What? I have a blog?

Forgot about this little baby. The neat thing is that, so, I'm sure did everyone else who read it (i.e., Mom). I was thinking the other day that I need to spend some time writing, and this is a perfect little venue. Writing for the "public" without any fear of what the audience will think. Because I'm quite sure, at the moment, this blog has an audience of One.

I started this blog as a way to share what I'd been creating -- crochet and knit projects at the time. I believe this is a season of more creativity for me. What will I create? Not sure yet. Spending time thinking about writing about creating is part of that process. I'm looking forward to the journey.

Capacity

ca·pac·i·ty [kuh-pas-i-tee]
noun, plural -ties, adjective–noun

1. the ability to receive or contain...
3. power of receiving impressions, knowledge, etc.; mental ability
4. actual or potential ability to perform, yield, or withstand

Mine is growing this week. It's both slightly overwhelming and immensely rewarding to see all that needs done this week and know that it's going to get done. I'm grateful.

Colour

Simply stunning. I like that there is beauty even in advertising.



The song is Jose Gonzalez's "Hearbeats," if you're interested. I saw this video at a conference and proceeded to buy the entire album.

Creation

A friend texted me a couple weeks ago on a Saturday morning, saying, "I want to give you a bunch of yarn. Can I bring it tomorrow?" That inspired me to head straight to Michaels to buy more yarn. It's like a disease. What you see above is a blanket (the fruit of Michaels, almost done now) and flowers that will become a scarf.

I haven't been crocheting much lately, but I'm all the more thankful for the creative outlet it provides when I am able to find some time to do so. It's funny... who would have thought that a centuries old craft would unlock my 21st century creative streak?

I took the Strong Interest Inventory, a commonly-used "test" to help people choose careers, in grad school last week, and my primary interest type was "Artistic*." I smile as I type that, because I'd never been able to own my creative side. Until now.

*In case you're wondering, my other two types were "Social" and "Enterprising," types I've been owning all too well for years.

My Life Without Me

What a beautiful film. I'm not sure how I missed it when it was released in theaters... I suppose 2003 was a busy year? (Though I recall seeing a lot of particularly bad films first-run that year. I guess the company I was keeping that year was more of the big studio type.)

It seems counterintuitive that a film about a 23-year-old mother of two dying would be uplifting. But what beautiful characters, what sincere emotion. I accidentally typed "emothion" first, which is undoubtedly my subconscious reminding me to mention the other reason I loved this movie---its Spanish roots. Pedro Almodovar was involved, and the director is Spanish, as well. A major perk of watching the "making of" featurette... escuchando un poco de español.

And to think... I put this little gem in my queue solely because it featured Scott Speedman, of Felicity-hottie fame. I'm glad my guilty-teen-drama pleasure has resulted in my gaining genuine indie-cred points... and in truly being touched.

One Vote '08

My good friend produced this amazing video. Go to one.org NOW and help save millions of people whose lives are being lost to poverty that could be eradicated by the dedication of just 1% of the U.S. budget.

Friday

Friday really felt like one of the first days of summer... 80s, the first holiday weekend, a night when I could walk 30 blocks uptown to see a friend rather than ride the subway. You know those times when you think, "This is beautiful. I should take a photograph."? A camera phone lends itself well to pausing in those moments. I'm glad I did.

Blanket

Why is it that I get inspired to crochet as the weather warms? Perhaps it's something about the rebirth of spring inspiring creativity. Whatever the case, the advent of warm weather has led me to start work on a very warm blanket. I was initially inspired by all the rippling happening on CrochetMe and other sites.


The intent of that whole endeavor was to clean out one's yarn stash. I bought a bunch of yarn. Oops. But I love it. It's Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Chunky (read "washable") and in all the colors I've been wanting to use for a blanket.

It's wider than I intended, as wide as a double bed (on which it is pictured, as have been many of my crochet projects). But that's OK... it will end up taking me 14 balls of yarn when I'm all done, and should be amazingly warm.. perfect for snuggling under once the weather turns cool again. For now, I'll enjoy the fact that it's just a little too warm on my lap as I work on it.