HRH-Delirium

No, I didn't make a typo. Many (most?) knitters and crocheters are aware of Ravelry. It's a forum/pattern database/hub for those of us who like to play with sticks and string. This also includes weavers and yarn spinners and every year during the Tour de France spinners can participate in the Tour de Fleece. Not strictly a competition, it's an opportunity to chat, learn and show off your yarn creation skills. I've missed the last couple of years but was encouraged to join in again this year and considering how large my stash of spinnable fibre is, it was about time I started to use it. It's only day one so there isn't much to show but I expect to have finished yarn to show in 2 days.

No new drawing today but that's because my crochet mojo has returned to me!!!! Today's pictures are of the work I've been doing in the last couple of days. It's part of a club by Jane Crowfoot who is a wonderful designer. It runs for 6 months. You get the yarn as part of the club and then every month you get a new set of patterns (Feb-Jul). I am 3 months behind but given my year so far, I'm just glad to get anything done. You can see the completed pieces from the February and March patterns in the other photos I posted. Jane Crowfoot has been heavily influenced this year by Persian rugs and accompanying art (last year it was Victorian styles, colours and patterns. Art Deco was the year before).
As far as my drawing goes, I am trying to find the courage to use different media. It's not that different but putting white pen or pencil to black paper is something I'm finding it very difficult to wrap my creative head around. I've no idea why but it might have to do with not wanting to make a mistake I can't easily correct. It's my goal for next week though.

Associated images : February; March; April, incomplete

I think I love the quality and vibrancy of Derwent's Inktense watercolour pencils. I only have 5 so I can't be sure yet. I'll have to get more to be certain...

I've been practicing/playing with using watercolours over the last few days on smaller pieces than the first one. 'Watercolour Ensemble 1' and Watercolour Ensemble 2' are the pencil sketches I did last week. I photocopied the sketches,  traced over the photocopy with a black fineliner pen (Staedtler Triplus), then photocopied that onto sketchpad paper. A fussy process but it means I can reuse the original over and over again without losing the sketches. Yes, I could draw the again but I don't want to

I'm still learning how watercolours work together. I'm learning how to blend the colours, when to blend (ie, still wet or slightly damp or dry), what happens when I use the pencils to colour onto the page or if I use the brush directly on the pencil tip before applying it to the paper, and how much water is too much or when to add more. There is a lot to learn but I've never been anything but self-taught with crafts/arts and this is no different but it's not something I think I'm finding as simple to understand as I do yarn crafts.

I can't decide what to work on next. I think I want to sketch some more. Maybe a turtle or two....

No new zentangles over the last couple of days. Sunday was spent in transit - 14 hours travelling up and down England on a bus is not my idea of fun. But last night when I got home and this evening I have been indulging in a study of wings. Particularly butterfly, moth and dragonfly wings.
Things I have learned from looking at pictures of these insects - dragonflies come in stunning colours but there is little variance in their shape. Butterflies come in an incredible and fantastic array of colours, designs and shapes. Most surprising was the beauty of the much maligned moth - their colours are more muted than those of the butterfly with more tans and yellows, but they make up for that in the extravagance of their shapes.
So far my study is only in sketches and I think I will be looking at more images before I consider myself finished with this interest but I encourage you, should you be looking for inspiration, to turn to your friend Google and try a spot of butterfly hunting

Associated art/sketches : A Winged Study 1, 2 & 3.

i have always created but with adult diagnoses of both anxiety and depression, i often struggle to focus on anything for long enough to finish something. Knitting and crochet are crafts that I return to again and again but lately I can't even concentrate on that but I still can't just sit. I *twitch* when my hands aren't busy.
Sometime again, when I still had a studio, a customer suggested I should try zentangling. At the time I was deeply invested in my sticks and string so put the thought out of my head. My life has taken a serious downturn in the last 6 months and I have found myself remembering that conversation. I do not prescribe to all of the tenets involved in zentangling but I find calm in the process of creating in a finite space with established suggestions for how to fill that space.
Design and creativity feed on themselves - zentangling has encouraged the return of my crochet design muse. The first new design - a cuddly, ragdoll-style monkey.