Felicia Only you can decide if the time has been well spent. If it has gives you fulfillment, then it is time well spent. My family is questioning the 60+ hours I just put into making a shawl, but I consider it time well spent because I enjoyed making it and I will enjoy the final product.
When you are doing something you enjoy, isn't it amazing how time can slip away. So spin, weave, laugh and sing, love yourself as much as you love your family and you will find bliss. And I can say now looking back at all the years before me, YES, IT IS ALL WORTH IT! Even the trying times are worth it as it is in those times, we can remember the calm, the joy, and that feeling of success. Live every moment and remember all the feelings, they will be there when you need them.
Thanks for putting into words how I feel. I feel more myself when I am creating. I find I become very moody and grouchy if I don’t get enough time creating. When you said it makes you more alive was very meaningful to me. Thanks.
Such a great reminder to not put pressure on ourselves that does not take into account all the elements of our life. I NEED the creative outlet of fiber arts to balance out the stress of my life, and to take some time for myself that fits in with the needs of my family. It's also a good model for my kids to see me pursuing something makes me feel clever.
Felicia, when right in the middle of any activity or moment you know this is the natural, spontaneous You then what else is there to do but spread that delightfulness in all other activities 😊. Curiosity, Wondering, Seeking, Asking.... Discovering more and more how Beautiful this world is and Marvelous to explore and experience. ❤
Warning - long post. Apologies beforehand. The question “Is it worth the time?” is one that I get very, very often. I live in Belgium where it’s quite unusual to spin. It’s almost equally unusual to knit complicated lace patterns, which is what I prefer to knit. It’s also unusual to forage for berries, to make your own fruit wines and meads, to smoke meats and fish. In addition, I love to cook and a lot of the things I make, especially on weekends, are recipes that need to be started hours or even days before they finally get served. I also love to draw and paint. The answer is “It’s worth it to ME.” Multitasking is a big part of it. Spinning can be done while watching something, and simpler patterns can also be knitted while watching something. I don’t need to sit by my smoker while a piece of bacon is turning delicious, or while a stew is simmering, bread dough is rising or something is marinading. I can listen to a podcast while painting. Visible mending is something that in a lot of cases, can also be combined with something else. And except for the prep, tasting/balancing and bottling, fermenting your own alcoholic drinks is just… letting them sit for days and weeks on end with absolutely no involvement. The usual follow-up question is “Why? You can just go out and buy that stuff ready made.” My answer is that all of my makes serve multiple purposes. They provide me with entertainment. They provide me with relaxation. They provide me with clothing, food, drink, home decor and presents for loved ones. Except for my spinning wheels, which I got over the last year, all my investments in equipment I bought have paid themselves back over the years because the end products that I make are cheaper in base materials/ingredients than the store bought alternatives. This means that an evening spend at the cinema costs me more money than knitting whilst listening to a free audiobook or watching something on my tv or tablet. If I’m watching tv anyway, why not have something come out of my hands that provides me with additional pleasure AND will keep me warm in winter, or turns into a suitable Christmas gift for someone I love? Spending time and consequently less money on that gift frees up more budget for a gift for someone else. “I wouldn’t have the patience!” Well, they don’t have to. “I wish I could do that!” You can learn. Just give it a go. Borrow some stuff, and just try it out. “But if I try and fail, it’ll be lost time and money.” Depends how you look at it. You will have learned it’s not for you and you won’t have been bored while you were trying to acquire that new skill. And if you borrowed equipment, the initial investment will generally be a small one, often costing less than an evening out on the town. “It’s weird and hippie. Isn’t it weird and hippie?” Well, it can also be seen as skilled, original, a little eccentric, fun, creative, productive, and just plain and simply: a hobby. “How on Earth did you get the idea to start doing (all of) this?” Erm… simple curiosity. Seeing something, hearing about something, or reading about it and wondering about it, wanting to find out more, then asking myself whether I could do it. Often not even as a conscious thought but rather kind of rolling into it. Or being offered to try and being curious enough to take up that offer. I think it more or less all boils down to “you do you, I’ll very happily do me.”
