A little bit more about me and why I craft
So unfortunately in 2013 I was diagnosed with an incurable disease called Ulcerative Colitis and as of Monday this week I now have Fibromyalgia. So I don’t work at a normal 9-5 job. Which at first really bothered me, I love working.
I’m a step mum and do the end of day school run.
I started crafting to help me calm down and have something to do that gives me a feeling of accomplishment. Crafting helps my mental health, so I’m able to carry on with my life the way I’m enjoying it at the moment. I also craft in the car while sat outside school to distract me from the chaos going on around me, I get very anxious about cars driving at speed towards me, so I need the blinkers of crafting to cope.
I have been crocheting since I was little I’m guessing about 8 years old when my grandma taught me.
My mum @michelle.gent also crochets and I often talk to her about technique, but I only play at the craft, I’m no expert. (even though my husband thinks I am)
I have boosted the number of my crafts in the past few years but usually fall back onto crochet. I now loom knit as it’s easier on my joints and I recently started tatting which impresses me when ever I make anything, from a tiny earrings to sandals which is an on going project I’ve started at the beginning of this year.
these are my completed Tatting projects
I also pin weave and have completed 1 blanket with woven squares
I have many projects on at the same time usually well into double figures. That way I don’t get bored or overwhelmed by having to finish the project I’m on before starting another. Having so many projects on at the same time usually means I may not finish them for quite some time one project too 7 years to finish, but I love crafting so that doesn’t bother me.
I started another project last night and so far I’m very happy with the outcome. A triangle shawl for holiday.
I will post about the finished project when I have completed it but that may be sometime yet sorry.
"No expert" - my arse! Your work is amazing. The tatting always blows me away!
The stuff you do with wool is awesome too. I'd add, for other readers, that the blanket visible under the start of the shawl is also Dani's work and is wonderfully warm and cosy.
You're an amazing, wonderful, wife.
My amazingly supportive husband that puts up with my ever growing mountain of crafts and wool
"One large storage box", she said. "That'll easily be enough space", she said.
And now we could four of them. With just the wool. Then there's the thread, and the tools, and the looms, and the thingamywotsit, and the loom bands!
:-D
They’re not my loom bands!
She doth protest too much!
I'm so sorry to hear about your additional fibromyalgia health issue - that is something I'm also plagued with (including chronic fatigue with it), so I really understand about being overwhelmed, exhausted and chronic pain. Sending you very gentle hugs!
Your crochet and tatting is awesome! I love your work and the projects you're working on. I also understand the need to feel an accomplishment when you're forced to give up being in the 'workforce' - the first two years, while I was going through the disability application process, I wrote and self-published a poetry book ... simply to prove to myself that I could still be productive. And I also have several writing projects on the go, as I have difficulty now with focus and being overwhelmed - if I can get my brain to leapfrog a bit, it helps me.
I think you're amazing and very talented, and am interested in learning more about your various crafts. (And I can't knit or crochet worth a darn, lol.) Sending you lots of positive energies! xox
I know fibro is manageable but I hate that we have to deal with the effects of our bodies malfunctioning. Gentle hugs back.
I couldn’t knit with needles so I tried loom knitting I’ve taught myself from YouTube and Pinterest I’m hoping to do a few tutorials on how to loom knit and how I made my own pin loom for weaving. Weaving is very satisfying it’s a lot quicker and you can see the results almost instantly. Plus I think that one anyone can do.
I’ll have to have a look at your poems. Thank you x
I think I'll stick to my writing, lol. Looking forward to seeing more of your crafts, though. :) xox
oh a fellow crafter! ... Crafting is what I do to bring in a bit of extra money ... We started a craft day here at the RV park where all the crafters in the park get together and show and sale their goods. At the next show I will have to take pics and do a post. Perhaps I will do one on my wire wrapping who knows. By the way you are very good at what you do have you tried selling some of your things online?
upvoted and restreemed!
I haven’t had any success in selling my items but only because I give them as gifts instead to friends and family who seem to really appreciate the effort put into a handmade gift. I’d love to see your wire wrapping that sounds interesting
You can never have too many craft skills :)
I have a tendency to try as many as I can just to see if I can do them
That is definitely me too although I'm mainly sticking to wool based crafting
I foresee another craft skill in your future ;)
Quite possibly
Your work is lovely. I especially like the first tatting one with the two blue balls. Deceptively simple, but very effective.
I know Ulcerative Colitis is incurable. But a lot of people manage it very effectively with a diet called the SCD (specific carbohydrate diet) or a similar one called GAPS. They can sometimes help the symptoms of autoimmune diseases as well.
If you want to look into it, I can give you some links. Just let me know, or get your mum to ask me in Chat.
Thank you so much I will have a look at the diets although I’ll admit I’m rubbish with diets. That tatting piece is very simple but so much fun to make, I’m getting quicker as well. It’s just practice
Here's some of my posts about GAPS. It's only about restricting certain foods that you might not be able to digest, rather than eating less, so is easier than a weight loss diet.
• About the Gut & Psychology syndrome (GAPS) diet Part 1
• GAPS diet Part 2: Foods we can’t have
• GAPS diet Part 3: Foods we CAN have
• GAPS diet Part 4: What if I can’t eat some animal foods
These are really nice, I LOVE that necklace piece, Genius! I'm following now too, I love finding other artists and crafters on here. :)
Thank you, the necklace was one of the first tatting pieces I did. I’ll be posting about all my crafts and possibly doing tutorials.
These are fantastically intricate! You are being too humble, in my sincere opinion. I hope you find the strength to cope with your diagnosis.
Thank you. I have a lot of support from family and friends.
It's beautiful dear and it's color very lovely .
I like it
Thank you. The colours are very me at the moment reds are my favourite
Your crafting skills are amazing. I'll be looking forward for triangle shawl completion.
May you be blessed with health and happiness.
Thank you. And you. I’m working on it now
I have just coma across your post. I am now following both of you. You do amazing crafts. I am so impressed with your tatting!
Thank you. Tatting is my newest and most complicated craft I do.
She’s also a wonderful daughter :)
I do try.