Gone, but never forgotten. In memory of Wink and Vanessa.

Goodness, it's been almost two months to the day since I last wrote up a post. The death of Wink ( from the lovely, inspiring blog A Creative Being ), broke my heart!

There was a flurry of activity in Blogland and on Social Media, but I could not find it in me to participate and mostly just left teary-eyed emoticons in the comment sections. While everyone else got frantically busy crocheting Mandelas (which Wink was famous for) in honour of her work, and her memory, I tried but crocheting with yarn made damp from tears, doesn't work.

 So, I'm sort of finding my feet again although every time I pop in here I'm reminded of her and just want to pay her blog a visit to see what lovely thing she's working on. Her death has also highlighted , for me, the fragility of life and also how appearances can be so deceiving. We can never really know what hides behind a beautiful smile or a facade carefully put together to deflect prying eyes. For it's a sad truth that those who are most in need of comfort, support and loving care, construct impenetrable emotional fortresses.

What has come out of this, from a more positive perspective is that I have looked inward...at my own life and how much of it has been spent taking care of the needs of others. I've done this willingly, because I do believe service to others is part of being a decent, contented and peace-filled human being. But it can be that service to others becomes the only thing we're really good at doing, It can become a bad habit, actually! We find ourselves , so many times , saying yes instead of no, or being roped into something that we would rather not do! For myself, as a classic introvert, this can and has been overwhelming and very draining. To the point where I've made myself ill and almost bed-ridden! And I have only myself to blame.

It's amazing how we just keep "being of service"...even in Blogland! There are many Bloggers who feel the pressure of being consistent and productive, to an nth! I've read so many articles and posts on what you MUST do to drive traffic to your Blog and although I get that many Bloggers earn an income from their Blogs from the items they create, promote and sell via their Blogs, I also do believe just as many Bloggers are stay-at-home-mums, dads, students, retirees, single-people, disabled-people...just ordinary people who have a hobby, who perhaps like to write about their lives, who perhaps don't have amazing things to sell...or say, but do it purely as an enjoyable pursuit, purely for their own pleasure.

The thing is, oftentimes while sharing something through a Blog post...suddenly, without being completely aware of what impact you've made, your post hits a chord and before you know it you have an audience, a following...and a responsibility to follow through. And that's where, I feel, the problems arise. Sure, many people thrive on the praise and attention but it is ironic ( or is that a paradox? ) that so many creative types generally shy away from attention, tend to crave affection, are people-pleasers, have trouble with personal relationships and as such...all the new found attention becomes addictive, and our soulful creatives feel hell-bent to create, so that the feel good factor keeps coming. I don't think you have to be a mental health practitioner to see where that could lead. Oh my gosh, I've sidetracked myself.

What I have done is drastically cut back on social media platforms, where, as an animal rights advocate, vegan, vegan-cafe owner and chef I have been very active since 2009! And of course as my "following" rose into 1000's I could feel the pressure of not only pushing forward relevant campaigns, but also acting as a sort of inspiration to others ( to go vegan ), to be involved in online debates and promotions related to animal rights and veganism. And it's all for a great cause! Don't get me wrong! But I do feel there are people who are emotionally far more robust than others, who are in better positions to advocate. It's like business really. Those who do very well in business have a certain emotional make up and physical stamina to take on the tasks, often grueling and sometimes thankless, of business at hand, whatever that may be. And we know, or at least should know that sensitive, empathic types are not cut from that cloth and that whatever they do, being in the spotlight, being pressured into performing, producing, creating is like a dagger through the heart. Sooner or later we are stopped dead in our tracks...either by illness, burnout or sadly in many cases, by our own hand.

Winks death is not the only one, within Blogland, to have shook me to the core. Vanessa Cabban's death, although not ruled a suicide but rather an accident ( being on a railway track is no accident) has made many of us 'creative types" sit up and take notice.

Our crafts have long been touted as therapy for our tortured souls. Oh yes, just crochet or knit your anxiety and depression away, could not be a more damning phrase. It's a means, but not an end. And it's very likely to cause you even more of the very emotions you're desperately trying to get to grips with, if you step on the treadmill of accolades for your work, your very soulful work. There can never be enough praise to meet the very special and particular needs of a soulful creative human being. We want to crochet a better world, we want to bring light to the darkness through our poems, stories and paintings, we want to love the world so it loves itself through our music or dance. Just being told "your work is wonderful, you're such an inspiration" will hold us for a minute but because we see the world, ourselves and others  through different eyes, praise itself will never be the glue that holds us together.

