There are a few thoughts that can instantly bring a smile to my face. The first of course is the idea that somewhere out there Keanu Reeves and I are looking up at the same moon. The second is the knowledge that one day someone realized that if they tied point A to point B they could make magic and then they decided to share that idea with those around them. Whenever I get stumped on a stitch I take a step back and remind myself that at the end of the day it's just a series of knots.

There are fashion icons who come once in a generation, making an impact so great that they will be remembered for all of time. I'm talking of course about the flashy girl from flushing (bump, bump) the Nanny, named Fran. As a child, my parents refused to get cable. It wasn't until I went away to college that my parents decided to get a cable box (still bitter). There was one month when in middle school my parents announced that we suddenly had cable. My sister and I took full advantage of this. Watching every second of cartoons that we could until at the end of the month my parents told us that it was just a trial and the box was going away. A crushing blow. Is it really any surprise that I decided to start a business where I can get paid to watch my favorite shows? Wow, that got off track quickly and is probably best left for my therapist.

Getting back to my point. Since we didn't have cable, network shows became my bread and butter. Sister Sister, Sabrina, and of course …

Over the last month, I've started and stopped a new post a million times in my head. I never planned to take such a long break from posting. I launched this blog in July of last year and since then I've posted 2-5 times a week. As many of you, who have been around here for a minute, know I have the "too much gene". Meaning that when I have an idea it can't just be a passing thought with zero effort. It has to be epic. The epicness of an idea can create magic, but it can also drain me. I'm not someone who checks in with myself. I can work for hours before I realized that I haven't eaten or stood up all day.

I'm not entirely sure when I realized I was doing that with Bobble. But I decided to take a step back and planned to take two weeks off for the holidays. I don't think that I realized how exhausted I was until I stopped. Kind of like the first time you wear a new pair of boots. You are so excited about them and wear them all day. It's not unt…

“I was raised by highly creative women, who, at some point earned a living from their crafts. There was always some knitting or sewing going on at home"

Sam: Where are you from and where are you currently based?

Noma: I am based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Sam: Have you always been a creative person?

Noma: Yes – I was raised by highly creative women, who, at some point earned a living from their crafts. There was always some knitting or sewing going on at home, so I learnt early.

Sam: What is your craft of choice?

Noma: Definitely knitting!!!

Sam: Where do you think your love of crafting comes from?

Noma: I love creating something new and different that has never existed before - that’s the most thrilling experience ever.

Sam: When did you decide to start creating your patterns? Was that an easy jump for you to make or did it take a little convincing?

Noma: I had always created my own patterns even as a child. Somehow, I struggle with following instructions, so it was easy for me to do …

I have a confession: I am not a knitter.


Though there have been many attempts at becoming a knitter, it has never quite stuck for me. My mom has tried to teach me to knit multiple times in the last 29 years, but it has never blossomed into a hobby as she would have hoped. My mom is a self-taught knitter. She grew up in Northern Ireland in a family of nine children where knitting and sewing her clothing was a necessity, but also a creative outlet she truly enjoyed. She still furiously knits to this day.


Throughout my childhood, she would teach me to cast on and cast off on a set of pink needles with leftover balls of yarn from her various masterpieces. I would do a few rows and lose interest shortly thereafter. Usually, I would only get to the point of making a little swatch of stitches. Then I would put it down and forget about it. When I would come back to it, I would get to exactly the same point each time. I suppose I’m a stop-and-start sort of knitter. We tried needlepoint as well. …

“When I first learnt I was so engrossed that I remember smuggling my knitting up to bed and knitting clandestinely by the orange glow of the street light because I just couldn’t put it down!"

“I could see me! I’m not talking about the outer me, but the inner me who had to learn to love myself on my own terms, unconditionally. I no longer needed validation from outside sources."


..........

This year marked my very first Rhinebeck. In the days leading up to the festival, I sat down to my computer and in a very Leslie Knope way typed out exactly what booths and lectures I wanted to hit. I had every second mapped out to precise precision. Feeling fairly confident I stepped off the bus and was instantly overwhelmed. That day became a lesson in letting go and realizing the value of that. I attached myself to a wonderful group of makers and let the day go where it went. Throwing away the plan and saying yes to every suggestion that came my way.

