High Rotation Monday #5

Colour -- I need colour... The temperature is starting to rise a little but there is a cloud hanging over our house most days. I have been drawing and stitching and knitting and surrounding myself with lots and lots of colour. It seems to be working. 

Reading.
Amelia and I have been reading A Wrinkle in Time. Lily and I have been reading The Wishing Chair (the "children off on adventures through space and time" theme continues). I have been reading Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness for book club, and The Family Dinner (our Taco Tuesday experiment begins tomorrow) which is making me feel like I might be getting one tiny, happy thing right when it comes to our chaotic family life. 

Knitting.
I'm back into it again. I have found a friend here who is a knitting whizz and can help me navigate complicated patterns and brainstorm fabulous ideas. She has even encouraged me to buy some yarn from Purl Soho -- so you see, she a very good kind of friend. A knitting gang has spontaneously generated. I like my knitting crew - even though I tend to travel to distant parts of the island for knitting evenings and then realise I have no gas left in my car... thus ensuing madcap, terrifying late-night drives home, filling up my tank from friends' lawnmower gas supplies at various stops all the way back up the island. 

And so Ravelry.com (find me here) is back in high rotation.

I have my eye on this pattern. What do you think? Too tricky? I've never done cables before.

One day I may even knit a sweater for a horse.

Hourly Comics Day
Hourly Comics Day was last Friday-- the idea is to draw one comic every hour about something that happened in the hour before. I took part last year and it was pretty fun. I decided to try again this year and did two comics (one at 6am and one at 7am) before realising that it wasn't going to be compatible with my busy day. It's so much work and completely exhausting. I admire anyone who manages to squeeze it in to their days. Here are some from a few folks who not only managed to complete a comic every hour but who also managed to be bright, sensitive, moving, entertaining and talented all in a bundle:

Eleanor Davis
Anthony Clark
Emily Carol

And now, some cheerful music - close your eyes and pretend it's Sunny: 

via Songs for the Day.

My kids have just started karate classes so we have been talking about martial arts a little bit. Capoeira is incredible. 

Drawing 11 of 365

Illustration Friday - topic: Ocean.

Plus a 13 year old style eyeroll:

Drawing 10 of 365

Just squeaked this one in. Animated kitty! Now that was fun.

Drawing 9 of 365

Here's a doll left out in the garden to fend for herself and find a way back to her nice warm dollhouse.

I really didn't want to do this today; pages in my sketch book of listless doodles, a late night, a late start, other things to do, the novelty wearing off - all the usual suspects.

But I'm glad I pushed through with drawing number 10. When I think about it, there's probably going to be many more hard days than inspired days, so tricks and techniques for getting through it are going to be the key. My mantra for today was "when in doubt, draw girls in pretty dresses"... so that's where I started.

Tomorrow I intend to lash out with an entirely different colour palette. Have you noticed my predilection towards brown, pink, orange and black? Drawing 10 will be all about green and blue. Pinky promise.

Drawing 8 of 365

“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.” ― Voltaire

Dancing beatniks with their favourite books. This is a bit of a cheat as I actually started work on this ages ago - inspired by that great dance scene of Audrey Hepburn's from the film Funny Face. But I finished it today and I think I will be popping it up on Society6 in the next few days - I hope. Or etsy. I can't decide. Let me know if you are interested and I'll keep you posted. There will also be a version with the Voltaire quote for those who like quotes.

Day 8! Bam! xx

Drawing 7 of 365

The girls went back to school today after a couple of weeks of holidays. And what do I do? Sit down and draw them. Sad really.

Here's the early sketch version for the sake of keeping this all about the process:

And  here's an early version - I actually like this better than the final:

Can you spot the difference? Just a tiny thing that makes a world of difference.

It's probably a little truer to the relationship between the girls but to make a nice illustration that both girls will feel good about I changed it a little. If I had decided to make this nothing to do with my two actual daughters and called it "The McSquinty Sisters" or something, then this is definitely how I would have left it.

Now I'm going to go and wander about the quiet, quiet house wailing and wringing my hands until it's time to pick them up from school. (ha).

Drawing 6 of 365

Messing about with paints and pencils. One of these might eventually end up on a book plate. Now I am off to drink tea in front of the fire and contemplate cracking open a 1000 piece Charlie Harper jigsaw puzzle - which is a crazy thing to do on the last day of the Christmas Holidays and really should have been contemplated 10 days ago. The tea will be good regardless.

Drawing 5 of 365

Happy day 5. I'm feeling slightly collagey today. I also went to the art-supply store in town and bought some watercolours, so watch out, this ride is going to get crazy.

Illustration Friday - Edge

A work in progress for today's drawing (4 or 365!) and contribution to Illustration Friday. I just did a quick search and discovered that the last time I participated in Illustration Friday was 2004. I'm working in pencil to push myself - no command-z ! I just have to live with the bits I would otherwise delete or redo. Also - I notice that it's time to build a light box and dust off my camera instead of relying on my phone.

How are you doing? Are you doing any crazy projects this year? My track record is pretty shaky when it comes to keeping up with long term projects like this but I needed some artistic discipline in my life. So far so good.

