April check in 💮

Currently Reading: The Eye of The World (Robert E Jordan)

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I got sick in March and the plan fell by the wayside a little - I'm not going to feel guilty about that since I need rest time too...

But I have been more consistently drawing since getting better!

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Pottery has been less consistent due to being unwell (I don't want to make other pottery folk sick) and plans changing/childcare needs increasing... but that's ok, I'll get back to it when I can. I do have a few things that have probably gone into the kiln for a glaze firing, so I look forward to seeing what they look like when I next get to the studio.

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Knitting wise, I finished a big handspun jumper project - from sheep fleece to yarn to jumper - and I didn't like how it looked on me! I was very sad. And then I gave it to my mum for her birthday and she seemed happy with it...

I liked the yarn I made but hated the fit of the jumper (too big) - I had already tried about 3 times to make different projects with the yarn and had had enough of it.

I have a cardigan WIP and a jumper WIP, for my dad and C respectively, and they're not particularly exciting to me, but the cardigan is at least using stash yarn and I'm trying to work on using what I have so that's good. After these 2 projects I do have one more gift knit I want to do, another jumper for C - but in a fatter yarn, so hopefully it'll be a little speedier to complete. And then I want to make clothes for myself again!

I would knit for O but she doesn't like to wear jumpers anyway.

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Today is a Monday, so I have a couple hours to get some things done if I want. I'm keeping it low pressure though because there was a lot on during the weekend.

a monday

Hi all,

I come to you from one of the first Mondays where I have a few hours free time, as O has a few hours of nursery in the morning. It still manages to be a stressful time (at least the beginning) as O still hasn't gotten used to the new nursery so gets upset when we leave her there... But I'm gradually becoming more able to get things done from my to do list. Annoyingly there are still lots of mundane, bureaucratic type things that need doing but we're getting there. I did spend some time doing some drawing and pixel art too!

Now it's post nursery, post lunch and I just walked her to sleep so thought I'd write a little update.

I've been making good on my small goal to play more video games this year and had a good amount of time going through Hades 1 pre Christmas and then have put in a bunch of hours into Hades 2 since then. A modest amount compared to most gamers but pretty good for me!

I've been sketching and pixel arting as I mentioned and honestly have been disillusioned with my own abilities, having looked back on my work from the pandemic and earlier, it's so bad! And luckily there's been improvement since but with clearer eyes I can still see areas that could do with improvement. Yet then I wonder, what for? Is it so I can use my art in ceramics? Do better at my job? Or do something in drawing outside of work? I haven't worked it out yet. Of course it would be good for my work, but I don't think that's a strong enough motivator for a long term art practice. 

I'll continue to mull it over... At some point I'll post about my ceramic progress, which also happens to be underwhelming; maybe it's just the season I'm in! Anyway, a sketch below... I had to concentrate a lot on it and it took a bunch of brain power. A lot of resistance while working on it!

Image reference: Maisie Delaney

quick art, knit and pot update

Edited to add: I think I accidentally published this really late after having written this!

I've done some drawings!

... I can't find all the photos on my phone but here are some...

... And my knitting, I've almost finished an autumnal jumper - just in time for it to no longer be autumn! I'm working on the bottom hem ribbing and then just have the neckline and weaving in ends to do.

Lastly, a quick pottery update. My little guy survived two trips to the kiln!

Secondly, I managed to sculpt on another bust and made a face I was happy with:

And promptly knocked the bust over and smashed in the nose and mouth! So I'll have to go back and redo the face 😭

That's my speedy update. For folks who celebrate during December and new year, have a lovely time (same to those who don't).