Welcome to Friday! Another week already in the history books. How has your week been? Yesterday, I joined my friends at the monthly “Flock” meeting. The one where they work on the loveliest of blankets (and occasionally other projects) with beautiful yarn. Most are crocheting. A few prefer to knit. They have tried (and tried) to teach me how to crochet but I just have not been able to catch on. The beginning of this year, I decided to “retire” my crochet hook and I stopped joining my friends. I missed those Thursday afternoons and, well, they missed me. At least, that is what they have all said and, so, yesterday I went again. As quality control:)
Such a nice afternoon. I did want to go empty-handed, though, so I stopped at Hobby Lobby and picked up a very small cross stitch kit. Not exactly yarn but I felt better working with my hands (and pretty colored thread) than simply sitting there. The question remains will I work on that little picture anymore before next month’s meeting?
I was thinking of that cute sunflower project (in its very beginning stages), as well as the snippets of thread, when I read this week’s Five Minute Friday prompt: REMNANT. The small leftover pieces. The pieces of colorful thread I threw away. But even the project itself could quickly become a remnant, if I am not careful and determined. Determined to finish. If I am honest, there are more than a few remnants of creative projects around my office. Beautiful coloring books (remember when they were so popular?) with several pages started but none completely finished. A photo/junk journal project that I have gathered supplies for but have never actually put a page together yet. There are others but you get the idea.
Projects that require my creativity all too often become abandoned. For some reason. I find the concept and idea planning fun. The actual completing creative projects quickly becomes tedious for me. The colored pencils. The scrapping paper. The bits and bobs necessary for creating. Well, they are remnants. Leftover, and rather discarded, pieces of my imagination.
Those are my five-minute thoughts on the REMNANT. I’m not exactly sure where I lose the desire to finish but, at this stage of the game, I simply acknowledge it for what it is. Unfinished projects, and unused supplies, used to bother me. Create so much pressure on me. More than once, I have donated/gotten rid of gathered supplies, thinking that would alleviate the pressure. Only to purchase them again. But now, I have pretty things tucked away. Just waiting for a rainy day. Or even a sunny day when I feel creative. Actually, my bright pink jar of pretty colored pencils makes me happy. Even if it is (most often) just for display!
I think its smart to focus energy on something you would rather do, creatively. Meeting with friends can be so good for the soul – glad you are reunited with your tribe.
Perhaps instead of working on your sunflower cross stitch project at home, you keep it to work on with your friends during the monthly ‘Flock’ gathering. I am glad you returned to your group. It sounds like they are good for your soul. Enjoy your weekend, Jennifer!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today and leaving your comment! Nice to meet you. My youngest son lives in
Alexandria, and that’s where I lived until we moved to Florida in 1989. DC Metro was our home for a good 12 years, so I know it well. I can crochet, but it’s not a favorite pastime. I’ve never been able to get two knitting needles to work for me, and I have no patience for cross-stitch. It’s nice that you missed your yarn friends and went back for a visit. Seems like you need to stay connected!! Cheers!
Enjoyed your post. I too have tried to crochet and gave it up for knitting. Just couldn’t get the hang of it. I have not knitted for years, and it was simple things like dish cloths and house shoes.
My heart and love is in my watercoloring. I have just purchased some card stock and plan to start painting my note cards again.
Have a great weekend.
I have a cross stitch I started years ago. Have pulled it back out but haven’t worked on it in a month or more. Really need to do so in bright light or sunshine. Going to make that happen tomorrow!! You have inspired me.
Glad you returned to be with your blanket making buddies. I bet you could cross stitch, color, do anything and just be there to enjoy their company.
Leslie at https://onceuponatimehappilyeverafteragain.blogspot.com/
I could relate to so much of what you said about getting excited about a creative project and gathering/collecting fun supplies and then… not finishing said project once it was started. Losing steam once the going… started going!! I wish we could gather and be non creative together sometime (perhaps coffee/tea- we wouldn’t have to pretend we were going to do something crafty/creative!!). I am glad you joined your flock friends for an afternoon of fellowship and whatever project your fingers felt like working on!
I think we all go through spells of liking and then not liking things. I have always been a gardener, but lately life is busy -too busy to fully enjoy it so I have scaled back. I always see crafty things and think that would be fun, but 9 out of 10 times it is not all that fun. I have decided other than my cross stitching, I might not be all that craft. A little late on learning that.
My friend, I completely resonate with this post, and thank you for sharing. You put into words something I have always felt but could never verbalize. I know exactly what you are saying. And I am happy to be in such good company! Have a cozy Sunday afternoon!