Photos of last month's work ...

Realized that I posted that I had "photos to come" in my February post! Here they are!

Long time, no see.

So. I have actually been very crafty these past few weeks. Just not posting here. I am having some trouble getting into the habit of blogging. Anyhow. I have been ... oh, let's see ... probably 90% faithful to my goal of working on a creative project daily. Here is some of my handiwork of late. Some hats. A baby afghan. Some bracelets (photos to come) and necklaces.

I have been having a fine old time at it. I really do enjoy it.

I, unfortunately, had a bit more time for being crafty of late as I got mono! Ugh. I thought my days as a potential sufferer of mono were past the day I graduated from high school. I guess not. Between doing two shows back to back, my teaching schedule and having to go on two trips for work ... well, I guess my immune system decided to up and fail me. At least the second week of my convalescence aligned itself with my spring break ... so, I didn't have to miss two full weeks of work. But doctor's orders were to relax ... what better way to relax than sitting with my feet up and working on a project. And watching lots of 30 Rock and Modern Family!

As I type this, I have a lot of projects in the works. Working on a few afghans ... one crochet sampler style wool blanket ... which I hope to gift at Christmas time. Working on another granny square style one for my house in a dark plum and heathery grey. Also, a patchwork style afghan using all different colors of Lion Brand Homespun yarn.

As part of my spring break, I did take a quick trip (a whopping 10 miles from my house!) to an amazing yarn store, North Woods Farm Yarn Shop. Check them out ... amazing stuff! http://northwoodsfarmyarnshop.com/

One week ... what do I have to show for it?

Ok ... so, it's been a crazy week full of work, travel and rehearsal. Even with all the business of life, I have been able to make lots of things ... mostly coasters! Ahahah! But hey ... I'm sticking to my creative guns.

Tonight I made a hideously ugly flower with Lion Brand Homespun yarn. I do not like that stuff ... it's a very chunky yarn and it is so hard to see and keep track of the stitches. Frusterating. And after all of that squinting and cursing, an oddly oversized, largely unattractive flower was the result. Blerg.

Yesterday, however, I made a perfectly acceptable flower. It is a sweet little orange number that I'm attaching to the felted bag I'm making. I think I will make two more flowers for the bag and then I think the bag will be complete. Photos to come.

Closing Day

Well, like I said. Acting is certainly creating. Today is the final show of BLUE by Kelly Doyle, a new play receiving its world premiere at Raleigh, NC's Burning Coal Theatre Company. It has been a tremendous growing experience, requiring me to try new things as an actor and be brave ... really brave. It was a lovely experience filled me many great people. But, now is the day where I pack up all my stuff and move back home.

Working out of town was far more difficult than I expected. I actually got to see my family quite a bit and was blessed to reconnect with some long-lost friends I have here in the Raleigh area. But being away from home just isn't my bag. With what I do ... I'll likely have to do it again sometime ... but I like the idea of snuggling up at home for the foreseeable future.

I will say this ... it was in Raleigh that I was able to focus on creativity. Sometimes that is challenging with teaching, being a wife and mother, commuting, and so on. So, while I was here, I was able to completely focus on the show. I was able to think of this resolution to create on a daily basis. I had lots of time to think. So, in that way, this job was also an excellent happening.

It just so happens that Raleigh has two thrift stores with really great crafting sections. So, while here and thinking about the materials I would need to create this year, I was able to stock up on yarns, needles, and a variety of other supplies. Some of the things ... well, I don't know exactly how I'll use them ... but among my great finds at these shops have been:

- I'm going to guess about 15 skeins of yarn (many of them at 50 cents a piece!)

- 4 wallpaper sample books. I'll have to post pictures. Some really beautiful stuff. They are big ... about 2 foot square. They are from London. And they are awesome. I'm thinking I can make cards with them, use them as wrapping paper for small gifts ... I'll have to keep thinking on that one! Each book was 99 cents. I couldn't pass them up. I know there are ideas in them!

- 2 sets of alphabet stamps. I've already used them once to make closing show cards for the cast and crew of BLUE. But between myself and my son ... we are going to have a lot of fun with those!

- About 3 or 4 sweaters that I'm going to use for their wool and recycle into something new.

