Gosh this is a very generous giveaway. In the past the more I have crafted the more creative I was/felt. Last year when I worked a very busy job I didn't always have time/energy to be creative and I would feel a bit off balance because of this, sure enough as soon as I did do something crafty, balance was restored. Fast forward to earlier this year we lost our first baby (born premature with lots of complications) and I didn't feel like doing anything...crafting especially...I had the time but no energy. Slowly though as I heal and my grief allows, crafting has become very therapeutic and healing.

Crafting is something that allows me to create special items that no one else has created before. Every item can be completely unique and can reflect my mood at the time of it being made. It is a creative extension of me and then I can pass my gifts on and hope others will enjoy something that my hands have made. Total me time.

Oh what a lovely giveaway! I had a craft night with a group of girlfriends last year.. Once a week we would meet after the kids were in bed and spend the evening sewing, knitting, crafting, drinking tea and chatting. Every Tuesday night, for a few hours everything was right in the world.
Unfortunately this year (as we all popped out baby number two or three) the lure of an early night outweighed our need for tea and craft but as of next week our craft night is back on and I can't wait!

As for the question, the answer is really quite simple for me.. Crafting is what created my 'creative self'. I spent my whole life thinking that I was not particularly creative.. I can't draw, I can't paint, I have no real artistic talent and coming from a very creative family I always felt like the odd one out.
After I had my first child and got into sewing, and knitting, and embroidery, and crochet, and gardening, and cooking I realised that I can actually 'create' and more importantly I love to 'create'. It was the satisfaction of sewing my first dress that made me realise that I do have a creative self and it's the little moments spent listening to the hum of the sewing machine or sitting quietly with a cup of tea and a half finished crochet project over my knee that nurture my (rather recently discovered) creative self. x

What a giveaway!
As someone who struggles with extreme anxiety, craft isn't just a way of nurturing my creative self, it is a necessity.
Any craft activity seems to calm my soul, allow me creative expression my day job does not allow, quietens my mind when it is in danger of sending me into a panic attack and makes my heart sing.
Without it I'd be utterly lost. x

I get to escape into this delicious 'zone' that only needs the passport of my imagination to explore, only to lazily stroll back to reality when I feel soaked through with innocent playfulness, colour and overall inner goodness. Crafting sings a multi-layered lullaby to my creative soul, and I couldn't adore it more xx. -Rachel Walker

crafting/making/fixing makes me focus completely on the task at hand and prevents the mummy-fication of my mind. x

for me crafting is a reminder I am made in the image of a Creator - who values creativity, variety, uniqueness. Every time I make something I affirm that creative pursuit is worthwhile and it reflects the longing and ability we all have to be creative.
Beautiful giveaway and the retreat sounds wonderful x

How does crafting nurture my creative self? It is an outworking of ideas, that even when they don't come fully together as I envisioned, enable the flow of other ideas. It is a nurturing of creativity but also of self, as it is a calming focus, adding life and colour to corners, and connectivity with those I love as I gift them home-made pieces.

Crafting is what helps to keep me going. I am an outcome driven person; I like to see something for my effort and it is one of the things that I have struggled with as a parent, as no matter how many times you pick up that toy, wash the dishes or laundry, wipe that runny nose, it is only a matter of minutes before you need to do it all over again.

After moving to New Zealand three years ago, crafting is what has helped me build a network of friends, some like-minded crafty people. I have been organising monthly, sometimes fortnightly, craft nights for quite some time now and it has been wonderful. I love watching the materials of others and seeing their projects coming together.

I am starting to save up now for next year as I do hope to be able to attend next years' event. My husband used to work in the Yarra Valley and I adore the area. Simply wonderful!

Crafting nurtures my creative self... I always have lots of ideas buzzing around in my head of what I can make next and constantly have at least 3 or 4 projects on the go at the one time. Crafting helps me express the creative soul in me and really makes me happy!

