Little Owl handmade journal book by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

Little Stories – After Hours

 

Little Owl handmade journal book by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

Hi Everyone!  Little Stories are posts I write every now and then where I share odds and ends that I work on or things that happen around me.  This time I want to share a few finishes consisting of knitting, sewing and this impromptu little owl book I made.  I love to keep my hands busy by working on projects like these, mostly after dinner.

 

 

Knitted mitts and hats by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

Previously I wrote about an exchange that Mary and I did.  She made me an amazing artist apron ( you can see it here ) and I knitted her a couple of sets of hats and mitts.  Since Mary and I both love autumn colours, I had fun shopping as if I was buying the yarns for myself.

I used the patterns Westward Hat and Westward Mitts by Rebecca Woelber for this set.  The cable part of this design required my full attention.  I mostly worked on this one while my husband was playing a video game and I was “helping”.

 

 

Knitted mitts and hats by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

For this set, I paired Prim hat by Andrea Mowry with Staghorn Mitts by Pamala Jane Patterns.  Both were quick knits and easy cables too.  They are not beginner patterns, but very well written.  If you are a generally a confident knitter, and want to try cable knitting, both of these are very good patterns.  Once you get used to the cable patterns, they don’t require so much attention either.

It was so wonderful to make them for a friend, and I am happy to hear that she got to use them a lot during the colder months.

 

 

Autumn Leaves Line art clip art @ inktorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

During the time I was knitting for Mary, I decided to donate my serger.   The lady who was fostering our kitten was delighted to hear that I would donate the serger to the Rescue.  She lives an hour away, and halfway along the way is a JoAnn fabric store.  I wanted to remake this blanket for our kitty Charlie ( You can read about it and download the leaves file for free here ), so my husband and I made a quick pit stop to pick up some fleece.

 

 

Double layer fleece kitty blankets by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

I had to pick up some extra fleece for a few more kitty blankets, of course.  I cut the pieces in half to make them double-layered.  I like both the slow process of binding by hand, and also the look of hand binding.  Instead of matching bindings, I decided to use contrasting colours and designs.  They had to have an autumn and winter theme to them as those are my favourite seasons.  I specially love the wispy and wintry tree branches of the binding on the top blanket.

 

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the photos –

 

 

Now they are all ready for my little kitties when the weather turns cold around here.  These would make cosy and quick baby blankets too.

 

 

 

One of the original Fairy Lantern flower prints is going to a new home soon, as are a few of the everyday journals, which is always exciting!  They are available in the shop.

 

 

Little Owl handmade journal book by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

Most of my work is thought through and planned ahead.   This little owl book, however, was a complete exception to that and was certainly not on the list.   At the end of one day, I was so mentally exhausted that I needed a feel-good project.  I had a little 2″ x 3″ book made from before that needed a cover.  I pulled out washi tape,  some scrap pieces of book binding boards, paper, micron pen, glue and scissors, and set to work.

 

 

Little Owl handmade journal book by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

I didn’t even feel like drawing anything new.  I have always had a soft spot for owls.  I traced the owl from one of my old marker paintings, copied it on the cover and inked it with micron pen.  I love designs by Morris Brown, and I got this washi tape from Jet Pens recently.  After affixing the front and back covers to the book,  I attached the spine board with a strip of the wide washi tape.  I added some scrap washi tape triangles to the corners and the book was done.  It took me a total of around 30 minutes and it certainly uplifted my spirit quite a lot.  Paper, pen, glue and tape – ingredients for utter happiness.

 

These after hours projects have a calming effect on me.  While I work on them, I mentally prepare for the next day too.  Do any of you do anything special to wind down?  I would love to know.

-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay them a visit.  Also linking up with Favorite Finish Linky Party @ Meadow Mist Designs.

 

Leave a comment

 

Silver Lining

 Tafoni Salt Point Sonoma Coastline by Soma Acharya inktorrents.com

 

We were going to go on a secluded, completely self-sustained and therefore safe cabin adventure in the Sierra mountains for a few days. A couple of days before our departure, the National Forest Service had to close down all the areas under its jurisdiction due to the continuous massive wildfires raging in and around the state of California.  Not only was our cabin located in one of those areas, the air quality there had become acutely hazardous and remains that way even today.

 

 

 

 

 

Not to be put off and eager to see my beautiful state again after months of being at home, I spent the next 12+ hours poring over maps, books and websites, trying in vain to find another safe venue.  Eventually, instead of forcing the matter, I decided to stay home and turn my attention to areas that are closer by for one or two day trips.

 

 

 

Tafoni Salt Point Sonoma Coastline by Soma Acharya inktorrents.com

 

 

The very next morning, we woke up to an eerie orange sky from another large wildfire north of us.  The wind flow kept the ash in the upper atmosphere.  That kept the air quality moderate enough for us to be outside for limited amounts of time.  My husband and I drove out to the coast toward a place we had not been to before, in search of a rock formation called Tafoni.

 

 

 Tafoni Salt Point Sonoma Coastline by Soma Acharya inktorrents.com

 

 

We drove through coastal mountains covered in low marine fog, while the treetops peeked over the haze.  The orange haze, however, was a constant reminder of the acrid air outside.

 

 

 

 

Please click on the images for a larger view

 

 

With the sun lost above the ash-laden sky, light was failing fast, even though we were nowhere near the time of sunset.   When we got there, I decided to look for Tafoni close by instead of walking out on a trail.  Fortunately, I readily found a cliff face very close by, after just a couple of minutes of walking. 

 

 

 

Tafoni Salt Point Sonoma Coastline by Soma Acharya inktorrents.com

 

 

Despite the murky sky, the area was beautiful, framed by the crashing waves on one side and nature’s artwork of Tafoni on the other.  Listening to the ocean had a wonderful healing effect on the mind.  As it was getting dark and I started developing a headache as air quality worsened, we had to pull ourselves away for the journey back home.

 

 

 

 

Storyboarding my most favourite Middle Earth lore for a minibook

 

 

We did manage to go on one more very tiny outing close to our home before it became really bad outside.  So I stayed at home and travelled though playing in my sketchbook during the rest of our time off.

 

You know how much I love the Sierra mountains, and I have always gone there for comfort.  This year I needed to be there more than ever, but I felt very lucky to have been able to visit this beautiful place close to home.  I hope to go back there soon and venture onto more trails.

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

 
I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them.  I have joined a few new ones recently and they are a wonderful bunch!

 

 

 

Leave a comment

 

Enter your email to receive new inspirations, product reviews and pro-tips
icon
error: Content is protected !!