Feeling Crafty

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I've got a bit of a yearning to be creative and crafty lately. Suddenly I want to learn how to do... well, pretty much everything: sewing, needlepoint, cross stitch, embroidery. You name it, chances are I want to learn it. Last night I was wandering through Joann Fabric, and it has totally opened my eyes to the possibilities of being able to create things myself. Right now I've got a couple of specific projects I want to make: a quilt of my favorites of W's onesies, and Christmas stockings. Yes, that's right, I said Christmas. But if I'm going to make them, now is definitely the time to get going on them.

I've been scouring the internet and boutique shops around town for the "perfect" Christmas stocking patterns, and I've come to two solid conclusions: 1. It doesn't exist, so I'm going to have to make it up myself. 2. I MUST learn how to embroider.

Some super creative people out there are blogging about their crafty talents, and showing this generation how hobbies that were once (sorry) old-lady-ish can be fresh and new and relevant in our modern world. Check out Feeling Stitchy. Seriously, people, I need to learn how to embroider. In my head, I'm envisioning a fine knit cream-colored stocking: one side embroidered monogram, the other some sort of decoration. Each stocking similar in template but individualized for each person. Lined on the inside to protect against years of holding chocolate and other candies; as well as to help the knit keep its shape. I think the embroidered owl would be cute for W's stocking. But this opens up a whole new world for me. And lots more blog searching.