Last week Jhoanna & Pip both made predictions/suggestions for what lay ahead. I've gone with rewarding because it was easier & I'm feeling a bit slack.
-Being able to help out some gorgeous friends both with blogs & without...rewarding.
-Making time for 5 new beginnings - I'm addicted to beginnings...rewarding.
-Being challenged (& stepping up) by this lovely soul. She's given me so many crafty nudges over the last 12 months and it has meant lots of new beginnings...rewarding.
-Being reminded that when life gets in the way of the things you love it's OK to say "no"...rewarding
-Pushing myself on my Friday run when I really couldn't be fagged...rewarding.
Friday is the long run day which means I think a lot - probably too much.
Today I was thinking about craft & dating. This seems like a bit of a weird connection (stay with me).
One of my really good friends used to say that she was addicted to the beginnings of relationships. At the time it was true ... she had lots of love em & leave em boyfriends. Many of them had a fair bit of bastard about them too (which of course only made them more appealing). Brief affairs really, flirtations, experiments but satisfying nonetheless.
She's now happily married to a fine upstanding guy. Marriage, of course requires a deep commitment, compromise & the making of promises you really mean. You need to be patient & dedicated & determined. The rewards are plentiful both along the way & at the end. Something to be really, really proud of.
Then I started to think about me & the craft thing. I too love a new beginning. I like to think long & hard about the how. I flirt with ideas, experiment with techniques & then have a one night stand with the actual crafting. It's quick & it's usually dirty (with varied results) but satisfying nonetheless.
Crochet (I'm trying - really I am), knitting & quilting require a deep commitment, compromise & the making of promises you really mean. You need to be patient & dedicated & determined. The rewards are plentiful both along the way & at the end. Something to be really, really proud of.
I'm married to my bags & the music boxes but I'm one night standing with plenty of other stuff to get my new beginnings fix.
I'd be interested to know if you're married to your craft, married & cheating (like me) or all about the thrill of a one night stand.
So I know I've raved on about the new beginnings obsession about a million times before. I just love the "honeymoon faze" of a project. It's interesting...once mastered it loses its appeal.
The spark, discovery, thrill & ultimate satisfaction are what it's all about.
It's lucky I met the date when I did because with this current obsession he probably wouldn't have lasted & I can tell you he's a keeper!
I've had 5 new beginnings this week. Any craft project that involves a date with Allan Robison fabric is bound to be a winner.
Most of my creating this week has been in my head. I've been running & thinking & running & thinking & planning.
I've got heaps of beginnings in the space today as well as the aftermath of somethings I've finished.
Beginnings: Belt to go with this fabric to make a bag. Music box with a couple of "maybe" fabric choices one from Justine & one Opped. Vintage fabric purchases on from here & one for Handmade Help.
Finishings: Names for embroidery - one which has been gifted & the other a collaborative effort. Scraps from the final touches on the bag for Art Fights Fire...what a night.
Sundry: A mug that slipped throught the Op Shop ban because I knew she'd kill me if I didn't buy it (50c). Circle cutter. A caramello easter egg wrapper Screw driver fittings for the Baby Bosch A "business"/calling card
Pop in and add your link if you're playing this week.
Typically, my "20 minute job" has taken FAR longer than I budgeted. I think it would have been quicker to knit the flaming thing from scratch!
The encouragement and enthusiasm from the smallest (& the fact that I posted about the beginnings) have kept me on track.
PS: Haven't painted the bookshelf...but I did muck around with a couple of lights, do some stitching, practice with the sticks & spent plenty of time on the distraction too. Oh, and I went to the Camby market - it was very busy this week!
This week in the space I've got the beginnings of my long term (very) quilt plan. I've had this idea kicking around in my head for ages but have put off making a start because I know how long the whole thing will take me.
Time to dive in ... rolls of brown paper rescued from under a nice Edwardian that was being renovated, huge t square Opped for $5 & my quilting ruler.
