My Doctor Who Scarf Projects

A few years ago, one of my best friends introduced me to Doctor Who and the 4th Doctor's scarf, one of the show's iconic accessories. In the autumn of 2013, I decided to learn how to knit, and my friend kindly pestered me about knitting the 12 foot long scarf for him. In January of 2015, I finally did. Since then, I have made a test scarf for myself, an improved one for him, two commissions for friends, a custom blue version for my crazy uncle, an Etsy commission, a custom edition for my little sister (the width is two stitches narrower than the original), and the season 18 "red" scarf.

 Each scarf took between twelve days and four weeks to complete. I was ridiculously excited for the first one. I basically only stopped to eat and sleep between Christmas Eve and mid January. The fastest was the most recent original.

 The first day the scarf on the left was delivered, it weathered snow, twigs, sawdust, and sweat. Since then it has stretched to 14 feet and visited several states. The scarf on the right is mine. It has gone from 10 feet to 10 and a half feet and has seen less travel. Another difference between the scarves is that my scarf used a green yarn that was discontinued before I was able to stock up for the other scarves. The latter green was worsted, which assisted in most of the second scarf's expansion.

 My first commission! I met the recipient of my third scarf and nerded out with her about the show and all the places this scarf would visit. Her's also sports the later, more vibrant green.

 The blue version was my favorite challenge. I searched craft stores including JoAnn fabrics, Michael's, A.C.Moore, and Hobby Lobby for weeks before finding the perfect combination of six blues and one complimentary gray. The pattern is the same as the original except with eight tassels instead of the recommended ten.

 This was taken the day I completed the first project, before I even put the tassels on. It measured ten and a half feet, shorter than expected because I accidentally used the wrong gauge needles.
The scarf project has been the theme of my year, so far taking up about six months. I've learned a lot about patience and dedication in the process. Investing in the yarn, tools, and time was a commitment almost as big as my part-time job earlier this year.

My last project this year was the "red" scarf from season 18. Before stretching, it measured 13'6'' long, 10'' wide. I knitted it in 2 and a half weeks using acrylic yarn. It took another week and a half to put the ends in, crochet the edging, and put all 42 tassels on. My sister looks like the Doctor's companion, Tegan, so she did the modeling for me.

The Friendship Poet - Interview

Recently, Ophelia-Marie Flowers (who I've mentioned before) published her third book of poetry! Entitled "Colored Highlights and Drifting Shadows ~ Friendship's Moments", Ophelia's book covers many aspects of the wonderful and changing world of friends that she inhabits. I had the honor of being included in this book and now I'd like to return the favor and showcase Ophelia and her work here for all of you.

1. What is your book about?

"This book is about friendship, in its varies forms and changes.
'Friendship is full of highlights and shadows. Sometimes it is bright and joyful as we learn, build trust, grow, and laugh together. Other times it is dark and confusing as we get hurt, question, change and sometimes even break apart.
In many ways, friendship changes who we are - the way we view the world, how we live, what we reach for, and who we trust. It is a reminder of our fallen nature - It is an even greater reminder that we are not meant to walk alone.
This book of poetry, quotes, and scripture explores both the joys and pains bound in friendship, and seeks to share many of the lessons we learn from each other.'"

2. Who inspired you to publish your works?

 "J. Grace Pennington inspired me when I was about sixteen years old to publish my writing. She was and is a big encouragement to me, and having her faith in me really pushed me to pursue publishing. You know those type of people you just right-off- the-bat look up to? Grace was that to me... She has been a precious friend and inspiration for several years now.  She also taught me to appreciate, and then love, free-verse poetry."

3. Of the poems in your most recent book, which is your favorite and why?

"The poem, "A Day With You" was written to my best friend. It chronicles a normal weekend at her home, and captures to me the love and joy I feel with her family. When I read it, I remember the wonderful times spent with her. We've been friends since I was about 8, and I have many fond memories of our times together over the years."

