Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Turn, Turn, Turn...

It's been much too long since I played along with Michelle Ward's street team.  I often meant to participate, but things kept getting in the way, and the month would pass and I would have not posted to meet the challenge.  This month, though, I can't miss it.  Michelle has asked her crusaders whether we notice a change in our palette or style with the changing seasons.  Well, my dear, the answer is YES.  That phrase from Ecclesiastes that the Byrds made so famous might as well have been written about me.  I am such a seasonal person that even my taste in music and food change.  I'm almost a different person in the spring than I am in the winter.  Jeans remain a wardrobe staple, but instead of dark sweaters and boots, I'm wearing them with bright colors, especially green and white, and with mary janes until it's warm enough for sandals.  I start listening to lighter, happier music.  I eat more veggies and drink green tea instead of black (though I do still like a good cuppa black tea to get me going in the morning).  The advent of cherry blossoms makes me gravitate towards Japanese art and motifs - this is when I re-watch Rurouni Kenshin and dig out my scraps of kimono silk that I've bought at quilt shows, thinking maybe this year I'll decide what to do with them.  And my art definitely looks different.  In my paper and mixed media art, red moves aside for green, compositions get more open and less cluttered, I use less hardware, I move from crosses and gears and hardware to flowers and birds and the occasional butterfly.  Last year I showed this tag, which I think is one of my favorites of every tag I've ever made:


Very simple, two background colors and two stamps.  But it just says spring to me.  When yarn crafting in spring, I spin lighter colors into thinner yarns, I gravitate towards lace patterns in both knit and crochet, and I generally only work with light or bright colors.  I wound off one of those skeins of yarn I got at the Homespun Yarn Party this year.  Guess which one?

The color's a little washed out in this picture, but it's Downy Oshun, Hon!  Baltimorean beachy glory.  I've started a crochet project with it, but I don't like how it's coming out so I might frog it and start over.  It just needs to be a light, lacy triangle scarf or shawlette.  The only trouble is that it's wool.  That's my other spring thing.  I'd love to be working with cotton or silk.  Unfortunately, all my favorite yarns in my favorite weights and colors turn out to be wool or some other warm fiber.  Oh well.  Air conditioning generally requires a warmer layer, so it'll do.

I wish I had more to show you.  This spring has been a little busy:
(Okay, I know, I'm a showoff. But isn't he cute?)

Plus, having moved, my ability to do paper and mixed media art has declined.  See, Mom and I share supplies, or at least we always did when I lived at home.  Now that Mr. Pocket and I are on our own, I haven't built up enough supplies in my new home to really feel like I can do much yet.  As I acquire more, I'll be able to put things together, but now pickings are still slim.  On top of that, I haven't felt the knit or crochet mojo as much, so that's not happening.  I definitely feel the need to create, though, so hopefully I'll build up more supplies or be able to spend some time at my parents' house enough to do some work.  I did house-sit for my parents one night last week, and this is what I came home with:
It's a bit of a transition piece, spring into summer.  Maybe later this week, I'll post about summer, because that's a bolder, brighter style for me than spring...

12 comments:

michelle ward said...

Yay! Carrie is playing again! First, thanks for spelling out all the *turns* you take with the seasonal changes. I nodded along when you mentioned a shift in color, clothing, music AND food. It's true isn't it? We definitely experience lighter fare on the dinner table too - taking advantage of fresh market fruits and veggies. Love hearing that your work with fiber also changes to more delicate patterns. You are a poster girl for seasonal wardrobe :)

Thanks for explaining your shifts, and showing us some lovely examples. It's been a fun experiment to learn about our crusaders habits!

And again, beautiful bride! (handsome fellow too!)

Unknown said...

Birds splashing in a fountain is definitely "Spring." It's a lovely tag. And if your wedding has taken precedence before your art, I think you have your priorities in the correct order.

I cannot thank you enough for turning me on to Michelle's work and GPP Street Team. Let's have a crafting evening soon!
Hugs,
Maria/~runningwave~

Maryanne said...

Love this post, Miss Carrie! I wonder who you get your seasonal shift from?:) This crusade is so US that even I intend to play along, if I ever recover from all the activity of the winter/spring. I've never done one of Michelle's crusades, but this one I can't pass up.

Regina said...

What a sweet breezy post.

Your tag is very pretty. Love it.
Thanks for visiting my blog & your sweet comment.

Michelle said...

Lovely tag ~ gorgeous wedding photo! I'm sure your craft supplies will grow in no time (it's a must!)

scj said...

This is a lovely post and I love the tag. What a beautiful wedding photo (I especially love the dress with that oh so feminen ruffle at the neck). Enjoy the freedom fewer craft supplies brings and all the time you have with your new hubby.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely pair you make - may many blessings be yours.
That tag is a honey, no wonder its a favorite; it's looks fresh and clean. I love that wool btw.

jgr said...

Congrats on your wedding!! And of course I love love love these colors!

mariasangel said...

great spring color choices :) and what a beautiful pic from your wedding! Looked a bit through your other posts too--love to see that Mr Pocket makes maille!! many blessings to you both!

Pudel-design said...

Thank you so much for your lovely comment;)
A really pretty bride;)
Lovely greetings...

http://pudel-design.blogspot.com/

Kimber said...

A great post about the seasons. I love all the differences you talked about. I hadn't even thought about food and I always can't wait for summer and all the fresh fruit and veggies, blueberries will be ready in the next couple weeks...yum! And then fall and the fresh crop of apples...yum again! Thanks for reminding me of all the aspects of the seasons!

Unknown said...

Your color choices are beautiful. Reminds me of robins eggs, of the sweet color of Spring! The blues, greens and browns are gorgeous!