Separation Anxiety
The other day as I was furiously knitting away, finishing up something to send out to some entity, Max - who was drawing a picture on the floor, admiring his handiwork - looked up at me and asked, "Mommy, do you ever feel sad to send your work away?"
I had never thought of it in such a frank way. I definitely feel relief, self-congratulations, pride (if I've done a good job) and a little anxiety (if I'm not 100% happy with my work...) But sadness?
I guess I disassociate myself from the work - or I've learned to do that through all of the costuming / styling / magazine work that I've done in my life. I try to love what I create, but not fall in love with it.
And yes, I am sad to see my work go away...
I just sent a big box to NYC, to my editor at Potter, a box full of sweaters for Romantic Hand Knits. Not all of the sweaters (damn!) but most of them. I have some that I'm still tweaking here, some that have yet to arrive (yikes!) and - I'm ashamed to admit it - two pieces that I have yet to start. Actually, I have started AND finished them, but I'm unhappy with them so I'm going to rework them this weekend. The photo shoot has yet to be arranged (as far as I know) but I know they want to set it up for July if possible. Knit like the wind!
I talked my editor into 2 hats - a wide/oval brimmed one, and a nice little cloche in a lace pattern. Here's the latter, with no trimming or ribbon, just the wired blank. I'm going to make up some nice flowers on pins that we can add to the hats at the shoot (and also maybe use them as accessories on other pieces?)
I also FINALLY got around to lengthening the lace peplum surplice. Here it is, surrounded by my family. They seem pleased with it (the goat is certainly happy...)
Speaking of my family, tomorrow would be my brother's wedding anniversary. I haven't been as in touch with his wife in the past few months as I should have been - just me being busy and awkward. I'll give her a call tonight and tell her that we love her (Hannah is absolutely NUTS about her!)
And, also speaking of family, I've been reading a wonderful book called Hillbilly Gothic by Adrienne Martini. She and I actually exchanged copies of our books - she wrote and said that after reading my blog she though I might enjoy her book. It's funny, she could be from my dad's side of the family (they have kids younger than my mom's side of the family...) and much of her book revolves around Parkersburg, WV (my dad's home town, the place where my parents met during the war and married). At any rate, I've been enjoying reading it as I go to bed at night - a nice release from the knitting stress.
Last night I allowed myself to get so tied up in knots over finishing some items that I never went to bed. Not at all. As of now I've been up since yesterday morning. This is VERY unlike me - I'm sort of a sleep health maniac - and even in college I only pulled ONE all-nighter. But I just kept knitting away last night, not really paying attention to the time until it was suddenly 3:30 and Gerry was leaving for work. Then I thought, "I'll knit a bit more, then sleep for a few hours before I get the kids up for camp..." but I never went to bed. Now that the box is off to Potter I will sleep tonight - then start knitting in earnest (once again) tomorrow.
Another hat and some gloves tomorrow - and I still feel incredibly lucky to get to do this!
I had never thought of it in such a frank way. I definitely feel relief, self-congratulations, pride (if I've done a good job) and a little anxiety (if I'm not 100% happy with my work...) But sadness?
I guess I disassociate myself from the work - or I've learned to do that through all of the costuming / styling / magazine work that I've done in my life. I try to love what I create, but not fall in love with it.
And yes, I am sad to see my work go away...
I just sent a big box to NYC, to my editor at Potter, a box full of sweaters for Romantic Hand Knits. Not all of the sweaters (damn!) but most of them. I have some that I'm still tweaking here, some that have yet to arrive (yikes!) and - I'm ashamed to admit it - two pieces that I have yet to start. Actually, I have started AND finished them, but I'm unhappy with them so I'm going to rework them this weekend. The photo shoot has yet to be arranged (as far as I know) but I know they want to set it up for July if possible. Knit like the wind!
I talked my editor into 2 hats - a wide/oval brimmed one, and a nice little cloche in a lace pattern. Here's the latter, with no trimming or ribbon, just the wired blank. I'm going to make up some nice flowers on pins that we can add to the hats at the shoot (and also maybe use them as accessories on other pieces?)
