Chanukah Socks 2016

Many times since I first learned to knit socks in 2006, I have given my girls knitted socks for Chanukah. Not every year, but usually. Now that Meital is in the army, she rarely gets a chance to wear handknit socks, but Liat is always eager for another pair to add to her collection. But this year I was busy finishing up that big blanket for our nephew, and making hats and fingerless mitts for the teens in our city. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I could paint a silly little picture of a pair of socks, and give that to Liat instead. So I did.

And when she unwrapped it, she laughed and laughed. I'm happy.

Watercolor Pencils

In trying to learn to paint with watercolors, I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos. A great one by The Frugal Crafter reminded me that I have plenty of watercolor pencils that I rarely use. Time to change that.

First I got out the pencils from the back of the cabinet, and took them all out of the big jar they were in. I remembered how, after buying a set in a lovely tin, I bought more colors in open stock and so had to find a new place to store them, so that they would all be in one place. Hence, the jar. But it wasn't very easy to see what colors I had, or to find what I wanted, and sometimes I worried that if the pencil dropped end first into the jar too hard, the lead inside might break. After some trial and error, I eventually remembered the tops to a couple of square tins that had once been filled with candy and given to my mother in law. She had given me the tins, which I used - without the lids - to store doubled-ended markers. Luckily, the lids had survived the recent purges of unused craft supplies. I glued some fun foam in the lids and now I have my pencils arranged so that I can easily find the colors I want. Plus, I made a color chart so I can see what each color looks like when activated with water.

And today, I actually started a small painting! With me, sometimes the organizing and arranging happens but the art doesn't. Does that happen to you, too?

Labels

Back in the days when I spent a lot of time each day on Facebook and Instagram, I sought out people and organizations to follow that would enrich my "feed" with inspiration. Artists of all kinds, people who cared about kindness... in short, positive, upbeat news items. All I can think of now is the saying, "be careful what you wish for."

One account I started following on Instagram belonged to the mother of a young girl who had decided she wanted to perform a specific number (I don't remember now what it was) of Acts of Kindness, in memory of her grandmother. Beautiful, uplifting, inspirational. But the longer I followed the account, the more uncomfortable I became with the almost daily recitation of activities. It all began to feel a little bit forced, a little too self-aware. And then the day came when, included on the list, was the time this little girl's act of kindness was... helping her father with something.

Seriously? Seriously?

I've spoken before about some of the problems I have with words like "charity." It seems like in today's selfie-driven world, Acts of Kindness and Random Acts of Kindness (always capitalized, naturally), are the trendy labels. It often feels to me like it's more about the label than the action. Maybe I'm just a dinosaur, a relic from long ago, but I get the impression that the emphasis has shifted from the emotion behind the action, to the  label and to the person performing the action. And of course, to the accompanying photo op.

Several years ago, in the course of an on-line conversation with my elderly friend Miriam in New Jersey (not a knitter), I learned that she did not own a winter hat. I immediately selected a pattern, grabbed the ball of yarn that screamed "pick me!" and made Miriam a hat. I didn't really think about it, and I certainly didn't consider it an act of kindness, much less an Act of Kindness. I'm a knitter, my friend needed a hat. End of story. (And to make it a really great story, Miriam later told me that the color I picked was her very favorite. Moral: listen when your yarn talks to you...).

All of this came back to my mind yesterday when I read in one of the charitable knitting groups on Ravelry that someone had made something for a co-worker. To me, that isn't charity. And it's not an act of kindness. It's being a good person. I wonder what has happened to our world, that some people think that doing something nice for someone they know, someone they presumably care about, is suddenly label worthy. Yes, it feels good to help others, and yes, it also feels good to be recognized for doing so. But if that has become our motivation - recognition, appreciation, compliments - then how "charitable" or "kind" are we actually being? Are we doing these things because we want to help others, or because we want others to realize how kind, how generous, we are?

I struggle with this myself. Of course it's fun when people tell you how great you are. But is that my only motivation? I have mostly stopped posting on social media about the things I do, with the exception of Ravelry, which is where I keep track of the things I make. In that charitable knitting group, we share what we've made and who it's for, and everyone gives each other a lot of support, encouragement, and appreciation. It's a great community, and people are lovely there. And I think most, if not all, of the people there do what they do because it brings them joy to help others. But sometimes I feel a little weird making an announcement to the group that I've done this, or that. It feels a bit self-aggrandizing to me. (Note: I don't feel that way about other people's posts, just my own).