My favourite space this week wasn't on last week's list but I'm obsessed with her space & thinking about it constantly...
the shed
Last week was our biggest creative space yet. It's great to have so many players but I'm trying out a new visiting "system" this week. We'll see how it goes...
Don't forget to pop in & add your link if you're playing along this week.
Getting on with making & thinking about making this week.
I've been to the Op Shop this week too. As we're moving I've sort of given myself a loose set of rules about the things I'm allowed to buy at Op Shops.
I'm allowed: stackers (& other complimentary ceramics), fabric if I know what I'm using it for, clothes (for need only) & gifts for friends.
In my space this week I've got: complimentary ceramics fabric & a gift for someone special
Additional bits & pieces: mixtape postcard a music box beginning (which I think is getting flicked) the Flip video still the felting stuff still the beginnings of the nanna bag.
Pop in & add your link if you're playing this week.
This started as an experiment in hyperbolic crochet & when I liked the beginnings I decided to keep on keeping on an make a ball for a freshly hatched little girl.
The sphere creation was incredibly slow going. There is absolutely no way you can get up any pace with the hook when everything is curling in on itself!
I used two balls of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino & then just doubled & doubled & doubled & doubled my doubles...you get the picture.
It's kind of weirdly fascinating & just the kind of thing that would have held my attention for hours as a kid. I reckon it's a bit like those linking rings - the "how" really becomes the focus.
Has been pretty much ignored since Saturday. It's become a dumping ground...
some vintage fabric scraps purchased from Leslie. op shopped knitted sample squares. new fabric goodness gifted by Justine. an Enid Gilchrist pattern. & in the only space available, the beginnings of my donation for the Auction Gemma is organising at Outré Gallery.
a glimpse of One Red Robin.
Pop in & add your link if you're playing this week.
I didn't take photos of my accessory gift! I'm hoping that Cathy will...
I received this fabulous denim bag with mushroom lining & little tin full of buttons from Cathy.
Fi's pincushion project was speedy & fun.
Thanks Nichola & Justine for the challenge. I really enjoyed the new beginnings. I think I'm falling in love with the rings - it could be a long term relationship.
PS: Are you tracking me? Lots of lovely blogs I've been visiting on my clicketty trips.
An abundance of dear fii & how cool is that softie? Collaboration between myself & the big girl. It's "The Hearse Whisperer" from The Floods. She morphs into a bird when you flip her skirt.
On my desk...the players On my desk...fresh updates
Today is a perfect Autumn day. The light in the pool room is fabulous & I'm looking forward to the day...post coffee.
In myspace: -the good scissors -the paper scissors (almost too blunt for paper now) -printing stuff waiting for me to re-work the "boy" stamp -discarded mouse wire -beginnings of something I'm pretty excited about -more op shopped serviettes & hankies -really good tin filled with pins & safety pins & paper clips - opped
Pop in & add your link if you're playing along this week.
Trying to find an alternate eco friendly cushion stuffing strips of sheeting = fail.
I'm a seeker, a thinker & a tinker.
I think I've lost my way a bit with this little patch of online space & I'm trying to find my way back.
I feel like maybe I lost the "Koo" & was worrying a bit too much about the "to yoou" somewhere along the way.
Overthinking all this really & what I really want to say is...
The running is so much of who I am & although my runners are loyally Asics I'm adopting a "Nike" attitude to my craft & this little patch too. I need to challenge myself more & maybe you too?
Just do it!
I'm all about challenge & beginnings - I want more of those. There'll be a few invitations coming your way soon & I hope some of you will pull your crafty runners on with me.
Making me think this week...
Lara's thoughts on markets Paul (If you haven't already listened to his podcast with Sister Diane you really should - find it here). Pip's thoughts on heroes
I'm getting such a lot of pleasure from the bag making. I enjoy the thinking, the planning, the making of the story board (maybe more than the actual bag making) and ultimately the construction.
See the beginnings here
Constructed from vintage fabric from a suit (extremely stylish). All other materials were thrifted.