Knitting

Grape Jelly, Pots and Paper

August 19, 2014January 15, 2015 mud&stringLeave a comment

JELLY GIRL

This photo is so totally cute, so totally Sprout, I have no words…..

POTS

This little guy started out as pinch pot practice, then it grew on me and I added some coils and I just this second saw a funky face on it. Does anyone else see a face? Not sure I like what I’m seeing. Freaking me out a little to be honest.

This one slid in under the radar, for some reason, I have no notes on it at all, so I have no idea what it’s glazed with. Salt celadon, maybe?

IMPULSE BUY

I saw these on my latest trip to Hobby Lobby and picked up a couple on a whim, a pack of watercolor and one pack Bristol. Here’s a couple of things I’ve been playing at –

The top two are spray inks, the bottom left is watercolor and Pitt pen and the right is Pitt pen and Copic marker over watercolor.

By the way, I finally broke down and got a couple of Pitt pens and I love love love them! They’ve totally lived up to my expectations, why did I wait so long???

One today is worth two tomorrows. Benjamin Franklin

Knitting

*MOMM Finally Shared

August 14, 2014August 14, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

FINALLY SHARED

I can finally share the mixed media project that I put together for Charlee. I wanted it to be a surprise and since Babymama reads this blog, I had to keep it on the down low, even hiding it in the house whenever she came to visit.

I think this is my favorite piece so far, all full of girly.

I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else. Pablo Picasso

*My Own Mixed Media

Knitting

Pics and Pots

August 5, 2014August 5, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

THROWING THINGS

They had a big firing at the pottery studio last week and two of my pots made it into the kiln. Both turned out really well, but one is amazing. Funny thing, working with clay. Sometimes mistakes turn out to be the best pieces.

I’m not sure what happened to this pot, I think I bumped it when I was taking it off the wheel and having a really thin spot didn’t help, so it sort of collapsed. I really liked the shape, though, and decided to keep it. The shape reminds me of a calla lily.

For the glaze, I did a total dip of Rhodes Turquoise with a rim dip of Tin Purple.

I can’t remember what glaze I used for this pot and I left my notes at the studio. I have to run something back to the art center, so I’ll duck in and grab my notebook while I’m there. This pot isn’t as “catchy” as the other one, but I love its simple lines and that it has just enough texture to make the glaze interesting.

FUN WITH MIXED MEDIA

These are a couple of backgrounds I’m working on, incorporating modeling paste and spray inks.

As usual, I’ve been a busy bee and have a new knitting project on the needles to share tomorrow, stay tuned!

I always find beauty in things that are odd and imperfect – they are much more interesting. Marc Jacobs

Knitting

More MOMM, Creative Constipation

July 31, 2014July 31, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

*MOMM

Here’s a look at this week’s mixed media project. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it either.

Old colorwheel

Dylusions spray ink

Assorted stickers, homemade and store bought

Doodles

Stencils, homemade and store bought

Stamps

Acrylic paint

THE DOCUMENTED LIFE UPDATE

The week 31 challenge was to add a pocket to your project. I decided to draw a one instead of using the real thing and then adding odds and ends to fill it. What do you think?

I finally figured out how to produce the intense colors I envied on other people’s projects! Thanks YouTube!

SLUMP

I feel like I’m a little blocked as far as pottery goes. I see tons of stuff I want to make, but when I get into the studio, the only things coming off the wheel are bowls and more bowls. Maybe I need a break or maybe I’m spread a little too thin, with several different projects going at the same time. I can definitely feel my lack of focus. Maybe a couple of days of creativity rest, focusing on NOT being busy, would help. Could I even accomplish it without going nuts? Do I even want to try?

*My Own Mixed Media

No day in which you learn something is a complete loss. David Eddings

Knitting

Wondrous Box, Ding Dong, 1906

July 25, 2014July 25, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

THIS IS A TEST, THIS IS ONLY A TEST

I’ve been experimenting a lot with different paints and inks over the past few days, since I had a small cash windfall last week and was able to buy a couple of items that I’d been coveting for a while, buying one thing at a time when I’d saved a little bit of what my mom called “mad money”. Anyway, I bought two bottles of Dylusions ink,one bottle of Fresh Lime and one bottle of London Blue. I’ve enjoyed just playing with the colors trying out different techniques that I see being demoed (is that a word?) on Facebook.

KNOCK KNOCK WHO’S THERE

This guy was on our doorstep yesterday when I went to bring in the newspaper. He looks mad, probably because he couldn’t reach the doorbell – unless it was him I caught doing the big nasty with his girlfriend and took a picture, in which case that’s what he’s mad about.

