first 3 days
Originally uploaded by rho rho

Once upon a time, in a frenzy of office-supply-shopping, I bought a rolodex.

I used it for about two minutes ... but I always liked its looks.

I decided, in an effort to overcome my latest creative slump, I will do some kind of drawing/ collage/ doodle/ painting/ thing on a card per day. A sort of alternate sketchbook and probably an interesting archive/object in the end.

We'll see how long I can last.

I'm not promising that all of them or ANY of them will be good or pretty... that's not really the point.

This project is actually finished now but I haven't taken pictures yet (bad knitter/blogger bad!). They are leg warmers. I know I am jumping on a dying/maybe-soon-to-be-dead trend but I think they are cute with flip-flops and a skirt... plus, it just isn't that warm here on the east coast!

What I wanted to show here is that this was a bit of an experiment for me. I made both leg-warmers at the same time on two circular needles. (I found out you can this from an online tutorial which I know I should credit but I don't have the link handy - I WILL do it though!!)

Anyway, the process worked well but was hard to get used to at first. I don't think it is necessarily faster... it may infact be slower because of the fiddling you have to do with the needles. The great advantage though is that you end up with BOTH things done at the same time. This is good for me because I have a really hard time making the second thing in any pair. I am trying it again with the arms of a shrug. It isn't working as well - I believe it is due to the fact the they are ribbed and ending on a purl causes the yarn to be in an awkward place.

Hmmm...
I just viewed my blog.
The posts about the 3 bears below make A LOT more sense if you start from what appears to be the 3rd/last bear. (I couldn't find a way to re-order them.)
Forgive me, its my first time in a long time.
I'll get better.

This cute bear couple went to friends as part of their wedding present (the bulk of their present was that I made their invitations for them - they can be seen at my flickr site in the "craftiness" set - just click on the picture to go there).

Anyway, the plan is to add to this bear family whenever they start adding to their human family.

The girl bear is knit on a half size smaller needle - it made a big size difference though! I was surprised.

I just remembered that there is another baby-gift bear out there somewhere. I don't think I have pictures of that one. Sad.

I like sending arts and crafts out into the world. When I was in highschool I drew tattoo designs for a lot of people (maybe 10?) and they actually GOT them. In recent days, facebook has reunited me with most of these people. It has been a decade since I talked to most of them (not because of ill-will, I'm simply very bad at staying in touch). Anyway, it got me thinking about the fact that these people have walked around with my drawings on their bodies for the last decade. It's a pretty unique bond. I wonder if the tats reminded them of me during that 10 year gap?

Anyway, I don't know if the bears will last as long in the world as the tattoos but its nice to know they are out there - hopefully being loved... but at least know as a token of my affection.

bear couple
Originally uploaded by rho rho.

another bear
Originally uploaded by rho rho.

The second bear - this time with the Jess Hutch pattern. I made up the scarf and hat though.

I have given all my bears away. This one went to a friend's baby who wasn't yet born when I made it (hence no monogram).

I decided to start posting at this blog again. I think it will be mostly crafty/arty stuff. I'm starting by posting some bears I knit last year. These pretty much mark the beginning of my knitting career.

Not sure I really love this blogger interface - it seems clunky... but maybe I just don't remember how to work it very well... having troubles getting pictures in which is why I posted these 3 bear pix individually.

So here's the first bear I made. At this point I had Jess Hutch's book on backorder but I managed to find a "bowling pin" pattern that I thought I could use because I reeeeeally wanted to make the bear!!

first bear
Originally uploaded by rho rho.

He turned out pretty cute and I gave him to a friend. Looking back I notice my mistakes a lot more but I was very proud of him at the time.