-N- – Page 742 – Ink, Yarn & Beer

A Foray into Toe-Up Socks, iv

I’ve finished the first sock of this pair, and I can only say I am not too fond of it, as far as doing it, and as far its design. This being the first sock, and fraught with a high learning curve, it is understandable.

After turning the heel, I continued on with lace rib stitch for 6 inches, and then began the top pattern, which is a repeat of 7 stitches. To recap, the sock is a 6-stitch repeat, done on 60 stitches. I decided to increase 3 stitches, every 20th round. Then I began the pattern, which I will modify, and attach to posts about the second sock, which 1) should be nicer looking, and 2) have a gusset rather than short row heel, and 3) have a decrease of stitches (maybe) for the top border. Just so you know, the bind off is stretchy, done as k2, slip 2 stitches back to left needle, k2tog, k1, slip 2 stitches back to left needle, and continue until done. It was a nuisance to do, but the edge worked out rather nicely.

The top of the sock, as you can see, flairs out a bit. As this was the calf area, I figured it would be better to make it the 3 stitches bigger rather than 4 stitches smaller. Maybe I’ll change my mind on that, seeing how it doesn’t have any ribbing on the top. On my leg it looks like it will slide down toward my ankle, which is fine if I want a baggy sock around my ankle, but with this design, I don’t think so.

As far as the overall design of the sock, I’m not displeased, but not happy either. The vertical lines of the ankle and foot are in a nice contrast to the horizontal quality at the top.

At this point, I admit that I am still not sold on toe-up socks. This being my first one, I know I am far from any point of making a definitive statement. There is a lot more still to learn, and certainly I am doing that! And, that was the goal in the first place.

A Request

If you have any sock patterns that you think are just the BEST toe-up sock pattern, leave me a note and a link if there is one. Or email on Ravelry. I’d love to see other socks, and though I do have books on the subjects, the subject is far more vast than I first realized.

Abstractio

As I wrote a bit earlier in my posts about my Chinese Painting Class, there is a challenge to start painting a subject when the knowledge that is gained by practice and by painting has slid by the wayside. In an effort to stop feeling frustrated and stressed out by the process, I decided to play. Play is part of growing up – and part of any art or skill acquisition – a way to try, explore, experiment, learn. I forget this way too much!

Relearning

The subject was peonies. I have done a few good ones. This is what I did that led to tears. To put it politely, it sucks.

Becoming very frustrated, I decided to practice some strokes in classical subjects which are the foundation for Asian painting: bamboo, orchid, chrysanthemum, plum.

Some memory returns, but the brush is far too wet.

Break the Rules

Rules exist to be broken. Many sumi painters paint traditional subjects, which are beautiful in variety and subtlety. Others move into areas far beyond the traditional expressions, meeting either excitement or criticism. The beauty of ink is its immediacy, and how it lends itself to spontaneous expression. However, this element of spontaneity comes with practice and experience, and without either, the dilettante remains such. The artist combines the repeated practice, the knowledge, the experience with the moment. All artists are dilettantes and students at times, and other times, they move into that time and space when it all comes together in a moment of mastery.

Next Steps . . .

Given these thoughts, I let it go.

Absorbent xuan paper – washes – diluted ink – pure ink – pure pigment – mixed pigment – water – no water. Playing with paper, ink, paint is a form of reacqaintance with old friends. Not having a goal, just going somewhere, and letting it lead you into itself.

I am not an abstract painter, but I am not a realistic one, either. I prefer suggestion. Purely abstract adventures are rather frightening – nothing recognizable on which to get a toehold – only a plummeting in, down, out – moving with the moment.

First one done, very timid. I realize just how much I’ve forgotten! One thing that is very important to remember is that the color of Chinese paint becomes a lot light – mucho mucho! – when it dries.

These next few, I diluted the paint and ink considerably less. I sprayed the paper in some areas, applied ink and then painted over it, flicked the paint, pushed and smooshed and let the ink or color bleed in.

I rather like the above two paintings.

Continuing along the same path, I remembered that I have some acrylic paints, Golden Fluid Acrylics, which are a dilute paint (not less pigment, just thinner, like cream) and some others with sparkly effects. This painting is ink and dilute acrylic. Unfortunately, the sparkles don’t show up in the photo, but they do add a nice quality to the finished picture below. I’m actually rather pleased with this one. It makes me think of looking up into an oak tree, seeing the leaves against a bright sun.

And finally, this. I think this is my favorite. Unfortunately, the photo is not the best. This one was a bit more planned, with colors more carefully considered, warms and cools placed in some specific areas. Splatters, too, and drips were done with more conscious thought. Not all of it was planned out. Ink was added before, during, and after the colors. The paper was sprayed at various times. The point of this painting was to try to incorporate what I learned from all the above, and work to see if my thoughts would produce specific results. Did it work? Yes and no.

Review of a Review

Sunset Magazine is a great resource for travelers, locals, and companies from the Rockies west. Getting written up is probably good for your business, because one of the great things about Sunset is it covers things which people enjoy doing – gardening, traveling, cooking, and eating. This month’s issue (June 2009) has a small section called “The West’s Best BBQ,” which begins on p. 42. Being suckers for such, we bit (so to speak) and, yesterday, took a short trip to South Pasadena, to visit the recommended Gus’s Barbecue, on p. 48.

