A saved post.

(My crafty-self saved these pictures in order to post them later so there was no gift-spoiler). Regardless of the date on the post, however, I am writing this from Costa Rica. There is so much to say about this trip even after a week and a half, but I feel like it´s still just the tip of the ice-berg in terms of experiencing the visual elements of this culture. Unfortunately, I opted not to lug my laptop around so I can´t upload pictures until I return, but I´m hoping to have a lot of artwork to show for this trip after my time in Honduras.

Here´s what I was toying with before I left for Central America...

Shrinky dink jewelry!

Now in my recent obsession with this craft, I´ve encountered many children of the eighties who were not enlightened to the joys of shrinky-dinking. Here is a link, people. EDUCATE YOURSELVES!

This particular one was made for Rachel (of Rachel´s Fist Throwing Circus infamy) for her birthday.

This one I made for myself, because..well, you know, every gurl needs a name plate to bling out.

And this one was made for Kerigirl.. The picture is not so great, but it´s Pippi Longstocking.

These are super easy and fun to make and I´m sure I´ll be making more of them. But for now, my focus is centered on murals in central america and improving my "spanglish".

Rochester, NY

Although I've been blogging a lot more lately, I still feel behind because I've been taking a lot of photos and have had a lot of things I'd like to write about.

A few weekends ago, I went to Rochester, NY to visit a friend and she was kind enough to cart me around to see some street art. Most of these photos are from around one building, but this whole block had a lot of stuff going on.

This one reminded me of New Orleans..

These are from one wall & were done by the folks who did the awesome mural up at the Spectrum Theater in Albany.
I really wish there were more murals in Albany in general. They really change the feel of a neighborhood and it would be a good use for all of those abandoned and boarded up buildings in the city. I've asked to do some mural projects with the neighborhood kids while in Honduras and Eddie said we could hook something up, which I am really stoked about.

stay golden

I've been really getting my knit on lately. After finishing the button tab hat, I decided a pair of hand warmers would be nice to match. I knit them literally in a day. One of them was knit entirely while in a work meeting. I had been meaning to blog about them, but was having a hard time getting a good photo. These ones are still a little too overexposed so the color doesn't translate as well. As per usual Rasca is in the shot. What can I say? My cat loves the camera.Project: "Golden Warmers"
Pattern: Emerald Green Handwarmers by creativeyarn
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Cotton Patiné in that mustardy yellow color that I can't get enough of right now.

I also started some socks that are proving to be an exciting challenge for me. I'm using the Leyburn pattern for my very first venture into toe-up socks. This will be a useful skill since I'm notorious for under or over estimating sock yarn.

The pattern also required learning the provisional cast on method, how to "wrap" a stitch and a new way to create a short row heel. Learning all these new techniques has actually made it a more intriguing, and therefore quicker, knit. I'm more than half way done with the first sock and I just started the project three days ago.

I'm also excited that these knits coincidentally go along with the Air theme for the project spectrum june/july.

I've also been a lucky duck in terms of fun mail lately. Rachel sent me this amazing yarn from Asheville, NC that her friend spins and dyes.

It's an Alpaca and wool blend that's dyed with copper, black-eyed susans and marigolds! It smells like working in the garden (in a good way). And if you are interested in scoring any for yourself, she can be contacted at wildbergamot@riseup.net

the generosity of knitters

I recently read Things I Learned from Knitting (Whether I wanted to or Not) by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (AKA the YarnHarlot). My supervisor got it for me as a parting gift when I completed my internship which made total sense since she begins the book by comparing knitting to Cognitive Behavioral therapy, and since I would knit during many a meeting in which we were discussing the clients we would do CBT therapy with. The book was a good, fast, and light hearted read- perfect for easing my way back into the shock of being able to do actual leisure reading after completing my masters.

Anyway, the book has a tidbit in it about the generosity of knitters and I've been thinking more about that and examples of it in my life (of which there are many). From sharing skills to sharing supplies (ahem, thanks for those needles meg!)- ask and you shall receive in the knitting world. And sometimes, you don't even have to ask, as is evidenced by the following examples...

A dear friend of mine recently traveled to Turkey and shared my humble blog with his hostess who was an incredibly crafty knitter and crocheter herself. She sent him back home with some beautiful hand knit slippers to pass on to me, just because.
Unfortunately, they do not stretch enough to accommodate the skis I like to call "my feet." Regardless, I was very touched by the gesture and the thought that there was this woman across an ocean who I could relate to in this way. I'll be going to Costa Rica and Honduras this summer, and I plan to take them with me and pass them on to someone who can fit into them, and hopefully who can appreciate how far this gift has traveled.