While at the University taught me many processes of creativity, I think the best is when you're boring!
and unfortunately now there is not much time to do

I taught myself to knit a few years ago. Knitting has nurtured my creative self through texture, colour and perseverence. Crafting has also nurtured my spiritual self through learning how to live with mistakes, being present, being flexible and being realistic!

I have to craft every single day! If I go without a day or two then I become a grumpy mama (nobody needs a grumpy mama!). For me it's not only a release and expression of creativity but also gives me much needed 'me' time, which is sometimes hard to come by when you have little ones needing your attention. My daughter who is now 5 joins in beside me whilst I craft and I hope that she grows up knowing the value of making something with her own two hands with an individual touch of creative flair. I have 9 quilt tops, a knitting and crochet project in rotation at the moment and my fingers are itching to sew my girl a few fresh and breezy summer dresses!

I grew up in a happy handmade home and I love that I can pass that on to my baby girl :) I agree with you Jodi... Nothing beats handmade items. The fact that it has come from the heart places invaluable sentiment on your one of a kind treasure!

Sophie xo

I have never thought to ask WHY crafting nurtures me...all I know is that I simply can not live without it.
I craft, therefore I am.

I never in a million years would have considered myself a crafter. I taught myself to crochet a few years ago because something inside was nagging at me and needing to create, who knew! The community surrounding craft is what nurtures me most, a common interest, wonderful women and friends I've never even met who inspire me every day.

I had my dream job but in a part of the country far away from family and friends. M'y creative way helps me pass time before I make friends.
Then I lost my job and find an uninterested one. My creative way has helped me find meaning and peace with that.

I think so much of life these days is about instant gratification (technology! quick food! pod coffee machines! - blergh!) so for me crafting makes me stop. And break something down into little tasks. And focus on one step at a time. i think looking at all those little steps looking at how all those little steps come together to make something fabulous is super inspiring & encouraging & it gets the ball rolling for all these other little somethings i can do.

Crafting nurtures my soul in ways that I discover daily. The simple rhythm of sting to needles, up, down, around, skip centers me in ways nothing else can. The creating of something from nothing reminds me what can be done with a little time, patience, and love. I think it keeps things small and in perspective.

I have no idea why - it just does!
I can't imagine a day without crafting something!!
It's my oasis of calm in a busy world!

Crafting is so important to me. It nurtures my creative self and gives me a calm, quiet time to reflect on things that are important to me. I am that type of person who always needs to be creating something. It keeps me moving forward.

Jodi, I wish that I could write as well as you! I'm so much more visual, but sometimes I'd love to tell the stories behind my photos. I love your view of crafting.
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Crafting, creating, making, it puts us into a place where we begin to mimic the patterns of our grandmothers, back when rhythms ruled the day. There is something about 'making it yourself' that seriously puts your body back into a place where it was meant to be. We tend to cherish things made by hand, and so stitch by stitch we (sometimes unknowingly!) fight against this disposable culture that we've been born into.

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When I was younger I believed that creativity always came from a dark place, a place of sadness or turmoil. So, I wrote poetry and overly flowery prose, and that was fine - it was fine for my melancholy teenage heart. But years passed, I fell in love with the most amazing man in the world, had the most amazing kids in the world, and what drove my creativity all but disappeared.
Sewing, knitting, doll-making, crocheting and all the other crafts I dabble in on a daily basis have filled in that space and that need to be creative, but now the creativity and its form are coming from a different place- a place of overwhelming happiness and joy- so now I get to use my creativity through craft to find another way to show my love for my family- in making them oddly shaped and terribly stitched clothes, one too many hats and blankets (still working on my knitting skills) and one too many sock dolls.

Crafting is my medicine... Creating with my hands has been the thing to save me from depression, the way of healing, the way of bringing light to others- and myself. There is nothing more amazing than creating something and giving it away- knowing that it will become part of the home, embedded in the memories of children.

Crafting with my children is one of my favourite things- getting to explore my daughters budding imagination as she discovers more and more of the world. I'm giddy at the thoughts of what we can create together as she grows. I love sharing this passion with her. Art is a medicinal gift we are all born with.

