Thursday, 7 May 2015

Creative medicine



I was rather taken by surprise at the Spring fluey cold that crept up on me three weeks ago. It seems funny time of year to be feverish and confined to bed but I hear that it's been clobbering people across the country. It slowed everything down, including my giveaway announcement. Thankyou for your entries. As ever Mr Random Number Generator came to my aid in choosing the winner. It's CJ of Above the River. Congratulations! Drop me an email with your address CJ.


Between healing naps my concern about my neglected inbox and the three British bird commissions that had to be made were eased by crochet. There's a soothing joy in each loop that can distract from an unfortunate nasal situation.



There's no doubt the shawl I was making was medicinal and as it got larger I was draping it around my shoulders as an extra layer of cosiness.



There was another source of creative medicine whilst I sat amongst wool, quilts and antipyretics. Instagram has been something I've dabbled with but I decided to hop on board and explore it a little more (I'm @silverpebble2). Each image is like a miniature blogpost and it's lovely to catch up with friends over there. Some images are highly styled, some have filters and effects added and some are untouched. I've been experimenting with what I post. I admit that it may seem daft to fiddle around with flowers or pebbles but I confess I love to make images that echo one of my lifelong favourite books: Keble Martin's concise British flora in Colour. This is my version of patchwork and it's as soothing as crochet or weeding for me.



The images in this post are ones I've posted on Instagram. Have you tried it? Does it lure you away from blogs or do you find it too frenetic? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
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19 comments:

  1. Saffa Barkhordar7 May 2015 at 11:34

    Congratulations to the winner! I love your instagram pics Emma, they always looks so beautiful and effortless. I have to admit to being lured away from blog posting through instagram use but I enjoy it for the immediacy and its quick which is helpful when you work/make. But blogging I find is more personal and I've gotten to know others more thoroughly through blogging so I can see how both are appealing. I hope you feel better soon from the lurgy, at least your crochet is a comfort :) Have a lovely weekend, safxxx

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  2. Anonymous7 May 2015 at 12:45

    I don't have the technology to use instagram and therefore find it excluding. I have however read the accounts which guests are invited to see - many others are closed to non members though. It seems very cliquey. People scramble over each other to curry good favour. I don't like it at all to be honest. A guest is a lurker by design as well. The messages don't read in a way that makes sense either, as there are obviously lots of dm's going on in the background. Lots of code and secrets. It reminds me of an unfriendly school playground, seeking to make some people feel outsiders in order that they may feel good about themselves.

    A picture really does not paint a thousand words at all. There is no story for most of them and you wonder what they are there for. You can be looking at something and be at a total loss of what it is, or its significance and are highly unlikely to find out. There is skilful, moving, witty, engaging and informative writing in blogging. All totally lacking from instagram and sadly many bloggers have abandoned their blogs for instagram which in my view is an absolute shame and a loss to the crafting community. Instagram is like junk food, a quick fix but not very satisfying.

    Blogging is much more of a personal, direct and inclusive platform. Blogs are shutting down at a dramatic rate however. The ones still around still seem to be those that were amongst the first, and are by those people who are not swayed by trends but just enjoy sharing. Many more have just gone. I find that a huge shame.

    People really seem to forget that we don't all have access to everything. Money really does preclude some of us. Others are resistant to new things so don't follow people to instagram. I understand there is a way around it to have it on your pc. But it a substandard work around and doesn't interest me.

    For those wishing to pursue business, it seems there is a ready market place - I have seen selling taking place. It is a small market though, as the comments are from a same select group and I think their saturation buying point will obviously happen. It must feel quite a safe place but I really do see a lot of insincerity in the comments. Many make me cringe at the sycophancy. I don't like it at all. To look at pictures I much prefer pinterest or even the ruined flickr.
    Kate

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  3. Cheryl7 May 2015 at 13:25

    I like Instagram more than Twitter. It feels less commercial and more friendly. My Instagram feed is free of #RTplease and competition entries. I can understand that readers are spending time on it rather than reading blogs. It's less time consuming to read, but it's horses for courses.

    I tend to feel Instagram is more like that quick conversation as you pass a friend in the street. A quick catch up. Maybe clicking on "Like" becomes a passing hello.

    A blog is more like a sit down at their kitchen table/in their garden/where ever, with a cup of tea or a glass of wine. The comments I choose to leave are probably longer. Like this one.

    I'll have to find you on Instagram.

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  4. Liz7 May 2015 at 13:54

    I am a newbie on Instagram and love it. Blogging has fallen on the wayside for a while and I miss it. By having Instagram I can still photograph things I love and post them and see what others are up to. I will come back to the blog, although sometime it feels as if it is very dull, especially for readers. Personal turmoil is something I can write about but am not sure I want to post!!
    Love the sea glass. I am so happy with my last little haul from Seaham, only 30 minutes from M-I-L's place. One cool thing about Instagram is you can see peoples preferred colours and objects. In tile format some are like you say, patchworks.

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  5. Ariadne7 May 2015 at 14:16

    I love instagram and its spontaniety. I love taking pictures and sharing them with other. I will follow you there!I am ariadnesky there if you like to follow too! I was impressed by your gorgeous sea glass finds.From Seaham I suppose!AriadnefromGreece!

