What is Mindfullness? On Knitting, Crafting & Chilling Out

There appears to have been a huge upsurge in the popularity of 'Mindfullness' as a concept.  A quick browse through the top 100 books on amazon is filled with both self help books and a strange new breed of book - the mindfullness colouring book.

Now, I am not one for the self help book.  I understand that (much like religion) they are of immense value to those who can believe in and act on what is read.  For me, speaking with the authority of one who has read half of two self-help books out of interest as to why they are so popular, I find them obvious and annoying.  I fail to see why the writer feels they have the authority to tell other people how to live their lives.  To essentially impart common sense.  To be fair, I suppose common sense does sometimes need a little top up.  

These books all seem to have at least 4.5 stars on amazon, which does sometimes make me feel like I'm missing something.  They include titles such as 'Sane New World' by Ruby Wax, 'The Little Book of Mindfullness' by Patrizia Collard, and 'The Mindfullness Journal' by Corinne Sweet.  The common theme is essentially to explain that you're not crazy, and that you should take a wee five minutes to yourself to calm down.  Which is all very sensible and does seem reasonable. 

However. Having said all of this about mindfullness books.  You want me to chill out whilst colouring in tiny intricate pictures? Yes, ok.  Why not?  I'm sold.  

After toying with the idea for a little while, I finally purchased a couple of books.  And a new pack of pencils, because there's no way I have enough of those already.   It feels a little like lazy creativity.  The creation of a beautiful thing without having to think about what it should be, how it should be constructed, or worry about the quality of the end product.  I suppose that's not necessarily any different from knitting from a pattern, but it's simpler than that.

Today, I've engaged in a little 'Mindfullness' colouring, some easy knitting from a pattern (Tambourine by Julia Farewell-Clay), and working on a chart for an exciting collaboration coming out later in the year.  Though relaxed almost to the point of napping by the colouring book, I felt no sense of achievement, and moving onto my chart again seemed to cheer me up more.

The pictures in the book (I'd highly recommend Animal Kingdom by Millie Marotta) are beautiful.  The ones in 'The Mindfullness Colouring Book' are more basic, and I admit I'm unlikely to engage very much with that one.  I will enjoy spending a little time colouring in.  Is it going to change my life?  No, but then again we always knew I was a cynic.

Knitting calms me, occupies my mind and a little simple knitting will de-stress.  Crafting in general will usually cheer me up on a bad day and even rifling though stash if short of time will usually work the trick!  No, I wouldn't be able to accept a book telling me to 'take five minutes to myself', but maybe that's because I already do.


How do you de-stress?  What is crafting/knitting to you?  And what do you think if the 'Mindfulness Movement'?

Doomsday Knits & 'The Littlest Giant Geek'

AAaaaah t'is here.  What an awesome book.  Whilst waiting on it to arrive, I've been getting carried away again (much like arrow necklaces for arrow shawls sort of carried away), and playing Apocalypse themed games with popcorn and beer.  Mmm.   Largely due to this, and my excitement that we were about to watch a film involving humans living in space, my partner reminded me yesterday that I was 'the littlest giant geek'.  I shall wear that badge with pride.

This week I've to compile a mini-CV and fill out the online portfolio required to apply for the second year post of my job - it's a little scary!  There are at the same time too many and not enough choices.  What do I want to do??  I have no idea.  Maybe I should just close my eyes and throw little sticky balls at the list.  There are two of the jobs I really would like, but then there's the perpetual dilemma of 'getting your hopes up'.

That all sounds a little pessimistic really doesn't it!  Of course I'll apply for the ones I'd love.  I'll just give it a little while before I grow attached.  Distract myself with knitting, and books which combine post apocalyptic earth geekery with the best hobby ever* (*in my humble opinion).

In case you'd like to join me in the land of tiny giant geeks, the book is 'Doomsday Knits: Projects for the Apocalypse and After', and can be found here on Ravelry.

The yarn?  What is the yarn, you ask? Is some Yummy Malabrigo.  Is squishy.  I squish it.

DIY: Christmas Decorations

The gale force winds and snow have finally arrived in Scotland, so it's definitely time to use the remaining weekends for christmas craftyness :D  

Whilst browsing I spotted a few great ideas and just had to share them.  

Great picture Idea

Stringy Snowman

Pegs for advent

Santa Strawbs

In our old flat in Viewforth Square in Edinburgh, our amazing neighbours made these little gentlemen for us!  We shall have to re-create it this year :D

Tree Nails

Mulled Wine Syrup!

Pompom Wreath

Reindeer Napkins

Teacup Decorations

Paper Stars

Mitten Garland

Mashmallow Hearts

The original idea for this was frozen whipped cream, but wouldn't they be amazing as cookie-cut cinnamon mashmallow?!

