French Knots

Finding pleasure

I am trying to rest as much as I can while the children are at school so I can 'spend' my energy at each end of the day when the children need me. Generally this involves sitting watching more tv than  have in years, snoozing, listening to podcasts or doing a bit of crochet. I have also been trying meditation but thoughts keep popping into my head - whats for tea, where is littlest's swimming stuff for his lesson later, you know how it is - but I'm going to continue practicing.

As an antidote to indolence and to cheer me up I like a little perky project, like the jacket in my last post, as having nothing to show for my day still seems so alien.

I cut into some gorgeous old faded floral fabric to rustle up a roomy bag, with an antimacasser, doliy and a bit of ribbon thrown in it's certainly pretty.

As it is a large, wide bag I wanted a way to pull the sides in both to give shape and to keep my bits and bobs safe inside.

   So a couple of bits of ribbon sewn into the sides seams and tied in a bow is an easy solution and gives the bag a lovely shape.

It has cheered me up, as has the glorious sunshine this afternoon, and will cheer me up even more when I use it to go to Yarndale on Saturday!

 

Prettifying

I'm sure you have an old favourite too, nothing wrong with it, it's comfy and you wear it a lot but it could perhaps do with a little pizzaz.

I decided my trusty old denim jacket could do with a little something to perk it up and perhaps perk me up a bit too in the process.

So a spot of patchwork with a suffolk puff and lovely old button in the centre was just the ticket.

As the wet grey weather moves in and the days become darker some more Perky Projects are called for, I can't get out and about as much at the moment so little spirit lifters like this are just what I need.  

Like my Suffolk Puff Cardi

and as the summer is well and truly gone I need a new banner to replace the ice cream colours of this one

So sitting crocheting and sewing is firmly on the agenda.

Not Invisible

As Invisible Illness Week 2013 draws to a close I decided it was time to stop being invisible myself. A lot of this year has passed me by, because I just haven't had the wherewithall for anything else.But following a diagnosis of ME/CFS this week I'd like feel a little more in control of my life again, there is no treatment as such. but apparently I need to learn about Pacing. Not sure how that fits into busy family life and certainly the non stop mothering of the summer holidays has had me on my knees, which in itself is upestting without feeling all the other symptoms. I want to enjoy my children before they are grown and gone, but they have probably enjoyed the days when they are allowed to watch Peppa Pig, play Minecraft or veg out ( depending on their age) when I am too knackered to do anything.

I am learning to choose the things I really want to do, the ones I want to 'spend' my energy on and some hard decisions have been made. I had been anticipating doing more with my business from September this year when my youngest went to school and my head is bursting with ideas but it will all keep, though I am very excited about doing workshops for the BBC! I love inspiring people's creativity so much I can't bear to give up all my workshops, though they may need further pruning.

Over the course of this year I have got worse and worse so my first aim is to stop the slide, not sure how just yet but I have prescribed myself watching Downton as somehow we missed it on tv. So enough of the pity party, some of my favourite things can be done while sitting with my feet up - crochet, patchwork hexies, reading, drinking wine with friends and making lists to trap my ideas before they fly away. And I'm hoping to make it to Yarndale on the Saturday with a friend, fingers crossed.

What a night with The Alarm!

Last night was French Knots Craft Studio's long awaited Christmas do! 

 Oh it was good, Mike Peters and the guys gave their all and were clearly having a brilliant time. I also had a brilliant time, transported back the the first time I saw The Alarm when I was 17. There was just as much passion and energy both from the band and the crowd, though after 2 hours of leaping up and down like a lunatic I was a bit of a sweaty betty to say the least. While belting out the anthems, jumping up and down with my arms stretched high in enjoyment I had suddenly had a clear though ' The Big Sister would be horrified if she could see me!' Ha ha!!

It was the most fun I have had in a long time, loud and raucous, the music vibrating in your body as well as your soul. This knackered middle aged Mum hasn't felt so alive in a bloody long time!

Thanks to the boys for loving what they do and taking us along for the best ride in town last night.

Mike Peters is a cancer survivor and uses his passion for rock and his platform to make a difference through his Love Hope Strength Foundation We signed up for the bone marrow donation database and lots of other fans were signing up too, they are promoting Get on the List - sign up, get swabbed and save a life. Perhaps you could too?

Perfect Christmas do, I think I'll do the same next Christmas,

 

Missing

I have been missing my blog but my motivation seems to be missing too!

Late last year I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and had to take some medication which made me feel ill. I persevered as I was told it would make me feel less exhausted, it didn't and during February I started falling asleep during the day if I sat down for more than 5 minutes. So now I am stopping the tablets and am feeling dreadful. Hurrah, that was a total waste of time. Hopefully once they are out of my system the symptoms they created will stop and I'll just be back to the fibromyalgia symptoms. Which are pants too but better than nodding off just after breakfast.

Pah.

Anyway.....

