Creativity and celebration

In the past I've though that spending time being creative is a bit of a luxury.  It should either be something you can use to make a living out of if you are creative enough to so do, or a treat if it is something you enjoy.
However, I now think that being creative, whether it is decorating a cake, stitching, painting or constructing something, may significantly contribute to our sense of well being and happiness.  Therefore, my opinion now is that taking time to be creative, without worrying about the end result is a good use of time and should be encouraged.

A craft shop has recently opened in our town where you can have a hot drink and cake at the same time as being creative.  I've been there a few times with my daughters and each time they have had a good time sticking and painting.  I particularly like the fact that I don't have to clean up the mess afterwards.  One of the nicest things about visiting the shop has been seeing the range of people coming in, of all ages. Some who just buy craft materials and some who stay to be creative.  I was also inspired to buy fabric to make my daughter a bag for her PE kit for when she starts school.  She liked picking the colours and helping with the design and I've enjoyed making it.  The mother and daughter who run the craft shop are very welcoming and I hope the shop is a success.

We recently attended a lovely wedding.  The bride is a friend of mine and when I first met her a few years ago her love life was a little turbulent, she hit thirty, was looking for a permanent job and things were looking a bit gloomy.  All weddings are special, but it was wonderful to finally see her married and happy, and also to see how much effort her new husband had gone to to add some extra special surprises to the day.  All weddings naturally take me back to my wedding day.  However, this time I couldn't squeeze my husband's hand and given him a quick smile when the vows were being read.  He had taken the whining toddler to the creche and the pre-schooler on my lap was whispering rather too loudly 'I'm hungry and my bottom itches'.  I didn't get to have a slow dance with my husband as the children were being too clingy, but we did get to dance together as a family.  The day still reminded me of our special day and all the planning.  In particular, all the things people went out of their way to do to make it special.

We made a lot of things for our wedding.  I suppose this was primarily down to me being a bit tight-fisted, not wanting to spend money on invites, orders of service and dresses when I (and everyone I roped in to help) could make them for a fraction of the cost.  One of my favourite memories is both sides of the family decorating the barn for the reception the evening before the wedding, getting to know each other.  My Grannie arranged the flowers for the top table.  Other people cut up fudge for the favours boxes, packed them and tied them with ribbon.  My best friend's Mum put the finishing touches to the cake she had made.  The last hem of the bridesmaid's dresses was stitched.  Flowers were arranged on the tables and the final version of the table plan was printed.  All of these things were unique for us, not things you could buy, created by the people we care about.

Now my older daughter's attention span is increasing, I am re-discovering the joy of taking time to be creative.  I am also reminded of the joy of receiving hand-made gifts and cards.  Be it a pot of jam or my favourite wedding present from a friend's Mum who had been ill over a number of years, yet had taken time to a stitch a beautiful sampler with our names and wedding date on.  Perhaps the antidote to consumerism?  I'm not sure what my next craft project will be.  I still have a PE bag to add the finishing touches to, but what about you?  Why don't you allow yourself some time to be a bit creative?