Seasons come and go, and this is my season for works in progress, which is another way of saying that I can't seem to finish many things, and can't seem to even start some others. If you came to this blog for the crafting (and that is why we started it — to show each other our crafting DIY fun stuff!), I deeply apologize for the lack of any such thing lately! Especially because it means… that I haven't been crafting!
Making beautiful things (even if they are small, humble things) energizes me. I know that a lot of people put off crafting, thinking that they don't have time or that it's too hard with littles. For women especially, I think this is a mistake. They may not realize that it isn't the actual doing that's likely to present problems — it's the preparing to do and keeping the process decision-free — making sure that what the way you are making is orderly enough to stand interruptions and interference.
{An example of thwarting your own process would be not having enough yarn to complete the project. Not that I know anyone who consistently gets herself into that predicament!}
{I liked this interesting basket-weave stitch that I had pinned. Who knew it would take up so much yarn? Anyone who has ever knit anything knew, but never mind. I used the lovely yarn from Angora Gardens to [almost] finish the toe of this first sock, so that I will be able to make the second one someday — which I think will look fine. Being a scatterbrain often leads to interesting, if frustrating, crafting.}
If you can organize things so that the project stands up to a lot of picking up and putting down, you can snatch a few moments here and there without that anxiety that comes from having to think through all the steps each time. So you do need some time up front, which has been my challenge lately!
{The quilts. They pile up, but not in reality, alas.}
Anyway, another work in progress is the St. Gregory Pockets!
If you look at our page, you will see how many there already are! Do know that when you join us, you are participating in a quite new use of social media — rather than drawing readers ever deeper into the internet, we are using the media to connect people in real life. Since the only way to strengthen “the world out there” is to bring what goodness, truth, and beauty we have “in here” (our souls and our homes) to those who need it, we need to find friends. In return, we ourselves grow and expand.
A reader sent me this wonderful essay her husband wrote about two St. Gregory's. It's “The Great” we had in mind when we made him the patron of this effort, but the other one is good too!
I love how Eric Johnston relates the powerful influence of St. Benedict to that of St. Gregory — the connection of the Liturgical life (Benedict) to the life of the city (Gregory) — which is what we are called to realize in our efforts to live faith. The Benedict namesake of our times — Pope Benedict XVI — saw how it would be: Johnston wraps it all up very well in the essay .
I feel like it is our manifesto! — and I encourage you to read it along with bookmarking Saturday's {bits & pieces} for discussion topics.
{Another UFO — Unfinished Object!}
I will try to make a “FAQ” post about the St. Gregory Pockets to help you understand how this will work. If you want, you can let me know what you are wondering in the comments here, and that will help me on the post.
Nicole says
Interesting you posted this today when I just pulled out my materials to make quiet books, and was frustrated all over again about it and ready to put it away.
Julie says
I just have to have something crafty going on (I simply can’t watch a movie with my husband without stitching something). Sometimes it’s enough to plan in my head then slowly I’ll take a step toward actually doing it; other times, it’s a mad rush of multiple big things until I wear myself out and stop for a season and plan once more.
Erin says
Auntie Leila,
I just finished one of those round-necked sweaters. If you really get to feeling like it’s never going to get off the needles, trust me, it still looks great if you finish the armscyes and call it a cap-sleeved sweater VEST!
Leila says
Trust me, Erin, it’s getting cap sleeves. Why? Because… wait for it… I’m almost out of yarn. Sigh.