On the Meaning of Independence

Voie de Vie designs from the multi-designer curated Women & Water 

summer collection, clockwise from top left: Stars Align bracelet, So Much 

Shine necklace, It's About Time Watches, Lake Ontario Shimmer, and When 

Coco Met Elsa bags, all available for purchase (along with over 60 other 

original designs), in my Ravelry pattern store.

As everyone here in the U.S. prepares for various July 4^th events, I thought it appropriate to take stock of what independence actually means to me.

There is no doubt to anyone who reads this blog regularly that independence is one of my running themes. I have, also, marked past Independence days in 2012, 2013, 2014, and just briefly in 2016. It is, nevertheless, difficult to pin down with any specificity how to define independence. I am an indie designer who also designs for third party publications when the design spirit moves me and those publishers smile favorably. I have my own small independent creative business, yet throughout this time I have held a day job. So is this independence, or just following many masters?

While I definitely would like to cut down on the masters, I have never had any illusion that my small creative business would ever be my sole means of income, so the multiple people to whom I must answer was pretty much a foregone conclusion. No, what independence means to me is an evolving ethos in my creative business - only working on those designs and projects that truly move me. As a result, you will note all the jewelry and bag designs above (and there is still one more design I am so close, albeit late, to finishing for the collection). I genuinely love both, even though they are not usually the cash cows that most shawls and cowl designs tend to be. I have things in the pipeline for later in the year (both from me and from third party publishers) that truly mean something to me - either the subject matter, or the concept, or the design. I cannot know whether or not they will be popular, but each of them will exercise my own flavor of independence. 

As a certain portion of the world has already or will mark an independence holiday this month, I hope each of you find your own independence sweet spot. 

Oh, and don't forget to include all the tasty food.

Happy Birthday

This land may be yours and mine, but we've all come to look for America. Here's a sampling of what I've found so far.

It's July. Say It Ain't So!

Photo (c) ILikeCrochet.com

To where have the last few weeks disappeared? I have been working on a few projects behind the scenes, as well as items in my Hot Fun In The Summertime a-long, so I've been knee-deep in yarn and paints. 

NFC Rustic Fingering -
that Columbus Circle
colorway is something
else!

Before I provide you with my first finished item in the a-long, I am thrilled to show off my latest published design, the Summer Mist Poncho in the August 2016 edition of ILikeCrochet.com. Utilizing the always wonderful Neighborhood Fiber Co. Rustic Fingering in the Columbus Circle colorway, it is a true, lighweight summer topper. I did not have summer wedding on the brain when I designed it, but the magazine's styling brilliantly shows off such a possible use. I just love this pretty colorway that screams summer.

Additionally in this edition, I have a second written tunisian crochet technique article utilizing the ponchos's edging as an example.

And now, onto my first completed item in the a-long. I worked up my own personal version of the Summer Dance Shawl, and I am pretty pleased with my handiwork, if I do say so myself. To the right you'll see how I used a contrasting colorway on the edging to provide a nice pop of summer color. To the left, you'll see a closer look at the beads I used along the last row of the edging. 

Color and bling - love it.

I hope everyone in the U.S. has a great July 4th holiday, exercising independence in the way that fits each of you best. And for everyone in Canada, happy Canada Day weekend. 

We can't seem to get out of the way of holidays here in North America cause hey, it's summer!

It's Monday - Time for Melange

My July 4th cake - a lot like last
year's July 4th cupcakes. I did
manage to finish up using the
red + blue icing.

Hello everyone - we are post-July 4th holiday weekend here in the U.S., and I hope everyone had a great time. While I was busy with projects (like, all day!), I actually took a cooking time out around 5:00 pm and made myself this version of bangers and mash (chicken apple sausage with parmesian/garlic potatoes baked in the oven, along with some rustic grainy mustard mixed with a little apple butter) as well as the cake. Can't go wrong with chocolate cake and homemade white icing. We also had a great evening for fireworks - this was the last of our sunset at about 9:15, an hour before the light show:

The gold/pink-ish color on the buildings in the distance is actually the remnants of the day's sun. Sunsets never cease to amaze.

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Isn't this Louisa Harding beaded
Grace and Mulberry Silk just stunning?

 It has been difficult in the first half of this year to not  talk about all the projects I'm working on (and continue  to work on - see above). I can only imagine how  others interpret all of the yarn I've been trotting out yet  don't seem to have any finished projects to show for it.  Just wait ... and of course, I revealed three newly  published projects on the 1st. I'll have more to say  about them at the end of the week, but please do take  a look at yet another photo of yarn currently on the  needles/hooks. I certainly am not complaining about  all of this yarny goodness - it's been a real pleasure  working with so many varied yarns. The nature of  designing (at least for me) is one of some secrecy.  Even if I were not contractually obligated to remain  silent until publication, I am always closed-mouthed  about what I'm currently doodling or drawing. I know  that might seem counterintuitive in our social media-  saturated world, yet it's the way I am. Everyone's got a  process, and that's mine.

At least for the moment.

May Independence and Good Food Reign

"Life without liberty is like a body without spirit."

    Kahlil Gibran                      



 

 

 

There's a lot of independence for which to be grateful this July 4th. Celebrate and enjoy!



Happy Independence

"Our hope for the future of the human species may be reduced to three important points: the destruction of inequality among nations; the progress of equality within nations themselves; and finally, the real improvement of humanity.

                                              *****************************

Thus the day will come when the sun will shine only on free men born knowing no other master but their reason; where tyrants and their slaves, priests and their ignorant, hypocritical writings will exist only in the history books and theaters ... "

Translation of

The Marquis of Condorcet

Sketch of Progress of the Human Mind

1794