Sanity in escapism

Today at work, while no one was looking, I started writing a story. Hiding in my little grey cubicle, with my boss right behind me, and a million clients to call urgently, I was furiously typing words that formed a snapshot of an imaginary world. I hope to continue writing it, though who knows. Most of these things go nowhere. That’s in a sense why I prefer art or craft projects to writing ones: I mostly feel blind while writing, but I often feel guided while doing art stuff. Writing, to me, is a lot more linear, whereas with art/craft I can see it all spread out in my mind. I treasure finished writing projects more though, because they’re rarer. Anyway – even if that’s where it ends, the words on the page were a most welcome burst of creative thought in the middle of an otherwise dreary day.

Might post a bit of it later, though if I continue to work on it I might do so when it’s a bit more solid.

Probably not a good sign

When one has lengthy mental conversations with Henry, one’s sewing machine (full name, Henrietta, though she doesn’t like it). Henry is a little stubborn and quirky, but we’re getting along fine. Tonight I finished sewing the “practice” bag, made out of calico-like fabric – minus the strap, which I couldn’t find. It doesn’t look like much, but I am very new at sewing with a machine.

It has six panels. I might actually use the pratice bag for something once it’s finished.

At the moment it makes a decent cover for Henry.

This is the cross-stitch I’ve been working on for a while, for a friend’s (long-gone) birthday:

This is it back when I started. I’m pretty new to cross-stitch too, previously I didn’t realise how much time it can take up.

This is it now, almost finished (sorry about the blurry picture):

Now it’s time for bed – I started reading The War of The Flowers by Tad Williams today, and I’m finding it hard to put it down. I love the subject (faeries!! but of course not pretty, dainty little ones at all), and I’m really enjoying his writing. Bonne nuit.

Thesis Knitting

I found this photo of a scarf I knitted a couple of years ago, as part of Thesis Knitting. “Thesis Knitting” basically refers to procrastinatory knitting I did during Honours. I did finish this scarf (and Honours too, eventually), and gave it to mum, to match the beanie I made her from the same yarn (blue-grey Caress, a wool/acrylic blend, very soft). I must have had lots of Caress, as I also made a big ribbed scarf for my friend Gill out of it. This scarf, which I didn’t get a picture of, had bobbles at each end. BOBBLES! I need to make more things that I can attach bobbles to.

Hopefully not the last post

Well, I’ve finally decided to jump on the blogwagon. Hopefully this will be a lasting venture, unlike my foray into Facebook, which I’m more or less already bored of. I see this blog as a place to pin down my thoughts. Meaning, it will probably end up being a mish-mash of book and concert reviews, scraps of writing, and creative projects I’m working on. Perhaps the occasional rant too, although I do have an “emoboard” account for that. This blog is an attempt to get me to write, even if it’s not always particularly creative or good. Also an attempt to catalogue the many projects I’ve started, in the hope that it will motivate me to finish some of them. Also to take photos of these projects and hopefully make this place a bit interesting.

Some of the things I do and hope to catalogue on this blog: I draw, mostly in pencil, felt-tip and ink; I knit, though I haven’t yet had the patience to knit anything big; I’m learning to crochet; I like taking photos, and will try to link to a Flickr account; I dabble in Photoshop and I’m learning to use my graphics tablet; I’ve just started using my new sewing machine, and I have bagfuls of clothes that I want to alter and lots of other things I want to make; I make beaded jewellery; I daydream a lot.

That’s it for now…I’m going to have a look at photos to upload.