My current knitting project

So here's what I'm knitting at the moment - squares for a baby blanket which will later be sewn together. There will be 56 squares in total. The pattern is again from Debbie Bliss's Baby Knits for Beginners, but I didn't like the colours of her pattern which were a bit too muted and pastelish for my tastes so I changed them for brighter colours, which also meant having to search for a different kind of yarn in the right weight to get a similar tension. Colours vary quite a bit between yarn types and brands, I am learning, so it takes a bit of careful planning to get the right ones. Anyway, this blanket is being knit in Rowan Pure Wool yarn in DK weight. Originally I was going to use just 5 colours, but then Paul suggested that green would look nice in the mix and he was right, so now there will be 6 colours!

It's taking me about an hour to knit one square, so it's a good thing I'm getting started on this blanket now!!

Knitting adventures

So here's proof that I have actually been knitting, photos of my first finished piece - a cute little baby scarf. The pattern I followed came from Debbie Bliss's Baby Knits for Beginners, which is a fantastic book. I am rather proud of how evenly and nicely it turned out, even if I do say so myself, especially for my first piece! Here it is being modelled by my oldest ted. (I love that he looks so happy wearing it!). It's about 55cm long and was knitted all in garter stitch using Debbie Bliss's exquisitely soft and warm cashmerino wool and 5mm bamboo needles. I finished it in 4 or 5 sittings over one week. How did I ever used to watch telly without doing something with my hands???

Knitting is addictive, and easy once you know what you're doing!! I found videos on you tube very helpful, especially cyberseams videos. Following instructions from a book alone is quite tricky. I've also joined a knitting group. I love it!!

I'd like to knit another baby scarf in a brigher colour, and maybe even a stripey one when I learn how to add a new ball of yarn.

I had thought I'd try crocheting first, having heard it's easier than knitting as it only requires the use of one hook rather than two needles. Personally, I find knitting a lot easier. But I'm not giving up on crochet - I'd love to make an afghan one day, and crocheting is the best way to do that.

Anyway, in the meantime, I'm off to John Lewis to buy yarn to start on a baby blanket. Hurrah!! Have a good week whatever you're up to.

Pet Meme

Hello, I've been tagged by shadows and clouds to do the pet meme.

Here are Lottie & Jakey's (or Latey & Jockey as I called them the other day) responses:

1. Favourite songs/music:

Lottie - I don't do human music. My favourite sounds are: silence, Mummy or Daddy typing on the computer, the key turning in the front door, the shaking of the biscuit box, the pulling away of the rubbish trucks on Wednesdays.

Jakey - the theme tune to the x-files, shaking of the biscuit box, tins being opened, kitchen cupboard door being opened, fridge being opened, name being called for laptime.

2. Favourite toys:

Lottie - anything that moves suddenly which I can chase - flies, bugs, etc, and feet, especially bare ones.

Jakey - pens, Mummy's knitting needles while she's knitting.

3. Favourite food:

Lottie - ham.

Jakey - everything.

4. Favourite activities:

Lottie - staring into space, staring out the kitchen window, staring, keeping watch for potential danger, sniffing things - especially feet, resting between people's legs and feet while they are standing, purring on laps, meowing outside closed doors, napping.

Jakey - eating, having conversations with Mummy & Daddy, licking Mummy & Daddy's hands and arms, running about the house as if being chased by an invisible fiend, sitting on laps, cushions, blankets - anything warm, and sleeping.

5. Bad habits:

Lottie - meowing (whining) outside the bedroom door when Mummy & Daddy are inside and even when they aren't, trying to jump on the dining table when Mummy & Daddy are eating, suddenly scrabbling off laps without warning and causing injury while doing so, chewing on Mummy's hair, whining when I don't get my way.

Jakey - overeating, eating Lottie's food, having a go at Lottie for no reason (see ninja paw move in picture above) though perhaps I just don't like her whining.

Changing focus

Since I became pregnant, I have noticed a change in my levels of concentration and focus. Mainly what I've noticed is that I've slowed down naturally - something I have been trying to achieve for many years but never quite managed. But now, my usually busy and sometimes manically driven mind have really calmed down. It feels good. I'm not doing as much, but the things that I am doing, I am a lot more present and involved in.

