When I started this blog, I had some lofty plans: Get back to my sewing machine and spend some quality time with my knitting. Blog about it, perhaps inspiring others in the process. Begin learning embroidery and hand-sewing. Create a line of knitted home items, maybe take on a knitting commission or two. Re-write the novella I wrote in my Master’s degree program, and write a couple prequels/spinoffs. Start the cozy mystery series I sort of planned out for another class and a host of other ideas.
Lofty, lofty plans.
In the time between July and now, my mother has been battling a complex health issue and my eldest cat just succumbed to a sudden illness.
Yet, I try to redirect. Finding a little bit of refuge knitting Gudrun Johnston’s Heritage Yoke pattern (from her and Mary Jane Mucklestone’s book Grand Shetland Adventure). Fun knit – only my second color yoke and my first with multiple colors. And to think, when I started knitting 10+ years ago, I said I’d never bother with color knitting because it just looked so complicated. Spoiler alert: It really isn’t. Admittedly I have been working on it since July, and I have about 3/4 of the body done. Splurged a while ago on a kit that included the Jamieson and Smith Shetland Heritage yarn – dream to work with and now I’m spoiled for sure.
In the spirit of self-care and trying hard to make room for creative things, I cleaned my sewing room the other day, and at least semi-organized some things. In the process, realizing I have far more than I could ever sew or knit through gave me the idea to begin to downsize my stash.
When does a stash just turn into a monster-size case of hoarding? A question for the ages.
Regardless, I’ll be starting to sell some things. A lot of things actually. From fabric to yarn skeins and kits to craft books to a hefty selection from my vintage sewing pattern collection and maybe one or two vintage books. A cache of pristine Magic cards (literally played with once) and Pirates game ships (both put together and still in card form) are going. SCA stuff I’ll probably never wear/use again so they might as well go where they will be. When I start getting that all together, I’ll post links to the items and broadcast them on various social media pages (read: FB and Insty).
In the meantime, I am trying to make less work for myself doing anything other than creating. I say as I decide to start posting possibly hundreds of items to eBay. Next week I plan to begin sewing gifts for my parents for the season – they want foot warmers for their beds and I am making them small quilts this time, with matching pillowcases. Not sure if I’ll have time for anything other than those two things this year, to be honest -sorry bro and fam!
Questions for the Hive Mind
How do you manage your time while juggling a job, family, and sudden heartbreak? Any books, movies, music you lean on, or habits you employ to help steady the ship?
Books on Tap!
Starting a new section to highlight some books I am in the process of reading or on the TBR pile relevant to the general subject of a post….or even books I just like!
- How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis, LPC
- Just started reading this one and will post a review in the future
- The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson
- Started reading this at some point in the last year or two, became overwhelmed/paralyzed by life to even start, and put it down. Has some exceptionally good points about consumerism and the accumulation of stuff. Now is the time.
- Spark Joy by Marie Kondo
- I’ve read this one previously, but some very good points/ideas for organizing here are well worth re-reading.
Stay Woolie
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