The Family Patch

My Big Crochet-A-Long (with tutorials!)

Oooh, you have no idea how I have been fighting the urge to post about this new venture since I agreed to do it about a month ago...

As of this week, I now write a blog on iVillage.co.uk called Community Craft Corner.

That's me, right there, with my picture next to the intro. How exciting!

Each month I am going to be producing a new video tutorial, introducing a new stitch or technique and helping you learn the basics of crochet. And every new skill will be accompanied by a pattern or project to work up. It's a big "crochet-a-long", and I do hope you'll pop over and have a go, sharing your photos of finished projects on the Craft and Hobbies board. 

But it's not just about crochet! Oh no, I am a lover of all things handmade and shall be producing weekly posts showcasing the best things I have found through the month, interviewing other crafters and bloggers, and even bringing in the odd competition or two.

So, why not pop along and have a look. There's a video and everything!

And keep your eyes peeled here at The Patch too, because I'm going to be leaving little snippets and photos of all the things I'm up to as the month progresses.

 

Never Too Young For Art!

When I worked in childcare, I thought it was mad that we were expected to do "arts and crafts" on a weekly basis with the babies from such a young age. Trying to get a 5 month old to offer up their hand or foot to be painted seemed crazy, and as for sticking bits of scrunched up tissue paper on to card, well that was just beyond mad!

So maybe I'm crazy too, because I had the wackiest idea the other day. I thought, "hmmmm, Oscar is a bit grumpy today, let's try doing some painting for daddy."

Now, Oscar has only just turned 6 months old, and although usually a very good natured child, he was having a particularly bad day because of teething. So why I thought painting would soothe him I don't know. But it did have the unexpected effect of bemusing him so much he forget to grizzle!

I stripped him down to just his nappy, sat him in front of me on a splashproof playmat, and placed some paper in front of him.

I decided to use the face paints we bought when I was pregnant (for bump painting) because I thought that was going to be the most friendly type of paint for his delicate skin. 

I tried painting his hands first, but he wasn't giving them up. He was far more interested in trying to screw up and eat the paper! So we painted his feet instead...

Oh, painting those gorgeous (big) feet of his, and seeing the paint squidge between his toes made me smile. He is ticklish on the soles of his feet, so he wriggled and jiggled about, and wasn't hugely impressed when I stood him up to make him stand up on the paper and make his footprint. But I'm sure he'll get the hang of it and learn to love messy times like this soon enough.

I cannot wait until the summer months when it is warm enough to take him outside, lay him on the splashproof mat in just his nappy, and let him go wild with all sorts of things. I plan on letting him explore the taste and texture of things like baked beans, rice pudding, jelly and custard once the weather is warm enough. I love messy play, just not on my carpet!!

But for now, we'll just enjoy the few moments we get to explore the paper indoors. After all, Oscar seemed to like that the best...

 

Endometriosis Giveaway Reminder

Just a reminder that the above totebag/hotwater bottle cozy and purse are still up for grabs, but the giveaway will be ending soon.

All you have to do is leave a comment on the blog or follow me on twitter and retweet my tweet that says "Want to #win a handmade totebag and hot water bottle cozy, while raising awareness for #Endometriosis? Then RT this (http://t.co/ilVzR5o)"

Easy!

So come on, what are you waiting for?

For more info on the giveaway, check out the original post

Life at the Patch - 33 weeks

It feels like forever since I wrote last week's "Life at the Patch" update. The combination of getting heavier, sleeping less and becoming impatient has meant that time seems to be dragging once more. A week still doesn't feel quite as long as it did at the beginning of the pregnancy when my Hyperemesis was at its worst, but suddenly reaching our due date 7 weeks from now feels so far away again.

Perhaps it is because having finally sorted out the nursery, washed all the baby's clothes, put the cot up and ordered the mattress, I now feel ready for the little man to be here. There isn't much more to do other than wait. My hospital bag is packed, my next midwife appointment is booked and I am waddling around the house wondering just when the little one might decide to come and just how long I have left. Will he come a couple of weeks early, or will he be late? Do I actually still have another 9 weeks to go? 

So it's been great to occupy my mind with other things. And one of those things has been crochet.

I've had the pattern for this little bassinette for months and yet only just felt confident enough in my skill to have a go. Ever since discovering Ravelry I have been more adventurous with my attempts. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but I'm having fun anyway. 

