hello blogworld

where to start...?
here goes - why a weblog and why now?
Late one night whilst looking up some info on a japanese craft book I was in desperate want of, I stumbled upon the blog moopy & me . After reading the entire postings, including archives, I jumped from link to link to link. Before I knew it, I had a new folder and a stack of new bookmarks to fill it. I had no idea that there was an entire subculture out there dedicated to the very same things that I am intrigued & inspired, compelled & obsessed by.There were other people out there who actually made  more stuffed /knitted/embroidered/crocheted/constructed things than they had people to give them to. 
Who spent late nights looking ( ok,ok  buying) books in a language they can't read from a website that they mostly can't understand...except of course for the little button that means "add to cart"! Who can't resist the lure of the local  ( or any) op shop- never know what you might find. Two seveties floral placemats ? They'll be great for....for ....something. ( see clover bird a little later on when I tackle the photo bit ).
Admittedly, I have yet to come across anyone who seems remotely keen on working out how to knit during those long Sunday morning/evening runs ( do knit bags even come in Lycra ?). However , I can't believe how often I have been reading one of my favourite blogs and thought, oh my god thats me, except of course it isn't ,just someone I've never met who seems to be thinking/experiencing/doing the same thing as me. Quite reassuring actually to know that I'm not the only person who buys fabric that they can't quite bring themselves to cut up ....
Time to stop being just an onlooker and start contributing to all that creative stuff happening out there - after all, I am constantly being inspired by the work I come across and thought perhaps I might  have something to offer as well .You never know and it always helps to get some sort of response to what you do.Any excuse to make another stuffed thing or buy that new book.
And even if no one is ever inspired by my scribbles , at least it will be something for my mum to look at !

Comments

[Jaki]

Your story on starting a blog is mine - except I haven't taken that leap of faith yet. I found your blog through your winning entry on 'whipup' (love those flowers, and you've inspired me to do something with the 70 or so cotton crochet flowers I have lying around from headbands created for a hippy party), and was inordinately proud to discover you were Australian (there is a LOT of very talented, web surfing Australians out there. Aren't we clever - well, all of you that do something about displaying it). Anyhow, I just wanted to tell you that I immediately 'favourite'd your blog, and now have traced it back to it's origin, and you should know that not only will your Mum be very proud, but you are inspiring me, I know all about that 'Wow, it's me, only in a different place, and more advanced on the web-log thing', and sometimes I want to grab every one I read, and get together and see just how different we are despite the same mind thing you get from reading these blogs! Thanks. Jaki.
p.s. I too am learning to knit, having always crocheted. Inspired by the blogs I read, and knitty magazine. And I'm addicted - haven't yet moved on to lycra knit bags, but we do have 15 different scarves lying around the house! And have been moved to discover a fantastic web site of a woman wanting to teach me how to knit - KnittingHelp.com, where you will find a video to show you anything you haven't quite got the knack of yet.