Thursday Art Walk

In Which I Did A Sketch!

It's a quiet (but odd) morning. I finally got that sleep I needed and I feel pretty okay, all things considered. I'm still a little snappish for some reason - I get very frustrated with Blogger when it won't let me upload all three images at once, I'm frustrated that I don't get to check my analytics without signing up for Analytics in general now (and that's annoying because one of the joys of blogging is being able to see how many readers are using a VPN to tell you they're reading your blog in Azerbaijan or something), and I am a bit cranky that I can't find my Good Inking Pen.

So you'll have to pardon my use of pencil alone. Hopefully I'll get this (and a few other things) scanned in this weekend and I can start using Paint.net to add color or something. That'd be fun :)

It's a pretty decent day, despite us receiving our share of the smoke from the opposite coast. Yesterday was so windy I felt the house shake a few times (far preferable to the experiences of those in the path of yesterday's hurricane, but slightly alarming nonetheless). Today, I can see the leaves on the silver maple out front rustling in the breeze, but there's no roaring. The sky is kind of a greige color (gray + beige), but the lack of strong sun means that when they say it's 68℉ (20℃), it actually kinda feels like it (despite the ambient humidity being at about 62%!)

I'm comfortable in my blue jeans and sturdy olive green tee shirt, but my dear kitty has been the most comfortable creature around!

"Creature Comfort" mechanical pencil on sketch pad; 2020

When I came downstairs, she'd perched herself on the arm of my dad's recliner, loaf-shaped and chill. Pretty much as soon as he came inside for a drink, though, she moved, so I had to finish the sketch from memory (which, if you know me, is a tricky prospect lol). I don't know how she can sleep so soundly as she does with him outside constantly working on the camper - today he's priming all of the aluminum pieces so he can paint them, but earlier this week he was using the loudest tools in his arsenal. I'm glad it's getting done, though. I shouldn't complain.

Detail from "Creature Comfort"; 2020

Currently, my girl is curled up in her soft bed on the couch beside me. She likes to knead the sides because they're a soft, fluffy material, and sometimes she gets so into it you can hear her purring from anywhere in the house except my room (which deadens *all* sound inside the house and I can hear nothing). I think she may have a bad cold, sadly, because she has these awful sneeze sessions and a deep (though thankfully very occasional) cough. She's eating and constantly looking for snuggles and stealing people's seats, so that's good.

Today is a good day, creatively, and I think I'm gonna go continue working on both art and writing. I hope you're all safe and working on fulfilling projects!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday... On Wednesday

 

In Which Tuesday Was Very Busy

I am winding down for the evening (well, technically early Wednesday morning, but gimme a break lol), so I'll make today's blog fairly brief.

Today was a day of getting out of town for a bit, because I live in an area with lower-than-the-national-average risk of COVID exposure. Some friends, my partner, and myself all piled in a car and went to another town and ate pulled pork sandwiches by the ocean, and it was awesome. We wore our masks. We socially distanced.

We were not, however, immune to reality creeping in.

Tuesday morning saw the sun being lightly filmed with a haze born from the wildfires devastating the opposite side of the continent. The fresh sea breeze was slightly salted and tanged with the touch of the hurricanes lining up like abusive suitors far to the south. Political survey people tried to knock on my front door and asked for me by name, though they seem to think my French Feminine name (on a person descended from both Scotch/Irish and German stock) is a British Masculine... My mother sent them on their way (thank goodness) none the wiser that there is no such person by that pronounciation.

You'd think that would have made the day anxious, but it didn't. None of it did.

We ate too much food by a beautiful waterfront, watching healthy mats of seaweed bob in the surf near the hewn stone below. We laughed. We talked about Dungeons & Dragons, about silly movies, about that cute orphaned sea otter I watch at night, about the food, about trips we could take in the future, people's families and their adventures (or misadventures).

And then one of the myriad little sparrows that had been investigating the area for potential dropped crumbs took flight.

And apparently it needed to clear some weight before it could properly lift off.

