The value of what you create.

Why do I create things? Not for profit that's for sure. To give to others? Sometimes. To enter challenges? Occasionally. Most of the time I create things as a release from the strains and stresses of my working life and for the sheer pleasure of making them. I am pleased when others say they like them and can cope with constructive criticism ( although I usually put a negative slant on that). Which brings me to the purpose of this. There has been an animated discussion I have been following about the approach to creating. And the value/point/reason for what is created and how others perceive it.
Yes it is easy to stay within the bounds of what one finds comfortable but surely this is a personal thing? What one creates for oneself should not be devalued because it doesn't suit another person. It is perfectly acceptable to say that some thing is not one's own taste but that doesn't mean that another has to change her work to suit.

When I am ready, I move on to new things but I do it in my own time. I don't want to be competitive. From the age of six or seven I made dolls clothes, I progressed to making my own clothes, then my daughter's clothes and more dolls' clothes. I learnt that patterns don't always give the easiest of ways to assemble things and that sometimes they do. I don't make traditional dolls with extensive wardrobes because it would bring little that is new to me.(Maybe one day it will, never say never). So I make art dolls and those that I design myself I can pretend are right even if they are not perfect!

I don't want the stress of worrying whether I have done it the right way. or whether it follows the right format or whether it will be approved by those who think their way is the correct one. There is enough of that in the working part of my life. I sew to enjoy it, on a sunny day with the music on, there is nothing better than sitting with the sewing machine whirring.

Today I can show the colour exchange things I sent to my partner.


I made a bag to put it all in.




A close up of the needle case






Today I received my package I should have got it on Friday but I was working. I chose mauve shades for mine and I was not disappointed.


The buttons are particularly lovely and I am already wondering what I can use them on. As soon as I saw the wand and crown I knew who would pinch them!


Thank you Milly I love it all.

Grace requested a new skirt to go with the card in the above photograph. It is almost done. Biddle's new jumper is taken an age, Not sure why. Except that it will probably take even longer now. Yesterday, dashing down the stairs I nearly fell headlong into the coats at the bottom and as I saved myself I wrenched my neck. I spent the day in pain across my shoulders and today thought it wasn't too bad but a work to the Post Office has resulted in more pain. As long as its not a repeat of the agony I was in ten years ago I will cope but I might not be frantically knitting for a few days.

This is the last week of term, had a bit more work that I thought there might be. But it will be nice next week not having to worry about phone calls and dashing off

Thanks if you leave a comment.

Mothering Sunday

Yesterday was Mothering Sunday. Libby brought me a very nice card and flowers and a bottle of baileys. We paid a visit to the garden centre and then had take away curry for tea. The day was rounded off with an emphatic win by Liverpool. What more could I want?

But back to the term Mothering Sunday- when I was a little girl and went to Sunday School we would go and look for early primroses and make small posies to give our mums, maybe buy a card and a small gift or make a card at school. The term
Mothering Sunday

historically is a Christian event during advent when people especially girls would return home from service to their mother church (home) and families. During Victorian times girls often went into service as young as ten years old. This part of the day has now been largely over taken by the commercialism of gift buying and of course young girls are not sent off to work so young. Every year it is harder to find my mum a card saying Mothering Sunday.


Mothers' Day

in America is a different event. But I should imagine that commercialism has taken over there too.

Had a good week some work some play and finished and hung up this


and finished Grace's cardigan


She has now requested a skirt!!!

All my sewing is now up to date ( apart from the aforementioned skirt). The challenge doll photo has been submitted. I was pleased with her but still need to get to grips with faces. So what to make now?

We have had some warm sunny days but the cold wind has returned. This is the last week of GMT next Sunday we spring forward ( an event which always upsets my body clock) the days will grow longer and hopefully summer will be warmer and drier than the last couple of years.

Thanks for visiting