Because to me, it shouldn't be about the label, or even about the action itself. To me, it should be about the emotion. Because the world doesn't need more labels, or more selfies. It needs more caring.

It's a Wrap

Or a blanket, actually.

Seven weeks, fourteen plus skeins of yarn, two crochet hooks, and lots (and lots) of ends woven in. Michael said he wanted dark colors, with an accent color (visualize hands weaving through the air) wandering through. Well, hopefully my wobbly attempts at surface chain stitching will be wandering enough. Now to get the blanket to his parents' house in Jerusalem and wait for him to come home for a weekend. Not sure when that will be, medical school is keeping him pretty busy down south in Beersheva. Hopefully he will come soon, because winter is finally here and I'm sure a warm blanket would come in handy about now.

Made My Day

The other day I got a text message that made my day. 

Six weeks prior, I had donated a bunch of hats, cowls, and fingerless mitts to an organization that serves at-risk youth in my city (the photo only shows a small sample). The coordinator, Oren, even came to my house to pick up the stuff, which is almost unheard of. He is a very sweet guy, who showed me the van they use to drive to a different neighborhood each night. The van is outfitted with a small table and a couple of benches, plus a stack of plastic stools, games, everything needed for making coffee and tea, and - for this time of year - blankets. He explained that the teens they meet are very hesitant to accept help, including gifts. He told me they would probably wear the things I made while they hung out with Oren and his volunteers, but would leave them behind when they left. He explained that the teens he sees do have a place to sleep at night, though it's not what you and I would call "home." 

A week later Oren sent me a bunch of photos of the teens wearing the things I had made. Is there anything better than getting pictures of the gifts you made being enjoyed? I asked Oren what else I could make for them, more mitts perhaps since I didn't get a chance to make many pairs. He replied, thank you so much but what we have will last us for quite a while. I confess I felt a bit sad, because I wanted to think the teens would keep the hats and things, and enjoy them every day - not just once a week when Oren came back to their neighborhood. And, selfishly perhaps, I wanted the pleasure of making more things for them. Certainly I had not been able to make enough that every teen Oren sees would get something.

Then the other day, Oren texted to tell me that the teens loved what I had made so much that the things were all gone, and would it be possible for me to make more. Wow. Of course it's possible! 

I don't think I can describe how happy it makes me to know that these teens felt able to accept a gift, to feel that they deserve to have a hat of their own. I hope they can feel the love that went into each stitch, and know that they are lovable just as they are.

Thankful

I have made a conscious effort this year to remember things I am thankful for at the end of each day. Some days this is super easy, but some days it can be very, very hard to do.

One thing I am very thankful for is the wonderful group of women in England and America who have given a new home to my neglected cross stitching stash. It has made me so happy to pack up the patterns and kits, write a quick note, and send them off.

It can be tough sorting through long-held possessions and making the decision to, shall we say, deacquisition. It's easier when you know where to take these no-longer needed items, even if it's only to the recycling bin. Tossing them in the trash is the worst. But when you know they are going somewhere where they will be appreciated, it's a terrific feeling. 

Imagining these gals looking at the patterns and the accompanying photos, then starting to create, is almost as good as making them myself, as I had once intended to do (and, to be honest, many of them I did make). Today I learned that the first package has arrived. And I feel very thankful.

Creativity and Snobbery

I promised myself a while ago that one day I would give watercolor painting a try. Like many others creative people, I have experimented with lots of different outlets over the years: cross stitching, needlepoint, rubber stamping, scrapbooking, collage, mixed media, sewing, bead making, quilting... and more I have forgotten to include. I didn't even include knitting and crocheting, because those are things I still do every day.

I finally decided to stop just thinking about trying watercolors. Stop just reading blogs and articles, stop just watching videos on YouTube, and actually sit down and give it a real try. It's easy to spend a lot of time observing but not actually doing. After a while, you start to feel like those other people out there know absolutely how it should be done. The "right" way. Then the doubts creep in, and you start to feel frozen... but what if I can't do it the way they do? I don't have the "right" paper, the "right" paints, the "right" brushes. I don't have a background in fine art, don't have an art degree, don't have a former career in graphics, and so on.

I have a million questions, but I realized the best way to answer them is to just try, and see what works for me. It's funny, though - if you look at comments on YouTube, most people ask about equipment brands, not about techniques or inspiration. I guess I'm not surprised to find that the world of watercolor is just as full of snobs as the world of knitting.

