Year 1 - Learnings with Auntie Christine
Hey everyone!
It’s been one year since we’ve started our CoffeeCraft adventure. While there have been ups and downs along the way, it has truly been such a fun and rewarding journey so far. Auntie Sarah has taught me a lot and she continues to inspire me to grow in so many ways. She has made a video that references her own journey and experiences over the past year which can be viewed below…
While I’m not going to take the exact same approach, I thought it would be fun to share a bit about my experience as well.
Here are a few of the things I’ve learned over the last year:
Crafting is a gift
It takes time, money, tools, and a level of mobility to be able to accomplish certain crafts. Many of us are blessed to have some if not all of these resources available even if it feels limited. But it’s so easy to take these resources for granted. Having the health and mobility to be able to use our hands is a foundational element that can make or break our opportunities (though I’ve seen some examples of people who are able to create very cool things using their feet).
In whatever area you feel may be lacking, having an awareness of what you do have can lead the way for contentment and also creativity as you find ways to use what is at your disposal. I am very thankful for the ways that I am so easily able to craft and I love that our work here at CoffeeCraft aims to bridge the gap for anyone who feels like crafting may be out of reach.
You don’t need a lot of money to craft
There are SO many different tools, kits, materials, pieces of machinery, and resources that allow us to craft. There are some forms of crafting that require special tools or materials to be able to create exactly what you have envisioned. But often times we can complete a craft without all of the latest and greatest technology or fanciest material. We can also try new forms of crafting that require very little investment, or utilize the crafting tools we already have to create something new.
Part of the fun of crafting is that you’re not just creating a physical item but you’re also creating a path in your mind that problem solves to make that idea a reality.
Your mind is pretty cool if you ask me! If you feel like finances are tight, I hope that you are able to see that as an opportunity to put that cool mind to use and find a unique solution that fits your budget. In our crafty plans, we make sure to include the list of items that may be helpful but are not necessary so you can still complete the craft even if you don’t have all the things.
Watercolor embroidery is a thing?!
I had no idea this was something people actually do. But once I saw Auntie Sarah take it on in our first Crafty Livestream I was amazed! It is literally so cool. What an awesome way to combine different forms of crafting to create something that is uniquely dynamic and beautiful.
Finding what inspires you takes crafting to a whole new level
For the longest time I just gravitated towards what I thought was pretty and fun to be able to craft it myself. And this is a fun approach, don’t get me wrong! However, we can add a layer of depth to our crafting if we think about our values and the people who mean so much to us to create something that flows from these sources of energy in our lives.
Crafting with community is so much better than I realized
For a long time I thought most of my experience with crafting was purely individual. In some ways I wasn’t wrong. I often did the work of creating the item in my own space with no one else around and worked to solve problems on my own. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that approach, but over time I recognized just how meaningful it was that I had people around me to inspire those crafts, to share their ideas, to create the patterns and kits that I liked to attempt, and teach me things along the way. Not all of these people were directly in my life of course, but they played a role in opening those doors for me. That recognition certainly helped me to appreciate where I was able to go.
Then Auntie Sarah took on the task of creating craft plans and patterns of her own and I got to see just how much time and energy goes into making crafting more accessible for all people. She not only desired to give others the opportunity to craft but sought to help them see how beautiful it can be to craft in community. Sometimes it means doing the same craft together and being able to share in every step of the experience. But sometimes it’s just the act of everyone creating their own things concurrently and the beauty that comes from being able to connect on similarities and inspire each other in their unique journey.
If you haven’t tried crafting in community yet, I would highly suggest that you join us for a Crafty Livestream! We hold them periodically as a way to craft together but also make it available to anyone by having it virtually. You can join from the comfort of your couch with your pjs on if that’s your jam. Just grab a craft, your cup of motivation, and follow us on our socials to make sure you get all the details for when the next meeting takes place.
I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to work with Auntie Sarah to create these resources and grow our crafty community together. I look forward to what we’re able to accomplish in the coming year! Feel free to comment below if there is something in particular that you’re hoping to see us try or if there is something meaningful you’ve learned over the last year.