And it's perfect timing really as I have several people I want to make things for over the coming months, and doing so develops my skill so that hopefully I'll have some even better results by the time Christmas rolls around and people will actually receive gifts rather than apologies that I just didn't have the time to complete them. Is it too early to talk about Christmas? I'm guessing not seeing as though once the baby is born I am sure time will whizz by me so fast that Christmas will have been and gone before I've caught my breath!

I'm still enjoying the little projects that work up quickly, although I am still slightly unsure how the lilac hat turned out bigger than the pink one when I made them one after the other, using the same pattern, same size hook and very similar yarn. Both were DK weight, but I guess something in the material made a difference. I still have so much to learn!

But, the more I do the more I realise the theory behind crochet. Up until this point I have simply followed patterns and looked online for the instructions for stitches I've never worked before. I loved what I could produce but had no idea how the designs were made. But working on several patterns recently I have begun to bridge that gap in my knowledge and realised that all it needs is a bit of thinking, a bit of maths, and just a tiny bit more patience than I sometimes have!

It started when I was making up a pattern for some fingerless gloves/wristwarmers and realised the pattern I was making was far too big for my wrists (I have tiny wrists). So after some thinking and playing around I realised how to make the pattern smaller by taking out the correct number of stitches on the foundation chain. This was what taught me that the patterns are essentially mathematical in design, working on repeats and multiplication of said repeats to gain the correct size and shape. I was always good at maths but always found it very boring, so it's nice to find that I can actually use it for something other than my weekly budget!

(Remind me I need to show you a photo of the gloves/wristwarmers!)

Anyway, with that aspect of crochet design firmly implanted in my head and a wealth of new stitches and techniques being presented with each new pattern I tried, I found myself planning first changes to the patterns (like making a thumb hole for the wristwarmers). And before I knew it, I tried my hand at making my very own pattern when I couldn't find what I wanted. 

As I'm totally new to this, I have sent the pattern to my "crochet guru" for guidance, but I hope to share it with you soon. For now, let me show you my first attempt, which will be ok for my little man but was not quite right. 

I stole the initial part of the design from the pattern for the hats I shared earlier on. This helped me gain the right size for the hat. But then I was on my own, hooking (and unhooking) the motif as I worked my way down the rows. Like I say, the motif didn't quite work out right and I re-worked it once I had the rest of the pattern clear in my head and promise to share the end result with you later in the week.

But I cannot begin to tell you just how proud I was to have finally made that step from what I call my "passing interest" in crochet into what I deem to be quite an addiction. My stash of yarn that I have had for years is now half the size it once was and I am sure it will be all but gone by the time the baby gets here, so I think I shall be needing some more. How exciting! I hope you won't get too sick of my crochet enthusiasm because I have a feeling it is here to stay.

And talking of crochet, don't forget to enter this week's giveaway to win the totebag/hot water bottle cozy and purse that my crochet guru Jen created especially for you, my readers. Find out all the details here. 

Endometriosis Awareness: free crochet pattern and giveaway!

Good Morning!

Today I have a real treat for you. My "crochet guru" Jen has kindly created a very special crochet pattern that I'm sure you'll love as much as I do.

I'll let Jen explain the pattern herself, but please don't just "skip" this post if you're not a crocheter. The pattern is actually remarkably simple once you understand the basics and I shall be having a go at it myself once I get some yellow yarn. And even if you are absolutely certain you'll never pick up a crochet hook, you could still get a hold of the end product, courtesy of Jen's generosity and a little giveaway we have planned. So read on and all will be revealed...

I’ve known Amanda since she was a teenager. It seems pretty incredible now that the only time we actually met in person was a luncheon in Glastonbury in 2006. 

The world of online community brings people together in a way they never could before. Where else could the inquiring mind of a middle aged American woman with a family meet the inquiring mind of an English university student under circumstances in which they become friends? Seriously, I ask you?! It’s an amazing thing, and even more amazing now that she is married (hi Tim!) and expecting a son soon. (I, on the other hand, am still a middle aged American woman!)

But I digress! It’s not only inquiring minds that Amanda and I share, we share a love for crafting. Between us, we’ve shared ideas, recipes, patterns and tips. I’ve used her as an excuse to try my hand at projects like the beaded Dream Tree...

