A different kind of creativity

The cold air tugged at me, feeling especially cold on my neck and hands. I forgot my gloves so there wasn’t much I could do there, except push my hands deeper into my pocket. I could do something though for my neck. I pulled on my scarf, grateful that my daughter had crocheted it for me and gave it to me as a Christmas present. It felt good against my raw skin. 

When I finished up my walk I hung up my coat, but kept my scarf out. I looked closer at the color of the yarn and distinctive pattern. My daughter has been knitting and crocheting for the past two years. When we were first married, my wife used to embroider. My mom crotcheted for years, making colorful blankets.

I’ve long been inspired by other’s creative handiwork. My Amish grandmother and relatives used to crotchet doilies and ornamental mats made of intricate white fabric that they would use as table runners and on coffee tables. I would look at the doilies and be amazed at the intricate designs and artistry.

I wish I had my daughter’s or my grandmother’s skills, or even my father’s woodworking skills when he was alive. I lack those skills, but I’m creative in other ways. They create blankets and scarves. I create stories. 

How are you creative in your life?


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74 thoughts on “A different kind of creativity

  1. I used to make handmade cards for years. Before I stopped and now just buy from shop or from sellers that make their cards.

    I draw. Trying to get back into it after many years away. I have shared some drawings on my blog.

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  2. Though I achieved considerable success in the fire department, ascending to the rank of Lieutenant, I ultimately discovered that my true calling lay elsewhere. My creativity and skill in photography and writing have always been the work my hands were meant to do. 🙂

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  3. No too late to learn how to knit or crochet – many men do it! I do knit a bit, nothing overly fancy and I do needlepoint, as long as there is a pattern on the canvas. I do photography and cooking (used to make birthday cakes) and try to keep bettering my writing 🙂

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    1. I enjoy photography too. I just find it interesting how others are creative in their own lives, how it comes to bear. By the way, birthday cakes? Are we going to see you on one of those baking shows like Cupcake Wars, The Great British Bake Off???? Awesome!

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      1. Oh, I did birthday cakes for a good twenty years! I don’t have any orders anymore (nor do I advertise, to be honest). And no, they were not quite that elaborate!! Mind you, for my son’s birthday last Easter, I made him a Eldon Ring themed cake. Forgot how much work it was!!

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  4. I took private art classes in the fourth grade. I’m not sure any of my art survived. Since then I’ve taken a few classes here and there, usually involving wine and friends. Maybe some day, I’ll try harder.

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    1. If you love it, then find a way to get back to it. I used to love to draw. I was never any good at it, but I took a drawing class for an art credit in college. Unfortunately, I had a really bad teacher who killed any love of drawing. I love writing. If I didn’t have it, then I would probably make my way back to drawing at some point. Ha, ha.

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  5. We all have gifts that we aren’t even aware of. I love doing art. I enjoy performing and writing. I feel that I’m a good encourager. I used to sew like the wind when I had my children’s theatre company. Right now, God is using me as a caregiver.

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  6. I love the way you tell stories, Brian. A weaving of a different sort but one that knits us together! And that scarf is beautiful! ❤ ❤ ❤

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    1. Ohh, I didn’t think of that, I’m a weaver. Ha, ha. Writing brings me fun. I’ll keep doing it as long as I still have fun doing it. And yes, I was pretty happy to get the scarf as a Christmas present. Loved it this winter.

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  7. I wish, wish, wish I knew how to knit or crochet. I’ve tried, but I’m a slouch. But ya know what? Sister Lisa, in her call last night, reminded me that she got the handcrafting genes in the family. Lisa’s a pro at simple crocheting if she puts her mind to it and just bought a new hook and some yarn to start a project. I’m with you – I’ll be an appreciator…especially of those old lacey doilies that my mom-in-law called antimacassars. There’s a word you don’t hear every day! 😜

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  8. That does look like a warm scarf. The Amish definitely have a knack for making things with their hands. Such beautiful quilts and woodwork that they do.
    My sisters and mom are good at sewing, crocheting, painting, but not me! Like you, my creativity is with my words and stories. I am thankful for that gift. We are all different. 🙂

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  9. Great question, Brian! Currently, I macrame. But I’d craft all day if I could. I’d have a barn-like space where I could create and I’d be out there all day… but the other side of my brain is currently responsible for paying the bills and I don’t have much time for that kind of creativity. I keep saying “one day”. My husband recently expressed interest in signing us up for a class to learn how to make woodwork with the resin “river” or “ocean” running through. Now that would be amazing!!! It could be something we could do together after work and on weekends. We’d have to start small though… we don’t have that barn yet. lol!

