Work in progress...

Well, two works of many WIPS. These are not languishing, though. They are actively in progress.  As I'm going to the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) annual conference this year in July, I thought it would be nice to have some crochet to wear, as well as renew my crochet mojo.

I was thrilled to be able to start these pieces with yarn already in my stash, too.

Both are Jenny King patterns. I'm making a short version of her Coogee Bay dress in a beautiful blue unmercerized 8/2 cotton which I originally bought for weaving.  I was thrilled to discover that I can crochet a whole dress with a $24 cone of cotton (actually it was less, because WEBS gives a 25% discount when you reach $125 in your shopping cart - 20% on $60, and I bought many cones of yarn when I got the grant to buy my Saori loom.) 

The second piece is a pattern called Shawlsational and it's apparently a vest/shawl/scarf-in-one. I am still unsure about how it's going to end up, but it's in the homestretch, so I will know soon. This was done in a cotton Interlacements yarn, Irish Linen, alas no longer available. I ran out of the main yarn, which is purples and greens,  and am finishing up with greens.  I am very pleased at the contrast border.

Of course, these pictures don't show the garments well, just the lovely promise of them as they are in the process of becoming.

Pigeon Suits or, When Meaning is Lost on the Internet

I received a link on Facebook the other day which had a picture of a pigeon in colorful crochet. I started to pass it on quickly by sharing it on my Wall. Instead, I decided to go further.  And I’m so glad I did.

I  traveled that link to other links and finally arrived at the site for the artist (Laurel Roth).

It was interesting to see the commentary & presentation of her work along the way. At the first link, the author is confused about why pigeons would need “knitted (sic) outfits,” but they're “adorable.“  She calls the project “Pigeons in Costume’ and describes it as ‘hilarious.’

The next site, linked to from the first, is entitled “Pigeons in Costume”, and there is more information, the proper title for the series - "Biodiversity Reclamation Suits for Urban Pigeons.” This author describes the work thusly:

“…Roth takes pigeons (hand carved mannequins), sets them on stands, and crochets yarn coats for them to look totally and wholly fancy in. Everyone loves a little fancification, right?
Even dirty birds like to feel loved and to look super sassy….”
 
And includes one reader comment: “These people has etirely too much free time! Lol” 

When I finally arrived at the artist's site, I discovered that she dresses wooden pigeon mannequins in suits "that disguise them as extinct birds, thereby (visually) re-creating biodiversity and soothing environmental fears. "

I don’t know about soothing my environmental fears, but in finally getting to the artist’s site and statement, seeing the pictures in the web setting she chose for it,  I felt immensely enriched by knowing the deeper meaning of her project.

And was given a key to open my own door of  meaning and associations upon viewing this as the art work it is meant to be. I felt awash in a sense of loss, and then began to think about how we try to recreate stellar moments or experiences or capture them in photographs and how sometimes it just seems sad….



In addition, I  got to see the Laurel Roth's other work, which gave even more context to this series,  and realized she probably also carved the wooden pigeon mannequins.

The lesson here for me is twofold.
1. On the internet as in real life, it’s wise to go to the source of things.
2. When I present something here or am tempted to do a quick repost to social media, I should take a moment and be sure I’m not just sending a pale iteration - a pigeon in an adorable outfit- when I could be sending something far more meaningful.

-------------------------------

Here are the links in the order I followed them:

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pigeons-in-costume
http://worldfamousdesignjunkies.com/color/pigeon-power/
http://loloro.com/section/54968_Biodiversity_Reclamation_Suits_for_Urban.html




top picture found here
bottom picture found here

No.2 - Bitter and beautiful: all winter

Bitter and beautiful: all winter

those words haunted me.

Day after day
Crow perched on them

and turned her sad
wise eyes to mine.

One winter I plan to grow
small

so Crow will make me
her baby.

She will carry me from
bitter to beautiful

and back again
over and over

and I will sleep
and sleep

through it all.

----Zann Carter 04.02.09

------------------------------------
Notes
As usual, I am making my own set of rules. I will write a poem every day and I will post a poem that I have written every day. It just may not be the poem I wrote that day.

I actually started on March 31. Just wanted to see if I could indeed write a poem that was relatively acceptable, blog-worthy, in a brief period of time. My intention is to spend a half-hour or so on this each morning. I might let it steep a bit during the rest of the day, make some changes here and there. I might play around with ideas for the next day’s poem.

So yesterday, April 1, I posted the poem I wrote March 31. I also wrote another poem in the evening. I wrote another poem yesterday morning. And last night. I may be so inspired and filled with poetry focus that I write all 30 poems for the month very quickly...so I am not going to be so strict with myself as to just when I write the poem that I post each day on the blog.

The poems will, however, all be new (though I may use old notes as starters), written quickly, without a lot of agonizing editing.

I also want to use this challenge to write shorter poems than I usually write, to experiment, allow myself a to take a different poetic path than my usual path, to play with chance and found poems. Fun - this girl just wants to have wordy fun and is having it (despite the somewhat bleak nature of the first two poems I've posted.)


As For Fiber-related Work....
I'm deeply engaged with completing my pieces for the International Freeform Fiberarts Guild 2009 Challenge/Exhibit. We're not supposed to write about our submissions in detail, so I can say no more than that right now.

You can see the challenges for the past three years here. I was able to participate in 2007, but missed last year and getting in the book that was done. I believe there will be a book created again this year. All profits from the sale of the book benefit Women for Women International.

I'm tremendously excited about working on this as I almost thought I was going to have to pass on the challenge again this year. Creative energy seems to be pretty thick and intense for me right now. I'm also excited because the piece that was created from our 2007 scrumbles has been displayed numerous times since and this month is going to be displayed and (hopefully) sold at Lion Brand Yarn Studio in NYC, the money again going to Women for Women.

