Dyed

Kyla and I have been busy. Hours of time have gone it to these hanks. Actually the dyeing did not take long. The washing/rinsing and rinsing/rinsing/rinsing/rinsing about killed me! Linda gave us this yarn and we went to work taking this undyed yarn to create these colorful displays!

We did not test knit this yarn to find a good gauge, we did not measure, we did not consider a project...we dyed! Of course we did not purchase the highest quality dye available on the internet. I went to Michael's and we thru caution to the wind. Squirting and slopping color every which direction! I will say that this mindless color application makes dyeing seem easy. But as you can see we offered the knitter limited options for projects. We will knit this in to something....just don't know what yet. I must have been thinking of my high school colors when I dyed the last picture----East Meck Eagles Blue and gold!

I could imagine dyeing more yarn, actually taking the time to plan out some elements. But right now I have more yarn to knit than I know what to do with. I am lucky to have a stash that takes up my entire office. I have only have 59 projects queued on Ravelry! I have 7 kits. And like most I have yarn that waits to become a project.
Let's not forget I have charity yarn I need to knit!

Kyla, does this count for me to take dyeing off my 'To Learn' list?

Knit on.

Dyeing

Snap Dragon,
It looks, after much research that we can not use Kool Aid to dye the cotton. Since this yarn need to be dyed on Monday I will head to Micheal's to pick up dye there. I can't wait to post the pics of us dyeing yarn. Thanks to Linda for the yarn!

Lace and Art

Here are two recent projects...
My first attempt at a full lace shawl. I have done lace. I have made small things but this one is the Icarus Shawl, made it Claudia's Hand Painted 4ply silk. Beautiful yarn, soft to the hand and the colors muted blues. I had difficulty in the beginning of each pattern repeat. Let's just hope this trend does not continue. I am getting ready to start my third chart one repeat. Kyla and I are doing this as a KAL. I like doing it this way. I stay motivated and I can ask or give help! We seem to be having difficulties at different times which is great because we both don't want to talk when we are trying to fix, find or decipher mistakes.

The other photo is the Three Goats Coffee and Espresso Free Form Fiber Art Project 2009. Kat started this project and is it not flowing very well. All of us look at it with a touch of dread. What do you add to it? But given the fact that most knitters are pattern oriented it is good to step to the dark side of free form.

The Lowe's YMCA knitting group will start off our fall knitting with charity work for Barium Springs Home for Children. Our first goal will be to give one handmade gift to each of the residents. We are in process of getting the number, age and gender of the kids. If you would like to begin and project that would be appreciated. Hats, scarfs, mittens, gloves are all wonderful projects. Make sure they are fun, soft, funky and 'fresh'! We want these kids to know that there are good people in the world and we are just a few miles away!!!


Knit on,
Maria

Hair Cuts

My boys have suffered at the hands of their father. Not violent or verbal abuse, but the hair cut. My children look utterly ridiculous. Happy, but ridiculous. Thank Goddess that we have several weeks before school starts. At least the ultra short sides will grow in. I don't think they would look so alien if they didn't have hair that grows in dark in spots and lighter than others. They both have areas that look like there is no hair. There is hair it is just finer and lighter. Very bizarre. At the bottom of this page you will see the flickr photostream with before and after pics.

Several people have noticed that I have not been adding pics of knitting, nor have I been talking about knitting too much. I am in fact still knitting. I have just begun a KAL with Kyla--- a lace shawl none the less. I have been doing commission work and will take pics before I deliver them.
I have finished knitting my Sasha skirt. I need to weave the ends and wash it. Something strange has happened to my Sasha--- it has shrunk. No it did not felt, I know this because it is make of Linen. I am hoping washing it will take it back to the original length. Other wise I am cutting the under skirt and adding in some length.

Knit on,
Maria

Oh, well....

Many times in my life I have read, especially non-fiction, and I am moved by what an author has to say. I hear their words and internalized them. I find ways that their words apply to my life then, I ponder, reflect, meditate and I try to act. Some times these actions are by trying to make changes in my self. Sometimes these words I feel apply to my family or friends and I pass that information along. Well once again this has happened, and I am passing it along to you. Martha Beck wrote 'The Woman Who Fell to Earth' for The Oprah Magazine December 2007. (Here is where I will answer the question 'Why on earth are you reading a December 2007 issue of The Oprah Magazine? ' The answer; I left my book and my new National Geographic Magazine as well as my ear phones at home and needed something to read while I was on the elliptical machine at the Y.)
The focus of the article is failure. The big F word in my life. The other big F word is Fear. Add them together Fear of Failure. This is what stops me from trying so many things. Failure is paramount to success. Everyone has heard that Thomas Edison failed 1,000 times at the invention of the light bulb. Thanks Thomas for trying again. Martha tries to convince the reader that failure makes you stronger and better. To do that you must "Let go of the 'Oh, no!' and embrace 'Oh, well....' then, what ever door opens, walk through it." I have read this and I want to be that person... but, can I?
I am not type A personality. I was not a goal oriented person. Even thought I knew that I wanted to be an Artist I never was able to give in to Art. I always knew I needed to pay rent instead of buy paints and brushes. I knew that I needed a job to to that. I never let my life suffer because of Art. And therefor I never failed. My senior art show was the only showing I have had. Which, to be quite honest showed no depth to my ability. I limited my works to safe pieces that would make everyone happy, my professors, my parents, and guests. The gallery was quite boring. I never take my art to extremes and they feel incomplete. I know I could push myself to create wonderful pieces of art. I stop. I stop my self because of fear. Fear of failure.
I stay just inches away from creating a work that is meaningful because if I do and I fail then??? I don't know what would happen because-- I have never tried. I am going to try. I am not trying to say that I have never failed. I have just never failed when I have been fully committed. This is one of the things that I think will raise me to a greater understanding of my self. Trying. Actually trying. And I am committed to trying again. Lets just see where this takes me.

Knit on.


P.S. Dear Husband, If you read this I am not talking about our marriage, that I am one hundred percent committed to success, as you well know. And watch out I may convert the dining room to a full on studio. Will the dining room table fit in to the living room? I Love you!