Oh!! I think your last point hit very hard for me… it’s the curiosity part. Following the trail of what you are curious about… I think it’s THAT part that makes it feel so satisfying. You are curious, asking questions, and finding those answers is what is fulfilling. It just so happens that the questions are being asked by your hands as you make things… Love it. I think most people around me think I’m weird and hippie too 🤣 Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. It helps explain why I love sourdough baking too! Thanks for watching ✨☺️
EXACTLY!!!!!!! And I have given up explaining all that to those who cannot understand, I just tell them it is what I like to do. I am always amazed when others don't really have anything they like to do, I mean, who lives like that??? lol Thanks for the post, you sound like someone that I would like to know, but you have a million other things to do! :D
@@Sue-ec6un - I managed to bring home my point with a friend who is absolutely crazy about cycling. Expensive bicycles (yes, several!), cycling wear, driving miles on end to stand for hours in absolutely awful weather for the privilege of seeing his cycling idols whiz by in a couple of seconds. I made him a warm hat lined with felt, and treated it to make it mildly resistant to rain. When I gave it to him he gave me a lot of the arguments in my initial post. Me: “Well, while you were standing in the rain getting a bronchitis while watching your idols whiz by I was sitting comfortably in front of the tv making this hat without having spent a penny. We both had fun. Now my type of fun will help you stay warm while you have more of your type of fun.” Shocked Pickachu face. Then, understanding. Finally, speculation. His wife (laughing): “No sweetheart, I’m not learning how to knit. I strictly stick to making you warm soup when you get home.” 🤣
This resonated with me so much, spinning and knitting take time for me because of issues with my hands, but I love how they keep me calm and centred when everything else is so busy.❤ Fortunately my family are also makers, so they understand, we are all working on our own projects while carrying on the conversation! When you were talking about your friend's paintings I was reminded of both Monet's Waterlilies and Whistler's Nocturnes, both made series of paintings in a similar way, recording the light at different times of day over several months and years.
@@sweetgeorgia Yes, Mum knits by hand and machine, Dad builds model railways and is a painter, my son draws cartoons and my brother and my husband both love photography.❤
thanks for this. There's a lot of wisdom in the approach you're speaking about and I needed to hear it at this stage of my journey I think. Watching and listening from the other side of the world (central Europe) sometimes feels like I'm not able to participate as much as I'd like to. Still, your videos often bring me new perspectives and insights on topics that are highly relevant to me at the time.
Felicia
Only you can decide if the time has been well spent. If it has gives you fulfillment, then it is time well spent. My family is questioning the 60+ hours I just put into making a shawl, but I consider it time well spent because I enjoyed making it and I will enjoy the final product.
When you are doing something you enjoy, isn't it amazing how time can slip away. So spin, weave, laugh and sing, love yourself as much as you love your family and you will find bliss. And I can say now looking back at all the years before me, YES, IT IS ALL WORTH IT! Even the trying times are worth it as it is in those times, we can remember the calm, the joy, and that feeling of success. Live every moment and remember all the feelings, they will be there when you need them.
Thanks for putting into words how I feel. I feel more myself when I am creating. I find I become very moody and grouchy if I don’t get enough time creating. When you said it makes you more alive was very meaningful to me. Thanks.
Such a great reminder to not put pressure on ourselves that does not take into account all the elements of our life. I NEED the creative outlet of fiber arts to balance out the stress of my life, and to take some time for myself that fits in with the needs of my family. It's also a good model for my kids to see me pursuing something makes me feel clever.
Felicia, when right in the middle of any activity or moment you know this is the natural, spontaneous You then what else is there to do but spread that delightfulness in all other activities 😊.
Curiosity, Wondering, Seeking, Asking.... Discovering more and more how Beautiful this world is and Marvelous to explore and experience.
❤
Spinning plates! We're all spinning plates as crafters, lots of projects going at the same time ... never bored!
My sentiments entirely. I am who I am meant to be too.
I also did nothing but watch The Bear when it was on. Delightful and exhausting show - takes all my energy 🤩
@@cathyoverson haha oh yes… so full of nuance… I loved it. I just couldn’t look away 😆
Now I have to go watch it all over again...😂
Warning - long post. Apologies beforehand.
The question “Is it worth the time?” is one that I get very, very often. I live in Belgium where it’s quite unusual to spin. It’s almost equally unusual to knit complicated lace patterns, which is what I prefer to knit. It’s also unusual to forage for berries, to make your own fruit wines and meads, to smoke meats and fish. In addition, I love to cook and a lot of the things I make, especially on weekends, are recipes that need to be started hours or even days before they finally get served. I also love to draw and paint.
The answer is “It’s worth it to ME.”
Multitasking is a big part of it. Spinning can be done while watching something, and simpler patterns can also be knitted while watching something. I don’t need to sit by my smoker while a piece of bacon is turning delicious, or while a stew is simmering, bread dough is rising or something is marinading. I can listen to a podcast while painting. Visible mending is something that in a lot of cases, can also be combined with something else. And except for the prep, tasting/balancing and bottling, fermenting your own alcoholic drinks is just… letting them sit for days and weeks on end with absolutely no involvement.
The usual follow-up question is “Why? You can just go out and buy that stuff ready made.”
My answer is that all of my makes serve multiple purposes.
They provide me with entertainment.
They provide me with relaxation.
