Post 40: 2024

 2024 here we are, ready or not.  It's well after midnight now in my time zone and the house is winding down after channel jumping for the past few hours to find entertainment that wasn't cringeworthy or ultimately annoying gibberish.  I sometimes catch myself in these situations and wonder when it was that I finally took that last step to having the mindset of "being old now," but I feel it was sometime after my second marriage...sometime after watching my step son grow into a young man with his own life goals...and sometime after the long road to becoming a foster parent, staying married, managing a caseload as a QIDP, and not losing my ever loving, disorganized mind :) I joke lightheartedly, because becoming a foster parent has filled my heart with love in a way that has healed my soul, but it's also a very active process to not only parent, but to help guide a child through a path that hasn't always been easy.  It all happened very quickly and with a few blinks of my eyes and a pair of eyeglasses later, "life" was happening instead of being some ultimate plan for the "someday."  I'm not naive enough to believe that it hasn't been happening all along, but it's less haphazard and I'm flying blindly into the wind a little less often.  Remember, it's probably the glasses..

As with my job, there is much confidentiality in foster parenting, so I will not get into the details in any form.  I will say that it takes a lot of effort, planning and commitment between two partners to work through different parenting styles, philosophies, and ideaologies.  It takes continued education and training.  It takes a lot of work to focus on solutions instead of being the one who is "right."  Give up on being "right" because there is no one "right" way to anything, even if you are the most stubborn person in the world.  Being on the other side of what I would consider a mountain of work committing to the long-term learning and "rededication" as I've termed it, and getting through some of the rougher moments that really tested our marriage, it's easier to discuss the importance of counseling and self-care.  

Most people I know balk at the idea of these terms and their concepts, but then I also see the same people who say they don't need counseling or don't have time for themselves experiencing extremely high rates of burnout and wearing themselves thin to the point of breaking.  Hell, I have been that very same person for many years in my past.  It wasn't until my mid-thirties that I finally started listening to what people had been saying all along.  I started going to the doctor, making time for things important to me, drinking more water, and saying goodbye to a few friendships that were more like stomping all over me as the proverbial doormat masked as friendship.  So here we are, all participating in some form of counseling to heal our hearts in our independent lives and the lives that we share together.  It hasn't been a perfect road, or even a pretty one, but it's progress and all I ask of myself is to keep trying and doing so with intention to be healthier each day.  Awfully transparent of me to share this here, I know.  If there's something that I am not, it is someone who has a lack of words.

So, what does this all have to do with crochet?  Well my friends, this venture, Salubrious Studios as I name my humble small side hustle of a hobby-turned business-turned hobby at the moment to maybe future business again in a few years--Salubrious Studios has been my outlet to create and express myself in a medium that speaks to my upbringing (my grandmother taught me to crochet, it was something we did weekly each weekend among gardening tasks, gathering eggs, and living connected to country life).  It's a skill I've refined for years and continue to refine. It's stress relief and expression.  It's something that keeps my mind healthy through every storm that I've weathered.  It's now a skill that I've passed on to the kiddo and I've never been prouder to be able to do so.  I've ebbed and flowed with how I'm able to dedicate my time.  I've sold on Etsy under two storefronts, and would make a few hundred a month here and there, but not enough to consider it a steady cash flow.  I don't think I ever was able to fully dedicate myself to a "business status" in my mind, as I never had time to fully dedicate, even though I would say I tried for a few months at a time, but life would get busy in other areas and make it all fairly impossible to progress.  In a few years, when the house becomes an empty nest again, I'll consider giving it a go again.  I truly want to create and sell crochet patterns and reclaim yarn to sell and use.  That's where my heart is in the game of business strategy.

In the meantime, I'll keep up with my Instagram and continue to be inspired by the many talented artists there.  I'll continue working projects for fun and for relatives or friends.  I'll continue trying to use up my stash and donating yarn to those who are learning or otherwise unable to purchase their own.  And even still, will continue making hats for the local shelter in the winter months.  I no longer attend my church group on Thursday nights, but it was a great opportunity to be inspired by creative women who are invested in their faith and nourished my own faith in The Lord.  Since becoming a foster parent, I've been unable to attend as homework assistance has (happily, and with appreciation) taken priority over social groups.

Well, I've rambled enough for a good chunk of time here.  I'm hoping to blog more, as I've purchased a new laptop for myself for the first time in ages.  Anyhow, here's to moving forward in 2024, intentionally and always striving for a healthier, healing life.

Post 39: Peaceful

 Hello all!  

I wanted to give a home to my peace sign applique pattern.  Not only have I been sitting on it for a while since deleting my etsy shop, but I'm ready to share it with the world.  It is of basic construction with guided picture images.  Enjoy!

