There is more to craft than meets the eye.

Some of my best early memories are of Mum sewing baby sheets for my soon to be born baby brother and Nan knitting. I was very lucky and I learned to knit when I was about four and crochet not too long after.

Later my memories are of Nan who would have her spinning wheel in the lounge room and she spun her own yarn and knitted her projects from her own wool. She loved it. Evenings were industrious times. No one ever just sat and watched tv. You worked on your projects! We all did. It was a little hive of activity. Very pre industrial revolution! Nan also had friends who all got together with their spinning wheels and they would talk and spin and make a day of it. They were very happy times.

I am so glad I had all this going on around me as it was just natural to be creating something. But you don't have to have learned things when you were little to learn them now. I didn't do a stiitch of embroidery until I was in my thirties. Learning this was wonderful. Actually exciting and utterly addictive! And only last year I learned a heap of new crochet patterns and I found that just as exciting. It was so much fun I barely noticed winter.

Once you are absorbed in something you really relax and your heart just sings. I forget what time it is and that I should go to bed! I used to make up little designs from childrens books and just have so much fun with sweet little stories and innocence. It was just delightful. It did me good. 

You cannot think unhappy thoughts when putting a nappy on a baby mouse.

I made up mouse and bunny weddings, mouse flower girls, mice visiting friends with baskets full of goodies! lol

I know my Nan suffered anxiety. I look back and see now that when she sat there not doing anything (which was rare) she seemed anxious. When she was spinning or knitting she was happy!  When she was productive she was relaxed. It was visible. This is so applicable to me. Anytime I have stopped being creative has been a sign I'm not doing well. If I want to up my happiness and contentment I need to get itno some new projects and learn something new.

Many times I hear that people don't sew/knit/crochet or whatever as they aren't as good at it as someone else in the family, their work isn't good enough... but it is a natural process to go from learning, to being a beginner to being really good at something. That is part of the fun. Don't let perfectionism rob you from all the joys that should be coming your way.

Making things has always meant I can mostly have the things I really want. I am not tempted to pay hundreds of dollars for a huge vase of flowers or for decorator items when I can make them.

Making things means I can produce gifts all year round and have a stash of presents and cards to give that are personal and special and for a fraction of what it would cost to buy them all.

Being able to give or help through creativity is even better. You may not be able to donate large amounts to charity. But you might be able to make warm rugs for children that need them or beanies for premmie babies who's heads get cold! You may be able to bless a new mother or a person with something lovingly made.

In earlier posts I have shared some of the beautiful things people made for me when I had babies and how much they meant to me.

So what will I learn next? Nanna Chel has got me onto rag rugs. I have always admired them but never made one. So I am going to learn. Nanna Chel is putting up a tutorial and when its ready I will post a link to it. Start saving old sheets in pretty fabrics!

The proverbs woman was busy making things. Her skills were many and varied! You just never stop learning and fine tuning your skills. The Bible says that the skilled worker will stand before kings. 

Like everything in the Bible it turns out to be true on more levels than you ever thought. Now there are countless studies on crafts, knitting, crochet and their health benefits. Yes, health benefits.

We are meant to be busy with our hands. We were built that way. We are happier and more content. We are more relaxed. Our blood pressure goes down. (mmm except when you are making mistakes and then it goes up!)  Our minds are distracted from our worries. Our sense of achievement and satisfaction go up!

Creating things helps us balance the budget, earn an income, decorate our homes, feed our families, gives us purpose, helps us feel content at home. CONTENT AT HOME. If you can imagine how much this means. If you are content at home you have no desire to be loitering in the mall wasting money. You just don't have that unquenchable thirst for the next thing. You are content at home. What a thing to cultivate and instill in children. You never compare yourself to the Jones' as you are too busy to notice the Jones' (I hope this is also a US expression... "Keeping up with the Jones' is an expression here to mean the competitive pressure to keep up materially with those who SEEM to be wealthy).

So often I hear women say that their Grandma taught them to knit and gave them a life long gift. The other day I read this on a face book story. The question was when did you learn to knit and crochet? Many said that their Grandmothers had taught them and how thankful they were. One lady said her Grandmother had taught her to crochet and now she was herself in her 70's and it had given her a life of joy. How beautiful is that?

So for ourselves and for our children and grandchildren it is so important we work creativity into our lives and teach the skills to others and learn new ones from someone who is more advanced. It is so much fun. This is another aspect of "encourage one another."

If you have skills you have let go for a while try getting started again. If you haves something you always wished to learn take a little time, even half an hour and take step one to leaning. It might be watching a you tube tutorial or go to the library for some books. When you are learning something new you will thrive! It doesn't need to be needlework, painting, cake decorating, card making, decorating and so many things are being creative. I think it's creative to make a meal from a few basic ingredients.

Mum is in her 70's and has always been very productive. No idle hands around her home! But she is still learning. I actually was able to teach her some more crochet patterns last yeatr (thanks to you tube) and we had heaps of fun trying these together. But now she is trying something new and making head bands and boot toppers. I can tell she's having fun! 

Here is my youngest Niece modelling some of Nan's headbands on the weekend. Very willingly I might add :)

I said she could be on my blog and she was very happy to help out. 

This was one of our collaborations, I made the flower and Mum makes the headband. My niece wanted this one. She said "Nanna this feels so soft and nice on my head."

Seriously do yourself a massive favour and be creative and productive. And keep learning new skills or resurrect old ones. 

The last picture reminds me today it is Lucy and Kato's first anniversary! They have had a big big first year. They got married, had a wonderful honeymoon, got a baby started and moved into a bigger home. That is pretty good for their first year! Now Lucy is painting up furniture, creating a nursery, decorating a house and cooking up meals I can see the creativity in her and that she feels that satisfaction too.

Have a wonderful and creative week. I always say busy hands really do mean happy hearts. It's true. xxx