BROUGHT TO MINDâ—½ HOME
My whole life, I’ve been blessed with creative abilities. Writing, drawing, crocheting, and I even enjoy designing on the computer.
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I’ve also been blessed with family members that share those hobbies. I’ve learned so much from the women in my family. My great grandma (whose butterfly pins I wrote about in July) was a painter, quilter, and crocheter. My dad’s mom is great at paper crafts. My mom has always loved trying different arts and crafts. I’ve even had several artsy friends over the years.
A lot of my favorite things were made by friends and family. It’s so lovely to look around my space and see little bits of people I love, all made with care.
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Of course, there are plenty of my own creations around, too. I crocheted one of the pillows in the photo and made the other out of a sweatshirt that no longer fit.
Even if you don’t have creative friends or family who have made things or taught you how, you can still start adding handmade touches to your home. If you see a project idea that interests you—or come up with your own, give it a whirl. You can make it perfectly match your style, and nothing compares with the satisfaction of placing your finished piece in place of honor.
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If you do have loved ones who share your hobby, you’ll have the additional satisfaction of showing them your masterpiece. They’ll love knowing they inspire you, and they might even get a little inspiration in return.
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Sometimes, there’s a bittersweet side to this. The people who inspired you may not be in your life any longer for one reason or another. When I complete a crochet project, I often want nothing more than to show it to my great grandma. But, there’s consolation in the fact that you are keeping the skill they loved alive.
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So much is brought to mind by a homemade item…the joys and challenges of the process and the feeling of accomplishment afterward…the patience and affection of a loved one. If the item is made from something with sentimental value, it can carry those memories even when the original piece outlives its usefulness.
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No matter if the finished product is practically perfect in every way or a little quirky and lopsided; it has something of its creator in it, just like we do. And, years and years from now, maybe a child or grandchild will treasure an item you made for the special way it brings you to mind.