Crafting is nurturing to me because its become apart of a meditation practice, being able to focus on my breath, my tension (also the tension in my knitting), being still and mindful. The repetition of this practice is liken to a mandala, mala or any sort of prayer. It gives me a way to set an intention, whether it be for myself or a gift for a loved one, it brings a reminder of something beautiful and meaningful in my life and also gives me a sense of connectedness from those that came before me: mother, grandmother and so on.

Crafting is nurturing for me and my wonderful family. It.makes us happy crafting together we talk and listen to music and share something wonderful that we have made. I love it as I am the only female in.the house so the fact my boys love crafting is so soul satifying
Good for family love and bonding.
Good luck all :-)

beautiful giveaway...
as my hands move silently, creating, through winter storms and long car trips, the slow-crafted wearables and gifts bring a part of that journey along with them, forever imbedded in stitches, to remind me one day of the peace and presence they created.

I love the idea of the Craft Sessions. Craft is my consolation, my joy, my meditation. When I make something I feel competent, even powerful - it's a wonderful independence to take raw materials and create something new.

What a generous giveaway- thank you. Crafting nurtures my creative soul by allowing me to feel connected to all my women ancestors and my sisters around the world as they create needed items but add a touch of art and flair to beautify their homes... using their heart and their love to make the space they share with loved ones welcoming and soothing. The often repetitive motions are meditative and restful and give me some room to just be as I make. Frankly, it's awesome. :D

Craft is nurturing by the the way the hands create something from the inside and connects it physically with the outside world. It is a form of intuitive expression that helps me fathom who I am and why I am and how I connect with my family and the world. If more people had a positive creative craft outlet there would be world peace and more warmly dressed kids:-)

Wow this is such a great giveaway. Crafting gives me the chance to step out of my highly analytical day job and play with colour and design, and the physical work is very soothing. It's shown me that I have a creative soul and that to be truly happy I have to let it out!

It's what we are made to do, work with our hands, create and make. Craft takes me from a modern world and connects me to my ancestors, who created and made things before me, things to carry water, things to keep them warm. Craft is something I can't live without.

Crafting is a creative way to mindfulness.

I read Lauren's comment above and found an answer to your question, since my first thought was, "Oh, I hope Lauren wins the giveaway!"

For me, crafting is about connection.

It's a thread that ties my heart to that of a grieving mother, though she's someone I've 'met' only in a blog comment. But I know how it feels to try and make something useful and beautiful while trudging through the darkest, loneliest parts of life.

Creating also ties me to my mom, who taught me the steps of knitting and sewing and making-do-with-whatever-you've-got. She's also managed to plant a voice inside my head that, from time to time, suddenly announces, "You're smart and pretty and kind" or "I bet you could make that with your own two hands".

Finally, crafting has allowed me a physical connection with my little nieces and nephews, even though I was travelling and working far, far away when they came into the world. The baby I didn't get to hold until his first birthday? A handknit wool hat--the one that took me SIX dang tries to get right--made sure I was a part of his life from Day One.

Using my creativity for crafty pursuits gives me better relationships; what else is more important in life than loving people?

Thank you for this lovely giveaway, and thanks to all the makers involved who share their lives and crafts with strangers around the world.

Crafting allows me to be creative. I typically spend my days coding/programming websites and I try to incorporate creativity in it because I love design and making art but first and foremost I am a developer, not a designer or graphic artist. My hobbies which include sewing, knitting, photography, gardening, DIY, etc is a way for me to balance my life with both "science" or "logic" and art.

Crafting, making things with one's hands, brings a person into the present moment more fully. It gives us a sense of rhythm, patience, and helps us live slowly.

Thank you for the giveaway!

Crafting stills the mind, diverts your thoughts to the moment, distracts from the stresses of life. It is a teacher of many things including patience, and slows down your otherwise hectic pace in life...all whilst creating something beautiful and unique.

