It all started with this little chap, my pointy eared gnome that my daughter bought me as a kit for Christmas from Lincolnshire Fen Crafts.
Last year I was looking for something creative that I could still do, albeit slowly for when I don't feel able to craft and need a distraction as another form of pain relief or just a bit of creative space with no time limits that I could just pick up and put down at any time.
I had been watching Sandy felting on YouTube for some time and this has always been something that I have been interested in but not a craft that I had thought would be suited to someone with joint issues.
My crafty friend Caron, who has also felted many wonderful things, one of which was an adorable bunny plaque that she made me, sent me some wool and a needle for me to have a play with and see how I got on. I certainly wasn't put off.
I took a particular fancy to this pointy eared gnome and really liked how Sandy had so many free tutorials on her YouTube channel, especially from her kits, and that she made felting look like something that I could do, more importantly.
There wasn't too much to this little gnome either which also made it a perfect Christmas gift for me to start with and it didn't matter how long it took for me to make it either or that I was the slowest felter in the West!
I had quite a bit of wool left over and have since acquired some more along the way and find it very therapeutic stabbing a ball of rolled up wool. Slow is still good......you tend not to stab your fingers with the barbed needle and in the story of the tortoise and the hare wasn't it slow and steady that won the race?.....
Now I have two pointy eared gnomes!........ a slightly smaller version. I haven't ventured off these quirky little critters yet but I am certainly enjoying my newly found therapeutic craft.
If you're interested in looking up Sandy from Lincolnshire Fen Crafts I have also added a link to her YouTube channel below. She also has a Facebook group page called The Felt Hub and does regular 'Facebook lives'.
The Felt Hub
The idea of mindful crafting is to take time out and do something relaxing that you enjoy and that you can lose yourself in, a break from technology, a break from daily routine, de-stress, and clear your mind. It can be anything really long as you enjoy doing it.
Have a great weekend whatever you choose to do and let's hope there's a little more sunshine in that too.
Happy crafting
Challenges:-
Love to craft:- ATG (Top Pick)
Classic Designs Challenge - ATG (Best Technique)
Creative Fingers - ATG
