This is just a light hearted post. I am in a position where my liver disease makes it impossible to work but not ill enough at the moment to be laid up all day. So I’ve taken up crocheting and really enjoy it. I was just wondering what other people did to pass the time and keep up their self esteem.
Hobbies: This is just a light hearted... - British Liver Trust
Hobbies
Written by
Smyally
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58 Replies
•
Hi Smyally.
I haven't crocheted for years. When I was a kid, my mum and I used to sit for hours during the 1970s crocheting squares to sew together. We made bags, waistcoats and blankets. When my Mum died 3 years ago while my sister and I were clearing her house, we came across 3 of those very blankets! I made a few repairs to them and along with some of the beautiful cross stitch pictures she used to do when she became disabled and housebound, we donated them and they raised over £300 for her cancer charity.
So I say good for you bringing the art of crotchet back in fashion!!
Knitting is good too but doesn't grow as quickly as crochet does. As mentioned there's cross stitch. The kits are a bit pricey, pictures are very intricate and you need good lighting but the results are stunning. My mum did very large ones which were framed but you can get small ones to get you started.
Don't forget some daily exercise too, these crafts can become very absorbing and you can forget to get off your bum !!
All the best
Laura x
Hi Laura. Sorry about your Mum. Yeah agree you can spend hours getting absorbed in crafts. I knit as well. But I also have an energetic little dog who’s only 3 and needs to be walked. My friend walks her when I’m ill but I do like try and walk her myself because walking is the best exercise for me at the moment. I was just wondering what others on here like to do xx
In the past I've done beading, baking, reading and gaming in various forms. 😁
Love baking. I make a mean tea cake loaf and love a Victoria sandwich cake. Never done beading and I should read more than what I do. Do you have a favourite author? X
Beadweaving can be very addictive, especially if you are doing off-loom stitches, some long term projects can take years! I'm trying to get back into reading again, my favourite author since my early teens has been Dean Koontz and over the years I've added Dan Brown, Sinead Moriarty, Ben Elton lol. I completely forgot about colouring! Funnily enough, colouring is what made me put down the books in the first place! I made a New York cheesecake yesterday, still not used to the idea of baking it in the oven!
• in reply toSmyally
I used to do a lot of patchwork too. Always loved sewing. Had a bit of a pushy Mum who, who when I was 8 years old told me "It's all very nice you bringing home these little bits of embroidery and stuffed toys you've made in needlework class but at your age you should be on the sewing machine making clothes!" She then found me a piece of pink gingham fabric and a pattern for a smock and showed me how to cut out the pieces. She sent me to my next needlework class with the pieces of cut fabric, a letter to my teacher and a very red face! Over the next few lessons I made my smock, wore it to death and thanks to my Mum😇 I run my very successful curtain making and clothing alteration service from home in Norwich.
Just thought I'd share that with you !!
Smyally• in reply to
That’s fantastic x
sunnysmile• in reply to
Laura - pink gingham - now there is a throwback. I am back in my school needlework class sewing just that lol.
G.
• in reply tosunnysmile
Haha brilliant 😃💟💟💟💟💟💟
Hi smyally. Never crochet, but mum taught me how to knit bless her
I read quite a lot, spiritual magazine's etc.. went to see Derek accorah last night with my sister.. omg ! What a disaster, he's not good at all, i am yet to find a true medium 🤔.. i like eBay lol, caring for my cats and my sister who's not too well at present. Can't do much as i have mobility issues, i do colouring in , and enjoy making fresh curries. 😊x
Having a sleepless night and reading all the posts. Linda you and I have so much in common... 5 cats here, searching for a good medium, saw and was disappointed with D.A a few years back as part of a TV audience. I try to read but sometimes can't concentrate, in fact I fall asleep after a little while. Mum taught me how to knit and I keep meaning to get back into it, and as for eBay, that's one for the future when I finally declutter. I would love to swim again but getting over a dislocated shoulder and doggy paddle is about my limit at the moment. waiting for physio, but went today to a lido where they have a hydrotherapy pool, and hoping it helps. And as for mobility issues, well I'm in that club too, I have to fill in yet another PIP form and the closing date is 21st, so will have to get my act together on Monday and find someone to help me because I can't do handwriting at the moment. Excuse this post, it might sound like the rant of an insomniac. Night night everyone. K
Filling in pip forms is a pain. I’ve just had to do one for my daughter who has learning difficulties. My citizens advice were brilliant though and filled most of the form out with me as my handwriting is abysmal at the moment. Had to go through the whole process myself 2 years ago got turned down but received it on appeal. Ridiculous when you think I was writing my letter for my appeal and gathering evidence of “how it effected my day to day” from a hospital bed. Still got there in the end. Hope you get yours sorted x
Hi Smyally, I hope I can sort it out, I put in my application first in December, had assessment, was refused, mandatory appeal, now going to Tribunal, but I called the DWP because things had got worse and new things come to light, affecting life more, they told me to put in another application, so it will be two applications on the go. Just I didn't realise there was a dateline for the second application, I feel like I brought the pressure on myself by applying again. I don't know how long it take to go to tribunal, they acknowledged but gave no date. Just what we all need when we feel ill and not up to much. I want a magic fairy with a powerful wand, so I can share it with all of us, make all our troubles small ones.
