Knitting Season Coming to a Close with 70 FOs

Yes, its Spring! 

Spring has such defining effect on everyone - its but natural to let loose and allow oneself to be one with the nature. Birds, buds, flora and us - we all love saying goodbyes to the chilly winter mornings and open our arms and hearts to the pinkness of the warm Sun.

Its that time of the season when the knitter inside me starts to put down the tools of the trade, wraps up and hands over the keys to the painter in the waiting.  Spring also calls for the review of the knitting season before its over for the year!


I am quite happy to have finished the fiber projects that I started this year. The numbers are higher than last year, which keeps me hopeful for better for the next time. My Rave account shows 70 projects so far, which is reassuring for a season knitter and I say,  just a beginning for more handknits in the future.


How do you celebrate this season?

Here is my first plein air painting that we did in the early fall last year. The weather was warm, the light was perfect and the quiet of the area was inviting.

"Mission Hills" 14 x 11 oil on canvas

Until I did this one, I haven't had the courage or the inspiration to draw or paint from the nature directly. Sure, I had heard about it and had seen those people doing it but to actually experience it was an awesome experience. The instructor thought that it would be a good idea to get outside the classroom and give it a try. I wasn't all that excited in the beginning. Why leave the classroom setting to go out, carrying all the stuff?

Finally the day came. I got lost on my way to this foothill park where we were supposed to meet with our classmates. But that was a different story. I finally made it. After the instructor's demo, we set up our easels and took out the paints and other supplies.

For me, it was a long gap before I picked up my paint & brush and it was quite obvious as the caps of my paint-tubes were jammed. I tried my best to open it but a few refused completely. I took it to the instructor and he tried his best too before giving up. What must he be thinking!
The Sun started to come down slowly and that's the fun of on-the-spot painting- the light begins to change! It makes you understand the sense of urgency. So, I decided to borrow some paints from the classmates and get to it. I narrowed down the wide landscape for the canvas and set off.

Within an hour or so, the light was totally different and we had to wrap up the work. We came back at the time of next class. Its amazing how different the same hill looked now just after two days. So I chose to not add much to the work and started off another painting. That made this one an alla prima but not to the real sense as I did touch it a bit this time around as well.

Overall, I loved the experience. Everyone should try it atleast once. It makes you one with the nature in a very spiritual sense, no matter what your beliefs are. Give it a try, if you can!

Here is a painting to celebrate Halloween -

Martini Glass, 11 x 14, Oil on canvas

This is the classwork from the Art class on Oil painting. I entered this to the student show.

A Beginner Baker

Chocolate Cake

This is one of the first attempts at making cake. Being eggless, it did not rise as much but tastes great.

From the kitchengarden

Corn removed from cob

This is the soup in making from the corns in the backyard. In three easy steps delicious and healthy soup is ready to serve!

Coming back to blogging...

Oh. My. God. I haven't visited my own blog in past so many months. I check and re-check. That's right. I didn't post anything on it since March. That's like eternity in blog years.

I am almost embarrassed to have abandoned it at that. Let me think why that happened. Thinking aloud always unfogs my mind. There had been tons of posts waiting to be published but didn't happen as I didn't put those into words typed or otherwise :-( Bad blogger!

Okay, have to have some sort of discipline or this never happens. Know that "someday" is a very dangerous word (Thanks Tom Cruise who enlightened us in Knight and Day), its a synonym for "never".

So, here is a promise. To myself. To share what you are creating. Its possible. Its doable only if you do it.

Green Baby Sweater Set

Landscape

The first part of the class is dedicated to the plein air. And I tried alla prima. The result is somewhat this.

Are you ready for Halloween?

Invictus

I watch tons of movies and remember practically everything about them. Yes, seriously! And I am told I am a smart movie viewer and asked to be a reviewer. I accept the former and will consider the later part :-)

Anyhow, I watched Invictus and have to give three cheers to the director. He is a excellent storyteller and showman.

