Gingerbread House

 The beginnings of a scarf.  My first attempt at lace.  It’s just a simple yo, knit 2 together.  It’s handspun, hand-dyed bombyx silk, 100 grams, 650 yards.  I got the idea from the lates Interweave Knits.  The first three or four rows aren’t so great, but as I go along, it gets better.  I can see definite improvement my my stitchwork.   I’ll hang some fringe from each end to hide the first few not so wonderful rows.  If it goes o.k, Imight make another one in brown for my mom for Christmas.  It would be a waste of time to make one for my bio mom, she wouldn’t wear something like that, though I’m sure she’d want one if she knew I was making one for e-mom.

Photo Credit:  9yo little man and his wondeful yarn pose in the little dogwood tree. 

Tags: Knitting, Spinning by Dorene
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Here it is relaxing under our shade tree. Photography by Little Man, age nine.  The yarn is from Lisa Souza.   I have a sweater this color, summer sweater of course, that I plan to wear these with.  Better hurry up and get them done, huh?  But then, I could always buy a winter sweater that these would match.  I can always use another excuse to go shopping.

And a close-up.  Do I have a budding photographer or what?  Sticking out from the top is phase one prototype of my handmade sock blocker.  I cut half of it out with the scroll saw, Little Man cut the other half.  He wants to be a woodworker, so I’m teaching him what little I know, and highly supervising him, of course!

Tags: Knitting by Dorene
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OTN:  a second sage green sock.  I’ll have to take a pic of it’s finished sibling.  the first few rows of a silk scarf in a fishnet looking lace stitch.  It’s my first lace attempt, and my first attempt at dying silk, so I’m not expecting much.  Pics will follow when the camera battery is charged.  I also am working on two at a time, toe up socks on circs in panda wool.  Those are slow going because I have to be alone to do it.  If I don’t give them 100% of my attention, then I use the wrong yarn ball for the wrong sock and it’s froggy time—ribbit ribbit. 

I’m thinking about picking up a part time, weekend job just to get out of this house and be around adults.  Maybe clerking at the lys, or watching over the laundry mat three houses down from me if they need someone.  I could work for a realtor or at the hospital answering phones.  Goodness knows I’ve been behind a few reception desks in my day.  Just something, a little anything, to relieve the restlessness I’m feeling right now. 

I hate feeling so restless.  I could pack the car and just go and never look back.  That’s how bad it is.  Maybe I need some new sock yarn.  That would help, wouldn’t it?  Sock yarn.  Or pretty fiber to spin.  Yarn and fiber porn are always good for a restless soul.

Tags: Knitting, Spinning, Life in General by Dorene
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I’ve been looking into the insurance issues.  I’m self-employed anyway and don’t have any insurance at all.  No health or life insurance.  Nada.  So that’s not really a concern in jumping ship for the creative life.  But, I’m looking for some.  Surfing, making calls, talking to the agent that holds my car insurance.  I’m looking at Globe Life right now.  Has anyone had any dealings with them?   I need insurance for the kids and me.  If something happened, heaven forbid, to either of them that wasn’t covered by what EX has, and his doesn’t cover anything but medical, dental, and eyes, I’d be in trouble.  If something happened to me, where would they be?  Morbid subject, but it needs to be faced and researched.  I’d love any input you other self-employed parents have.

Tags: Life in General by Dorene
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I’ve been surfing a bit since I’m feeling better from my latest bout with the yuckies, and looking around a bit at making a living with my creativity.  I was in accounting before, and fixed asset accounting is not a real creative field.  Now I own a daycare and it gives me more room for creativity, but I still long to be free to create all day long.  Looking around at gapingvoid dot com, he says not to give up your day job.  I’ve heard many other artists say that when the art became their business and livelihood, it took the joy out of it.  I know I’m burnt out on the whole childcare thing, and I’m not sure I want to go back to the cubicle.  I guess I need to give the whole thing more thought.

Tags: general art by Dorene
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