Crafting is 'me' time... Whilst still giving to the girls! Jade x

Well, let's put this way: it was a rickety overwhelming day in Wellington today (in number: a 6.6 followed by lots of 5's). How to quiet your mind and heart now that kids are in bed and you are still restless? Take a good guess...xxx!

i'm a maker, and crafting means power at its highest level. it's the best way of giving the right amount of importance to what i really need and connects me in an unique way to the ability of making so much more with less.
and that's a daily blissful challenge, bringing my creative self to its best.

Crafting allows me to step far away from the mass produced world.

Crafting is my saviour. Some people drink wine after a tough day I sew. For me it is equally relaxing and rewarding. I love the feeling I looking in my daughters wardrobes to find a collection of 'mummy made' clothes. My sewing and creating is teaching my daughters that we don't have to buy everything from a shop and if you set your mind to it you can do anything you want. When the girls get invited to a party now, their first response is ''mummy can you make xxxx for a present".
I would love to attend such a fabulous weekend. My fingers are crossed for this prize and to win lotto so I can attend too!
Kym

Crafting nurtures me because it takes my mind of my mind. If I have to concentrate on making something, focus on an embroidery pattern, think about a design, my usually racing mind becomes still and focussed.

The thing I love most about crafting is integrating my finds from op shops and recycling centres into my art and craft which makes me feel doubly happy, I'm making something new out of something old and maybe saving things from being thrown in a landfill.

When I think about crafting my heart feels full & excited fit to burst with all the potential !

What a lovely giveaway.

Having a teenage daughter suffering depression I am so grateful for my crafting - it has been my saviour. It has been the only release from the demands of this type of experience.

Well, all this crafty goodness sure is a balm for the soul. Life is so busy and challenging (in a good way) but still I don't know what I would do without my creative craftiness to help me unwind and feel like I've achieved something.
At the moment I've having fun juggling study, full time work and 3 kids! Hurrah for knitting and embroidery!

As someone who was born not naturally creative, I have learnt that the more I craft, the more I learn and think of things along the way, and the more creative I become. It is almost always the little things like a certain colour, a pretty pattern or even a button that brings back a memory that then spurs a new idea. Crafting has taught me that you can come up with ideas yourself - you just have to be brave and let your imagination run free. Sometimes I surprise myself! I put time aside to craft as it makes me appreciate the little things and it allows me time to think outside the box. I am a more creative person now than I ever was before and I know that my life has zing and pizzazz in it thanks to crafting!

I think crafting has made me a happier person :)
My mum and I took sewing classes together last month and it was great fun!

Crafting things from nothing is something that brings me closer to the generations of women that went before, for whom crafting and making was a way of life not a luxury...it reminds me to value the things that matter and allows me to care for and repurpose things that might otherwise get thrown away. It enables me to display my personality and I treasure the unique properties of every item I make myself or that I buy from another maker who shares in that love of creativity. Crafting allows me to stitch memories together and to make heirlooms that I hope will tell my story to the generations that come. Through making, I learn skills, use my talents, meet friends and am constantly inspired...so I guess it means quite a lot to me really! :D

Creativity comes when I hold my materials - cloth, thread, paper, brushes, clay, penicl - and dream of what I'm going to make that reflects what I see in my garden or what I have found in nature that I want to remember somehow in some kind of meaningful way.

When I first started crafting it was a purely selfish endeavor "that's so pretty, I want to make it and keep it for myself!" It was only until later that the majority of things that I crafted were actually meant for other people. Crafting nurtures my creative self the most in this way because I'm not just crafting to create something for myself, I'm crafting something with another person in mind and as cheesy as it sounds, is made with love! It also makes me try harder to think of something they will really and truly like, spurring my creativity more than if I was just making something for myself. And from my experience, everyone that has received a crafting gift from me likes it loads better than any other item I think I could have gotten them.

