Juggling Act

On Saturday I welcomed seven lovely ladies to my studio and we enjoyed a wonderful hooky day together making birdies.

I love how each and every bird has it's own personality and character, and how different they all turn out, even with the same yarn and same hook size.

I'll soon be ready to share my pattern with you all here in the Attic, I'm very excited about doing that!

Last week I began on a five week stint of working three afternoons a week with three different local schools. This is a joint project between Yarndale and a local children's charity, with the aim of introducing children of all ages and abilities to the joys of working with yarn. With our help, each school is yarn bombing it's own bicycle which will form a "woolly bike trail" in the park for the Yarndale weekend.

What can I say? This is a major challenge for me on so many levels, and my juggling skills are certainly being put to the test. Like many working parents, I suddenly have Childcare Issues, and it's quite a stressful time actually. This is tough work for a quiet Attic dweller and non-teacher like me, going into a school and engaging/inspiring a classroom of 20 children for 3.5 hour stretches. But the children have all been fabulous and so eager to learn, I've managed to teach them all to finger crochet, the above bike is totally wrapped in lengths of finger crochet! We are creating a bicycle garden here folks (hence the greens and browns) and will begin to make all sorts of woolly mini beasts during the next four weeks to decorate. I am hoping I am up to the job, I am googling like made and trying to devise ways of cunningly making ladybirds and other critters out of pompoms and pipe cleaners. And googly eyes.

This is a sweet little trike that I'm working on in another school. These are weeny Little People (age 5 & 6) so I am keeping things much simpler here. We are wrapping the trike in lengths of stretchy jersey fabric first.....

.....then all sorts of rainbow themed yarn crafts will be added to decorate. I made these tassels this afternoon with 28 children, they loved doing it so much.

In between all this activity that I'm engaged with for Yarndale, I am also attempting to juggle my own Little People at a very busy time of year. Little B begins his transition phase into school next week (I think it's next week, could well be the week after), and there are a worryingly large number of school/nursery trips and activities which require food/the right clothing/money/filled in forms for each child. A residential trip for Little/Big Man. A coach trip for Little B. High School visits and open days for Little Lady. It's all very full on. I race about from A to B to C and every so often I remember to look up and appreciate the colour of the sky and breathe deeply.

Life on the home front is a shambles right now. So. Much. Mess. So much that doens't get done. I am hardly here at the moment, but I am trying to remember to sit still sometimes and appreciate the Little Pleasures. Fresh flowers. Kind friends and neighbours. Long, light days and balmy summer warmth. Juicy strawberries. Great coffee. A good nights sleep.

I am planning my food and shopping very carefully in these busy days, making sure that when I come in the door at 4.45pm, that I know exactly what I am cooking each day, that I can get off to a flying start. Tonight I made a simple risotto flavoured with sundried tomatoes, rocket and goats cheese, it was delicious and comforting after a long, busy day. Tomorrow I'm making fajitas, but using mixed beans and peppers instead of chicken as we are still doing our vegetarian thing. I've got a ripe avocado to make a bit of homemade guacamole and a small tub of sour cream. I think it's going to be good, and should all come together in 20 minutes flat. Great fast food.

The mandalas continue to flood in, with approximately 20-30 each day arriving into the guinea pig hutch in the front garden. As I am working in the schools during the afternoons, my mandala hour has been rescheduled to the evening shift, once dinner is done and dusted. Luckily it is mid summer here, and our days are long and light which means I can photograph them all individually in the back yard even at 7pm.

I am uploading them to the Yarndale Pinterest boards in batches each night, and the current count is 590 mandalas from 42 different countries around the world. Yeah!!! Isn't this something truly very special??!! Do go have a look, such a visual treat... http://www.pinterest.com/yarndale/

I will try to bob in here whenever I am able, but truthfully the next four weeks are going to be tough for me and Attic24 will need to play second fiddle I'm afraid. I hope you understand.

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♥...more little snippets from the Attic...♥

Granny Bunting for Yarndale

Introducing Yarndale

Mandala Wheels for Yarndale

Funky Lamp Yarnbomb :: Ta-dah!

Mandala Love

Comments

[iets-unieks]

Hi Lucy! I would really like to join your mandala madness :-) but I don't know where to sent my mandala to.. Can you e-mail me your adress?

Kind greetings from the Netherlands
Lobke

[Stephanie Haworth]

Hi Lucy
I follow your blog and know you have a new post from June 13th that I am unable to access!!! I view only blogs using typepad so I know that its not blocked in my firewall... has anyone else had this issue????
Stephanie

[Jay]

I love the woolly bicycles, good luck juggling it all!

[Lizy Tish]

Sounds like so much fun! and BUSY. You can do it!

[One Earlybird]

Gee, I'm out of breath and all I've done is read this beautiful post. Thanks for squeezing it in, I know how time consuming blogging can be.

