New Addiction: Avatar (The Last Airbender)

Just a quick update and some photos: I've finally started watching Avatar - The Last Airbender, which I've been meaning to since about forever. Now my chance came when we (that is my chosen family and I) needed another TV series to watch once a week and the suggestion came up. It's such a lot of fun, and I like how the show incorporates feminist topics by letting some character make comments like "that's not for girls to do" or bringing up silly stereotypes in another way, and then showing how he is really an obnoxious git and letting him deal with the consequences. We've finished season 1 now, and I have already spun two yarns inspired by the series:

Aang

If you've watched the show or google a picture it should be obvious why I chose these colours. The yarn is soft and gorgeous, this time without any add-ins, and it's already listed in the shop.

Kyoshi Warriors

Now, these I liked a lot! A group of women warriors, powerful and witty, fighting with swords and fans. I carded a batt about a week ago and then went to look for fan charms which I really wanted in this yarn. It seemed there were none small enough for my spinning wheel orifice, but I ordered a small (and beautiful) version anyway and was lucky - they fit after all, smoothly.

So, the colour choices are based on the outfits (green, black, gold/yellow) and make-up (red eyeshadow / eye lid painting), and I added some gold sparkle, too. The yarn still needs to dry and I will list it as soon as possible.

The Age of Swords

My latest art yarn was inspired by one of my current favourite metal bands, Skálmöld from Iceland. I hadn't even heard of them until a little more than a year ago, when I saw them live as supporting act of Finntroll, another one of my favourite metal bands. I liked Skálmöld well enough, but it took me another concert to really appreciate them. I saw them again a few weeks back, this time as supporting act of Eluveitie (whom I didn't enjoy as much as I had thought I would, by the way), together with Arkona (another one of my favourite... ;-))

Anyway, I had a lot of fun at the concert, and enjoyed Skálmöld's performance and music immensely. As I am now in the very comfortable position of having an all access account on Google Music, I was able to listen through all their stuff, and I liked them so much I didn't listen to anyone else for a while.

One of my favourite songs is Gleipnir, and I found a version with lyrics so it's also interesting (and less gruesome than the official video for this song):


As with many things I care about, I just had to spin a yarn ;-)

Skálmöld translates as Age of Swords, and refers to the Sturlung Era and their civil war in 13th century Iceland, and their songs are inspired by mythology and sagas. This all pretty much influenced my colour and add-in choices: I chose to represent Iceland's black lava and white snow, and the age of swords did call for blood red and skulls and swords.

I think it's always a little difficult with themes like this, and with skulls and swords, as I don't condone violence and much less want to glorify it. Please see this strictly in a fantasy/mythology/saga context.

Knitted Art Yarns: Frozen-themed & Harry Potter Art Yarn Advent Calendar

Helloooo, and happy new year, dear friends! :-)

I have new, wonderful photos to show to you. Look at what Max made from two icy art yarns (Ice Princess and a custom yarn inspired by Elsa from Frozen) and from the whole Harry Potter art yarn advent calendar!

Max knitted beautiful Ice Princess sleeves and an Elsa shrug for her two daughters who were very taken with the movie Frozen:

 

Max and her older daughter shared the Harry Potter art yarn advent calendar and made this absolutely fantastic scarf from the whole calendar:

Thank you for all the lovely photos, Max! I enjoyed looking through them immensely, and I am so glad you and Iris had fun with the advent calendar :-)