And so I end this rather sad post, with the thought that we must, and I speak for myself and all creatives who are made less robust than others, that our own personhood must be protected at all costs. It sounds easy, when written down, but to be honest, I'd rather live in the shadows, sending out occasional little sparks of light here and there, than live in the fierce glare of a largely too bright-burning humanity which to my mind, is already flying too close to the Sun. Take care of yourself, like the precious being you are. :-) xxxxxxx

Have crochet, will make things!

I bought a few balls of bamboo cotton yarn just ages ago...when the children and I were "still together". In the afternoons, that space of an hour or so between lunch, extra-mural activities, homework and prepping for dinner, I could be found sat in front of the Telly ( something I no longer watch ), tuned into Oprah ( someone I no longer watch ), knitting cellphone cosies for my kids and their friends. The bamboo yarn is perfect with this. Since those days the yarns have been stored away (along with the knitting needles). Really, these yarns are just too expensive to use on larger items. I treat them like the precious treasure they are. I found the loveliest container at a thrifty market a few months ago, and my small stash of bamboo yarn fits perfectly. Do you know, I have never seen a container like this before? They're probably made in China and everyone has one. But not me. I was very taken with it. :-)

You're probably wondering where I'm going with this so I'll get to the point. I've been crocheting wash cloths. Not kitchen scrubs. Oh no...not with this lovely stuff. I wonder if other women find this a thing... but facecloths, those terry ones, are just too big, and heavy? Ok, so I'm kind of on the little side, and to boot, have tiny handsies...I need tiny things!! :-) That's probably why crochet works for me...one little hook. Knitting needles are so cumbersome! I'm being silly of course! Also, bamboo yarn is lovely, so soft and yet strong too. The colours really hold true. I made a few washcloths some years ago, and the colours haven't faded at all!

 Anyhow, when I first learned to crochet I used to meet up with a friend at a local anarchist coffee shop. That's where I first learned that crochet is in fact a post-apocalyptic life skill! Who knew? And when I thought about it a bit more, it made absolute sense...afterall, back in the day, right up to the present, women around the world have had to learn sewing, darning, knitting, crochet and quilting as skill sets, to provide blankets, clothing and oftentimes hard cash, for their families. Gifts too!

I think most people love handmade gifts and these make the sweetest little prezzies teamed up with a handmade soap, or an essential oil or two. Also, you don't need to be a crochet wiz either! Look at me again...getting completely sidetracked!

 So I crocheted me some lovely little wash cloths, using my precious bamboo cotton yarn. The end!
 Ps: it's a simple Granny Square, with some double crochet here and there. No hard and fast rules. :-)
 I just love them. xxxxxx

More lovely Winter things.

The dogs were very surprised a few days ago when I loaded them all up in the car and off we went on an adventure. I hardly ever take them walking by myself. There have been a few cases of muggings in my favourite walkabout park not far from where we live and that's made me a little nervous. So it's been awhile. Anyhow, I decided to not live life with sweaty palms, and off we went! Imagine my surprise when I found myself not at all alone on this lovely walk. There were joggers, and cyclists, and Mums with prams and Dads with toddlers and lonesome walking persons and chatty groups of walking persons...and you know what?

I decided there and then to take my own imagination with a liberal pinch of salt. I strolled, and stopped often to look at everything, savouring the sweet smelling air that always exudes from leafy, watery spaces regardless of how close they may be to busy roads and highways. And every lovely thing caught my eye! Berries and leaves, vines and pine needles, butterflies and squirrels ( Roxy was in her element ).

Sadly, the river that runs through all of this was down to almost a trickle seeing as our winter rains, so far, have barely fallen. I'm expecting this will happen all at once, in my birthday month, August, usually on my birthday. Without fail, as far back as I can remember it has stormed, howled, sleeted, hailed, or snowed on this day. This explain so much. ;) I must take photos of this beautiful tranquil piece of earth the next time we go. I'm eternally grateful for this oasis of semi-wild nature slap bang in the middle of suburbia. But for now... just look at these jewels of Nature! I'm really very easy to please. Luckily my trusty little point and click camera is easy to hide in the palm of my hand, just in case a Lurgie pops out from behind a bush and tries to mug me! The dogs would be pleased! I hope you'll find little things of beauty around you, every day...keeping you connected to our true home, Earth. xxxxxxx

Little Birdies.

