I spent yesterday watching President Obama's inauguration with a dear friend who doesn't blog. I don't think she reads this either. All I can say is that it was really, really nice to just hang out with a girlfriend during the afternoon. It's been a long time since I've done that. Not since I had to cut A. loose.
I've been knitting, but I don't have anything to show for it. The hat for J. isn't done yet, I'm still in the process of the Mirasol Hacho simple socks . I'm about 1/3 of the way done and I don't like the way they're turning out but I don't want to start over. So in the spirit of deluded knitters everwhere, I'm forging ahead.
Mr. Greenjeans is still on the needles. If I read the pattern correctly, I misread the pattern about 81 rows ago. It's sitting in time-out until I have the presence of mind to read the pattern again, count stitches, see where I am and what I can do from here. If I have to frog it again, the yarn will become something else. I will accept that Mr. GJ is NOT for me.
I'm still working on Waves of Grain, which is currently the only project that I have on the needles that is pleasing to me. Although, truth be told, I kind of wish I'd used a different yarn. Don't get me wrong, the yarn I'm using is lovely, handspun merino, but I think it could have been better showcased in a different project. But again, I'm not going back. I'm also in the super boring section of repeating the same 2 rows SEVENTY FIVE times (and that's just for the first half...oh look! I get to do it all over again for the 2nd half!!!!)
And then there's The Luna Moth Shawl which is still in its embryonic phase and, as far as I can tell, looks like crap. True, that's the general issue with lace until it is blocked, but there's something about either the yarn or my general lack of confidence about the knitting (don't understand that one) that makes me want to rip it out and start over.
As I'm reading this, I can tell I'm not feeling very enthusiastic about anything that's on the needles. Maybe that is why I keep thinking about starting another project.
On the writing front. Wait is there a writing front? For there to be a writing front, I would actually have to be writing no? Ever since my crit group exploded last April, I have been writing only sporadically. Of course, the manuscript critique I received that said, "this book cannot be salvaged" didn't help. Nor did the rejection from the agent that said, "I wish there was someway I could have loved this book." (maybe not a direct quote). Maybe that hurt more than I've been allowing it to hurt. Maybe I've needed to put it out to the world that something that I thought may have needed some more work, but was essentially a good piece of work (and certainly better than a lot of crap on the market) was actually crap. Maybe putting that out there in this journal will help spur my creativity. Let's hope so, anyway.
Spinning. Yet another thing that has been languishing. After a fairly good start at the beginning of the month, in which I spun up a half bobbin of alpaco/merino blend, I've kind of been watching the wheel collect dust while I've been struggling with less than satisfying knitting. Is anyone seeing a pattern?
I am. And I think it means I need to dust myself off and get back to work. Thanks for reading this guys (if you've gotten this far), I think it helped.
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3 comments:
Be strong... be BRUTAL. Whatever's not working, rip it out. Ball the yarn up and put it in a time out if it doesn't immediately speak to you about how it can be better than it has been. If it just needs a break, bag it up and let it rest while you move on to better things.
I think you need some nice accessory knitting that works up quickly and is very satisfying. Maybe use some of your very pretty handspun. The inherent enthusiasm of using something you love, that you made yourself is very inspiring.
As far as the writing goes, you've done the literary equivelant of saying "I want to make it in the music industry". Entertainment, as you know, is brutal and not for the faint of heart. I think you're a good writer, and that you could be published. As long as you're continuing to challenge yourself, continuing to learn and improve, then you're on the right track. When it stops being something you love it's time to move on. I know you'll make the choice(s)that are right for you.
Incoming reality check from the publishing industry - few publishers are signing new books this year due to the economy. Some have shut down divisions completely. And just because "someone" with "authority" says it's crap doesn't mean it is. Self publish it and tell them to eff off. ;-)
If you need any help with the self-publishing, just let me know. I'd be glad to help. Self publishing doesn't have to be expensive.
We all have our low creativity times. It's winter. It sucks the life out of you at times. I hope you find a spark soon!
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