Housey Gift Box

Havew you been getting crafty this month?  What have you been making?  I need to find a little crochet snowflake pattern...

x

A Long Forgotten Hobby

It has been over 3 months since I've picked up and finished a new book.  How could I have 'forgotten' to read?!  This is a quaint little number about a little village vicar who discovers a terrible secret... *drumroll*.    Have you read any great books lately?  I need to make a little 'to-read' pile!!

Also, this month, I am imposing an ebay and amazon ban upon myself.  I think I have a shopping problem.  But look at the teeny tiny cute owl dish!!!  Coooote.

The GORGEOUS fluff in the top picture is from Fondant FIbre, silky nommyness.  Would it be too much to ply the green and purple together?  Probably.  Maybe a nice grey jacob...


Rather excited for tomorrow becauuuuse... I'm off to visit Old Maiden Aunt's workshop with Lauren!  Considered taking the picnic basket but thought that was probably a little bit over the top.  I shall still take the contents though.  Train picnic!!!

Old Maiden Aunt has such amazingly glorious yarn I am never going to want to leave.  Apparently she has a woofy dog, so I'll come home smelling of sheep and dog and the guinea pig won't be very fond of me at all.

I've had a very productive couple of days off - my flat is now finally unpacked!  It only took 7 weeks...  You can now officially come to stay, because the second bedroom is no longer a tip and is now a proper room.  Bedclothes and all.

Anyhoo.  I am going to bed.  It is 2 am, and I seem to have developed a habit of not sleeping until far too late then sleeping through 16gazillion alarms.  Never fear, I've figured out a cunning plan;  I've set my phone alarm (thrice), the bedside alarm, the telly alarm in the living  room, and the PC alarm in the second bedroom.  So if I don't wake up for that lot on my own, I'm sure the police will wake me once the neighbours make a noise complaint.

x

Will-'O-The-Wisp in KnitNow September Issue

Eepity!

Will-O'-The-Wisp by OwlPrintPanda.
Photo (c) Dan Walmsley for Practical Publishing

The September Issue of KnitNow has just arrived, and I couldn't be more excited!  Apart from the fact that it's a rather brilliant little issue anyway, I had the chance to contribute to this one.

Here's the hat on Ravelry - have a peek at the other items in the issue whilst you're there!!



If you missed the bloggy post yesterday, you can head over here to see that too :)

xx

New Stitch Markers by AGirlCalledBoz

"Yey Squizzles!"  They are indeed here, the new wee designs by AGirlCalledBoz.

After the oh-so-pretty badgers & kitty cats she sent last time, I didn't think I could love her designs any more than I already did.  These are amazing!!

You can find them in the etsy shop now :D  

Remember you can still enter the giveaway & join the christmas swap!

Ye Olde Christmas Swappe!

Sorry to mention the 'c' word so early but... would anyone like to get a little christmas swap on the go?!

Pop over to the Ravelry group for more details :D

The jumper in the photo above is by Susan Crawford (as is the photo!), and is one of my favourite christmas knits!  

You can find it on Ravelry here - it's quite aptly called 'The Perfect Christmas Jumper'!

Have you started your christmas knitting yet?  (I have not, and it already feels too late...)

Remember that post where I got rather carried away about lush.co.uk soaps?  Wait until you see this little christmas gem!  Last year Lush brought out this christmas slice soap, and I'm really hoping it will come back this year!!

Too early to get too excited though, especially when the Glasgow School of Yarn event is just around the corner!!

The Bunny Pin Giveaway is still on the go - pop over here for details :)

x

Glasgow School of Yarn 2013

It's back!!  And bigger than before!  This year I'll have a little stall, so do pop by to say hello!!

The wonderful glasgow school of yarn will be on the 18th -19th of October.

Run by the lovely Antje of The Yarn Cake yarn & coffee shop, it's a great event filled with lots of lovely people - there are quite a few workshops which I'd have loved to attend if I wasn't going to be so busy!!   You can find more details on The Yarn Cake website.  

You're more than welcome to request custom items or reserve markers to be set aside before the event, and come pick them up on the day!  Just email me :)

You can find the event at:

Mackintosh Church

870 Garscube Road, 

Queen's Cross

Glasgow

G20 7EL

10am - 6pm both days!  

Entry is £5 at the door or is included if you've booked in for a class :)

Cuppa & Cake with Victoria from Little Wren Pottery

Sticking to local supplies and traditional techniques, these little pieces really have stolen my heart.  Every item is produced by Victoria at her home in Yorkshire, inspired by natural shades & changing seasons in the countryside.  You can read lots more about the production of them in the 'About' section of Little Wren Pottery.  

Victoria opened her etsy store in 2009.  Having studied design at the University of Dundee, she was taught pottery by her father - culminating in the beautiful handcrafted items she produces.

