Where to start ...

As someone who struggles with executive functioning, the major hurdle to most things in my life is, where to start.

Whether it is laundry, a new project or even a book, figuring out how to start is a major battle.

So, with this, I am going to try to start this again.

I enjoy writing, I enjoy sharing and I enjoy when other people acknowledge and praise my writing and sharing. I am only human.

So with that I am going to try to start here again. After the rollercoaster that has been social media, I want a place to call my own. As Sam Sanders said in a recent podcast, Vibe Check, I think, that if he has an astute thought he would like to have ownership of it, rather than it being monetized by others.

So I am just starting, rather than obsessing how to do this right, I am just doing it.

Functional Art, and what is inspiring me now

So, I was going to use a line I use far too often, “I'm back babydolls” as the creative title to this post but then I went to log in, and found my last post, from September 2017 had the same creative title, so if nothing else I get points for consistency.

Over the past few years my creative has been stretched and expanded, one of the many side effects of ADHD is that we are really good at trying all the different things, and I am falling into a sense of what inspires me, and it is that of function art.

By that I mean, beautiful everyday objects.

Rather than creating something to be admired and saved for a special occasion, I am interested in creating something I use, that makes my everyday brighter.

Recently that has meant sewing clothes, but it has also taken me into the realm of wood carving. These things make me happy when I put them on or use them, I know I made it, that it is special and it is meant to be used.

As I fill the hours of lockdown I am trying to figure out how to inspire myself, and that is going to include finding ways to share more on this blog. To use my words to share my vision and learning. I am not guaranteeing anything, but I am working on being more present with my own work and finding a way to document the learning, as an educator that is something I need to get better at anyway.

What you can expect form this space is my making, but also my own documentation of my learning.

And in that spirit -

Previously on ...

I'm getting to the time of year when I get busy and my crafty productivity takes a nosedive.  However, I'm trying to remember to enjoy what I'm doing. 

2017 and Looking Forward

Here's to a new year! 

So here I am sitting on my couch, drinking a coffee my cat may have gotten the first sip of (well at least a lap of the foam), enjoying a beautiful morning and thinking about the new year. 

So now its time to think about what I'm going to get done in 2017, and I've been thinking this for a while.  My "year" kinda started back in October.  With my job, which is so focused on the summer, I've been writing 2017 on files since I wrapped up last summer's paperwork.  Also, with the way my time runs, I try to get my WIPs done as I head into the summer, because I know that I just don't have time for them in the summer (although that is something I would really like to change) and I get recharged in September once I'm back to a more 9-5 life. 

So, with that in mind, here are my goals for 2017. 

Make Something that Means Something

So, I'm more of a process knitter, which means I'm not as interested in the thing I'm making as I am in making it.  This means that I end up making a whole bunch of things I can't really use and I give away, which is great, but I want to make things that mean things to me. 

To that end I already have an unofficial goal, finish a sweater for me that fits me!  I made myself a vest a few years back, that doesn't really fit me well (it always falls off my shoulders), but I tried on Carla's Mailin when I was home for Christmas and the yoke/sweatshirt style fit like a dream.  It was more tailored on me that it was on her (or the model) but it is going to look really great in the Georgian Bay Fibre Co Bayfield Aran in Granite (a dark grey).  

I'm hoping that by making something that means something I will feel more motivated to create. 

Make Slow Fashion

One of the big revelations for me in 2016 was how much how what I wear informs how I feel about myself.  I pared down my wardrobe, found a store where I could find clothes that fit properly and feel like myself (Torrid, they have my size and if you dig they have some amazing stuff).  However, the clothes I'm buying are intended as Fast Fashion.  While I'm fortunate in that I can afford the cash to buy good quality clothing, my size (anywhere from an 18 to a 24 depending on brand, store and part of body) makes buying the kinds of heirloom pieces I'm looking for very difficult.  So, the solution is to make them myself. 

I'm a bit intimidated by the process. Coming face to face with your own body is a hard to thing to do when you've been running from it since puberty, but that's why I'm taking it slow, starting with a great wool sweater (see above goal) and then seen what else I can make. 

It's funny, turning 30 a few years back was a big one for me, because I spend most of my 20s feeling kinda shitty about my body, but I decided when I couldn't afford to feel terrible about myself.  This body of mine can do amazing things and I needed to give it the respect that it deserves.  Since then it has helped me do great things!  So I want to honour it with good looking, fitting and ethical clothing. 

Make the World Around Me

This one is more about the whole person who is doing the making.  In the past few months I've really started to jump in.  That hasn't always been my way.  But if I can turn the heel on a sock, I can make new friends, I can make my world somewhere I want to live.  This means being positive and truthful on social media/blogs, this means making time to for things that matter to me and making sure that I don't waste my time on things that don't. 

Making is such an important concept.  I have the ability to make and I want to apply it to my whole world. 

So here's to 2017, with all the terrifying and joyful challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Back on track

Wow, it's been a while since I've managed to get a blog post out.  After a summer at camp I'm pretty wrung out and drained.  I love camp, it's truly my passion, but like all things that matter it is completely exhausting, emotionally, physically and spiritually. 

However, over the past few months I've managed to refill my cup (so to speak). 

I've been working on lots of knitting, as well as adding lots of new artistic and physical pursuits to my schedule.  During each week I manage to go to an Irish Dance class, swimming lessons, choir, board game meet-up, watercolour painting class and an online course in Adult Education. 

So here's a little taste of what I've been up to, and I look forward to getting back into the swing of blogging, as I really enjoy sharing on the blog.