...the crocheted cabled Tree of Life afghan...

...and to create the best mix cd of love songs EVER.

I’ve felt helpless though in sharing her journey through endometriosis. While I could offer moral support, it upset me to see the physical, emotional and mental pain it’s brought to her over the years. We’ve all felt it, wanting to fix something for someone who is suffering… it’s very difficult to feel helpless isn’t it?

Normally when I am feeling helpless, I practice ‘random acts of kindness’ and they help me feel more connected not only to the ‘family of man’, but to my own priorities. I help the old woman at the grocery to reach her favorite jam on the top shelf (I’m tall, it happens). I pick up someone’s tab at a restaurant (very rewarding, you should try it!). I spend a day picking up trash at the lake (you’d be surprised how other people join in). These little extensions of myself fill me up in a way nothing else can.

Then, Amanda had an idea! Her idea is to combine my love of crafting, and crocheting in particular, with the cause of endo awareness. Brilliant! So, here we are… I created this hot water bottle cozy with a yellow awareness ribbon, in hopes it will not only bring awareness but comfort to a woman in pain. 

The exact same pattern can also be used to make a tote bag, and I’ve included a pattern for a small pocket purse for carrying personal items as well (because you know we all do!).

When Amanda asked me about it, I spent a couple of days simmering with ideas. I decided on this “illusion crochet” ribbon not only because it’s cool, but because it is symbolic of hidden issues, and the work so many are doing to bring them to light. If you look at it one way, it’s simply striped...

but change your perspective a little and the ribbon appears.

You can find the free pattern here. I wrote it with beginner crocheters in mind so don’t let the look intimidate you if it is a new technique. If you get stuck you can reach me through my blog with questions.

We’ve also come up with a way for you to win this one from me! (Amanda will fill in the details)

The process of creating these items reminds me that we don’t have to move mountains to make a difference, we just have to make an effort to share our gifts as they are… when we all come together and contribute in our own way, those mountains will begin to move themselves!

So, do you fancy being in with the chance of winning an awareness tote bag/hot water bottle cozy and purse?  Can you picture yourself receiving all of this in the post?

 

I can tell you from experience that receiving a package from Jen is a true pleasure. So what are you waiting for? 

As this is designed to raise Endometriosis Awareness, you need to spread the word in order to be in with a chance of winning this giveaway. 

How to enter: 

1. Leave a comment on this blog post saying what you like about the pattern, whether you'll be trying it out, and why you'd like to win this giveaway.

AND/OR

2. Follow me on twitter using the handle @amandaspatch and then retweet my tweet that says "Want to #win a handmade totebag and hot water bottle cozy, while raising awareness for #Endometriosis? Then RT this"

The giveaway will close on Friday at midnight GMT, any entries after that will not be counted. The winner will be contacted by email, so please be sure to leave your email address when leaving a blog comment (this will not be visible on the blog itself). The winner will be officially announced on Monday next week and the items shipped as soon as I have received the postal address of said winner. 

I am extending the closing date for this as there has been very little interest this week and I want to give people a chance to see it and take part. A new "end date" will be confirmed later on, so for now, why not have a go?!

Good Luck!

I hope that makes sense, any questions just ask. 

***************************************************

For more information, help or support, please consider visiting the following websites:

Endometriosis UK

SHE Trust UK

The Joys of Crochet

I'm sure some of you remember me introducing you to my "Crochet Guru" earlier on in the year. Well, Jen is back with a post on just why she loves crochet so much. Take it away, Jen!

Amanda and I have chatted about many crafting projects over the years but none so much as crochet. She calls me her crochet guru, but really it’s because I’m old and have been crocheting for about as long as she’s been alive! There are few crochet questions I can’t answer after all this time, but it’s just the voice of experience.

That said – crochet is not just for Grandma’s! It’s all the rage in high fashion right now, and it not just about making doilies and dishcloths.

I enjoy crochet because it keeps my hands busy... while my mind is focusing on other things. When I need to think things through, I pick up the crochet. When I can’t sleep, I pick up the crochet. When my husband is watching the same show for the 79th time, I pick up the crochet. Do you have something you like to do when you need to settle your mind?

