Archive for January 24th, 2010

• Crafting 365 & the meant-to-dos

  Date: 2010.01.24 | Category: Amigurumi | Response: 1

  Hahaha! That’s my result for the first day of vowing to work on my crafts each day. Took me an hour

  No, it’s not a play for sympathy, I honestly thought it was funny and ironic: I had to share. I’m planning to make an Amigurumi, but unlike the other times I’ve made one, I’m following someone else’s pattern. Meaning I need to learn crochet terminology properly. I was going to follow Pip’s calm, step by step video course; got derailed by the how to hold your yarn (realising I usually did something totally different); thought I’ll just follow the instructions in the book; switched to trying a tension gauge ’cause I’m a little worried my yarn is too thin and … yes! ended up with a mess!

  I’m totally not worried, I know I can crochet. Or learn to. In fact, when I think about it, that’s my totally normal settling-in-to-a-new-project routine. I used to work in community TV, and had to write the current affairs script each week. I got used to the fact that I’d have to throw the first 5 or so away (lucky my boss was a mad paper-recycler, even way back then, when not everyone had a computer on their desk). It’s the way I work: muck around; muck it up; then start again and get it right.

  If you follow me on Twitter, you might have gathered I’m thinking of starting a craft or fashion-based business one day. Sooner rather than later, actually. And I’ve been reading a lot of how-to-blog blogs, you know, like Problogger. And Copyblogger. Even started looking at IttyBiz. And other ones I’m less sure I like. (Actually, this reading about blogging only happened because Twitter started by suggesting “social media gurus” to follow … interesting). Anyway, I’m pretty sure I’m meant to sound like an authority, sound like I know what I’m doing. Because, one day, this could be a business-related blog. But that doesn’t feel honest to me, and I think it might be doing other crafters a disservice, not to admit everyone makes mistakes and has bad days.

  In the photo background, there’s part of my daughter A’s picture. Kids play to learn. Me too.

  And why the effort to craft daily? I’m still feeling the effects of New Year’s resolutions, I think. Yes, I do know it’s nearly February. But it’s rather freeing to think it’s actually better to start your resolutions any time, work on them little by little. And I’m still thinking over a few of Sooz’ posts, they’re inspiring me. But I don’t want another meant-to-do. As you may already gathered, things I’m meant-to-do tend to bring out the rebel in me, particularly where craft or art are concerned. Particularly if there’s no good reason for the meant-to-do. So you may or may not hear about my daily crafting again. Indeed, I mightn’t do it. If you want, look on my Flickr to see.

• Wow, so clever! (Scroll down to see how these wall hangings were made!) http://t.co/oh2Uuhci From Design*Sponge about 8 hours ago from TweetDeck
• Grey water RT @sarahfielke Colour of your pants + last thing you ate or drank = #yourbandname about 9 hours ago from TweetDeck
• This is what I miss about Japan: things that just fit back into their boxes, with no trouble, clear instructions which way up... *sigh* 07:55:05 am 04 February 2012 from TweetDeck
• #talknt Fabric travel is global warming worry, but Organic is still worthwhile > rivers, land near cotton fields not damaged by pesticide 02:24:45 am 01 February 2012 from TweetDeck
• Good question! RT @helishingly: why don't UFO's visit us now we all have camera phones? #AFPInvestigates 10:34:08 am 30 January 2012 from TweetDeck