Fishing for Answers

My sister lives in Germany, and the minute I found out she was to become a grandparent, I compulsively picked up my knitting needles. Time to get busy. With a few other projects simultaneously in the queue, I had to keep this simple. In my stash of yarn, I found this Caribbean blue cotton from St. Tropez called 'Holiday.' (The St. Tropez brand, unfortunately appears not to be available any longer. Can a fellow knitter confirm its retirement?)

Have you seen this label around lately?

I knitted a short sleeve number, and added, to its brilliant sea, an exotic underwater inhabitant. But....something just wasn't right. The sweater still felt a little plain to me. As much as I wanted to stuff it in an envelope and send it off, I couldn't just yet.

First attempt

So, I took a drive. It happened to be a spectacular day and the coast was unusually clear. I pulled into one of my favorite places in the world, beautiful Point Lobos State Reserve. This park, such a special place for me and my family, never fails to inspire.

As I listened to the waves ebb and flow on Gibson Beach, my mind drifted back to the  sweater. (I know these conundrums must also haunt my fellow artists...). The blue-green Pacific looked inviting and I dipped my toes into its bracing cold waters, retreating as the waves rolled in. And, there it was--my answer.

Sand dusted off, shoes on, I raced to the car. Okay, actually I ambled as quickly as I could up a set of precipitous stairs, side-stepping the nature trail and the ancient tree roots growing through its uneven dirt paths.

Yes, there was something missing.

I picked up my needles and started over from scratch, adding pearl stitches in an asymmetrical form as I went along, thinking of the movement and conveyance of water. Those waves. Those staggering, enduring,  heart-pounding, reassuring waves. That's what was missing!

Rippers and rollers knitted with easy pearl stitches finishes this second attempt off right.

Hello (again) Dolly!

Ah, the dollies...

My bags of leftover yarns from various projects, by no means, ever go to waste. Yes, I've made quite a few of these little toys over the years. Girls in yellow dresses with blue satin sashes. Boys in overalls with golden eyelashes. You get the picture. These dolls aren't so much for children, as they are my children! And each has its own personality--just like my own two kids!

Hanging out at the Los Laureles Lodge Christmas Fair.

The dollies are made here and there all year-long, but I really put pedal to metal (or needle to yarn) around July. My hands are kept busy preparing for Los Laureles Lodge Christmas Fair in early December. My table, a staple for the past six years or so, just has to be stocked--with lots of dollies, among other things--because there are good homes waiting!  

Squaring Off