                                                The Original Salubrious Peace Sign Applique

                                  pattern written and developed by Aimee Menard of Salubrious Studios

By using this pattern, you agree to use this pattern for personal use and not to reproduce or distribute this pattern by any means.  This pattern is the intellectual property of Aimee Menard and Salubrious Studios.  You may direct others to the original source of the pattern if you wish to share the pattern.  If you wish to sell items made with this pattern, you must give credit to the writer of the pattern, and provide a link to the pattern.  I ask this of you, to support me as a person and creator, and encourage you to support other pattern writers and creators.  By respecting one another, we grow a friendlier and more creative community with a foundation of respect and appreciation.  Thank you for your interest in this pattern and I hope you are able to use this pattern to add to your crafty arsenal.  May the techniques in this pattern help you to enhance your crocheted items and creations!

Supplies needed:  

⦁ small amounts (less than 50 yards) of each a primary color (base color) and a secondary color (linework and border)

⦁ Desired size crochet hook size G through K.  I used a J for the white and purple applique, but I typically use a size G or H.  The important part in choosing a hook size for your applique is matching the yarn thickness to the hook--your hook should glide through the stitches comfortably without creating stitches that you feel are too tight or too loose.  

Gauge and Size:

⦁ I do not have a listed gauge for this pattern.  With a size J hook, the applique measures approximately 3 1/2 inches in diameter when finished.

Pattern:

Round One:  With primary color, ch 2.  Stitch 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook.  Do not join, and use a stitch marker to mark the end of each round moving forward.  This helps you to not lose your place as the circle grows. (6 sc)

Round Two:  Stitch 2 sc in each stitch around.  (12 sc)

Round Three:  (1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch) around. (18 sc)

Round Four:  (1 sc in each of next two stitches, 2 sc in next stitch) around.  (24 sc)

Round Five:  (1 sc in each of next three stitches, 2sc in next stitch) around.  (30 sc)

It's kind of looking like a hexagon at this point eh?  NO worries!  Round Six and the border will fix this.

Round Six:  sc in each stitch around, loosely.  This will round out those slight hexagonal edges and create your base circle.  (30 sc).  Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Linework (the fun part):

Join your alternate/secondary color with a slip stitch in any stitch around the border.  We are about to learn how to surface stitch, by surface stitching a slip stitch from edge to edge across the diameter of the circle.  Don't be afraid of surface stitching--it is actually very easy with flatter projects like this one.  If you are uncomfortable, keep practicing to build up your skills.  To surface stitch, you will create the stitches on the top side of your project, and draw the yarn up from underneath the project through the stitching, as shown in the next photo.  By keeping the yarn on the underside of the project like this, you help to eliminate cross overs or mis-stitches. 

Go ahead and stitch all the way across the diameter, slip stitch in the last stitch of the edge on the other side from where you began, and fasten off.  Tie in your ends.  You should see a beautiful straight line across your circle.  Now you will want to mark where you would like the other lines to go.  Place a small strand of alternate color yarn in the fourth border chain from either side of the bottom of the slip stitch line that you just created.  I've included a picture to show what I mean.  

See the purple yarn on either side?  This is where your next line will begin and end.  We will not be working from point to point, but rather will be working from one point, to the middle of the first line that we have made.  

Then surface slip stitch to your second marked point.  Join with a slip stitch into your first point, and surface slip stitch to the middle point of the first line.  Then surface slip stitch down to your second point, on the other side.  Slip stitch in the last border stitch, fasten off, and tie in your ends.

Round Seven:  by using your alternate/secondary color (the one used for the linework), join in a slip stitch in any stitch around the border.  Sc in each stitch around, joining with a slip stitch in the first sc. (30 stitches).

Round Eight (and final round):  slip stitch in each sc around.  This creates a nice finished look, and flat edge to this project.  Join with slip stitch in first slip stitch, fasten off, and tie in your ends.

You are finished!  Enjoy!

This pattern is especially fun as keychains or as an applique for scarves, purses, or blanket motifs.  Use your creativity to enhance your projects with this fun applique.  Consider sharing your creations with me on social media--I'd love to see your finished work!  Thank you!

 

If you wish to follow Salubrious Studios on social media you may find Salubrious Studios in the following places:

Salubrious Studios on Facebook

salubriousstudios.blogspot.com (personal crafty blog)

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SalubriousStudios on Etsy!

Post 38: Socks and a New Year

 I have taken a long absence, and have been wishing to return to sharing my writings here. Much has changed, and much is the same. 

In the crafting space, I have purchased both a 22 pin and a 48 pin circular knitting machine. I've been learning how to create socks and hats (my husband models the neutral socks below, I model the pink striped ones). I've had a love affair with crochet my entire life, so knitting is new. I've also learned to knit stockinette stitch so that has been fun.

More to share next week as I move through the changes of returning. Happy stitches, and blessed days.

Post 37: Winter is Coming

 Hello everyone! Popping in for a late night blog post. The clock reads 12am and the weekday 9 to 5 (er..8-4..) career sneaks up quickly and early in the morning. A few updates:

Recently posted two new reclaimed yarns in the shop, go on and check them out at salubriousstudios.etsy.com

Also made adorable dog sweaters (resized one), for a friend's fur babies. They turned out awesome, just waiting on the pics!

Bought Lindsay Newns book! She's been an inspiration since reopening on etsy, and I've been a big fan-so excited to own her patterns! It is really neat to see how folks across the world crochet with such passion and variety. Her designs speak to me so vividly as a fiber artist and crocheter.

