#macrame

It very quickly hit me: store- bought stuff SUCKS. Handmade stuff RULES.

The kinds of stitches used, the thickness/ quality of yarn, even the dimensions of the item itself are just so shitty and cheap on mass- produced clothing. Once you know what youre looking at, you can see that its made to be worn and disposed of within a year. But that handmade brown sweater? That sucker weighs 3x what a store bought sweater weighs. Its softer, it has better stretch and even with messier seams, its STRONGER. It can survive a trathalon, a hop over a barbed- wire fence, and a minor nuclear explosion.

Seriously, folks, making things for loved ones during this time of enshittification and despair is so damn important for us fiber artists, I know. It is important for their sense of love, hope, and mental health to receive these gifts and also OUR sense of love, hope, and mental health to make them.

But, taking care of ourselves so we can continue to bring love and color to the world is Super Important!

Eat, Hydrate, and Do Stretches! These are not negotiable! Set an alarm, have a loved one poke you with a stick, train your pets to run off with your tools at certain times of day, whatever you need to do to remember!

Also, if you have wrist braces, use them.

Our art is repetative motion injuries in action. Do not let it take your art from you!

I have carpal tunnel issues because I am also a gamer and middle aged. These days, I have to be super careful, because not being able to make things would kill me faster than any disease.

Also, if any of your friends or relatives show up with "Hey! I am getting married (or any other dimilar major event), so I thought you could hand make me a dress/tux/quilt/tapestry/fur suit by December!"... I absolutely support and endorse chasing them around the neighborhood with a pair of scissors while laughing maniacally until they go away.

Calmer heads will say explain to them the amount of materials, planning, and physical labor and stress it takes to undertake such things and you need months if not a year's notice for planning and what-have-you.

Me? Having them spring that at this time of year? Animal control would have to collect me snarling and howling off the roof.

Anyway, REMEMBER TO STRETCH, TAKE BREAKS, HYDRATE, AND EAT!

Now, back to your regularly scheduled WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING meltdown.

Summer days certainly are breezy...

I was born at the right time, for I love being able to draw Barbie yuri.