A Christmas stocking.

 When we visited my daughter and family last week, the boys were decorating the tree and as we found the hand knit ones I’d made for them, my daughter wanted to know if I had hers still. I said I didn’t because I’ve cleaned out my boxes and didn’t remember seeing it. I wouldn’t have given it away. She insisted I had it and I insisted she’d gotten it.

So, the other day I put my Santa collection out and emptied the whole box as I’m still clearing out. At the bottom wrapped up with mine and my husband’s was the stocking.

I 

I had already started knitting new one which will now go to her partner.

When I need a break from counting and following graphs, usually later at night, I switch to the no brainer baby afghan. I had 5 that I took to social services last week and the woman was so excited. It made me feel good to feel so appreciated and I enjoy doing them.

With never an idle hand, I’m still addicted to mandalas and doodling in my light sketchbook during the suppertime news. I find it so relaxing.

My legs are recover from the severe sciatica I had last week and I’ve been able to get out for my walks. We had sunshine and fresh snow today and even some sparkle on the trees if you looked up. It felt magical.

Unfortunately, rain is forecast for Wednesday and it’ll be ruined. We always have a good layer of snow here for the winter though.

I painted my first abstract on a gallery wrapped canvas and I’m pretty happy with it.

What I’m doing

 I’ve been having a little trouble getting around lately. My herniated disc and the sciatic has gotten worse. I have to talk to my dr at the pain clinic to see if there’s anything else he can do. If not my dr may refer me to the surgeon.

We spent the weekend with my daughter and family for Ollie’s birthday. She had a nerf gun party at the CrossFit gym and though I’m usually against guns of any kind they did run around and climb all over things for 2 hours. Great exercise. My daughter said it was the easiest party ever. His brother, Gussie and a few other boys were there.

When I’m tired and sore I sit with my feet up and sketch or draw manadalas. They are very meditative.

This is a continuous fast line drawing which I love.

The first mandala below is drawn freehand without the circle guides. I kind of like the wonkiest.

My night time knitting projects- a hat using double strands of sock yarn.

A baby afghan that I’m knitting.

Baby afghans to be donated to Social Services.

My latest floral abstract.

We don’t have family here usually for Christmas, although I’m not sure yet. Even so, my boys are not sweet eaters and the women are vegan and vegetarian, so I don’t do much baking. It’s better not to have it on hand.

I will some small decorating and a table top tree. We will be going to PEI to see the grandkids the day after Boxing Day.

Finding my soul

 When I first started this blog, one of my intentions was to publish a daily journal of my life and my creative endeavours, mostly in fiber art. I wanted to connect with other like minded people too.

Probably no one will be reading this but I felt it would be nice to write it any away because I enjoy looking back on it.

I have not taken up sewing or fiber art since July when I started feeling creative again after a reduction in my depression meds, but I have really creatively blossomed, having taken courses, one by Suzanne Allard, the second by Yvette St Amant and a small one by Helen Wells. I am determined to learn to be an abstract painter and paint every day. I’ve got a ways to go but it’s lots of fun!

Most of the time I’m working in a sketchbook, so no pressure. I’ve bought some small canvases and I’m working on the confidence for that. This is my first one.

I’ve also been working on my drawing skills and learning to paint acrylics and mixed mediums, again in my sketchbook. My cutting has become my painting table and I still have a nice view.

I still love birch trees and want to learn to paint them.

And, I once again enjoy May nature walks and my little journal sketches.

Finally, in August, I started knitting again. I like to do no brainer knitting when I watch tv at night. I’ve made one regular afghan and 2 baby ones.

I’ve had a reduction in the lithium in October and the final amount will come late November. I am becoming myself again, being inspired by the world around me on the trails and even the plants in my own yard.

Seed pods of the milkweed plant above.

I’ve been pulling things out of my cupboards and off of shelves to draw and play with.

I confess to feeling a little stress over the US election and I hope I will continue to stay positive and creative as we reduce my meds.

Awakening

 It was about 3 yrs ago that a severe depression caused me to stop doing anything creative. I lost all my creative desire. I’ve been on a lot of medication and crawling out of the hole has been a slow and frustrating process. 

I wanted to write here as it is a good journal process in a way. I like to be able to look back at it.

It started almost a year ago when I started walking, mostly on forest trails and working out 3 times a week. I had my second hip replacement at the beginning of Covid and I did no exercise for about a year. I am finally getting stronger being able to do squats push ups, get up steps and off the floor easily.

Finally, a reduction in part of my medications in the spring, has relit my creative spark this summer.

The first thing I did was to buy a painting that spoke to me. It is called, The Spirit Within, by artist Mary Morey. She had her woodland collection showing The Captain's Gallery in Chester, NS.

https://www.carolhansenartist.com/mary-morey

I started noticing artwork, especially abstract work and I bought a course by Susan Allard called 31 Bright and Fun Sketchbook Paintings and I really have been having fun. Painting every day.

The paintings are in progress.