So much to do....

So little time, is how the saying goes isn't it? Certainly feels like that of late in the Lyvit house. My crafting wish list continues to grow rapidly, with beautiful inspirational pieces popping up all the time. Yet with a family, household day to day things and the outside world all demanding time and energy, creative stress release time is limited enough. Add on top a chronic illness or two and the new fashionable way of living slowly becomes the norm. Yet I find myself less than happy with it.

 I have found myself lately becoming overwhelmed almost by all the wonderful inspiration to be found on social media. With feeds full of beautiful dresses, walls covered in the latest intricate socks, boards popping up covered in detailed afghans and new channels filled with talented creators, I find myself wanting it all right now, yet knowing I won't get round to even half of it in my life time, let alone this year! How do you all do it? How do you creative, wonderful, talented people organise your lives and achieve so much? I realised recently that because I have so much I personally want to do I end up procrastinating and not achieving anything. So easily distracted by the never ending rabbit hole of creative inspiration.

I guess in a way I have a bad case of WIPitis, only most of them are started in my head. I'm the same in the rest of my life too. I have a huge bookshelf full of books to be read, a list of exercises I should be doing, and even a pile of tasks that really need doing, yet I find myself looking elsewhere for the next thing to do or to occupy me.

So here I am, holding myself accountable to you, the wonderful world of readers and inspiration, I hereby say I must work on completing one creative thing a month. In an ideal world it would be one a week but as I said above life likes some attention too.

So here is my current WIP list; The floral Affair, cast on but not more than that.
                                                         The Wickerwork top, back piece nearly finished.
                                                         My vanilla mermaid socks, 1st one half done.
                                                         The Derive socks from the Knitting Expat                                                                                 Wanderlust collection.
                                                         The Arwen socks are a quarter done.
                                                         The Atlanticus Afghan is literally about 10 rounds                                                                   from completion.
                                                         The Dominique Skirt has been cut out ready.

Actually writing them out like that I'm now determined to finish the skirt and the Afghan before the end of June. Will you support me?

Tell me what helps you to achieve your creative dreams, be more organised and stop the flow of inspiration from over powering you.

Until next time
Mrs L
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Pain stops play

Evening all! How's everyone doing?

I thought I better pop in with a quick note to explain my absence and maybe to learn a few things from you lovely readers. As you may or may not know I struggle with a few chronic health conditions, fibromyalgia and undifferentiated connective tissue disorder being the main ones. Both cause inflammation in my muscles and ligaments etc, however the causes of the inflammation are often unknown and conflicting. For instance I need to exercise and stretch regularly to help stop the UCTD from flaring up but if I push it too much I trigger off a fibromyalgia attack and need to rest. It's uhm...fun being me! (Smiles sarcastically)

It's because of these issues I chose to ignore a new pain that developed last November, interrupting my limited sleep and gradually restricting my movements. You see the issue was (and still is) a strong ache and stiffness in my left shoulder. With me being a Leftie for the majority of activities, both craft and day to day, my ability to stay sane was gradually reduced. Each night I struggle to get comfortable, mostly because for as long as I can remember I have slept on my left side, but also because adding pressure to my shoulder by lying on it turned the ache into a knife stabbing pain. I finally gave in a month ago after crying in agony because I was stuck in my jumper (sweater to my American friends) and unable to extract myself or even get help as I was home alone. Simple tasks like dressing and washing my hair had become a huge mountain to climb and I decided I needed help.

I went to my GP who at first tried to say it was just one or both of the conditions flaring up but after an open and tmi filled discussion on my third visit, it was mentioned it may actually be a frozen shoulder developing. A condition common in middle aged diabetics (I'm 34 and type 1). The answer...physio but there is a 10 week waiting list!! In the meantime I have been advised to search online for physio exercises and rest from my usual sanity crafts....which means no crochet, knitting or sewing!!

