Sun came
out yesterday and the color of the world was all of a sudden totally different.
I have been pushing through snow every day in this grey color palette and
yesterday, when the dogs decided that it was time to go, sun was out. What a
change!
Few years ago I promised myself to stop complaining about the weather
because when I got up in the morning and looked out of the window, the weather
sort of set the tone to my day and let's face it, the weather up here is not
that great - I am not complaining, this is a fact! ;-) - so, I thought that it
would be wise to let go off that topic. I have been able to keep my decision -
mostly - but there have been times (like this long very cold front) when it has
been quite difficult to keep that promise... But walking in the bright sun light was pure
bliss!
Sometimes I
am sort of embarrassed to show you what I have been doing, not because I think
that I would be bad or good in it, but because I am embarrassed to let you all
see just how many hours I spend doing these various things and once in a while I get
a comment from even very close friends that I should get a life. I know, I
know, I don't do much else but I do have a life, it is just inside my head, so
it is very difficult to see. But then I know I am in good company here since I am quite sure that very many of you reading this,
feel the same. Most of my time I spend with the knitting: thinking of it, planning something new, reading of it or just doing the actual knitting, but I do make a point of doing something else, usually I take two days in a week when I draw or sew or do something else than knit or crochet. And I do this because it rattles the brain just a little and arranges the blocks little differently.
When I was
reading the comments (thank you again for reading!), few of you were quite
determined not to get started on a new craft... so I just have to share with you the
foreword of "How to make polymer clay beads?" by CarolBlackburn: "When visiting a bead fair looking for interesting buttons and
beads for my knitwear, I stumbled across the British Polymer Clay Guild stand
and was awestruck by the clay techniques being demonstrated by the guild members.
I bought a necklace, and booked a class. I was hooked."
Then
yesterday I followed a link from Polymer Clay Daily, I found these just
adorable bunnies in Three Wings Studio (scroll further down).
This new
baby cardigan, I thought that I would not show it to you before the pattern is
ready, but really I cannot help myself. So here it is. Almost all of it.
Almost.
(There in
the back ground is a mini quilt (in the works) that was inspired by SusanCleveland's work when she was on the Quilt Show few weeks ago.)
I think this is all I have for you today.
Wool with you,
Lene
37 comments:
your baby cardiagan is just lovely and the pictures from outdoors amazing. I don't complain too much about the weather here either. Actually I don't understand anyone complaining this year. We've not really had winter here this year. I kinda miss it.
Guess what I think? You have a fascinating life, and I enjoy the results of your differing interests.
I love the jacket and your buttons are beautiful.
Thanks your for your words, I understand your sentiments well. I often have a lot of guilt because of how much I love to knit and how much of my time it takes up. But to me, you have a beautiful life, full of creating. An inner life is an important thing to cultivate and too few people do. So yay you!
Lovely cardigan.
I understand the comment about 'get a life.' I hear it all the time. I'm always thinking about and actually knitting. Some spinning, too. My life is fiber related.
Thank you for sharing your life, pictures and Knitting with us.
Get a life???? I think you live a beautiful life. Everyone makes choices on what they do with their time. Making and planning and designing beautiful things is a wonderful way to spend your time. I appreciate your lovely patterns that you share with all of us. Who says that what you do is not work such as designers, people who sell knitwear or artists. If it makes you happy and harms no one, that to me is living well.
Every time the news tells of the long cold spell and the mountains of snow in Europe I think of you and how harsh your winter has been. Thank you for sharing your snippet of life with us. From where I sit your life looks rich and full. I enjoy every post you write, your knitting, drawing, embroidery, and other crafts. It appears to me you have created a beautiful life.
beautiful colour combination. I for one am so inspired by what you do and so well too! A. xx
I often find that the comment 'get a life' is uttered by those who are a wee bit jealous of others. You are very creative and inspire others too - pretty good qualities I think. Don't be embarrassed - be proud!
