My 2nd Crafts Project

When I had my initiation into crafts, paper quilling was the main focus. It was fun and I was able to finish a project within a couple hours...albeit, simple designs, but I did it.

Since then, I've been stocking up on designs and trying to load up on flowers and hearts and leaves and whatnot...filling my 'quilling case', this way it's done and I can just grab what I want, put it together and go from there.

After the quilling, I moved on to another craft that requires quite alot more detail and patience: embroidery.

I had just begun the design for my mini pillow that day and since then, whenever I get a chance, I spend a half hour - an hour continuing...I admit it's coming along very slowly, but I love seeing it come together.

I think I've done enough now where I can add a picture of it, so you can see it and kind of get an idea of what it's supposed to be. *wink wink*

So, here is what I am working on now:

A 10 minutes here, half hour there and it's slowly coming along. :)

These minute details take time, but it's time well-spent. :)

I am also proud to say that I haven't had any angry moments this past week either...I'm following my self-improvement resolutions as best I can.

Still singing 'happy thoughts' when I feel my patience running thin and my temper getting the better of me, and it is working, so I am also quite happy about that :)

The day after tomorrow, it is back to work for me...NOT happy about that :(

I really love staying home...I realize now that since I didn't pursue my dream of being a criminologist or a human rights lawyer, the corporate world doesn't interest me...

I've really enjoyed the last couple of weeks at home with my husband. I was able to get so much done.

I am sad to announce that I didn't reach my writing goal, which was to finish my novel by this week, but I have done well...just these past two days, I've written more than 14 chapters. So I'm nearing the end. I am looking to have it done by the end of this month.

Last night, I stayed up until 3:00 a.m., typing. I love the freedom of being able to do that. :)

Tomorrow I will be meeting with a friend who has just returned home after backpacking around the entire world for the last 3 YEARS...he is my idol!!

He retired early and took off. I really admire him and can't wait to see his pictures and hear amazing stories! :) :)

Time to sign off and will be back soon enough with another post! :)

My Initiation into the Craft World

Well, I finally got to try my hand at some crafts and I gotta say: What fun!

I admit patience is a necessity but it is so relaxing and the tiny little things you make bring such a smile to your face and satisfaction for your soul.

I went over to my friend's house and we started with paper quilling. The paper colours all lined up in the packages you buy are just so pretty! After looking through an illustrated book of paper quilling, I decided on just doing some simple flower and heart designs to start off with, especially since all the instructions were in Japanese.

So, after lots of measuring, cutting, rolling, pushing, pulling, gluing, fumbled fingers and my friend's excellent instructions, I had created my first project in crafts. And it only took two hours!!

Here is my final product:

It may not look like much, but it does take a long time and precision. Every piece glued onto the frame, needed to be sized, cut, quilled, shaped and glued together.

Each piece is made separately, formed and shaped and glued. Once you have enough to create something, then you put it together to make a heart, or flower petal, or stem, or whatever.

Once it's all glued together to (hopefully) resemble what you want it to, then you have to put it on the frame.

The little white flowers in the top left take the longest. First I did the yellow centers. Then I focused on the white. Each long sheet, needed to be cut to size, then cut numerous times along the edge, then twirled around the yellow center and glued. Then to create the effect of petals, formed, and pushed and spread apart. So, it really does take time.

But now that I know, I will be doing another one with a lot more detail to be used as a collage of pictures of my husband and I. Wish me luck!

Today, I spent another couple of hours making more flowers and other simple designs, and stashing them away in my little cache for my next project.

Two and a half hours, a cup of herbal tea and a bunch of grapes later, we moved on to my next craft: embroidery.

haha.....well, let's just say I didn't finish the tiny cushion I chose to make.

Hooolllyyy tiiiime!! I had no idea how long this stuff took to make.

I won't upload the picture of what I am doing in embroidery until my cloth begins to resemble the picture I plan to make.

But I chose a tiny cushion that has different types of herb plants, as my design. It's really cute.

After...ahem...more than a couple hours...(I won't elaborate)...I managed to finish the square border and one stem line of one herb of a few.

I also didn't realize that embroidery is all about the counting...we had to do a lot of counting to centre the image, to measure, etc. etc.

But, in saying all that, after a few cross-stitches I began to see the pattern form on my fabric and it was the encouragement I needed not to throw in the towel, or the cushion for that matter.

So also today, I spent my morning finishing four other stems. It is coming together...it will definitely take me much longer to finish this than the quilled picture frame, but I'm enjoying it. I cannot deny.

There you have it: my initiation into crafts was a success and I have now crossed to the 'lighter' side of life...it is a wonderful way to pass your time, to spend time with friends, to relax, to lighten your mind and to give yourself some fulfillment.

I would recommend it to anyone. :)

It was just what I needed to finish off my first week in my self-improvement mission.

My husband commented in the car today that I am so relaxed. We were behind an old granny driving about 20 kms/hr in a 60 km/hr zone. It was a swervy and hilly road, so I could not pass him.

If this had happened two weeks ago, I would've been cursing, my heart rate and blood pressure would've shot through the roof and I would've honked and swerved behind the poor man, making him nervous as hell and eventually move to the side to let me through.

Instead, I sat back, sang along with the music and chatted with my husband as we sipped our coffees from 7/11.

He was very impressed with me. And to be honest, I was impressed with me, too. :)

It was a relaxing drive. :)

So now I'll sign off sending out a big thank you to Heather for inspiring me to try my hand at crafts and to Caren for having the patience to teach and guide me.

And once I post this, I'm going to open my file and continue writing my novel, which I added another 3 chapters to, last night.

Have a wonderful week everyone :)