It's been 2 weeks so far  and most days the physio is helping, although unclipping my bra is still interesting. The lack of yarn and needles or hook in my hands has been incredibly hard, making me realise how much I relied on their meditative motions to help me block the day to day pain and stresses whilst also feeling productive. I have been flitting between books and watching podcasts or TV with the occasional walk thrown in. However I am finding I am, not bored persay, but the lack of 'productivity' is beginning to grate...causing me to consider giving in and picking up those wonderful implements.

Do you have any ideas on how to deal with this imposed crafting break? Any ideas on things I may be able to do to stay sane and feel productive, without using up limited energy sources? Has anyone been through this? Any tips?

Whilst I'm on crafting hiatus are there any posts or activities you would like me to explore?

On that note and before I begin to beg too much I'm off to do my stretches and movements.

Speak soon
M
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Craft plans for 2018

Morning all! How are we doing?

I am a little late to the party but I wanted to leave my plans craft wise here as sort of an ownership/commitment to doing them. I have seen many blog and podcast posts doing the same thing and I like the idea. I don't like to make New Year Resolutions as such but I do like to spend the time review the past year and pencilling in the next.

My last post evaluated what I achieved last year on the crafting front so this one will focus on my dreams for the upcoming year.

Lets start with knitting shall we. This year I have already signed up to both of the Knitting Expat's sock alongs. They are all designed by Mina and look to be both interesting and a little challenging. Just after the New Year I sorted through and uploaded to Ravelry my entire stash of yarn, only to discover I have a rather large collection of gorgeous sock yarns, both commercial and indie dyed. Taking part in this Sock KAL will hopefully help to reduce that a little.

As well as Mina's KAL I have signed up to Kirstin of the Yarngasm Podcast's BoxOSoxKAL2018. Kirstin started this KAL two or three years ago and it has taken the sock knitting world by storm. The idea behind it is you get yourself a pretty storage box to keep all the socks in that you knit in the year. You need to knit a minimum of 12 pairs in the year to enter the prize giving thread on Ravelry in December, but just the thought of having a box filled with beautiful soft colours is enough of an inspiration to get me started.

Some of the socks I hope to produce are from the wonderful Sock Drawer Book written by Verity Castledine of the Truly Hooked indie dyer company. Over on instagram two of her fans have start the THKAL encouraging followers to knit one of her patterns a month, starting last September. Sadly I haven't managed to complete any yet but they are all in my queue in the hope I motor through them to catch up.

Apart from the many socks I wish to knit this year I would love to knit a few garments for myself, including the Well Water Hoodie by Suvi Simola

and the A Floral Affair by Hanna Maciejewska.

Both will be a challenge as I have never knit a garment before but I look forward to learning new things. Pretty aren't they!

I haven't planned my crochet wish list yet but it includes a few shawls, patterns still to be chosen, and more toys, including some baby items. No I'm not expecting, one of our extended family members is expecting her first in April. I hope to knit and crochet several items up for her and the baby to give to her once the little bundle arrives. I love giving handmade items, especially to someone so worthy.

This year I would love to also start and learn to sew my own garments. I know very little about sewing so I have signed up to Tilly and the Buttons first two online workshops. I discovered Tilly whilst watching the wonderful Inside Number 23 podcasts. Katie, who hosts the podcasts, is an amazing seamstress, knitter and all round creative person, who has inspired me in many parts of my life. I hope to draw from her inspiration for a handmade wardrobe and make my first skirt soon. I usually live in jeans and t-shirts but I'm fed up of having no real style or  clothes not fitting properly. I hope that by making my own i can learn what I like and what looks good on me.

Wow reading back through that small selection of what I would like to achieve this year I realise i may have stretched myself. I'm sure though that with a little planning and taking it one step at a time I will get there, even if it's not by December 31st!

If you have read this far thank you. I realise this is an unusually link heavy post. Normal service should resume next week.

Until then I hope you week is kind to you and you have plenty of creative time, in whatever is your chosen craft.

MrsLyvit
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