Stash Less - A community challenge for 2016

A series whereby we talk about creating a thoughful stash. My previous posts on this journey can be found here.

The idea and impetus for Stash Less arose from shock – I went away for six months and on my return I was totally bowled over by how much stuff I had accumulated through my years of making. The time away gave me perspective and opened my eyes to what I had. And ultimately it changed my life.

My spending habits changed for sure as did my making, and the way I go about coming up with new project, but it also changed something more subtle. By establishing boundaries around my spending on craft, I found that I spent less time in a desire state thinking about the future and more time focused on the possibilities of now. What was/is before me at this very moment. I'm much more conscious of my consumption, and how it affects my life, and not just in terms of my making. Subtle but pretty profound.

Now I still have work to do regarding my habits around purchasing, hoarding (let's just call a spade a spade shall we) and using my materials. And I also have many ideas and resources that I am yet to share with you on this topic - so Stash Less will continue as a regular-ish series. But I wanted to take it a little further and see if you lot are interested in playing along in some way.

You see the thing is that as I've been posting about Stash Less, so many of you have pinged me to say that mindful consumption of materials is something that you too have issues with. And while you may not want to engage in the challenge in the way that I have, that you have been thinking about your purchasing. I want to encourage it, create community around it, and see more of what you are up to. I learn so much from your comments and ideas.

So here is what I'm suggesting; there will be two ways to participate...

1. A monthly challenge -  An idea or an exersize to get you thinking and to assist you in your journey to a mindful stash. One we share so that we can learn from each other. I'm going to ask you to leave me a comment in the blog to direct me to your instagram or blog where I see what you are up to around that particular challenge. First challenge will be set next week. 

2. Every three months I'm going to give away a (good :)) prize for my favourite Stash Less project created during that time - Jan to March, April to June etc. I'll post about it in more detail but I want to make sure we are highlighting the work people are doing to get creative with their stash. I love watching your projects pop up on instagram using the #stash_less hashtag and can't wait to see more of them as we progress through the year. 

Finally, because I want this challenge to be all about the joy then feel free to jump in and out throughout the year as your other life commitments allow - for the month, for a few months or play along for the whole year.

First challenge will be posted next week. In the meantime, are you interested thinking about your stash?

Felicia x

PS. I LOVED all your comments on Tuesday's would you or wouldn't you post. I can't wait to be able to sit down and read through them in detail. It's school holidays here so computer time is non-existant. Hopefully tomorrow, as I can see there were so many good, inspiring ideas. xx

Would you make your own wedding dress?

So I'm going to share some happy but possibly shocking personal news ;). You may not know this about me, but I am actually an unmarried 40-something with three kids. Living in the suburbs in happy non-sin with my gorgeous peeps with nary a piece of paper to be seen. In this day and age who would have thought it was possible? 

Anyway, fifteen years in, we are thinking of celebrating the love at the end of this year in the form of a wedding..... and I have been wondering if I should/could make my dress. I saw the cover of Hello May pop up on instagram not long ago with a total stunner of a frock that was made by the bride and I was smitten.

It wouldn't be too formal. I'm not that kind of gal..... but it would involve sewing with fabrics that I don't normally sew with. And there would be fit issues I don't normally have to deal with given the simple shapes I normally sew.

The sentimental part of me thinks - "Of course!  How amazing would that be?" The ultimate in slow fashion with sentiment.

The practical part of me thinks - "Hell no! Don't be ridiculous woman."

Your thoughts?

Felicia x

Reading - The Uppercase Compendium

My copy of this little gem arrived a few days ago and I thought I would share it, as I adore what Janine (the creator of Uppercase magazine),  has put together. The Uppercase Compendium of Craft and Creativity is a snapshot into the creative process and lives of 66 makers from around the world. 

“There is a long publishing tradition of the creative annual. Creative industries like graphic design, illustration and advertising each have their own dedicated annual books and special edition magazines that compile the best of each category. For designers and illustrators, to be included in an annual is a benchmark of success. It helps get them recognized within their industry and opens doors to new opportunities. For aspiring creatives, annuals showcase what is possible in their field. They inspire, educate and promote. And as the years pass, the annuals serve as important cultural artifacts—a snapshot of the trends and aesthetics of a particular year.”

— Uppercase Compendium Webpage

As is customary for anything Janine puts together, it is beautiful, well written and insightful. It is a book that is rich with stories and gorgeous photography that truly celebrates the value of craft in our daily lives. 

"We", the crafting community, need books like this. Books that show us how others around the world are creating, thinking and engaging in their craft. Something that talks about all the things we care about. Connection. Meaning. Creating. Books that celebrate making in a real, everyday way.

