Illustration

I've drawn for as long as I can remember. As you might have guessed by now I feel fairly creative and I can't contain it to just one craft. 

I often sketch out the garments I wish to knit. This is a raglan sweater I'm currently working on, with YO in the raglan.

 I began drawing "seriously" when I was 12. I had big plans on making a living for myself as an artist. And there was no doubt in my mind that I could do it if I just practiced, dressed right and hung out with the right people. Oh, to be that young again. (Not really.)

Mange and anime had just arrived in Norway, and being so different from anything that was on the market already, it drew aspiring artists like myself to it like wasps to beer. I've put that behind me now, but I'm glad I got to try it out. It taught me to draw in a way I doubt I would have tried if I went to a classic "Learn to draw realistic"-course. I've had my own style since then, ever changing, but at least I'm trying.

The manga-wave is also to blame for bringing me online, where I met a community as interested in drawing as myself. It's also where I met my husband!

I decided to take Arts in High School, and that was by far the most clever decision of my life. Not only did my style and preconceptions about art get challenged, but I learned a variety of new things, and met some kick-ass people at the same time.

After High School I started working, instead of studying. I was faced with reality and adulthood and inspiration took a back seat. Way back, it was like it became a bumper sticker on the back of the bus that is my life. I did pick up knitting at this time, because I desperately needed wool socks in my new city. But the art was gone for a long time. Until now.

I've left all thoughts of living off my art behind, starving artist just isn't my style. But I do hope I get to illustrate a book one day. That is my secret little dream.

Knitting

I learned to knit when I was about 6 years old, while I was in after-school. There was an elderly woman there that taught me to knit. Even if she hadn't taken the time to teach me, I would have been taught it later. I grew up in a family where all the women knit, so I've never known that it was possible to not knit. During my teens the knitting was put away and the pencil picked up instead. I was more interested in art for a long while. What brought knitting back into my life was a deep wish to own a pair of Norwegian selbu mittens.

My mum would not knit me a pair. It's not that she can't, but rather that I could do it myself if forced. I had never tried stranded knitting before, so this was something brand new for me. It was not easy, I had to re-learn how to knit on five needles, I frogged the knitting many times and I had to figure out how to hold two strands of yarn at the same time. But i succeeded and the knitting fire had been re-lit!

I'm known at work as the knitting girl. I've overheard people mention me, not knowing my name but referring to me as "that young girl that's always knitting". I'm strangely pleased with that, but it also goes to show just how big a part of my life knitting is. I've even got an emergency kit in my closet at work; one ball of sock yarn and 5 double-point needles. You know, just in case I should forget my knitting at home.

From this post it looks like I only knit stranded, but I don't. I'll show you more of what I'm knitting later, but I update my Ravelry and Instagram frequently.

Spinning wheel

In 2013 I heard about spinning in a modern setting for the first time. I was watching The Knit Girllls' podcast (you should really check them out if you enjoy knitting, spinning or general nerdiness), and that's where I first discovered that this wasn't just a craft of the past. I started checking out norwegian websites and soon found that there was quite the community here as well. Being the nerdy crafter I am, and on the quest to expand my hobby, I set out to learn this. I signed up for a beginner's course at Spinnvilt and my mind was blown. An entirely new world opened up to me, and it was wonderful! It was filled with a whole new understanding of how clothes are made, and just to top it; the community is amazing! I've yet to meet a surly, crabby person. Even when it comes to different opinions on how things should be done, there's no quarreling. For a conflict-shy person like myself that is awfully refreshing.

It didn't take long after that first course before I bought my first spinning wheel (I say first, because there will be more wheels in my future. This hobby has now become a lifestyle.)

It took me a good bit of contemplating, but I ordered the Louet S11 Julia from Spinnvilt, and I've never looked back. It's got double treadle and it's made in birch. It feels sturdy and safe to knit on. The only thing I'm missing is the ability to spin more yardage on it! I can fit 100g/4.oz on it, but I often want to spin more than that in one go. I feel like a new wheel might come my way in the future, not to replace Julia, but to join the family.

Before I got the spinning wheel I bought a spindle to try this out, and to see if I liked spinning enough to spend money on a wheel (because they're not cheap, but definitely worth it). I enjoy the simplicity of spindles, but I'll tell you about that in a later post. 

About setting up

Setting up this blog again has been confusing. The blogosphere is huge, and I've struggled to figure out what I actually wanted to do with mine. I use Instagram regularly, and I follow a lot of great people. But sometimes they post images I want to look closer at, and I just so wish they had a webpage as well where I could look closer at what they share. That's what I want this page to be; an extension of the profile I keep at IG.

For the past 5-8 years my online avatar has been an owl with red glasses. That started in my youth because, apparently I look a bit like an owl according to friends, and I wear big, red glasses. Hence;

I had an idea to change my avatar when I first started refurbishing this blog. So I drew up several sketches for a new owl.

But for now I'm just keeping my avatar and I'll get back to this idea. 

Mainly because I can't decide on any of the above. They're all sweet, but non of them feel like "me"! 

Introduction

Hi! I'm Podam and I'd like to welcome you to my blog. Here I will be sharing some of my interests with you.

I live in Norway, sharing my home with my husband and an immeasurable amount of yarn, wool and fiber. If you've yet to guess; I enjoy knitting and spinning and spend most of my time on that. But once in a while I pick up some old interest that I've only recently returned to; illustrating and writing. I was heavily into this a few years ago, but life happens and inspiration left me. I re-found inspiration in the fiber-world, but lately life has come on track again and my old sketchbooks have started humming my name again.

I hope you will enjoy following me, but if my life isn't interesting to you that's also fine. I'm glad you looked in on me.

I can also be found on Instagram and Ravelry!