Pulled Toward Crochet

For the past several months, I've been crocheting and enjoying it.

My step-Mom taught me to crochet as a teenager but I haven't done much since then. But what a wonderful array of fibers and color-changing yarns they have in the stores now.

And, I'm experimenting making necklaces with these beautiful yarns. 

My husband suggested making place mats for the table, and I'm loving the results.

There is something soothing and calming about crocheting. I love the tactile qualities of handling the yarns. I've only used a few simple patterns for the scarves, both regular and infinity types. For the necklaces and place mats, I'm experimenting by just single crocheting until I get a length and width I need.

The upcoming move of our whole department from our work area, going from a main floor space with windows and relocating to the basement with only perimeter skylights, has been stressful. For several months, I have pondered how to bring light and color to the new area. I thought about crocheting a small tapestry--either circular or rectangular--and draping it over some of my furniture. Right now, I am working on something smaller, making coasters in gorgeous colors. 

Fun with Transparencies, Part 2

The other photograph I selected was not of nature like the previous post but a view of buildings from Portmeirion, Wales, which I visited decades ago. The original color image was changed to black & white with increased contrast in Microsoft Word before printing on the transparency.

You can increase possibilities by flipping the transparency around and seeing what is most interesting, unusual, or pleasing. The two versions below show difference within parts of the same painting.

Once I found a perspective I liked, I attached the transparency to the painting with painter's tape (I was lucky to have left a margin) and scanned the new combination.

Fun with Transparencies

Last weekend, I was inspired by a photo my friend pinned on Pinterest. I liked the image but wanted to change it up using my own photos without using Photoshop. 

Selecting my photo of the Inniscrone beach in Ireland, I left it in color when printed on the transparency. Then, I auditioned it over already-painted backgrounds in my hand bound Journal of Time.

 Each background evoke different moods.