[paola totaro]

Hi Lucy, I am an aussie journalist who lives and works in London. I thought you might enjoy this yarn bombing project that occurred in a country town this week in New South Wales, Australia. (I love your posts and have made your birds and a few other little things in my (not so spare) time! enjoy!
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/country-living/an-ornamental-submarine-in-holbrook-nsw-has-been-yarnbombed-to-turn-it-into-a-yellow-knitted-submarine/story-fnkeragy-1226951893912

[Michelle]

Your blog inspires me so much, so much in fact that its you that has me knitting again and learning to crochet. Although a cross stitcher for around 40 years I wanted to try something new and seeing the colours etc., on your blog I knew I had to get out my knitting needles again and buy some crochet hooks! I am also going to visit Yarndale this year. A friend of mine visited last year and loved it. Michelle x

[Sandi McLean]

Hey Lucy, keep up all the great things you are sharing with us all. Cannot wait to see the pattern for the birdies!!

[Deirdre]

OMG I saw my mandala in one of the pics, I'm so excited, had to show hubby & dogs!!!! I must say Lucy you're brave woman tackling a bunch of 5-6 yr olds, that'd scare the life out of me but judging from your amazing tutorials I think you're a born teacher...you'll be great & the kids will love you, so no worries xxxxxxx

[SarahT]

Good luck with your juggling! You can do it! I think women are amazing at juggling their everyday tasks.
I just love seeing the rows of birds your lucky ladies have made, they look beautiful and I can't wait to make my own menagerie! Thank you Lucy x

[Brenda]

Been following your blog a good while and recommended to many others. Having just started a blog myself, I have to say I have an even greater respect for you! Its hard, its time consuming, and it needs skills you have obviously mastered. Thanks for your work, with all the good stuff thats going on i'm not surprised you feel the need to pull back on it for a while!

[Angela Dorman]

I am a retired teacher and can endorse al the comments about the rewards of introducing young children to the world of craft and creativity. I worked in an inner city school and managed to get funding for an artist in residence to work with parents and children to create an environmental map of the area immediately around the school. This was around thirty years ago! I would still welcome the opportunity to work in schools. Good luck with all your endeavours!

[Christina]

To "June" who posted yesterday. You are talking bollocks. You are just jealous. If you can't be pleased for someone else's success don't visit this site. Saddo.

[Gillian]

I hope everything goes well for you and the little people. When things settle down again you'll be able to take a well earned rest.

[thetwistedyarn]

It's hard combining so many different strands of life, but remember that nothing has to be perfect. Wishing you a peaceful(ish) summer ahead once term is over.
Best wishes from thetwistedyarn

[Yeasun]

Hello. You're so amazing. I've always been impressed by your little world.. I'm studying English because I'd like to understand crochet posts... thanks a lot!!

[Angy Braine]

As you say - deep breaths, stop. pause. smell the roses. keep up the gratitude. This surely is a recipe for keeping ones sanity. Well done you!

And YES - teaching kids IS stressful and I applaud you for your bravery.

I'm also going through a bit of a heavy time right now and to remain calm I keep reciting the words of a wise (albeit forgetful) fish - Dory.

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming" xx ♥♥♥

[Sarah]

The risotto looks sooooooooo yummy - is it any particular recipe? that you could point me towards?
thanks.

[June]

I think if you know your home life is a shambles then you're deliberately putting yourself first before your family.

There will come a time when you regret this. i'm married to a man who was put second, third or fourth by his first wife.

Those who don't put their husband first will find they look elsewhere for their comfort.

By being so selfish you're causing harm to your family.

[Sue]

Just taken a look at all the Yarndale Pinterest board -unbelievable!! You have inspired people from all over the world to take up their hook and yarn and produce such wonderful mandalas! Incredible! Thank you Lucy.

[Inge]

Good luck with everything!

[Bev R]

Juggling is something I can totally empathise with at the minute!! Sounds like you need an admin assistant...I'm looking for a job where I can work from home! :)
As all busy Mums do, you'll cope and when it's all over you'll look back and think...wow that was busy. But it will be so worth it xxx

[Judith - in Ontario]

I hope you know just how much of an inspiration you are to many people. Right now, folks you may never meet are sending thoughts of support and admiration to you. Use that strength when it all gets too much.
Also - when you have survived it all, there will be Corrievan days and (hopefully) - Dorset!!

[Jackie]

You are certainly juggling Lucy but you can do it. You are so inspiring on so many levels and I bet the children are loving their sessions with you. Everything will come together I'm sure but it is such a busy time for our own children reading about all your children's activities brings back happy memories of when mine were small.
Take care and remember you need a little time for yourself each day to keep those batteries at full capacity.
Jackie x

[Pops de Milk]

Beautiful birds and mandalas! And I love how bright and cosy your studio looks :)