Starting the new year with a project

Happy New Year!

I Thought I might try doing a drawing a day for 2103. Not all of them will make it on to my blog but it's nice to have a goal.

Brrr

Baby, it's fierce outside. I'm using Flickr again -- you can find me here.

Tiny hat knitting pattern for tiny things

Here's something I posted in 2009 - but I'm about to make some more of these so I thought I would publish this again.

Tiny Pointed Hats

"The little wooden blank dolls are from Winterwood but you can get loads on etsy from sellers such as Goose Greese Undone or Gemmielou. The head diameter of the ones I use is about 2cm.

I use 4 ply sock wool and I like using the variegated stuff (is that what a yarn buff would call it? the Patons stuff is called “Patonyle”) so that I get spontaneous stripes and patterns. My needles are size 2 3/4 (that’s  12 English size and 2 US size apparently!).

So; make a cup of tea, crack out the gingerbread, wield your long skinny needles and…

Cast on 20 stitches

Row 1: Knit 2, purl 2 and repeat until the end of the row

Repeat for two more rows to make the ribbing.

Next row: Knit row

Next row: Purl row

Next row: You will now begin to decrease to make the pointed hat. Knit 2 together and then knit to the end of the row.

Next row: Purl 2 together and then purl to the end of the row.

Repeat until you have one stitch left on your needle. Cast off.

Turn right sides together and sew sides together using row ends, leaving the bottom of the hat open. Turn inside out, using a chop stick or a knitting needle head to push the tip through. Embelish with sequins and beads or with simple embroidered details. Glue it to your little doll’s head.

(please use it for personal use and gifts only! Thanks folks)."

The pitter patter of tiny little feet

The Borrowers have moved in - idea taken directly from "We are not alone...(fairy doors)"  (via designsponge).

High Rotation Monday #4 - the plotting, planning and dreaming edition

I skipped a week - last week would have been "the tired edition"... this week not so much. Energy is back and plots and plans are creeping in again. I'm a dreamer, like that little kid in my photo up there.

1. Menu planning: I have been feeling culinarily uninspired for various reasons; picky eaters, lack of time, high expectations to eat healthier all contribute.  When adding all that to the fact that our grocery bills seems out of control at the moment, I have decided to get back to weekly menu planning. This kind of organisation really runs counter to my basic personality so it requires concerted effort. Thankfully there are delicious food blogs to pore over. Last night I discovered the blog Meal Planning 101. It looks great - and while it's heavily skewed to a meat-eating diet - there are tonnes of recipes, tips, plans and shopping lists. The above image (1) is Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala from the site. I am going to finish this post and then sit down and map out a week of good eats.

2. Business Planning: I am in the early stages of a new plan... and it's all going swimmingly. I think November and December always bring new plans in mind for me, ready for the new year that's coming. Helping me figure things out a little are The Boss of You by Emira Mears and Lauren Bacon, Craft Inc by Meg Mateo Ilasco (2) and The Artist's Way at Work by Julia Cameron et al. Also -- The Top 50 Etsy Parents for ideas, and the wonderful Etsy Seller Handbook blog.

3. Advent Planning: Every year we count down the days in December until Christmas with an advent calendar. Since Amelia was very small our advent has been full of simple activities rather than small gifts. We have had a flat couple of years when it comes to Advent - it has been hard matching the expectation and excitement of years past with the reality of the simple surprises as the girls get a little older (and more cynical). Regardless, it's about hanging out together, laughing, silliness, special treats and crafting. That never gets old. Despite their great age (10 and 6!)  and the raised eyebrows and the occasional grumpy "whatever", any time there is mention of advent activities both girls always say "make sure we get sock puppets telling us bedtime stories one night!" - it's possible we'll still be doing some version of that for years to come. And I am sure there will be the ever-popular "crazy hair at dinner time". The image above (3) is from our first year of advent madness when Amelia was just a wee thing. Here are my pinterest boards which will be helping with my advent planning: Kids, Crafty and Holidays.

4. Planning Parties? No thanks...but I like imagining the perfect one: and I would quite possibly use the tips in this 1960s copy of the Esquire Party Book (4) (thanks Skott!) and I would also take notes from Kate's 10 Ingredients for a top party.

5. Emergency planning: I need to get onto this as storm season sets in. Last night we lost power for 4 hours and I was left scrambling through drawers in the dark looking for the last of the tealight candles. Power is back on today, so I can enjoy some music until the winds pick up again:

Paris - Beatnik - Audrey Hepburn - Dancing

How can you resist a title like that? I have been drawing dancing beatniks today, inspired almost completely by this scene from Funny Face. A bookish, shy girl goes to paris and expresses herself through interpretative dance. We've all been there. Right? (In our dreams).