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  6. annie7 May 2015 at 15:32

    Hello there! I've been writing my blog for about 3 years and still enjoy it, but I've also recently started posting more pictures to Instagram. I think there is room for both. I love taking photos and can put ones up on Instagram which I would not necessarily use on my blog. I agree with Cheryl; one is like a quick 'Hello' and the other like a chat over a cuppa! I've also just found your blog Emma and have enjoyed reading it.

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  7. Rachel7 May 2015 at 15:56

    I absorb information and ideas best from the printed page (literally - the pixelled screen doesn't work so well!), so I find all the image sharing sites a bit bewildering.

    And yes, the cold/cough/fluey thing has been here too. I've not set a stitch for a fortnight because my aim would shot by the cough!

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  8. Jennifer Hays7 May 2015 at 16:41

    Congrats to CJ! (I'm new to your blog and didn't enter, but she is a blogging friend of mine and I'm very happy for her!). I'm a relatively newcomer to Instagram, having joined a few months ago. I like it. I don't see how it could replace blogging, not for me anyway, but it's fun to see little snippets of others' lives. That's one of my favorite aspects of blogging, actually, so I like having another avenue to do it elsewhere too.

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  9. Anonymous7 May 2015 at 16:48

    I don't have a Smartphone or an Android so (as Kate says, above) I have no direct access to Instagram. I shall look at your link though and see it I like the whole concept.

    I like your images very much and hope that you continue to post here.

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  10. CJ7 May 2015 at 22:13

    EEK! I'm squeaking and grinning and absolutely thrilled, thank you Emma. Sorry you've been under the weather, I hope you're back to full strength very soon. Gorgeous shawl, and I really love your Instagram photos as well, they're beautiful. I don't have that clever kind of phone so I don't do Instagram, but there are some really wonderful images there, and fascinating life stories. Thank you again. CJ xx

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  11. Frances7 May 2015 at 23:21

    Congratulations to CJ!

    Emma, I'm hoping that you are feeling better by the minute. Your crocheting does seem a good way to while away the time when you're not feeling quite 100%.

    Several friends have been urging me to get involved with Instagram, but so far my lack of smart phone has kept me away. (So far my employer hasn't come up with any annual pay rise for us, so I am also being a bit wary of additional expenses.) Having said all that, I still love blogging and a glad that it's still possible to visit you here. (Your photographs look grand here!)

    Guess what...the Country Living Turn Your Hobby into a Business finally turned up at B&N, and I now have a copy, and plan on showing it to many of my crafty NYC friends, making a point of showing them your inspiring pages. Well done.

    Weird to be typing this while listening to UK election results via BBC London Radio on my laptop. Small world. There seem to be some early surprises in the exit polls.

    xo

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  12. Celia Hart8 May 2015 at 08:35

    Sympathies about the fluey thing, it got me about a month ago so I know what it's like. Glad the crochet comforted.

    Instagram can be like a box of chocolates - and too much is overwhelming. But I have found former bloggers there which is nice. Using Instagram for selling is also interesting. I still prefer blogging, though there is less interaction - Twitter followers say they read my blog but rarely leave a comment. Should that matter? Probably not, though after all the care that goes into a blog post it is nice when someone leaves a comment. As for Facebook Pages ... I am astounded by the blunt and sometimes rude comments and messages.
    Will look for your lovely collages on Instagram - I requested Keble Martin as my School Prize in 1977.
    C xx

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  13. She loves to crochet8 May 2015 at 13:07

    Hope you feel better soon. Your shawl is lovely, I hope you enjoy wearing it. I'm new to blogging and don't use Instagram because I don't have a smart phone, think there is room for both though. I'm enjoying blogging too much to be lured away at the moment. Glad I found your lovely blog and I really like that sea glass. Hx

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  14. Minnado10 May 2015 at 07:17

    I have my mum's Keble Martin brought back from emptying her house. I found her handwritten notes and some pressed flowers in it. Like others I don't have access to instances as I don't own the right devices, so I rarely look at instagram links. I still prefer blogging!

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  15. Locket Pocket10 May 2015 at 07:43

    I love instagram as it gives me little pops of deliciousness all through the day that I can quickly look at even when I'm busy - or stuck at work doing something incredibly boring! I still read my favourite blogs but fewer of them and I leave fewer comments these days too. Congratulations to your winner Emma xxx

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  16. Simone11 May 2015 at 21:11

    Congratulations to the winner! I can't access Instagram . I don't have a mobile phone or an ipad. I enjoy using Twitter for immediate responses and I continue to blog as I have done for 8 years but it gets disheartening when people rarely leave comments. I love pinterest and regularly dip in and out of it for inspiration. x

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  17. Sarah12 May 2015 at 00:37

    Your pictures are beautiful - I especially like the sea glass. I'm not an Instagrammer yet - I think I'm put off a bit as it's what my children do so I don't want to trespass into 'their' territory. And I've only just started blogging - need to get to grips with that first!

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  18. Unknown12 May 2015 at 10:04

    ah the restorative power of crafting... lovely shawl by the way...

    hope you're feeling better soon!

    (you're 'verify I'm not a robot made me tick pictures of ice creams ... now i want one.)

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  19. Web Solutions30 June 2015 at 15:12

    Hi,
    I feel your really a creative designer with great sense of thought,
    keep doing the innovative works.

    Thanks for the wonderful post, keep posting.
    Akash
    Leather Jewellery Box Manufacturer

    ReplyDelete

I so love reading your comments and will try very hard to answer them but sometimes life gets in the way and I don't manage every time. Thankyou for dropping in here and taking the time to say something - it means a great deal.