Firstly I want to thank everyone for the support over the past year. It's been a exciting journey with 2017 bringing many new connections. TLC started the year with RAW artist exhibition, seen the start of the market circuit and the biggest kick start was we joined TROVE. The most valued part for me is the friendships formed with many great local and abroad fibre artists.
I hope to keep things moving and bring you more patterns and tips this year and to see what you're all creating.
For the end of 2017, between work and home we seem to wind up not wind down into the holiday period here. I'm sure many of you feel the same. Wherever the pressure is from, it can be an exhausting time of year. For myself, trying to juggle all the usual duties then add on, holiday prep, cooking, wrapping, cleaning. I'll stop there, it seems an infinite list. To add to this, the devil is in the detail but those time consuming little touches you create are what makes this time of year special.
Like most years we try as much as possible to make this a heart felt and home made Chrissy. As a family we've also started doing Chris Kringle, or Secret Santa some call it. The part of this means I can focus on one person and create something of Quality not necessarily just Quantity for the whole family. However you've spent it I hope it brought some R&R.
What has 2018 got in store?! Good, bad... It's hard to say.
I just want to sway off the craft topic for a moment, with 2017 coming to a fast close and a new year about to begin, I felt it was appropriate to share. I've been enjoying listening to TED talks, either while I crochet or on the drive in and out of town.
Most recently I listened to "Good" and "Bad". These are incomplete stories we tell ourselves by Heather Lanier. I've attached the the youtube link below if you'd like to listen to it.
Heather talks about the challenges raising her daughter with a genetic condition. Even if you don't resonate with her situation she essentially questions our assumptions about what makes a life "good" or "bad".
In essence this is about equanimity. A mindfulness skill with the ability to address any situation with calmness, composure and the same state of mind. By doing this we challenge ourselves to stop fixating on solutions for whatever we deem normal, not normal, or even bad. But instead to take life as it comes, allowing our hearts and spirit to remain open to the opportunities that come your way.
This isn't so easily adopted. How do you hold your composure when some exciting news reaches you or prevent fear or worry bubbling up when something bad happens. Personally I find it hard to calm the anxious part of me that instantly reacts. But that's the point isn't it. I've labelled the situation without allowing it to run its full course. I've closed my mind and my actions will reflect that.
Little by little I hope to try and adopt this into my daily life. Don't get me wrong I still will celebrate the little things. The great self satisfaction when I've finished a project or bought more yarn (yes there's likely to be a lot more of that this year).
You'll hear from me again soon. Until then, keep safe and enjoy your new years plans, whatever they may be.
Leah