Hello everyone I’ve been loving my time recently. I’ve had a real mix of days with some spent busily crafting and crocheting, whereas with other days I’ve been on the phone to colleges persuading them and promoting crochet. As a result I’m happy to report I have had a few small successes. There have been a few failures, yes there are always those who don’t agree, understand or just haven’t seen life like we have and don’t think about ancient arts like crochet and how beneficial they can be.  I’ve put together a list of my current and upcoming courses at the end of the blog if you are interested! 
Another amazing thing happened too… I had my FIRST market! See photos below:

It was an amazing experience with so much to learn for me. From the thrill of making my first sale… to the disappointment when people eye over my handiwork and then suggest I take a few dollars less for it. I don’t know if you have felt this way, but I was very irritated. I mean how much can you discount a $10 item? I can offer to take $2 or $3 off but it makes me feel like I’ve demeaned my self and my work. I guess that was the lesson for me, I learnt a few new things. Don’t know if I’ll go rushing into doing another market, but I did enjoy the music, the appreciative comments about my work and the social interaction. 

On another note, I’ve taken another leap of faith and decided to host my own course. It will be all about granny square and I’m so excited! I’m busily crafting my ideas into projects for the course… god willing I will have my enrolments and it will all go ahead! I give thanks in my quiet moments of gratitude. 

Here is a list of my courses should you be interested! 
https://www.sydneycommunitycollege.edu.au/course/ARHC20

https://www.macquarie.nsw.edu.au/tutor/2037

http://edocs.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/DocumentViewer.ashx?dsi=4352470
Thank you for reading and I hope you’ve had a lovely crafty and rewarding time too! 

Payal 

Mymindfullcraft@gmail.com

The thing about us people… we all, at some time or the other, forget to stop and smell the flowers. We keep wanting to achieve more, fight harder, get up there and forget that it’s not about getting to the top, it’s about the journey. 

Today Hillary Clinton lost gracefully and she truly knew how to make an exit. Watching her speak in the concession speech, made me feel inspired but also realise why we do what we do. She said “Fighting for what’s right is worth it” and the she goes on to make a touching point about moving on, looking to the future and respecting the decision that Trump is the next president. I was still dazed at the result of the US election this point but then in Obamas first address today, he made an amazing point: “And then if we lose we learn from our mistakes, we do some reflection, we lick our wounds, we brush ourselves off, we get back in the arena, we go at it, we try even harder the next time.”

I wanted to share this with you. These words mean a lot to me, maybe because I feel they teach you how to lose. Winners are always there in the media, thrust in our faces, big smiling champions who become inspirational to young and old. But who ever looks back at the runner up, the consolation prize winner? In my view these people are equally inspirational, in fact more so as they teach you how to deal with the setbacks and look at the future for the sake of the big picture. 
I know this is a non-crochet blog, but I wanted to write this down. More to remind me and maybe my kids one day, the value of being a loser and then getting up again. It happens more than once and we all need something inspirational to turn to. 
Hope you are all having fun, being happy and crocheting up a storm.
Love 

Payal 😘