Some of the hats

First of some knitting pics, before I go off to work, before I take more. Four of these went to Rabbitch to distribute to cold, homeless heads on the streets of Canada. She has distributed 75 items, thanks to us web-oriented knitters.

The black/white one is my first item made with fair isle color stranding. I use my own spontaneous patterns for all these. I knit like I draw--small items made up as I go along.

Posting again

I just got a camera I love, Nikon Coolpix P4, and can take pics of all the knitted items that have flowed off the needles in recent months. And there might even be drawing again, if anyone out there hasn't totally given up on me.

I've lost count of all the things I've knitted, but will show the evidence.

Dreaming

This is a very simplified sketch
of a pottery (and tottery) giraffe
who always makes me smile.

W/c on 140# Canson.

A Fall Breeze

. . . a craving to draw swept over me today. Hey, I think I could get back into the paper/pen pool!

I may have knit up a lot of the obsession (learning techniques of lace, cables, silks and softness) that possessed me recently. Fiberwork will remain an ongoing part of my creativity though.

I'm sorting out the drawing pointy sticks from the knitting pointy sticks and looking for paper with the right tooth.

(This imagined scene is from earlier this summer, just to add color to the post.)

Sunset over water

Abstract swaths of color that evoke memories. Watercolor on drawing paper.

Doodling

I took a break from fiber art to play with water and paint in my Moleskine w/c book. As always I'm torn between black/white sketches and color, realism vs abstract.

So I alternate and get better at neither.
But it's all about enjoying the process of creating.

The face is from a statue I glimpsed, then interpreted. The shadowing is random, using w/c crayon and water wash.

Just the middle of the middle

This is a scan of the center section of an abstract (a 16x20). Now it looks to me like Kansas grasses against a summer sky (my birth state)--but I didn't plan that.

Did you know the geographical center of the continental US is in Kansas? I was there in June, so the image rose to the surface in my painting session.

Process: Dr. Martin's w/c, some straight out of the dropper then washed with water, on 140# paper.

Fiber landscape

Getting an image of an item on a scanner is seldom a success, but here's a section of a recent experiment with freeform knitting. Just to say I'm still here making things.

Felting this (heating, matting and shrinking the fabric so the stitches disappear) is an option, though I hear white doesn't felt well. I'll try this again with feltable colors.

Catch that biker!

Chaucer likes to sit on top of the TV and pat the moving pictures. The time he was trying to catch cyclists was hilarious!

Photo in lieu of art pics. Will get the digital camera going soon on recent creative projects.

Hot cat

Is it ever going to cool off? Chaucer thinks his fur coat is too warm.

Checking in

This is where Chaucer goes when he's bored with the lack of activity around here.

And I'm doing summer things that aren't producing drawing. My learning time is filled with the fascination of new knitting techniques and construction (like entrelac, Moebius bowls and bags by Cat Bordhi www.catbordhi.com , afterthought heels, short-rows from both directions, reverse gusset and flap).

But I dare not turn this into a knitting blog or I'll be lost in the obsession with gorgeous yarns and pointy sticks!

And podcasts! Are you listening to any of the fascinating podcasts out there? Try www.odeo.com for one source of lists of them.


A picture of Chaucer exploring my art table, as it was set up last summer. Just to post a drawing-related pic, since I've posted so rarely this month (and feeling guilty about it).

egg and scribble

Playing with w/c crayons and ink in my w/c Moleskine. I like the paper but wish it were more square. I'm not into landscapes.

Fen and sock

Knitting continues instead of drawing, so here's a progress shot of the current sock and Fen, relaxing on the deck.

Mental space to draw

Multiple travels, family issues, and other activities (knitting lace, which is a huge challenge for me!) have kept me away from that playful creative space where I draw.

But finally today, clearing away physical and mental clutter, I took time for a quick test of the new Moleskine watercolor paper with Caran d'Ache w/c pencils and pan paints.

I like how the pencil line partially dissolved and mixed with the paint, yet shows the process, too. Blue and brown pencil with raw umber paint.

It feels good to be playing with art again!