This has also meant that I am not doing as much art, hence the slowdown in the number of posts that have been going up here lately. Instead I am finally going to make the time to learn to knit and crochet. It's something I've been wanting to do for years but I never slowed down enough to do so. It does require patience. And now feels like the right time to start. So you may not see many posts here for a while, but I am not going away completely.

Thanks to those of you who keep checking back. I really appreciate it.

I'm gonna be a Mommy!!

Yup, this is the life changing stuff that's going on right now which I vaguely hinted at a few posts back. This is our little one at 12 weeks and 6 days. It was our first scan and I've never felt anything like the feeling of seeing the little one for the first time. Heart blown out of this world. He/she is due in July (they can't tell us if it's a he or a she till 20 weeks but we don't want to know till it's born anyway).

P & I are over the moon, and I can't wait to get my bump. At the moment, I just have a little swelling that could be mistaken for pudginess! But I am really enjoying being pregnant, I absolutely love it, especially now the queasums have passed. I just wish it was as much fun trying to find nice trousers with an elasticated waist band that I can wear to work!!

Experimenting with collage (work in progress)

In progress...my first attempt at collage.

Origami paper, oriental rice papers, pencil, marker & acrylic matte medium on canvas, 7" x 5".

Inspired by the fantastic book, Collage Techniques by Gerald Brommer.

Anyone care to jam?

This is something that I first heard of from the Monday Art Day ATC group. The idea is that a small group of people (3 in this instance) each start an ATC (artist trading card, a card measuring 3.5" x 2.5" in any colour or medium) according to a particular theme.

They then mail it to the next person in the group, that person adds to it, then they mail it to the next person in the group, they add to it and send it on so that it arrives back to the person who started the card, who gets to keep it. That way each person ends up with a unique ATC that has been collaborated on by two other people.

Of course, art jams needn't just include ATCs, they could really extend to any piece of art of any size that can be sent in the mail, and it could include more than three people. Possible themes and mediums are endless! But I thought it would be better to start small.

So anyone out there wanna give this a go? I guess I am looking for two volunteers at the moment, so if you want to take part, leave me a comment on this post and the first two will take part in the jam! The theme will be RED - apart from that anything goes, you can use any medium you like, from pencil to watercolour to fabric. If you have any questions, just ask.

Come on people, let's jam!!

100% for IF

This drawing was 100% spontaneous

Not knowing what to expect

New year, new sketchbook

So, 2 years and 372 posts later, here I am! I can't believe I've been blogging for 2 years...it's flown by. I remember that I started just as I was teaching myself / learning to draw. I've learned so much and made great new friends too...it's been good. Here's to many more heartful bloggin' years...and heartful thanks to everyone who visits, especially my true blue bloggin' buddies who keep coming back!

So it's a new year and I've started a new sketchbook / diary thingy. That's my first entry up there, drawn again using Andrea's luscious red pens...

I'm going to be a lot more open and fluid with my drawing from now on, open to whatever comes, less structured with myself (hence no more heartful challenges), following my heartful instincts. Hope you'll keep tuning in. Oh, and Happy New Year!

Red, red, red

And here's one I made earlier, using some of the luscious red pens that Andrea sent me.

Whatever you're up to, have a great New Year's Eve.

My Best of 2007...

1. Book I loved most:

Fup by Jim Dodge

2. Albums I've loved most:

Lady's Bridge by Richard Hawley

Back to Black by Amy Winehouse

3. Best cinema films seen this year:

Atonement
Climates (Turkish Film)

4. Best gig(s) I went to:

The Decembrists at the RFH

Richard Hawley at The Roundhouse

5. Favourite art exhibition:

Louise Bourgeois at Tate Modern

6. Best place(s) visited:

Frida's Blue House, Mexico City

Oaxaca, Mexico

7. Most memorable meals:

Freshly home-made pesto, bread, pasta at Tumatica Cafe in Oaxaca

The lunch at Samphire with Mad in Whitstable

8. Best "vintage" film/TV watched on DVD

The Dekalog Series by Kieslowski

9. Favourite TV Show

Dexter

10. Favourite memorable days:

The day Jakey & Lottie arrived

Going to Whitstable with Mad

Monday, November 26th 2007

11. My own favourite pieces of work:

a) Damascus, in pastels

b) A pair of pears, in pastels (see masthead image)

c) The self-portrait I did for Paul for xmas, below

horizon for if

Snow Peas

Psychedelic Kitten Dreams (4 x 6 postcard, for Pati)

merry xmas and all that...

