Little Stories are posts where I share odds and ends from my life and my atelier. Since I missed making posts in October and November, I will share two Little Stories back to back. While I am working on large projects, I like to keep a few small projects handy. When I need a break, I switch over to the small ones. Specially when I am stuck on a project, taking a break and going back to it after a while helps me see it from a new perspective. Before we continue with the adventures of The Girl And Her Cat, let me share a few small finishes with you.
A “little” decision
I have a small announcement to make. Last month, I have officially closed my Etsy shop. With all the recent seller policy changes over at Etsy, I felt like I was losing my identity as an artist there.
Ever since I opened my shop here at the website in 2020, you gave me the confidence to make this decision with your continuing support and purchases from my shop here.
Most importantly, I can keep in touch with you more directly. I always enjoy the interaction that I have with you here.
So, from now on, this is the only place where I will sell my quilt patterns, cards, prints and journals. Thank you so much for continuing to purchase from my shop here. It means a lot to me.
A little warmth
I really like Thea Colman’s knitting patterns at Ravelry. They are beautiful and very well written. This one looks intricate but it is an extremely easy cable pattern to follow. I made this one with extra long ribbing, so my husband’s ears will be covered completely and keep him warm when we travel to cold places in winter months, which is something we do often.
The yarn came from Shropshire. We were meandering around the small villages there when I happened to spot a small yarn shop. I was looking for some English wool. The lady at the shop was so helpful. With her help I got three skeins of this 100% Bluefaced Leicester wool, reared, sheared and spun in Yorkshire. The yarn is wonderful to knit with and softened as I knitted with it.
The combination of the pattern and the yarn made for such an enjoyable knit, and the smile on my husband’s face made it extra special.
A little drawing
Last December, we were visiting one of my favourite places in the Sierra mountains. I wasn’t in much of a mood for gallivanting around the mountainside this time. I saw a tree outside the cabin window with its wild-looking trunk and branches. It was so peaceful to sit by the window-side and a warm fire, sipping hot chocolate and drawing the time away.
I probably will paint this one day as part of a landscape, but for now it is a finished drawing in my sketchbook.
Little bookmarks
Specially since I started book making, the amount of scrap paper I have lying about has increased. They are too small for any significant project, but not small enough that I can toss them in the recycling bin without feeling guilty. I use them for playing with colours. Recently I started making little 1″ x 4″ mini bookmarks out of them. The four botanical ones went to their new homes. I have the flying birds at home now. They are all painted using Van Gogh watercolour on leftover papers from the pocket journals available in my shop.
A little Girl and Her Cat
I have of course also been painting in my little 3″ x 4″ blue books. Here are some more of the adventures of The Girl And Her Cat from the Wandering Pages book. Please click on the image thumbnails to see the pictures and read about their wanderings –
Wandering Pages has all the paintings that I have shared from this little book so far.
Do you also work on small projects alongside large ones? Or are you a one-project-at-a-time kind of person?
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.
45 thoughts on “Little Stories – Small Finishes”
Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs December 19, 2021 at 09:39
Wow, you are so creative! I just love your bookmarks, so pretty.
Thank you so much for sharing with #MMBC. Hope to see you again! :)
Kim December 11, 2021 at 22:51
There is always magic outside a window, to capture your imagination; especially when drinking hot chocolate. Love the flying birds bookmark and your husband’s hat is gorgeous. Such pretty wool and pattern. It is always a joy to gaze upon paintings of the girl and her cat. Actually, Soma, it is always a joy see all of your creative endeavours. As for working on several projects at any one given time…..I plead guilty. =)
RachelSwirl December 11, 2021 at 10:25
You are so so very talented – I wish I had your skills. Thank you for sharing and for linking up with #MySundaySnapshot.
Michelle December 10, 2021 at 18:39
I’m so glad your shop here is doing well. I closed my Etsy shop too. I didn’t like the vibe. As for projects, I usually have 2 or 3 going at least – jewelry, quilting, crocheting. I can work on one while I mull another.
