Sweaters for Dragons

I wrote this paper for an assignment in Art Business. The assignment: Envision yourself five years from now.  There were some more explicit instructions, but that is the gist. Here is what I came up with:

Five years from now I will be finishing up my MFA from a school in either the Northeast or Pacific Northwest. I will be searching for a cottage/bungalow on the ocean or lakeshore. The dwelling must have ample studio/office space and good lighting. I will be searching also for a suitable location to open a yarn shop. Not just any yarn shop, but my, yarn shop, featuring natural and exotic products and creations by independent fiber artists.

Five years from now I will have patterns published in at least two knitting magazines and have a book in the works, if not already in print. I will have discovered knitting as art and, in addition to garment and accessory designs, I will be creating knitted art for art’s sake. I will have had at least one exhibition and have at least one more scheduled in the coming year. I will also be teaching knitting classes at two different venues.

Five years from now my studio will not be ideal, but it will be situated as best as can be expected in the space allowed (I will, after all, still be a grad student). I will have plans for my ideal studio; plans that are flexible enough to fit a variety of spaces yet can house all of the essentials and those things I need to keep me inspired and productive. I will have an ample contact list and a group of regular followers eagerly awaiting my next design and/or next piece.

Five years from now my circle of friends will include fellow artists, mentors, those quirky folks I tend to attract, designers, and groups of passionate knitters. My calendar will be populated (but not overly so) with gallery openings, receptions, parties, book signings, interviews, and design submission deadlines. I will be more comfortable with myself and more at ease socially. I will not sit at home being bored.

Five years from now my day will consist of coffee, class, teaching, designing, creating, and those social engagements necessary for my endeavors. Studio time will be a priority. I will take time for myself every day, even if just for a few minutes.

Five years from now I will be an artist ready to launch myself as an Artist.

I received my appreciation package from WonderMike and MFKR today. I must say, the man knows how to do consolation prizes! After opening the box and squealing like a school girl (in front of my roommate, no less), and probably hyperventilating a bit, I managed to sort through everything and take pictures to make you all jealous for posterity’s sake.

Gifts the First: Yarn

A whole sweater’s worth of Schoeller + Stahl Zermatt in colorway 0005 (including Pattern Book 30)

Crystal Palace Yarns Maizy in “Magic Mushroom”

Crystal Palace Yarns Kid Merino in “Fudge Brownie” (mmmmm, brownie)

Regia Bamboo Colors in colorway 1071

Samples of A Verb for Keeping Warms Creating Chambray and 100% wool from Art-by-Ana

Gifts the Second: Books and Such

A to Z of Knitting

Knitting Color by Brandon Mably

101 Stitches to Crochet and 101 Stitches to Knit by Erika Knight

The binder, including patterns, from MFKR 2009

Gifts the Third: Notions

A Della-Q needle case

And Article Pract measuring tape, a sample Goodie Bar from Biggs & Featherbell, and an MFKR 2009 pin

A way cool crafter’s backpack which may just replace my regular school backpack

A couple of nifty plastic storage cases

Gifts the Fourth: Roving

I’m not sure of the exact fiber content of any of these, but they are all fabulous nonetheless.

Many thanks to WonderMike and MFKR! I hope to be able to join you in the near future.

A former provost of Finlandia University and widower of one of the first recipients of a BFA from the institution, donated his wife’s loom and weaving yarn to the Fiber Studio today. This beauty is a Schacht Mighty Wolf 8-shaft:

And a whole boatload of yarn…

Classes haven’t even started and I’m exhausted. It’s been a week of orientation activities of the incoming students, and registration for both incoming and returning students on Wednesday. 9 hours of telling people where to go *snicker*. I’ve also started my work-study in the Fiber Studio. Total reorganization. I think I have things situated for the classes starting Monday, but were getting a donation of an 8-harness loom on Tuesday and I’m not quite sure where it’s going to go. I need to get helping moving the rug loom and the AVL so I can finish putting together the sewing area. I hope I’ll have everything rearranged by October 1, but that may be pushing it.

For those wondering, I did NOT get the Fall Men’s Knitting Retreat scholarship, but WonderMike said I came in a very, very, very close second. Hopefully XRX will sponsor scholarships in the future.

I start learning to weave on an inkle loom next week. Can’t wait!

After 2 days of windy weather and a choppy surface, I walked down the beach this morning to see this:

A little east of the cabin is a river

that empties in to the lake.

If you decide to go swimming in that river, beware the dreaded crocodoggles:

Although I still haven’t managed to catch the sunset, I got as close as I could with the cloud cover:

I’m still hoping to get “the” sunset shot before I leave.

I did manage to finish Chrysanthemum (by Susan Pandorf):

Knit Picks Shimmer in “Campfire.

I also started Akimbo (by Stephen West) as a gift for someone, however I must have deleted the picture and I don’t currently have Internet access to link to my Flickr account. I’ll post a pic of it later.  I have managed to get a little progress done on my latest design, as well as found some inspiration for a beaded lace shawl I want to design and  a simple stitch pattern for a hat (I want to knit some hats from left over yarn to sell).

More to come after I get situated in the dorm (end room facing the same direction as last year, great location).

