library craft swap spoils, classical piano rec <3

I'm listening to a classical piano CD right now as I write this and also burning a pretty candle with rose petals in it. Just thought you all should know.

Anyway! I attended a craft swap with my friend the other day. These are some of my spoils! After getting a ticket for contributing items, I was given a bag to fill with what I could use.

My friend pretty quickly spotted the heart envelope seals and I took them happily. After I saw the vintage purple 90s spiral letters, I scooped them up to experiment with a typography-based project I've been working on. My friend found the strawberries as well and we were both delighted when I got home, opened the wrapping and found out they were scented!

I saw some wire-lined tulle-esque fabric that I liked and initially thought of using for costumes but decided not to get it.

The heart cookie cutters were so cute and reminded me that I wanted to make heart-shaped sugar cookies (even though Valentine's Day is a long way off).

There was a large corner dedicated to knitting, crochet, and yarn! If you've been here for a bit you may know that I like to crochet. I scooped up some green and purple yarn as well as some knitting needles. My grandmother was always knitting or sewing when I was younger. I think often about how the fiber arts often run in families in beautiful ways and how I could be part of that and feel a spiritual connection with her by practicing the crafts she did.

I grabbed a small handful of a very large pile of paper scraps to be used for warmups, to-do lists, or collages.

The small plastic star beads caught my eye. I feel a little lost as to what I'm going to use them for but I do use celestial themes in my visual art, and think they could make a nice accent for a crochet or knitting project.

The fabric behind these pictures was found at the craft swap as well!! I've been wanting to make a throw pillow for my bed because I have a plain black comforter though I really like patterns. The rest may be used for a tote and cut up into patches.

I have my work cut out for me but I'm glad to throw myself into it! Going to the craft swap made me think about how the slow, mindful nature of visual art holds so much value and how I'd like to turn back to it even in a small but meaningful way. Creative growth requires time, space, play, and experimentation and it's important to honor this. In a way when we create, we turn back to a state of embodying wonder and openness that sometimes can feel buried in adulthood.

And as I write this, Schumann's Träumerei from Kinderszenen is playing - a true synchronicity. If you don't know it or listen to classical, I believe the title translates to Scenes from Childhood and it is one of the most gorgeous pieces that makes you feel like your life is flashing before your eyes, and you find yourself watching a younger you sitting on the floor in the center of a pile of books, or running outside with your best friend. I've created a link below to a performance by Horowitz and sheet music follow-along. Let me know what you thought of the piece in the comments!!

Thank you all for reading!! Another post is coming tomorrow. Thanks for your patience with this week's post!!