4. Does music help or harm your creative process? If it helps, what music?

"If it is free-verse, music can help me get in the mood. I actually have created a Youtube playlist with a few songs about friendship.
When I write poetry that rhymes I often end up with tunes in my head that help me with the rhythm. If that is the case, listening to outside source music can be distracting and make me lose my beat."

5. Where can people find out more about your writing and books?

"I am hosting a giveaway on my blog, and more details are there. :)"
Here is a picture of the giveaway prizes:

I am so thankful for my friendship with this talented young lady. Her passion for God, writing, and dragons have brought us close and I pray we remain so throughout our lives. You rock, ZA! <3

Ghosts and Glory

Sometimes I look in the mirror and I can see the ghosts I've been trying to get rid of. It hurts to see all that progress break apart in those little moments where my regret peeks out. It frowns at me and ventures a little further out until I'm frowning too. The longer I look, the more the memory spreads across my face onto my whole attitude and pretty soon I've lost all my hard work and I'm left at square one, face to face with the me I used to be.
 

This look, where my eyes darken and the smile slips away, it speaks to my brain, whispers to my heart. It lies to me again and again. It tells me I never should have tried to be strong. It tries to convince me that my convictions don't matter and that I wrecked every chance I had at a happy life. It stalks my emotions and pokes my fear, my longing, my discontent, and desire.

Regret grabs ahold of my sadness and drags it to the forefront. "See this?!" It asks. "This represents the fun you could have had if you weren't so stuck-up and righteous." Then It throws my sadness to the darkness and pulls out my loneliness. It dangles it in front of my face and sneers, "See here? This is that suitor you could have had if you weren't so picky!" This too, It tosses aside. Reaching farther into my heart, Regret reminds me of my failures. "This is quite a pile of sin you have here. What would happen if it was all uncovered and put on display? Where would you be then?"

It sits on the corner of a box of tears and taps a puddle that has formed on the ground. "You could have spared yourself all these tears. Look at them: what good did they do you? Just a lot of worthless sorrow."

Then It sits quietly, watching my back stoop with the weight of my regrets. It's content for now; I'm defeated, clawing at my heart, begging to feel anything other than this crippling agony.

There are long seconds of silence around me, but in my head are playbacks of every conversation where my view of right conflicted with the way I wanted to live. I'm reminded of every time I justified a step backward. Little excuses that brought me further away from purity and closer to pain. They flit in and out of my subconscious, dancing in my peripheral brain.

One by one they fade away. They've had their fun and now I'm on my hands and knees, struggling to breathe. I fight against Regret, but not for the reasons that It shoves in my face. It would have me believe that these pleasures on Earth are all I live for, all I fight for. But it's wrong. That's not why I'm here.

This realization, this thought, how am I even capable of thinking it? Here I am at the end of my rope and I'm reminded of the reason I stopped falling. I stopped giving in and I spoke from the Spirit. All my slipping and sliding was wrong. All my decisions to embrace this world were corrosive. With strength I cannot describe, I fought against my self. I made a choice, and I chose right instead of me. I said goodbye to fear, longing, discontent, and desire. I said goodbye to sadness and loneliness. I chose joy and hope instead. I embraced holiness and purity. I was given peace and I clung to it with every strength endowed. I called wisdom my sister and grace my companion. And every day I must choose these things again.

Every day I must lift up my pain to the Father and request His gift of forgiveness. Without Him, I am dead, swallowed in pity and buried in hate. With my God in Heaven, I am unstoppable. I am not of this world. I am a stranger, learning to trust my King and rely on His power and give Him glory day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, fall and rise, temptation and victory, sin and salvation.

Regret watched from a distance as all my convictions regained their footing in my heart and mind. It watched them rise up as an army led by a trustworthy Leader, and It disappeared. The light came back into my eyes and my mouth regained serenity. Ghosts like to think they have power. They pick and choose their weapons carefully, but they are no match for the One who created the universe. My God is holding on to me tighter than I can hold on to anything in this life.