About Gus’s Barbecue, Sunset writes,

If such SoCal perennials as Philips Bar-B-Que in Leimert Park are hall of famers, then think of this as the rookie of the year. Brothers Chris and John Bicos took a beloved though tired restaurant that dated back to 1946, updated its interior, and reinvigorated the barbecue menu with superior versions of classics like beer-braised Texas brisket. You gotta try Memphis-style baby backs – fall-off-the-bone tender – and such worthy sidekicks as the Cast Iron Cornbread and Red Skin Potato Salad.

The trip to South Pasadena was easy, without any of the traffic backups which make driving through L.A. so annoying. We called ahead to make sure they were open – yup, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays. The neighborhood where Gus’s is located is pleasant. We parked off Mission, just around the corner. Looking up the alley behind Gus’s showed that this definitely was an older neighborhood because of the brick construction on some of the buildings. Trees down Mission were leafy and green, with the jacarandas adding a lovely color note. Across the street from Gus’s is a pharmacy with a soda fountain, which, according to a plaque, was voted “best” – looks like it could be!

If you are looking for Gus’s, you will be able to spot it quite easily along Fair Oaks – its sign is bright red and speaks for itself. (I wonder, is it lit up at night?) Inside, the wait staff were cordial, and our charming young waitress, Melanie, was perfect. We decided to have exactly what was recommended by the Sunset reviewer, and we were not disappointed.

We ordered a rack of Memphis-style baby ribs, to share, along with two sides. We got the red skin potato salad, and the Louisiana Red Beans & Rice. We should have doubled up on the sides – the potato salad was really good – but we fell in love with the Red Beans & Rice! The Cast Iron Cornbread was a separate side, and is brought to your table in an iron skillet along with jalapeno jelly (good!) and honey butter – get extra butter and jelly, as you could go through it pretty fast! The cornbread is crusty, yellow, coarse and sweet, and crumbles when you butter it – absolutely dee-lish.

The ribs were great! A rack was enough for the two of us. You could pull the meat off the bone with a fork, and the flavor of the barbecue was subtle. Two extra sauces were on the table, one with a label of “hot” – which it really is not – and another darker one, with a nice vinegary taste to complement the meat. Unfortunately, all of this was gone too soon.

If you are in So. Pasadena, Gus’s is worth finding. Check it out!

D-Day

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

–Sir Winston Churchill

Today marks the 65th anniversary of the allies invasion of Europe, to begin the liberation of a continent held under the terror of Nazis and others for five years. Thousands died so others could live.

The world as we know it is still a dangerous place, fillled with mad men, despots, scammers, gangs, criminals, hateful evil-doers.

The world as we know it is still filled with kindness, hope, charity, forgiveness, creativity, vision, joy.

The world as we know it not a perfect place. Many are killed by those who enjoy it, and many die who would rather live. This is the dichotomy and sorrow of being a human – capable of being and doing both. At times, the horror of living can far outweigh its beauties – it depends on where you are and when. But, in the midst of it all, we still somehow manage to find the time to enjoy the sunrise, birdsong, evening breeze, smell of the sea, the smile of someone beloved.

Let’s remember this, and thank those who made it, and make it, so.

Pain(ting Class)

For the past two years I have been getting a teaching credential, while teaching full time. You can imagine it – no time to do what I want to do. As time passes, doing what I want to do becomes an ever-increasing desperation. So many people and things pulling at me that it becomes difficult to know who I am at times. I am always someone in relationship to something else. When there finally is time, a sense of guilt descends. Is it really all right to be so selfish? Shouldn’t I be running off to the next project? That is, the next project for the students or the credential?? And reading for pleasure? No, it is anatomy and physiology and physics, along with making sure this “i” is dotted, and that “t” is crossed.

Now the credential is done. Most classes are prepped. Enter the California budget crisis. Thus far, I’ve been spared, but there is always that wondering in the back of my mind, the worry, the anxiety. Now I prepare for other things, being pushed into action on things I was going to do later.

Painting, more than anything, is really the most selfish thing I do in my life. No one is allowed to bother me. I get to express myself on paper. Then the doorbell rings. The dogs bark. I feel like screaming. Certainly not conducive for getting into the zen of it all. I feel angry and guilty.

The fact is, I’ve not done any consistent painting for almost two years, less in the past one. I’ve lost my connection with brush and paper, and I’ve lost my knowledge of color and how it all comes together. Tonight I was going to do the peony from class, and I got into hating my brushes. Too soft, too this, too whatever. The fact was, it was me.

I wanted to “produce” when in reality, the best thing to do was play. I pulled out a pile of various Chinese papers I’d cut some time ago, and off I went, not worrying about color or type of paper, or anything. Some of it was pure crap, other things I liked. I held the brush close to the bristles, other times I stood up and held the brush loosely, and just swooped, smooshed, and curved.

Um, I had fun!