Hobbies that feed the soul

I have been working as a professional in an office for almost 16 years. It can be challenging, rewarding, fast paced and interesting. But it also has its moments of stress, frustration, routine and the mundane. I guess this is true of most jobs and that is why we look for outlets, outside of this, to satisfy the soul.

Knitting has been my primary escape. The rhythmic and often "mindlessness" of knitting provides me with a kind of meditation. Where the hands and the mind work as one to create beautiful and unique pieces of wearable art. It is also something that I can pick up and do for 5 minutes or 5 hours, to de-stress from a busy work day or while away the hours on a leisurely weekend.

Generally I stick to a pattern, or heavily rely on a pattern to achieve the results I am after. I have dabbled in design as I like the idea of creating something brand new, but yet to come up with anything that I would be happy to publish.

For a long time I have also played around with stamping, card making and paper craft. There is great joy in tailor making a gift card specifically for someone. I collect paper, ribbons and brads - even small scraps and parts of other cards to re-use or recycle. I like the personal touch that this can add to a gift and feel that it is another way I can show my emotions and love for the recipient.

My latest crafting adventure is dying yarn. This was something that I had wanted to do for a really long time, but I was intimidated to try. Now that I have begun I don't know why it took me so long to start. I find the process magical. By adding yarn to a pot of hot coloured water I can end up with amazing and unique yarn. There are no rules, no restrictions, only creativity and experimentation. Unlike knitting it does require a more dedicated amount of time, but it appeals more to my creative side and the need to make something that is uniquely mine. The added benefit is then having my own colour to then knit with.

Ideas for colours and techniques I would like to try are constantly swirling around in my head. The camera gets pulled out to snap "that" moment of a sunrise, a opening bud of a flower or how the light hits a drop of rain.

I am certainly a long way from calling myself a dyer, or producing something that is saleable or repeatable, but I am having a lot of fun and enjoying the process of learning something new and creating my own yarn colours.