doing well a thing that is well worth doing
January 26, 2007
snowdrop hat, originally uploaded by cosymakes.
i can’t tell you how good it feels to be knitting for someone. this one was made mostly yesterday, finished today for a woman who contacted me thru the shop. inspiration for the embroidery was the first snowdrop flower i spotted this season, just up the street from my house. another craft blogger spotted one too! you can see her picture here.
the only commissions i’m taking these days are those that will help with my book, and so since i can’t show you the book projects, you get this hat as a hint.
ingredients:
brown- recycled j crew sweater wool
red-purple- my hand dyed thrifted wool
blue-purple- mountain colors mill end
it’s difficult for me to knit every day and not be knitting for people. knitting is such a community thing for me, that this hat is a welcome respite.
i guess i have to keep in view that i am knitting for people when i design for the book, i just won’t be seeing any sort of completion until the book is actually in print. the thesis is somewhere in the middle, you can see the projects, but the culmination will be the gallery show. it reminds me of a theme in the book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson. his book is about much more important issues… but the point is that often you just keep going/working/being faithful until you can finally stop. sometimes it’s not very gratifying, but you must do it anyhow.
if i’ve learned anything in my time at Regent College, it has been to claim art as my job, my good work. according to Dorothy Sayers, work is “doing well a thing that is well worth doing.” her thoughts have really helped me to claim my art. the idea that a good four/five hours of work a day is better than more hours and mediocre work has also been helpful. sabbath ideas have also been instrumental in making me an artist. six days of work, one day of rest- GO! just kidding… i’m not that legalistic. but it is a good reminder that i’ve work to do. and good work at that. i’m a much more confident artist after having been here. on a side note, it still throws ben for a loop when i say that i got a lot of work done today and show him my knitting.
speaking of having to do things… my book contact showed up in the mail yesterday. all it awaits is my signature. YIKES!
just wait until ben finally gets his dream job and says, “I got so much work done today,” and doesn’t even have a hat to show for it. Just well rehearsed limbs. :)
Yes, exactly! It’s about the discipline of showing up (at the studio or the page or wherever one’s art gets made) every day, or nearly. Not waiting around to be “inspired” (whatever that actually means…) Having enough respect for you work to put in that regular time.
I’ll look forward to your book! Is the pub date set yet?
ben laughed sarah!
cari – wow! thanks for commenting. i’ve been reading your blog forever. no publication date yet. takes about a year, maybe december of this year, but it also could be up to six months later.
Congrats on the contract!! Can’t wait to see it!!
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