Two months ago, I also received this in the mail...
An umbrella swift! My very own umbrella swift! Now I know there are some fancy pants knitters out there who might gawk at the very idea that I didn't already own one of the contraptions- but I am a humble-recent-graduate-student of limited means. It was just a purchase that I couldn't justify (although I was considering trying to justify spending some of my stimulus check on one anyway). I've wanted one for a very long time, and was kind of kicking myself for not investing in one this past October at Rhinebeck. So you can imagine how excited I was to receive one in the mail by complete surprise! It turns out my fantastic roommate knew how badly I wanted one and mentioned it casually to his extremely generous knitterly & crafty mom, who mailed me one that she just happened to have laying around the house. She's also sent me knitting shows from the DIY channel and some awesome Ravelry swag. Rasca is less than impressed by the umbrella swift. She knows not of these human toys nor of the generosity of knitters. She just wants to eat the yarn.

little bits

I have more new little things to post about! As I mentioned in my last post, life has been very busy lately. As school culminated, I had the urge to knit something little, quick and gratifying & I've been dying to use this yarn...

So I knit a hat. At the beginning of the summer. Not the most practical of knits (even if it is cotton yarn), but it quenched my thirst at the time.
Pattern: Button Tab Hat
Yarn: Cotton Patiné in "Color 10." It's really a mustardy yellow color that I've been obsessed with lately.
Button: given to me by Alan who found it amongst a bunch of other fantastic buttons that some fool was getting rid of.

And speaking of other little things...remember those ruby red booties I knit a while back? I distinctly remember as I was completing them thinking to myself, "These are so teeny tiny! Do humans even come this small?" I shrugged it off, reminding myself that knitting stretches anyway. Well...apparently they DO come that small. And even smaller! This weekend I met the littlest Jacobs ever-Ms. Hailey Grace. But hey, maybe those booties will fit by Christmas.

An actual update.

A lot of life has happened in the the two months since my last post. I turned 28; finished my masters in social work; went to a prom; had a mini road trip to Boston; and became an aunt again. Impressively, art has still been happening through all of that. I have a few knits in progress and a piece for the earth portion of project spectrum that is actually on display.

I have actually been meaning to write a post dedicated specifically to the Grand Street Community Arts, where my piece is on display. For now, suffice it to say-it's right around the corner from me and I'm really excited about the potential it has to offer. I was given the opportunity to participate in the June showing of their "Boarded Up" project, and the painting I had in mind happens to go beautifully with the project spectrum theme of earth. Oh, synchronicity, how you awe me.

Here are some photos of my piece...

Title: Sacrificio
Medium: Acrylic Paint and Pastel on ply wood

If you are in the Albany area for the month of June, you should really come check it out. For one, the pictures don't do it justice. Two, you can see the other pieces up as well. The pieces will be auctioned off in August, with the proceeds going to support the community center. Here's a photo of one of the other ones up this month that I really liked..In terms of my own personal evolution embracing my art, I feel like I've grown tremendously these past few months. I also contributed to an art auction to raise money for students to go on the Africa trip that I had the privilege of going on last year. Both of the things I donated sold and one of my photos went for $75, which was cool to see. I also did some networking there and made some future contacts for showing more art. It's a big deal for me still to be putting my stuff out there and I was really happy with how this recent painting came out.

I keep telling folks to go see it which feels a little weird for me, but I make myself get over it by remembering how much I appreciate it when my friends share their talents with me whether it's through their music, writing, painting, cooking, whatever. I feel less odd talking about what I'm showing when I think of it as just contributing and giving back some of the inspiration that others share with me.

Now that school is over and done with, there's so much promise of art and inspiration. I will begin a figure drawing class of sorts tomorrow. I've been really itching to do some sewing again. And this summer I have trips planned for both Costa Rica & Honduras, which I'm sure will yield a lot more photos. So hopefully, this blog will be full of a lot more updates.

Being a joiner

It's funny how things work out sometimes. I had just recently read about Project Spectrum and decided to join at the very beginning of April. Despite showing up late to the party, it turns out all my knits in March & February went along with the theme anyway! It was fate.

I feel like I've had these knits done for a while, but things have been too busy to get pictures and all that jazz. But without further ado....

Project: Jaywalker socks for Ms. Dolan
Pattern: Jaywalker Socks
Yarn: Opal in Flamingo
Needles: size 2dpns

I really like the way these came out. Much better than my first pair by sheer fact that they're all of the same yarn. Which by the way, I really like the yarn too.

And now..oh, the baby knits. I am expecting a little niece in June.

Project: Ruby Red Baby Booties
Pattern: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Booties
Needles: size 5
Yarn: Knitpicks Shine Sport in Cherry
Alterations: I did a ssk, rather than the sl1,k1,psso that the pattern calls for. That method looked neater to me.

I had to take a picture on my hand for scale so you can see how teenie tiny & cute this things are. Freakin' adorable.

Project: Cherry Baby Sweater
Pattern: February Baby Sweater, from the Knitter's Almanac
Needles:
Yarn: KnitPicks Shine Sport in Cherry

I actually bought this yarn for another project entirely, but it wasn't the shade of red I had in mind. It's rather bright, which you can kinda tell from the pictures. But babies need bright colors.

Again, for scale. I can't believe there's going to be another person in my life this little again.

Many more baby knits to come, I'm sure.