One of the things I really love about crocheting is how emotionally rewarding it can be. I love projects that make someone smile. It might be a silly hat, using special colors or characters, or simply surprising someone with a gift. (Just don’t ask me about my collection of Harry Potter related items!)

I tend to have especially silly fun making hats. I’ve made “Cutie Pies”

 

Star Wars villains

and matching squirrel hats for the two silliest nuts I know.

But I’ve also made someone’s day by making prayer shawls for sick or troubled friends

and cold weather items for the local homeless shelter.

I’ve also had incredible moments reaching out to new mothers when my grandsons were born. The first time, the nurses introduced me to a new mother whose own mom had passed away. I was able to stop in and chat for a while, representing Grammas in general, presenting the blanket and my good wishes. The second time, the nurses asked me if they could give the blanket to a baby in the intensive care unit who was not expected to survive. They told me it would mean a lot to the girl’s parents to wrap her in something pretty and so full of love. I never got to meet that family, but I know that was a gift worth giving. 

It puts things in perspective to reach out to others. There’s nothing better than knowing you brought a little sunshine into someone’s cloudy day. What do you like to do to cheer someone?

I’ve also discovered that I can make my own day with crochet. This shrug is so soft and sparkly it perks me up every time I wear it.

And my new supersized leafy shawl may be my most favorite project ever.

Sometimes, we need to nurture ourselves so we can better nurture those around us.

So, pick up that project, take up the new hobby… you never know where it will take you.

Recently though, I received the greatest praise of my crocheting career. My five year old grandson asked me for a blue dragon toy.

The next time he visited his dragon was patiently waiting. He ran over, scooped up the dragon and gave me a great thank you hug. That day he started to notice the other crocheted items around the house including the flowered doily on the table. He asked me if I made it all by myself out of thread, and when I answered that I had, he touched one of the flowers and said “Good job, Gramma!”

It just doesn’t get any better than that.

 

Jen has very kindly produced a new crochet pattern that will thrill both seasoned crocheters and those who are new to the craft or wanting to give it a try but unsure where to begin. I shall be revealing the pattern on Monday and cannot wait as it is a very special pattern for me.

We'll also be running a giveaway connected to the pattern, so do remember to check in next week to see what it's all about!

Crochet Crowns

My crochet fest continued this weekend as I found myself rushing to complete a last-minute project idea in time for our niece's birthday party. I had spent Thursday evening making her a little pink and white bag as a little gift, following this pattern on Ravelry.

I have to say that either my tension is completely out or I just misjudged my choice of yarn and crochet hook, as my end product turned out a lot shallower than the photo shown with the pattern. Not that it mattered much, as the bag looked good enough as it was, but I really do need to work on my pattern-reading skills!

This became even clearer to me as I spent Saturday evening and Sunday morning desperately trying to finish 5 crowns for 5 different aged children between 11 and 1 years of age. As soon as I found out the party's theme was "princesses and princes" I just knew I had to have a go, but I did give myself quite a task. I didn't have the time to properly work out the sizes and actually started, undid and restarted the birthday's girl's crown several times and still think it ended up a little bit too small. But at least I finished them... what do you think?

The top one was for the birthday girl (4), the pink one for the eldest (11), the purple for the birthday girl's friend (4), the blue one for the birthday girl's brother (19 months) and the green one for the birthday girl's friend's sister (1). As you can see the bottom two are actually bigger than the top one even though there were 3 years' age difference between the recipients. That is because I started with the top one and it took until the fourth crown for me to figure out the correct alterations to the patterns to get the size right. Unfortunately I couldn't make the first crown bigger, but when the second and third ones turned out too large it was a simple task to make a discreet fold and stitch them in a way that made them smaller!

They were far from perfect, but I had fun making them and learnt a lot about sizing and altering patterns by doing it. I just needed a bit more time than I had allowed myself.

The patterns I used were also from Ravely, with the first crown being made to this pattern (using the same number of stitches but a larger hook) and the others were made following this pattern (using the same sized hook but eventually cutting the initial number of stitches in the chain down to 77 instead of 110, which is why I think my tension must be rather off as the original pattern was supposed to fit a 12-18 month old but my version was too big even for me! Or perhaps it was because I used DK yarn, which is larger than sport weight... I have a lot to learn.)

