Erndales N More: A Busy, Fun, Creative Week!

Monday, January 9, 2023

A Busy, Fun, Creative Week!

I've had a busy, very creative week! How has your week gone? Hope everyone is well and adjusting to the start of a New Year!

Can we talk about the weather? Wow, this week has been gorgeous. Much warmer temperatures, bright sunshine, and a feeling like spring can't be far away - even though we know there is not a chance of that any time soon.

Still I have that "feeling" coming over me. You know the one that happens when you open up a new seed catalogue for the first time. I get through the vegetable section without a twinge, but then when I hit the flowers section - well, then I want to get out the pots and start planting. Of course I didn't do that - but I did haul my seed starting greenhouse up into the south window of my studio. I did not however put the cover on it - for now I am using it as a drying rack for some pretty crazy fun project I discovered this week.

I am taking a bit of a break from knitting for awhile. Even though I have some socks on the needles that I should finish, for once I am listening to my body when it tells me (via lymphedema in my arm, and carpal tunnel in my wrist) to stop for awhile.

So stitching and journal making have come to the top of the list for awhile.

I finished a very simple Gratitude Journal, and have been writing my gratitude of the day, every evening before I head off to bed. I thought it might be a challenge to think of something positive about the day, every day - but that has not been the case at all. I could fill a page a day if I let myself, mainly because I am letting the negative go and concentrating on the positive, in the process realizing that there is so much in my day that is truly good!

I started my stitching journal as well, which is another calming activity. Every day I stitch a tiny block , letting myself just enjoy the stitching, wether it is perfect or not ( usually it's not). I have stitched a full week now, and it is really pretty. ( I will share a photo next time)

I also started a new cross stitch piece. I'm doing the Fox from last year's A YEAR IN THE WOODS, by Cottage Garden Samplings. I love this piece and making really good progress on it.

MY PROGRESS

But the most fun this week, was the new thing I discovered. Did you know you can make Faux leather from paper? Oh my gosh, what fun I had using really pretty wrapping paper and turning into a beautiful fibre that I can use to make covers for the journals I am going to be making. If you are interested in seeing how it's done, check out the video below.