You have a wonderful life, why would you want to get another one? The look on your dog's face says it all, "time for a walk? oh boy!"
I think you are making very good use of your time on this earth, and I only hope you know how much we appreciate your sharing some of it with us.
This is an adorable garment!
I understand very well when you say your life is inside your head. And I think you would be very unhappy if you were not being so creative. Your lovely designs and attention to detail raises the level of excellence in our chosen craft of knitting. I always look forward to a glimpse of your life.
Someone told *you* to get a life? When I read your blog I'm not only inspired by your life, but your ability to focus. You envision a project and then execute it beautifully from the ground up. That's something to be proud of--not ashamed. I'm guessing whoever told you that is someone who envies your follow-through and has a closet full of UFO's. ;)
Oh, and the sweater is perfection. I eagerly await the opportunity to buy the pattern.
that baby cardi is so gorgoeus!! I love the cuff details, and the bits of contrasting trim are amazing. Great job!
love the cardigan....will look fwd to the pattern.
you have a life...one that we all support and grateful that you share it with us like minded spirits.
margaret in vermont
your life seems so rich and full and wide. your photos of your countryside and your weather are absolutely beautiful. i have learned so much about your part of our world from your blog. thank you from western new york, usa.
A creative life in the fiber arts is my idea of a full and contented life. You are so talented. I love the baby sweater in the basket weave pattern. I would also like to see more of that quilt.
I understand the "bit of guilt" because I feel it myself, even since I have been disabled from working outside the home. I feel I "should" be doing something else. Funny how we "should" ourselves. Your cardigan is so fun, and I so enjoy coming here to read about what you are creating AND seeing your photos. Thank you.
I agree with many of the comments here that your life seems like a full and interesting one. I like your comment about rearranging the brain a little - I always think that if I have done something in life to make my brain a little more interesting, I have done well! An interesting and happy brain is the best company, after all:-B
I wouldn't change a thing. Knitting is a life style with you, as it is with many of us, a choice. Your blog is one of my daily necessities - and now this sweater. (sigh) I anxiously await the pattern!
I actually envy your peaceful life in such a serene land. Seems like heaven. Enjoy all your creative time; you should not feel guilty as there's not much else to do this time of year it seems like. Spring and Summer will be here soon which will bring things to do outside.
Mary Astell (1668-1731, poet and philosopher wrote that the life of the mind is “a Matter infinitely more worthy your Debates, than what Colours are most agreeable, or what’s the Dress becomes you best.” I am always reminded of this when someone suggests that a person of serious artistic or scholarly interests needs to "get a life."
Lene, NEVER be too embarrassed to show us what you have been doing. All knitters love to see what other knitters are doing. Its so inspirational. We all love to see your ideas. People that aren't knitters simply don't understand the utter pleasure we get in thinking about and doing our knitting. Feel a little sorry for them :)
You are a true artist. I look forward to the pattern.
I love a real cold snowy winter but also blue skies afterwards.
Most of my afternoons are spent on my hand work and I love it.
It seems that you have "got" your life; a creative and satisfying one.
If no one took that time to sit and contemplate or to plan and finally create, what a dull world we would live in. Most of what we appreciate in life comes from those who take the time to develop their ideas. People have no business telling others what is a legitimate use of their own time! Each to their own. Your skills are important, they bring something to the world and make others happy too. For those of us who don't have quite the same skills as you, where would we be without the pattern makers? Never question your own validity or allow others to judge you and find you wanting. Thank goodness for people who bring beauty into this world. It is a vital gift, so important for our spiritual well being.
Even those who don't create, every time they go to the shops they are endorsing those who do. Would the shops fill themselves? Whether it is food, clothing, music or whatever, people took the time (lots and lots of it) to bring it to us. Money doesn't validate it any more or any less than the person who creates for themselves and nearest and dearest. It is all about fulfilment and making the world a nice place. (Imagine a world with scientists but no artists or craftsman. How awful!)
