Numinous the Troll

I just put 3 new skeins in the Handspun Shop!
Introducing....

Numinous the Troll

Amplify (yummy baby alpaca with merino coils!)
Solitary Comfort~More info (while they last) in the MW Handspun Shop!

LOOK!
Material Whirled was just mentioned on Craft Stylish.com!

Thank you Linda!

Jordan's Acid Grasshopper Hat

FO! Made for my baby brother Jordan (who is now 20!) and in college.

Made using the 3AM Cable Hat pattern by SmarieK.
Ravelry Link.

Knit on size 6 circular needles from Acid Grasshopper Muse Hand dyed from Material Whirled!
Even though the yarn is a worsted BFL, I used the DK pattern version to make a tighter knit.

Wonderful pattern and delicious yarn!

(since Jord is in PA and we are in WA, Ann modeled the hat)

Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a spectacular holiday season, however you may celebrate!
Here are pics of my yarn ball tree. Eve finger knitted the garlands.

We have just under a foot of snow. Which has not happened in the Portland area since 1980.
Needless to say the roads are horrible... but it is so beautiful!

So we are IN for the next few days, relaxing, knitting, snuggling and eating.


Merry Merry!
xo

Time...

You know, sometimes I can be such a pain. I had an epiphany this morning, right after I had an existential tantrum.

I always feel like I am rushing through life, putting out the biggest fires first, and never have time to s.l.o.w. down, contemplate, stare. I know this is my fault, as I am the one who sets my schedule and the one who takes on more than I probably should.

It's snowing. I am trapped and have been for days. MW is on vacation for the holidays.

First I danced around and loved it, then I caught up with the list of things to do.
WHAT? freetime? gasp!
It practically threw me into a fetal position. Then I realized, WOW, FREETIME! what a gift.

Paul is out of town and it looks like he will be for DAYS. The girls are out in the snow with neighbor kids, or making cookies, or reading books. They have been beyond occupied.

I always long for breathing room and when it arrives I waste it away by pouting from the shock of it all!
So I hit the studio, dug out my paints and figured out that my ipod will hook to my computer speakers (I know-- duh) and have been painting away for hours....

Here are some pics. More can be seen here.

Heard this on TED.
"Making things actually does give me a lot of joy.
It's the process of creation that keeps me sort of a bubble and a half above perpetual anxiety in my life. And it's that feeling of being about 80% complete on a project where you know you still have something to do, but it's not finished and you're not starting something that really fills my entire life." ~ Ze Frank

Which inspired this painting, called "a bubble and a half"... click to see more pics.

Inspiration~

I have to admit, I am an inspiration junkie. A big chunk of my time is taken each day feeding this hungry monster, but it is as important to me (and my sanity) as oxygen!
My new obsession is Ted.


Wow-- that is all I have to say. If you haven't seen it yet, GO-- feed your monster!

This morning I watched a clip of Isaac Mizrahi. I love him, love his ideas, love his energy levels. I missed his show when it went off the air. Whew! I really um, relate? to his energy level and would love the opportunity to hang out with him, although others may run for the hills.
His site is spectacular too!

I feel all inspired now-- I think I will watch another and knit a bit more until my coffee kicks in...what should I watch next? Unconventional Explanations? Art Unusual? The Creative Spark?

Knotted Symphonic Poem Scarf

A few days ago I posted a link to a No Knit Scarf (knotted) from Martha Stewart.
I finally made one and it really works well with my handspun.

Here is the yarn, Symphonic Poem.

Here is the scarf!
The skein was 70 yards of bulky to super bulky but I recommend having at least 80 yards.

The knotted pattern really shows off the unique qualities of the handspun!

Here is the link to the scarf pattern.

Here is the link to the YARN SHOP where you can find many many beautiful skeins that will make spectacular scarves! (enough adjectives? haha)

Cute Little Elves

Ruth made matching Elf Hats for her daughter and nephew-- aren't they adorable?

Art Night in the Material Whirled~

I have been hosting some random art nights in my studio. Just a bunch of us crazy women creating and inspiring one another-- oh yeh- and drinking wine (and cocktails) and eating munchies.

Last night Jackie and her friend Liz --who host and create the amazing site called "Illustrating Stories"-- were video taping Jackie's progress on a Christmas journal she is making!
Go visit their site-- you can lose hours playing around in it and being inspired~

sigh.
I don't like seeing myself on camera-- but who does really?

Here is a link to the video~

I look exhausted (which I was-- I tend to exhaust myself- but that is whole other blog post- haha)
I am spinning my latest skein-- which is from a pastel wool and merino batt that my Ann (who is 9) created for me. I spun it with a soft blue cotton/rayon thread and spun in strands of a fun novelty yarn as well as strips and fringes from an old yellow chenille blanket.
I will add pics here once I get it set and photographed.

Today I am painting and playing in my art journals, which I find so very relaxing. They girls have been working with me, it's a great way to spend time together and chat.
See my Art Journal pics here in a flickr album-- they are all 'in progress' pages, I don't think I will ever feel it is finished...not anytime soon anyway. The book itself was created at ArtFest last spring, in Traci Bautista's class.

Cat Wig!

I know-- cute animal pictures are so overdone, but this just made me smile.

Does your cat want a wig? Go here to get her one...
hilarious!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Mary's Elves~

Mary must live at the North Pole!
Her co-workers all modeled her Elf Hat for her.
This made my day!
Thanks Mary!

Hand Dyed Yarns!

This past week was spent preparing for my show, and this included dyeing piles of yarn!

Here are some shots of the latest update...

"Selective Dementia" ~ 100% Alpaca Worsted-- so soft~!

"Energy Explosion" Superwash Merino Sock Yarn

"Donna" ~Merino Bamboo DK

"Sarita"~ Handspun by Reenie

"Paulette"~ Handspun by Reenie