The More You Use, The More You Have

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul." ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Ever since I was a young girl, one of my greatest joys

has been making things.  

I learned embroidery from my mother, but I was mostly 

self-taught.  I had no internet videos to show me how to 

do things.  I borrowed books from the library, and if I

couldn't find any instructions there, I tried to figure it out

on my own.

I would see something interesting and say to myself -

 "I can make that!". 

I taught myself to knit and crochet.  

I figured out how to sew clothes from a pattern.  

I made patchwork quilts.

I did cross-stitch.

I made cornhusk dolls and dried apple heads.

I sewed neckties for my father, and it became a 

small business as his co-workers requested ties too!

I made macrame plant-hangers.

I folded origami.

I bought a good camera as a teen-ager and taught

myself photography.

I wasn't always successful, but I liked the challenge.

This past year has been a very creative time for me once again.

I saw an ottoman like this online and bought the fabric and filling to make one. 

Then I made more for Adam and Kerry.

Then I tried a large "bench" type of ottoman.

  Momo likes both of them.

I also saw a Japanese papercut artist on Pinterest 

and decided to give that a try.

And for Christmas I made one for my sister.

I finally got around to redecorating Adam's old bedroom.

I painted the walls a bright white.

Then I bought a bunch of small sampler paints

in custom colors.

I taped off a large rectangle on the wall

and began duplicating a piece of modern art 

that had attracted my eye.

I liked it so much I did another one on the other wall.

Kerry bought the hollow hexagons for her wall,

 but needed more to fill up the wall.  So I got some

wood and made some solid hexagons with mini shelves

to hold her mini succulents.

My sister and I both learned punch needling this fall.  

This pillow was my first project.

Then another.  A polka dot pattern.

 

I hope to make a rug this year!

I'm all set with yarn colors!

I crocheted this modern granny square afghan,

and knitted this mosaic throw

 and this colorful cotton throw.

For Christmas gifts,  I was busy knitting cozy cowls for the kids.

And I just finished this soft merino/alpaca/silk sweater!

I'm trying to get better at knitting clothing so I will be able

to outfit my future grandchildren!

These projects bring such joy to my life.

They calm me.

They challenge me.

They inspire me to expand my mind.

They test my patience.

They allow me to conquer self-doubt.

They let me nurture inspiration into a reality.

Now what will I make next?

"You can't use up creativity.  

The more you use,

the more you have."   

~ Maya Angelou