The mildly mixed up musings of a crochet fanatic!

She Wore Flowers in her Hair

7/1/2012

I've been inspired by fabric this week. Today I'm finishing up a tote bag and yesterday in just a few hours I made this sweet barrette. I owe thanks to Libby (Truly Myrtle) who showed me how in her pincushion tutorial. I knew when I saw it that I'd be wearing flowers in my hair! Here's what I did:

I started with (5) 2 1/2" circles, pressed in quarters.

Sew a running stitch along the raw edge of each using one piece of thread.

Pull firmly and attach the first petal to the last petal.

Voila! A flower blooms! I made the center using a 1 1/2" fabric circle. Running stitch around, a little fiber fill, pull and stitch to secure.

They're fun and easy to make. I can imagine them on hairbands, pins, hats, bags and more!

I stitched each flower to the 2 3/4" x 3/4" fabric strip, and stitched that to my barrette. The leaves were too bulky to include.

It's important to me that the back looks as good as the front. The base strip is for function and style.

Aren't they lovely? I'm so happy with the way they turned out!

I know that this doesn't really "go" with my flowers, but I'd like to share it with you just the same. Only recently I discovered SoCS. A weekly prompt for five minutes of writing in the raw (like Five Minute Friday). I've been doing them both, but it feels awkward since they're only a few days apart and so similar. It turns out that I don't have to worry about it anymore because Fadra, our host has decided after two years it's time to move on and today is the last SoCS. I wish her well as I've enjoyed the Sundays we've spent together. There is a bit of serendipity at work here because I was facing another Sunday conflict. I've decided to participate in the Ravelry Group - Come Blog-A-Long. The Second Year of Projects kicks off today, July 1 and weekly updates are posted on - you guessed it - Sunday! With SocS ending I don't have to choose where I want to do my weekly writing exercise or worry about overextending myself on Sundays! I love it when things just fall into place like that.

So without further ado, here is my five minutes of writing on today's prompt:

What does it mean to reinvent yourself?

Recently I reinvented myself – well not entirely. I think it’s more like I found my true self and I’m letting her out.

I used to worry about fitting in, what people think, keeping up with the Jonses all that kind of stuff, and then a few years ago after some very bad things happened I decided it was time to let go and move on.

To find out who I really am and to be true to her I had to do a lot of soul searching and praying and meditating and simply letting go of all the old ways that were not working.

I started to believe in myself. I began to do things just for me. Because I wanted to and because I need to take care of myself.

I stopped trying to control everything and everybody in my life.

It has been so liberating! So freeing.

I think differently and respond differently and I’m happy. I face difficult situations with faith and optimism that I can and will get through. I enjoy my life. I appreciate little things and little events. I work on being in the moment and being happy now. There’s no reason to wait for the big long list of things to be done and then be happy when I can just do it now.

I hope you enjoy the small things that make up your day! I'll be linking up this week with the lovely Nicole and her family on the farm at Frontier Dreams: Keep Calm and Craft On. There are always lots of wonderful works to see. Why don't you join me? Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

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SoCS - Live in the Moment

6/24/2012

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On Friday I wrote about Risk while participating in 5 Minute Friday. Today I offer another five minutes of writing in the raw. The premise is the same - set the timer and write for five minutes, post it just as you created it - no editing, and take a moment to share with someone else who posted on Fadra's link. The prompts are broader than just one word and (for me) require a bit of consideration before letting the words fly. I allowed myself five minutes of rumination and then set to the task. Again I was surprised at how quickly time passes.
Without further ado, here we go...

What are the stories of your life that you love to tell people when you have the chance?

I have learned to stop trying to control my life and learned how to enjoy it instead. I used to spend so much energy keeping things in order, planning, trying to figure out what’s going to happen next.

I don’t do that any more. Because now I know that the only thing I have vontrol over is me and my choices and feelings. I get to choose to feel happy. I get to decide if I’ll allow someone to hurt my feelings. This has been an enlightening and uplifting lesson that allows me to live peacefully in my world. I no longer worry about everything. Instead I take things one moment at a time. I work hard on being present here and now and enjoying all the small things that make up each day. This brings me a tremendous amount of peace. Peace I never knew existed.

When I finally gave myself permission to let go and let God my world changed. I found that I can be happy and content everyday if I just let myself.

This is a story not often shared that has changed my life.

I originally discovered Stream of Consciousness Sunday on Gabby's Blog - Living La Vida Normal. I knew that I wanted to practice this kind of writing so I filed it away future reference. It turns out that the future is now! Thanks Gabby for helping me expand my creative endeavors.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time friends,
Be blessed and stitch & read with love!

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