That's it - the eghan or elementsghan. Here you can see the individual freeform artists' scrumbles for earth, water, air and fire. Imagine the work to assemble them into this splendid piece! We have the awesome Myra Wood to thank for that. I remember Myra being so patient and responsive to my questions back then. I love Myra's book on crocheting freeform lace:


and am eagerly awaiting her upcoming book on freeform knitted lace.

Namaste,
'Zann

Clean Socks & Freeform Bracelet

A very quick post - Sophia will be arriving any minute and I think that will limit my computer time drastically.

This was a lovely sight to me: a whole bag full of freshly washed handknit socks:
I want to thank Martha of RiverWools for assuring me that my socks indeed can be washed in the washer. For the longest time I was hand washing them and besides the time spent, they just didn't get as clean as I'd like. So. I pop them in a laundry bag (I like this one by Woolite) and put them in a cold/cold wash et voila! The spinning helps enormously as well, as it gets lots of the water out and they air-dry pretty quickly.

Here is my worktable in its current state:
I am working on freeform crochet here. And here is a freeform bracelet:

This is in ArtYarns in a Handpaint Stripe colorway (#136.) I have to say I loathed this colorway in the skein, but liked the way it worked up in freeform. And the yarn itself is very nice to work with - it's soft and kind of springy, and makes a rather sturdy crochet.

The interesting thing about this bracelet is that I created it essentially all in one piece. It just sort of flowed forth, beginning with a 36" chain. I crocheted back a ways with slip stitch and then I began to create the circles that form the design, then made the band by again creating a few inches of slip stitch cord and crocheting back and forth on both sides of it, formed the loop for the clasp, and finished by wrapping the remainder of the chain around the band. I secured it on the back side.

Sophia has arrived, so I'm done here!
Namaste,
Zann

Blue Moon Bowl & Cat Pin

I'm very excited about my work of late and have tried to refocus on the visions I have of artwork in fiber. It's very difficult for me to concentrate on any one technique, because I love so many ways of working with fiber. For many years, it suited me to be a 'glorious generalist' --a wonderful phrase from Grace Llewellyn's book for homeschooling teens, The Teenage Liberation Handbook.

However, I have reached a point where I feel it's time for me to pull techniques together, to seek the GUT (grand unified theory ) of my personal artistic universe. Or, at least to be more balanced between process and product. I want, too, to focus on the processes that give me the most satisfaction and pleasure in the working: freeform crochet and knitting, small loom weaving, spinning and felting, both wet-felting and needlefelting.

I have been very busy lately, taking time to experiment with ideas that have been begging for some attention, making little bits and pieces which will come together in a series of works on a particular theme (which will be revealed at a later date) and actually completing some projects.

Here are two:

Blue Moon Bowl (2007) 5.5" X 6.75"

Wool, hand-dyed, wet-felted, needle-felted

Blue Moon Bowl (inside view)

Blue Moon Bowl (top view of lid)

I Am Allergic To Cats, But I Honor Them Anyway (2007) 2" X 2.5"

Recycled sari silk, hand-dyed wool, plastic button, metal pinback, crocheted, needlefelted, sewn


The weather has been lovely here, and I am, right at this moment, enjoying a bit of peace after some very stressful weeks. It's primarily my mother and her dementia - if I get too close and involved, I feel like I am right down the rabbit hole with her and my whole body begins to react and I become vulnerable to deep sadness and grief feelings for Patrick.

So, the situation with my mother also seems to be all about balance, but about balance walking a tightrope! In any case, I'm trying to remain in the Now and today I awoke and thought, "Today I will be thankful and seek joy in simple things."

Namaste,
'Zann

2007 International Freeform Exhibit

Fire

It's up!
The online show for the 2007 International Freeform Exhibit is here.

I am filled with joy at being part of this.
My contributions can be seen here and here. If you love freeform, you will be enchanted by all the interpretations of the challenge subjects, The Elements. And the Tree of Life ornaments...oh my.
It is interesting to me to see the differences, and to see the unity as well.

I want to give public praise to Myra Wood, who took on the task of co-ordinating this challenge. She patiently answered questions, extended deadlines, and put together the online show. She is now receiving the actual pieces and is creating the in-person exhibit!

All the pieces will be put together in four wall hangings and the ornaments hung on a tree. They will be exhibited at the July national conference of the Crochet Guild of America, and the regional conference in Oakland in the fall. These conferences include knitting as well....

Scrumble for Women's Artistic Soul exchange-March

Freeform Octopus Scarves

I was awfully ill over the holidays - a relatively minor cold, but even the minor ones necessitate full on asthma management strategies, so the minor doesn't become major. I did little but lie about, read, eat soup and drink water...and yet I seem to have been continually crocheting for I came up with these rather fun and interesting scarves.

I call them the Octopus Scarves because they end in 8 dangling tentacles....each can be worn three ways.



The yarns I used for this first one are Noro Kujaku #22, and a variegated Jojoland sock yarn in purples and blues, used double. I made crocheted cords from the Kujaku and then joined them with freeform crochet. I don't use a lot of different stitches in my freeform, primarily chain, sc, slip stitch and hdc. The freeforming comes into play mostly in shifts of direction and where I choose to place the hook.

In the next scarf, I used Noro Kureyon for my cords and filled in between them with another sock yarn Trekking XXL, again used double.

Finally, I had leftovers, so I made a Quartopus Scarf:
These scarves, along with the Forest Floor Shawl (which is coming close to completion) have moved me closer to realizing some of my aesthetic vision. This is a point where I have to push myself to keep going and exploring...in the past, at such points, I often backed off. Why? Who knows...fear of something, I suppose.
Well, la-di-da, la-di-da...enough of that arty-speak.
Namaste,
Zann