Dance 43

It’s a quick life update with good vibes only. I have celebrated my birthday again and this year happily outlived my own mother. I was anxiously fixated for the past year on “being 42” (that same age as when my mom died). But now I feel great, and am in good health, well at least I never had several re-occurrences of cancer. How often I heard through the years that “42 was so young” even though it was hard for a child to comprehend, I really did internalize that repeated message. I’m still young at 43 too, I feel hardly any different 

My child gave me a pink holographic tarot deck as a birthday present, and a stack of chocolate candy bars made by a local chocolatier. She is so thoughtful and it was very nice. I always tell her the best gift is that I get to see and hug her! She watched one of my favorite movies with me since it was on TV when she came over, and that was another rewarding moment in life. The film is called “Sorry To Bother You” and I really forgot how many times it shows a mutant horse penis until they started appearing on screen towards the end. We appreciate the artistry it takes to create that freakish appendage, or imagine it, even if it’s so weird

I have a few arts and crafts projects going on currently. I love to look at peoples blogs where they chronicle something they’re knitting from start to finish, but I’m not that organized and haven’t trained myself to use my blog that way yet. But here are a few things I’m in the process of making lately.

These rainbow socks are done and soon it will be cool enough weather to wear them. I didn’t use a pattern, it was freestyle knit, off the dome, and I am very happy with the fit. The socks are mainly ribbed, with a “princess sole” that’s very soft and smooth compared to other sock construction techniques. I’m definitely going to recreate these again when I buy more sock yarn.

It was an impulse purchase I got for about $6 at a discount department store (TJ Maxx). I don’t have lots of experience with cross stitch, but enjoyed the few cheap kits I picked up over the years, and this is a fun one, too. It’s nice to have a change of pace and try a different form of craft sometimes. There are 5 small patterns/designs included, which seems generous. I used to watch Game of Thrones and remember it fondly, though I haven’t rewatched since it ended. The dragon image was my first choice to start stitching, I haven’t gotten very far, but it seems to be going ok for me. The letter “g” has some mistakes, but I’m just going to ignore that and continue

Favorite Ballets coloring book was a birthday gift with amazing pictures to fill in but I don’t have to bravery to touch any coloring instrument to the pages yet. I’ve heard coloring is supposed to be a relaxing and low effort creative hobby, but somehow, it does manage to stress me out. What I plan to do is make photocopies of the pages first, or print them somewhere with great quality paper. I want to color a beautiful ballet scene and pin it to a wall somewhere to admire, but how can I bear to rip out any of the pages when there are lovely drawings on both sides of the page? If I get copies of the pages made, it might alleviate some anxiety I have about ruining the book by coloring it  

 

While I was spinning my purple wool into yarn, I imagined I would use it to make thick slipper socks, but when it was done, I cast on a hat instead. I cannot explain the decision. It just felt right when the moment came! I love spinning fiber on my Eel Wheel electric spinning machine, but it’s a much quicker hobby to finish than the related knitting or crochet portion. Spinning 4oz wool into yarn took only 2 days, but the hat could require a week or more to finish knitting

I’m contemplating sashiko again! I might do that embroidered reinforcement on my oldest pants soon. These are my grubby jeans for doing dirty work, like cleaning something gross or going hiking. I don’t wear them often, but when I feel the need to spare my usual clothing from a strange chemical or unclean environment, they’re important to have on hand. The’re a bit sentimental for me also, as they were a hand-me-down from my own child! She became taller than me when she was around 12 years old (so if you ever see me dressed like a zoomer tween and wonder why, it’s because I love accepting free used clothes). The knees are the main area I’m going to work on (I will close up the fashionable holes). Maybe I’ll add stitching just for decoration as well. I haven’t really planned this out yet

Sorry for the few weeks absence, and I will be back to post again before long.