The story is woven around the new era of South Africa after Mandela took over as the new President. Actors have done their part well and the message of love and forgiveness has been conveyed effortlessly. "Try to forgive and you will overcome the fear." He says to one of his bodyguards when he is hesitant to accept new team of staff under his subordination. That sort of nails it. Another moving scene is one in which Francois visits the prison where Mendela was held of over three decades. He simply gets overwhelmed by the enormity of the heart of the man who holds no grudges whatsoever and dreams of a nation free of hatred.

I loved the movie. I like 'based on true stories' stuff anyway, but when its done sincerely it makes you feel good inside out. This one gets my recommendation. You can sure watch it.

Beautiful Days and Festival Season

The days are shorter but brighter as the Fall finally settles in.  The day begins with hazy mornings, progresses with welcoming Sun, slows with unpredictable showers, and may end sooner than you expect. This season is almost synonymous with life, isn't it?

This just distracted me. I wanted to write about the colors of Fall that I saw in the pictures of North Carolina but I am shocked still by the news of sudden (yet not so unpredictable, afterall) passing away of Jobs. Death is dubbed as the ultimate truth and yet something we cannot ever prepare ourselves for. How strange is that! And how depressing. There should be a better way to handle things than this.

Have you see a movie 'Fast Food Nation'. Based on a book, it shows how meaningless life could be. Animals, humans - nothing matters much! Oh well, the power of thoughts! Makes you sad and can make you happy... We choose to be happy. Most times. Its just a state of mind, right?


I guess the post unfairly dampened with depressing thoughts. Not right for this beautiful day and so let me  sign off with a happy note by recognizing the special people who make things worthwhile, who make others feel better.  And we are lucky to have them around. I love you back!

Painting - why we paint

Its almost a fourth week into the painting class that I am taking. There is so much opportunity to grasp what's all been there since forever. I still ponder over 'why I paint' questions, get confused when no sensible answer pops out and then try to go deeper into or out of the paintings to seek wisdom.

There are more wider canvases to paint, beyond myself, beyond my surroundings and beyond everything that meets to the eye. And often this emotional aspect of journey dwarfs the physical one. I know other people face similar tussle among themselves, a process of self evolution, so private yet so impersonal. And that helps me put things into perspective.

Things uncover for the better or for worse, there is this spark that makes you to to rise to the occasion. I hope this hurry, this rush, this urgency gets me to my right answers sooner! 

 

Why, if you read this, do you paint?

The color purple

The colors have immense power, we all know that. Black is synonym of dark, white for light, red, is almost a statement. But I never realized the power of color purple. The color of shade, the shadow, the negative space! Boy, does it do wonders to the canvas. How it changes the mood, how it enhances the ambiance, how it fills the void and how it calms you down.

One doesn't have to be an artist to appreciate what a color holds within. A surprise, a provocation, a curiosity, and a deafening silence! Its magical. Its musical. Its pure fun. One has to experience their own color. Yes, their own color. That holds an entire canvas together, like a undercurrent through the painted scene. A harmony than keeps everything balanced.

I had to share what plein air taught me - the sense of immediacy. The light changes as the painting progresses and the artist moves further within the realm of the work. One moves another races. Who wins - only one can say. There is no right answer to that one. And that's the thrill. The artist knows when he won or won. There is no loss only a fleeting moment of the feeling of not winning, if at all.


Just like life, you see what you choose to see. And that's the way it should be. Compassion, concentration and a hope for the best. Things just happen. Keep smiling!

The Fall - Season of Colors

I recently closed the blog on my firstborn soon after she turned 5.  As I reflect on it the journey of five years seemed just too brief, punctuated by special moments and milestones. Look, here she started her kindergarten. Really? She barely learnt to walk yesterday, didn't she? No dear,  it is that long already! Now it's the turn of the little one's to take his first step any day now. Boy, time does fly faster when you have so much affection flowing all around you.

Kids have a way to invoke what lies deep within. You never think you could ever be able to that giving or forgiving for that matter...and yet, you do without much effort. Its amazing how our perspective for life changes as the time passes. What you were in your twenties, are no longer in thirties and most definitely in your forties (have yet to experience that, no rush, seriously!).