I also made these sweet little flowers to attach to hair slides for the ladies going to the party. They are super quick and easy and come from one of my favourite crochet bloggers and designers, Alice of Crochet With Raymond. The pattern can be found here and uses one of my favourite crochet tricks, the Magic Ring. Before I read about this technique for starting a circle, I always ended up with a gaping hole at the centre of my work, but no more! I love the things I am learning about crochet these days and am finding it very therapeutic to just sit and create things right now.

Sitting on the sofa crocheting away whilst Tim watches a film or plays on his xBox is so much fun as I can be in his company without becoming bored or distracting him from what he is doing. And doing this at the weekend, putting together things for a birthday party, made me think of how many times I might do that over the coming years as I get an idea and try to make it into reality for our son's enjoyment. I see many crowns, capes, and fancy dress items in my future at this rate: what fun!

I haven't done any crochet since Sunday, thanks to the intense heat we've been experiencing. At 27 weeks pregnant, I am finding it more difficult to breathe, move and simply keep going and the added heat just completely wiped me out. I couldn't even sit and watch tv I was so hot, and spent a lot of time with my feet in a bathfull of cold water, which is not a great place to crochet! But I have plans for this coming weekend and I shall share more with you next week.

Grannying Away

I have been on a massive crochet fest this past week or two. What started off with an idea for a nursery project turned into an obsession. I had forgotten just how relaxing crochet could be and to be fair I don't think I have ever enjoyed it this much. I think the fact that I am currently unable to do much thanks to the growing bump and ligament/joint pain, has made sitting on the sofa for hours on end crocheting away very soothing. 

I am not the greatest crocheter by any means: I taught myself everything I know from internet guides and have a long way to go before my understanding of yarn weight, pattern and tension is good enough to produce things to size! Normally I am a perfectionist and I think this is why sometimes I have steered away from crochet as the craft of choice because I couldn't get the result I wanted. But not anymore... now I am just enjoying hooking away for the sheer pleasure of it. Which is how today's result came about!

Meet the Granny Mandala Lap Blanket which was made using Alice's pattern and some strange fluffy yarn I had in my stash.

I had no real plan for this other than to use up the yarn I had bought years ago on a whim and never knew what to do with. The initial ring was difficult to work up as the yarn was so fluffy that I couldn't see the individual stitches. But once I got to the clusters on the rest of the blanket I was speeding away.

It may not be the most practical of shapes or sizes for a blanket, but Tim sure did find plenty of uses for it. This was his "I can't see you, so you can't see me!" impression. I'm not sure it worked quite as well as he planned, as I spotted him quite quickly...

Not that he minded so much, as we then got to thinking about how our little one will soon be able to lie on the floor with this super soft blanket and learn to play "peek-a-boo" with it. 

But a blanket isn't a blanket without several uses in our household, so Tim was quite keen on trying out a variety of poses, in which he likened himself to a "Roman Centurian"...

I'm not so sure he quite pulled it off... pink and purple fluffy capes are not quite as striking as the ones the Romans used to wear. But, unfazed by my suggestion of such, the impressions continued, with one I can only liken to a General heading into battle, what do you think?

Jokes aside, this is a really snuggly little blanket that will come in handy over the next few years I'm sure. It is big enough to wrap around a toddler who wants to have as much fun playing as his daddy does, and yet small enough to be easily packed away at the end of the day. Of course, by then, I hope to have a few more additions to my completed projects and our son may well end up with a proper cape or two.

But, seriously, this was so much fun to make up that I can see the granny mandala will become quite a feature in our home and lives so we'll have to get our thinking caps on as to other ways we can use them.

Have a lovely weekend. 

My Crochet Guru

Today I thought I would introduce you to a very special person. She has been an amazing teacher during that incredible, and sometimes terrifying, transition from teenager to adult, helping me to make sense of the deepest questions that came up during that period.

But more than that, she introduced me to the wonders of crochet, inspiring me with the gifts she created until I just had to learn the craft myself. And today she is my crochet guru, the person I turn to time and again when I need a pattern, or someone to explain an aspect I just don't understand.

Meet Jen!

Jen has her own blog, called Just for Fun, and she often posts photos of the items she has made. But I wanted to utilise her skills and experience to create a post about the joys of crochet. I know a few of my regular readers enjoy this craft, so I hope you will enjoy the conversation I had with Jen, and perhaps leave a comment with your own answers to some of the questions asked.

