Craftday

I've made 4 hats. And I've started including mini crochet bows on the back as well, which gives them a little extra Natalie flair. I'm not following a pattern for any of them, which prooves to be pretty entertaining. I don't like being limited by instruction manuals. I feel like it stiffles creativity. I would much rather prefer to figure out my own style of patterns and stitches rather than following someone elses. There is some truth in the accusation that I get a bit bored when reading instructions. I tend to just look at the pictures. Then I proceed to get frustrated if I can't figure it out. I suppose that is my own fault. But I rather do enjoy making prototype after prototype until I have a final product that is solely mine. The messups I either destroy or tuck away somewhere to be revisited later.

I also made a baby blanket, the no-sew fleece kind. Here's a video of how to make it if you're a visual person. I made this one a solid pink, since it's for a baby girl, then added a couple fabric bows on the corner. I wish I could post a photo of it, but I've not access to a camera at the moment. Photos of my crafty things coming soon. Don't get too antsy.

Four Christmases, which if you haven't seen it yet, you definitely should take the time. It may be available on Netflix, since it came out in 2008. But if not, it's worth the rent as well. Just trust me.

2 days 'til Christmas. What about you play Santa Claus, wrap a couple extra gifts and put them on a doorstep of a neighbour?

Agape

Today, I woke up thinking about love. I love love. It's human nature. I rather like the agape sort of love, where love is a choice, an effort, an intentional act. I googled it and came up with a fairly suitable definition:

Agape - means to choose to seek the best for others. This is a love based in the mind. We can chose to show agape love by actively thinking about, and deciding how we act toward other people. Agape love is talking about our behavior towards others, not our feelings.

I took the following pictures a while back, but forgot about them for a bit. I figured it's time to get them printed and framed. Wal-Mart one hour photo, here I come.

In other news, I love numbers. I am always counting and making little goals to reach some number in something, whether it be to increase the amount of water I drink by 8 ounces or to beat my high score in Free cell, I am always counting. Sometimes it can be an obsession. I.E. when I crochet hats. So, I'm on a mission to crochet 22 hats by the end of the break. Not 20, not 21, but 22. Because 10 seemed like not enough and 30, nearly impossible. I've made the first hat this morning. I think I'll put bows or flowers on the crown of each hat as well, because I love bows and flowers. No worries, I'll post the hats soon. On Etsy as a matter of fact. But, you must wait til all of the hats are done. That's another thing with the numbers. Until I've reached my goal, especially if it is making a certain number of somethings, no one can have them. The collection must be complete before it is presentable.

Speaking of collections, I'm a collector to the core. My latest fascination is handmade pottery, especially by Hannah Morrill, artist trading cards (mostly because it's fun to collect talents and artwork in large quantities but in manageable/ Natalie-sized sizes) and salt and pepper shakers. The salt and pepper shakers thing has been going on for years, though. Probably because my mother used to collect them and lined the walls of our dining room with such a variation of salt and pepper shakers and doilies that the room rivaled any salt and pepper shaker store, if one were to exist. Which if one does, don't tell me. That could be a dangerous place for my nearly empty wallet to enter.

Good day and happy counting for my fellow numerists.

First Post

I feel drawn to blogs.

They seem to capture all of the thoughts, humours, and creative ridges and rages of a person. It's almost like a little snapshot of their personhood, would it were that they're the only person in the hood. I admire that freedom and would like to test the waters.

I don't think I'll start my blog by telling you what I'll blog about because that very well may change with such frequency that even I would forget the confines of what I declare in this fated "First Post." So let's just start with a hello. As that is all how relationships tend to start. Though I really shouldn't say "all" because I've had plenty of awkward introductions, accidental bumps, and check out line one-liners that seemed to start some pretty reliable and memorable relationships. However, hello seems to be customary. And I suppose I do follow some measure of custom, or at least culture, since I am blogging.

Speaking of one-liners, here are a few that tickle my fancy:

• We live in a society where pizza gets to your house before the police.
• A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don't need it.
• When in doubt, mumble.
• I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.
• A bargain is something you don't need at a price you can't resist.
• Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

On another little music note, Christmas is on it's way, so I put together a few ditties on the myspace to bring you a little mellow cheer.

Happy holidays. Tell someone this week that you love them.