The Ecstasy of Being Ordinary

My Creative Checklist

I need a kick up the bum sometimes. Oh, okay, a lot of the time. Once the miseries have a hold it can be hard to shake them off. Buying a magazine, having a latte, bookshop browsing are all remedies but I need something that will not require me driving into town or unzipping my purse.

What I need is a little Creative Checklist filled with Things To Do that will make me feel better and will allow a little of what I need.

I'm also starting to realise what this blog is about - finding some space and time and creativity in my life while not having much time, money or space physically or mentally to be creative.

Renaming my blog is something I'm always having to stop myself doing. At the moment I'm favouring Creative Squeezes - How to Find The Time, Money and Space to be Creative When You Have No Time, Money or Space. Yeah, I thought it was catchy too....

Write a letter ::: I have been meaning to do this for a year to a whole host of people (long lost friends, not random strangers silly). I have even bought some snazzy writing paper.

Bake more ::: I'm not talking about the usual evening meal which is always a bit of an effort (invariably there is at least one who does not like what I've made). No, I'm talking about the soul satisfying baking of cakes, muffins and bread. Yes, I am aiming to up my bread baking quotient from once-in-a-blue-moon to a-lot.

Pick up thy knitting needles ::: For some reason I don't do this every day which might go some way to explaining why it takes me so long to complete anything.

Take a photo. Of anything ::: This goes right out the door when I'm feeling blue. To avoid the vicious circle of blue -> don't do anything -> makes me feel even more blue, I aim to still take photos even when I don't feel remotely creative. Maybe pretending will help.

Less reading/looking, more doing ::: I need to step away from the computer and tv. My evenings are spent slumped in front of a screen, mostly looking at others' wonderful creativity so that I end up with no time and feeling a bit "what's the point?".

Walking ::: This is good for my soul and my heart (literally). I just have to make it a priority.

That's it, for now. I always feel a bit strange directing questions to "readers" but I really want to know what you do to feel better, to squeeze in some creativity. Let's share (man)........

Time to Knit

Winter is upon us so inevitably that means, with little ones in the house, coughs, colds, viruses and chicken pox. And that means time spent snuggled under duvets on the sofa watching Kung Fu Panda (well, in my mind it does. In reality it involves lots of squabbling and jumping off the sofa onto a pile of cushions). And that means Mummy's precious two mornings to herself temporarily evaporate.

But today saw them toddle off, lunch boxes in hand, to the village hall and me sink into a sofa with a cup of tea and hot buttery toast. And silence.

As yesterday found me feeling really down I decided today to expend some TLC on myself and turn my back on the breakfast cereals to knit. And not only knit but knit in front of daytime tv (shock!). Well, as much as I can, not being very good at it. Hubby says I'm to knitting what John Sergeant is to dancing. Hmmm.

I'm not letting that deter me and instead got stuck into the Rosebud Cardigan (from Erica Knight's Simple Knits for Cherished Babies).  I chose a pale green and size 0-3months and am trying not to think about how this niece, this cherished baby, is already one month old. 

I also tried to crack on with a tank top for my little man in a zingy leaf green (pattern from Baby Bamboo Knits). I shall not dwell on when I bought this pattern and yarn. Nope. Instead I shall marvel how I love to knit and how soothing it really is.