Sorry, it's going to be a short one today. A big chunk of the paperwork for Toby's transition into adulthood support and services arrived on the door mat last week so I've been immersed in that, which if you've ever had to fill out these kind of forms you'll know is a deeply stressful and depressing experience that shows up all of the inadequacies of language in conveying meaning. Seriously, it feels like walking a tightrope over a crocodile pit, one wrong inflection to a sentence and all is lost and all I want to do is ensure he is provided for at the level that he needs. Anyway. I'm ploughing through it, so on to happier things.
Happily knitting really does help so I've been furiously click-clacking away in every spare minute. I really hope to have a batch of animals finished in the next 10 days or so (barring the arrival of any more paperwork). Some of these bunnies have been waiting a year for their clothes but I don't have too much more to do now, a few arms and tails, lots of french knots and buttons to finish off and then just pondering names, making labels and hopefully remembering what yarns I used for each so I can write descriptions. I will keep you posted when they are ready and send out an email to my mailing list with full details – the sign up form is over there on the right of the screen if you wanted to join.
Other happy news has come my way in the form of a blog award and I'm very proud to have been awarded Craft blogger of 2017 from dotcomgiftshop thanks so very much to everyone who voted for me.
Lastly, before I go and start form filling again, I will be helping my friend Hazel on the cake stand at a new event called The Creative Social taking place in Hertford town this Saturday. I'm also going to bring my knitting and some of the little cotton rabbits (just for showing, not for selling) so if you're passing pop in for some homemade cake and say hello. I'm happy to answer any questions about the patterns or to demo any techniques if you wanted to ask anything in person. It would be lovely to meet you if you're able to make it. Edited to add: I'll be a little bit late as I have to drop Toby off for respite on the way so will be there around 10.30am.
The Creative Social, showcasing local makers and tutors, bring your own projects and meet other crafters, fabric and wool exchange, haberdashery, cakes, tea & coffee
Saturday 11th November 10 – 2pm
Friends Meeting House, Hertford SG14 1BA, Hertfordshire, UK
Adults £1 entry, children free
Will be back here again soon once all the paperwork is slain!
J x
little cotton rabbits 
Congratulations!!
LikeLike
Well done on the blog award, it is very well deserved. The rabbits are gorgeous, my favourite thing is when you do little patches of different colour on their faces, adorable. Good luck with the paperwork, I know from a friend how overwhelming and impossible it can be to deal with. I hope you’re able to get it done to your satisfaction and that you get the result you need from it all. CJ xx
LikeLike
Congratulations on the blog award, so well deserved.
Such a pity that this creative event falls on the same day as Hitchin Festiwool. Is it possible to be in two places at the same time??
LikeLike
Lovely photos. Good luck with the paperwork. We went to a meeting last evening to find out about all the things we need to do, and it really just left me feeling more depressed than anything else. We have a bright, beautiful, creative and talented teenage daughter, who just happens to be autistic. I wish they would make things easier instead of more difficult. I am cutestuffinside on instagram as I haven’t updated a blog post in ages. Live in the U.S. Been following you forever. You are an inspiration in all ways!
LikeLike
Great to see you were awarded this Blog Award. Well deserved. Also send you strength to carry on with your forms. If your knitting is a mark of your skills they will be just right. 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations on the award! It is well deserved!!! And what a terribly fun event this Saturday, if only it was held anywhere near Southern California I would be there in a flash. I do hope that you share your experiences so that we can enjoy them secondhand.
Good luck with your paperwork. I don’t have firsthand experience, but have heard from friends the nightmarish tales. I’m sure I’m just one of many who will be wishing you good thoughts for Toby, you, and your brilliant paperwork completion. May it all go well.
Lots of best wishes! I check your blog everyday as a bright and shining way to wake up – even though I know it doesn’t change every day, it is still a lovely way for me to see beauty in the world. Thank you.
LikeLike
Many congratulations on your award,and much deserved! Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday! xx
LikeLike
Congrats — OMG these are so cute. Good luck with your paperwork.
Deb M
LikeLike
Oh, what a feast for the eyes! You do know how to make all your Adorables look so sweet in photos. Congrats on your well-deserved award. I do hope that Toby will continue to get the best care available. So sorry that you have to jump through so many hoops. Sending hugs your way…
LikeLike
Congratulations !!!
LOVE the little spots on the rabbits 😉
LikeLike
Just love the photos of all your bunnies and clothes in miniature that you make. You are very very creative!!! It just warms my heart to see such sweet things . . . Thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
I feel your pain Julie, forms are a nightmare at the best of times but when they are as important as these, they do take full concentration.
Your animals are as always a joy, that little bear centre right in her little brown dress is delightful. 🙂 Many congrats on your well deserved award!
Enjoy Saturday…I wish I could pop in and see you!
V x
LikeLike
Walking your path & have the same feeling of overwhelming frustration with the process & the depressed feeling while looking through the lense of assessment of our Jack. He is so much more than what is represented on paper but we know the reality of the support he will need to live a safe & engaged life makes painting this picture imperative. You also cannot predicted the future…and they ask you to do that too! Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, give them what they want & hopefully Toby will get what he needs.
I find knitting great gives me the right amount of distraction, creativity & the feeling of productivity to give me a break from my real life. Thanks to you for your inspiration! You deserve your wonderful award 🥇 Glad I could vote & support you.
