Knitting makes me happy!!

I have been spending quality knitting time and have gotten some fun gifts completed. I find myself up at midnight trying desperately to complete a section of a pattern, or just trying to make headway on length. The more I knit, the better I understand it. Like anything else I suppose! Practice makes better, not perfect in this case!! I am still learning!! I knit the above cat from a pattern off of Knitty. It was a fun piece, and will be a gift for an upcoming birthday (I wont say more to try not to ruin the surprise!).

I finally finished the snake I started last year for my niece! Her 2nd birthday was a few days ago, and she loved it. I will have to work on the sizing of the mouth to make future versions less lippy! There is a lot of mouth there, and even more hidden! I had to seriously sew into the red and make it about 60% of what it was, and it is still huge! This was inspired by the Zoe Mellor snake pattern in one of her books a friend had, but I like to knit in the round and so decided to make my own. How hard could it be right? Well, that mouth is a perfect example! LOL

I also knit this Monkey (seen here with momma Jamey) for Miss Abby for Christmas. Another learning experience for sure! I also just finished knitting a neck warmer for myself (blocking and then I will show), and am in the middle of a small teddy bear, and a zebra for another little one. I have so many friends who are expecting, and with so many babies on the way, I am making as many knitted gifts as I can! Feed the yarn addiction, while being productive! I like that!

A Few finished Commissions

Michael and Susan, 9" x 12"
Now that the gifts have been given, I can share some of the commissioned pieces I did over the holidays for clients!

Suss and Al, 16" x 12"
The prevalent theme this year seemed to be parents and love and relationships. I had SO much fun learning about all of the amazing people, and was really touched by all of the love stories!

Carol and Lyle, 18" x 24"
You can see more in my Commissions set on Flickr!

2008! Can you believe it!

Hello!!!! I am am back after a much needed hiatus, and have so much to share! I feel like it has been eons since I blogged, and while I have been working hard on re-centering myself (not sure if that was accomplished :) It was such a cozy holiday here in our home. The cats certainly had no problem taking full advantage of their giant beds next to the fire! It was a lovely tree this year, and I was sad to take it down.

I also took time out to see some movies, play a few board games, and hang out with friends and family! We did a lot of cooking, including the above Chocolate Hazelnut Cake which was unreal! Of course there has been a little work sprinkled throughout. I have to say that I am glad to see an end to the overwhelming madness of the holidays! I just can't believe that it is already 2008!

January 2nd was the 10 year mark of the day that I left LA and moved to NYC to go to art school. 10 years has gone by in a blink, and they were amazing years! I never thought for one moment that I would ever be living back in LA, and as a full time artist. I envisioned myself in some corporate design job somewhere designing books or product packaging, or who knows. I look back over the time I have spent, and am proud to be here in suburbia, surrounded by glue and paper. I just didn't see it coming! I recently found a book that my sister gave me for Christmas right before I left for NY, and on the inside she wrote "Have fun. You only get to do this part once. . . ", and I realize how true that is! I wish I could go back to my 20 year old self and give her a good shake, and a few pearls of wisdom I have gained along the way. Just tweak my/her mindset a smidge, because I dont think I did too badly up to this point, but I would be more adventurous, alone and young in a place like NYC. Looking back, I would do a few things differently now, but only if those things led me right to where I am today. Can I have it all please? LOL

Poppytalk Handmade Market!

I am really excited to be taking part in this months Poppytalk Handmade Market!!! This is a really cool cyber-fair, for all of us craft addicts who read about fairs in areas far from us and wish we could attend!

Jan and Earl, of the fab blog Poppytalk, have done a great job in the last couple of months, curating these shows and offering and eclectic and vast range of vendors from all over the world! This months theme is Love Transforms and they have found vendors for all of our Valentines needs, including a perfumery! The "show" runs from January 7th-February 8th. Go check it out!