So said Aristotle, courtesy of this years SnB Calendar, Jan 6/7. And it is totally true, for me, anyway. I get pleasure from working on a project in two ways. The first is the creative process itself - having an idea, finding the best materials in just the right colours, maybe trying out a new technique, seeing it all come together, adding the final touches, and holding up the finished item to have a proper look at it for the first time. (And hopefully not seeing a huge mistake somewhere near the beginning!).
The second way is knowing that I am making it for someone special in my life, and hoping that they will like it and put it to good use. Both these ways make me work my hardest to do my best. I know it won't be perfect, but no one would believe I had made it if it was :-). Actually, I need these two things in combination to do my best - I find it very hard to make things and finish them if I am 'only' making it for myself.
Over Christmas I made a few secret projects and three have now arrived at their destinations and can finally be revealed. The first is Carolinne's Ambigram Cushion
I hope you can see each square is a letter and it reads 'Carolinne' both ways up.
This was the longest name and the most difficult one to design so far. I doodled for several months before deciding on the circles and the whole thing coming together within that theme.
I secretly found out via our WOW addicted sons and the World of Warcraft chat channel, what colours Carolinne's room is and picked some Japanese style fabrics (cos I like them) and set to work. I now know more than anyone should ever need to know about the best way to applique circles! My favourite fabric - the one with the cranes - is featured on the back, in a kind of sun reflected in the water effect.
The second one is an ambigram bookmark for my friend Anita, made from silk, with her name appliqued/embroidered on it.
The A's were the hardest part of this design, and I think I would do them slightly differently if I did them again, but I was pleased with the result. I know Anita loves reading, so I hope she will use this til it falls apart!
The final project I can reveal today is a scarf I made a while back for Anita's
birthday which is coming up soon. It is made in Twisted Sisters hand dyed yarn that has a lovely range of colour from pale coral to burnt orange in it. I used porcupine stitch from Barbara Walker which is good for a scarf because it is reversible.
Last night at SnB was also about the giving and receiving of gifts. It was the group's third anniversary and we celebrated with a themed swap. We had to make something using either the arrowhead or little arrowhead lace pattern. I totally forgot to take a picture of my offering which is a shame because I think it turned out rather well. It was a little basket/bag. It had a rectangular bottom (that I reinforced with a piece of water bottle plastic), the sides featured the arrowhead lace and continued up and joined together to make the handle. I lined it with silk. It was about 6 inches high and made from a Classic Elite mohair/silk/rayon blend in pearly colours - hints of pink and blue in amongst a lovely cream colour - so wish I had taken that picture:(
I received a really beautiful scarf made by Eileen When I opened it I could see straightaway that it was beautifully made - the little arrowhead down the middle and faggoting on either side, but what I could not appreciate at the time - the lighting not being the best at our SnB venue - was the subtle variation of colours. They are stunning. I hope you can see them in this picture if you click on it to enlarge it. I must ask her next week what yarn it is because I didn't catch what she said it was last night. Everyone had worked hard on their projects and no one can possibly have been disappointed
Another treat last night was from Laurie . As well as knitting she makes soap and she gave each of us a bar of her limited edition soap called "HandKnit" it is scented with bergamot, lavender, and lime and it is sub-lime! Thank you, Laurie!
Your gifts are beautiful. No wonder they were well received. It was so much fun last night and all the swap items so beautiful and creative. The scarf is elegant. Enjoy it.
Posted by: margene | January 10, 2007 at 01:35 PM
Thank you for the kind words about the scarf. I hope you enjoy it. I am looking for the ball band right now. I can't recall the exact brand of yarn.
Posted by: Eileen | January 10, 2007 at 02:02 PM
Hi Jacquie, I found the ball band for the scarf yarn. It is Idena Mohair Lux, colorway 0180. 60% mohair, 40% Dralon
Posted by: Eileen | January 10, 2007 at 06:45 PM
Make that: colorway 4100.
Posted by: Eileen | January 10, 2007 at 06:46 PM
I'm so delighted with my scarf and bookmark. I shall treasure them both. Thank you so much Jacquie.
Posted by: Anita | January 11, 2007 at 12:44 AM
The ambigrams are beautifully done and very clever! What a talent!
Posted by: Seahorse | January 11, 2007 at 03:27 PM
i love my ambigram cushion thankyou for such a wonderful present
Posted by: carolinne Willson | January 11, 2007 at 03:45 PM