Sidetracked Artist

I’ve been working with Lily Sugar & Cream cotton yarn lately. Cotton is my favorite fiber, both to wear and to work with. I just really like the way it feels. Variegated yarns always surprise me. They’re each like a little mystery. You just can’t tell how a project will turn out until it’s well on its way. A yarn with frequent color changes will make a smaller scale pattern, and a yarn with longer sections of color can result in a color block look. This week, I’ve been working on cotton crochet market bags for my shop at: www.artisticinspiration.etsy.com .

Life is unpredictable. We make plans, and usually this keeps us moving in a chosen direction. But sometimes we find ourselves being picked up, tossed around, wrung out, and feeling like we’re going to hell in a handbasket. Last year was one of those times. For my family, the year 2009 included job loss, moving to another state, selling our intended “forever home” (at a loss), serious health problems, the loss of two beloved pets, a new job, a new home...starting again. And if all this wasn’t enough, last fall I turned 50! Now feels like a good time to start again, to re-evaluate my goals and pay more attention to my life’s direction. It’s time to focus more on the things that are important to me. It feels like I’m starting anew. For me, this means focusing on creativity. I’ve been knitting, crocheting, and exploring graphic art. My daughter and I are making and selling handmade jewelry and accessories at www.artisticinspiration.etsy.com. We’re trying new things, learning and h...