We’re all tucked away in our homes, doing what we can to stay safe and stay sane. So when you’re not schooling your children, cooking endless meals and snacks or doing the repetitive household chores, what is it that you’re doing?
Kay shared with us her latest projects. Tea cozies were in discussion at our last face-to-face gathering at the hall and she’s made this beautiful, blue one with a cute pom-pom on top. I love it. Knitted?
She’s also made this lovely blue blanket. Crochet?
Thank you for sharing your finished work. It’s one of the things we enjoy doing each week when we catch up. Although not all our projects are this nice. This was my attempt at a teapot cozy. I like the colours and the flowers but the stitch in the pattern has lots of spaces that allows the tea to cool. Maybe I’ll try a different pattern.
Use your favourite table cloth and tea set to make your break feel even more special.
TAKE BREAKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Make sure you plan some break time in your lockdown routine. Set your alarm or time yourself for each activity you do. Give yourself a time limit to cleaning the house each day, home schooling (or directed learning activities) for your children. Use your break time to stretch, enjoy a cup of tea, another chapter of your book, or give your dog/ cat a cuddle. Taking breaks throughout your day can boost your creativity and passion, refresh your attention span and concentration, and keep your eyes happy and healthy. Try not to spend all your day on the computer, phone or TV.
Be wary of heading to the pantry or refrigerator too often during your break. Too many breaks that include too many snacks could result in too many extra kilos!
2. KEEP A REGULAR BEDTIME AND WAKE UP ROUTINE
In the age of Netflix, Stan, Binge, etc, there’s no need to stay up late to watch your favourite shows. Even if you have to wait until the children have gone to bed to watch something not suitable for them, the next episode will still be there tomorrow night. Binging shows is easy but not good for you. Plus, it’s so upsetting when you’ve finally seen every episode and become lost for what to watch next. While we are in lockdown, make a routine that fits into your ‘normal’ routine so when lockdown is over, the transition will be easier.
Set your morning alarm and make a plan for your day just as you would any other weekday. Get up, get dressed, do your hair and make up (if this is normal for you). Be your best self, even if no one but your children and dog will see you.
3. MOVE YOUR BODY
I know, we get told this all the time, but mostly to make sure we look after our bodies. During lockdown, going for a walk or a bike ride is one of the little luxuries we have and can be good for our minds as well. We are very lucky to be living in the Hunter Valley, where we can go for a walk without being crowded on the footpath, but at the same time pass friendly people who say, “Good morning/afternoon” or pass neighbours that we don’t often see when we’re living our busy lives. Take the time to hear and see the birds around you. There are lots of corellas, black cockatoos, kookaburras and rosellas around. Make up different routes and checkout the houses or greenspaces around you. Is someone renovating? Walking past the same houses sometimes can mean watching the progress of someone’s new fence, new pool, or even the flowers in their garden that are starting to bloom.
4. STAY CONNECTED
For those who have fully embraced technology this can be easy. While mostly, I mean the generations who were born since the 1990’s, others may need help to access video conferencing technology like facetime, messenger, zoom, snapchat. A family zoom gathering may take some time to get everyone on, but well worth it.
Videos and photos of grandchildren just doing their normal thing at home can seem boring to parents but mean the world to grandparents who miss seeing them.
If the technology just isn’t happening for you (although you’ve managed to read this blog!), there’s always the phone and the post. Ring someone to check how they’re going. Post some photos or children’s artwork in the mail. Do what you can to stay connected with friends and family. It will help you and may help them as well.
5. TAKE SOME ‘ME’ AND/OR ‘WE’ TIME
Develop a new skin care regime, give yourself a home manicure, enjoy a bubble bath with or without wine), try out a new recipe, learn a new skill or craft, buy yourself a small treat like fresh flowers, a nice candle, a magazine, do a jigsaw puzzle, play a game of Scrabble or Monopoly with your partner, have that candlelit lunch/dinner.
“Self-care is not an indulgence, it is self-preservation” Audre Lorde
6. BE GRATEFUL
Now is the perfect time to start a gratitude journal. It’s an opportunity to think of all the positives about our lives instead of focusing on the negatives. We still live in the “Lucky Country” despite sometimes feeling overly controlled. I wouldn’t like to be in Afghanistan at the moment or in a third world country that has no medical support for people with COVID. If you have a roof over your head, food in your kitchen, the support of friends and family, then you have something to be grateful for.
