Flying Away

November's shawl... well, it's done.

Has been since Thanksgiving Day.

And I...well... let me tell you a bit about this shawl. I, for some ridiculous reason, decided that a shawl that was pretty much the epitome of everything I dislike doing in knitting would be a perfect project to tackle.

A big, solid colored blob of stockinette, weird increases, flat colorwork, ribbing, cables... all in one project.

Yep.

And it came out... fine,  I guess.

The colorwork was pretty solid.

And the faux-cables (the only thing that I ended up liking doing!) are lovely.

But this shawl just isn't... me.

It just doesn't feel right when I try to wear it. It just feels off somehow.

I couldn't even fake a smile when we were taking pictures.

See? Not happy. Not enthused. Not ready to add this one to the collection.

Apparently, Henry had me knit it for someone else. He just didn't bother to let me know until after I was done with it.

So, this one is going to fly away to the someone it was meant to belong to.

And that's perfectly fine with me.

Besides, I already have this month's shawl on the needles. And in true Ashtan fashion...

It's going to be big...

Beaded...

And named after me.

Let's end this year, this project, and this journey with a bang, eh?

Because next year is already promising to be just as exciting.

The Siren's Swan Song

Well, she's done.

The most brilliant and amazing shawl that my hands have ever produced.

From such a humble little bundle.

Through trial and tribulations.

Not to mention some very real fears about not being able to finish.

But we got there in the end.

And, my god, is she breathtaking.

So many beads placed...

And so many stitches made...

This art was brought into being by my two humble hands. 

I'm left feeling a little lost.

Where do I go from here?

How do I possibly top this?

I mean, this is the most complex project I've ever done.

And, except for a couple of minor hiccups, it went pretty smoothly.

Is this it? Have I peaked?

Nah, I don't really think so, either.

This creative train ain't ever going to stop rolling.

Though I am *slightly* scared at what my next magnum opus is going to involve.

Guess the only way to find out is to keep going forward.

Potter Pottery Painting Party

A few weeks ago, I had a marvelous day out with my dear Bethany. We spent the day rummaging around "antique" (read: junk) stores, stumbling on some really cool things for the library.

I even found some old player piano music scrolls. And the boxes reminded me of the ones you'd bring your Ollivander's wand home in.

The scrolls themselves look like, well... scrolls. So they'll be displayed separately somewhere.

And for those of you curious as to what the music actually looks like.

After that, we headed to a place called Hot Pots for a Harry Potter themed craft night. She and I had elected to paint oversized house crest mugs. It was so much fun.

Since I already have a Gryffindor crest mug, I decided to do a Black Goat one instead.

It's really cool to see just how much the glaze changes once it's been fired.

Of course, I ended up having so much fun that I just HAD to take John and Al there as soon as possible. So that's just what I did.

Al did an espresso cup and saucer set.

John decided on a mushroom figurine.

I, of course, did a yarn bowl. Did you expect anything else?

I also did a lantern.

We picked them up on Saturday, and oh my Henry, I'm so dang happy.

First, John's mushroom.

Al doesn't like me to share her projects, so I'll respect her wishes.

Here's my lantern.

I'm pretty happy with it. But I'm not nearly as infatuated with it as I am with my yarn bowl.

LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL BABY!

LOOK IT!

I'm just so dang happy with it. And now I want to make a million more things. John feels the same way. So this may actually become a regular date night for us. Hell yes.

If you'll excuse me, I need to go wind the yarn for this month's shawl. I need an excuse to use my new bowl, don't you think?

Purlgatory

Bind-off.

A word I would grow to hate.

It is my life.

I've always been binding off.

There has never been anything else.
No sunlight. No warmth. No lover's touch to bring me comfort. Just the endless stitches.

Knit, slip, knit two together.
Knit, slip, knit two together.

Knit.
Slip.
Knit two together.

The project never grows bigger.
The end never comes near.

Embrace me, darkness.
End this woolen torment.

A Few Months Late

So...

Back in July I had knit that utter disaster of a shawl. The one with the little bells on it? THE ONE THAT BETRAYED ME BY RIPPING DURING BLOCKING?!

Ahem..

Anyway, I realized that I never did get around to posting pics of it.

So, yeah. Here's July's shawl, Steam Bells.

Made with Berroco Folio, which is an alpaca blend.

I really hated working with it, honestly. I'm a loose knitter by default, but I was struggling to get my needle in my stitches.

You already know about the disaster that was trying to block this thing.

It's definitely not my favorite thing I've made.

But it is a shawl and meets my monthly goal.

"Uhhhhhhhh......."

This clever title brought to you by the ever lovely Jamie. Because hell if I could think of one.

I'm exhausted, friends.

My mental illnesses have sent me on one hell of roller coaster recently. It feels like there are just as many bad days as good days right now. I'm not sure what exactly is causing this sudden change, but I'm hopeful that things are going to even out.

But in the meantime, you'll have to deal with a slightly less witty blogger.

Anyway, September has come and gone and there's no Mermaid Lair to show for it. There is, however, a new shawl in my collection.

One that was completely improvised, mind you. A good, mindless knit.

Say hello to Polar Bear in a Snowstorm.

It originally started as a scarf to wear with this dress.

But of course, this is me.

So it got 'Ashtaned'.

No regrets, though. It's the perfect middle size. Just a really good, satisfying knit.

But, for the love of Henry, my next project has GOT to be something with some damn patterning! Give me lace or give me death.