These little birdies were so easy to make that I actually could not stop!! They just kept flying off the hook. I used the inner fluff of an old cushion and because you don't need much, I still have stacks left over for stuffing other little goodies. Also, it was fun and satisfying to play around with colour combinations.

 That's my thing, really, colour, colour, colour! I'm inclined to seek out patterns that are relatively simple so that I can play with combining different colours, contrasting colour, complimenting colours...well you get it! I'm mad about colour! :-) The original pattern is of course from Attic24. I'm a big fan of Lucy's tutorials. She loves colour too, and her patterns are easy enough for beginners to follow. I've shared her pattern. You'll find it to your left under Tutorials I Heart.

These little birdies made sweet Xmas tree hangings and gifts over the festive season ( which seems like only yesterday ). But the hedges in our little cul-de sac are in full winter bloom, honeysuckle, hawthorn, plumbago... and this means the loveliest of birds are flitting about among them, mostly jewel-coloured Sunbirds. Their flashy colours are so appealing. You can see where I'm going with this? :-)

I had an idea to crochet Birds endemic to the Cape of Storms but seeing as I have a WIP, as well as at least five other must-do projects waiting to come into being, I guess this will have to just patiently wait it's turn. My fingers are itching though. :-) Hope wherever you are in the world that you're finding the time to make something beautiful, no matter how small. xxxxxxx

Happy Winter Things.

The problem with not Blogging every few days, or at least once a week is that everything sort of piles up...much like my kitchen drawers, leaving me in a semi-paralysed state of " ok, now where do I start!". The weather was monumentally wet last week. It rained buckets for three days, non-stop! Mind you no one was complaining. We sincerely needed a good soak.

The Cape of Storms comes alive, more than usual, in the Winter months. So while leaves turn and drop from some trees, others burst into leaf! Shrubs and creepers send forth cascades of blooms.The grass grows back, the air is filled with birdsong while butterflies waft between the blossoms. And finally, the relentless Summer winds clear off to annoy someone else, somewhere else. :-) The rains arrived much later than usual. The mountains and open fields looked frighteningly parched and frazzled! "The Rains" officially herald in Winter. Before then it's "just a bit chilly". :D

Temperatures have plummeted and there is snow on the peaks. Yum! I am perfectly at home in the colder seasons. So you'll not hear a shred of complaining from me.

Sadly, my usual crochet go-to cafe has turned out to be a bit of a disappointment so lately I've been crocheting all on my lonesome. Mostly in the evenings, at home, while watching a movie. For some reason this makes me sad!! I can't explain it but I like to sit in a cafe with a lovely cup of coffee nearby and listen to the chatter and bustle all around me. As long as nobody bothers me ( I'm counting stitches, dammit! ) then I'm as happy as a piggy in a warm mud bath. I think it's something to do with being an INFJ type personality. The Introvert who behaves like an Extrovert? You might find it interesting to test yourself here? :-) I do get carried away! But look, this is what I actually wanted to share!

These gorgeous Poinsettia blooms. Aren't they just lovely! They're also known as Christmas Flowers but of course we're in the southern hemisphere so here they bloom in mid-winter. They look absolutely magnificent on a misty, rainy day, reminding me for some reason, of small colourful umbrellas!

I know it's obvious to say every season brings with it it's own special gifts but for me Winter just fills my gift basket to brimming! We've had lovely walks on the beaches around here, all wrapped up, Dogs in tow, tummies full of hot coffee and delicious breakfast. There are several vegetarian restaurants around our neck of the woods, and most of the others also offer tasty nutritious veggie options but we almost always end up at Stoked Backpackers .

It's usually dead quiet on a Sunday morning. They have a small but fresh and delicious all vegetarian Menu and really... the BEST coffee in town! Add to this super friendly staff who also play the best music...from 80's medleys to Dolly Parton!Believe me , when it's icy outside, warm and cosy inside, this is happy, foot-tapping, good mood music! Everyone's eventually singing or at least humming along. :-)

Of course, in between all this walking, breakfast eating, coffee drinking and admiring the freely abundant natural beauty... there has been major headway made on the latest Work In Progress. My Strawberries and Cream with Chocolate Sauce Granny Hexagon Blanket.

 I should have my blankie done just before Summer kicks in. But hopefully not! Hope wherever you are you're making the most of living on this amazing planet. Happy week to you all. xxx