I Can Craft!!

I come from a wonderfully crafty family. Even the men in the family (outnumbered as they are:) are creative and talented. My dad can sew, is a meticulous designer, fine woodworker, he even ties his own colorful flies for fly fishing. My Pawpaw was amazingly talented as well. I remember his fantastic wood carvings and wooden toys and puzzles with which us girls enjoyed countless hours of amusement when we were little. My Awma was a wonderful seamstress, making my sisters and I dresses when we were little. My Grammy is a phenomenal quilter, seamstress, knitter, painter, you name it! She can do it all...really well. My mother too, is a perfectionist in her beautifully detailed cross-stitch, appliquéing, quilting, sewing, beading...again, you just name it!

With such a strong heritage of crafty and creative people, you'd think I would be just as skilled.

Not so.

I have a sewing machine that intimidates me. I only use it for whatever I can mend with black thread because I'm scared I don't know how to change out the spools. For the other 364 days of the year, my sewing machine desk serves as a piece of furniture for me to put things on. Also, my spacial awareness is seriously lacking, so even my attempts at scrapbooking, I leave to a computer software system. You get the picture, I'm sure.

Busied with sports and other activities growing up, I know I didn't quite get started soon enough with crafts to even begin to approach the abilities of my parents and grandparents. But recently I've been inspired to give crafting a serious attempt. In July while visiting my family I received my first lesson in crocheting. With my nine year old niece, Ajyah, at my side we began our awkward introduction. After a few days, I knew more about how to undo my crochet work and start over, than I did about making a finished product. I was fairly certain I would never get it and was admittedly harboring some feelings of jealousy towards Ajyah who was just having so much fun with it! ;) I know, who gets jealous of a nine-year-old, right?!! LOL

Anyway, before leaving for home, I mustered up some excitement about crocheting only to encourage my little niece to keep going with it. Largely motivated by what she would think of me if I quit, I decided to ask for help one more time from my mother-in-law and from one of Scott's aunts (since he too, is part of an incredibly crafty family!) The result...after some more frustration, lots more undoing, and several weeks of practice:

Baby Scarf (I even used 2 colors of yarn at once!)

Baby Beanie

My first completed crochet project!

Yay! Despite my serious doubts, it turns out, I CAN craft! Hee hee hee:) I am excited to keep going and have already started on another beanie! Our baby will be cozy and warm this winter! Ajyah you can do it too! (Well, I knew you could from the start ;)