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  10. I’ve been knitting for (gulp) 45 years. I still love it. Earlier on I knit much more complex patterns, and I still have some of those sweaters. I also used to design sweaters, slippers, blankets and sold some of those patterns. I also write–but you know that. That’s what blogging is all about 😊

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  11. Beautiful scarf. You have lots of talent and creativity in your family. I promised my kids t-shirt quilts when they went to college made from all their favorite shirts from swim meets and their team throughout the years. My son reminded me a few weeks before he went to college that I needed to get started. I don’t know how to sew! I watched a youtube on t-shirt quilts, went to Walmart and bought a sewing machine, fabric, thread and all the supplies. Needless to say, I kept on quilting with my daughter and her quilt turned out much better when she left for college three years later 😂

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  12. I’m a woodworker, scroll sawer, marquertarain, quilter, irrigation plumber, trench digger and I’m really creative when breaking up concrete with a sledgehammer …

    and I write and I’m a poetry. and sometimes a video editor.

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  13. What a beautiful scarf. My grandmother used to knit and cross stitch. I tried my hand at both of those things without much success. I just didn’t have the patience when I was younger. I still have some of the stuff she made though, which is a lovely way to remember her.

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  14. I’ll bet she wasn’t crotchety when she crocheted! I used to do a lot of it, and any other handwork I could learn–knitting, even tatting, quilting (all by hand, since that’s the fun part), sewing, counted cross-stitch. But I developed carpal tunnel syndrome. I’ve had the release surgeries but I’ve only been able to make a quilt for our only granddaughter and rehem stuff. (Some of my crocheted afghans now live with refugee families here in town.)

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    1. Crotchety? Hmmm, depends on who we’re talking about. My daughter, no way. My mother and wife, hmm, probably wise of me to plead the fifth. Ha, ha, no, no, I’m just kidding. Very grateful for the scarf and other things that they’ve made!!!

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  15. Beautiful scarf and I bet even more beautiful through your eyes as it was handmade by your daughter.

    It’s really nice to be creative with your hands! I too don’t have those skills but it’s nice to see others create awesome things with their hands!

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  16. Oh wow Brian, my mother was a crocheting fiend! 🧶 There was yarn everywhere, but I have some of her afghans and one of her poodles she would crochet for people who wanted to hide/camouflage their liquor bottles back in the day when I was growing up. 🍾 I know how to crochet, but I haven’t done it in years. I wish I had some of my mother’s doilies because it would freak me out how she went from crocheting with a tiny needle with literally thread-like yarn to regular spun yarn. She was a whiz with home economics. Also, working with your hands helps the heart too. So, I guess I will start back to crocheting something, but I could never perfect those stitches like my mom. I wrote about it a couple of years ago and you can see a smidgen of her work I have here – https://frombehindthepen.wordpress.com/2021/09/07/family-heirlooms/

    But my friend, we have the right to write! I loved your story my dear Brian. 😍💖🥰

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  17. Amazing blog post Brian. I believe I am a very creative man when it comes to creating blog posts, making great sense of humor or jokes on Facebook to ensure the readers lighten up and smile a bit😂

    Anyone can be creative. Writing is a form one can express his or her creativity. Being a chef or being creative when dishing up food is also one way and even other platforms such as creating music, designs or logos. It all begins with brainstorming💯🙌

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  18. You create stories and you create amazing ones.

    I’ve always known how to knit and crochet but I have never successfully finished anything.
    I stopped making a sweater just after I finished the front. It was too much work.
    I started a blanket for my unborn child but abandoned it somewhere along the way when I had a miscarriage.
    Last year I started to crochet a shawl. I “paused” several months ago.
    I wonder what it would take to actually finish crocheting something.

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  19. We just hung up a framed, crocheted Christmas Snoopy my mother gave us years ago, which we used to just take out at the holidays. It’s so well done it needed to be displayed every day, and it is a tribute to mom’s creative skills…of which I inherited none. 🙂

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  20. I use words to create also, both stories and poetry. And I paint.
    But in my younger days, I learned all kinds of crafts, which have long since fallen by the wayside. Words and painting are my happy places now.

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