Some knitters are very proud of the fact that they will only knit with the finest wool, silk, cotton, whatever. They boast about being "yarn snobs." If that's what makes them happy, good for them. It would be nice, though, if they kept their judgmental comments to themselves. The knitters I hang out with on the knitting/crocheting community Ravelry are not yarn snobs. Like me, they are perfectly happy knitting with 100% acrylic, or acrylic blends. Those yarns are more affordable, and garments and blankets made from them are easy to care for. Sure, knitting with nice quality wool is a pleasure, but I have a lot of fun knitting with my humble acrylic yarn, too. And for me, that's what it's about - having fun.

Right now, I don't have the top of the line artist grade paints. I don't own any sable brushes. I don't paint on the handmade, cotton paper the "real" artists use. If I get to the point that I use up all of my economy grade paint and inexpensive paper and feel motivated to keep painting, I might look into buying something that is a little better quality and give that a try. But I'm in no rush, because - guess what? I'm having fun.

Good Thing I Love Him

First of all, please believe me that the colors in this blanket are not really this ugly. The olive green is not quite so yellow, for one thing.

Anyway.... there comes a time for me in every large project where I just want to call in the house elves to get the thing done. I don't usually mind sewing blocks together and weaving in ends, but this is getting old. The good news is I am halfway done! Actually, I've done five rows of six blocks, and have only four rows to go. So yay, me.

Large projects like this mean fewer finishes to share. But I'm hoping a progress report will give me the push to finish this blanket and get it to our nephew, who is studying medicine at Ben Gurion University. It gets pretty chilly in the desert during the winter, you know.

Onward!

What I Chose

When my parents moved out of the home they had lived in for nearly 40 years, they naturally had a serious accumulation of stuff. I was offered many things, but since I have been trying to get rid of a lot of my own stuff, there wasn't much that I truly wanted. But I wanted this blanket.

My mother has always been more of a dabbler in needlework, and many of her projects (needlepoint in particular) have never been finished. But she made this blanket, in afghan stitch, out of 100% wool. It weighs a ton. It would be special enough because she made it, but added to that is the fact that my grandmother, Blanche, and I helped. We each did the cross stitch embroidery on one panel, and my mother added our initials.

So when I was offered my choice to things to take back home with me, I chose this blanket. Three generations of handwork. And love.

Cross Stitch Destash 4

Just a few last charts looking for a home. Skater chart has been colored in. Thanks for looking.
Note: Humboldt Coast has been claimed.

Rose Garden has been claimed.

Cross Stitch Destash 3

All of these charts have been claimed!
More things, charts this time, that need a new home.

Cute little chart. The cat has been colored in with a highlighter marker on the chart.

Another fun stitching project.

Love this sweet chart, given to me by a wonderful friend, who also included the floss called for. Sadly, I never got around to making this.

Please let me know if any of these catch your interest!

Cross Stitch Destash 2

Here is something else that needs to go. Free to a good home.

This kit was given to me by a friend years ago. She actually started stitching it, but didn't get very far at all. The floss is already sorted into the organizer that came with the kit. If you are interested, I can post more photos. I believe if you tap (or click) on this photo it will enlarge so you can see better.

Cross Stitch Destash

Like most crafters, I have tried many things over the years. First, my grandmother taught me to knit when I was a kid. Then I picked up needlepoint, and from there counted cross stitch.

But as I get older, my eyesight enjoys certain hobbies less and less. Unfortunately, counted cross stitch is becoming too difficult for me to manage. A magnifying lamp purchased years ago is not helpful, because every time I take a stitch, I bump into it, and then it wobbles for several seconds. 

So I am beginning a destash of my collection of kits and patterns. Free to a good home. Above is a little plastic canvas kit complete with floss. Not sure anyone but me still uses a desktop computer, but it could easily be attached to something else, like a bulletin board.

This is a sweet little kit. Open but unused. This has been claimed.

Another cute kit, opened but unused. The fabric has become separated from the kit though.

This has been claimed.

If you're interested in any of these, please email me or, if you're on Ravelry, send me a pm. I will be posting more items soon.

Make it Colorful

About a year ago, Liat bought one of those plain, standard IKEA tv tables. Her roommate at the time absolutely didn't want white, so Liat reluctantly purchased the black version. Like me, Liat loves bright, cheerful colors. But at the time, there was the possibility that the roommate would one day buy the table from her, so being a good sport, she went along.

This fall, Liat moved into her own apartment. One of the first things she asked me to do was to somehow perk up the sliding doors of the cabinet front of the table. It didn't take me long to come up with an idea I was sure she would love.