If you have some other ideas that support wellbeing, please leave a comment.
Did you know that crocheting can actually be good for your wellbeing?
It’s true.
A research project at the University of Wollongong found that crocheting can reduce stress and have a positive effect on your mental wellbeing.
Most of the people who responded to their survey were women, with close to half of them being between the ages of 41 to 60.
So if you find yourself needing something different to do during the COVID lockdown, or need a mental break from home schooling or working at home, pick up a hook and some yarn, and crochet your way back to health and wellbeing.
Ref: Perspectives in Public Health, April 2020, Pippa Burns, University of Wollongong
We recently had a request for a tea cosy which brought up lots of discussions about traditional household items and crafts coming back into fashion, particularly when we are spending more time at home and trying to be more environmentally friendly.
One question that came up was, “Are tea cosies back in style?”
If so, what colours and styles? Show us a photo of your tea cosy.
We are still meeting every Thursday (except school holidays) from 9:30am onward. We have re-introduced the wearing of masks while inside the hall and continue to sign in using the QR code and clean our hands with sanitiser.
Susan being Covid safe
Come and join us for whether you’re an experienced crafter or a beginner. Bring your current project, your mask, your cuppa and morning tea. We are currently not food sharing to avoid any cross contamination as per covid safety plan.
We are so excited to be having our very own market day. We have held two stalls at local markets and are ready to ‘give it a go!’
Branxton Lions Club are cooking the BBQ, while coffee and other hot beverages can be purchased from Hunter Valley Roadside Diner.
We will be selling lots of handmade items, made by our expert crafters. We are raising money to build a ramp that will enable access to the hall for everyone.
Please join us on Saturday 19 June 2021 at the Branxton Uniting Church Hall and grounds from 9am to 1pm.
Modelling our new crochet head bands or ear warmers we’ll be selling at our Market Day.
We’ve been busy learning new skills like reading crochet patterns, finishing of some unfinished projects found around the house and problem solving some issues like, “How do you keep Covid from spreading into rural areas like Branxton?”
We have our Market Day approaching soon and have a few different products we’ve been making, along with plants and some home baked goods.
We are a social group of women who gather each week to share, create and learn skills and crafts. We currently have people with crochet, sewing, knitting and gardening skills.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
There is no cost to attend our meetings.
WHERE DOES THE FUNDRAISING MONEY GO?
The money we raise from selling some of our handmade items go back into the group. To date, we have upgraded the toilets, purchased cleaning equipment and consumables, first aid kit, gardening supplies and advertising posters, cards, etc.
DO I NEED TO COME EVERY WEEK?
NO, we have people who attend once a fortnight, a month or whenever they have the time. There is no commitment.
WILL I BE COVID SAFE?
We have a QR code for you to sign in with and hand santitizer to clean your hands before and after attending. We also practice social distancing.
AM I TOO YOUNG TO ATTEND?
We have all ages of women attending, many mothers and grandmothers. Babies and toddlers are welcome too. We value to broad range of experiences that everyone brings to the conversation.
CAN I JUST TURN UP?
Yes. We have two rooms to use in the Uniting Church Hall that allow us to socially distance.
There are only three sleeps before the Huntlee Mums Easter Market. We are looking forward to seeing lots of people come out for the morning and support all the community groups involved in the day. We’ve been busy preparing quality handcrafted goods to sell and decorating our table to get into the swing of Easter. Some things you may have seen before at the Twilight Markets but we also have some new and interesting items. We take cash or card.
This Sunday, 9:30am to 1:30pm at 1 Triton St, North Rothbury. See you there!
A little sneak preview of our crochet Easter Baskets.
We have lots of Women Shed members who have great skills and talents, but you really need to see the work of Kim Lundy. She finished her charcoal kookaburra this morning and wow! It’s amazing! Is it any wonder she’s having her own Solo Art Exhibition at The Hunter Artisan Gallery and Cafe in East Maitland from 8 – 25 April.