How long have you been crocheting?

I started crocheting in the early 1990’s, so almost 20 years. At the time, I was looking for a way to keep my hands busy during all the kids’ sporting activities. I learned that crochet was a great way for me to channel all my anxious energy and keep from yelling at the coach.

Who taught you to crochet?

I am self taught. I bought a pattern book with a section on basic stitches and the rest is history!

When did you discover you were a true fan of this craft?

Almost immediately. I loved that I could pick it up or set it down at my own convenience, take it along with me, sit on the chair or the sofa. I also found that I could crochet while my husband was watching a game or show I wasn’t really interested in... which meant I could patiently sit with him without getting antsy or bored. It was ultimately flexible! I tried other crafts, but they required a focused period of time or special space.

Once I had enough practice to stitch evenly, I loved seeing the various patterns and the fabric I created. I’m also not ashamed to say I loved the compliments I received on my work. It inspired me to keep at it and try new stitches and patterns in creative ways.

Have you taught anybody else to crochet?

I’ve taught several friends and family members over the years, but most of them just ask me to make them something if they have an idea. It takes a certain amount of patience and practice to get even stitches and it always seemed easier just to ask me. 

What are your favourite types of patterns?

I love the smaller projects the best because they offer almost instant gratification. Smaller items like bags or hats can be useful as well as colorful and I don’t get bored repeating the same stitch for weeks on end.

Do you have an absolute favourite, if so, why?

I have a few “go-to” patterns for certain occasions, usually gifts. For example, I have a lap blanket pattern that looks like a stack of crayons – great for kids. Otherwise, I tend to make it up as I go along.

Who do you most like crocheting for?

Kids! They like colorful things like the crayon blanket I mentioned (no neutral sweaters for them!) and they also can’t figure out how you made it so it’s like magic. I recently made a rainbow cream pie (complete with a dollop of whipped cream) beret for a friend’s daughter, and she wears it to school every day.

A gift from family

Has anybody ever crocheted a gift for you?

Now that I think about it, none specifically crocheted for me. When my first child was born, we received some crocheted items that I was too afraid to use at the time because I didn’t want to ruin them. My son-in-law’s 92 year old grandmother gave me a crochet and embroidery piece she made in her youth because it matched my kitchen. It’s gorgeous!

What advice would you give to a would-be crocheter?

Start small and take the time to get your stitching rhythm down. Consistent yarn tension is what makes or breaks your fabric and that only comes with practice. A good way to start is making washcloths, scarves, or items that don’t have to be perfect... save the sweater for later.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am working on my scrap pile! In the fall I had several specific projects I was working on, and they left me with half a skein of yarn here, an extra there. It can become a storage issue, so I like to use them up when I can. I’ve been using my ‘leftovers’ to crochet hats, scarves and small blankets for charity.

I’m already thinking about spring colored cotton items though once I have worked my way through the scraps.

What is the biggest project you have ever tackled? Why did you choose this, how long did it take, and how did you feel upon completion?

Ah, I remember it well. I crocheted a blanket the size of a full bed, using a double strand and double stitch technique that interweaves to a soft but chunky fabric. During a visit, a friend of ours commented on a sofa blanket I made for my husband. When our friend moved to a new house, I made a full sized blanket for him as a gift. I don’t even want to think about the number of hours it took. I was so sick of it about 2/3 through I wanted to scream. It was bulky and difficult to work with. However, he was so surprised by the gift and so appreciative that it was all worthwhile in the end! He still uses that blanket each night almost 15 years later.

Then there is the blanket I made as a special request. It was not the largest size, but the most work because it included several stitching techniques, crocheted flowers and embroidery. It took about 100 hours over several months for me to complete. Whew! Won’t be doing that one again. 

What, for you, is the very best thing about crochet?

No pressure! No deadlines, no curing, drying or mess on the table, few supplies that never expire and are easy to store. In addition, those fingers can fly without really having to pay too much attention to them, so I find it relaxing. 

Of course, it’s also a lot of fun to see the expression on someone’s face when you give them a handmade rainbow cream pie beret! 

I can attest to the power of receiving a gift from Jen, as the hearts behind us in the wedding photo came from her, as did the ones on the front of the table. You can see them in greater detail by watching the video thank you I made here.

