Half Way.
As I pass the halfway point on my social media break, I cannot believe the amount I have accomplished in just two weeks. I have embarked on several new hobbies and taken on a few projects in the time I have been away. Throughout my childhood, my mother has been crafty in more ways than I thought possible. She often spent time handcrafting our Halloween costumes, sewing her own purses, making pillows and curtains while also being great at drawing and painting. For the longest time I saw the creativity pass from my mother to my siblings but never thought it was my strong suit. While taking a much needed break from social media, I fully embraced my creative side and truly surprised myself with what I have been creating.
This past weekend, I completed my first project and while it did not turn out exactly how I thought, I was very pleased with the results. My sister-in-law is pregnant with baby number four and I wanted to do something for them to celebrate the little newcomer. I saw a DIY baby mobile online and went about hand sewing all the necessary trinkets for it. It took me about one week to finish but in the end I was so proud of what I created and could not wait to send the final product.
I went to the thrift store to source the fabric, as some might know, fabric can add up in price so I wanted to get creative. After finding the perfect designs for my hot air balloons, I began searching for the right pattern to assist me in cutting the right sizes for the project. As I started assembling each individual piece of the puzzle, my vision started coming together. Although the final assembly was a bit stressful, trying to create level sections, I am thrilled with how it turned out in the end.
As I completed this short-term project, I returned to a project that will require more time and patience as I move forward. Again, perusing the thrift store I found knitting needles and several skeins of yarn of the same color which brought me back to my knitting days. I first attempted the craft in college when we were sitting in our dorm room, bored not knowing what to do. The most impressive item I made in those days were scarves because they were usually quick and easy. This time around, I purchased circular needles to create larger pieces and I had the perfect project in mind. I wanted to create a smaller baby blanket for my two year old niece and the thought of giving it to her fueled the project. Row after row, I was quickly realizing how long this would take to finish but it was turning out so well I had to keep going. I quickly learned new stitches and made my first attempt at changing colors which went surprisingly well, I was on a roll! I have a goal in mind to finish this by Christmas but I’m thinking I could finish sooner if I keep up this pace.
I did not want to set myself up for failure, thinking I would finish this project in a couple weeks so, I thought Christmas was the perfect timeline. So far, I am loving the progress being made and learning new techniques each day has been quite the journey!
As I started the project, I was knocking some of the rust off as I hadn’t picked up knitting needles in several years. The details started slowly coming back to me and once the basics were underway, I started researching new stitches to incorporate. I found a YouTube tutorial that walked me through the steps to create the pattern you see in the blue section, as it started coming together I couldn’t help but feel giddy! I could see the progress unfolding before my eyes and it was thrilling.
The last little project I have been trialing has been less crafty but I’m still loving the journey it has taken me on. With the plants that I have acquired over the past several years, I have decided to try propagating them. After talking to my best friend, Kate, I learned the process of propagation can be relatively easy and she was seeing success so I decided to give it a try. I started by gathering a couple clippings from my Golden Pothos and placing them in water. I don’t always have the most patience so I wasn’t sure how this was going to end but so far so good.
I have been checking on the progress and changing the water every couple of days just as I was told. After week one, I wasn’t seeing any growth so I figured my attempt was a fail but by week two I saw progress. Little roots springing from the clippings, growing longer each day. At this point, I was committed. Progress is all I need to see in order to get hooked and this was the beginning.
As you can see, it is small progress but it is still new growth. These projects have given me something to look forward to. They fill my days and provide me with tangible goals that I can work towards. Seeing my projects unfold from thought to fruition has been a great experience and it also brings new ideas to light. I have more projects on my mind and new hobbies to refine but I’m enjoying every step along the way. This move has given me new mountains to overcome in every sense.
This break from social media has lit a fire and made me realize my true creative potential. I have been writing flash fiction as of late, day after day coming up with new stories and new women to write about. As the words dance across the page, I cannot believe my eyes. These passions have been waiting to surface and with a little nudge from my husband, I was able to find a couple hobbies I truly enjoy.
“If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.” - Wanda Sykes
