The Relapse

Any of you who have liked my Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/marybrodieknits 

will know that my decision to release the pressure from my hobby lasted all of 24 hours. 

On the afternoon of the day I started back at school I took an entirely unplanned and unscheduled trip to a fairly new gift shop in town, Crafty Mums:

http://www.crafty-mums.co.uk/ 

There had been rumours that this was a shop which sold only locally handmade goods. 
Deep down I knew that my resolve could be compromised.
I knew I should turn on my heel and flee. 
Flee, I did not.

Within seven minutes I had agreed to apply for a shelf in the shop and that I would have stock ready by the following thursday.  

Oops.

That evening, whilst starting small fires with the sheer speed of my knitting needles, I admitted my relapse to the knitting group. My confession was met with silence, a cry of dismay, tentative encouragement and an onslaught of questions:

- How much will it cost me?
- How will I afford it?
- What will I make?
- How will I cope?!?

"I don't know..." Came my quiet response, beads of perspiration gathering under my sticky fringe. 

The gentle yet persistent clacker of their spinning wheels seemed to turn eery, almost sinister as panic settled over me. My fellow knitters peered across the cramped living room at me from behind fluffs of fleece, half-knitted yokes, niddy noddies, genuine concern stretched across their faces. I swallowed down a stubborn lump in my throat, presented with the friendships that had grown, stitch upon stitch, almost unnoticed until now. 

Aunty A and Aunty K's reactions, on the other hand, were of the "Lizzy, you're nuts." variety. Having said that, they seemed to have no doubt I could manage this over-ambitious task and were soon on board offering many a brilliant suggestion. 

Two weeks on, with little sleep and Repetitive Strain Injury in both hands, I have my shelf, it is fairly full and I am very proud of it.

N.B:

Going forward, I am going to be posting short, regular blog entries, with a longer essay here and there, so I can keep you updated in this busy time without getting too snowed under. I hope that's ok!