this Baby Mandrake Root. But I don’t know what I’d do with it. Maybe I’ll make a whole lot of Harry Potter related things.