Crafting Fingers: when one craft isn't enough: Page 33

Like I said in my introductory post, 2013 is going to be a crafty, hands-on sort of year for me. Each month I’m going to tackle a new craft form, learn the basics, and start a new project. This month I’m learning crochet!

But why? What’s the point?

It’ll be fun, of course, and a little bit frustrating. But what I really want to achieve here is growth. If you’re up to trying a new craft, you can grow, too.

You can combine crafts into something new.

There’s only so much you can sew, embroider, knit, crochet, carve, mold, what have you. But what happens when you combine two of more of those techniques?

Yep. I’m becoming a hooker!

.. But not that kind. A crochet hooker.

Ahh, crochet. Beautiful and simple, all you need is a ball of yarn and a hooked needle.

It’s difficult to talk about my interest in crochet without talking about knitting. Knitting, which I learned from my aunt when I was eight-years-old, is one of my favourite crafts. It’s calming, portable, and versatile.

My mom (who has a craft blog, too, go check her out!) always thought it was funny that I knew how to knit but had never learned to crochet. Crochet is, after all, considered the simpler form: it requires yarn, and one needle. Simple, right?

It’s an hour into the New Year, so time to take the leap and write the first post for Crafting Fingers! What time could be better suited for the birth of a new project?

After a busy, wonderful, fantastic 2012 I’ve realised that it’s time for some crafty goodness. For all that happened in 2012, I did very little creating. As someone who thrums with restless creative energy that’s a bit of an oversight! And let’s not even mention the identity crisis of thinking of myself as a crafter, even though I didn’t work on any creative project that took longer than a weekend to finish.

Taking a CREATE-ive stance!

In 2013, I want to create and make and do! In 2012 I brainstormed and planned so many projects that didn’t happen. It’s easy to think of too many good ideas that in the end, none of them get finished. So instead for 2013 I want to focus on four concrete projects:

Learn one new craft each month in 2013.
Take a photo each day with our Canon as a Project 365.
Sell at a craft market by June.
Start an herb garden.

My biggest aim for 2013 is to turn my time into something more inspirational and meaningful (to myself). I want to look back at the year and see growth, in myself and in my crafts and in my life. I feel taking the challenge to learn a new craft each month will force me to step out of my comfort zones and grow.

Another way I want to make my time more meaningful is by gifting as much handmade throughout the year, whether by myself or by someone else. I am hoping to do mostly the former, but I think I’ll give myself some slack every once in a while. Buying handmade to share with others is just sharing the love, after all.

I’m so excited to start documenting my adventures on Crafting Fingers! Hope you’ll join me.

Happy New Year!
~ Anna xxo