A gift package for the laundry

Last Christmas I made up laundry gift packages for my adult children and their partners, using the laundry bag and peg bag patterns I have covered in previous posts. 

This is how I did it:

First take one  Enamel Basin from Odgers and McClelland Exchange Store (I used mail order);

Then add a jar of homemade Wool Wash with the recipe;

A peg bag with some stainless steel pegs inside (to reduce plastic use);

A matching laundry bag:

Some hand knitted wash cloths;

And here is the completed package.

Another version:

In this one I used tractor prints for my son.

Remember: Sometimes when we don't have the courage to change, everything changes around us to direct us to a new path. Rhonda Byrne.

Bag of the month: laundry bag

The first laundry bag that I made was for an Aussie Service man or woman currently serving overseas, and more information and instructions can be found here:  Aussie Hero Quilts and Laundry Bags

I have subsequently used the same instructions to make a laundry bag for our caravan and bags for Christmas gifts, appliqueing "Laundry" to the gift bags as an additional touch.

Making the bag

This is how I went about sewing them:

After cutting out the front and back, I added a feature strip and applique to the front.

Then I sewed the side and bottom seams (right sides together), made a lining the same way, (but leaving a gap in the bottom seam for turning), and inserted the lining into the bag, right sides together.

The casing was inserted between the bag and the lining before sewing the bag and lining together around the top (with the bag inside out). I made hems on the ends of the pieces of casings before doing this (see below).

I then threaded through  thick piping cord and tied the ends together in a knot.

And ended up with this!

Other versions

Remember: Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver. Barbara DeAngelis

Organising our lives

When we think of being organised our thoughts often turn to things like de-cluttering, making lists, a place for everything and everything in its place, and time management. And here is a good source of inspiration if you are that way inclined:

http://organizingmadefun.blogspot.com.au/p/about-me.html

We could also talk about daily and other routines (like morning rituals) and being able to multi-task and budget/ live within our means. We could further talk about planning and having organised homes/ workspaces.

However these are all “doing” things, and with a dose of creativity, we can balance them with “being” and take a new look at addressing this issue. Then organising our lives might also include:

• Organising to do things we enjoy – we can choose to take the time to plan to do things that enrich us and to include relaxation time in this plan.
• Organising who to spend time with – we can choose to be mostly around people we can trust and who make us feel good about ourselves, rather than around those who manipulate us or leave us feeling confused or put down. We can learn from others and use help that is offered. And we can balance this with maintaining independence and liking our own company, as we allow time for ourselves.

• Making wise decisions – we can stop and think before we act, and work at things until they feel right. Sometimes we just need to let things work themselves out.
• Sorting through mental baggage – carrying old unresolved feelings and reactions around in our heads can leave our brains feeling very disorganised. We may need to clear our heads by processing and offloading these issues so that we are not burdened with unwanted baggage. We may also need to seek order in, and work through, chaos.

• Being creative with new ideas and ways of doing things – sometimes approaching things from a new perspective can lead to changes in how we might organise our lives. Being flexible and making use of unexpected spin-offs can result in more ordered lives.
• Looking after our needs – we can choose to take time out when needed and consider ways to have our needs met, especially when we are overwhelmed with the needs and wants of others.

Isn’t it interesting that we use the phrase “being” organised, when often we are referring to “doing”?

Some thoughts on creativity and healing

I have always been interested in how being creative can be used as a tool for healing, having experienced the benefit myself and observed this in others. Using our hands to make something can allow us to move little steps forward in our lives when words are inadequate and the pain of loss is too deep to process.

The value of being creative

At other times being creative can help to reduce stress, give life satisfaction and meaning and empower us to increase our overall well-being. It can also increase our sense of confidence and self-acceptance, our sense of achievement and our personal strengths. We re-focus to the here and now, distracting from unhelpful thoughts and feelings of pain, and our brains are stimulated.

Using creativity in a group setting

In the later stages of the Women’s Support Group that I facilitated, every second session became a time of creatively making something with our hands – often cards based on a set template, or other crafts chosen by the group members. I was mindful of not encouraging anyone into activities with which they were uncomfortable, so it was important to allow the members to be an active part of the planning process.

Over time I noticed the development of increased confidence and creative thoughts in the ladies, and enthusiasm to engage in new learning. This was a great outcome for women who had experienced the debilitating effects of domestic violence in their lives.

Extending the experience

Sometimes I would encourage the ladies to apply what they were creating to a metaphor for their lives (thus extending creative thought processes). For example, when we made a folder for storing various types of cards, we brainstormed how we could organise our lives.

Some great resources

I have come across two wonderful books that promote the therapeutic value of creativity:

1. Hope Make Heal by Maya Pagan Donenfeld

This is a book about how to channel the powerful flood of emotions following traumatic events into things that can be seen and touched. It contains four sections – Wounded, Synchronicity, Healing and Reinvention, and each section includes things to make that are directly connected to healing, a guided meditation and some helpful introductory thoughts.

For more information:
http://mayamade.blogspot.com.au/p/my-book.html

2. Craft for the soul: how to get the most out of your creative life by Pip Lincolne

This is an enthusiastic step by step guide to “having nice times” by building our own creativity and engaging in other acts of self-care. Pip encourages us to try new things, be ourselves, build more movement into our days and cultivate friendships, and gives lists of ideas of things to try in each of these areas.

For more information:
http://meetmeatmikes.com/buy-craft-for-the-soul/

I hope you can find more time for creativity in your life.