We craft everyday whether it be with needle and thread, collecting bobbins and making patterns and necklaces or doing great pieces of artwork it's soul practise with my little ones where they discover a love for creativity and imagination and we spend time as a family. If I'm sewing, miss three is quilting on the floor or making nanas alas with anything she can find from the house and toy box. It's a part of our lives and an everyday ritual. Www.poppyfoxathome.com

Crafting nurtures my creative soul in so many ways, it gets things out of my head and makes them real, it lets me lose myself in something that is just for the joy of making, enjoying a process that so many have done before me, continuing improving skills that lead to other sparks of creativity. Through craft I feel a whole world of new creations can be inspired be everything I see and encounter in my other wise rather ordinary everyday life. Crafting also means I haven't had a bored moment for most of my life.
I have just come across your blog, and it is really lovely . :) J xxx

It's so enjoyable and relaxing

Crafting is my dreamtime. In the early hours of the morning I get to play with fibre, texture and pattern - no stress no demands. The sunrises and I put aside my play renewed and ready for another day.

Crafting keeps me grounded. It is stollen moments of 'between time' where I can stop, think and quietly order my thoughts. Five minutes amongst a busy work-day of consults and meetings; 1/2 hour in the car while she sleeps. The click-clack rhythm of the needles beats in time with my own heart. Stitch by stich. Row by row. Knitting is a slow craft and when I pick up the needles my own world slows down for just a moment. I catch my breath. And then she wakes, or the demands of work burst through the door and the world spins ever-hectic again. But for that snippet of time the world stops and lets me catch up. Knitting, crafting, gives my soul a chance to heal.

Crafting allows me to empty my head, disconnect from the chaos (temporarily) and feel purposeful and creative at the same time.

Crafting & art making allow me to project my dreams & emotions onto something tangible, and then share that with others. It simply nurtures & nourishes the soul.

LOVE this giveaway!

Craft has filled many aspects of my creative life over the years...I suppose the two most significant ones are when I was at art school, knitting and other textile crafts provided a welcome respite from the studio and "assessed" art.

Then when my daughter was born, and I was a single parent, craft was a creative outlet where I could find some calm admist the chaos, and could easily be picked up and put down, depending on the baby's needs. It didn't require hauling out easels, toxic materials, or cleaning up!

Crafting gives me a creative outlet that lets me create something tangible in a relatively short space of time. I think we'd all agree that parenting is creative but sometimes it can seem like a sysiphean effort doing the laundry and soothing the tantrums day after day. Meanwhile I can get my craft on and sew a tail on my son's pants in five minutes and it will make me smile for the rest of the day... even if he is stamping his foot while wearing the pants!!

Wonderful giveaway.

Craft nurtures me as it lets me create items to tell the story of me. I treasure many things, the first embroidery bag I made at school, my first knitted hat. I can also share my story by giving items I create to others, like my Nana and Mother did for me.
It is part of women's history and it gives me a part in that story. I find that amazing.

I love this giveaway!
How does it nurture me? I have four children, no family around and a husband who works 6 days a week. It clears my head and helps me problem solve. When I am having difficult times with the children, trying to work out my next move, I take a break sew, knit or cut paper and the answer magically presents itself. I would be lost without my creative life.

It nurtures my soul the same way food nourishes me.... without it, I'm lost. I think it's the coming-together of my mind, hands and heart to something tangible. I see the things I make and remember the time/place I was, and what was in my heart. Each piece is loaded with thoughts and memories for me.

What a wonderful giveaway--thank you!

I started crafting when I was in grad school and writing a short story collection for my thesis. The ability to create something tangible with my hands, to see the product of my creativity take shape and reach completion, was vital to nurturing my creative spirit and refreshing me when I felt drained or stuck in my writing. It also provides me with a tangible way to express my love for those I care for--a pair of handmade socks, a hat to replace one that was lost. Now, as a mother, it allows me to make my home a better, warmer place for my children, and gives me an outlet to create beauty in a time of life when so much of my energy is given to preventing chaos.