- 3 or 4 designer fabric swatch books. I love these things! I am collecting fabrics in purples and greens as I want to make a new coverlet/quilt/comforter for my bed. But also, I use these fabric pieces to make patchwork pillows. Fun! Each book anywhere from $1 - $2. Cheapie, cheap, cheap!

- A full alphabet, numbers and punctuation set of Sizzix die cuts which I found for $4! They are the old fashioned kind which is perfect as I found an old style Sizzix die cutter at a yard sale years ago for about $3. I scooped it up and have yet to use it ... but this'll take care of that!

- Some cute sewing patterns.

I know there is some other stuff. But, it's clear that I will be keeping busy in the coming months.

Oh! And yesterday was successful. I made a set of 6 coasters that I'm going to give to my grandmother. She is suffering from Alzheimer's and I just wanted to do something nice for her. Since she was my first introduction to crochet, I thought she might enjoy a little crocheted gift ... even if her enjoyment is only brief. I picked a varigated cotton yarn in white, yellow and green to make her coasters. I thought they were sunny and cheery. I'll post some pictures when I get home.

After making her set, I made a couple other coasters since they were pretty quick and easy. I think it will be nice to have a few sets made and ready. They could make really cute last minute hostess gifts.

Today will mostly be a show and travel day. My creativity ideas are to have a good, true and brave final show. And maybe to knock out some more coasters upon my arrival home.

A new year's resolution

Alright. I'm thankful that my new year's resolution wasn't to procrastinate less. Here we are ... nearly into February 2011 and I'm finally digging in to my resolution.

Honestly, I was on the fence about this. Do I make a commitment to create something everyday? Will I just be destined to fail? So, I dragged my feet. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to commit to this.

The idea first occurred to me while I sat in a Barnes and Noble in Raleigh, NC. I was in Raleigh working on a show (my first out of town show, in fact) and I spent a few hours waiting for rehearsal time at the bookstore. First I just sought out a quiet corner of the shop where I could work on memorizing lines and doing some text work. But, I ended up wanting a little break from that. So, I moseyed around the store and found myself in the craft section of the store. I pulled a few books from the shelf. One of the books that I hunkered down with was "365: A Daily Creativity Journal: Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life!" by Noah Scalin

http://www.amazon.com/365-Creativity-Journal-Something-Change/dp/0760339961/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296317676&sr=8-1

As I flipped through its pages, I was amazed at what people can do. And then I asked myself, "Could I Do This?" I continued to think about what it is that I would want to dedicate this kind of time to ... and here is what I came up with.

1. I'm an actor. While the fruits of my labor aren't always something tangible, they are still deeply rooted in the creative process.

2. Crochet. It is hard for me to think of my grandmother or my aunt Colleen (circa my elementary school years) unattached to a crochet hook. They constantly made afghans, crocheted animals, doilies and so on. I tried to learn crochet once when I was in college ... but it never really stuck. But I have always felt a pull to re-learn. So, there's another thing I would like to try.

3. Knitting. Ok. I have no idea of how to knit. Never had a short-lived knitting phase in college to try to recall. And seeing knitters going to town with two needles ... well, it reminds me of my failed attempts and learning the piano as a child. I could play with my right hand ... but adding in the left hand was always disastrous. Add in needles. Shudder. But I'm going to try.

4. Papercrafts. This is something else I would like to try. Little things like making cards, gift tags and so forth. This also seems like something fun to do with my 5-year-old son, Liam. He's a crafty fellow and loves when he gets to be involved.

So, those are my focus areas. Some projects that I work on will take awhile. So, certainly, we aren't talking a fully realized project everyday. But there will be progress everyday. Hopefully. Fingers crossed.

Another thing I want to focus on this year is reusing and repurposing as much as I possibly can. I have been learning how to "harvest" wool and other yarns from old sweaters and things like that. Also, I'm an avid thrift shopper. I love finding things that can be given a new life ... or provide a few hours of crafting.

So far this year ... before the official resolution was made, I made a few things. A table mat, a crochet bag (which I am now trying to felt, with little success ... live and learn), and some crochet rosettes.

Today's goal: a set of crocheted coasters. I found an awesome site called Homemade Matters and they have a great coaster pattern that employs some yarn that I already have.

http://www.handmadematters.net/2010/04/06/crochet-round-coasters/

Alright. Warming up my fingers with all this typing. Now, crochet away!