Three for Three

With a whole DAY to spare this month, I've completed another shawl. That's three months, three shawls.

Seven still to go though, but only one more big one after last months Adamas shawl.

In another month or two, I should have enough evidence to get away with anything by pleading insanity, right?

In Which I Go 3-D

I'm not quite sure why I've been creating Goddess type female forms lately. A few weeks back my Felt Club project of a jointed doll took on definitely Goddess-like proportions, now this.

Tentatively I've titled her "Antiquity". She has the appearance of an aged artifact, created by gold leaf paint and patina spray over paper clay on the torso, and gold leaf and patina over collaged Latin text on the base, both with a smudging of walnut ink to stain and age it a bit. The gold leaf left the tiniest bit of raised texture, so when the patina sank into the paper clay it really gives a pitted appearance that doesn't show well in photography.

This makes collage/mixed media on canvas and mixed media sculpture that I've, if not conquered, at least made a decent showing in. Next up - more knitting (I'm still plugging away on the 10 in 2010 shawl challenge) and some assemblage/junk art. Unless of course something manages to distra.....Oooooh, shiny, looky!

Age Old Question in Mixed Media

"But is it Art?" This is a question many people have faced, but seems to be especially predominant to those practicing "non-traditional" art forms. You created an art quilt? "But is it really art? Isn't it just sewing?" You designed and knitted a lovely lace pattern "But isn't that just a craft?" You work in mixed media, collage, and found object art - "But what is it?"

It doesn't matter. Art is anything that comes from your soul, or speaks to your heart. It's not limited to guys who died long ago, or people who attended fancy art schools. It's creating something that has never existed before, something that brings beauty into the world, joy into peoples lives, or makes them stop and think for a moment about the world around them.

The answer is in the second half of the canvas "What is Art?" Really, do any of us know? Does it really matter?

Your turn. Go create something that reminds you of this, and put it on the wall where you can see it.

Just in Time - and Eight to Go

The 10 in 2010 challenge is based on Oslo, Norway time, which means a midnight deadline is 6 p.m. here. My February entry is Adamas, a free pattern from Ravelry, knit in a yummy alpaca/silk blend. It's times like this I wish the internet had a "touch-o-vision" feature, so everyone could see just how soft and fluffy this yarn is in the finished shawl.

I finished it a little after 5 p.m. and put on blocking wires and logged it on Ravelry at 5:22 this afternoon. (Well, the final logging was a bit later, due to the fact that my computer decided it hates me.) Yes, cut this one a little bit close. Fortunately the Mmario Mmystery Shawl is almost halfway done. With any luck March should be a little less hectic.

Further Proof I've Lost It

This is the Hylym shawl. Named Hylym for "Have You Lost Your Mind". This is my first "original" design (I use the quotes, because the edging came from a knitting stitch pattern book, so it was more of an original assembly than original design). It's knit in size 8 perle cotton on size 0000 needles. No, that's not a typo. That really is 4 zeros.

I think it turned out pretty well. The quarter gives you some idea of the insanity of the scale here. The ruffle is definitely cute - enough so I've contemplated tackling a full sized version for me. Please note, if I see men in white coats, I will not answer the door, I will just send my furry minions out to surround them and demand chickenses in adorable little ferret voices until they expire from the cute.

Now off to finish February's contribution to the 10 in 2010 madness...

Calling All Spinners!

Are you a spinner? Or even a wanna-be spinner? Do you have bits and bobs of fiber waiting to be spun, but no idea what to make from it? Have you always wanted to be exhibited in a fine art gallery?

Weird as it seems, yes, those questions DO go together! Pluckyfluff is coordinating an art show in Lillehammer that encompasses the work of fiber artists world wide. As part of this, she is assembling a gigantic skein of handspun yarn to be included in the exhibit. Information on requirements and where to send your yarn is on her blog. She is willing to accept multiple skeins, but time is short - submissions need to be to her by March 1.

Now get out there and get spinning! It's your (and all of our!) chance to show what fiber artists can do!

One Down, Nine to Go

As I mentioned last week, I signed up for the "10 in 2010" shawl challenge. Frighteningly enough, I'm on track so far. This is the Windsbraut, Wintersturm, started January 1st Oslo, Norway time, which was 6 pm December 31st my time, finished January 16th my time.

Just because it's done, doesn't mean it was drama free. About six rows from the end, I realized that I am still knitting huge for some reason (see the previous debacle with the FAO beret), and was going to run out of yarn. Fortunately I was able to not only locate some more, but locate some locally through Ravelry's stash options. Final tally, the first ball ran out 3 1/2 rows from the end. Yikes! If I had had to rip the whole thing out and reknit on smaller needles - well, let's just say it wouldn't have been pretty.

This puts my tally at 1 small completed, 2 large in progress, and 7 to start. Oh yeah, and all those UFO's haunting me. Yikes. Just keep knitting.....