my creative space - at the courtyard

The Courtyard in Jeddah that is! Ogling at the trocheted products that have come together and are on display for all to see!

Yes, I have more photos but I don't want to spoil it too much for anyone who's planning to visit this week! But tell me something, do YOU expect trocheted projects to be priced in line with their fabric/stitched counterparts? Does the fact that it's not only the purchase of a product but the support of women in a society, the support of handmade goods, along with the recycling of waste plastic, affect your decision? Do share your views!  

And in case you haven't seen the videos yet, here they are again!

Collecting the bags ...



... and what happens next ...




A BIG shout out to Kathryn of Crochet Concupiscence, for always showing support for the project! Thank you!!!

More creative spaces here!

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trochet news

Do you know the feeling when you see someone you used to baby sit years ago? You watched them as a kid and perhaps read stories to them. You played games with them and took them to the park. You had a role in nurturing their early days, albeit a small one. And then you see them a few years later, growing up, developing their own unique character, a little attitude, maybe. Do they even remember you? Probably not.  The trochet project is a bit like that. It started off as a "crazy" idea, I babysat parts of it, it's still early days but it's definitely growing up! 

• One of this region's top photographers, Mokhtar Chahine, has come on board and taken shots of some of the trocheted products.

• Diana has been interviewed on Rotana, where she describes how it all started and what it's all about (in Arabic).

• Recycling bins have been placed in different parts of Jeddah, aiming to collect 40,000 plastic bags! Check out the plastic bag counter!

• Trocheted items are being exhibited at The Courtyard (Khalidiyyah, on the corner of Rawdah Street and Prince Sultan Street) starting TODAY and running through to the end of next week! It's a lovely, little exhibit. Photos coming soon!!!

• UPDATED TO ADD: Have a look at the latest video!!! I LOVE it! And yes, that's our big, blue beanbag collecting the bags!

As I said, it's early days still, but I can see that this was an idea that someone had, just like ideas that you and I have, more often than we realise. She then went out and did whatever she needed to, to make it happen. Some people were brave enough to support and encourage the project. But she was determined and passionate about it anyway and even when things were rough, she didn't stay down too long, dusted herself off and carried on again ma sha Allah. And it doesn't stop there. Go ahead and like the trochet facebook page and follow along on twitter. Stay in touch, get involved and see what happens next. AND let's not allow negativity, both in ourselves and others, to snuff out our creative ideas! OK?

   

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my creative space - cravings

This week there has been more unconventional crochet and unconventional filling of said unconventional crochet. The plastic to fill the bean bags came from various sources (ie. construction sites and companies with plastic packaging to dispose of).

There were nine women involved in the birth of these babies! They were HUGE, H.E.A.V.Y. and 100% plastic!!!

As amazing as it is to be involved in the trochet project (a project that aims to give financial aid to needy women by recognising some of their creative talents), this weekend, comfort crochet was in order. The mindless, mindful kind (because yarn crafts can never really be mindless!), the kind that has you appreciating the feel of yarn fibres, the kind that calls for colour play and the kind that's easier on the wrists. Our household is trying to get used to schooling and working outside of the home, we're trying to ease in to it, and we share our woes about missing being at home more, surprisingly. At times like this, I find crafting especially therapeutic and I crave it!

I'm working my way through some serious de-stashing, while rushing to finish an online course (yes, not quite as relaxing as I'd hoped).

I'm working my way through some long-term wips. Details coming soon in sha Allah.

Check out more creative spaces here!

Check out #reverb12 too!

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my creative space - a trochet beanbag!

Plastic bags were collected.

They were cut in to strips and wound up. That's quite a challenge when you have more than a thousand to do!

Crocheters willing to crochet with plarn were found. Another challenge!

Getting them to produce the required design can also be a bit hit and miss.

But yesterday, I finished seaming up some beautiful, blue crocheted panels made by two of the trocheters.*

Diana and I filled it with recycled plastic that she had scavenged from wherever she could.

Lots of lovely blue.

And we have our first trochet bean bag!

It's a whopper of a baby weighing in at just under 20 kg!

Can you believe that it's 100% plastic? From inside and out!

With all it's ups and downs, and a promise of more ups and downs, it's pretty exciting!

Needless to say, there are great factors in play too: Experiencing happiness in helping others

Heather from across the globe has already said she and her mother would like to help by crocheting!  You bloggers and readers are amazing! Thank you!  Do continue to get in touch if you'd like to get involved! 

*trochet = trash + crochet :)

More creative spaces here.

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my creative space - finding ...

... that crocheting with plastic is FULL of challenges but it's growing on me!

... that it's great to do something different on the weekend

... that I don't always appreciate the nature of glowing, pre-dusk sunlight, even if it is in amongst the concrete

... some tiled patterns on a walk

... that I don't miss this kind of thing as much as I thought I would

... that even after shopping for that dress, I keep having the urge to take pictures of dresses. Is my subconscience telling me something?