So, all that is left to say is: Thank You, Jen, for being my inspiration and crochet "guru". 

If you have any questions for Jen, please do leave them in the comments below.

Relaxing, rebalancing, and reaffirming...

The images within this post are of WIPs (work in progress)... you'll understand why as you read on! Warning: many of the images are of items for baby, so please be aware if this may upset you...

Do you ever get so caught up in fear and anxiety that you lose your head completely and end up feeling like you're on a rollercoaster that just won't stop?

It happens to me a lot, especially when I am hormonal! 

My first ever crochet blanket: started in 2007 and still ongoing, boy did I choose a stitch and a half!

This week I had a major panic about finances: I thought I had to give up my dream here at the Patch and go find work elsewhere. I thought I had to find a "quick-fix", a way to deal with my anxieties once and for all, to do the "responsible thing" instead of what my heart was screaming for. I was wrong, of course...

Have you ever noticed how absurd your ideas can seem just days after you thought they were the most sensible thing in the world? Yeah, that happens to me a lot too: fear has a lot to answer for!

Some of the table names for our wedding, which is so close now...

But then I remember to touch base, to take a breath and relax, rebalance and reaffirm... or rather Tim reminded me to do these things and I did them, though unwillingly at first, I admit. 

It worked though! By making some changes I began to find my ground again and suddenly nothing seemed quite so bad... when you think about it, very few things are as bad as they first seem. (And I don't say that lightly, because I am a born worrier and boy do I panic when I see a hurdle sometimes).

My first ever quilt... planned as a "playmat", still not backed and not quite as neat as it could be...

I am an achiever, I thrive on the completion of my goals. And yet, I hate having those goals set for me. I always yearned of staying home and being more of a housewife and when I get the chance I jeopardise it by giving myself far too high goals to achieve: I want to be a successful business owner/writer AND a good housewife, but being the person that I am I put everything I have into whatever I do and I cannot split myself in this way. Some people manage it beautifully... I'm not one of them!

I have to learn that I cannot be everything and neither should I want to be. My business is a goal I set because I felt I had to achieve something big, because I am an "achiever". And yet, I hate being bound by goals and targets... they are far from conducive for a "creative" like me. I would start a project and then lose interest because it was a "just for me" project and not beneficial to "the business". 

A simple hat... I love the smaller projects because I actually have a chance of finishing them!

Don't get me wrong... the business could do with a bit more success, but I fear that success for what it might take from me, namely the time to just be me and do what I love. Do I have to do the "responsible thing" all the time, or is the "responsible thing" really to look after myself for the sake of our family's future (i.e. trying for a baby).

At the end of the day, will my setting time aside to look after myself, do what I love, and create things just for the sheer love of creating something do me more good than setting the goals that trap me into a world of time constraints and marketability? I think it might...

My first attempt at a ripple blanket. Again, playmat-sized but still unfinished since May this year!

You see, when you create with love, be it a love of the action, a love for the recipient, a love for the world or even a love for yourself, you create far more beautiful and desirable things than when you try to create to a seeming demand... I can't create jewellery that hasn't been created before, so why would someone choose my work over another's? What I can do, is create something with so much love that someone chooses to accept that emotion by admiring, accepting, or even buying the piece I have imbued with it. 

And so that is what I have chosen to do... the pictures dotted throughout this post are all taken of current WIPs (work in process): some for the wedding, some just for me. Yesterday I simply sat and painted, listening to the radio. Then I wandered into town, did what needed to be done, then came home and ate in silence (no rushing to get back to my work). By the evening, following a bath and a good book, I looked at all I had achieved and enjoyed a bit of crochet in front of a beautiful film. The laptop wasn't even turned on once. it has be relegated to the spare room!

Yarns just waiting to be made into something... please excuse the blurriness of this photo

And you know what? The difference was palpable: the look on Tim's face when he walked in from a long day at work and saw me relaxed and smiling, rather than tense and fraught, made taking care of myself seem far more important than I had ever imagined... by being a little "selfish" I gave him the best gift I could: a relaxed, smiling and loving wife-to-be. How can you argue with that?

So I may not be around as much as before, but I will be back with some more goodies after the wedding, including some of these beauties my Grandma has been knitting for sale in the shop.

Various baby and toddler jumpers, perfect for a Christmas gift!