Changing My Mind - Again!

I know a few months ago I spoke of starting an Etsy shop and for the longest I wanted to but couldn't. Now I can, or just about, but I'm not sure I still want to. The thing is, at first it was the only idea I had for making a little extra money and it just followed that if I make things I should sell them. And so I was all gung-ho until God began providing other things.

For instance, He provided my job with Crochet Spot in March. Like I've said before, it was a big step for me, even if it wasn't such a big step in comparison to other things. I wasn't sure I had what it takes to create a crochet pattern once a week. Well, so far I have created 26 and have learned a lot in that time.

Summer Lace Fingerless Gloves - Crochet Spot Pattern 

Now Rachel, the founder and owner of Crochet Spot, is giving me the chance to take a step further and make store patterns. This will mean bigger (more involved) projects. I'm really excited about this step because I have a tendency to create bigger projects as it is. But at the same time I am a bit nervous. Every other week I will have to have such a pattern ready. I thank God for this chance and pray that He will give me ideas and patience to do my best.

Besides crocheting, I have an incredible passion for writing. I know I've said this before, but I just wanted to reiterate for the sake of the conversation. My dream is to become a published author writing fiction as well as non-fiction. I've considered freelance writing, and took a step toward it, but I have stepped back because I am still not sure I want to put my full effort into pursuing that direction. Of course, if anyone desires to offer me a writing job anyway, I would be thrilled.

In the meantime, I am blogging on things of interest, such as marine biology and technology, for the sake of fun and in the hopes of building my writing platform. Since being introduced to the field of ocean exploration more intensely, thanks to the availability of NOAA's last expedition on the Okeanos Explorer, I have began to wonder if that is an area I could move toward in my writing. Maybe, if I show that I am good enough, I will be noticed by topic-related magazines or sites. But which should I pursue? Without feeling absolutely positive I hesitate to take action. What if I run full force into writing a certain topic and find that I jumped the gun and I've lost interest? In other words, what if I jump ahead of God and find that He had something better in mind for me than what I chose?

Whale Shark sighted during Okeanos 2013 Northeast Canyons Expedition - Courtesy of Ocean Explorer website.

I am ambitious and I will not sit around waiting for God to just drop things in my lap. God gives us talents and skills to use and a responsibility to work hard. But deciding your future is not to be taken lightly. I want God's best for me. He provided the Crochet Spot job without my seeking it out. I simply prayed for God to provide and He did. So I am asking Him to provide a writing avenue for me in the direction He knows will be best for me. He knows me better than I do.

So, in conclusion, since my main passion is for writing, I feel that starting an Etsy shop would only take time away from it and wear me out. My first inclination would be to take it on anyway and make myself do it because it would be a good experience. But I have learned that I can do too much. Until God shows me otherwise, this is the direction I will pursue. And I know God will provide when He feels I am ready. Why else would He have given me the love of writing if not to use it?

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Accessorize with Crochet!

I do a lot of talking about my dreams and things I plan to do on here, and sometimes it depresses me when I read back over it later and realize I haven't done any of them. But I comfort myself with the idea that at least I am organizing my plans when I write about them and giving myself a bit of an encouraging nudge toward doing them.

So I am going to talk about my plans for accessoriz-ing our room with crochet. Strangely, in the past I never considered filling our room with crocheted happiness but suddenly its come to me as a wonderful and creative idea. Plus, having a bit of an income now encourages my creative progress.

Our home is a small 70's model that we have "cursed" for many different reasons. Though I'm no carpenter, I have come to see many very important things a house should have that ours does not. I am not complaining. I live in this house and am used to it. I am grateful that God has given us a roof over our heads. But one thing that my siblings and I have is some experience in knowing just what a well-built house should look like. Or at least, I think we do. Our bedroom (my two sisters and mine) is what some would call rather small for three girls but one must do what one must do. It has taught us a great deal, for sure. But both my sisters agree that its time we gave life to our little space. I will outline some of our ideas.

First of all, we want to rip out our carpet and lay tile. Big job. But I want tiles so that the crocheted rugs will belong. Like this one:

You can find more details by clicking here.

Second, or more like first since its the first thing I plan on tackling, is crocheted curtains. Our closet used to have folding doors but they got too annoying and we eventually took them off. I thought how fun it would be to crochet our own and we've decided on a few designs already. Now I just have to figure out the rest like yarn and size.

This is another plan:

Isn't is wonderful?! Even though we already have neat bedspreads, I'd love to make us each one with differing colours. I've really become captivated by just how creative you can get with a granny square. I like greens and yellows, and earthy colours, while my sisters go for blues, pinks, and purples. By picking colours in the same tone we plan on satisfying each of our likes.

