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.