knittin' and drawin'

After my last post, a cold snap hit and we've all been enjoying more inside cozy time. My goal at the beginning of the week was to start knitting... the weather inspired me more than ever. My daughter has just about outgrown the mittens I made two years ago (size 2-4 really lasted). After many stops and starts in the form of gauge swatches and yarn changes, I am finally casting on tonight. I'll let you know how it goes, but I've selected a new-to-me washable merino wool, called Saphira. I bought it locally, but here's a link I found for you. Have you ever knit mittens before? It's fairly basic, and if they are for wee hands, they knit up quickly. I've collected way too many patterns... if I knitted non-stop for the rest of my life, I still wouldn't have used them all. Especially, since I always come back to the book pictured above, The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. It allows me the freedom to use whatever yarn I want, because each pattern is charted with multiple gauges. This book also gives ideas on how to customize each pattern to make it unique. Basically, it's a guide for the type of person who likes to create their own recipes with what they've already got stashed away... that's me! The super delicious alpaca (above) was too drapey for mittens...but makes a great hat (made one last year for another niece of mine...I have four). Blue was the request...guess that's obvious. If you're not a knitter, yet...this is a wonderful time of year to start. Because of upcoming holidays and winter weather, many knitters come out of the woodwork. Ask an experienced friend to get you started. Most knitters love giving help and advice.

My children and I have also been very busy drawing. the October Big Draw has had a big impact on our family. The next picture was taken this morning before breakfast...a spontaneous drawing session. There have been many!


My son hasn't been this interested in drawing since he was six or seven. We now spend regular evening hours side-by-side sketching in front of the the woodstove. It's become a magical part of our day and I don't want it to end when we move into November. I've included several of my drawings from the last week or so. You can find more in my photstream on flickr (in the sidebar).

retro robot:


concentrating:



knitting matryoshkas:


matryoshka family:

A number of readers have been writing in to say they've made various newspaper buntings or paper leaves...please consider joining the flickr pool of maya*made designs...here. I'd love to see them!

Check back soon...I've got a little tutorial coming up shortly.