Much Ado About Nothing

Since I really have just been doing a mishmash of things waiting for the Lunar Phase MKAL to start, I figured a list post will get y'all up to speed about my current crafty happenings.

1. My goal was to finish Mystic Star before the end of the month.

2. There's no way that's actually happening. Because I thought I was going to run out of yarn, so I bought more. Annnnnd now I have enough to Ashtan it.

3. Doing said Ashtaning required designing an extra chart, which is Ashtaning it so hard that I think I've reached a new plane of existence.

4. I also got the yarn to do my ceremony shawl. Went with Knit Pick's Gloss Fingering in Jade.

5. I'm still waffling on patterns, but I think I may have narrowed it down to the final few.

4. Those will probably change again in a month.

6. I actually did a bit of non-knitting crafting and rebound this copy of Peter Pan for Bethany.

7. No, I didn't realize that John was creeping in the background.

8. I ALSO did some cross stitching.

9. Yes, I designed the pattern myself.

10. This surprises none of you.

11. John got crafty himself and made me a Mustard the Wonder Llama.

12. I've been indulging in coffee nearly every day since I caught a bloody cold.

13. Drinking said coffee out of the body of an Elder God is probably the reason why I felt better so fast.

14. I CAN FINALLY PLAY SUBNAUTICA AND THIS IS MY CUDDLEFISH AND HE'S THE GREATEST THING EVER.

15. I started a Flower Market shawl, but was bored quickly with it. It's currently in time out.

16. I freaked out about not having anything done for show and tell at the next pj party, so I knit this in less than 12 hours.

17. Said hat is the greatest thing ever and I am amazed at how friggin cute I feel while wearing it.

18. The Hat Feels led to an overindulgent amount of selfies.

19. Turns out that there was no need to freak out about not having anything for the pj party because Steph and Mikayla won't be going, so I'm skipping, too.

20. I finally picked the last yarn for the Lunar Phase MKAL just a few before the first clue was released.

21. I did the Ashtan thing and added beads to the pattern. 

22. That's probably the only photo you'll see until the end of the MKAL because SPOILERS, SWEETIE!

23. That's actually my second start of the pattern. I had to drop down a needle size because I knit so danged loose.

24. And because I have no self control, I knit 130 rows in 2 days. 

25. Yes, that was a stupid decision.

26. No, I can't feel my hands and that's why I'm writing this instead of knitting more.

27. This is a ridiculously long post and I should probably end it here.

28. Well, okay, I'll at least leave you with some Internet Tax.

29. Confession: I mostly stuck that there because it cracks John up every time he sees it.

30. Okay, goodbye for realsies this time. I'll try to find some more creative stuff to do to keep you from languishing with no content while I finish Lunar Phase. Assuming that my hands will remember how to work again.

Depression: A Series of Photos

Today is another bad day.

I borked my shoulder and wrist by coloring three people's hair yesterday, including my own.

And I woke up with one of the hardest hitting depressions I've had in a while, coupled with a heaping dose of anxiety and dread.

I have only made it out of bed long enough to use the bathroom. Anxiety sent me running right back upstairs as soon as I was done.

I want to just sink into the peacful temporary oblivion of sleep. I want to force myself up and into a craft project. I want to knit. I want to weep.

I took pictures.

It's not enough to get me out of bed. Or to lessen the feelings. But maybe they won't last as long now.Maybe just a little flicker of light against the overwhelming darkness.

Painting Palooza

You would think with all this pressure off me to get a project done every month, I'd be drowning in FO's. Things just flying off my needles, right?

Yeah...

I've all but abandoned my needles at this point. (HA! Point! I kill me.)

But seriously, I've only done a few rounds of Mystic Star (it was heartlessly abandoned last year) and made a lil spidey bro. I do have a MKAL that starts at the end of this month, but in the meantime, I've found that I just can't commit myself to any project.

So, to keep myself from slowly descending into a pit of knitless misery  occupied, I've been working on just a *few* watercolor paintings.

And by few, I mean over a dozen.

So here they are in no particular order.

I'd say I've been a little busy.

And I haven't even shown you the best and my favorite.

For a size reference, this is about two feet wide. It's now living happily in an antique frame that belonged to John's late grandma.

And it's now the centerpiece of the living room.

And because this is a knitting blog after all, I will at least tease you with the MKAL yarn.

Any guesses at the theme? Let's just say, I'll be over the moon with it. ;D

Joyous Natal Felicitations!

Well, today is the Queen Mum's birthday.

No, not that Queen Mum.

THIS Queen Mum.

Even more specifically, MY Queen Mum.

It has been claimed that we look a lot alike.

Frankly, I don't know what people are talking about.

(Also, yes, I was a blonde at one time.)

My mom's definitely been best friend more than anything, being confidant, consoler, and advice giver throughout the years.

She was one of the very first people to teach me and my sisters what it meant to be creative beings.

Her and my grandmother were among the first people who let us all explore whatever craft or hobby we girls could come up with, imparting their wisdom and offering what advice they could.

That creative freedom turned into life skills and crafting abilities that have helped define and shape who we are.

Mom's always good for a laugh, with us usually all trading quips and jokes that eventually leave us all crying on the floor, clutching our sides.

She also put herself through years of schooling to become the kickass paramedic that she is today. Not only did she pursue this career path, but did so as someone in their 40's. That takes a hell of a lot of dedication, energy, and time. 

And it's probably the thing that I'm most inspired by. That it's never too late to tackle an all new life path and become the person you want to be.

So happy, birthday, mom. I'm so proud of the things you've accomplished in your life. Love you dearly. <3