I don’t know if the right word here is “statistically” or “genetically” – but my siblings and I are creative people.
I mean, how do you even measure something like creativity with a ridiculous amount of activities on hand?
Sure, teachers might have recognized it while we were in school and under much more lax standardized testing regimens.
In the scholarly realm, our creativity varied from singing to writing and painting and then welding scrap metal into statuettes or even turning a wooden chip and dip bowl for mom.
It also leads to some crossover for ideas when we pool our experience together.
Honestly, I think we can all trace our creativity back to mom and her own skills – especially the way she encouraged us to think outside the box and normal expectations for some projects.
We’re lucky that she also supported our desires to try new crafts or hobbies for ourselves and when making gifts for friends.
Though, it seems that Christmas 2024 brought a new hobby to the forefront of mine and my sister’s lives.
Between the both of us, we’re about to embark on a subset of crafting that neither of us expressed any real interest in during our lives.
Vaguely our grandmother tried to teach us how to crochet as children, but neither of us had the patience then.
But, now my sister is aiming to learn how to crochet and I’m starting much more simply with my yarn foray.
I’m not fond of buying a bunch of tools or supplies for my craft projects if I can help it and I prefer to start with something simple and easy.
So, I decided to take up creating “Ojo de Dios” or “God’s Eye” art pieces.
Now, I recall making a God’s eye ornament in the first grade, but have no idea what happened to it or vaguely recall how to go about it.
So, I instantly went to the internet for tips and free examples before investing in a vintage design book from 1978.
Apparently, these sorts of crafts were popular and sometimes featured hand-in-hand with macramé.
But, they’ve got a long history for several indigenous tribes and not just the popular fashion handicraft of the day.
Still, I’m looking to start mine out rather smaller in scale and work my way up to something flashy and intricate.
That naturally led to the fact that I’ve raided mom’s craft room for popsicle sticks and vintage rainbow yarn to start on the basics when I have free time.
Once I can make a full God’s Eye while being able to watch a movie or TV show, then I’ll move on to something bigger and more elaborate.
Until then, it’s baby steps and quite possibly fighting the dogs or cats to keep them away from my yarn roll while I weave.
We’ll see how it goes - I’m a horrible perfectionist when I have a vision for something in mind.
And when it doesn’t turn out like I wanted, there may be a lot of frustrated sighs from my end of the house.
But, like in life, mistakes only really serve as moments to learn and do better.
I suppose that’s all anyone can do when trying their hand at something new.