Great giveaway!

Crafting connects me to my creative self and keeps me connected to my friends and family. I have so many great memories working on projects with my mom as a little girl and I am so happy that these memories have continued. I think that my creative path in life has been paved by the inspiring, artistic, crafty people in my life. As a new parent I look forward to continuing the sharing tradition.

crafting simply makes me happy. it calms me while energizing my spirit at the same time. the process of exercising my creativity is almost always more gratifying than the end result; although, having made something on my own is pretty wonderful.

What a generous giveaway! For me, knitting is how I nurture my creative self. It soothes my troubled mind, and I feel calmer with each stitch. The sense of accomplishment I feel when I have finished a piece is also just so satisfying...I can't imagine what my creative self would do without it. It is such an important part of my life.

I'm lucky enough to be able to go on a craft weekend a couple of times a year with some of your teachers! I can say without hesitation that this broader forum will be inspiring, exciting and a lot of fun. It's an amazing opportunity for crafters (and aspiting crafters) to be able to spread their wings - try a few things and broaden their horizons. Very exciting stuff!

For me crafting is about romance. A love affair with texture, colour, beauty. It is about an emotional attachment or involvement with people – making things for my loved ones or making things with loved ones. It is about history – creating something taught by my mother and then passing that on to my heir. It is about rejecting the consumer culture of today and placing myself in a narrative from some bygone era.

Craft is like fresh air and clean food, you can exist without it, but with it you feel like you are your best self.

It nurtures, it feeds, it fertilizers (all organic S*** here)my soul, it connects me to my parents, who both passed away and left me a magnitude of craft stuff, one day Ill figure out how to use that thingy-with-the-hooky-thing. It entertains, it frustrates, it gives and grows.... I guess you could call it my LIFE

Craft is about nurturing ME - it's not about my child or my work, deadlines, cleaning up mess or looking after my family. It's about doing something that's just for me, that makes me happy, I can zone out, forget about everything else. It's just me and a ball of wool and a crochet hook. It centres me.

Crafting nurtures my creative self by giving me some much needed time out from cooking, feeding, cleaning and all that goes with raising 3 kids. It allows me to use my love of colour & texture to create and explore ideas. The best bit is being able to do something I love to create for those I love and in doing so, lets me go back to raising the 3 kids happier than if I hadn't been crafting!
Would love to get to the Craft Sessions one day... hopefully soon!

it calms my breathing.

Its my few minutes of meditation, if I start loosing myself in mothering these 3 boys (our house is VERY loud) I sit and knit a row or 2 and centre myself ready to get back to the tasks at hand. Knitting keeps me thinking, planning, extending my creativity.

This giveaway is so timely for me.... I am right in the space of nurturing myself through creative expression... Crafting and creating gives me a sense of identity and self confidence, and allows me to channel my creative energies in productive and tangible ways. I love having a finished product that tells the story of my creative expression. Thank you x

I nearly didn't enter this - as a maker myself, I feel kind of guilty about winning someone else's hard work and energy...
But craft is something that passes on, person to person... it's a skill that should move through people and be shared. Experimented with and transformed. The act of making is an act of connecting, with yourself, with others, with your community. It's not just about the thing that is made, it's also about communication. That's how it nurtures not only the self, but our society and our communities. Thanks for helping me articulate this!

I have been knitting on and off since I was a kid. When my daughter was 4 months old I felt lost, I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere and I was affected deeply by a sense of being unproductive in my day to day child-rearing life. I joined a knitting group at the local book store and there found a group of women who were friendly, inspiring, diverse and Fun! They have taught me so much about knitting and life. They inspired me to move on from scarves and kids clothes and to start knitting more challenging things and to find my creativity again. Some of of who were a bit more close knit (sorry couldn't resist!) have formed our own group and meet at pubs around town. Knitting has brought me creativity, a sense of achievement and wonderful friends. x