WONDROUS BOX

Hurray!! My July Yarnbox arrived yesterday, here’s what was inside-

Two skeins of Airy from Unique Chic Studio

1000(!) yd each

80% Tussah Silk/20% Merino

Fresh Colorway

Now, what does this lovely fiber want to be? A scarf? A shawl? Whatever it decides, it’s sure to be delicate,lacy and floaty.

Linking with Frontier Dreams and Tami today. Pay them a visit and prepare to be inspired!

PARTING SHOT

1906 Postcard

The most successful people are those who are good at Plan B. James Yorke

Knitting

WIP Wednesday 7/23/14, How Cool Is This?, Booklove

July 23, 2014July 23, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

ON THE NEEDLES

The Liesl Sweater is coming along nicely, I love patterns that move along faster and faster the closer to one gets to the finish. When the first line of a pattern directs you to cast on 276 stitches, I know I’m in for a long haul to the finish. I have to REALLY love the finished product for that first line not to faze me. That describes Liesl.

Notice my nest? Everything I need within an easy reach, sketchbook,iPod,iPhone.

Oh, by the way, that odd sort of flappy thing in the middle? It’s a pocket and there’s another one on the other side.

BROWN NO MORE

When I inherited Mr. IKnead’s iPad, I also inherited the case. Absolutely nothing wrong with it – except for the color. Don’t misunderstand me – I love brown, look at Liesl up there. Brown is good, the color of coffee and chocolate, after all, but the brown cover just wasn’t doing it for me. So, I changed it. There’s a little of everything, inks, stamps, stencils and acrylic paint. I love the way it turned out. Take a look for yourself.

The Outside

The Inside

Am I finished? I haven’t decided. I went ahead and sprayed it with Krylon Kamar Fixative since some of the inks I used are waterbased and will run/spread with direct contact with liquid; going ahead with the fixative may have made my decision for me, if it can’t be painted or inked after the Krylon has been applied.

BOOKLOVE

I’m rereading Joe Hill’s NOS4A2 and it’s just as creepy as it was the first time around.

I’m linking with the usual Wednesday folks, Tami, Ginny and Frontier Dreams.

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. Carl Jung

Knitting

Finally A FO, New MOMMs, Challenge Completed

July 18, 2014July 18, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

OFF THE NEEDLES

Yay!!! I finally have a FO! I finished the Crazy Monkey socks and they turned out to be fabulous! I haven’t decided whether they will be a gift or whether they will take up residence in MY sock drawer, even though they’re a tad snug. If you missed the details, you can catch up here.

If you’re new to knitting two at a time toe ups or just want to try the technique, this pattern is a good one, well written with easy to understand instructions.

MOMM*/THE DOCUMENTED LIFE PROJECT UPDATES

I have a couple of mixed media projects to share, along with this week’s TDL completed challenge. The challenge this week was to add a wish list. My list ended up underneath my project layers, with just a word or two showing.

The bubbles on the facing page just sort of happened when I was trying out new markers and pencils, I love how it looks!

You can read more about The Documented Life Project here.

Here are some “freestyle” mixed media projects I’ve been working on.

I usually just start out with a color that appeals to me, then the layers of whatever catch my eye just happen.

Watch the Birdie

I’ve been a little fixated on birds for a while, so they show up pretty regularly. It helps that the bird shape is simple enough for me to sketch freehand.

Drawing flowers is another recent fixation, I found a photo of a gorgeous calla lily on Pinterest and tried to recreate it.

SOON TO BE BIG SISTER

My precious middle granddaughter and soon to be big sister, Babydiva

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Confucius

*My Own Mixed Media

Knitting

On a Tuesday

June 17, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

TUESDAYS

Anyone remember the Seinfeld schtick about how Tuesdays just don’t have a “feel”? A feel as in “Mondays have a let down feel, just coming off the weekend and all; Wednesdays have a definite, halfway to the weekend feel; Thursdays carry that almost Friday and the end of the work week feel; and then that incredible Friday feel, which needs no explanation. Poor Tuesday, with no real “feel”, except maybe the “at least it’s not Monday” feel. This really isn’t going anywhere, just some random thoughts that run through my head, taking up some of the short term memory circuits until another totally random thought moves in and hangs out for a while.

TDL UPDATE

Week 25 Challenge

Cover Your Page with Hearts

One of my favorites so far!

More information on The Documented Life Project can be found here.

*MOMM

Here’s a look at my latest independent mixed media project-

As usual, this one has a bit of everything, paper, buttons, stamps, stencils, just whatever strikes my fancy at that particular moment. Mixed media has taught me that the concept of art is very, very fluid, with no right or wrong way to create. I totally LOVE that!