It was a gorgeous day here (Friday), my first day at the cabin. Around 70 and sunny with a moderate wind.

Here’s what the lake looked like when I first arrived:

The view to the north:

The view to the south:

Here’s the cabin:

The garden:

The view looking out toward the lake:

I just missed the sunset, but managed to get the aftermath:

And on a random note, a white moth on a blue chair:

Another school year, that is. Yes, the Fall 2010 semester fast approaches. Classes start on 8/23, but I’ll be at student leader training and helping out with orientation starting on 8/12.

My course schedule for the fall is:

• Art History I – I’m looking forward to the course, but no so much the 8:00 MWF meeting time.
• Color & Composition – This course is taught by my instructor. I have an hour between Art History I and C&C, so I’ll be taking my laptop with me to Portage Campus at least MWF.
• Weaving and Off-Loom Structure – Again, taught by my advisor. This is the course I am most looking forward to. As the course title suggests, it involved weaving, but also spinning, crochet, and knitting.
• Art Business – I was dreading this course, but I just found out there is a new instructor…who may actually know what she’s doing.
• Fundamentals of Public Speaking – Really? I tried my damnedest to get out of this course but they wouldn’t let me. On stage since 6th grade, speech team in high school, on-air DJ, podcaster, supervisor/manager, and instructor. I think I have the fundamentals pretty much covered.
• Drawing Foundations – This is my “scary” course. My drawing skills are almost non-existent, so I’m looking forward to some instruction, but dreading finding out that I really do suck at it.

I’ve enjoyed spending time with the critters this summer and hope to be able to do it again. I’m headed up to the cabin tomorrow to sit with the dogs and cat and spend the last week before school on the shore.

Knittingwise, I’ve gotten several things done:

Modern Log Cabin Blanket

A tea towel

Hudson (a cushion cover) for Mom

One sock

Cobblestone (no good picture yet)

Colonnade

And…

Quadrangles. Patter is available here for $5.00.

There are actually several other things I accomplished but it’s taking forever to search back that far in Flickr. I’ll try to get the rest of it up after I get back from the lake.

On a final note, I promise to start blogging again at least once a week after I get back from the cabin (no innernetz up there).  I hope you all had a fabulous summer and the fabulosity continues into Fall.

Well, so much for regular updates. Seems that college life has me busier than work life ever did, but, I guess that’s why I’m here.

Heikinpäivä was great fun! The weather was perfect for the parade, lots of people stopped by the fiber demonstration, I got to try all kinds of Finnish food, and I got to dance! Waltz, two-step, schottische, polka…I think I worked of all the food I ate that night. Here are a few pics:

Me, as St. Urho

The fiber demonstration

This last weekend was Winter Carnival at Michigan Tech. I went to see the fireworks down by the canal on Saturday night, and Saturday day walked around and looked at the snow sculptures. Here are a few:

These were absolutely incredible!  I believe the theme this year was “Games We Know Made in Snow.” The rest of the pictures I took can be found here.

Still not much happening on the knitting scene. I’m making slow progress on both the log cabin blanket and Mom’s socks. I’m also working on my latest design, which I’d really like to get done so I can start selling the pattern. I am working on a (sewn) kilt for class, and will also be making a vest, a jacket/vest, and possibly knitting some kilt hose, all for the fashion show on April 1.

We’ve received a few quarter-term grades, and I’m getting As in three of my classes, and I assume in the other two as well, although I haven’t actually seen any grades in them yet.

We are going on a field trip to Jacquart Fabric Products on Feb. 22nd, which should be a lot of fun. And I’m still looking for a part-time job.

Well, that’s about it for now. I’ll try to update a little more regularly and hopefully have a few finished things to show you next time.

Nähdään!

Hyvää päivää (good day)!  It’s been awhile since I’ve updated so, in no particular order:

• Classes are going well.  All As based on the grades I’ve received so far.
• I got to use a bit of the Finnish I’ve learned, much to the surprise of the Finn I was introduced to.
• I am going to be St. Urho in the Heikinpäivä parade on Jan. 20th.
• This Wednesday, I walked into the fiber studio, took off most of my clothes, and got duct taped…OK, perverts, we were making body doubles
• 
• Audrey and I have started the Finlandia Fiber Society, an informal collection of fiber enthusiasts of all types.  We meet on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the fiber studio, and will be in the fiber demonstration room at Heikinpäivä.
• It has been in the 20s and 30s lately, but it’s supposed to drop down into the teens for the parade…of course.
• I haven’t made much knitting progress on anything, although I am working on my next design.
• It’s really, really dry up here.
• I haven’t made it to any of the LYSs yet.
• Phyllis, my advisor and the fiber instructor, has apparently been spreading the word. People I haven’t met say, “Oh, you’re the knitting guru,” when I introduce myself.
• I need to go eat lunch so I can get to the fiber studio and put up some more Finlandia Fiber Society flyers.

Nähdään (see you)!

As promised, here are pictures from the fiber studio at Finlandia University:

The looms in the hall outside the studio:

The view from the doorway:

The Jukis:

The sergers:

Loom, looms, and more looms:

One of the walls o’ yarn:

The drafting, crafting, and surface design tables:

The reference library:

And finally, the Louets:

This is going to be a fun couple of years!