Loving the new patterns & just got new yarn in the mail to get started…can’t wait for the break! 😉
LikeLike
Congratulations on the award! Wish I was local so I could meet you in person, thank you for the cute patterns and check out the “real” bunnies… hope you had fun! And good luck with the paperwork…
LikeLike
Hello Julie, many congratulations on your blog award, you deserve it on so many levels – your creativity in photography, writing and knitting is an inspiration and I know how much I enjoy reading your blog and knitting your wonderful patterns.
I hope everything goes well with the paperwork for Toby’s future support. I have no idea why the authorities make it so difficult when they must know how stressful it is for families.
Enjoy your time in Hertford, I am sure your rabbits will attract lots of well deserved attention! Sue x
LikeLike
Congrats on the award!!! So well deserved:) As for the massive paperwork…. you go and slay that dragon, Julie. You’ve got this!!!!
LikeLike
Congratulations! Your little knitted animals with their adorable outfits are the best.
LikeLike
Congrats on the award. Your blog is one of the best. I love coming and finding a new post. I hope you’ll keep blogging for many more years.
LikeLike
lurker. good luck on the paperwork. knitting and reading helps me get through it also. my son is sort of self sufficient. he can buy groceries and microwave food.
yes, he can do things. no, he is not be truly self sufficient. Is doing this task really truly equal to doing that task? and, as they transition to adults, is it really unreasonable to provide home cooked meals as a gift? it counts as income because they didn’t have to spend that money – gah. i am writing from the united states which seems determined to punish the “different”. my MIL gave my son money for “college” like everyone else.sadly, this counted against him – it was more acceptable for him to use that money to buy a car or a computer than use it for college, life skills classes. i do not understand that math despite my masters of science. so, it is off to a new knitting project myself.
i enjoy your projects and i empathize with the struggle. good luck and best wishes.
LikeLike
Congratulations! So well deserved. Good luck with the monster paperwork, may it slay the demons of bureaucracy for you.
LikeLike
Form filling is a nightmare – local councils do not make things easy at all. It can seem overwhelming at times but it’s a good feeling when it’s done. I love your little creatures – I’m going to begin knitting a little pig tonight. I know lots of people say it but your little creatures do give a lot of pleasure and at a very tough time in my life it’s good to have little things to look forward to. It’s the small things that do help and knitting your little creations is one of them.
LikeLike
Warm congratulations on your well deserved award. I am the mother of Rob’s my beautiful son who has autism and learning disabilities and no speech. Robs recently transitioned into adult services, so I completely understand what you mean, it is so hard. I Thank you for your lovely blog and knitting it helps keep me sane. It’s good to know we are not alone.
Kindest regards Gail
LikeLike
All your little bunnies and friends look so cute — they always make the perfect pictures. Congratulations on your very well deserved award — and I hope you had fun at the Creative Social!
LikeLike
Hoping that the paperwork is well and truly tamed. As a parent of two adopted children with additional needs….I feel your pain. They don’t make it easy and there is no room for nuance. Sigh. Knitting is the answer, for sure!
LikeLike
Congratulations, Julie!
I’ve never responded but had to tell you how much I love your blog, patterns and beautiful photos. Thanks for all the time you put in.
I live in the U. S. I provide respite care for a sweet family as well as working in residential services and a day center. I know the paperwork can be onerous here and am not surprised to hear it’s the same for the U. K. May God bless you as you tame this particular dragon.
LikeLike
Congratulations on your award…..so well deserved. Toby is so blessed to have you as his mother…….I am praying for you and your family 💕
LikeLike
I am so glad you have had recognition for your wonderful work. May it continue to offer solace and respite and Ikigai, to your life especially when you have ever higher hurdles to leap.
LikeLike
I am a new-comer to your blog. A local yarn shop in Utah had been having a knit along of your published animal patterns. I was unaware of the knit along until September (I would have joined in, had I known!). I thought the animals were so enchanting that I had to look up the patterns and found your blog. I started reading right before the release of the pig patterns. I promptly bought both and am waiting on a shipment of Quince & Co to get started. I feel I must thank you for your cheerfulness and creativity. I love your photos, toys and writing so much that I have been binge reading past years of the blog, from the beginning. I am up to January 2010 and am sure I will end up reading all of your entries, bit by bit as I need a little sunshine. And I can see myself buying all of your patterns and knitting a grandma’s treasure box full of lovely little friends. I have been stuck in the long delayed process of moving from Utah to Virginia and have really appreciated lovely thoughts from your blog and your creations. You have helped keep my sane! Thanks so very much!
LikeLike
What kind of yarn did you use for the rabbits?
Thanks for your answer
LikeLike
Congratulations on your award. I know how much filling in the paper work means, very scary and feels like one wrong word could alter the future course of your lives. My 17 (nearly 18, oh god where does time go) is on the autism spectrum (as they call it). Thinking of you x x
LikeLike
Congrats on the blog award–so well deserved!!! I have made some 100 bunnies, kitties and mousies now. i’m so mouse-obsessed that I’ve got cracks on my thumbs from wool irritation. My internist and my orthopedic specialist got a big kick out of my recent complaint: ” I have rodent-related bursitis of both shoulders and I’m here to get signed up for physiotherapy.” Rodent-related? they said. Then I pulled out my gorgeous mice from a tote bag and my DP needles to explain the position I’ve been sitting in for so many hours during 2017.
Well, if one has to have a compulsion, then this is a good one.
Thank you for being my inspiration and for sharing your creative gift.
Diane Ruiz in New York
LikeLike