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Jenna Folarin's avatar

I love the sound of all of your crafty goals - especially the flower arranging and the zine. My goals are: to complete 2 Christmas crochet blankets and start and finish a new crochet-a-long, which is likely to be a huge colourful blanket.

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Franky Shanahan's avatar

Excellent goals! My daughter loves to crochet. It always looks like such a relaxing hobby.

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Jenna Folarin's avatar

Oh does she! What does she like to crochet? Yes, it's like my form of meditation, very relaxing ❤️

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Franky Shanahan's avatar

Mostly things she can wear. I’m always asking her to give blankets a go so she can make me one!

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Jenna Folarin's avatar

That's so cool that she crochets her own clothes/accessories, I haven't been brave enough to make clothes yet!

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Zar's avatar

For a long term project a weather/emotions blanket would be great 🧶

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Jenna Folarin's avatar

Yes that's true, I haven't tried one of those yet. I tend to just do like a giant granny square that keeps going and going or follow a blanket pattern from Attic 24 or more recently Lottie & Albert via Sirdar.

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Zar's avatar

i need to check out new patterns then!

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Alexandra Smith's avatar

I did a zine making evening a couple of years ago and it was so much fun. I made a learn your colours guide with scrap paper flowers for my little boy who was just a baby at the time.

You've definitely inspired me to make a scrapbook of our first family holiday in Nov 2024. I used to love scrap booking as a child.

If you have any supplies recommendations that would be greatly appreciated! I will have a scroll through and see if I can find some ☺️

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Franky Shanahan's avatar

I love the sound of the zine you made. I can’t wait to have a go myself.

I actually have a piece about travel scrapbooking specifically in my drafts - should be up soon! And you’ve inspired me to write something about my favourite supplies. I do mention a few online stores etc in other posts, but it would be good to cover all the basics in one post.

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Susannah Fishburne's avatar

What a fab read, thank you. Although I am still slightly distracted by those gorgeous AE scalloped journalling cards in your photo.

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Franky Shanahan's avatar

Love a scalloped edge. With all my heart.

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Michelle's avatar

These sound like great, fun crafty goals for the year! The heat embossing is especially fun: my sister and I have all the gear and are OBSESSED with adding embossed elements to our bullet journals. Creativity-wise, my two goals are to get further than 40,000 words on my novel, and to start a travel junk journal for the ephemera I collect like a magpie whenever I go away.

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Franky Shanahan's avatar

Those are excellent goals! Glad I’m not the only person who comes home with half a suitcase of paper and bits and bobs from every trip. It’s never ‘just’ a ticket or receipt, is it?! It’s a memory 💭✨

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Alexandra Smith's avatar

Thanks Franky. Love the new post today. Really helpful! Hope you get to have a try at Zine making soon.

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Louise's avatar

I’m new here - hi! But would deffo be up for an online arty space — I definitely want to do much more this year in community. I love to journal and create but it’s nice to do it alongside others. As someone will chronic illness, getting IRL events isn’t (in fact it’s very rare) always possible.

In fact, your lists and crafty list have inspired me! I’m going to share mine but aim it towards those who may not be able-bodied/suffering with their mental health and/or burnt out! I’ll be sure to tag you and credit the inspo coming from here 😊

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Franky Shanahan's avatar

Welcome! I have CFS myself, so I completely understand. I’ll look forward to reading your lists.

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Louise's avatar

I always manage to find my other CFS (and fibro) people in this space! Yay!

I’ve only been diagnosed about 2 and half years ago. So still have no clue how to pace and because I had a particularly bad flare in summer last year, it’s made me more socially anxious 😬 literally the opposite of my personality before diagnosis.

I’ll deffo tag you 👏🏼✨

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