Encompassing Designs
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Kits
    • Patterns >
      • Christine Little >
        • Signature Designs
        • New Designs
        • Seasonal Designs
      • Deborah Sweet
      • Susan Leslie
      • Patricia Perry
      • William Morris
    • Supplies >
      • Backings
      • Frames
      • Hooks
      • Books
      • Extra
    • Wool >
      • Abrashed
      • Custom Dyeing
      • Dyed Bundles
      • Dyed Curly Mohair
      • Dyed Spots
      • Dyed Values
      • Dyed Yarn
      • Jacquard Dice Dyes
      • Natural & Colours
      • Plaids & Textures
      • Dye Books & Swatches
  • Ordering
  • Blog
  • Workshops
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us

Is wool an essential?

4/1/2020

7 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
I’ve been thinking about what quantifies as an essential service.  Sure, food is a given and apparently toilet paper fits the bill considering the frantic buyout across North America.  I suppose having to worry about being isolated for months, the thought of running out of bathroom tissue is a bit disconcerting, especially when the leaves aren’t out yet. 

Its easy listing all the main essentials, the items that we need to survive like food, medications, furnace fuel, soap, propane, etc. but what about the needs to nurture our minds?  Isolation can take a toll if we can’t find things to occupy our thoughts and our hands.  Keeping them busy we are less likely to experience cabin fever, a term that originated from the pioneer days when the long winters confined people indoors resulting in irritability, listlessness, and other similar symptoms.  

Crafts have always taken our minds off of our troubles, wiling away hours, dissolving malaise into thin air as we knit, stitch and pull loops.  A quilt, a scarf, a hooked rug, something to show for our time and effort  that might have been wasted on less meaningful things.  
   
During this humanitarian crisis, don’t we need our crafts more than ever? Won’t they save our sanity as we struggle to get used to this new normal?   Some are alone, feeling even more anxiety than those that have family members for company and support but creative people won't be alone, they are so fortunate to have a rich gathering of like minded, social media friends so they can interact and feel connected in this trying time.       
   
I hear people say they plan to clean their homes, but how much housework can we accomplish before we go stir crazy?   Who are we doing this for?  We can’t invite anyone around to see how diligent we are with the vacuum cleaner so why bother?  So don’t fret about cleaning, we need to express ourselves in meaningful ways, through our art in whatever medium we chose.  We need to create!

If I couldn’t design, write and hook, my life would have less meaning.  What is the point of this existence but to explore the creative?  They say, happiness is the best medicine, and every crafter knows that our passions allow us to blissfully dwell in a happy place.  Perhaps when we are occupied with creating, we are less anxious to go out and risk public appearances or disregard self distancing out of boredom.

Therefore, wool just might be essential for our mental health and well being, presenting a good argument that our crafts might be as important as food is for our physical health.  I know a woman that would crawl naked over glass to get their hands on nice piece of wool….oh wait a minute….that’s me.  Another important point, wiling away time with crafts reduces time that we will obsess over the state of our communities, our country and the world.  We need to be informed but not inundated so our hobbies provide an excellent distraction.

I’m in a double risk category, over 60 and Diabetic, so at first, I panicked over the pandemic, but now I know that with care and by following the rules I should be safe. The more education I receive the more confident I have become and I adhere religiously to all the guidelines suggested. That being said I am no fool and once it hits this area the trips to the post office will cease immediately and I’ll be home with my feet up rug hooking like the rest of you. 

I am so impressed with social media taking the place of social interaction.  This safe forum allows people to share their projects, checking in with friends and loved ones, swapping recipes and telling their stories, sometimes sharing in grief and loss, connecting with people all over the world.  What a fantastic way to keep in touch and stave off the loneliness of isolation, being a part of this world wide community of fiber artist. 

So, who is to say that I don’t have a good case to work behind the scenes and service the needs of the right brained experience?  Sending out hope and happiness with each parcel I wrap and take to the post office.  I personally know of a few thousand rug hookers that would make a case for wool being an essential.  Should I start a petition?   

