Here I am approaching middle age (ahem!) and I've found myself playing with sticks for a living. Not exactly what I imagined I'd be doing at all. But then, life is full of surprises. And opportunities. And I have to say, that whilst the money isn't anywhere near what I was earning in full time employment, I have never been more content in my working life.
When I take a step back and think about it, I really shouldn't be surprised that making things has become a key part of my life. And for that I can thank my upbringing. My Nan was a huge knitter and when she came to visit, she always brought a pile of jumpers that she'd made for me and my siblings. My Mum too is never far from a pair of knitting needles and an ongoing project (or several).
It was during one of those visits from Nan & Grandad back when I was in early primary school that I expressed a desire to learn to knit. I'd been watching keenly as the needles moved and garments came into being, and I thought it was just the cleverest thing I'd ever seen. So Nan gave me a pair of needles and some yarn and patiently sat as I knitted my first square of holey garter stitch. Fast forward a few years and I was knitting an Aran cardigan for my younger sister with guidance from Mum - cables, moss stitch, the lot! It took me ages and I think she'd probably grown so much in the interim that it hardly fitted her by the time it was finished. But I finished it and was chuffed to bits.
Fast forward a couple of decades and my next crafting adventure was with a sewing machine - I made a door curtain to cover a rather draughty front door and some voiles for the windows. They weren't the best but they did the trick. Into the 2010s and I learned to crochet. I'd still like to do more but just need to find the time.
After watching a random Youtube video, I got out the sewing machine again, determined to get good at it. I started with making bags, coasters, pencil cases before moving on to a small quilt for my baby niece.
It wasn't long before I started making bed quilts but I soon realised that I enjoyed the piecing process much more than the sandwiching, basting, and quilting on these larger projects. Sending them to the long arm quilter is prohibitively expensive. So they're packed away in boxes along with with my mountainous stash of fabric until I find the time and inspiration to get them out and finish them off.
All of which brings us almost up to date. You can read how I got into willow weaving on the 'About' page of my website. I made my first basket in 2017, and immediately went home to buy a beginner's toolkit and some willow. That basket was quickly followed by a second, a third and then many more.
And now it is 2021 and I'm teaching willow weaving, running my own small business and excited for the future. Many thanks to Leilah at Dragon Willow for your inexhaustible patience and encouragement. Without your support I don't know that I'd have had the courage to start my own business.
I'm bursting with ideas and even though I'm writing this in July 21, I am already full steam ahead in my planning for 2022. The challenge now is sticking to the plans. Read how that goes in another blog.......
I'd love to hear your crafting stories in the comments section. And please share photos. What do you make? How did you find your craft? What other crafts would you like to try?