So it's been forever since I last posted....

Hello blog community!
Well, it has been a millennia since I last posted. (Well, maybe not that long, but it sure seems that way.) I suppose in essence, it makes it a good time to reflect on the year behind us and my hopes for the year ahead. I have been knitting a lot, maybe in essence to keep some sense of place in a world that changes too much too fast. I've been working a lot with developing new skills in the knitting arena, and right now I am working on a fair aisle cowl off the lion brand yarn website.  The link for the pattern is here: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90660AD.html?noImages=.

In addition, I recently completed a felted lunch bag pattern (also off the lion brand website, http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L0618.html?noImages=&utm_source=20111104_Nov04&utm_medium=Emails&utm_campaign=Weeklynewsletter&utm_content=P-KnitFeltedLunchBag) As soon as I get photos taken, I will upload images of the bag.

As for my hopes for this year, well, I for one am hoping that people feel a greater sense of abundance in their lives this year. This is something that I need to work on in my own life and a lot of it relates to gratitude and mindset. In addition, I also hope to regularly post blog updates! I still have an attachment to this little blog, and my goal is to update once a week if possible.

Anyhoo...please feel free to comment about your hopes and goals for the year, and have a blessed and super abundant week and year!

Cheers!

Green and Brown Beanie Hat

Warm and fuzzy beanie hat. This super warm beanie was crocheted from two strands of bulky weight yarn held together. The green is a warm moss color and the brown is highlighted with stands of green so it blends together perfectly.

This is the perfect hat to wear when you are out playing in the snow or out running the city streets!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66545337/green-and-brown-beanie-hat

Workspace

So it is the new year and I am again reflecting on my artistic process as well as what it means to be an artist in the world. I am in the  process of rearranging my home workspace in the hopes that it will give me a more productive work space. I have recently taken the TV off my desk in the hopes that I will be more productive in my lesson planning for the week and will also give me a place to set up the small, portable sewing machine that I purchased. Today I had velvet laid out on my rug for a dress that I am making and I realized how helpful it would be to have a table to spread it out on. Right now I am limited on space so I have to make due with what I have.
I am definitely in the process of experimentation right now. I am playing with different materials and rearranging my workspace. I also have a few t-shirts lying around that I want to make into a laundry bag to replace the giant plastic bag that I have been carrying back and forth to the laundromat. As for my crocheting, I am almost finished with the shawl that I started in the Czech Republic. It is constantly reminding me of traveling and I am a bit restless to explore a new culture again. Hopefully as I continue to rearrange things, it will also help me to rearrange my thought process and help me to see new opportunities.  And hopefully I will be traveling again soon!

Holiday Thoughts

On my long train ride from New York City to Cleveland, Ohio, I had an ample amount of time to reflect on our modern idea of doing more in a shorter amount of time and whether this thinking is healthy for the human spirit or not. Right now I am of the opinion that doing less but with great enthusiasm is more important than getting more things done.

I have also been reflecting on this in my art work. It is easy to get caught in this idea that you need to produce more, make more, and try to sell more. However, the act of enjoying the process and letting your creative life grow and meander is also important.

So now I am in Ohio and I am in the process of finishing a shawl that I started in the Czech Republic two years ago. At this point it is almost finished but it has taken me two years to get it done! But that's not the point. The point is it has the same quality that an old friend acquires after years together. This shawl was with me through my first year of ESL teaching, traveled with me on the bus to Vienna, made a long journey on the plane back to the United States and will be a finished article of clothing that will come back to New York City to keep me warm at my current teaching job. And hopefully it will travel abroad with me again in the near future!

Cream Knit Scarf

I would like to introduce my newest creation, a bulky weight, cream colored, knit scarf. I have been working with heavy weight yarns as of late because of their fun, funky texture. This scarf is suitable for a woman or man and it is super, super, duper warm! It is a wool and acrylic blend yarn and has beautiful hints of blue and brown interwoven into the main cream colored yarn. It is also easy care machine washable. Hope you enjoy and please feel free to visit http://www.etsy.com/listing/63659261/cream-knit-scarf for more photos and info. :)

Crochet Beanie Hat

Super warm crochet beanie hat!

So I am finally adding a new blog post after several months hiatus! I must confess that outside activities have taken me away from knitting and crocheting for a bit but now I am trying to fit it back into my schedule.

I crocheted this hat using lion brand super bulky weight wool/acrylic blend yarn and used two strands of thread held together at the same time. This means that it is super warm and it is 8.5" long so it can cover your ears. It is also easy care machine washable. The top of the hat is denim blue and the bottom is a cream color with accents of blue and brown woven into the yarn. http://www.etsy.com/listing/63014967/crochet-beanie-hat

Right now my mom's kitty is sitting on my lap watching me type this, so I thought maybe she would like to be included in the post.

In addition, I have updated my background on this blog. Shabbyblogs.com has quite nice backgrounds for anyone looking to spice up their blog.

Anyhoo, hope everyone is having a warm and snuggly holiday weekend with their family or someone special and please let me know if you have any comments on the hat or my new background!

Update

Quick update! The scarf is finished and photos of it will appear very soon!