bags and tidbits

I started reading the Artist's Way this morning. I've been planning on reading it for a long time. I finally decided that with the plethora of yahoogroups available to help me read it, I should stop procrastinating. I read the 2 introductions this morning. I think that this is something that Cassa would love reading too. She just got an old Underwood so she can start writing again. In alot of ways I think I am like the blocked artist. I used to create so much more. Now I knit. And while I think I am a very good knitter, I think I could be making art again. Photography, Scherenschnitte, fiberwork, etc. My mother likes to tell me over and over again how talented I am. How whatever I pick up seems to just work for me. I have seen that fail though. I took a wonderful course in glassblowing about a year ago. I loved it and hated it. I loved it because I had always wanted to do it and it was a reality. I hated it because I wasn't good at it. I made medicore items. There were several reasons for this (notice I did not say excuses), 1) glassblowing is mean, hard, physical labor. And I am just not a weightlifter by anyone's imagination. 2) it is not something you are just "good" at. You take YEARS to develop glasswork. My teacher said that they never pass someone right away to take the intermediate classes simply because you can't. You must take the beginner level class over and over until you master it, then you can pass to the next level. This frustrated me, even though I loved what I made and took home. I still have all my work from class. I would love to take another, but one class is about 3/4 of a monthly paycheck. I cannot justify it even though I love it so much.

Spinning is another thing that is elusive to me right now. Woolflowers blogger, Leigh, was kind enough to teach me some basics. And I was HORRIBLE. I made a small, tiny, infinitesimal ball of string. I just don't have the memory for it yet. I've heard that spinning on a wheel is actually easier, but if I cannot produce a ball of yarn with a spindle, then how can I justify the cost of a wheel? (and then there is the space thing.. none right now, so I put the whole thing on the back burner) SO, I know that I am not good at EVERYTHING. I would say that I am really good at fine motor skilled crafts. Things like embroidery, quilling, sherenschnitte, etc. Things that people consider as a craft and not so much as art. Sometimes I think that is the most disheartening part of what I love. What I need to do is get beyond what other people think.

I finished the frogged beaded bag this weekend. I re-knit it in 2 days. I have decided that this is a lovely quickie project that can be used for all sorts of presents. Stick some soap in it and viola! stick a nice brooch in it and viola! stick some money in it and its mine! heehee I really love this bag. I think that the green is very spring like, and the beads show up like dew.