I was lucky enough to be included in the Compendium alongside some other lovely Australians like Siobhan Rogers and Fiona Chandler. Being included was pretty special but it's even more special to me because of the main photo she chose to include; my kid and I cutting the steek of her cardy. Just out of a pool, sitting at our campsite under some olive trees in Umbria. Her total joy in what I had created, and then that she got to cut it, are that moment for me. All about the love. From me to her. A moment where I knew she could feel it in what I had made for her. 

You can read more about it in my original I Made This post or better yet, go click on this link and pick yourself up a copy. By doing that you will be supporting Janine, and all the wonderful things she puts out in the world. 

The Compendium is one of those books that will sit on dining table to be perused at mid-morning coffee time for many many months to come.* I can't wait.

Felicia x

*Other mid-morning coffee favourite dip-in-and-out books include Gee's Bend and Letters of Note and Women in Clothes.  

Putting The Passion into 2016!

Happy New Year lovely people! I hope you are all enjoying your summers (and winters :)) and getting in some focused crafting time. It hasn't happened for me with visitors and merry making - but I wish it for you.....and for me in the not too distant future.

So this morning I did what you do on school holidays. I took the kids to their swimming lesson, and then chased down that stuffy chlorinated experience with a delicious flat white and some eggs. Yum. Then, something shocking happened. While at the cafe, the kids were simultaneously reading their books so I picked up the paper for a moment's quiet. On the first page I looked at I saw a catchy headline and chased it down to page 17. 

The article was called "Lessons in courage and passion, from Lady Gaga" by David Brooks and it was perfect for me on this day.  As I was reading it I felt that sense of recognition where you just know that the universe (and David) wrote it just for me; for me today when I am sitting with the shifting energy of the New Year, it was just what I needed to hear. 

So I've mentioned that I haven't been on my game lately, and that I can't figure out what or why. I haven't been able to write and I'm barely making anything. I've been blocked. I've been tired. And that's totally OK - annoying but OK. I was just waiting it out. I've felt it before and I'm sure you probably have too. But I'm ready now for it to move on. 

When I started The Craft Sessions nearly three years ago I spent a lot of time feeling slightly queasy. Queasy about whether it would be successful. Queasy about whether I was going to let my family down and cost us a pile of money. Queasy about it failing and of no-one coming. Or worse, that people came and didn't like it. Anyway, as time has gone on and you guys have embraced this idea, then comfortable has replaced queasy, and I think that possibly that has a lot to do with my funk. I wasn't feeling the excitement or the hum that comes with leaping into the void. I was missing the danger that the article so eloquently speaks of. I was cruising.

This article was a great reminder of what I want in my life. I want passion. I want courage and I want to be putting myself out there. All in.

So in honour of that, and in honour of honouring things that I am passionate about, let me tell you one thing that I want to do this year with The Craft Sessions. Even though I don't have the details nailed down and I don't have a fully formed plan..... I'm going to jump!

I want to create a Scholarship Program to The Craft Sessions! Scholarships for a person/people who wouldn't otherwise be able to come. Scholarships for a person/people that need a break and need the shining light of something good on the horizon. I've been passionate about doing this from the very start of the idea of The Craft Sessions, but I've never quite been able to get around to hitting the go button on the idea. This is my stake in the ground lovely people. This year is the year. 

I'm not fundraising to support it, but I will need to come up with some kind of commerce to make some money to support it. I have ideas but I need to get a wriggle on which is why this stake in the ground will help.

I'll tell you more about why Scholarships are so important to me soon, but in the mean time Happy Holidays! and a bright shiny New Year to you and yours. 

Here's to putting your passion where your mouth is ..... or something like that.

Fel x

PS. I have so many (super) idea's about what we are going to talk about in this space this year, I can't wait to start sharing them with you. 

The Craft Sessions' 2016 Retreat Dates

Just a short post today just to let you know our exciting news! We have finalised our dates. The Craft Sessions 2016 retreat will be run from Friday September 2nd 2pm to Sunday September 4th 4.30pm in the Yarra Valley*!

We are working hard on our 2016 program - to make sure we are meeting all your crafting (and connection) needs, by planning a weekend of good food, a beautiful location, fabulous workshops and inspiring people. We want to ensure we have the balance we want, the variety you crave, and the skills you are looking for. We are going to nail it!

As you know this year we sold out in 2.5 hours - totally crazy but true! We wanted to assure you that we would release all the retreat details a few weeks before registration opens, so you have time to get organised. A few people also suggested that we change the registration day/time to the weekend to make it easier to arrange and we will do that too. We can't wait to share all the details with you in April of next year!

Joining our mailing list is a great way to get all of the info you need straight to your inbox.

Wishing you a magical summer with some quiet crafting time.

Felicia x

*The Yarra Valley is just outside Melbourne.