This is a huge ‘WELCOME’ to all those who have faithfully read my blog in the past and have been wondering if I have left the planet or not. Well, it’s 2017 and I’m still here. I have to say that ‘2017’ doesn’t roll off the tongue as easily as 2015 or 2016 – possibly because it’s an odd number, but, odd though it may be, it is proving already to be a good year for many reasons. The purpose of this blog is to share anything arty, crafty and creative with you and this is just one of the ‘many reasons’.
You will know by now that at the beginning of each New Year I set myself GOALS, not RESOLUTIONS. The latter are far too binding and bring despondency when you fail to achieve.
A ‘GOAL’ is a challenge, something you can continually work towards even though you may occasionally fail, something that can keep the brain and the body active. A resolution, once broken, is hard to mend. A resolution is fixed, but a goal can begin small and get better and better until you accomplish what you set out to do. Working towards a goal can only bring encouragement.
I made a few goals at the beginning of this year and I am going to share one of them with you. I trust it will be of interest to you and spur you on to greater things that you want to see in your own lives. Of course, your goals will be personal to you and your circumstances and it’s not too late to make them. Please don’t wait until 2018 – life and time is too precious!
At the start of 2017 I set this goal (yes, I wrote it down along with others!):
I will attempt to do something creative every day. I will not spend any money on clothing. I will alter the garments I have until I am happy with wearing them, recycle them if I am not and reuse the fabric to create something fresh. Failing those two options I will dispose of them sensibly. I will finish projects that I have already begun and that have been stored in boxes. (I’m embarrassed to confess that these include some ‘Clothkits’ packs – remember those? I tell myself that they’ll be worth something one day – vintage?) I will aim to reduce my stash of fabric and haberdashery. Yes, I know it looks impressive all neatly folded on shelves or stored in boxes or jars in my art and craft area, but it is meant to be used, not looked at! I will rejuvenate my wardrobe with all this precious fabric I have bought over the years. I will be creative with gifts throughout the year and in the process learn new skills. Finally I will make sure that, in doing all this, I keep my little grey cells in good working order – VERY IMPORTANT!
So far 2017 has proved successful. I actually began to plan all of this late December, 2016. I purchased a diary so that I could log each day – I need to be accountable! I doctored the front cover slightly and at the back began to create a ‘To Do’ list. This helps when the mind goes blank.
Some days I produce a lot, some days a little. It doesn’t matter – I’m getting many things done and I’m encouraged. In just 7 weeks I have only missed 2 days and that’s because there are other activities in my life that are just as important. If what I do is in the least bit creative it gets logged in the diary. I am already amazed.
I am going to share some of these creative moments with you over the year whether they are significant or insignificant. I really hope I bless and inspire you to be creative in whatever you shine in.
COAT – made with textured furnishing fabric with leather fastenings
TIES – I added some ties onto the bottom of a bought quilt cover. I had to keep tucking it into the mattress to stop it separating
I completed a pair of KNITTED SLIPPERS and added a fur fabric lining.
TABLET CASE with magazine pouch and ACCESSORY BAG – for my husband
KNITTED SLEEVELESS TOP – began many moons ago and only reached the armhole of the back, using my own pattern which, for some reason I had lost and had to work out again!
NEW RECIPE – ‘Chocolate ring cake with beetroot and greens’. This was very creative and delicious!
DONATION BOX – made from a very large coffee tin, designed on the PC
MAT OF CROCHET SQUARES – Completed it, added a thick backing of fabric and a border and 3 loops for hanging it on the wall – my husband’s suggestion as he thought it would get spoilt on the floor!!
PYJAMAS – cut fabric off the legs and lengthened the sleeves with it. Did this by hand while watching the TV – it is possible!
GREEN WOOL JUMPER – Refashioned it by chopping off the roll neck and turning up the cuffs and then finishing both with embroidery
BOOKMARKS/CARDS – sketched some designs
KNITTED WRAP SCARF – completed it
SLEEVELESS DRESS/TUNIC – used some ‘seconds’ needlecord fabric which I had to doctor creatively in places as the dyeing hadn’t taken. My ribbon and button stores proved very useful here.
4 CUSHION COVERS – a dear friend had worked some cross stitch covers that represented the 4 seasons. I backed them with some linen, added a suitably coloured edging to each and also made the cushion pads from the filling of an old pillow.
NEW RECIPE – ‘Secret Ingredient Chocolate Brownies’, another successful experiment
FABRIC ART – ‘Gnarled Trunks in Italy’, this picture was begun while on holiday in Italy last September and I completed it this year. I stretched it over a sheet of hardboard and mounted it in a box frame that I purchased from IKEA, the only place that seemed to sell what I wanted
BEAD DECORATION – I renewed this on my Bible and Notebook covers because somehow the original beads had been torn off while in the luggage coming back from Italy!?!
FABRIC ART – ‘A Sunny Day’, a 3D picture was made a while ago. It has now been stretched over stiff card and awaits a box frame – looks like another trip to IKEA!
WATERCOLOUR PICTURE – painted by my brother-in-law at Tollesbury, Essex for my husband’s birthday present last year. It is now framed and hanging in our lounge along with other pictures
TARTAN PYJAMA TOP – it kept on coming undone! Altered it by removing the facing and buttons , joining the centre front and adding a top facing to the neck edge
WROTE MY FIRST BLOG OF THE YEAR!
I promise that the next blog will not be so long. I do hope that this one has inspired you to value life’s moments and fill them with something that satisfies you. Every day counts as precious.
I’m really impressed with all you have achieved. I heard on Woman’s Hour this week that crafting extends your life! The more you do, the more time God will give you to do even more!
Thanks Gill. Just love doing it all. This approach is going to help me be more disciplined this year – hoping it will rub off into other areas!
Wonderful as always Dot. X
Thanks Tina. Trust all is going well for you. Must catch up soon.
Hello, opened your email at a moment when I had time to read it properly ( just finished Bible reading and prayer time) Impressed always by your creativity, also the recycling, I do an Art Class once a week, meaning to do more but never fit it in, our lives are dominated by ‘Food Bank’ and other Church stuff. The school built where your home used to be, is having the ancient wall replaced, the old church is now an Arts Centre for Goldsmith’s College. my only other creative activity has been blankets for cats leaving Battersea , using wool from the Pound Shop! Best wishes to you both. Jenny
I think we are both very busy especially church wise but it’s all so worthwhile. Les and I are involved in a Diner’s club on Mondays for the homeless and lonely with a good team of others – so exciting to see people respond to the truth. It’s expanding big time for which we are thankful. I chose to take this route for 2017 to give me the impetus to not waste valuable minutes and also to clear up bags and boxes etc. that have moved around with us. So far I’m winning with God’s help. I’d love to do more art and hope to fit that in as well. Have been impressed with the art that you have produced in the past. Please put it up for all to see! x
Always makes a good read, thanks Dot
You are always so appreciative Chris. I do enjoy doing all these things and, believe it or not, I also enjoy writing the blog. The trouble is I get so involved in the ‘making’ that I forget to do the ‘writing’! Tying hard to rectify that this year. Thank you. x