I closed the doors on my shop for the last time in 2015. At the time it felt like the right thing to do and despite being a bit nervous of what lay in store for me, I’ve never looked back.

The online magazine Olann and that I went on to produce with my friend Deirdre became the focus of my creativity. when the last issue went live in December 2018, I didn’t know at the time it would be the end but my first grandson was born in January 2019 and my priorities changed. 

With the birth of grandson number two in 2021 the priorities have well and truly altered. I love being a Nanna, I absolutely adore being a mum and lets face it, I had my daughter when I was 17, so it could have gone completely sideways. It didn’t though, I’m pretty confident my kids would agree with me but life for me at least was tough. 

I won’t go into the details but suffice to say it’s only on reflection I’ve realised how tough it was. I also think, in the main, my children, especially the two older ones, didn’t know.

So why am I saying all of this? It’s because there’s been a shift in my brain over the last little while. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m now in my 50s, seeing my mum age, the grandchildren or the terrible reality of Covid and the world after but I have become aware of my own mortality and more importantly the legacy I will pass on to my three beautiful children and their gorgeous babes.

There has always been making, there will always be making but I’d like to think that along with the shift in my head, it’s become a little more purposeful.

There is still room for fun. Most definitely. I stumbled upon the photograph and pattern in a copy of one of the magazines I was passing on and it has now been added to my ‘to knit’ queue.

Some of the other projects are being made with more of a nod towards making memories. 

The doctor/vet set I spent a good while making for my oldest grandson is I hope, a good example of what I’m trying to achieve. Whilst the items might not survive until he has his own children, I hope the memories he has of playing with them does. Somewhere in those recollections he’ll find me and that’s what I’m after. 

Legacy is my word of the year.

When you look up the word legacy the definition on the Cambridge Dictionary Website says;

1. Money or property that you receive from someone after they die:

 2. Something that is a part of your history or that remains from an earlier time:

I’m going for the second because the first has been fairly unachievable so far.

So I’m planning the things I make for my family, with one eye on what will become their past. There’s room for me in that second definition too though. 

I loved writing my blog. I enjoyed having a record of what I was making and the things I did in pursuit of my hobbies. So when I found the magazine that’s in the photo at the top of this post, I thought “Why not?”. 

So it might be a bit different this time round and it definitely won’t be as often as in the past, at least I don’t think it will but I’m going to get back to blogging. Just for me, so I have a record for myself. If some one out there is reading this and wants to stick with me – great! Hi, hello, sending you much love. If not, that’s ok too. In this day and age of YouTube and Patreon I’m not sure if anyone even still reads blogs. 

I do but as we’ve established already, I’m in my 50s.

So here’s the start of my records:-

Things I’ve been working on in January 2024

2024 is the year I am going to improve my spinning and fingers crossed, learn how to spin Longdraw.

I’ve agreed with myself, to spend 30minutes per day spinning. I’m trying my best to do this first thing in the morning, shortly after I wake and before I walk my dogs and it seems to be working (for the most part anyway).

The Bluefaced Leicester fibre from Hilltop Cloud in the photo is my first ever intentional spin. I’ve split the braid in three lengthways and am doing my best to spin the fibre consistently. I may still card one third to spin as I’d like the colour changes to be a little smoother but we’ll see,

I’ve knitted and gifted a little baby hat in blue merino. Note to self, the pattern was the one you wrote when Arthur was born and his head was tiny.

I’ve ripped out and restarted Andrea Mowry’s The Weekender. I originally knit the third size, in January I’d been knitting the first and I’m still not happy. I’ll be frogging it again and reducing the number of stitches.

I’ve sewn, embroidered and crocheted several items for Art’s role play set. Including blankets, sheets, pillowcases, white coats, bandages and a name badge.

I’ve restarted the black jumper ordered by grandson number one.

I’ve cut out all of the letters to make grandson number twos song banner.

I’ve been working away on a patchwork quilt.

I’ve completed a new Hipster Hat for myself.

I finished spinning and plying some Suffolk Fiber but I still need to wash it.

I’m about two thirds of the way into knitting a sock for me. 

Is that everything?

Oh! There’s another Hipster hat on my needles for a friend too.

Plans for February

Finish as many of the things above that I can.

Make plans for the garden and order some seeds.

Plant my Sweet peas, Aubergines and peppers.

Cast on a cardi or a jumper for grandson number two.

Potentially cast on a Gan by Ailbíona McLochlainn for myself.

Possibly make a few more bits to go with the doctors/vets set.

Dig out my drop spindle and have another go.

Keep spinning for 30 minutes a day.

Try to write another blog post before the month February is over.

Happy Making

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