Hey there all.:) Like the new banner? It's my tribute to alpaca, a yarn I very much have fallen in love with. Perhaps the love would not be so deep were the little animals it comes from not so cute, but there you go. I've also been into red lately, and gray is such a good compliment to red that I find the new color scheme rater soothing.

I want to apologize to everyone for falling off the face of the earth. I wish I could say it had been unintentional, but alas that would not be the case. For reasons I really cannot explain, I had retreated into a cave and did not want to come out. Everything seemed to be a chore for me, from getting out of bed to eating breakfast to interacting on the internet. Perhaps it was the drugs from the surgery that were clouding my mind, but I just did not have the energy to do a whole lot, nor the inclination. What I didn't realize, however, was how much I would miss everything.

And honestly? I've had very little inspiration for much lately. It's as if my creativity has just kind of flushed itself down the toilet. I've done no artwork, and a little designing but nothing is 'clicking'. Any knitting I've done has been more to learn things than actual projects. The one shining light in this creative void, however, is that I am learning how to knit socks. You should have seen me the other day when I turned my first heel; it was an ugly, wonky heel, but it was mine nontheless. You would have think I had conquered Mt. Everest! (Sock knitters, you understand this elation).

Speaking of artwork, I've been praying a lot about which direction to go lately. I absolutely love creating my happy faeries, but I'm feeling a strong pull to go in another direction. There are so many amazing artists in the fantasy field, but I really don't think that's where God wants to take me. The images I've been getting lately are of a more spiritual nature. Being a Christian, I am drawn to anything with a Christian theme but I'm not crazy about religious art. So much of it is iconistic, and while there are some incredible Christian artists out there, only a few paint to my taste (James Christensen is one such artist and his rendition of the Parables leaves me speechless). I have been getting images of women prayer warriors, masculine angels, and eyes of the world (it's hard to explain, you just have to trust me). I even have a couple of ideas to tweak some existing works of mine to deeping their meanings. Don't get me wrong: there is nothign wrong with artwork for the sake of just being good art, but I want to create things that have deeper meanings, things that make people think. I want to reflect my beliefs in my own work and share them with others. Isn't that why we create things in the first place? To share a part of ourselves with others?
I'm also pulling references for my Women of the Bible series that I've had a dream for years to complete. I'm thinking of experimenting by putting the women in different dress and timelines. Some will be in Biblical clothing, some will be in Medieval clothing, some in modern, just as a starting point. I may or may not use them all, but it will be a neat exercise.

Now I just need to get the energy to do it.

Now, on to the gall bladder: The surgery went fine, but I'm still having some uncomfortable moments. The doctor told me I would just have to ride it out, so no more pain meds, which for the most part is fine until I start cramping. Sigh. Oh well. At least we don't have socialized medicine yet. I was able to get my consultation, surgery, and follow ups in a month complete. I have some friends that live in places where they have to wait agonizingly long for such simple procedures to take place. I was glad to get it over with. I don't "do" surgery well, even simple ones, but I suppose not many people do. It always seems to take me longer to bounce back.

I visited a couple of bulletin boards yesterday, the first time in weeks. While it felt so good to see what everyone had been up to, it was kind of sad at the same time. There were more names I did not recognize than that ones I did, and that got me thinking about the names I have not seen in a long time. I wonder what the 'old gang' is up to and how many still read the boards. I suppose there is not point in dwelling in the past, but when I'm feeling nostalgic I think on these things. What really hit it home for me is I found some of Laura Leigh's old post through a completely random Google search for a cross stitch pattern. It was so sad. I still can't believe she's gone. But there are others whose names I have not seen since the boards splintered, and I wonder how they are all doing.

Well, I've rambled enough. I think I'm going to cheer myself up by ordering some shocking red sock yarn and get down with the magic loop method I was working on last night. I've taught myself how to do it, but now I just need to expand beyond the toe and actually complete the rest of the sock!

Labels: artwork, knitting

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