Creative Family


I am from a creative family.  My mother sewed our clothes when we were little and while I was unappreciative at the time because of the sensitivity of how rough the fabric was against my skin (and I cried buckets of tears until I adjusted to the scratchiness) I now know that her crafting skills gave me my creative skills.  My mother could: sew, knit, crochet, quilt and do various needle crafts.  She learned her skills through books - she would have loved the internet and the immediacy of information.

My father is also creative.  He does woodworking and dabbles in photography.  He catches with his camera, birds that visit his pond on his daily walks.  Whenever one of us buys a new camera, there is lots to talk about. We eagerly look at photos and discuss what was happening when the moment was captured.


My sister has amazing quilting skills and sewing skills that I admire.  She loves the process of making the same item repeatedly and sells her items to friends and sometimes does a little craft show here and there. She is a knitter as well.  Whenever I walk into her sewing room, I am inspired by the yarns and fabrics on the shelves.  Whenever we are together, we are knitting and talking.

thank you Ginny for the yarn and soap!
As a child, I could not wait for my birthday or Christmas because I knew I would get some kind of crafting kit that would keep me busy creating something.  My hot little hands would weave those pot holders and proudly display my finished "coaster".  Whenever I received a paint by number kit, I would be so so excited about dipping my paint brush into those wee little pots of paint.

I used to dig through my mother's scrap yarn and impatiently crochet or knit a dress for my barbies.  Sadly barbie's head had to be taken off for the dress to fit but hey, I was 8-9 years old.  I was proud of myself and my budding crafting skills.


I watched my parents as they patiently worked on their projects and how the process was as much valued as the finished product.

I still get excited when I'm about to start a new knitting project, imagining what it will look like when it's done.  Since I've been knitting forever, most of the time my imaginations match my finished project.  Sometimes my imaginations are way off.  The yarn wasn't the right choice, the gauge was off.  Or somehow I was on another planet when I started.  That happens and that is okay.  The more I create the chances of success increase and disappointments decrease.  I learn something new with each project.


Since childhood I've been creating and somehow I doubt I will stop.  No matter what, there is something out there that is begging to be knit.

Comments

  1. I very much enjoy seeing the results of your creativity with knitting and photography, and reading your creative writing. I think I'd also love to meet your sister; it seems that many people are looking for new and different, but I too love the process of making the same thing many times, enjoying the subtle differences.

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    1. I gravitate to the same patterns over and over sometimes, but not all the times. She loves assembly line sewing :)

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  2. I enjoy the process, the journey of the creation as well as the end result. I too am from a creative family, my mother a knitter and my father good with wood.

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  3. I have come to realize what an amazing gift we have been given by our families. I know too many who did not have a creative influence and can't seem to understand my need to sew or knit or write. I am thankful that I got that from my family and that my husband and I have passed it on to our girls. It also helps when the house gets messy from all the creative energy being released!

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    1. I used to be questioned all the time at ballet class while I knit away waiting for my daughter. Some people don't understand and it's hard to get them to understand a creative pursuit.

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  4. it is a gift, hey, being creative! ? ! :) God bless you!

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  5. A lovely post, Karen. It was fun learning about your family. I wish I had learned how to sew as kid by my mum's knee. Now that we moved away, I'll have to take charge of that by hand but only after the holidays.

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    1. distance makes us realize what we appreciate! maybe you'll live closer once again one day.

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  6. Thank you for sharing your creative story, this was such a joy to read! My parents are and grandparents were very creative too. I really believe it's an inheritable characteristic. My grandmother could knit and my mother knits, crochets and sews. My grandfather always made things from scratch and was a master in fixing things so they could work again.

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    1. my grandparents were creative as well, I do think it's a characteristic passed down through generations :)

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  7. This is a wonderful post. I love that your parents instilled a love of all things hand created. !!!!
    My mother could only crochet a bit. But she made us blankets we still treasure . SImple cream colors that reminded her of IRish fisherman sweaters I'm sure. A grandma I really never met was a skilled knitter and crocheter. loved your story

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    1. thank you Kathy, I love knowing you have blankets you treasure. My grandmother made each grandchild a scrap sewn blanket and I STILL have mine, it's a bit tattered but it's intact.

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  8. I love creating, and come from a family of creatives too.

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    1. Yes!! I had a feeling you have creative parents :)

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  9. This is a beautiful tribute to how important a creative household is. The making process is one of the most vital, I think! Thank you for sharing, Karen!

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  10. How wonderful to be surrounded by creative family. My mom and grandmother rarely worked on anything crafty. I am all self-taught. Your work is always beautiful.

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  11. So nice to catch up with you. What a lovely post about your family. It is interesting to look back and think about family and how they have influenced us. Lovely cowls.

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    1. Yes looking back and hopefully looking forward as the kids dabble in creativity as adults.

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  12. Interesting post, Karen, We have a lot in common! Love your photos and your knitting projects! Today's wind is taking a lot of leaves off the trees around us, and it's supposed to get extremely windy again tomorrow. What will you do with your pretty new yarn?

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    1. I have no idea as of yet! I'm leaning towards a cowl or mitts or maybe a hat???

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  13. I am also grateful for a creative family who inspired and influenced me to take up new things. Thank you for sharing your stories with us, I very much enjoy reading them. Have a lovely weekend x

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  14. I do envy those of you who had creative family. I had to wait for a sister-in-law to have a crafter in the family.

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    1. well I'm glad a relative came along through marriage! both of my sister in laws are creative people!

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  15. It is lovely to read about you creative family, Karen. Thank you so much for sharing. I hope you are having a great weekend xx

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    1. Thanks Jane, hope your weekend was wonderful!

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