As the ramifications of last week’s referendum become apparent and a large number of our elected representatives exhibit the leadership, statesmanship and charisma of a stale welshcake, it’s hard not to feel completely at sea. I really don’t like uncertainty and so the current situation is not a happy one for me.
So, I’ve decided to take control of of things that I can have an influence on… I’m working on patterns to sell and doing a spot of needle felting with a view to future sales. The state of the pound means that the rest of the world should be clamouring for our exports, so what better time to get some more items in my etsy shop?
Trialling my own work
For a long time I have been planning to write up some of my patterns to sell. Yesterday I finally got round to finding some software to create knitting charts, and so I now have a draft chart for my dancing skeleton (a design I originally created for my masterpiece blanket). Hopefully I’ll have this fully tested and turned into a hat pattern very soon. Ages ago I found some fabulous beads for this project so I am planning, in the near future, to have kits for sale including everything necessary to make one in time for Halloween. I’m currently working up a panel from the chart to check it. In addition yesterday, I packed up the pattern/yarn for another kit that I plan to sell and sent that off for testing, so hopefully that should be finalised soon too.
A variety of ‘vaarks
As I have mentioned before, recently I’ve been having fun making little critters called Mousevaarks from old socks. They were designed by my friend Danielle Lowy (you can buy her booklet, How to Make Monsters & Monkeys, which contains the pattern for them here) and I was inspired to make a crochet/knitted version with a snail shell (snailvaark). The basic shape is so versatile that I decided it would be fun to have a go at creating a tiny mousevaark by needle-felting. So, yesterday, I spent a bit of time honing my skills and creating a little chap whom I have named Lazlo (because his nose tip is a piece of lapis lazuli). Needle felting always starts off looking so unpromising, but it doesn’t take long to create the form you want (as long as it isn’t too big – Lazlo is only 4cm tall).
So, that was me being creative. I just hope I can maintain momentum!
The Snail of Happiness 
katechiconi
/ June 29, 2016I like your new branch-out into needle felting. It is quick, isn’t it? And produces such cute results. Perfect for varks of all varieties.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ June 30, 2016Yes, I’m quite pleased with it. I’ve only used needle-felting as a way to embellish wet-felted items before, but I could quite get into creating cute critters!
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katechiconi
/ June 30, 2016As an antidote to fear, creativity can’t be beaten. It does sound as though the global markets are stabilising, so hopefully people have realised that it’s a case of hurry up and stay the same for a while…
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arlingwoman
/ June 30, 2016Sometimes action is the best reaction.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ June 30, 2016It also stops me feeling panicky – and panic is an emotion that I’ve felt very close to over the past week.
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arlingwoman
/ June 30, 2016I’m sorry about that. Even from this side of the Atlantic it’s pretty clear it’s a nerve-wracking uncertainty.
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nanacathy2
/ June 30, 2016A very inspirational reaction to the situation we find ourselves in. I have spent time trying to dredge up memories of the changes we had make when we came into the EEC as it was before it morphed into the EU. So far there is decimilation of currency, metrification and the change from our blue British passports to the red ones. It took years. My other memory is that the cost of meat shot up and butchers were suddenly full of dead rabbits. Then there were inexplicable shortages, toilet rolls and sugar, and surpluses, butter mountains and olive oil lakes.
I shall now take a leaf from your book and go create!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ June 30, 2016I look forward to seeing what you make
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Ann
/ June 30, 2016Aww, isn’t he cute? (Not had time to read your blog yet). Hoggies are getting active here, one is currently hiding under a hat, and I know there is one in Steve’s shoe…. 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ June 30, 2016Little devils!
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Ann
/ June 30, 2016Yes, they are being rather mischievous this week. Wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t find them at the Inkpot this weekend for Steve’s PDC. Is Lazlo up for adoption? I’m sure he would keep the little hoggies company and stop them roaming – though it may be that he takes up with Sir Percival, who spends his time travelling around with us.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ June 30, 2016Future Lazlos will certainly be up for adoption – I will keep you posted 😉
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KerryCan
/ July 1, 2016I am just like you, in that when I feel overwhelmed by external pressure, the best thing I can do is work on something pretty that is in my power to control. Your plan and actions seem so sensible, in a world that has little sense right now!
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Ann
/ July 1, 2016Thanks Jan, though this little Lazlo looks perfect. 🙂
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Born To Organize
/ July 6, 2016They are so darn cute!
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ July 6, 2016Well hello there, Lazlo! He looks great – I love the fuzzy effect you get from needle felting, and it’s a great craft for stressful times 😀
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 6, 2016And I managed to make him without stabbing myself! A first in my needle-felting career!
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ July 6, 2016Neat trick! I become a human pincushion when I’m needle felting… although I think I’m gradually getting better! (Or losing feeling in my non-stabbing hand 😆)
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 7, 2016Fabulous felting mat to thank for this. Bought ages ago but only just used… I think it’s made from corn starch and it came from the US
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ July 8, 2016Nifty! I’ll have to look out for one of those when my felting sponge gives up the ghost.
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