The Sunshine Blogger Award

The Rules:

 

1.Thank the nominator and post a link back to their blog.
2.Answer the questions the nominator has set out for you.
3.Nominate new blogs and set out questions for them to answer.
4.Notify the nominees of their nominations by commenting on their blog or social media
5.When creating your nomination post, list the rules and include the Sunshine Award logo in it.

Thank you Julia from Julia’s Creative Year for the nomination. I must confess to being a little late to the party on this one. The kids half term came and went followed straight after by school inset days and then school closure due to the snow so my darling distractions were home for almost 2 weeks. The initial flakes of snow were very exciting for them but once they had played out, got thoroughly cold and wet the joy of it turned to frustration. Hey ho, school has now re-opened and this is my very long winded way of starting this blog award post!

My answers to Julia’s questions to are:
1. what made you first decide to get into crochet/craft?

I always enjoyed being crafty when I was younger but as an early 20 something with a full time retail management job I pretty much forgot about crafting. I occasionally tried to paint/draw but spent most of my exhausted free time reading or watching TV. Roll on to late 20’s and I was made redundant as the department store I worked in went into receivership and was closed. I had days at home to think and twiddle my thumbs. A trip to Hobbycraft saw me loaded with embossing powders, rubber stamps and inks. The card making bug hit me and I was hooked. I then rapidly became tempted with all the pretty beads available and later fancied trying polymer clay. My new boss gave me a generous voucher for Christmas and I was able to buy a beginner Fimo set with cutters etc. The rest is history…….. Probably no coincidence – my retail management job was with several costume jewellery companies. I like to think that that job set me up for what I am currently doing.
2. What is your favourite way to relax?

I really enjoy sketching, reading, listening to audio books and watching TV.
3. What piece of advice do you think children most need to hear?

Hmmmm, this is a tough one and I have spent time pondering on this since I first read it. I think overall, and for the future, that they can to be who they want to be and that’s ok. Does that make sense? Both of my kids are on the Autistic spectrum and as they get older it tends to be more obvious ( a toddler refusing to talk and make eye contact can be laughed off but a selectively mute 9 year old not so much. My son’s sole reason for living at the moment is so he can ‘write code’ and build computer games. He is 7 and a little scary on the computer). No one will ever please everyone so as long as they are happy with who they are then that’s great – In this day of social media showing a one sided view of perfect lives, visitor ready homes and impeccably behaved children it is easy to loose sight of the reality of life and feel the need to live up to everyone else’s expectations. For kids these days it is even more so than when I was younger.

Not sure I was at all clear with that but it turned into a mini rant – Sorry!
4. What would you do craft wise if money were no object?

Craft wise, currently I would buy furniture that stored my craft things behind cupboard doors! I love my craft stuff but I dislike how messy it can look and where I craft is also a family space so there are times when it would be nice to have it out of sight. I would also buy more beads and a ton of polymer clay bits that are sitting in my Amazon wish list!!!

 

5. What is your favourite book/s and why? 

I read a huge variety of books but my absolute favourite has to be those with something slightly surreal or supernatural about them – ‘The Night Circus’ by Erin Morgenstern, ‘The Miniaturist’ by Jessie Burton – that type of book. I think it’s because I become immersed in the storylines and my brain gets all caught up in twisty wonky worlds which in turn builds pictures in my head that I just want to draw. I love books.

Right, now it’s time for my nominations. Please don’t feel that you have to participate if you would rather not.

Darren from The Arty Plantsman

Cobs from The Cobweborium Emporium

Mrs Craft from Craft And Other Crazy Plans

D.Ann from D.Ann’s Crafting Whims

My questions are – 

1. Is there a hobby/activity that you have always wanted try/do but haven’t been able to or got round to?
2. Where is your favourite place to be and why?
3. What do like/enjoy most about blogging?
4. What is your dream job?
5. Which is your favourite meal of the day and/or favourite food?

Thank you so much again Julia – This has been fun and for those I have nominated I look forward to reading your replies (if you chose to participate).

Off to catch up with the goings on in blogland now.

Hannah x