okay then
This vision
Turns into this
And then into this
And then it had a new thought...
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Monday, April 30, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
color hangover
Thank you to everybody for your ideas for the blanket. Just to set the record straight- it is not that I do not want to please the recipient - it is that I have a difficult time telling what is a muted/subtle color. (Right Erin? Remember the color angst I went through knitting socks?) My color sense is what some may call *ahem* unique. Know that over here we love unique and I must say that one this one my drum beats pretty loud. If I did not want to knit something that the family would like, then I would not. If I wanted to give something that *I* wanted to give, with zero thought to the recipient it would be something goofy like a paper shredder or a blender. (Not, but you get my point.)
I will knit a pinwheel blankie (Thanks Cece!)and I will do one like we did at camp, Carla (who is blog free-not blog-less. Carla, for the record I will continue to use center pull yarn cakes from the outside. Chin up in the face of ridicule, I say! <snort>). But not for this project, I think.
Yesterday I was in a complete color frenzy. After reading Cara's method that she adapted from Ruth, I spent about a zillion hours mucking about in photoshop. This was the initial inspiration...
There is no photo of the photoshop-ed stained glass. Sorry. This vase is amazing and has a backstory. My parents (one set of them- my family needs an org chart) sold our house of 30 years. It is where Craig & I got married, it is where my heart is. It was sold to some very good people who will take excellent care of it and still the selling of Seabluff (our house's name) is like a death in the family. When my folks sold, they very generously gave us a bunch of the antiques they had purchased when they initially furnished the house ( in about 1976- the antiques generally are from 1830-1890). This little vase somehow made it from California to Virginia tucked inside a hutch. It is so worn and so beautiful that I can barely stand it. The bottom is stamped "Sterling Silver" with a royal crown and the number 20 next to it. I do not dare polish it as it would lose much of the charm it exudes.
Look at all the variation. It makes me so happy both from a familial and color standpoint. yes, I am waxing about a very old (most likely) vase that means nothing to anyone but me. The patina makes me NUTS in a great way. So this vase appreciation moment brought forth some stash diving. This is what I found...
So, I did take the suggestions of Jewel tones. From left to right (all are STR Heavyweight): Bronze, Boysenberry, Jade, and Amethyst. There was much fussing and himming and hawing. Here is another combo, omitting the Amethyst (which is not nearly this blue, must learn to use the camera correctly).
There were a few more additions and subtractions, but on the whole I really like these three colors. And then I saw this and it all went to hell in a hand bucket.
Comments Love your color choices!! Love that last photograph - the yarn selection is perfect! As with my socks, you chose the perfect yarn. I LOVE the colors. This is going to be so beautiful. And I do know what you mean about taking the time to knit something you AND they will enjoy. Makes perfect sense to me. I love the colors too. I think the bright colors will accent the muted ones just nicely. I can't wait to see how the project transpires. Oh wow - that will be beautiful! I love the idea of creating color schemes with photographs for inspiration. I also love that vase. Don't you dare polish it - don't you watch Antiques Roadshow?!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Subtle colors
Color for me is such a turn on, so intoxicating. It makes me so happy. Truly there is not a color I do not like. That said, I may not like a color for a particular purpose (me wearing dusty rose- ACK!) and at the same time, I know that each color is beautiful and has a place. Some might need a wing-man for them to perk up and be gorgeous but the potential is there for all color. I seriously believe this. Fervently.
Saturated color just about puts me around the bend. Full strength color is an elixir to me. Tonal color ways may make me completely giddy. Primary colors? Sometimes and not together. Tertiary colors turn me into a puddle of goo.
Angus' new teacher Miss Nicole (sic) is a knitter! Yay! (How often to you get to ask your child's teacher if she knows the Harlot?) And almost any minute Miss Nicole (sic) is expecting a baby girl! Baby knitting! And baby girl knitting? That n-e-v-e-r happens around here. A very exciting opportunity. At first, I thought I would make baby socks, having just taken Cat's class... that is what the class was about- socks! (Still my experience of Cat eclipsed what the class was about- though I will say I learned some AMAZING things that I had a hard time understanding and Cat let me noodle it out and now the knowledge is MINE and in my` little lizard hind-brain forever. Freaking love Cat. She is the Feynman of knitting.)
Now I am looking at my recent Camp Purchases and thinking that a blanket might be in order. A blanket out of STR Heavy Weight...
So in the Conga-Line of pick up (not hook-up which sounds way, way more provocative), I asked Miss Nicole if she knew the colors of her new daughter's room. No, they have not picked yet. So I asked the next logical question: What colors do you like? Bright? Subtle? Primary? Not Primary?
This was my downfall. I should never have asked. Really, we all know that I am going to knit whatever the heck I want regardless of what she tells me. Her answer was Muted and not Primary. I stink at Muted. (But if you call it Tonal, I'm all in. Weird, I know.) One of my cousins is married to a wonderful gal who was born in the UK and they now live in Atlanta. We bought one of their daughters a dress that I thought was extremely Muted and to them it was Neon. Sigh. Cousin's wife does genteel and I do WAAAAAAAAAA!!!! and yet I fool myself that I do genteel.
So what colors do I use? I am thinking of doing mitres or maybe a log cabin. I thought about the curlicue and realized I do not have the energy for it.
A healthy discussion is welcome. What do you do when you love brights and the recipient loves muted? HELP?
