Removing the static

Mary and I had made plans to go fiber hopping today last week. I wasn't sure I would be able to go since I still feel like poo but I started thinking about fabric and yarn and I became less sensible by the second.

So I drug my snot infested head out into the 14 degree weather and we went to what we call Fabric Heaven. In case you're wondering, it does have a real name. Its the Viking Sewing Center in Ann Arbor and they have the best selection of batik fabrics I've found anywhere around here.

To be totally honest with you, I didn't really expect to buy anything. Don't laugh, it is so possible for me to be around that many bolts of batik and not go into fiber shock. I've been feeling anxious when it comes to my art quilts lately. I've not exactly lost enthusiasm for them, but I've been standing back from them lately. I love what's on my design wall but mostly I just stare at them. You know...waiting...for what? Dunno....

I did find some fabric for my botany quilt and for another one and as I stood there looking at all that fabric, I finally realized what the deal is. I want to let my work marinate. I want to let it be, on its own for a while. I've trained myself into believing that the only purpose for making them is to show them or sell them. So I'm taking away all the outside static and I'm not even going to photograph them for the blog or website. Maybe its weird but I want some alone time with them. I know I said I wasn't going to show this year but I don't think I even want to put them up on my website just yet. I'm going to post detail shots of them as I complete them but I don't want to expose them yet. I'm not sure why I'm feeling so protective of them but that's the only way to describe it.

What I'm working on now is so different from what I've done in the past. I just need to stare at it long enough so that it feels like it came from me before I kick it out into the world.

With that said, I've also been thinking on my current obsession with all the knitting and crocheting. Its basically satisfying the want to do some 3d work with fiber. So it continues and probably will for some time. Want to see some more of it? Good, because I took some pictures of the stuff I've been working on...

There has been much progress on the amigurumi and sock front. First and foremost is Dotty and his pumpkin house. He is done and his pumpkin house is mostly done. But I kind of like it as it is so I think I might call it done. The pattern shows a jack-o-lantern style face on the pumpkin. What do you think? Should I add it or leave it naked?


Dotty likes hanging out in his house...


And here is Frida in the Day of the Dead style. I added flower beads to her wreath on her head and those are skull beads hanging from the side. I like how zombie she looks.



Pattie asked if these things are super tiny. They can be. Most of the patterns I have call for 2mm size crochet hooks. I luckily still have some sanity in tact and use a 4mm hook. Just for an idea, my version of Dotty is 3.25" high and Frida is 3.5" high. They are still pretty little but not too bad.

I've moved on to sushi now. Mary also drug me to a yarn shop today I've not been to before (totally by force I assure you) and I picked up some more colors to do the fish in the sushi pieces. It feels odd to be crocheting sushi, even by my standards.

And there has been sock knitting. I'm at 5.5" now. I likes it.

I got a little worried about it maybe not fitting. I remeasured my foot and checked the book again and I have the right number of stitches. And I checked my ankle again. Nope, its still not the size of a tree trunk so it should be fine. Look, see how stretchy it is?


It should work fine. Right? Do you think? I think it will be fine. Should work out great....don't you think? If it doesn't fit for some reason, keep an eye on the blog, I may be giving away a pair of hand knittied socks....