What kind of crafter are you? ...

A recent post by Claireabellemakes about what kind of crafter she was set me thinking about why I have started down this journey of blogging about my crochet and even trying to sell my stuff ...


... creativity ...

There is a deep rooted satisfaction that I get from making something with my own hands which almost defies description.

First of all there is the physical aspect of the wool or cotton that you use - I love to feel, stroke and touch my crochet work. I kid you not, I stroke my work on a daily basis. I think it's the joy that I get from the consistency and symmetry of the stitches and the genuine visual pleasure of getting the right combination of colours.

The flip side of this is that I feel so discombobulated when I don't get it right. If I show anyone a design in progress while it is still too "fresh" I can be too easily discouraged. Sometimes that's a little heartbreaking. Which makes me think of this ...

Found on twistedsifter.com

It recently took me 10 months to give 2 cushions to a friend mainly because they just weren't "right"?! They were pretty and all and I do love them. I was happy with the execution of them ... they just weren't the cushions I had in my head. All that meant was that they sat around my house for a good 2 months before I summoned up the "courage" to give them to my friend. I'm slightly ashamed to admit it wasn't the most gracious of gift giving ceremonies. I genuinely hadn't realised that giving away my "babies" would be so hard!

J's Cushions

The joy, however, when I do get it right is very gratifying. This image makes me very, very happy! It's the wallpaper on my phone and I can't deny I get a ripple of pleasure every time I look at it.

The Made-it Market cushions

 ... meditation ...

Crocheting is my way of practicing mindful meditation. I do it on the bus every morning and most afternoons - I'm not ashamed :)

The dance of the hook as you create is mesmerising. If I'm making an amigurumi, I find myself counting over and over again which is quite soothing in and of itself or if it's someting easy like a granny square, I take the opportunity to ruminate on things that are happening in my life. I find that once I get to the end of a project I have usually made peace with whatever issues are rattling round my brain. 

The image of my Made-it Market cushions constitutes about 75 hours of "therapy" - that would have set me back £3k's worth of counselling at current market rates. 

... social support ...

I am an enthusiastic type. As surprising as it is, people are just not that interested in talking crochet. It really was quite exhilarating to join the CamCity WI and find myself surrounded by a whole load of people who didn't bat an eyelid when I got my crochet out. There is something inherently soothing about being surrounded by your own "tribe". 

So to come back to Claireabellemakes's post - I enjoy crafting alone when I'm coming up with an idea but I really love the support and encouragement you get from surrounding yourself with enthusiastic, creative people.

The Made-It Market - the debrief

Now that I've had a whole day to recover I thought I would jot down some of my thoughts on my first ever craft market experience.

I'd been aware of the Made-it Market since a friend started having a stall there years ago and have always loved the styling and quality of the stalls. So when I decided in April to do my first craft fair, I thought I would aim high. I don't regret it one bit - admittedly the run up was painful. I really can't recommend sorting out your first craft fair in two months. However here goes my debrief ...


... the stalls ...

I was already quite aware of which stall holders were going to come and had earmarked a few that I wanted to visit. In no particular order some of the stall holders that had that extra wow factor for me were: 

Tokyo Textiles - I just love Bethany's style. I was also very impressed with her being there - she was heavily pregnant and looked amazing! This was her stall with some amazingly pretty baby dresses. I loved her little purses.  

 

Sew Me Happy - I have been lurking on the Sew Me Happy blog and shop  for a while now. I ogled her stall and lusted after a really pretty travel sewing kit she had made. I didn't take a picture unfortunately, but it was very similar to one that she blogged about ... one day one will be mine.

Emma Wood Textiles - Ooh, this stall was very satisfying to look at. I stalked her website today. Yet again, I didn't take any photos but you can see her fabrics here. Her fabrics were very striking in rich colours and almost Islamic geometric patterns.

 ... the haul ...

I had given myself a very strict talking to before going about purchases (basically DON'T!) and I was very good.

Luckily Mum came to the rescue and bought me a luh.huh.ver.ly skein from the The Sheep Shop stall: 100g of the scrumptious merino blend that is Sparkleduck Figgy Pudding Galaxy. She really couldn't have made a better choice. I think I will be using it to make a scarf for the Kid - who really deserves a massive dose of TLC for putting up with me during the preparations.

My Mum also splashed out at the one of the glassware stalls (stall name to follow) and bought some glass snowflake Christmas decorations. My sister indulged herself with a spindle kit from Boo's Attic and my niece bought a fab tartan skirt from one of the upcycling stalls (stall name to follow).

  ... my stall ...

I was really pleased with the way the stall turned out. In October, I had eyed up the window dressing props in New Look of all places and popped in to see whether they would be willing to give me any of the props once they had finished with them. Amazingly I was allowed to just have these two cardboard boxes and some "flooring" as well as some brick paper. I was really pleased with the look of it. 

As for my stock, I loved it all ... there just wasn't enough of the small stuff. Hey ho, lesson learnt.

 

I could have sold masses of the Christmas baubles and will be making a whole batch over the next week both for myself and the Etsy shop. Once I've done, I'll put up a step by step post of how to make them - so many crocheters came up to ask how they were made.

I had so many lovely, lovely people come to visit - some bought and some just for moral support. I felt much love for them all!!

The Made-It Market

I hang my head in shame with my Blogtoberfest effort.

Hey ho - it was for a good reason. I have been a very busy bee making this for the Made It Market which is ... today!

... orange ...

I love looking at this colour ...

 

 ... green ...

... pink ...

I have loved making these ... who knew some bright colours and a hook could bring so much happiness.

I have opened up an Etsy shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/GertieLeighCrochet - to sell everything I make. Not so much profit as cost recovery ...