Comments You could do the blanket we did at camp! What about the pinwheel blanket?? It's pretty fun to make http://www.knitlist.com/00gift/round-baby-blanket.htm Okay, I'm just gonna give you some tough love....suck it up and just knit your best! The gift should please your recipient. (Was that too harsh? I hope not. I didn't mean to be too harsh.) P.S. We sold our house. Surprise them. It's amazing how people think "soft" for babies but don't realize how wonderful color can be. What about jewel tones? I used beautiful jewel toned Noro Silk Garden for an entrelac wrap that I never would have dreamed of using for a baby but WOW it came out so lovely and you know what - it's also kinda muted because it's mixed with some greens and browns and whatever. Being "muted" can mean so many things, but don't do boring or you won't want to finish the project! How about something in a variegated yarn? That way everyone gets the joy. NOT PINK, though, as predictable thou art not! What about purples/lavenders or a whole variegated forest of greens? OR strong blues with grey? Tres calming, those greys.... I hate to say it but I think you ought to try and please the recipient over yourself. But I like Laura's suggestion about the jewel tones. Good luck with choosing! See, now, this is why I don't knit for anyone but myself. I'm sure the giftee will be happy with anything you knit - but I'd be worried and knit what they like. If I knit at all. Books make really nice baby gifts. ;-)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
whirling
What a few weeks this has been. Moving out west again, new house, camp, two sets of houseguests, Duncan's 4 year check up, Angus' first Diabetes check up. When you are diabetic (at least a kid with type one), you get a check up quarterly. He did GREAT and everybody was really in praise of the job our family is doing managing his blood sugars. Honestly, I did not sleep at all the night before and finally I figured out why- I was afraid we were going to get another bombshell. (There are many things that Angus is now prone to, which are scary and awful and I am just going to ignore in the moment.)
In other Angus news- he did great on his "trial day" for the elementary program and is now in school as a rising first grader! In the fall he will be in the same class as an official first grader. In our old school he was a kindergartener and the oldest in his class (Montessori does mixed age class rooms). Now he is the one of the youngest and the change has been phenomenal and overnight. He is showing a maturity and poise that blows us away. They went to the library yesterday (on a field trip) and upon returning home, Angus grabbed his book and announced that he was off to do research. Research! Imagine!
Onto the knitting. Yes, really.
This color is a bear and a half to photograph. STR Heavyweight in Lover's Leap. Did two at once sleeves and they are fini! Yay! Doing both fronts and the back at the same time. Making good progress, I'd say. The color in the middle (the back & the fronts) is probably the most true.
And dude, who ever stole the refrigerator out of our house in Virginia? Shame on you. The rest of you? Love you like crazy!
Comments Someone stole your fridge? Weird. That looks like a beautiful place to sit and knit. Oh you! I wanted to leave a comment on your "thoughtful" post. :) Good for Angus and good for your family that he's doing well with his Diabetes. Lovely photo there - looks like it's from Real Simple magazine or something like that. How do you steal a refrigerator? Kind of hard to slip under your coat... Oh Lord, what a window. (can you hear the jealousy?) :D
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Sock Camp
Dude. Sock Camp was seriously b-e-y-o-n-d. I've been Bordhi-ed. I've been Harlotted. And man, oh man, have I been Blue Mooned.
The classes were perfect. Color theory with Tina? It was all I could do to keep from weeping tears of joy. Grok the Sock with Stephanie? Holy crap. Plus she gave a brief tutorial on intarsia in the round- a problem I have been trying to solve for YEARS. My brain is a happier place for learning this. Cat's class? Don't even remember what is was called, and honestly it doesn't matter- "Cat's class" says it all. Freaking love Cat.
My fellow campers were perfect. There is really no way to describe something as experiential as our few days together on Orcas. This week will be in my heart for a long time. Here are just a few pictures (I took about 800. 839 to be precise).
Comments GET. OUT. You went to SOCK CAMP??? GAH! It obviously had the proper effect on you. Tears. Impossible to describe. Zillions of photos. Put 'em on Flick for us. Please oh please do. How awesome for you. I'm glad you had such a great time. :) Er... or Flickr even. hah Yay! That looks fantastic! Great photos!! If you have any of me, will you send them to me please? Oh, and because you take such great photos, I will likely be linking you on my own blog. Hellloooooo!!!! I miss Sock Camp already. Work is for losers. HAHAHAHAHA! I'm actually a little bit better than the blanket. But just a little bit. Glad you had such a great time!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Big Day
Look at this little moosh.
Today he is Four.
Duncan, we love you Bigger Than the Sky.
There are no words.
All my love-
Mama
Comments *H*A*P*P*Y* *B*I*R*T*H*D*A *Y* ! Have a fab birthday Duncan. Oh I just love that top photograph! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUNCAN! Aww the Sweetness!! Happy Big Birthday Duncan! Happy Birthday Mr. Duncan! Happy Birthday, Duncan! I can't believe you're four! (and so much bigger than when I saw you last even - good job with all the growing)
I love it! It is going to be such a beautiful blanket when you finish.
Posted by: marti | April 30, 2007 01:42 PM
Love it!
Posted by: Cece | April 30, 2007 04:15 PM
Oooohhhhhh!!! I like! Pretty pretty!! Can't wait to see the finished blanket - I think this is a great pattern to use with this yarn rather than the pinwheel. The new mommy will love this!
Posted by: Laura | May 1, 2007 08:47 AM
Great colors!! I look foward to seeing this blanket grow-it is so very spring!
Posted by: Heather Shelton | May 6, 2007 12:12 PM