It's like falling in love all over again.

Recently I have found myself surrounded by some incredibly talented and creative people. It's a refreshing start to the new year, and has inspired me to create and expand my "talents". Last Wednesday my good friend Carole Ann from Connect the Dots invited me to go to a meeting with her. And I had the honor to experience the Hive Archive  which is a non-profit, feminist arts organization with a mission to promote gender equality by dismantling obstacles that limit women and girls in reaching their full potential. Being a self-proclaimed feminist my whole life, I was thrilled when I heard about this! We were able to discuss issues such as financial topics, media access (building websites etc), and we also discussed what we did in 2010 to move our businesses forward.  I could have made a list a mile long! Not only did I completely build my photography business from the ground up, but I also opened my creative side up. I started experimenting more with different forms of art. Knitting, painting, drawing. And everyday I seem to think of something new that I want to try!


Needless to say the creative juices are flowing now more than ever! And it's quite a freeing feeling. It's like falling in love all over again. I am falling in love with my art work, with the drive to create, and I'm even trying to "Get out" there more with my art. I met a very cool girl Adj Marshall who creates custom jewelry pieces from silverware and scrap metal (along with making some pretty awesome dresses out of ties...yes...ties!). I met up with her yesterday to give her some old skeleton keys that have been sitting around my house for decades, and she told me all about AS220 and their art workshops. I'm not at all new to AS200, having a few "hipster" friends that practically live there. But I've never experienced their workshops before. And after hearing about their photography workshops, I am quite intrigued. Needless to say I will be contacting someone...anyone...this week about these workshops! It would be wonderful if I could volunteer my services there. 


So what have I been doing with all this creative energy?! Well...I've opened an Etsy shop! GASP! Intimidating, but very exciting. As of right now I only have some vintage goodies on there, but I just finished my first knitted project that will be going on there very, very soon! It's a great winter project as well, seeing as how the photography business is slow during this season. Along with opening an Etsy shop, and knitting my fingers to the bone, I have discovered the art of paper cutting! And I have to say I am officially addicted! 

I will be putting these sexy pieces of paper up on Etsy as well! I never knew I had the ability to do this type of art, and was pretty excited when I finished my first piece (top image). We will see what happens with this!


And now as promised, here is an image of the scarf I made my mom for Christmas.

I got the pattern for this scarf from the book "Closely Knit"

She loves this scarf and it's just what she needed to go with her "fancy church coat". 

Now for some UFO'S (unfinished objects)

Here's the start of a pair of socks. I've never knit two-at-a-time before, but its INCREDIBLY easy, and makes knitting socks go by so fast! I would highly suggest the book "2 at a time socks" by Melissa Morgan-Oaks. Her explanation of how to knit two at a time is very easy to understand. Trust me, if I can do it anyone can!

Here's yet another UFO! My first sweater! I'm knitting from the top down, which only seems to make sense to me. I know some people don't knit sweaters this way, but it seems to work for me...Plus I can adjust the length as I go. As of right now I have the upper chest done, and once the torso is finished I will go back and knit the sleeves, and knit a ribbed collar.

As you can tell I've been very busy! I'd love to hear what you have been up to. Make anything recently? Any new years resolutions? Anything you MUST create this year? (Mine is to finish this sweater, and possibly make 2 or 3 more).

Hope everyone is doing well!