Monday's Muse: Writing and Blogging and Harvesting, Oh My!

I am currently 2000+ words into the novel that I am attempting to write for NaNoWriMo. I came across/was reminded of NaBloPoMo while procrastinating when it came to sitting my butt down and writing words, any words onto my blank word document. It's so much easier to make a collage, and search for images and research key concepts online than it is to actually WRITE, isn't it?!

Then, as if this weren't enough, my husband came outside while the kids and I were taking out the garbage and offered to dig up my dahlia tubers for me. In all honesty, I'd considering leaving them and letting them all die, just another casualty of the "I just don't give a fuck" attitude that I've been living under since my mother died. Then up came the first spadeful of dirt and there they were, inciting me, however grudgingly, to act. I've been trying to stop time, wanting to scream at my husband when he got on my case for things like pretty much refusing to water my houseplants, "Don't you see? Don't you see?! I can't bear for everything to go on as if nothing has happened!" I'm fairly sure that I would've regretted the loss of those tubers come March. Creating has always been about channeling or appeasing my "dark side" and so here I am at 1:09am waiting for tubers to dry so that I can store them for the coming year. Today my muse? More of a sneaky mistress, forcing my hand, (and) I'm not sure whether I feel grateful or hateful.

Monday's Muse: Pay It Forward

I came across a cool (and creative) swap over at Krissy's blog Thinking of Blue and decided to play along:

Pay It Forward

Making handcrafted items is a dying art, but they are so fun to make and get! So, here's a little game to encourage the handcrafting to live and thrive. The first 5 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a super-duper handmade gift from me! What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise. The catch is that you must participate as well :) So before you leave your comment here, write up (or copy and paste) a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. Then, come back, let me know you are going to play, and anticipate the arrival of your super-duper handmade gift! Remember that only the FIRST FIVE comments will receive a gift from me, so be quick!

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantee that you will like what I make. But, I will try my best to make sure that you do. :p
2. It will be done this year (hopefully sooner than later!)
3. You will have no clue what or when it will be. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address too so that I can get ahold of you.

Monday's Muse: Ethics and Artistic License

My sisters and I went to an arts high school. There, I met and married an artist and went on to create three beautiful children (who are also, not surprisingly, artists.) To say that I denounce censorship is quite an understatement.

The largest bedroom in our house is "the art room." It houses my husband's art desk and computer and 9, 457,943,167 art supplies (I counted.) I sew and knit and make dolls while my daughter draws incredible manga art, my boys shock family friends with their budding abilities, and my husband works as a professional illustrator in the gaming industry.

My middle sister has always been a dancer, and always loved paintings by Degas. I'm posting this image for her (I searched for-evah online to find this piece, kid!) Nudity, when done right, is beautiful art that celebrates the human body. Images that degrade and are used without a model's consent are not art. Unfortunately, my sister ran afoul of an unethical "artist".

Today my sister is my muse, the perfect example of the strength, courage, and endurance that the creative process demands. May this image bring you comfort, baby.

(For other participants in Monday's Muse thread, click here.)

Monday's Muse: Knitty Gritty

I've been meaning to write a post on this subject for a month or more, pretty much since the snow came. In the spring and summer, I tend to channel my need to create into my gardens. With autumn comes the drudgery of fall clean-up, digging and storing tubers in preparation for the coming spring. I usually finish that just in time to handle baking and cooking for the holidays, but...when all the hoop-la dies down, my sewing machine and knitting needles begin calling to me.

I'm not a knitting guru by any means. In fact, apart from learning the garter stitch from by Nana and Auntie Mary as a kid, I learned almost everything I know by reading The Knitting Goddess by Deborah Bergman, and then gamely jumping in to try my hand at new stitch and garment patterns. I've graduated from misshapen baby blankets, to respectable baby sweaters, hats and more. This year, it's all about the dog sweaters! Honestly, it doesn't matter what I make-just holding soft, warm yarn in beautiful colors, choosing stitch patterns and color combinations that make my heart sing is enough. Transforming a skein of fiber into something that will keep someone I love warm, and allow me to send a piece of me with them when they go is enough.

Here are a few pictures of the things I've made so far this season, and a few links for anyone who wants to try their hand at my favorite cold weather pastime:

Make a Smilebox slideshow

(The two sweaters shown were made using the Wylie's Sweater pattern found online. In addition, the hounds tooth knit was made using the stitch pattern I found online here.)

Other coolin' knitter sites:
KnittingHelp.com
Knitty.com
Stitch Diva Studios
The Shizknit

Happy Knitting! :p