This is the last month of the decade. I read that somewhere and nearly fell out of my chair. I guess I hadn’t thought about it until that moment. Next month we will be able to say that we were alive in the 20s which is exciting and unbelievable at the same time. As we approach this new decade many of us are going to go through a period of change that could lead to shifts in our creativity. Change isn't always a strictly good or bad thing. It's going to be important for all of us to stay open to whatever direction our creative practice takes us. If we can do that we should have a wonderful holiday season ahead of us.

I do want to preface this by saying this is all meant in good fun. So with that said let's get into your crafting horoscopes for the month of December!

The holiday season might be my favorite time of the year. It’s the time of year when I can release my inner Martha Stewart, in a healthy way, while I cover my world in gingerbread and knits. I have a few more things to work on and then I’m officially off the clock until December! This year has flown by and I really can’t believe it’s time to haul out the holly.

One of the posts I knew that I couldn’t put off until December is the FO rundown for November! Ur FO is quickly becoming one of my favorite segments on BCH. If you aren’t already familiar with it I highly recommend that you take a minute to check out a few of our past FOs. I’m constantly so impressed by your talent and I love seeing how everyone brings their own personality to their crafts.

I’m so excited to close out November with such an incredibly special group of makers. So get ready to be inspired and let's dive into this month’s Ur FO list.


..........

The holidays are fast approaching and this year I have a wide array of gifts to pick out. What do you get your crafting friend who has everything? What do you pick up on any budget? I was in the middle of doing some online shopping when I realized that there might be a few of you who are trying to do the same thing. Why not share what I've found so far and maybe save you a few hours of online digging? From stocking stuffers to the list you can send your partner, I've got you covered this year. Hopefully, there will be something for everyone, budget, and occasion on this list and you will be all set for this holiday season!

In a lot of ways, I think that cartoon character dressing is the way to go. They pick one outfit, or two if they're lucky. Then they only wear that one thing over and over again. They find an outfit that they feel comfortable in and stick with that. I'm definitely guilty of this. Have you ever thought about what your cartoon character outfit would be? Because I have. If I were a cartoon character my outfit would be a pair of jeans and an oversized sweater. As long as I stay inside during the summer, I think that I would be perfectly content in that every single day.

“You’ll never please everyone. I’ve tried to move along with crochet trends and it never works for me, I never find the success that others do so I try to please myself more, even if that means I’m less successful"


Sam: Where are you from and where are you currently based?

Amber: I was born and raised in Northern Utah but I currently live in Southern California.

Sam: What is your craft of choice and where do you think your love of crafting comes from?

Amber: I am a crocheter (although a dabbler of other crafts). I am 100% sure I get my love of crafts from both of my parents, my mother makes quilts and crochets and my biological father draws and designs cabinets.

Sam: Have you always considered yourself to be a creative person?


Amber: Yes! I was the little kid who copied cartoons I saw on tv in notebooks with crayons. I spent years painting and drawing until I started crocheting. I’ve always loved being creative.

Sam: What does your yarn stash look like?

Amber: A mess. I moved last year a…

I've been so excited to post this interview from the moment that I hung up the phone. This week's Sunday inspiration comes from Vickie Howell. Knitter, crafter, and DIY expert Vickie Howell. I had a really hard time editing this one because every step of her crafting journey is integral to understanding the bigger picture. A big reason why I'm able to do what I'm doing now is because of people like Vickie doing what they did first. I honestly feel so grateful to have this interview on the site and I can't wait to hear what you take away from her story.

(original post date June 16th, 2019)

"It was sort of that day that I got that knitting was more than just knitting. It could be a through-line for communication and community"

Sam: Who taught you how to knit?

Vickie: Well, my mom tried to teach me when I was nine and I hated it. She taught me how to crochet, so I did that. But, I actually didn't learn how to knit until I was maybe twenty-seven/twenty-eight.…