Signs of spring are cheering, the forsythia in my garden is beginning to bloom with it's bold brash flowers and there hasn't been a drop of rain in about 3 weeks - in Manchester this is unheard of! Well apart from the heatwave summer of '77 that I remember from childhood. These daffs have been brightening up mu studio with their nodding heads. The studio has been very busy and I've been teach workshops 3 or 4 times a week, which I love. Sharing something you are passionate about with other who love it too is just the best job in the world. I've been teaching children how to use sewing machines, converting lots of new people into crochet addicts and have launched Vintage Crafternoon Tea Hen Parties in conjunction with my partner in crime Baking genius Gwyn. It's dreadful - I sometimes have to eat left over cake!

I've got plans for new kits, childrens sewing parties, magazine articles and lots of new creative workshops - it's a shame one of the main symptoms of fibromyalgia is exhaustion otherwise I'd get even more done!

 My lovely Mum would have been 70 last month. Even after so many years I still miss her everyday and the older I get the more unfair it seems that she was only in her 50s when she died. How she would have loved hanging out with me in my studio, my inspiration and example of creative, loving motherhood xx

Perky Projects

So here is the first Perky Project!

I found some lovely old Sanderson fabric that I had forgotten I had (too much fabric, no no, not at all!) but there wasn't quite enough for the bay window so I ordered some more from Ebay. When it arrived it was not quite the same pattern, so now I had two floral fabrics neither of which were large enough to make the curtains.

So naturally the answer was to stalk some more Sanderson fabric on ebay and make patchwork curtains. They still need lining but now they are up it might be a while before I get round to it.

They have certainly perked up the room and I am delighted with them.

Have you got any Perky Projects planned to cheer up the winter months?

A Winner

So The Big Sister helped by drawing a name from my newly knitted teal beret and the winner is .....

Christy from Lil Bit Brit. So please let me know your address and I'll get your goodies in the post.

 I am going to try and find a few minutes today to have a play with my Christmas present from Mr FK

 a fancy pants cutting machine! I want to use it for cutting fabric to make patchwork and applique easier on my hands. They have been getting increasingly painful over the last couple of years, combined with ongoing pain in arms, legs and ankles and also poleaxing tiredness. My GP diagnosed me with fibromyalgia   a couple of months ago and I am still learning about how to pace myself ( ha ha!) and what I can do to reduce the pain and improve my energy levels.

Right I have an embroidery tutorial to finish today, a knitted egg cosy pattern to work on for an upcoming class and a hen party booking to plan for - business is going well and I feel so lucky to be doing something I love that fits around the children too.

See how well I pace myself already!!

 

Giveaway Prizes

So a little later than planned (thanks to starting the New Year with a lovely D&V bug!) here are the giveaway prizes. I thought I'd include one of my tweedy brooches as well as the cushion,a little pick me up for your favourite cardi. I have a super collection of felted jumpers and rescued velvet that are perfect for brooches. In fact I have a whole suitcase full! I love to use vintage suitcases for storage as they look wonderful all stacked on top of each other and I can just grab the one I need when dashing off to run a workshop.

I generally pick them up for pennies at my local jumble and am going to try covering one of the tatty ones with fabric to perk it up, in fact Perky Projects are on the horizon - a quick makeover or project that delivers maximum perkiness is the antidote to the endless grey,damp weather and post Christmas slump.

What's lifting your spirits for the New Year?

 

6 years giveaway

I started my blog on December 28th 2006, during the lovely lull between Christmas and New Year. Having spent a few months reading wonderful inspiring blogs full of amazing creativity I wanted to join in but was not sure what I'd have to say.

Looking back on my posts gives me so much pleasure, the little everyday snippets and my growing family. The Baby Brother wasn't even a twinkle in my eye, The Big Sister wasn't very big  and My Little Helper hadn't started school.

So many makes and meals, holidays and days out, so much to treasure.

To thank you for joining me I am celebrating with a little giveaway. I've not been organised enough to take a photo but it is a squishy velvet and tweed cushion decorated with a doily that I made. I'll try and add a photo soon too!

 A little Christmas embroidery I designed for one of my workshops

I'll draw a name out of the hat a week from today on Friday 4th Jan, happy to post anywhere so please leave a comment and say hello!

 

Enduring

This year has had it's trials, in addition to the usual mayhem of three children, a home and a business to run there has been the months of worry over Mr FK's foot (now happily healed) and the ongoing distress to my little family caused by someone I expected better of .

However I was feeling festive and hoping for a peaceful Christmas. But no, 2012 had a couple more steep dips on the roller coaster last week. I am weary and worried. But during the final part of Last Tango in Halifax last night Gillian said 'but you love someone warts and all' which really spoke to my heart, things may not be quite how we want them to be and of course there are no rose tinted spectacles in real life but love that endures even when tested is surely love worth having. It lifted my spirits and I will hold on to it during the weeks ahead.     

My events and workshops are finished now for Christmas ( December was my best month yet and I have exciting plans for my little business in the New Year) so I am going to choose some soothing knitting or crochet to relax with and some Christmas music to listen to by the lights of the Christmas Tree.  The worries will be pushed to the back of my mind while I enjoy this most special time of the year with those I care most about,

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas, thank you for your support this year

xx