I have always loved hand-made objects of all sorts, but have never been crafty by nature (I am a shopper) - in fact I often found that just the position one needs to adapt to hand sew, was one that would make me cranky. I am a reader, that was what I always did. But for the first time I find myself unwell, with a chronic disease that every month sees me bed-ridden for at least a week, I am currently suffering my second bout of meningitis in just a few months. I can rarely concentrate upon the written page. So I have been driven to re-consider craft... I am not good at it, but when everything else I ever loved seems denied to me, I can't run in the sun, walk in a forest, run with my toddler, but I can try my hand at a little stitching, try to knit (why do I knot the yarn at the end of every single line - I mean it - every single line!)... maybe maybe craft nurtures the soul by making us more patient, more forgiving, and more thoughtful... for me, because I am still so bad at it, I don't get to be too thoghtful, but that is a good thing as when I am crafting I am not brooding.

Thanks for this great giveaway, just beautiful! I feel that crafting does not only nurture our creative selves; it nurtures and grounds us in our whole being. Craft and art connects us with others and with the world around us. It makes us look, feel and listen more intensively and more intuitively. It encourages us to go and think beyond our 'borders' (both personal and national) and appreciate beauty in its tiniest manifestations. A world without craft/ art would be unimaginable and I wish schools, communities, councils and governments would realise this and make a bigger effort in nurturing our kids, crafters, artists and ourselves by supporting and promoting arts and crafts.

I have always crafted. However it has only been recently, while I was pregnant with my second, that I learnt a craft that I truly love doing. Crochet. To sit in a cozy chair and have my hook in hand and my yarn in a bowl at my feet, it relaxes me. After a particularly trying day with a three and a half year old and an almost one year old, I like nothing better than to work the hook and yarn and watch that item, made with love, grow until completion. The fact that I can use this crafting skill to love on my family, by making them things, is an absolute bonus and results in the best kinds of gifts for them.

Crafting nurtures my creative self by allowing me to bless others with the things I make, all the while growing my knowledge base in a skill that I hope I can then pass on to others.

crafting nurtures my creative self - by seeing ideas I have in my head translate in reality I realise that I can achieve what I set out to, I can be original and productive (even on those as a Mum where I otherwise might feel the complete opposite.) Crafting is the breath of fresh air before I dive back into the hustle bustle of life.

How wonderful your site is - and this giveaway in "unreally" amazing. Crafting certainly is the balm for the world's stresses & strains. I am so blessed to be retired and able to potter away at crafting now. Love my weekly wacky knitting group and craft marketing. Such beautiful women I now count as friends. Love the primal basic feeling of women gathering together crafting - and the feel of those bamboo knitting needles is something again! I'll be staying in touch with your lovely FB page & blog :)

For me crafting is visceral. It pulls my soul back through the millennia and re-connects me with all my female forebears. From those who crafted warmth for their babes from furs, to my own dear Grandmother who taught me to knit when I was a small child. Crafting nurtures me, as I nurture it. It 'grows' me, feeds me, soothes me. As I knit something soft and sweet for a babe soon coming earth side, or sew a quilt to keep one of my own babes warm. As I make cushions and blankets for my home, grow a garden of vegetables and flowers and cook meals to nourish my family. I am connected to the female, to Mother Earth, my soul knows connection both of the past and in the future. I am creating, I am creative and my soul is peaceful.

It is like a prayer for me, because I am staying in front of something that I don't know exactly how will look finished. My only hope is that what I'm creating is coming from another world.

I always feel such accomplishment and pride when crafting. Being able to create something beautiful from a simple piece of fabric is just amazing. x

What a wonderful giveaway! A day that didn't involve some form of creativity for me or my boys doesn't feel like a good day. We like to draw, collage, stitch and sew; not because we physically need the things we make, but because we need to create those things.

Crafting keeps me sane.... I cannot bear idle hands and have to be doing something... I can Knit, Crochet and can even draw a little not to mention sew.... man I can sew a tote bag without a second thought... These hand crafts are the basis of the home!