As my birthday approaches, I take the moment to take a moment to thank everyone who ever made an impression on me and turning me into the person I am now. I think, I sure do know now what I do not want to be. Guess that wisdom comes from years that follow late twenties :-) Having said that, I will sign off with the note that I hope to be more regular on this online journal so that I can be more accountable to myself.

I will post what's new and how things are moving forward. Let me know (via comment) how things are at your end?

And baby makes it four

When my daughter was born, I thought I could not be more blessed than this. Until we had the new baby. As the family grew to four our joys and blessings grew manyfolds.

As I hold my newborn in my arms it feels far beyond being blessed. The baby is a perfect, absolute flawless creation! Its hard to imagine how something can be so beautiful and tender. I cannot be more thankful for anything than this. The feeling of being parents cannot be compared to any other. It has so many stages and levels of bonding that every aspect of life becomes meaningful.

With new baby in our lives, we are experiencing all the fun all over again. And thank our stars in all possible ways.

Life as we know it...

Who would have thought the life has so many surprises especially when you are quite sure you have seen it all.

We just celebrated our little angel's birthday. There were many things that kept us occupied and finally when the last guest left and she hit the bed, we realized the day is finally over. The special day, we had been looking forward to for so long, is finally over. I laid next to her and looked at her innocent face and thought to myself. If blessing has a name, that is it. The joy a child gives to a parent cannot be defined in words. It can only be experienced. And then it struck to me. At many moments my own mother might have felt the same way. And her mother must have done so before that. This is a bond that connects us all and will continue to keep us the way we are.

My Angel

Oil

What an honor mother nature blesses us with. Once we become parents, the world not only turns upside down, it also become more beautiful and more rewarding in more than one way. That little bundle of joy transforms into a whole universe of inspiration. There are times, when things may seem to  go out of control, you feel completely out of place, and your to-do calendar is so off-the-mark its pointless to look at - but only a smile or a hug makes it all worthwhile. There is this little angel who trusts you unconditionally and you totally look forward to the day ahead.

I am sure we are not the only ones feeling this way. Previous generations and then the new ones would experience these emotions. This all has made me think about my mom a lot lately. She is one of those people who wouldn't let you guess how many qualities they have until you have really found your way into their heart. There is this connection that may weaken by distance or birth-order but still stays intact nonetheless.

Mother

Oil

 

She has had her life's first surgery this week. I wish I could be with her right now. Last I saw her was a couple of years ago and I was almost shocked to see how fast aging had taken a toll on her. Graying hair, loose skin and above all the surrendering attitude has changed her into a completely different person. It was as if I hardly knew her. Do we all have to change like this? Does life even give us a choice? Many debate it does but I think many are not so fortunate. They do not have much of an option but to agree with the decisions others are making for them. I am not sure what's her take on her life so far and I try not to judge her but sometimes I just want to know it.

As I type this I am feeling so much thankful for the emotional cushion that the family provides. It makes you stronger and more productive every moment of the day.And we live for that!

Chenille Baby Girl Cardigan

I made this for my niece this Summer.

Chenille Sweater

Each part is made separately and then joined together. I have some more yarn left in chenille that would probably be used to make matching hat and booties.

Baby boy cardigan

Baby boy cardigan

This is a no-sew top-down cardigan for a baby boy due in winter. The yarn is a leftover from the Sky and Clouds sweater I made a few years ago for my husband.

I was super excited by the top-down method that I learnt very recently. The gauge was a little off so I unraveled it completely and redid it now. I shall have pictures of the newer and smaller version.

Complete Baby Set - Pictures

Baby Hat

Baby Booties

Baby Set

Peepli Live (& Swing Vote)

This is another movie about good direction, excellent casting and solid story telling. A satire set in Indian village makes you feel the world differently. Forces you to think about need and want. Want to watch it, sure, go ahead. If you don't understand Hindi, avoid it because most jokes are for Hindi speaking people only. When translated (or subtitled)they kind of lost the punch.

I also watched "Swing vote" and funny how similar two movies are! Some sequences are eerily identical.