I Need to Find Balance

For the past 6 years, my life has been about trying to get better (recover my mobility) and crafting.  The crafting has been very important for my sanity.  It gave me something constructive to do in my lift chair besides stare at a television and drool.  I am so grateful that so many of you have been here for my crafting endeavors and supported me in so many ways.  Thank you.

My mobility has improved drastically since I lost some weight and had both hips replaced.  I am far from agile or quick on my feet, but I can get around without assistance now.  Because of this I am working with a vocational rehab counselor and a job coach to try to get back to working.  This past week and the coming week I am doing a job assessment in the accounting department of a local non-profit for 20 hours per week to see if I can handle working again.  I am being observed.  This is only a temporary job to test me and if I stand up to the physical challenges and the stress well enough, then I will be going out on interviews for jobs.

So far, I am doing ok physically.  At the end of 5 hour work days, my back is aching, but I think that I just need to get used to things and over time I will have less pain (fingers crossed).  The other part of the issue is stress and anxiety.  I have an anxiety disorder that I am taking medication to keep under control.  I have only had mild episodes of anxiety while in the process of learning the multitude of data entry processes that are required for the job.  In comparison, at my last job my anxiety levels were so high that I would have panic attacks or, if I was able to hold in the out right panic, then internalizing it would result in physical symptoms, exacerbating my IBS-d and migraines.

Ok, so why am I telling you all of this?  Well, I have found that my knitting, crocheting, spinning, beading, and jewelry making have drastically decreased.  Actually, I have practically stopped doing any of it.  How do those of you who work find balance in your life between work, family, and crafting?  I have a multitude of WIPs that need attention, but I am suddenly not interested in most of them.  I have managed to spin at least 15 mins per day to keep up with the Tour de Fleece, but even just that 15 mins seems like I must force myself to do it.

Do any of you have advice for me?

Happy Creativity to you All!

Tuesday's Temptation

Lately I have crocheted a few fun toys and found that I enjoy them.  I find special joy when a child lights up from the toy.  So I have been browsing around for more toy patterns and thought I would share my finds with you.

First, there is EssHaych, which sells fun amigurumi creatures and patterns.  Isn't he freakin adorable?  Perhaps you don't crochet.  No problem.  She sells either the monster or the pattern!

Would you prefer to knit your toys?  Okay, then check out Cheezombie. Cheezombie offers both crochet and knit amigurumi patterns and this guy is so cute that I could start to like garden slugs...yeah right.







These little fellas justify all the tiny balls of left over yarn I have saved from years of projects, just so I can morph them into playful delights.   Won't you join me in a little knit and crochet play date?