Saying Goodbye is hard....

 

Loss is hard. This loss seems harder than this time. We adopted Molly in late spring. We think she was about 8 months. She was a spit fire. A boarder collie she loved to herd us. She tested us to our limits in those early years yet she made us laugh. She made our lives better. 

I miss her already. We had 14 wonderful years with her. She was a pleasure to have around even if her hair was everywhere. I would rather have a messy home that was fun & loving. She made it messy & loving. She created laughter, affection, silliness. 

Letting Go & Moving On is Okay!! Crafters Edition!

 About 10 years ago I decided to take a weaving class at the local Museum. I was really excited about it because I alway thought weaving was so cool. I was so sure I would love it I bought a Leclerc Compact 24" floor loom so I could put the sampler we were doing on my loom. Well it has not gone well these last 10 years with my weaving. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING I have tried to weave has been thrown in the garbage. I got books & asked for help from the members of my guild and yet I struggled with weaving. I even put the question out there 'When is it okay to say goodbye to a craft you are not enjoying?' I got a variety of answers and part of me felt like a failure. 

My hubby showed an interest & we got him a table loom. He was hesitant to start because he did not want to overstep. I gave him the look & we started talking weaving. It was fun talking to him but I knew I was not a teacher type & wanted him to get others in his life that weaved because I did not want to influence him with my struggles. I also started seeing what I was wanting to weave & what he wanted to weave were different.  So this year my guild started a study group & I joined because the topic was one my hubby was interested in. I realized after the first class it was just too much. So he is going to take it and I let it go.

Over the last few weeks I came to the conclusion that 'I really do not want to weave.' I love seeing what people weave & I also am excited my hubby wants to but I just want to knit, spin yarn, cross stitch & make cards. Sometimes maybe rug hook. It is okay to move on & let go.

I put my loom & accessories up for sale. I am hoping to move on feeling a load is off my heart knowing it is ok not to like it all, do it all and let it go!! 

Knitting with Intention!!

 I started this blog awhile ago to chronicle my knitting life & other pieces of wisdom. I have not done the job I intended to over the last while & would like to try to do better. I have looked through the pieces of knitting that I have done over the past few years & feel a bit disappointed in that I gave away so much that I was not happy with.  

I started to ponder what do I want in my wardrobe that I have knit or sewn. What can I make that I cannot obtain at the clothing store. Ever since I went through cancer treatment in 2008 & 5 years of hormone therapy I find that I NEED comfort. IF IT IS NOT COMFORTABLE I just cannot wear it. Whether it is clothing, shoe, make up. I have lost to ability to cope with the ability uncomfortable. So I am on a journey to buy what I don't want to make & make what I can that suits my shape. 

In my knitting I have started a sweater called Laia by Isabelle Kraemer. I am making it out of Liberta, a lace weight yarn from Vegan Yarns, The colour way is Logwood & I am caring it double to get the gauge I need.  Laia Sweater Project I also started a Mohair Bias Loop cowl that can be a covering for over the shoulders. I am using El Cielo by Cascade Yarns. I got this kit from Valley Yarns. Ravelry Project Page

I feel these will be things that will wonderful in my wardrobe for at least 3 out of the 4 seasons. 

I also am going to sew two tops. I will share them in a future blog post so for now I hope you are will & I hope to talk with you again soon.

Beliefs

What are some of your beliefs? Do you believe in God, unicorns, aliens? What do you think about yourself, your government leaders, church leaders? What do you believe about people?

There seems to be so much unrest & strife these days. I was talking to my brother the other day about something & he reminded me about a saying, 'Believe half of what you see & none of what you read, except for aliens they are real!'  That made me laugh. Information about things change so much and it seems like every second these last few years in this pandemic. So what do we hold on to? Where do we look too when EVERYTHING seems untrue or uncertain?

I know what I do I look to God & the bible. I am learning to read it & learning to interpret it. I also find people who surround me that are wise & are firmly grounded in God. For me I find comfort knowing that God is there & He is in control even when it doesn't feel like it. Really it seems like life is getting out of control. Conspiracies seem to be on the rise & I see the lack of respect for each others opinions is on the rise. 

Life is so precious & we have only this one to live. Respecting our neighbours ideas & beliefs is important. We don't need to agree on everything to be nice. We don't need to be right all the time either. Even if we are right it is ok to be gentle or not to say anything that may seem harsh. I recently had someone say some things on a post I made. It was truthful yet it felt harsh at a time I needed gentleness. They could not & now they are hurt. I could have said nothing & maybe I should have. Some people are brash & in your face. They don't do gentle. When you are a people pleaser like me it is hard to please everyone. I cannot please everyone. 

So today remember to be gentle, be kind & remember we are all human. Perfection is overrated & unattainable in this world.

Two Years into a Pandemic

 How are you handling the pandemic? It seems like a GIANT roller coaster of do this, don't do that, yes you can, ohhh sorry no you can't. People seem to be divided big time. Get vaccinated, don't get vaccinated, your rights are being taken away. 

INFORMATION OVERLOAD

At the end of the day our friendships, our family & the moments that we make with each other is what we need to hold onto. The moments we share with each other encouraging each other, checking up on one another, smiling at the the person you pass on the walk. 

I am finding that our world seems to be in such a rush. Not time to be present to take in the moment. Hurry through & make it all so pretty. It is okay to be messy, to be not okay. It is okay not to go mock speed. 

I have been going through a thought process in my crafting. A slower process. One that is my pace. Not having so many things on the go. I may have a spinning, knitting & cross stitch project or 2 but it is slower & more intentional. I also went through some projects & frogged them. Some of the I am going to sell or Sally Ann. 

Ever since my cancer diagnosis & treatment I have needed to slow down, not go at a stupid fast pace. I find I cannot handle things quite like I used to. I cannot people as much or handle high stress things as well. Boundaries that were not there have been slowly been put in and it is okay to do that. We need that.  

I hope you are doing well!! Remember you are important.