Michelle
Debbie December 10, 2021 at 07:30
gorgeous bookmakers, they are just too beautiful!! but my favorite is the hat, that is one gorgeous hat…i am a knitter too!!
Janine @ Rainbow Hare December 9, 2021 at 11:30
I love your little girl and her cat story and pictures. Perfect for a winter evening, which it is here now :)
I also think your bookmarks are very nice (and a a great use of those paper scraps) and I really like your husband’s hat. You have knitted it beautifully and the yarn looks just right for that pattern :)
Lisa | Handmade in Israel December 9, 2021 at 01:28
Your bookmarks are delightful and I love the view you are sketching. As a Yorkshire girl, I am happy to see you using Yorkshire wool :)
sallie rainville December 8, 2021 at 10:46
You are multi-talented and everything you create is just beautiful. Those bookmarks certainly do not look as if they were made out of “leftovers” — they are tiny works of art.
Lillian December 7, 2021 at 14:47
What a fascinating picktures, thank you for showing me …
Angie December 6, 2021 at 21:15
Soma – I am always working on small projects, which is my large projects take decades! (wink) Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!
Andrée December 6, 2021 at 19:11
Hi Soma, your husband’s knitted hat, the sketch, bookmarks and the Girl and the Cat are really great. I always have many projects on the go. Usually I’m good with picking them up and eventually getting them done but I seem to be in a bit of a funk now. At least I can keep doing my slow stitching – I have lot of those projects and they are mindless, which is what I need now. Take care.
image-in-ing weeklly photo linky December 6, 2021 at 14:18
Very cool! You have a gift which I’d love to have, but we all have our niches…
Thanks for sharing at
Fun60 December 6, 2021 at 11:55
Each page in those books is a work of art. A real treasure.
Sam December 6, 2021 at 11:34
Them paintings are stunning x #mysundaysnapshot
Bill December 6, 2021 at 10:35
My wife does some serious knitting at home marketing both of us humourers and some for friends. Se is also quite an artist when she puts her mind to it.Love the bookmarks
Kim Carberry December 5, 2021 at 10:10
That is a shame about your Etsy shop but it sounds like the best decision.
What a cosy looking hat, just what we need at the moment with the weather so cold.
Carol December 5, 2021 at 01:40
Your creativity is always so amazing to me. I love your stories and paintings. A visit to your blog always gives me a warm feeling. Thanks for sharing so much of your self. I think having your own store as part of the blog is a good decision. Wishing you a blessed holiday season.
Sarah MumofThree World December 4, 2021 at 22:47
That sounds like you’ve made the right decision about Etsy. Good luck with it all!
Your paintings of the Girl and the Cat are beautiful, as ever.
Veronica Lee December 4, 2021 at 18:38
I enjoyed the adventures of The Girl And Her Cat. Loved the cute dragon too.
Happy Sunday, Soma.
Alan December 4, 2021 at 17:35
You are so creative. I love how you are in tune with what is going on in your life.
I love wool and yarn and am still amazed that yarn shops let people look for free. The variety of colors and textures is amazing. One of these days I may learn how to knit.
I toast you and your fellow artists and makers for enriching our life.
A ShutterBug Explores December 4, 2021 at 10:05
this may be a repeat of a sort ~ (commented before but it went through as a duplicate )
All your work is wonderful and glad you are venturing out on your own ~ you will do well ~ now the gorgeous knitted hat too! Xo
Happy Days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Luisella December 4, 2021 at 06:28
Your bookmarks are lovely, and so is the woolen cap.
Stay safe and warm!
Eileen December 4, 2021 at 01:50
Hello Soma,
I really enjoy the series of the Girl and her Cat. The dragon is cool and I love the Owl. Your hat is beautiful, the wool sounds soft and warm.