Enjoy what you do. We do and we appreciate your sharing, so you see it is not time wasted. Not on any level. What else should you be doing? You COULD be doing any number of things but why would they be any more important.
Your cardigan is both useful and beautiful, a perfect use of your time.
It seems so sad when someone makes a comment like: "get a life or I don't like your blog...it is boring". Sometimes I'm insulted for you because I feel that person has trampled on something I find beautiful and incredible, like a lovely Alpine flower found nestled in a sheltered place that some careless person crushes underfoot. Your blog is marvelous. I find it so reflective of what you must be like as a person...someone I would love to know. Your comments on the weather, the light, your dogs, your lake, your daily trials and walks, and your fabulous designs make you, as a person, just all that more fascinating. Where is that bottle of wine? Cheers to you, Lene! If you only have two pennies, spend a penny for bread and a penny to enjoy the beauty of your soul!
I'm not sure which I like better, your photos or the baby cardigan. I think there are all kinds of adventures in life and some of the best take place in our heads! Cultivating an inner life is a wonderful thing. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your beautiful country. I love the gray palette and the sunshine.
there is something to be said for the deep absorption that comes from devotion to a craft - look at all of your beautiful and finely made creations! Those don't come from casual practice. Love the blog & the beauty that you create.
I understand you Lene, sometimes I even d r e a m about knitting - and that although I'm not as half as good as you...At the moment, I think about doing some totally new wrist warmers and I ribbed at least 3 of them and started new...
Your baby cardigan came out very well!
So sweet. I love the dark blue piping.
I love the photo of your dog - what a sweet face!
Beautiful little cardigan and blue light photos. Enjoy the sunshine :-)
i just found your blog! how creative you must be!! i love your heading and of course the baby basketweave is gorgeous! it is so inspiring to me to find new knitting blogs and comments from readers who appreciate the 'arts'! i'm a retired band director from IOWA(USA) so i've just continued my artistic skills with fibre instead of music in my retirement! i will be back often...^)^ linda (aka: hawknitr13 or lbquilts)
the winter is my time to restore my energy and enjoy the blank canvas outside the window. As a gardener I am going GOING from April to October, so the winter months are highly prized and I love the cold.
I also am deeply enamoured with your baby sweater and will be checking every day for the pattern to emerge! It is LOVELY. Your work - your knitting and illustrations and slice of northern life is magnificent.
You are fortunate to have a rich interior life. You must never be bored. I am not, but I don't know that the ideas percolating in my interior life come to the surface as beautifully as do yours. I agree with the earlier post that you are an artist. I still remember that fabulous teal felted hat you made last year? Two years ago? And this baby's cardigan has as much attention to detail and harmony as any adult sweater. I love it and will have to make it.
That top photo on this post actually took my breath away. So beautiful. The weather is so harsh where you are, but your photos are so amazing. Thank you for posting!
I love the baby cardigan. Wow. It looks so cute and sweet and looks like it would really keep a baby comfortable. :) :) :)
I am actually shocked that anyone would tell you to get a life! The other commenters have given many of the retorts I would have made. I treasure your peaceful and contemplative posts. Now that I think of it, there is something monkish about your intensity of devotion to each piece--working out how it should be made, doing it and redoing it just right; but anyone who can't understand the value of that, to you and to others, is to me the one who's living an impoverished existence. I deeply admire your art and wish I had the time and focus to work as you do. You are an artist, you are doing your work here. Nothing to be ashamed of.
As always, thank you too for the bits about where you live and what it's like right now. The other day, in Boston, I saw snowdrops; further up north, here in Vermont, it finally snowed a little but the winter is still so much milder than normal.
I read your blog for a long time and I enjoy it. I like your way of life, and I think nobody has the right to tell you "get a life."
The cardigan and the buttons are so lovely!
Post a Comment