1. I have to admit, I stumbled across your store because of your gorgeous yarn bowls, do you knit very much yourself?

I do knit, I've been a knitter for longer than I've been a potter and I actually started making yarn bowls because I wanted one. I love cabling and mostly making jumpers even though it takes a long time.

I think the favourite garment I've made was from a free pattern at knitty.com called beatnik. It's a really easy pattern to follow with beautiful shaping. I keep thinking about knitting another in a different colour!

2. When did you begin to create such brilliant pottery, and when did this become an online store?

I started throwing in 2008 mainly thanks to my Dad who was a potter himself. I started selling in 2009 on Etsy and doing a few events. Pottery is an odd medium to work in, it really rewards repetition and constant daily practise.

Since I started my shop I've seen my skills grow and develop pushed in part by custom requests. Collaborating with buyers often results in surprising new works. I was a bit nervous about selling online and it is a challenging marketplace but you never know unless you put yourself out there!

3. There are teeny frogs in coffee mugs!! Do you make any other animal themed goodies?

I do like to use animals and other natural symbols in my pieces. You can find snails and butterflies on yarn bowls but I think my favourite are the mice.

The mice are so cute and I love it when people 'discover' them for the first time on pots. We used to have a little mouse that lived in our garden, my dad named him Michael! The mice work best on mugs and I like to leave them unglazed to stand out more against the colour of the pot.


4. What's your favourite item to make - and why?

My favourites have to also be one of the most challenging; plates. Each plate takes 2 kilos of clay to throw but at the end of the session looking over your work is just satisfying. Especially when they're all in a row together looking like part of the same family of pieces.



5. Will we see you at any craft fairs or events in the coming year?

Events are tricky for me it takes a long time to build up enough stock so I'm not able to do them often. I don't currently have any plans to do an even but if I can squeeze one in before Christmas I will do. The best thing is to keep an eye on the blog where I'll usually announce it beforehand.

Victoria posts on a brilliant blog, which you can find here at littlewrenpottery.co.uk.  Everything from creative ideas, stunning pictures from countryside wanders and yummy looking recipies!

You can also find her on facebook & twitter.  And, of course, have a nosey at the etsy store.

Have you got any ceramics or pottery you adore?  I've already nabbed a gorgeous yarn bowl from Little Wren Pottery, and am so tempted by the dinner sets!  This little shop miiiight even have inspired me to take a pottery class here in Glasgow! (whenever I can find a day off...)

x

DIY: Sew Easy Project / Knitting Bag

This pretty little quarter has been sitting on my desk for a while - it was too pretty to use!  So  what better way to be able to see your favourite fabric every day than to make it into a project bag?

I've taken far too many photos and written some instructions so you can make one too!

Been on nightshifts this week, and I am finding it very difficult to sleep when it's so sunshiney outside!  Sunshiney free time is for wandering outside with new red-riding hood and fox themed knitting baggies...





You will need:

• any size of fabric, depending on the size of bag you want.  This one (which ends up roughly the same size as a sheet of A4 paper) began as a fabric quarter.  
• ribbon or string for drawstring
• scissors
• needle & thread / sewing machine

1.  Since I've used a quarter, I just folded this in half inside out, but you can also cut two rectangles and pop these together (right sides facing).  The quarter was too long, so I chopped off around 5 inches from the top - my bag fabric at this point measured approximately 55 x 35 cm each side.

2.  Pin around the bottom and open side(s) of your bag.

3.  If you have folded a piece of fabric, cut ~3cm down the folded seam at the top of the bag, to allow you to fold the brim down to form a track for your drawstring.  When sewing your sides together, remember not to sew into this 3cm flap area, as it needs to allow your drawstring to pass out the side!

4.  After sewing the sides and bottom, pin down the top flaps to make your drawstring track.  Remember not to pin these right through both sides!  They only need to be sewn onto one side of the bag! - you don't wanna go sewing your bag shut.  Sew these flaps down - remembering to sew them only onto the side they're on and not to close the small gaps at the sides as your string will need to pass through here.

Stop here!  Don't sew the drawstring track shut!

I apologise for the terrible nail-polish job...

5. Cut two lengths of drawstring, each should be around 2x as long as the circumference of the bag (mine were ~1metre each, but this could probably be smaller).

6.  Feed your string through the drawstring track.  TIP:  tie the string to a knitting needle and pop this easily through the track, drawing your string with it!  Thread one in a loop through from left to right in the front track, and right to left in the back track.  Thread the other in the opposite direction (right to left in front track, left to right in back track).  

7.  Tie your drawstrings into a knot at the ends, turn your bag the right way round, and pull!  One project bag!

 

If you make a project bag, please do send me in your links and photos!  Just pop a comment below or e-mail me if you'd like me to pop a link onto the page!

Aaaa is so cute!  I'ma gonna go stare at it again for a wee while...

I've also made a couple of other pretties, but we shall save those for another day :p