Just wanna say a big thank you to Andrea at BGD for her generous holiday giveaways. I won the red pens!! Yay!! Thanks Andrea.

I'm a little stunned that xmas is coming next week. I don't feel ready, but I kinda like that. Planning for something far in advance always takes some of the fun out of it right?

Paul and I are going non-traditional for xmas day and having masala dosas and curry. But we will be having a traditional xmas dinner (veggie style) on boxing day with Paul's brother and family.

Whatever you're up to, have a good one.

I'm still not feeling festive...

I wonder if my sunny weekend in Madeira will help!

Been busssssssy!!!!!

I can't believe I haven't updated my blog in 10 days! Sorry guys, been busy, some life-changing stuff going on too and way behind on xmas gift making. Damn these weekends away that I am forced to go on! Who books weekends away so close to xmas?? What was I thinking????

Last weekend I was at a music festival in a miserably cold and wet Butlins buffeted by gale force winds in Minehead, most of which is really best forgotten. And this weekend, I'm off to sunny Madeira!!

In the meantime, hope you are all having festive fun and that you are hand-making with love lots and lots of wonderful gifts and not spending money on crap. Ho ho ho!!

some recent mandalas

You won't find this little guy in the zoo!

Little bundles of happiness (EDITED)

In keeping with Na's post, I too have decided to pass a little bit of happiness on and will also make a handmade gift for the first 3 people to comment on this post and send it along to them some time over the next three months. It would be good if the recipients could then do the same on their blogs, but judging from the lack of comments on this post, perhaps people are not too keen to do so! So I won't force it, but it would be nice to pass the happiness on.

Creature Comforts

evolution of a journal

At the beginning of this year, I bought myself a gorgeous, chunky, lined and dated moleskine diary with the intention of capturing something in it each day, in a way that was different from the usual way of keeping a diary. I bought it because I loved the feel of it, the weight of it in my hand, the dark hard covers, the smooth shiny pages which pens and markers glide so beautifully across.

When I discovered mandalas, they became my way of keeping a diary. And it's the one activity (apart from keeping this blog) that I have been doing with any consistency and regularity throughout the year, so much so that it has become a natural daily practice, and it's all come about organically. It has been a true journal in so many ways, and I didn't even realise it. And just cos it's lined, and I don't paint in it, shouldn't have lessened its value as an "art" journal to me in any way.

It's not only been a personal space, my personal space, it's been a practice of spontaneity and freedom within a simple structure. I have also experimented and played instinctively with colour, design, line, character - things I love most about drawing and making drawings, free from the harsh self-criticism that I usually unleash over my other so called "proper" attempts at art. And free from expectation. So - I had already been keeping an "art" journal and I hadn't even realised it, because I thought an art journal had to be something else, something that looked different to what this looks like, something more elaborate, something more "serious", something a lot more "arty", whatever that means. In the end, I didn't really need somebody else to tell me how to do this. All I really needed to do was trust myself.

Realising this makes me both sad and happy. Sad because I didn't see the value of what I was doing until now, but happy that I finally have. And also relieved, because I don't have to try to be anything or anyone "artistically" other than who I am. I am also relieved, because it means I can let certain things go and simplify and concentrate on the things that really matter to me. I had already been trying to do far too much.

I can't wait to buy my moleskine diary for 2008. And next year, in addition to mandalas, I will perhaps aim to fill the whole page with line and colour and words. And I might just share some of them with you too. ;-)

superstition for IF

Silas distinctly remembered his mother saying that a bird's dropping on your head is good luck.

(Pen & ink on a luggage tag)

love, love, love (and some mandalas)

Thank you for the love! It must have done the trick because you know what, I feel almost normal now, which is quite a feat for me. What a relief! Thanks again. xxx

mandalas from the sick bed

I have the flu. I feel like shit. Please send me some love.

Lottie dreaming (oil pastel on board)

Before I got this horrid flu, I managed to spend some time this weekend experimenting with a technique I saw in my encyclopedia of pastel techniques. I covered a piece of art board with permanent black india ink (three layers), and then once it had dried, covered it again with a thick layer of oil pastels. Then I scratched out the image using a palette knife and nail file. It was a bit messy, but I like the textured look of it. What do you think?

mandalas from the week

The fourth one has been photoshopped, it was originally a hand-drawn image and then altered.