The Story so Far...

Roughly two years ago I left a job that was making me feel miserable and unfulfilled. It was a rather spontaneous decision which left members of the family a bit thrown off course and we did have a bit of a wobbly time. But, I decided I was not going to stress about it and let the Universe show me the right path. 

A friend suggested a job at a dear little school working 1-1 with a young Autistic boy. It was less hours and less money but I thought What the Hell and checked it out. After visiting the school to chat with the Head I then had one of the worst migraines ever, which meant I was unable to prepare for other interviews I had lined up for the following a week. I decided this was A Sign so took the job thinking I could supplement my income with Woollycraft Workshops and selling my hand crafted wares.

What I discovered during my two years of working with my new friend was an aptitude, skill set and love of supporting non-neuro typical children. I also discovered the only part of my so-called business I actually enjoyed was the making....I was useless at self promotion, I found selling at markets stressful and I struggled to 'put myself out there' . I liked sharing my skills and tools doing workshops but found it hard to get the word out and attract enough participants.

As the two years progressed my hours increased and the time spent on my 'business' decreased. I had also joined the wonderful Wiltshire Mighty Girls, helping run afterschool clubs empowering our next generation of young women find their confidence and their voice in what still appears to be a male dominated world.

Then by the end of the last academic year my friend was due to move onto a specialist autism unit much better suited to his needs, I was looking at finding another job.

Cue another wobbly time. I was tentatively offered some hours to stay at the school which left me with the quandary of staying somewhere safe and familiar or moving on to pastures new.

Again the Universe came through with a possible role at the autism unit my friend was moving to. I went for it and got the job and I'm now a month into my new role.  I have to say I LOVE IT. The unit has 29 primary aged children all with the same diagnosis but all different and wonderfully unique. I love how everyone's characters and quirks are accepted and I really do agree with Greta Thunberg when she calls her Asperger's diagnosis her Super Power!

So, for now, Woollycraft has returned to an activity that soothes my Soul. An activity that helps me process a often challenging day, a chance to just make the things I love for the people I love. I no longer have to worry about monetising my creativity, I can just enjoy it but I shall continue to create and share my creations as when I feel like it.

Boat life continues as usual...

Moving on.

Thank you to Blogger for many years of supporting my little musings but the time has come to move the blog over to my website.

The story continues here. I'd love you to come follow :-)

Balance.

I've been meaning to update the blog for ages....ever since the beginning of the year in fact...but life kept getting in the way. 

The last two opportunities got used up doing boat jobs, turning her round so we are facing the right way to get water and then the actual travelling down to do the boat services (an adverse weather forcast bought the need for that job forward!). I do love that aspect of boat life, chugging along at snails pace, watching the wildlife. I always get to do the driving and Boat mate Val does the tricky jumping off and balancing on narrow gunnels, (I definitely get the better end of the deal)...I LOVE driving my boat :-)

Anyway, thats what I was doing instead of blogging....as well as doing a bit of avoiding...blogging is a bit like work, if I'm writing about doing Stuff with Fluff then I'm not DOING Stuff with Fluff.

Oooo ...what's this going to be?

 On Instagram I've been doing a January challenge, each day you post a picture as a response to a prompt. I thought it would be a good way to Focus My Mind and prepare myself for a relaunch of Woollycraft Workshops!! (I wonder if it's been a bit of a distraction).

Well today's prompt is Balance....and that got me a thinking....

My life is a constant search for balance, equilibrium, harmony. I'm usually juggling the need to live, work, take care of a family with a need to create and make. To spin or card, knit or crochet, anything fibery, anything fluffy, if I'm not doing life I want to be making... something...anything...out of wool.  

Oh....nothing!

Recently, I've been at a bit of a loss as to what to 'make'.  I'm currently working on a very nice jumper made from pure alpaca that I still need to spin more yarn for, but carding black and white fibre when you want to play with colour can be a little dull. I've also been crocheting flowers and things with some rather fabulous sparkly wool which is kind of satifying and fun but I don't know what they are meant to be yet, so really it's just playing.

 

 I kind of want to get stuck into a big, interesting project, a big blanket or an amazing technicolour garment and get lost in the process of planning and making...

But.... then I remember I've got that big, interesting varied project going on already, it's called Woollycraft! I'm meant to be Healing the World with Wool. I'm meant to be building my website and writing letters to people. I'm meant to be putting myself out there!! 

My creativity of late is expressing itself as either a bit bland but necessary or directionless and without an end purpose in sight and feels a bit unsatisfactory.  I've tried making other yarn but felt disatisfied with that too.  All this kind of tells me that maybe I should be directing my 'creativity' into something else.

 And so back to balance...sometimes the need to make and create can be a distraction, an avoidance tactic and the trick is to notice when. My need to make needs to take a step back and support another creative process, website design, admin, letter writing and self promotion.

Anyway, saying that I'm now going to card some black and white for my new jumper and at least start to THINK about the future...I may even write some lists!!

I would dearly love to share some decent photo's but the light is sooooooo poor...roll on Spring!! 

 

Flower garland

The letter C

Today's post is bought to you by the letter 'C'....

C is for Crumpets. The run up to Christmas is a heady time of excitement and expectation. I was very grateful to return to my warm and cosy home and I really enjoyed my moment of sitting in the place I wanted to be, enjoying the treat I'd made for myself and I thought " Thank you me. Thank you for the mug of tea and hot crumpets" I really needed those crumpets...and the cup of tea.

So C is also for Care ...Take Care of yourself during this time. And when you do really notice it, revel in it, give yourself a big old love and most of all don't feel guilty about it. 

C is also for Creativity. As always in the run up to Christmas it can all get a bit top secret as the desire to create is directed towards making things as an expression of love and friendship. But I can tell you that I'm busy stringing looms for this Saturday's Women's Circle in the Herd Thyme Tipi field.  Something I'm very much looking forward to, a day of meditation and weaving.  A little time out from the hustle and bustle to just play with sticks and wool, while in the company of others. Sharing stories and exchanging tips. We still have one place left so feel free to share with friends or family if you think they might be interested. 

Details here or feel free to send me a message for more information.

I really must crack on now with the life jobs...stringing looms and making pizza for a very special family guest.  I am well fortified by the crumpets and a bucket of tea and the little sit down (well done me).

I hope to post some pictures of our Weaving Your Story workshop some time before Christmas but you know how it is.... but I shall definitly be thinking about my website, Woollycraft Wonders and where it's going next, and of course that glorious alpaca yarn that is begging to be my next favourite garment...I'm really being good to me at the moment!!  

TTFN and all the very best Christmas Cheer to you all x

 

Self Care.

After a VERY busy weekend at the Christmas Floating Market, selling wool, making wool and (hopefully) inspiring others to do things with wool I found myself a little slow to get going today.  A notion made all the more obvious when I realised I'd got half way to the car without my keys!!

So, when I got home today it was all about self care which took the form of re-making my nest (quite a feat in itself in such a small and enclosed space!) and a gentle pottering of tidying and clearing spaces.  We even had enough time and energy for a little bit of Christmasing :-)

 

It'll be a pizza tea and then an evening of gentle crochet. I'd love to know what other's do for self care? Feel free to leave a comment below if you feel like sharing.

Take care all...literally :-) TTFN x