It crapped all over my folded hands, spattering a line of cold, slick-yet-gritty asphalt gray feces all over the heels of my thumbs.

In short, nature informed us it was time to go back into the car.

After copious amounts of hand sanitizer (in the car), a return trip to the house, several handwashings, depositing my nice yellow plaid flannel shirt in the wash with a dab or two of dishsoap on what I'm hoping were just meat-juice stains and not another bird's farewell, my partner and I settled into a sleepy torpor from which we only roused briefly to order a pizza for dinner (which was delicious - spinach & feta on garlic-parm sauce), argue laughingly over what YouTube videos to watch, and then to separate for the evening.

In short, today was great.

It never got above 65℉ (18.3℃), and right now I think it's about 45℉ (7.2℃). I'm in a green flannel shirt and capris, but I've snuck a flannel blanket bedecked in owls onto my bed, so I'm still deliciously chilly-yet-cozy. The tip of my nose is like ice, but my fingers still have some heat to them, so I'll call it a 100% win!

I'll be writing all day Wednesday (not counting this blog). Thursday I'll have some more art for you. I'll be writing Friday through Sunday, and Monday next should have a much more completed bag (with a bonus one day make for you!)

I think that'll about cover my Tuesday. I'm going to go brush my teeth and sleep deeply while dreaming of loaded pulled pork sandwiches, a warm hand in mine, and absolutely no bird poop.

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday - Wafflebag

 

In Which Progress Is Waffled... er... made...

I'm a wee bit tired, as of late. I've been staying up too late, waking up later, and just generally feeling run down and sleepy constantly. I'm 99% sure it's because I'm moving around more during the hours I'm awake, but there's always the worry that it could be a hormonal response or worse - my depression creeping back in. Which would be weird, since this is the most hopeful I've been in a while! My future is open wide, after all!

So I distract myself from my brain not understanding how to person.

And I do that with two things: Entertainment and Work.

For Entertainment, of course, I read (I'm working my way through Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest right now), I play video games, and I watch lots and lots of YouTube videos.

For Work, however, you've seen a lot of what I do. I'm writing a novel (which, let's be real, takes up 75% of my Awake Time because that's what I want my JOB to be!). I draw (both digitally and on paper). I crochet.

And Right Now, I Am Crocheting A Bag!

The bag I'm crocheting right now is done using a basketweave pattern, but because the word "basket" likes to hop out of my brain like a frog from a log, I end up calling it a Waffle Weave bag, despite Waffle Weave looking like this.

Currently, the bag is about 3.5" (~8.9cm) tall, and I'm debating whether to make it a proper bag or to convert it into some kind of zippered clutch. What do you guys think? Purse with straps or zippered clutch?

I'll let you know how I plan to complete this project (if it's a zippered clutch, I'll probably have to line it...), and you'll continue to see progress shots :)

I think that'll about do it for me today - I gotta run downstairs and get some fresh water and maybe a sandwich!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Thursday Art Walk

 

In Which I *Have* been working! I promise!

Oh boy are Thursdays a struggle, guys. I know what I want to be painting, and I'm working hard on things, but... I'm doing such small details that there's really nothing to show for it. Yet.

So I had to do a sketch instead!

"Otter Bliss" mechanical pencil & ballpoint pen; 2020

I've mentioned that I've been watching an orphaned otter named Joey, right? Because I have. A lot.

So here's an homage to the lil guy, floating in blissful sleepy peace, lil shark toy on his tummy, fake kelp floating behind him.

It's been a little difficult to draw lately, since I'm mostly focused on writing, but I'm pretty proud of that sketch, and I look forward to scanning it in and then working on it digitally!

I don't usually talk about social media in this blog, I don't like asking people to smash that like/subscribe whatever button or to comment and/or share, but I'd really dig it if you can Retweet the Tweet you maybe used to get here or hit Share if you found it on Facebook? Regardless, I can see y'all seeing my blogs, and I really love that you're here!

Anywho, I have writing to do, baby otters to stare at, and spooky ladies on roadtrips to watch, so I hope you are all doing alright, and I hope you're safe and that your projects are going great :)

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Mo - WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S TUESDAY?!