I also FINALLY got around to lengthening the lace peplum surplice. Here it is, surrounded by my family. They seem pleased with it (the goat is certainly happy...)Speaking of my family, tomorrow would be my brother's wedding anniversary. I haven't been as in touch with his wife in the past few months as I should have been - just me being busy and awkward. I'll give her a call tonight and tell her that we love her (Hannah is absolutely NUTS about her!)
And, also speaking of family, I've been reading a wonderful book called Hillbilly Gothic by Adrienne Martini. She and I actually exchanged copies of our books - she wrote and said that after reading my blog she though I might enjoy her book. It's funny, she could be from my dad's side of the family (they have kids younger than my mom's side of the family...) and much of her book revolves around Parkersburg, WV (my dad's home town, the place where my parents met during the war and married). At any rate, I've been enjoying reading it as I go to bed at night - a nice release from the knitting stress.
Last night I allowed myself to get so tied up in knots over finishing some items that I never went to bed. Not at all. As of now I've been up since yesterday morning. This is VERY unlike me - I'm sort of a sleep health maniac - and even in college I only pulled ONE all-nighter. But I just kept knitting away last night, not really paying attention to the time until it was suddenly 3:30 and Gerry was leaving for work. Then I thought, "I'll knit a bit more, then sleep for a few hours before I get the kids up for camp..." but I never went to bed. Now that the box is off to Potter I will sleep tonight - then start knitting in earnest (once again) tomorrow.
Another hat and some gloves tomorrow - and I still feel incredibly lucky to get to do this!
12 Comments:
Wow fancy not sleeping at all, I have been falling asleep around 10pm while knitting of a night. Your cloche is really lovely. Good luck with all your photo shoots.
The peplum does look happier, and what a great shot with all of the family pictures surrounding it!
I grew up about 75 miles West of Parkersburg, in a tiny town called Nelsonville, OH and my family is from around where I grew up. I also had family in the Parkersburg area (a second cousin, once removed, who had 21 children). Hey, maybe we're related!
All nighters? only one in college? good grief, you must be some kind of organizational machine. I stayed up all night all the time. Tom Snyder and I were quite a couple. Bob Costas and I...well that's another story. I worked a couple of part time jobs through art school and as a result had a time managment problem. I am sure my downstairs neighbors hated midterms, I don't think I slept much more than 2 hours per night for 2 weeks on end. I know I crashed around all night long, and had the late night tv on the whole time. Those were the days. I was obviously much younger then. Now I pull an all nighter for any reason at all...good book, insominia, wacky travel schedule, crazy knitting binge....and I get sick. Sick with whatever ickiness is going around. What this means is that you have to take all your chinese herbs, vitamin c, whatever else you take to stay well, and drink plenty of cleansing water. Dr. Sara says take care of yourself!
The only times that I have pulled all-nighters were for knitting! And at my choice since I don't knit for a living! Although I do it, I don't endorse it. I always sleep the next day instead of knitting so it is all a wash!
Love the cloche!
Max is so right! I'm still depressed about my STR socks that were sock-napped (sort of) to Chile. I really loved those socks! So did my daughter in law....so they went off. But I can't seem to make myself knit another!
Your book pieces are really fabulous. I so very much look forward to it's release.
I can see sending off pieces as being sad, but I tend to disassociate with my work. Like if I am making a store model, then I think of it as a store model and become less attached to it than if it were for myself. I think I would be really sad if I had to give away something that I meant for myself.
How exciting! I can't wait to see your book...my fingers are getting restless, just thinking about it :-)
Now, sleep. Eat. Knit. Enjoy.
Hannah
Glad to hear that you are enjoying Gothic! Thanks for the shout-out.
I hope you get some rest. But I guess with all the knitting and playing with yarn that you get to do, you are pretty much rested and relaxed most of the time.
All of your pieces are beautiful!
Good luck with all your deadlines.
:)
The peplum surplice is lovely. Between that and the blue cardigan in your newer entry, I'm sold. I'm ordering the book as soon as it's available for pre-order. :)
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