I also am beginning my gift making for the season. I firmly believe in celebrating Autumn, final harvests and Thanksgiving..but the realist in me is frantic about time management :) check out this reversible simple hunting beanie (green yarn reclaimed from a sweater), and the beginning to a beanie that is much more dramatic in 100% wool (teaser pic on the colorful yarn, will share on IG when completed)

I love how Valkyrie is looking up as if waiting for a yarn ball to drop, or a new sitting spot. Little does she know neither will be happening. ❤ 

If you take away anything from reading this post, please take the time to practice gratitude, love your family and friends AND LET THEM KNOW that you love them. Until next time, keep creating!

Post 36: Reframing time. Fall arrives.

 I'm not sure why I always kick things into high gear when the fall season arrives. I seem to take it really easy in the summer months, and maybe it's because the idea of warm cozy yarn on warmer days doesn't sound too appealing. Maybe I spent too much time in the pool and garden. This year though, I spent most of the summer working on the Orchidelirium shawl, designed by Julme of mysquarehat which I posted quite a bit on social media-– primarily Instagram and it is one of the nine projects for the pattern listed on ravelry. It's lacework and construction are absolutely beautiful. 

Now that fall weather is here, I am doing a little bit more crochet work and yarn work. Went to the fiber festival in Marble Hill, Missouri and met greatly skilled fiber artists. Came home with lots of goodies!

I've unraveled some new yarn, but have not gotten them into the shop. I'm working on scrap yarn acrylic scarves for a charity project, and clearing out some older hoarded yarn. 

Every day is a battle between needing calm and relaxation after my day job, and finding time to work on the business. While there were sporadic sales last year and early 2021, sales have tapered without new yarn listings. Projects and PDF patterns were a bust. Forever a struggle, forever never giving up ❤

Post 35: Summertime Catch up

 I've been away from this blog for too long. Let's clear the cobwebs, remove the dust, and do a catch up shall we?

I ambitiously registered Salubrious Studios back in June to make things more legit. I was ready to speed forward, and then things picked up at my full-time career as a QIDP. We began working on a reopening plan for our community day service, and began with a plan to reopen the doors to those we serve. After nearly a year and a half away from CDS, you can imagine the hurdles involved with this. It is still a bumpy road as we are on our third week in, but I am hopeful and so proud to be a part of it all.

Back at home, things have also been busy. Yardwork, gardening, and spending days in the pool leaves very little time for working in the studio. The garden is flourishing though! Up to my neck in tomatoes and peppers! The tomatoes are being left to turn indoors due to the birds..totally homegrown, pesticide free, organic.

I question why I've become so lax in the fiber arts and etsy shop when I am so passionate about yarn and reclaiming. We even took a trip to "the bins" at a Goodwill outlet for some supplies by the pound, which was fun. I prefer donated and damaged sweaters to repurpose, but the reality is that they are hard to come by without thrift shopping for materials..i.e. sweaters to deconstruct for yarn.

I've also made efforts to reduce waste. In addition to reclaimed yarn, it is my intent to sell creations made with the off-cuts of the reclaimed yarn. This is similar to scrap yarn crochet, which lends to great results. Pictured here is a reusable shopping bag to go to the etsy shop once I add a tag.

What do you think of the new tags?

Lots in store for the future, just need to prioritize. Thank you for your support and time. I'll do better :)

Post 34: Prepping for Spring

 With warmer weather, we find ourselves prepping for Spring. Yard clearing, limb cutting, saw cutting...buying, sawing and placing plywood in the attic....deck repairing, seedling starting...the list could go on. It's been a busy month already. While I have been working on orders, I've also taken some time for myself to crochet an unwind. 

Today I started a pair of socks out of reclaimed remnants. It was made of yarn that I reclaimed a few years ago. As I said in an IG post, it was long before I mastered sweater deconstruction so there are little knots all over the place from faulty seams. It's still durable yarn and I hate waste. Since I won't put it in the shop, I figured I would put it to good use :) Here's the pics!

Not too shabby if I do say so myself! I will likely finish the other tomorrow. It's odd how I transition in phases of creativity. One month decor is my only focus. Now I find myself making very traditionally crocheted socks! Maybe it's the stability in life or maybe it's the cold floors, but I'm thankful for these warm house socks.

Other than the socks and working on orders, the rest of my week is filled with work, Netflix and Discovery Plus in the evenings and babysitting on the weekends. I've mentioned my struggles to get pregnant before so I'll withhold the long negative and frustrated feelings that I have on the subject, but will say that babysitting helps fill the void of not having children of my own. Plus it leads to fun art projects like this sponge painting that is now in my kitchen, or painting birdhouses, or my personal favorite lately--going on outdoor adventures in the backyard to find treasure using a treasure map drawn by a 5 year old! We keep finding buried kid toys, dog toys and random objects in the backyard from the previous owners. I'm sure to a child it does feel like finding treasure! Anyhow, here is the sponge paint art. Please enjoy and please take the time to use your imagination this week. Remember that even simple crafting can be fun, and rewarding!

Happy crafting!