 

In Which Time Is Slippery

But Yarn is Not

I'll be honest, I lost track of time both today and yesterday. I legit forgot that it was Monday, despite knowing that Tuesday was one sleep away (I haven't had that sleep yet, btw, I refuse to flake 100% on Monday :P ). I did have kind of a long day, after all, with a lot of writing and a lot of running around and doing laundry and working out... The weather today was spectacular - warm, sunny, breezy. My old man took out the hammock and cleared the mouse nests out of the riding lawnmower in between renovations and rebuilds on the camper he bought. My mom gardened. I wrote, did some situps, ordered chicken taco pizza for my family's dinner. Busy busy.

I didn't do any crochet until after dinner.

I didn't even think about crochet until probably 9:30PM (that's 1730 in military time, lol).

And now I'm too tired to keep crocheting lol.

But I did some work, I promise! On a woven stitch bag!

But it's not for a laptop like the pattern suggests - it's probably only big enough for an iPad or a notebook. It'll be a nice little purse or something :)

It's starting from the bottom, of course, which is closest to the ball.

So that's what I eventually got to work on.

That and page 19 of Part 2 of the novel. I'd like to finish pages 20 & 21 on Tuesday, but we'll see lol.

I'm very much enjoying the work, though. All of the work. The writing, the crocheting, the reading and the art. I enjoy my work.

I hope that all of you out there can find some work you'll enjoy, too, whether it's art, writing, music, video making, cooking, or teaching. Make something.

The weather tomorrow (Tuesday) is supposed to be (and I quote): "Partly Sunny and Delightful" with a high of about 73℉/22.8℃ (which will feel like 79℉/26.1℃ in the sun) with about 82% humidity (which will be pretty annoying!) with only 7-9mph breeze! 

I intend to spend it writing.

So please, Go Enjoy Something!!!

FC

Thursday Art Walk

 

In Which I Drew An Otter!

This week has been filled with sea life. I've been watching a few livestreams of sea creatures from manatees to seals, but the one I always come back to is Joey the Otter!

Fluffy, cute, and hilarious, this little guy is fantastic for stress relief. He just... wiggles. And squeals. And sometimes he poops. And he eats clams.

Such a cutie.

Anyway, my partner and I love to watch the lil guy wiggle around and swim in his turtle pool. So I was asked to make a piece of art that commemorates the lil fella!

"Dreamy Drift" Digital, 2020

I'll be uploading this fellow to my Redbubble, so if you like the design, head on over!

Alright, that'll be about it for me :) I think I'll work on some more art tonight, do some writing, maybe have a third cup of mocha... it's a pretty artsy day for me.

Take care of yourselves out there, folks!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Talk About Tuesday

 

In Which I Blather About Today

It's another Tuesday here in the YarnCave, and it's been great weather lately. Days cool enough to wear pants and flannel shirts (provided one is not moving about with any great vigor), nights cool enough to keep only one fan spinning and more than one light sheet on the bed, and oh man is it perfect for writing through!

Today's blog will have to be a bit short, though, because between writing and getting lunch ready soon, I'm a little busy lol!

Weather today: Mostly cloudy, temperature is at 67℉ (19.4℃), and there's a steady breeze. More of a light wind, really. It's nice, to be honest. I'm thinking about putting on jeans. Too bad it might be back up near 90℉ (32℃) by Friday! Ew!

I've written two pages in the last 24 hours, and I'm halfway done with another page today already. I hope I get a lot of writing done today, because I'd like to finish Part 2 of my book in the first half of this month.

I've been writing to a lot of Takashi Kokubo music lately. It's repetitive, relaxing, and odd, kinda like me!

Today, I think I'm making pickled sausage to go on lunch (maybe it'll be some yakisoba?), and tonight it's roast chicken, so food is all set (though I have few snacks...).

On Thursday, I'll be doing more art, but I don't know what yet, so keep an eye out. I may have more yellow crochet on Monday, too!

That'll about do it for me - gotta go make lunch!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC