Greetings dear Unravelers and Happy Wednesday!
The making has been very varied recently… I think the heat is influencing my making this week as there has been little knitting but I have been focused on doing other crafty things.
First up, a wee little poppy painting…
I have spent lots of time thinking about what to do next, doing that thing, and then thinking more about what it might need next. You might think all this effort is kind of silly, for a 4″ x 4″ page in a journal but I am loving every bit of the process! I think this one is done! I think a painting “journal” is the perfect thing (as are these water pens!)
As you can see above, the stitching is really fun this month. And while I am NOT a big fan of *red, white, and blue* at all, it just seemed the thing to do – especially since my brain bandwidth is… slow… these days. Simple for the win! I am loving that the process is overtaking my thinking… it has been the loveliest way to start my day.
And!! There is another full bobbin as well as some new little skeins of yarn!
Bonus points for me as I have begun and finished the Great Summer Closet Clean Out! My reward… today I will begin the next RWU book, The Ministry of Time!! I have one bag almost ready to go to the local free store… I have a few sweaters that I want to wash and put in the bag. I was not even thinking about sweater donations… until I read this in Anne Vally’s latest Substack post:
…Why do you think that someone you know will love and care for something you made better than a stranger in need?… Honestly, the quality in thrift has plummeted in the last decade, thanks to fast fashion, and we low-income folks want to also find treasures that will last decades.
That comment stopped me in my tracks when I read it and I have been thinking about it LOTS since. I have a plethora of “shawls/scarves/etc.” that I will be going through and sending those off to the free store as well.
And speaking of reading, have I been reading! Escape Reading is saving my life right now! I have a plethora of finishes, including a book that will likely be in the best reads of the year – Hard by a Great Forest. I am staying in the Escape Reading lane this week with book 7 in the Max Tudor series (in my ears) and with my eyes, Clear by Carys Davies (which just might qualify as a “road boat trip” for Kym’s Scavenger Hunt) and Robert Bryndza’s latest in the Kate Marshall series! (and I just checked out A Gentleman in Moscow (audio version) from my library!)
There you have my scattered week… what about you all? What is keeping you sane this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
LOVE your poppy painting Kat – so pretty. And your stitching…I can see how delightful that must be to add to each morning. You’ve had a banner week of reading as well. Congratulations on the great closest cleanout. I need to do that (as well as drawer and shelf clean outs!). I’ve been plugging away on my Shakerag Skirt and progress has been made!
Thank you so much, Vera! Stitching is saving my life these days!
I used to give handknit gifts to my kids with the caveat that the “couldn’t give them away.” Luckily, I came to my senses. Not only was I burdening my OWN children, but I was keeping good, quality clothing out of the re-useable realm of the universe! I regularly donate unused (or little-used) handknit items now. And – after seeing your quote from Anne Vally – I’m going to do it even more often. 🙂
Love your stitching so much. And your poppy painting is wonderful!
I was in the same boat with hand knit gifts to my kids. Those words though, were like a gut punch to me… it felt so good to take a much loved item that does not get much wear and free it to the world so that it can find its person!
I love your poppy — and at first I thought it was fabric, which made me think: Have you ever painted on fabric? I was thinking that might be an interesting way to combine two of your hobbies, if you painted the fabric and then stitched on it. Just an idea …
I have worried about donating handknits because of the washing issue; I’m always afraid that someone will throw a sweater into the wash and end up with a baby garment. But I suppose I could put a tag on them and then just hope for the best — and certainly the idea of someone staying warm is preferable to the items just sitting in a drawer!
I have been thinking about how to convey some care instructions as well! I love the tag idea! And I follow a blog where the maker regularly paints on fabric and never considered it… but you have me thinking! Thank you!
Your stitching and spinning is wonderful, and congratulations on completing the great closet clean out! I love your poppy and don’t think any effort spent on art is silly. Escape reading is keeping me sane also. One of my books this week was a bit of a disaster but even it served to distract me. (Your idea for Clear as a boat trip is great!)
Escape reading FTW! (and I think it is the perfect reading for hot as can be days!)
I have officially started to want fall. That’s what is keeping me SANE. Love your poppy and I should get into sketching!! gah.
Lovely stitching and painting! Good for you for getting that closet clean out done. I donated a bunch of small shawls/scarves last year but have a harder time donating bigger shawls. And that’s silly since I don’t wear them. Books are definitely a great escape these days.
Hooray for a clean closet. Something about making order in some corner of the house always makes me feel better. Who knows what that says about me? The skeins of handspun are so sweet. I have been finding solace in stitching and spinning. Let’s hear it for escape reading.
Oh the ‘closet clean out’ season is yet to arrive for me. Come the warmer weather it’s time will have come. Trouble is I’ll be giving ‘off season’ clothing to the op shops (charity/thrift shops) unless I find summer stuff that doesn’t fit.
When my children were little (and we were short of funds) I solved the ‘do not rehome’ issue by unraveling (unsuitable/yuk/whatever was the maker thinking) hand knits and then reknitting something different.
I agree with your thoughts about the poppy painting- to me much of the joy of crafting is in the prep time – thinking and planning and visualising are as much fun as the making. And The Ministry book is on my list for summer reading- the initial rush to read should be over by then and I won’t have so long to wait at the library
That poppy is so good I thought it was needlefelted. Glad you are feeling more like your old self. Hope to be back on these link ups in a couple of weeks. The little cardigan for Miss P is nearly done, just needs joining, but won’t be doing it for a bit..too much happy life getting in the way.