Next I'd like to add some life to our waist-high bookcase. We have a Lava lamp already, yellow-green and blue, along with other nick-nacks, of course, and I'd love to add one of these babies.

I'm thinking a sport yarn might make it more doily-like, or maybe even thread. I'll have to experiment. It might be my next Crochet Spot pattern, who knows. One thing for sure, I love the colours. I don't want our room to be loud, but since the walls are a bland sort of wood paneling (evidentally popular in the 70's) I think bright accessories would balance it.

This is another idea I like.

We don't have a lamp in our room, unfortunately, but if we did, it would not be left out. :)

The finishing touches. Our pencil holder is in definite need of a reformation like this. Isn't it lovely? When shopping the other day, I saw a pencil holder, quite plain really, with a grate-like texture. Hmm, how do I describe this? Like an old waste basket, you know? I thought it would be awesome to weave different colors of yarn in and out and give it some spice. Too bad I can't show you what I mean instead of just describing it. I guess I should have bought it. Maybe I will.

This sums up our ideas so far. I'm sure more will come but doing them is the big deal. I just have to keep in mind the size of our room. :)

Curtains, bedspreads and rugs are longer and more intense projects. I don't expect to get them done anytime soon. But, cross your fingers, I don't plan on forgetting them. (Forgive my occasional cynicism.)

So tell me, what are your ideas? Have you ever considered crochet-bombing your room before? Doesn't the idea just excite you? (I get really happy with yarn, okay.)

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Change - Or Finding My Niche

Well, lets see. Let me get my thoughts un-befuddled. Its terrible how that happens sometimes, isn't it? First of all, I have now realized why I haven't received any comments, ever, on this blog. And everyone says that's strange. I think its strange because even on my old blog I received comments and it didn't have as big of a domain name as this one. Now this may sound a little juvenile to you, but it all had to do with my settings. Yep, I know I should have already checked it but I thought I did. Anyhow, I now have comments enabled so feel free to let me know your thoughts.

To get on to other things, last week I checked out the book Blogging for Bliss: Crafting your own Online Journal by Tara Frey at our local library. Sadly to say I haven't got very far, but some of what I have read has been really helpful to me. I wish I had had this before I started this blog, it would have been really helpful. But since I didn't I will just have to make amends along the way. One thing I know is that I need to open up a little more if I want it to be readable. Who's attracted to a random blog that doesn't seem to have a point or purpose? You might read one post but nothings predictable. There's really nothing to bring you back again. You never know what might be the topic of the day. Tara Frey has helped me to see that I need to hone in on specific topics, within reason, because I am not very specific with my topics I write about.

I've actually been thinking about this for a while, realizing that I need a little more life, a little more about me, if this is going to be my online journal. I have to admit to you, though, I'm not too keen on displaying my life on the internet even though I like the online journal idea. Safety and all that. But if you bear with me I will get organized and find my niche. I'm trying.

Actually, the past few years of my life, at least the last year, has been all about finding my niche. As an aspiring writer, I have really been trying to find the type of writing that is right for me. At first I wanted to move into the freelance writing scene, thinking that was the answer to my looking for work. And though I haven't changed my mind, right now its a little off base for me. Meaning, I have stories to finish, a blog to reform, my business to promote, crocheting, yada yada yada. (Okay, that was annoying). Plus I don't live alone which means I have responsibilities to others and not just myself. Being a part of my family is incredibly important, even if I am single and living at home. Some say this is the age of freedom but I like to think of it as the age of learning. You don't know what's next for you or how long this time in your life will last, so make the best of it, not by shurking your responsibilities but by learning to honor them.

Okay, I chased a little rabbit there. Sorry. I am now off the soap box.

During my freelance writing research I found out that not all writing is for me. Journalism, for instance, the reporting of news, is really not my thing. What is my thing is creative writing, which is, well, what I do. Basically what you will find here on my blog comes under the heading of creative writing. I write about anything that inspires me. And that can get a little random at times so you see what I mean about trying to pull it all together in a less random style. I guess this is just a blog about my passions. That's what it really should be anyway.

I have also learned that my blog template at the moment is a bit hampering. In fact what I really wanted in template design was a virtual scrapbook. Yes, I am a scrapbooker too. But as you might have read in a previous post, my scrapbooking is a bit unique in that I don't scrapbook about people but things. Its hard to explain really. Basically its like creating a theme on a page. And thats what I want for my site. Lets just say I am not the most tech savvy. That's why I am taking so long on getting it to the way I want, I have to do a lot of research. But I am getting there. Slowly.

For those who do read my blog, thanks for the patience. And I'll see you back here soon at Over the Horizon. This is GoldenSails signing off.

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