They provide me with clothing, food, drink, home decor and presents for loved ones.
Except for my spinning wheels, which I got over the last year, all my investments in equipment I bought have paid themselves back over the years because the end products that I make are cheaper in base materials/ingredients than the store bought alternatives. This means that an evening spend at the cinema costs me more money than knitting whilst listening to a free audiobook or watching something on my tv or tablet.
If I’m watching tv anyway, why not have something come out of my hands that provides me with additional pleasure AND will keep me warm in winter, or turns into a suitable Christmas gift for someone I love? Spending time and consequently less money on that gift frees up more budget for a gift for someone else.
“I wouldn’t have the patience!”
Well, they don’t have to.
“I wish I could do that!”
You can learn. Just give it a go. Borrow some stuff, and just try it out.
“But if I try and fail, it’ll be lost time and money.”
Depends how you look at it. You will have learned it’s not for you and you won’t have been bored while you were trying to acquire that new skill. And if you borrowed equipment, the initial investment will generally be a small one, often costing less than an evening out on the town.
“It’s weird and hippie. Isn’t it weird and hippie?”
Well, it can also be seen as skilled, original, a little eccentric, fun, creative, productive, and just plain and simply: a hobby.
“How on Earth did you get the idea to start doing (all of) this?”
Erm… simple curiosity. Seeing something, hearing about something, or reading about it and wondering about it, wanting to find out more, then asking myself whether I could do it. Often not even as a conscious thought but rather kind of rolling into it. Or being offered to try and being curious enough to take up that offer.
I think it more or less all boils down to “you do you, I’ll very happily do me.”
Oh!! I think your last point hit very hard for me… it’s the curiosity part. Following the trail of what you are curious about… I think it’s THAT part that makes it feel so satisfying. You are curious, asking questions, and finding those answers is what is fulfilling. It just so happens that the questions are being asked by your hands as you make things…
Love it. I think most people around me think I’m weird and hippie too 🤣
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. It helps explain why I love sourdough baking too! Thanks for watching ✨☺️
EXACTLY!!!!!!! And I have given up explaining all that to those who cannot understand, I just tell them it is what I like to do. I am always amazed when others don't really have anything they like to do, I mean, who lives like that??? lol
Thanks for the post, you sound like someone that I would like to know, but you have a million other things to do! :D
@@Sue-ec6un - I managed to bring home my point with a friend who is absolutely crazy about cycling. Expensive bicycles (yes, several!), cycling wear, driving miles on end to stand for hours in absolutely awful weather for the privilege of seeing his cycling idols whiz by in a couple of seconds. I made him a warm hat lined with felt, and treated it to make it mildly resistant to rain. When I gave it to him he gave me a lot of the arguments in my initial post.
Me: “Well, while you were standing in the rain getting a bronchitis while watching your idols whiz by I was sitting comfortably in front of the tv making this hat without having spent a penny. We both had fun. Now my type of fun will help you stay warm while you have more of your type of fun.”
Shocked Pickachu face. Then, understanding. Finally, speculation.
His wife (laughing): “No sweetheart, I’m not learning how to knit. I strictly stick to making you warm soup when you get home.”
🤣
Such a fabulous video with so many good points ❤
This resonated with me so much, spinning and knitting take time for me because of issues with my hands, but I love how they keep me calm and centred when everything else is so busy.❤ Fortunately my family are also makers, so they understand, we are all working on our own projects while carrying on the conversation! When you were talking about your friend's paintings I was reminded of both Monet's Waterlilies and Whistler's Nocturnes, both made series of paintings in a similar way, recording the light at different times of day over several months and years.
@@janatherton9194 a family of makers! 💗 that must be so much fun
@@sweetgeorgia Yes, Mum knits by hand and machine, Dad builds model railways and is a painter, my son draws cartoons and my brother and my husband both love photography.❤
Amazing work
The intro. I didn’t need an existential crisis on a Friday afternoon but here we are 😂
Great video! I feel like the act of making gives me purpose more than my makes. ❤❤❤
thanks for this. There's a lot of wisdom in the approach you're speaking about and I needed to hear it at this stage of my journey I think.
Watching and listening from the other side of the world (central Europe) sometimes feels like I'm not able to participate as much as I'd like to. Still, your videos often bring me new perspectives and insights on topics that are highly relevant to me at the time.
Thanks for watching! Your comment is so much appreciated and I’m glad this was helpful!
Seriously no joke. My TdeF spin also took me like 10 hr to just spin the single of 100g fibre. Glad to hear that I am not the only one.
@@charlottelee1152 🤣 yes!!
Well said!
When I don’t make time to make things I don’t feel like me or really alive. Life becomes very gray.
I want to be like you