High Rotation Monday #3 - the miniature edition

Back again with bits and pieces we have been seeing, thinking, feeling and doing around here. This week it's all about the mini.

miniworld02

miniworld3

miniworld04

Visiting:Miniature World in downtown Victoria (British Columbia). If you are (or ever were) even remotely interested in the world of miniatures - or the world of bizarre obsessions - or have children who will appreciate historic scenes or elaborate dollhouses carefully contructed from balsa wood, model paint, polymer clay, and gallons of glue you must visit MiniatureWorld. And make sure you stop at the foyer to pick up some of the postcards straight out of the 1970s.

jessquinn

jessquinn02

Inspiring:Jess Quinn (above) whose work is DELICIOUS and makes me want to make things again. (Jess's image reposted with her permission). That beautiful fox doll is for sale here.

lillehuset

Christmas shopping: Lille Huset little wooden houses from Grow Studio are sweet sweet sweet.

Listening: Freelance Whales new album. There's nothing miniature about this album - lots of big, layered sound... and I love it.

There will be more miniature craziness this week I am sure - stay tuned for fairy door mayhem.

Ukulele is a pretty easy way to change your world

The chords for this sweet tune are here -- and hopefully if you can master that you'll get luckier than Steve Martin.

Personally I am terrible. Terrible-terrible, but I try to play a little every day. I have never really played a musical instrument before and, as a big music fan, it seems miraculous and wonderful to me that I can produce any actual music no matter how bad it is.

A friend of mine told me lately that she was chatting to a incredibly talented violinist about learning to play. She said to him that she wished it was easier but when she tries it feels like she has 6 thumbs on each hand. He said to her "for the first two years of playing, your instrument is the master. After that, if you are practising every day, you start to become the master." I'm sure this applies equally to the ukulele and when it's really sucking I try to remind myself that I am doing the necessary legwork. I like that you can get good at something just by doing it every day, even if it is incredibly, incredibly slow.

My top five favourite Ukulele links:

1. A very useful ukulele chord chart.

2. All the chords you need to "entertain" your family and those extra special friends for hours and hours (and here they are grouped by difficulty). This whole site in general is a gold mine for ukulele players, beginners and fanatics alike.

3. Ukulele Underground

4. and for a little inspriation: Stop motion crochet critters singing along with ukuleles.

5. And one of my very favourite youtube clips: Ra Ra Rasputin performed by the West Cork Ukulele Orchestra - love it.

Also! Added bonus - I just discovered this extra one today. It looks like it has the ability to drive everyone else in the house crazy, but it does indeed look pretty fun: Ukulele Beatles Fun

High Rotation Monday

Recommendations for you on this cloudy Monday

1) Puzzling: Marc Boutavant is one of my very favourite illustrators. We have both these (above) fabulous, big ( 38'' x 11.5'') Djeco Marc Boutavant jigsaw puzzles... they are perfect for a 6 year old to do quickly and busily on their own. The second ice-skating one is hard to find but it seems the lovely pink tree puzzle is still available.

. . . .

2) Gazing at pretty things:  Out my window is a heavy grey sky. I don't mind in the least, but I am craving colour - and lots of it. I can't get over the colour in this incredible 1751 Franklin County, Massachusetts house. It belongs to Kristin and Mark Nicholas who unsurprisingly run a knit, crochet and stitch business. Now I am gazing at our very staid wedgwood blue bathroom walls with a plan to make it a little less depressing.

Eclectic Hall design by New York Photographer Rikki Snyder

Eclectic Staircase design by New York Photographer Rikki Snyder

Eclectic Spaces design by New York Photographer Rikki Snyder

Eclectic Dining Room design by New York Photographer Rikki Snyder

A bazillion more photos can be found here.

. . . .

3) Reading: I have just finished two great, easy-going books about quirky, dysfunctional families covering themes of creativity & parenthood and if you like books about quirky, dysfunctional families (which I really, really do) then I highly recommend both.

The first is Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Novel written by Maria Semple who started her writing career writing for Ellen, Mad About You and Arrested Development. I loved the characters in this book. I wanted to move to Seattle and visit with them - or at least visit the fabulous house Bernadette created. I was sad when the book was over. You'll love it too... Her first novel This One Is Mine: A Novel is also about a quirky, dysfunctional family and is equally as readable but the characters are not ones you'd be wanting to spend vast amounts of time with - imho. Anyway, Maria Semple. Check her out. Also - check out her 7 Favourite Funny Books on Huffington Post - I was destined to become a Maria Semple fan considering what she wrote about one of my favourite books Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido.

The Family Fang: A Novel - by Kevin Wilson is also great and interesting and thoughtful - a family of passionate, obsessive, wacky performance artists and the fallout from their life/art decisions as the children grow up and away.

. . . .

4) Kitchen dance party this week - Michael Jackson's Thriller & Beat It and there has been dishwashing and table setting to this one by the Kopecky Family Band - Their album, Kids Raising Kids, is out tomorrow.

Knitting season

It's FALL / AUTUMN !

I can tell because: a) it's cooler b) I just bought some coloured corduroy jeans that remind me of pumpkins and c) I have that weird seasonal visceral craving to break out the sticks and start knitting.

Knit wips are calling to me as they bulge out of the cupboards - "pick me! pick me!". I also realised I spent a long time thinking about wrist warmers after seeing some on a girl in the whole foods store in town and then, the clincher - I noticed that I slowed down as I drove by the yarn store.

I think it's time to see if I can remember my ravelry password. Who's joining me?