My Favourite Things

I love doing crafts, not just for the sense of achievement and joy at creating something beautiful, but for the way it makes me feel while I'm creating something beautiful.

Mindful crafting is nothing new - the art of focusing on what you're doing; using all your senses to put together colours, shapes, textures and so on; making time for yourself to relax, recharge and just do something you enjoy.

I think in this chaotic world, it's more important than ever to take a few minutes every day (or as much as you can) to have that quiet time alone.

I'm an introvert, so I need a lot of quiet time alone, otherwise my nerves get frazzled and I feel drained (and therefore I'm no good to anyone, least of all myself).

I meditate, but I know that's not for everyone. Some people swear by journalling, but that's definitely not for me. I prefer to use my thoughts in writing fiction or blogging.

This precious 'alone time' where I concentrate on my activity means I give my mind a rest from everything else. Of course, there are times when my mind will wander and I'll start rehashing some unpleasantness. But rather than stuffing it back down, I'll let it run its course and then it's gone - almost as if I'm dumping all that mental rubbish, if that makes sense.

By the time I've finished, I'm left with clarity, inspiration and motivation. The ideas really start to flow. It's like I'm a supercharged version of myself!

These are some of the activities I do regularly...

LEGO

Oh yes, I have quite the collection. LEGO is extremely addictive, and when you've completed your first set, you will be buying a lot more. My particular obsession is Star Wars LEGO, especially the helmets. So far, I have Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Darth Vader, Jango Fett and an AT-AT driver. Plus there's more, and I'm running out of room, so I may have to move. One day I shall have a room dedicated to LEGO!

Diamond Art

Diamond art, or diamond painting, is just fabulous. I've completed a few of different sizes on different backgrounds (card, canvas, canvas board) and the results are always stunning. As with most things, you can find deals on diamond art kits on Amazon.

Cross Stitch

This is something I've recently discovered and now I have bags and bags of cross stitch thread of different colours. I get all my patterns from Etsy - there's a huge selection of some truly stunning digital patterns.

Jigsaw Puzzles

Again, I have quite the collection, mainly 500-piece and 1000-piece puzzles. My favourites are (of course) Star Wars jigsaws. I'm thinking of gluing a completed one and turning it into a picture. (I'll keep you posted on this.)

Other crafts that I enjoy include card making, jewellery making, crochet and colouring, and I will post pictures of my creations over time. I'm also experimenting with painting and drawing, but there's no way I'm brave enough to post pictures of these efforts yet!

So what is your favourite craft? What mindful activity do you regularly enjoy? If you'd like to share any thoughts or ideas, please leave a comment.