All Purls, No Paint

Even after getting inspired by seeing paintings of one of my fellow book club members, I still have not started a new watercolor project. I have a couple of ideas floating around in my head, but can't seem to get motivated to put pen/brush to paper. Maybe I need to come up with a series of small, simple designs just to 'kickstart' myself back into painting. Actually, I started a running program 3 weeks ago, and that's how I'm getting myself to keep up with the running. I'm taking baby steps, and it seems to be working!

In the meantime, here's a (not so good) photo of a finished piece from late last year:

This was the first piece I chose to do when I started lessons last fall -- speaking of starting with something simple! This is the same way I started knitting over 20 years ago -- saw a pattern for a sweater in one of my mother's magazines. I ran out and bought yarn and needles, then proceeded to knit a sweater. No scarf, not a dishrag, not even a simple hat! I just jumped right in with both feet and never looked back.

Speaking of knitting, I ran into some confusion with the cabled halter pattern. After sitting around scratching my head for a while, I decided to make a chart of that part of the pattern in Excel to try to figure it out. Seems to have worked! I'm not sure it's 100% correct as the designer intended, but I think it will work. I've started the neck and shoulder shaping, so it shouldn't be too much longer before it's finished. Hopefully, it won't end up like most of my other projects lately -- sitting around 98% completed and just needing to be blocked and sewn. The word of the day is M-O-T-I-V-A-T-I-O-N. Gotta have it!

Halters and Life Lessons

Currently, I'm working on this Karabella Cabled Halter. I purchased the kit a few years ago for a friend. She was learning to knit at the time, but didn't feel confident tackling this project, so I offered to knit for her. Not long after the kit finally arrived, she discovered she was pregnant. We decided to wait until the following year so we could adjust for size changes having a baby might bring about.

Unfortunately, the friendship didn't last that long. She was unable to support me through some tough choices I made for my life. The tough times are when you really find out who your friends may be. I believe if you really care about someone, you stick by them whether or not you support their choices. (That is, as long as they're not putting themselves or other people in danger.) If I care about someone and I feel they're making a bad choice, then I feel I should be around when their world falls down around them to offer my support. If I'm wrong and the world doesn't fall down, great! I can share in their happiness. It's just sad when people can only support those who believe and do exactly as they themselves believe and do. No respect for diversity or empathy for different life situations. I know I've been guilty of this myself in the past, but I hope the loss of this particular friendship has taught me to be more accepting and caring for those people I choose to have in my life.

Anyway, after dealing with the loss of the friendship, the halter is now being made in MY size! The back is complete, and this is my second attempt at the front. Caught a mistake 2/3 of the way up that I couldn't live with. I tried to correct the mistake without ripping it out completely, but that didn't work to my satisfaction, either. Now I'm back to the point I was before, and getting very anxious to finish. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will actually fit in the end!

In The Beginning . . .

Here's to the start of a new experience -- my first blog! Since I have extra time on my hands, why not? At the very least, it could be interesting, right?

I'm a knitting addict and also trying my hand at painting watercolors. Thought this might be a good place to track my many 'projects' while throwing in a bit of rambling about whatever's on my mind at the moment. If you stumble upon my site and find it interesting, let me know.

More to follow later . . .