... a nice day bed, not buying it, just admiring it

... that after 14 years of marriage, I didn't know that my husband once had a summer job carving traditional, wooden furniture and that his mother used to make her own looms, all by herself and weave mats, some of which were made out of recycled plastic bags ... YES, she was in the game well before us trocheters! 

... that it's been raining today!

... that Palestine is in the thoughts and prayers of many

And here my other new and not so new "finds":

a shop full of handcrafted items, where they have done new things with traditional Arabic accessories (yes, those wrap-around trousers)

and they have this great gift idea of a recipe and spice mix (this is one is for Kablie Rice)

and everything is made by needy women!


a creative mint - beautiful, creative blog

annie's place - and another one!

alternating cast-on for ultimate stretch - a knitting tutorial I'd like to try!

a great way to use up those awful adhesive book covers that I didn't have to use this year because our paperwork hasn't come through and so we decided to homeschool the kids full time!

thought walking - a great way to solve problems (article)

My contributions to #amonthof #mycreativespace can be found on instagram! I'm Fruitful Fusion .... what else? Look me up! 

And more creative spaces here!

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5. happy

That last post was a bit sneaky right? But, the fact of the matter is that although I love creating things with my hands, lately those "hands of time" have been dictating what I can and can't do. 

And yes, yesterday was day 5 of #amonthof #mycreativespace but some days are such that you have to go looking for the "happy" in it. You know, like when your legs are aching from a workout and you can't walk straight. One can be a grouch about it or one can feel happy that they can feel their legs and feel the affect of their hard work! This made me realise that blogging when you feel happy is so much easier than looking for that happy whether you're feeling it or not. Yes, I know that last sentence isn't grammatically correct! 

So even when there are reasons not to be happy, there are always reasons to BE happy. 

I've been unhappy about missing my family and a wonderful family wedding. But I was happy to cook and eat a lamb and pineapple curry that my Dad used to make and healthy coconut balls (by chance) that reminded me of my grandmother.

I've been unhappy about not finishing some works-in-progress. But I'm happy to have spent some time on this

and finishing this

This beanbag was made with a lot of help from one of our Trochet ladies. She made up two panels and I made the third and put it together. 

Speaking of Trochet, we had a lovely introductory session yesterday. It was a small gathering but lots of brainstorming occurred and that was the main purpose of getting together. It's quite challenging to get something like this off the ground in a city like Jeddah, which is not so tuned in to recycling, but every little helps. Knowing that it will help a huge community of people that need financial assistance, keeps us going. Meeting new minds and laughing with new souls, is something to be happy about too!  

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1. a creative space ...

... can be anywhere! Mine is usually a disorganised, scatter of things and floats around from place to place. I work wherever I can and most importantly, where I feel comfortable. My "stuff" can stay on the dining table for days! Thank you family, being so understanding about that.

Sometimes I get creative in the kitchen, sometimes on my walks around town, sometimes with creative folk at a coffee shop! Speaking of which, I had the pleasure of getting together with Diana and having questions thrown at us being interviewed about Trochet, by the lovely Anosha, one of the writers at Jeddah Blog! I would love to have an organised studio like this. But until then, wherever and whenever will have to do. I say this while I sit amongst cardboard boxes of our belongings waiting to be carted off to another continent, in sha Allah.

Oh yes, I'm going to try and join in with a month of my creative spaces and today is day one! It may or may not go according to plan, but that's okay!

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my creative space - trying

Yes, I couldn't keep up with blogtoberfest. But it's ok. I tried. I enjoyed. I learnt.

This week, while I was knitting an amari shawl I ran out of yarn! What's new, eh? I don't want to go and get some more. And it breaks my heart to frog it ...

... but I started another one anyway! I have missed leisurely crochet, but since my crochet and plastic escapades began, I've turned to knitting for comfort crafting!

Of course there is more plastic on the scene as we have a few other ideas coming along!

My head has been occupied with a lot lately, so I've been taking pleasure from the simple things in my life that can often get overlooked.

Yes, the first Marks and Spencers food hall I've seen in Jeddah. It's teeny but it's there!

Window shopping with my family.

Letting the girls take over the kitchen. 

Going for walks. 

Today I stepped out with my 9 year old son. It was one-to-one time and much needed. With four children and now homeschooling them, they tend to get lumped together all too often. 

I loved that we could talk about Hajj, as today is a special day, being the main day of Hajj, when pilgrims gather in Arafah, near Makkah. 

I loved that he could talk my ear off about football and I have to catch myself when I've said "hmm" too often and actually engage with him on his favourite topic. 

I savour these moments with each of my children ma sha Allah.

While my energy levels are a bit low, all manners of zestiness are at a trough too, today is a special day for us of reflection, fasting, supplication, worship, charity, goodness, preparations for a simple meal today and celebration of 'Eid al Adha, stemming from the traditions of Prophet Abraham (Ibraheem 'alayhis salaam) tomorrow.

I wish you all well and Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid).

Check out more creative spaces here and #amonthof #mycreativespace! Will I or won't I? 

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