A community member@Sandra126 started a thread called, “Another Positive Post”, where many hosts were listing their plans across these quieter, uncertain times, regarding maintenance etc on their STR/ LTR home stay spaces.
We diverted a bit and @Lizzie thought a craft thread might be useful. So here is the creative start of one!
Let’s make ourselves “that community” that can work, create and care for one another, across the globe, during this global village crisis. We’ve seen many videos on Facebook and Twitter and other such forums. We’ve seen good and bad behaviours....
This is about changing how we might react to Covid19 during shutdowns and self - isolation periods.
History: (You can skip this bit)
I remember when my children were young and we took them to playgroups, as I didn’t work full time when they were little.
In the early 80s, in Adelaide South Australia, I regularly attended a community hall on a Thursday morning - where you could learn a craft or hobby, have some socialisation and adult company. There was a free crèche for the kids... WOW you might say! The numbers were limited per activity table or group. But there was all forms of needlework, knitting, crocheting, calligraphy, painting porcelain: you name it, it happened.
The entry fee was a gold coin donation ($1 or $2), which covered the hall electricity and the cuppa and biscuit you tended to eat with it. As people grew closer, they might even dunk it! Now that’s a safe and comfortable feeling, when you dunk your bikky in public!!!!
So here I am, in a different time, living in the tropics. KNITTING supplies good to go!
Knitting is not high on our “to do” list here, unless the air conditioner is maybe turned down low... so you are not uncomfortable with the wool on your lap. Hahaha...
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So here is a CAT wrap, I made all my children in the 80s. Nowadays, we have shoulder head travel cushions for air travel, available everywhere, but these are a tactile toy, as well. They could be made to be door draught stoppers, or keep the body minimal for a scarf. It’s about just “doing” and staying positive. Not dwelling and getting melancholy about the things we cannot control or change.
My kids all had a different one, which was their car pillows as we travelled around parts of Australia. There wasn’t much available back then......
They became camping buddies, when toy space was limited. Also that extra length for the car pillow, could be used as an “annoyer”, when trying to distract their siblings in the car, in the next seat. When you would hear a parent voice in the front seat, sing out : “Stay in your own space, back in your cubicle. We’ll be stopping soon.......”
These original cats were made for a family holiday - road trip style. For that’s how we did it back then, because air fares were unattainable, a pipe dream for an average Australian family of five.
One got lost out the back of the camper or car, between Julia Creek and Charters Towers in Queensland. The youngest child was so devastated I had to knit another!
The ginger one in the main image (completed), was made in the late 80s. It belongs to my eldest daughter, she’s now 36 and one of her children now cuddles it. That’s a lot of cuddles over 30 years! .
So here I am....decades later, with acrylic wools chosen, all different for four grandchildren. If I survive, I’ll have to make a fifth for the newest addition.
So please give us some ideas, as we head back to some basics for our well being.
Let’s NOT be sexist, for my son loved his!
Amazing @Cathie19 ! I'm rubbish at knitting but my mother in law is very busy making small garments for us atm (see if you can decipher what that means 😉 )
My maternal grandmother taught me how to make rugs/carpets which is something I still do in my spare time. Mostly they are inspired by video games haha!
Thanks for starting this thread!
Steph
I learnt two new crafting skills last year, but haven't put them to further use due to lack of time. I guess now is the time...
I learnt to make a Christmas wreath from scratch:
I still have the metal frame, so maybe could make an Easter wreath with found objects from the home and garden.
I also learnt how to press flowers the 'proper way' from a florist. I framed these, my first attempt, as a gift for my mother (frames ordered online for £5 each). Not a very good photo, but it gives you an idea.
With all the seeds I'm planning to sow in the garden this Spring, I should have plenty of materials to do some more! I've seen some examples where you stick the flowers directly to the glass on the frames which look very pretty, so I might give that a try.
