Social Action Projects

I have two main projects forthcoming that will feature predominantly in my knitting and handmaking activities for the next few/many weeks. I got sneaky and tried to find a way to bring my crafty obsession into the realm of academia--in plain words, I've decided to do some knitting and crocheting for the major assessments for two of my subjects at uni this semester.

But I've aligned it with a good cause so it's not just some futile attempt to get easy marks doing what I love. Firstly, I want to practically address the concept of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink for my Peace, Sustainability, & World Futures subject; I've tried to consciously turn RRRR into my motto and I believe I'm doing okay as of late (switching off appliances at the wall, checking taps for leaks before bed or going out, shorter showers, turning off engine at drive-thru, eco-bags!). Specifically for this unit, I have plans to crochet ordinary plastic bags into much larger, virtually indestructible reusable shopper bags to take to the supermarket for groceries etc. I do need to come up with some more ideas but essentially, I want to give old items a new purpose for the Greener good. Towards the final days of that subject, I also plan to distribute my handmade resurrected items to students at my university with a pamphlet outlining some tips for going green and making it fun and do-able.

I'm tossing up the idea of whether or not I should hand out my items in exchange for a gold coin donation to be forwarded to an appropriate charity... I suppose it would do no harm; if people want to donate, then good on them!

My other big project is for Community Development: Education for Soccial Justice. The project will involve knitting (or generally handmaking) baby clothes, booties, and blankets with other willing members of the community in order to donate them to the RPA Hospital for the neonatal intensive care unit--for premature babies and newborns. I'm very excited about this one because it will involve the input and effort of more people than just myself. I started my first baby beanie today :-) Tiny things are just so precious!

My dear friend Sandra is making an appearance at my house this afternoon (today is our Craft Day Saturday) so it's just going to be fun-filled with yarn and thread and chai tea and Hungarian bread and laughing and love!

Sweatshopping

Ohh the past few days and nights have just been a blur of yarn needles, vintage fabric, buttons, knitting needles, measuring tape, chalk, crochet hooks, and lots and lots of yarn. And lost sleep.

But..

It has all been a labour of love. Lots of love, but mostly labour. But lots of love!! I'm whipping up a few things to sell at my local flea market. It's all going to be handmade by myself and I'm hoping to get a good response from the market-goers. With this Winter being a warm one and with Spring fast approaching already (!) I've decided to knit and crochet some transeasonal pieces (berets using thinner ply yarn; handwarmers) which can be worn during the colder seasons right into the sunny mornings of Springtime.

In addition, I'll be making some season-indeterminate pieces like knitted cupcakes and ice creams (both stuffed with good squishy hobby fill), owls and babushka dolls, pouches, brooches (which are featured in the above photograph), bookmarks, pendants, coasters, rings, and whathaveyou! I'm going to be a very busy lady here in my sweatshop (bedroom), but I've found that when it comes to my craft, time flies. At lightning speed. On steroids. Being shot out of a gun. Because firstly, there's so much to do in so little time--my uni holidays will be over in 4 weeks. Secondly, and most importantly, I fall into my own world absolutely void of all sense of time and passing as soon as I reach for my crochet hook or kneedles (knitting needles) which is usually quite early in the morning. When I lift my head up to take a break, I realise I've missed breakfast (and elevenses and lunch!), I've become short-sighted, the dishes haven't been washed, my rabbit hasn't been fed, and I've got some sweet RSI in my wrists :-)

The brooches are made from whatever fun yarns I had in my basket. I crocheted circles in various sizes then layered them with printed fabric (reclaimed quilts, shirts and dresses from op shops) and sewed a cute button on top to hold it all together. With a brooch pin sewn into the backs of them, they'd look super cute and super crafty on any handbag, jacket, t-shirt, headband or scarf. Some of the brooches are inspired by food, themes, or artwork. The brown and pink one is Strawberry & Chocolate Ice Cream, and the green one with the yellow button and bow is Little House on the Prairie! The brown one with the floral print, white circle and orange button makes me think of cakes or cream tarts. Yum!