Using the inserts from videos and dvds and some Mod Podge, I decorated the sliding doors with Disney collages. In the end, I used images from 28 different movies. I also used a paper punch in the shape of a Mickey Mouse silhouette to make 36 hidden Mickeys that are scattered throughout the two collages. A couple of them were coated with glow in the dark paint, because sometimes I just can't help myself.

She loves it!

On Little Cat Feet

Fog

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

     Carl Sandburg

A dear friend (who I met back in the days of my Yahoo 360 blog) asked me recently if I was blogging again. Of course that put the idea back in my head, and here I am. I have wandered away, and then returned, to this blog quite a few times over the years. I always wonder if I should make a big deal out of coming back, apologizing for the hiatus, or just casually pick back up again.

Lately I have been trying to fly under the radar, reducing my presence on social media sites especially. But I miss blogging, the writing and the sharing of it. And perhaps not surprisingly, when I don't blog, I don't read other people's blogs, either.

So here I am, creeping back, for another go at this. Let's see what happens this time around.

Stash Busting

After being on Ravelry (an on-line community for knitters, crocheters, spinners, and weavers) for over five years, I finally took advantage of the Stash feature in December of 2014. I took out my entire stash of yarn and photographed it, uploading the photos and information about the yarn (including where it was stored) to Ravelry. What an enormous help that has turned out to be. Now I know exactly what I have (and where it's hiding!). I also browse through my stash photos whenever I feel tempted by pretty, new yarns. Looking through what I already have reminds me to appreciate - and use - what I already own.

For the past thirteen months, I have made a concerted effort to knit up my stash. Not just the new skeins that I just had to have (way back when) and still haven't gotten to, but also all of the partial skeins, bits and bobs left over from other projects. I didn't get around to updating my entire stash library last December, but now as I go I post updated photos. It's so rewarding to see my stock of yarns dwindling down. I truly think I could knit only with the yarn I already have for at least five more years before I even got close to being "out of yarn". 

I am so glad to have gotten out of the (very common) mindset of "have to have it". I felt that way about the yarn I already have, and I still haven't used most of that. Why would I want to keep adding more and more? I am trying to simplify and declutter the rest of my house, and my yarn stash definitely needs the same attention. I have knitted and crocheted up a fair amount of stash yarn in the last thirteen months. I have given some yarn away, and I have even (gasp!) thrown out some horribly scratchy yarn that was given to me years ago with the best of intentions by a lovely knitter. I am continuing in 2016 to happily put into service the beautiful yarn I already own. If I find I don't have something suitable for a specific project, I will buy more yarn. But mostly, I am thinking of projects to make that will use what I already have, and enjoying every moment.

Get Out of Jail Free

Many years ago, my husband received this game as a going away present after working for an organization for five years. He was insulted, to say the least. After letting this game take up space in our home for over twenty years, I was all set to throw the pieces into the recycling, when I had one of those "I'm havng a thought here, Barbossa" moments. (Still in love with Captain Jack Sparrow, can't be helped).

A thin coat of gesso applied with a card. That's better already.

Might as well stick with the theme. The printed pages were the game instructions.

Whoa! Just a little too bright, maybe? Actually, by this point I had already painted, gessoed over, and repainted the background. 

Adding marks. I used a stencil, the edge of a credit card, bubble wrap, the oval plastic piece that comes in a stick deodorant, and the circle is the extra handle from a cooking pot (long story). The solid white rectangles were made with a sponge, and the open small, white squares and rectangles were made with the bottoms of a house and a hotel from the game.

I waned to use lots of elements from the game. The tree was painted in black acrylic.

Adding details. I stamped a swirly line over the property cards using Staz On ink, used the Community Chest cards (enhanced with paint) for the windows and doors. Tree was accented with a Posca pen and a water-based Sharpie poster pen. 

I smudged white paint around the houses and upwards to soften some of the brightness of the sky and to create the illusion of fog. I added shading to the houses with colored pencils, did outlining with various pens, and covered the windows with Glossy Accents to make them shine.

The back.

Repurposed Boxes

We recently bought a bunch of thermal shirts, and I thought the boxes they came in would make great drawers for storing crafting supplies. I covered the top and sides with recycled, painted printer paper, and gave it a coat of Mod Podge. I painted the front of the drawer, too. I may end up decorating the box more, but for now I like it as it is. I need to decide if I am going to glue all the boxes together in a stack or not.