Balance

Sometimes life seems a little too full and there hardly seems time to grab a snack or even to gather a few thoughts together. There has been a good deal of that frenetic feeling here in recent weeks. It doesn't sit comfortably with me but needs must - I'm torn between birthday preparations, eyeing that date that's about a month away, completing commissions, and the more mundane business of household chores. At the same time there is someone in the family who isn't well, about whom we think a good deal and who needs our time and company. It has meant that blogging has been relegated many times- there was always something more important to do.

Twitter is immediate, rapid and it's a fabulous, if rather baffling place sometimes. When I have 10 or 15 minutes to spare it doesn't feel like enough time to write a blogpost. I'll tweet a picture or two of a craft project completed by the little ones or a commission about to be sent to its new owner. The pace is different. It's a 60 second society over there. A few minutes after a picture is posted it's already old news. That said , Twitter can be like a wonderful chat room and at times there are so many good friends, including bloggers, in a conversation about cake or knitting or Cadbury's minirolls (you know who you are) that there's hardly room for any words.

In contrast I feel that blogging is like the slow food movement. When I read blogs it is far more leisurely, like dipping into a favourite magazine. I'm sure I'm not the only one who'll make a cup of tea and relish browsing through my favourites. I am full of praise for Twitter, despite the alarming news stories, but I do find blogging slightly more personal and I prefer the slower pace and the chance to enjoy beautiful photographs in a larger format and thoughts that aren't crowbarred into 140 characters.

There's no doubt that life has had a Twitter-ish feel about it recently. I sometimes feel as though I need, dare I say it, Gina Ford, to come and help me out with a daily routine to prevent me from tearing about and feeling as though I shouldn't slow down to stop and stare for a moment. Knitting for the Scarf Swap has been a very good thing in recent weeks. I have had to sit and knit a few soothing rows now and again because there are six sections to complete by Christmas. I have also been peering at knitting tutorials on Youtube. This is Irish mesh stitch. I do love the lacy holes (they're not made by moths, honestly).

I so want to fit in a regular blogpost each week and I'm determined to do it, even if it's a single image and a few sentences. I do miss this place.

Apart from the knitting the images are from my archive.

Note: I was due to be holding a winter Open Studios event this coming weekend but we may be travelling to see the family member who is unwell. Huge apologies to anyone who had planned to come along. I have been listing some of my newer pieces in my Etsy shop instead. If you'd like 10% off then type in coupon code CYBERMSP1.