Tribunal that was the word I was looking for. That happened with mine too. It’s the last thing you want when you don’t feel well. Mine took 10 months from start to finish. I’ve got it all again with my daughter who’s had life long difficulties but got to prove it all again because her DLA is going over to PIP. Wish you all the best x
Hi kitkatkaz, blimey we have so much in common!! ..I will be 4 cats and a kitten by thurdsy lol.. terrible I am.
So you had a bad one too with DA.. nothing but a fraudster.
I still believe in spiritualism, but its bad when people defraud money feedimg off vulnerable people. Tony Stockwell is another one
My supoort worker mentioned hydrotherapy to me on Monday.. might give that a try as i cant take any painkillers strong enough.
Is this your first pip application? I did mine last year. Was awarded full for both untill 2020, i had my support worker comolete my firm as it was too confusing. Good luck!! Hope it all goes well. Lomg as you have meducal proof and plenty of it, should be fine x
• in reply toMillie09
Aren't Mum's great ? You don't realise what an influence they have on you till they're gone. ❤
ooooo Dads too..... daren't forget them ... Happy Fathers Day Dads !!
Millie, I also like the spirit world. Hear what you say about the mediums. I went to see Sally Morgan at Palace Theatre, Manchester and she was awful. She got nothing right the whole show. At the half-way interval, loads of people got up and walked out.
My mum also taught me to knit - she passed a few years ago and she used to help me if I got stuck with it. Last year I knitted a jumper without her intervention on my "help I'm stuck Mum bits" and completed it all. Was very proud until I came to sew the pieces together. I attached one of the arms upside down and had sewn it strongly with wool so could not unpick it. It looked like it was for a ballerina in a permanent one arm up movement lol lol !!! I took it to the charity shop and would have loved to have heard any comments.
I have just picked up my needles again as it is so relaxing, but this time, I am knitting a very long scarf lol.
G.
• in reply tosunnysmile
Haha that's so funny 😂😂😂😂
Hi sunnysmile, oh im furious with what i had to witness during his show, i just and still cabt believe it.
I think hes traumatised me ,, honestly. I'm sorry to hear about your mum. Lost my mum 29yrs aho. She was only 51 bless her.my dad 4 yrs ago.
Oh my days .😂😂😂😂😂😂. That's made me laff lol, i was forever dropping stitches and making holes lol. When.mum was teaching me i would try and pull the wool down from the knitting needle haha, she wasnt daft lol. Oh the good old days..
Would love to go and see a medium, I do believe there is something else that we go on to after this life. Shame Derek Accorah wasn’t any good. Sorry to hear about your sister. Cats or Dogs ( or any pets really) are great company when you’re at home. We had only had our dog 8 months when I got my diagnosis but I swear that caring for her has kept me sane. Especially 2am in morning when I can’t sleep!! Your curries sound nice. I try and cook most nights but find that some days I’m exhausted by 6pm. Then everyone has something from the freezer that hubby can sort out. Take care x
........ jigsaw puzzles?
I used to paint, mostly portraits. It's so amazing to see that face, those eyes, come up and know that you have created a painting. Since my husband died, I have a hard time getting enthused but I'm sellling my house and will have even more free time on my hands. I'm taking a little of everything with me and selling the rest. I have thousands in art supplies. Not a cheap hobby. Well, it can be I guess. My daughter crochet's and does beautiful work. I'm so lucky to have so many hats and scarves even blankets. Keeping the hands and mind busy are really important in surviving this illness. G'nite
You sound like a very creative family. When I was a kid I used to love painting and drawing. Used to do pictures of ponies and the countryside until my art teacher told me I wasn’t good enough to take it up as an exam subject. Lost all confidence after that. Now my hands shake too much. Really admire people who can do it. X
• in reply toSmyally
Ah that's so sad. I think it was your art teacher wasn't good enough! Should have taught you better to bring you up to the required standard !!