Pretty collection of bookmarks, flying bird is my favorite. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend! PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
NatureFootstep December 4, 2021 at 00:23
that was a crooked little tree. Glad you shared the photo of it. People mostly paint straight, tall trees :):)’
Love your bookmarks.
Connie Griffin December 3, 2021 at 19:38
the hat you made is wonderful, I love the pattern in it and sounds like you found some great wool at the shop.
I love the idea of making drawings of places you have traveled and then color them later, making of great memories.
I have a lot of snippets that are leftover after making cards, using them for bookmarks is a great idea :)
Your story is coming along great, I love the way you draw water and tree scenes!
Kathyinozarks December 3, 2021 at 19:22
Hi, I enjoy seeing your art-lovely pages and bookmarks Happy weekend Kathy
jean marmo December 3, 2021 at 16:24
Such gorgeous pieces! Love the sea monster and the little girl and cat. Happy PPF!
Tammy A December 3, 2021 at 14:33
Gorgeous artwork Soma! I love that blue Dragon and the one where the girl and cat encounter the snow owl, so cute!! Love your knitted hat too! I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs, Tammy
Alison Hall December 3, 2021 at 14:27
The hat looks lovely and cosy Soma. Beautiful art as always.
Have a great weekend.
Alison
Susan December 3, 2021 at 12:48
Gorgeous hat. It looks so warm and cozy. Love the bookmarks. When I saw the girl and her cat pictures, I wondered whether the dragon was going to be friendly or not. I chose friendly since it wasn’t breathing fire. :’)
Linda Calverley December 3, 2021 at 12:03
Lovely paintings and hat. I have a small head so perhaps I should try knitting something like that but make it shorter.
Gillena Cox December 3, 2021 at 10:31
Luv the bookmarks best.
Happy PPF
Muchlove
Linda K December 3, 2021 at 10:25
I love seeing your lovely paintings- even the bookmarks are so sweet. You are an inspiration Soma. happy PPF!
Wendy K December 3, 2021 at 08:37
Love all the paintings in your little book.
Valerie-Jael December 3, 2021 at 01:24
So much beautiful art, Soma, hard to choose a fave, I love them all! Happy PPF, hugs, Valerie
riitta k December 3, 2021 at 00:48
I love your stories about the girl and her cat ❤️ The dragon looks so friendly and cute. You should publish a fairytale book about them. Wishing you cosy December days.
BLOGitse December 2, 2021 at 23:21
What a long, beautiful post. Now I need an espresso :)
Christine December 2, 2021 at 21:43
Enjoyed your art and post today, good that you don’t need etsy.
Sue December 2, 2021 at 21:13
The woollen beanie is beautiful and has special meaning being English wool for the Englishman!! Your book marks are beautiful Soma and I always enjoy the adventures of the little girl and the cat.
The Joyful Quilter December 2, 2021 at 17:47
Gorgeous hat, Soma!! Those little bookmarks are darling. I especially like those two on the left! :o))
Mary December 2, 2021 at 15:35
Your warm knitted hat is beautiful with those pretty colors and perfect cables. The little bookmarks are such a great idea for those small pieces. I always love following the adventures of the girl and her cat. Lovely work.
Karen December 2, 2021 at 13:42
I love the book marks that you included in my order, very handy as well as colorful. I love the painting you show the trees – birches perhaps – top row 3rd painting- lovely. I work on too many projects at once which is why it takes kind of long to finish things at times but I need variety and get bored easily
Dixie December 2, 2021 at 12:17
Love The Girl and her Cat paintings.
Wonderful warm hat. I wondered what Bluefaced Leicester wool was like.
It sounds wonderful to knit with.
Congratulations on running your very own shop too!
Lavender Dreams December 2, 2021 at 11:36
I love the pretty bookmarks and your art with the little girl! I’m working in my junk journals and really feeling creative! Enjoy your week!
Amy Johnson December 2, 2021 at 05:54
Your bookmarks are so beautiful. Love the hat. And those pages, wow! Incredible. Love the one of the sea monster.