For as long as possible, I will work at the shop filling orders. 
I am diligent about practicing self distancing and keeping my hands away from my face and washing has become a constant habit. Because we don’t have walk in traffic, I won’t keep regular hours, arriving sometime between noon and one.  I've been working late in the evenings so I need the mornings at home spending time with my pups.  Both Shane and Deborah have been laid off so I am now the dyer, pattern maker and chief cook and bottle washer at the studio.   I can be reached by email and the phone, if I don’t answer, leave a message and I will phone you back.  I also hope to spend time designing new patterns over the next few months, I too need to be creative. We will be fully stocked and ready to serve you as soon as the bans are lifted and life adjusts to another new normal. 

Boredom is a modern day curse. Our attention spans are shortening and we live in a world where we crave constant stimulation, but now, we will all be challenged to find ways to change our way of thinking or the isolation will be excruciating. We need to discover and indulge in the creative thought process and keep our hands from being idol.  Nothing good ever came from being left alone with nothing to do.   
7 Comments
Adena
4/6/2020 07:49:05 am

Most definitely. Look at those shelves *drooling*

Reply
Wayne
4/6/2020 07:49:26 am

Enjoyed reading the blog . Creativity is definitely essential for our well being ! Keep Calm and Hook On.

Reply
Kris
4/6/2020 07:49:45 am

Yes, essential for our mental health.

Reply
Della
4/6/2020 07:50:07 am

Definitely an essential service!

Reply
Marci
4/6/2020 07:50:33 am

YES!!

Reply
Janet
4/6/2020 01:14:21 pm

Working on Debra”s rendition of Peggy’s Cove village-lots of fun.Think I will check out other patterns to keep busy.Be safe.The rug hooking community needs your talent and creativity

Reply
Roy Overlock link
8/18/2020 09:33:41 pm

of course wool is essential because it doesn't compete with mankind's needs, it's healthy for the planet, less pollution and reduce emissions.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Christine Little has been ranked #5​ out of the 60 top rug hooking bloggers by Rug Hooking Magazine!

    Picture
    Picture
    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Picture
    Picture
    Gift Certificates are available for that special rug hooker in your life!  Any denomination, no expiry date! 

    Picture

    Categories
    (Click on the categories for past blogs)

    All
    Announcements
    Beginner Class
    Christmas
    Colour Planning
    Contests
    Copyright
    Coupon
    Customer Rugs
    Cutter Servicing
    Dyeing
    Equipment
    Featured Hooker
    Giveaway Draw
    Guest Blogger
    Guest Blogger
    Health & Fitness
    Home & Heart
    Hooked Rugs
    Hooking Groups
    Hook In Talk
    Initially Yours
    Jibber Jabber
    Just A Bit Of Fun!
    Life's Experiences
    Life's Experiences
    New Design
    New Ideas
    Pattern Of The Week
    Patterns Hooked
    Pets
    Rants
    Recipes
    Rememberingfbe7326ff7
    Rug Schools
    Show & Tell
    Show-tell
    The Rant
    Tips Technique
    Tips Techniquef0cd117ab4
    Visitors
    Workshops

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture





















    Picture
    We have a pot to "Fiz" in!

Shop Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
Saturdays 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
We are closed during ice and snow storms
​so please call ahead.  If school is cancelled we probably are as well.  

Toll Free: 1-855-624-0370
Local: 1-902-624-0370​
encompassingdesigns@gmail.com

498 Main Street
P.O. Box 437
Mahone Bay, N.S.
Canada B0J 2E0

​Follow us and keep up to date
on our specials, new products
​and events!
Picture
Picture
Picture


Home
Shop
Ordering
Blog
Our Story
Workshops

Contact Us




​​​© Copyright 2023 Encompassing Designs. Website by SKYSAIL