I've been hit by a bug that I never saw coming. It came totally out of the blue. No warning signs or anything like that. Now that I am infected, who knows what will happen from here. I have been hit with the craft bug! Oh yes, it comes to us all eventually, but it appears that it is officially my turn to be struck down with this infectious bug.
I was never the most academic of children at school, but I did enjoy my home economics and art classes as it was better than sitting through a boring history or maths lessons. Being quite a quirky teenager, I loved the way that I could be as creative as I wanted to be, as thankfully for me, that was always acceptable in those sorts of classes. Clay modelling, jewellery making, sewing and paper crafts were among my favourite things to do back then.
Being the quirky kid with the big Deirdre Barlow glasses and retainer braces wasn't cool when I was growing up.
I was very into the vintage/retro thing back then, which hard for my peers to understand as they were the typical teenagers who liked modern 90's style and culture.
I really just wanted to fit in and end up doing a respectable career that was "normal" and acceptable. Had I have gone home to my parents and said that I wanted to my some sort of crafter, I doubt that would have gone down too well.
Before I knew it was time to head to college. Time for pastures new and to set the wheels in motion for what I wanted to be when I was a fully fledged adult. It was such an exciting time for me....................until I actually got there. I loved the socialising and meeting new people, some of which are very close friends up until today. But, during my lessons, I was bored stiff!
In fact, I hated it with a passion.
It was a huge culture shock to the system, and unlike school where I had craft lessons to look forward to, there was nothing that I felt could keep me there and interested in going to college.
I eventually passed my boring courses (god only knows how) and then done the really clever thing of getting a job that had nothing to do with what I studied for in the first place! The years went by and I hardly ever did any crafty stuff at all. In fact, it became non existent. "Wonder Web" would sort out any loose hems and the dry cleaners would do anything else that I would just find too difficult. Even sewing on a button was seen as being a bit of a chore. What had happened to me?
More years rolled on by, I became a mum and I got my first year of not working since the age of seventeen. It wasn't quite "not working", as I was on maternity leave, but all the same, it was bliss. Although the first few weeks were tough with sleepless night, stitches and sore nipples to contend with, things soon settled down and I had a lot of time to think/reflect.
Having all this time on my hands on maternity leave, I got to check out all the crafty things that I missed out on and re-lit my passion for it all. I have collected many books and have spent a quite a bit of time investigating all the different sorts of craft techniques out there. Initially, I was scared out of my wit as I haven't done anything crafty since leaving secondary school. However, I'm so excited and rearing to go that this time around, I'm not going to let anything put me off. I've been bitten by the craft bug and there'a no escaping it now.
Here are my top three craft books, that are easy to follow and I refer to regularly:
Now, I'm not going to leave my job and start a craft business, but I will make a promise to myself to follow my heart and do things that makes me happy.
Look out for up and coming blog posts dedicated to my love for all things handmade, vintage or darn right weird.
You've been warned.............