What a rotten teacher. Mine put a self portrait I did in class when I was 17 on the walls of the school. Aghhhh. It was truly awful. I'm sorry your teacher discouraged you. Art doesn't have to be perfect or even beautiful, you know this, each has their own talent or expression of feeling and yours is important. Give it another try. Drawing is fun too but like you, I have the shakes. Some days are better than others. I'm just hoping I get my muse back.
Hi Smyally, I always imagined when I stopped working I would get back into my art and painting and being creative, but my hands shake too much, like you said - why is that? is it all part of having a problem with our livers? I have been told I need to see a neurologist, people comment on my shaking and make me more conscious or self conscious, so how can I paint and do all the things I imagine I would do? I can't even cook properly anymore for the same reason, plus I've got tired and napped when I had something in the oven and ended up burning out the oven, and also running the bath, fell asleep waiting for it and it overflowed. I think I should come with a health warning or safety instructions these days! K
I love painting but am not very good. Not done it for years. I do like sketching which I am not bad at. I didn't think I could draw portraits until my hubs, one rainy afternoon, suggested we both do a portrait of Elvis. I thought it funny and said it would be Elvis not looking his best!!! We were not allowed to peep at each others until done and mine turned out really good, better than his and he went to art school and runs his own Signwriting Company. He was defo miffed. Now thinking of adding portraits to my other hobby of 'long scarf knitting.'
Is your profile picture one of your paintings? It is soo good.
Fun thread this one to help us all smile a little and to remember we are not alone.
Regards to all.
G.
Yes, she is one of my paintings. "The purple Lady". I painted it when it was pretty dark and grabbed the wrong color for my darks. She worked out though. Very peaceful time for me I think. I can always tell how I was feeling by the eyes expression of my subjects.
Thanks!
Yes, I got the expression in the eyes. Beautiful painting - raw talent.
I'm learning bread making with mixed results 🙄
Pottering in the garden is nice in the summer too.
Best regards
John
Yeah I love pottering in the garden. I make gluten free bread for my daughter but I’ve never really got the hang of it.
I bet yours tasted good
Regards
I try. Doing a 'paul hollywood' with flour everywhere 😁
Idling in the sun is nice too catching up with favourite books.
Summer is nice.
Winter not so good for me.
Best wishes
John
Hobbies
Exercise
Activity
Learning
Talking
Happiness
Yoga
Living
Interests
Victories
Energy
Rejuvination
I always wanted to play "Old Timey" of Skiff fiddle. Took lessons for 6 years but alas. No talent whatsoever. Still have the old fiddles.
I love watching others play and envy them for what looks so natural to them. I'm a Klutz. No rythm but I gave it a good try.
So have any of you worked out the relevance of the list of words ?😉
Smyally• in reply to
To me they are all things that can help with your mental health and feel positive
Read the initial letters down the list
Ha ha, very good. I enjoy reading, colouring books, I'm a beginner at quilling, swimming cos I can't walk very far due to fibromyalgia, I also love watching football do the world cup is great for me!!! My Mum loved red roses so I would like to make one using quilling , penguins for my mother in law as she loved them, trucks for my father in law and I would love to make an airfix spitfire as it was my Dad's favourite plane. All of these would be in their memory.Hope you are all as well as can be . Love and hugs Lynne xxxx
Smyally• in reply to
Lovely way to remember loved ones. I love football too. Great game the other night between Portugal and Spain. When I was young (pre liver days) I used to go every weekend home and away.
• in reply toSmyally
Nice one Smyally for mentioning hobbies. We are all getting to know each other rather than being known just for our illnesses or situations which put us here in the first place👍
L x
• in reply toSmyally
Hi
Thank you.
I'm an Oldham fan there are one or two left!! I don't go now cos I feel so often, I do miss it, though. Love and hugs Lynne xxxx
Smyally• in reply to
Hi Lynne. I’m a Chelsea fan. Not very many people like us. Would like to add though that I was a Chelsea fan long before the new era, way back in the 80s and 90s. Used to go every week from 1990 until I got liver disease. Sorry you feel so rotten at the moment x
Lots of smiling! Being good to myself and others, creative writing, daydreaming! It’s all good! Crochet me some socks I’m going skiing in Match 😊. Your post has brightened my day, thank you. 😊
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