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Health, Healing, and Handmade Joy: Living With Dizziness While Creating Crochet and Gratitude Art

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Crochet, Sketchual Healing, and Trying To Survive A “Floating” Sensation feature image

I think I have been working on the same purse crochet project forever. I’m finally near the finish line, and I couldn’t wait to show everyone. I’m really proud of what I have made for multiple reasons:

  1. This is my first purse.
  2. I did not use a pattern.
  3. Just because I always feel pride when I make something useful.

📍Jump To “The Ultimate Crochet Goal? Feeding My Purse Obsession.”


I’ve even turned my Sketchual Healing feature into a multifaceted tool! Not only is it a mindful practice, but it also allows me to turn my gratitude into art.

It is a great way for me to reflect on my gratitude while I am mindful in the presentation.

Double duty self-care anyone?!

📍Jump To “Self-Care on Steroids: Sketchual Gratitude Healing? Yes, Please!”


For the last two days, I have been living with a weird lightheaded sensation with tingling/numbness involved. It seems to intensify based on movement or position.

It is very unpleasant.

📍Jump To “That Moment When Existing Creates “Cloud 9″ Sensations.”


The Ultimate Crochet Goal? Feeding My Purse Obsession.


🃏What do you get when I walk into a thrift store?

An Angela who is now walking out with a collection of 2-5 purses that match a style I love, but am unlikely to use.

I am obsessed with purses and this is the first time I was able to combine that obsession with my love of crochet.

I love how well I did! This is despite having zero bag-making experience. I also love my yarn choice and the stitch. It looks wonderful, in my generous opinion.

I did learn something during this experience, though:

I learned to consider the weight of a full bag a little more closely. It is dire when designing a backpack strap and attachment.

I am currently working on a strap that should be strong enough to handle being carried over a shoulder. I’m trying to make a shorter strap, but I want it to carry like a messenger bag.

I’m not sure whether to detach the backpack straps right now. What do you think?


Should I remove the straps or leave them?
(Select An Option To Vote)

🗨️ Have any of you made any fun fiber creations lately? Would you ever whip together a purse with no experience or pattern? Let me know in the comments!


Self-Care on Steroids: Sketchual Gratitude Healing? Yes, Please!


I am grateful for the opportunity to express myself Sketchual Healing Line Art
“I am grateful for the opportunity to express myself.”

When I decide to sit down and work on some form of line art, zentangle, or gratitude, I’ve been combining mediums.

Why?

I love finding gratitude in each day.

My days are not always easy. They are not always perfect. I live with brain fog regularly. My vision likes to blur. Sometimes I have gray outs in my vision when bending or walking.

Some days I may feel like a floating being on earth. More about that shortly.

However, I love to stop and smell the gratitude. It feels good to acknowledge what is right in my life.

The moment I start reflecting on what is wrong? It is the same moment I fall into a hole where I ruminate with my depression.

🗨️Do you have to intentionally focus on the light beyond the storm, too? What are some of the things you find gratitude in to avoid that overwhelming sense of emptiness? Let me know in the comments below. You’re never alone. ♡

I’d prefer not to ruminate. However, if I am struggling enough to wish for a moment of Sketchual Healing, I’m also finding it is when I need gratitude the most.

That is how I combined artistic mediums into something simple, expressive, and fully mine.

The Complete Pattern Directory
The Complete Pattern Directory by Elizabeth Wilhide

I bought this on Amazon, and it arrived on Saturday. I am obsessed with this artistic weapon in disguise!

💡My postal worker felt the need to leave this in the garage rather than on our porch. I walk with a cane. Imagine that experience, as I had to go down a flight of steps to grab the package and heave that sucker back up them.

This book and I will never travel far on foot again. It has become a permanent landmark in my office.

I love that it is an artistic catalog, beyond being inspirational. I can look at a whole host of pattern styles and eras, then turn around and use the inspiration in my own sketchual line art or zentangles!

I am having a lot of fun with it, though. It brings me a little bit of joy and intention. I think I may start using some of my practice art as my post feature images in the future. That is certainly more fun than stock photos. What do you think?


Should My “Sketchual” Art Become The Feature Image On Future Posts?
(Select An Option To Vote)

It would be much prettier than my Canva-edited image features, like the one I used today. No, I am not afraid to call myself out!

This is an affiliate link, a no-cost-to-you feature that helps pay my bills
🛍️Be inspired by minimalist line art, too! DrawberxDesigns on Etsy offers their own digital download of many inspiring line art patterns that you can draw from, too! Pun intended.


That Moment When Existing Creates “Cloud 9” sensations.


Today is day two of feeling super lightheaded, with movement-induced tingling/numbing sensations.

I feel this is not a good thing.

Now, I have been living with a wide array of symptoms for different reasons. Some we figure out, some we don’t. I’m still trying to decide whether anything connects or not.

However, I am going to take a moment to just say:

It really sucks to never know when a warning is a warning or a simple symptom I am just going to live with.

I don’t understand what connects where or how. I hate not knowing.

Generally, I educate the crud out of myself. It gives a sense of control when things are uncontrollable.

This two-day experience is frustrating.

⏱️Case in point: I have been working on just writing this post for two hours. That is going from the title to this point. Not even the full completion of this post. I just feel too flighty and light.

A simple motion sets off a sensory array I hate feeling. I’m feeling overwhelmed easily, and my attention span is shot.

Not only are the sensations weird and intense, but I feel at a loss. Who can you really discuss these things with? Who would understand?

How many people really walk around feeling like a human bobblehead?

🗨️If you’re a wellness warrior fighting chronic or invisible illnesses, sound off. How do you manage your experiences and coinciding emotions? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss this travesty to existence with me! I won’t lie, it does feel lonely to me.

All I am saying is this:

I think I should have gone into medicine just so I could understand my suffering, not just live with it.

Don’t come at me on that one, though. I really am not made for medical education. I am okay with business, really! 😅


Let’s Burrito This Thing…


I hope you like the post layout change I made. I find that my thoughts vary too wildly for most people to follow along.

I’ve been using headers to create a clear divide between topics. I thought I would give my concept that extra sparkle by using jump links, too. I hope it helps you find the topics I covered today more easily, especially if you’re less interested in other forms of content.

I really want to optimize readability for all. Just because I live it does not mean it is your cup of tea. I hope this helps you find what resonates with you the most.

Have a great evening, everyone!

About the post creation time mentioned earlier, I am publishing this post at the 2.5-hour mark.


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