I have recently finished the first 100 countries of my Knit the World Project! I started with Afghanistan and finished with Guernsey. Afghanistan is the bottom right-hand corner. I added on a square a day for each country in alphabetical order, working right to left, bottom to top. I have started on my second portion of the project with Haiti about a week ago. The first 100 squares got quite heavy (the piece is about 5 by 5 feet) and so it’s nice to start a new segment of the next 101-200 countries. In all, there are 257 countries (although some are territories and uninhabited islands and it’s a bit of a stretch to call them countries…but they are still classified as such). I will keep you posted as I continue to knit my way across the world!
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Amy Eisenfeld Genser is an amazing sculptural paper artist. In her own words: “the sources of my work are textures, patterns, and grids. I look for forms that can be repeated to create a pattern when they are joined. My work tries to capture the essence of an experience or an image I have seen. I often look to the natural world for inspiration. I am fascinated by the flow of water, the organization of beehives, and the organic irregularity of plants, flowers, rock formations, barnacles, moss, and seaweed. Aerial views of our landscape can also be compelling; it is interesting how the organization of our landscape becomes quilt-like when viewed from above.”
“White Undulation”
“Black White Squares”
“Big Sea Glass”
I have just finished knitting my latest Knitted Journey, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I visited this most magical place in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on Lake Superior in June 2008. It’s about 35 miles of steep cliffs with colors so wild in places, it looks like someone took different colors of paints and splattered them. There are also numerous caves, coves and unusual formations. The lake itself was a deep teal. There were trees growing on the tops of the cliffs, punctuating the blue sky. I took a boat tour which went along the side of the rocks. I was really lucky because just as we returned, some heavy fog rolled in and all tours afterwards were cancelled.
The next day, I explored the interior of the park which has beautiful forests and waterfalls. I tried to capture the various colors and textures of my trip in my knitting. The “spots” in the one section are representations of some of the sea caves. Also pictured are a few photos that I took of the actual place.
This was my last day in Chicago. I first went to Gethsemane Gardens, a beautiful flower and plant shop on Clark street. There were all kinds of beautiful flowers in a bright rainbow of colors. Then I went to Village Discount Outlet, one of my favorite thrift stores. Lastly, I stopped in Graceland Cemetery, which was beautifully landscaped, almost like a botanical garden. The lilacs were in bloom and I walked around some of the graves for Chicago’s most historic figures. Drove down Lake Shore Drive one last time and saw the lake…this day it was quiet and still. Left Chicago, driving through marshland, forests and eventually farms.
On this day, I took my mom to Oak Park. We drove through a diversity of neighborhoods in Chicago: first affluent with large gardens and then through industrial, low-income areas with signs in bright colors, especially red and yellow. We walked around Oak Park to see the various Frank Lloyd Wright houses. Predominant colors were brick, tan, pine, olive, lemon, chocolate, cream, terra cotta, mustard, spruce and slate. On the way home, drove by Lake Michigan which was much more calm (no waves) and various flowering trees on the shore.
Visit to Evanston. Green lawns and sandy beaches. Later took a walk along Lake Michigan from Gross Point Lighthouse, through the Northwestern University Campus and into town. Large boulders along the shore in the campus, many painted with elaborate murals, graffiti, etc. Amazing views of the Chicago skyline. Was happy to walk along a section of the lake I had never done before and to experience it in a new way.
I made up this recipe recently and wanted to share it!
Ingredients:
1 cup of quinoa
several cups of chopped broccoli
1 T olive oil
4-5 ounces crumbled gorgonzola cheese
1/4 c hazelnuts
juice of 1 lemon
several tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro
Cook the quinoa in about 1 1/4 c water for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, steam brocoli until it is tender but not soft. Then combine quinoa, brocoli and the rest the ingredients and mix well. Can eat hot or cold. 4 servings.
my visit to the Art Institute of Chicago to see the modern architecture (mainly white). The views of the metallic space age sculptures and structures of Millenium Park. Many artworks of rainbow colors, (including Impressionist paintings in muted pastels. A beautiful garden of white tulips in bloom surrounding the Watertower. Still very windy so waves were very choppy in the lake.
April 4, 2012: my drive to Chicago with large areas of greenery, the redbud trees in bloom on the highway, the glittering Chicago skyline, the windy shoreline with huge waves and my sleep test (all wired up!)
I was in Chicago from April 4-8, 2012. I documented my trip in knitting, from the drive up from Champaign and up to the return drive home. I will describe each day in detail. This is the overall piece. I have knitted Lake Michigan 4 different times here…it played a big role in this trip. But there are many other things, too: flowers, gardens, the Art Institute, architecture, my sleep study, urban decay, Frank Lloyd Wright, Evanston, etc.
