I enjoy making things. I feel that creative expression is essential to our well-being. In the last few years, most of my creativity has been poured into teaching yoga and growing my yoga studio. This has been very rewarding in many ways. Recently, however, I have realized that focusing my creative energies outwardly for so long has created an inner deficit. I have plundered my own reserves and offered myself little replenishment.
It's time for a change.
Indeed, this is one of the many reasons behind my decision to put the studio up for sale. I simply need to redirect my energy inward - to home, to my own creativity, to hopefully expanding our family. I used to sing, act, dance, play musical instruments. I still sing (in the car, baby!) and dance (thank goodness I got back into dancing), but I am curious again about acting, and I'd like to take up the guitar. I want to be able to entertain myself and my friends with song or story, like in the days before folks sat around staring at televisions and actually had to interact for their mutual amusement.
**Aside** I was most impressed with that while watching "Out of Africa": when Denys and Cole come visiting at the farm, and Denys wants to know if Karen sings and she says no, but she tells stories. She then proceeds to tell a story that, apparently, lasts for hours. What a fantastic skill!
My creative mainstay these last six years has been knitting. Ever since I first laid eyes on Stitch 'N Bitch I knew I wanted to learn to wave a couple of sticks around with some string and POOF! end up with a hat/scarf/socks/sweater/you name it. Sometimes I knit a lot, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I have multiple works in progress at a time, sometimes I am a "monogamous knitter". However I'm doing it, knitting has provided a consistent opportunity to be artful.
To whit:
Seraphim Shawl
I am *very* happy with this shawl. It took me about a month, and is just what I wanted: cozy, great color, pretty, intricacy balanced with simplicity.
I made this in February/March as a gift for a neighbor. It's made with a yarn called Calmer, which is a stretchy, soft cotton. It behaves similarly to wool, but has no itch. This makes it great for sensitive heads. I really like the design on the crown. :-)
This baby blanket is made from a sweet, soft, washable wool. The photo doesn't do the color justice - it's actually a sweet-corn yellow. I'm very happy with how it turned out.
I've wanted a sassy cloche for quite awhile, and happily knit this one for myself this past winter. It's super soft, a great shade of soft pink, and has that fine, flippy ruffle poking out of the side. It has been my go-to hat for many months, now.
Socks the First (Punctuated Rib Socks)
This sweet Lorna's Laces yarn (color: Clementine) was a Christmas gift from a friend/yoga student. I love orange, especially orange yarn, and had a great time knitting these socks. I might even have enough leftover yarn to make some baby booties or something. Yay!
Socks the Second (a.k.a. Jaywalkers...my third pair)
I really like this pattern for variegated yarn. It creates nice stripes (as opposed to pools, puddles, or other color results I don't really want). This is Yarn Pirate yarn (color: Emerald City). The cast-on edge is very ruffly this time, which was a fun and unexpected surprise. I'm working on its mate.
All project details are on my ravelry.com page. Just look for seattleyogini!
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So, clearly, plenty of knitting has been going on this year. In addition to the Jaywalker mate, I'm working on a summertime blouse. I have the back nearly complete, so I may actually be able to wear it by the time we consistently have warm weather. The knitting continues, but I want more outlets for my creative energy. As things wind-down professionally, one of the things I look forward to most is making the time to pursue those outlets and let those creative juices flow!