This is one of the hats I made for one of BigStar's dolls while we were all bunkering down for sick week! I made a whole outfit for her - but first I need to lament ...
And it's the lament of MANY of the creative Mums I know out there. How do you find the balance??
The hats I am constantly taking on and off are:
:>the crafty one :>the studious one :>the professional one :>the maternal one
And which one wins??? Sometimes they all fight against one another and sometimes, I just want to take them all of and let my hair fly free.
And, did you notice? As I did only once I had written the list?
There is no Stella hat. Not one where I get to be just me. Not being for any particular purpose, but just being.
That has been what I have been struggling with this past month or so ... finding that time for me. And I know I'm absolutely not alone here ... I'm just feeling a bit, well, absent. But I'm here now so I'd better make the most of the 32 minutes of me time I have left!!
After Easter, I travelled to another city for an education conference and I loved it. I missed the Stars and the Husband, but it was actually quite liberating to have no-one to answer to for a week. We had a really dynamic presenter and I came back so inspired to be an even better teacher that I spent a great deal of 'me' time afterward preparing resources and actually having fun with my classes. I teach special needs students and I implemented things that I thought were beyond them ... and they surprised me and deeply touched me with their ability to get a lot of it ... and the difference it made in such a short time was incredible. So, of course, as often is the way, inspiration and success bred motivation and dedication and my 2-day-a-week job became a 5-day-a-week commitment and the only hat I have worn for a while has been the professional one. Very rewarding, but the other hats were wilting with neglect. Especially the maternal one (but of course I keep putting that one one at the bookends of each day).
BUT, the studious one is very very tight and if I don't wear it often enough it shrinks!! The only thing to keep it stretched is regular wear and so, when not wearing the professional hat, I have needed to squeeze into the studious one to keep my supervisor off my back. I keep telling myself I can convert it into a bit floppy hat by the beginning of next year (but damn that feels like a long way off from here ...).
Are you seeing a picture here?
Frequently worn professional and studious hats.
Neglected maternal hat (but still worn daily).
Absent crafty hat ... and that's the one I feel that I need to feed me ... but ...
... but ...
... the first to go.
And now, I NEED to drag it out of the bottom of the craft basket and put it on again.
So here goes ...
Step 1: Sit in my favourite evening crafty spot
Step 2: Pull out my yarns and hook
Step 3: Sigh ... and start
Step 4: Write a post for my blog ... a reminder of recent crafty moments ... and fuel for more ...
So, here are a few more pics of BigStar's recent requests.
Isn't she gorgeous? I think this photo could be little blurry, but you can see how pretty she is. Her name is Nina and she was a gift from BigStar's godmother for Christmas and she really is like a little best friend for her. She talks to her and sings and dances with her, although I have had to make Nina sleep in a little Barbie bed beside BigStar's or she would have been trashed in a week (BigStar is only 3, after all!!). But she insisted, while laid up for days on the couch, that Nina needed more clothes to wear and, because I had this lovely soft cotton in my bag due to other projects, we designed and made a gardening outfit for Nina (BigStar's label here, not mine - I tend to wear much more practical outfits when I'm in the garden!!). BigStar is quite delighted with it.
I actually had fun making such tiny, soft little pieces. Next time, we'll include more colour ... but I'm quite happy with these sweet little prototypes. Although don't ask me how I actually made them! I kind of made it up as I went, but next time I am determined to write it all down and share it here once I actually have some steps to follow. I do, however, now have something to go by ...
And Nina won't have to be naked in the garden!
And now, I'm very happy that I've completed Step 4 ... but Step 3 needs so some attention ... so, computer packed away and hook in hand, it's time to sigh ...
Chat soon,
Stella xx