*My Own Mixed Media

PARTING SHOT

The only real valuable thing is intuition. Albert Einstein

Knitting

Room, I Need More Room

June 8, 2014June 8, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

MORE ROOM, PLEASE

My idea awhile ago to devote Sunday posts to spinning hasn’t played out, mostly because my spinning/knitting/yarn room has, for the last couple of weeks, been doubling as an art journal room, with a table and a rolling bin taking up what was left of the floor space and very little, if any, spinning has occurred. Mr. Iknead and I are working on freeing up more space in another room, but moving stuff around creates a domino effect and before we know it, rearranging one room leads to rearranging another, and another, and on and on.

THE DOCUMENTED LIFE PROJECT

TDL is the culprit for the abovementioned difficulty. My art journal is growing fatter and fatter. I’m not sure it’s going to make it though the remaining 28 weeks without major surgery or at the very least, a cover transplant. A small price, I say, since I love working on it so much. i’ve been practicing drawing faces for the past few days. Up until now, I’ve collaged most of my pages, but after seeing other members’ journal posts, i decided to give it a whirl. I did this one today-

I sketched her, then painted her using watercolors.

So that’s what I’ve been up to these past few days. How about you?

PARTING SHOT

Wisdom begins in wonder. Socrates

Knitting

Still Documenting

May 31, 2014May 30, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

TDL

Still going strong with The Documented Life art journal. I started about 12 weeks late, after reading about it on a blog I follow. I finally got caught up last week and while I’m not working on it as obsessively as I was when I was trying to catch up, I find myself doing page prep and trying out new ideas and techniques off and on during the day. Honestly, I don’t think “techniques” is the right word for what I do. It’s more like “I wonder what would happen if……” I love doing this stuff! Taking part in this project has shown me my inner artist – the one I didn’t know I had. Here are some of my pages –

Monochromatic Challenge

This challenge was to ask someone else to start on my drawing, then I was to finish it. Mr. Iknead started with a drawing of his iPad. I couldn’t get the image of a theater ticket or the idea of a premier out of my head and this was what developed.

Draw A House Challenge

I saw a pin of some crooked pottery houses and pinned it with the intention of trying the idea out in my pottery class. Guess the images stayed with me.

PARTING SHOT

If the good people, in their wisdom, shall see fit to keep me in the background, I have been too familiar with disappointments to be very much chagrined. Abraham Lincoln

Edited with BlogPad Pro

Knitting

The Documented Life Project – Playing Catch Up

May 22, 2014May 22, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

CATCHING UP

I’ve been promising to catch up my TDL Art Journal photos and now is the time. Here goes:

Add a flap to your flap

Collage something you recycled

Make a list of the things that make you you

Draw, photograph or collage a bird onto.your page

This one is especially special to me. I gave my mother the hummingbird magnet several years ago and it was on her refrigerator up until she passed away and my oldest grandbaby painted the picture of the ducks as a gift to me.

Cut up a magazine -add

Use a rubber stamp in a new way

Add embroidery or embroidery floss to your page -no floss? Use thread

I printed out my favorite poem, gave it a watercolor wash and sewed it into my journal. Then, I added a pocket to contain a vintage handmade hankie that belonged to one of my favorite aunts.

So that’s it so far. A new challenge will be posted Saturday morning, so stay tuned!

We are all something, but none of us are everything.

Knitting

Busy, But With What?

May 6, 2014 mud&stringLeave a comment

DISTRACTED

Suddenly this evening I realized that I hadn’t posted since Saturday. I know it’s only Monday, but I’ve really worked at getting into the at least three posts a week habit and truly, I enjoy posting, putting my thoughts in order and then onto the page; I mean, the “virtual” page. I don’t remember the last time I hunted up a workable pen and a sheet of paper to write. Nowadays, handwriting, for me, is limited to list making and reminders, and even those are slowly being edged out by my iPad.

TDLP

My art journal has been kept me especially occupied the last few days. Here are a couple of my entries over the past few days.

This Week’s Challenge

Document a Random Act of Kindness

The two coffee cups represent the RAK I received in the drive-thru at Starbucks when the person ahead of me paid for my latte, which I then passed on to the car behind me.

Last Week’s Challenge

Document an Inspirational Quote

I loved the imagination/kite analogy. I’m not sure who to credit for this, maybe Lauren Bacall?

ON/OFF THE NEEDLES

Hitchhiker is finished! Official FO pics on Friday. Very pleased with how it turned out. Stay tuned….

Knitting has commenced in earnest on Vivacious Chocolate Shrug with the first three inches of the first cuff completed. The Fyberspates yarn is a joy to knit, with just the right amount of squishy; I see more of this yarn in my future.

If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves. Thomas Edison