Yeah ... I'm wunna them Crochet Mommas

So, last year (the Year From Hell) I taught myself to crochet.

I did it by simply watching YouTube vids over and over.  I'd find a tutorial I liked and I'd sit at the computer making a chain, pulling it out, making it again, and pulling it out.  After a bit, I'd try another row, then another stitch, and then I make a simple project ... and so on.

It was fortuitous that I learned this new skill when i did as it REALLy helps sooth my brain when I'm feeling stressed or anxious.

I noticed some things about my crochet as I've slowly learned more and gotten a bit better: 1) I quickly developed Yarn Prejudice. I was beginning with common acrylic and soon began to really dislike it.  I found it coarse and prickly - especially for wearables.  I actually remade several early projects in different, softer blends because I despised the yarn.

And speaking of wearables; 2) I like things I can take outside the home.  I wanna show off my crochet.  I don't want to make a gorgeous afghan nearly so much as a gorgeous shawl that I can wear to work.

I also like fun and funky stuff. Even stuff with no use other than decoration JUST because it is so freakin' weird.

Example: crocheted rocks.  What the fuck?  Who even thought of this?  And they are FABULOUS!

(From The Perl Bee - a fab tutorial on how to make Margaret Oomen's crocheted rocks!)

How cool are those?!  I am going to make some as soon as I find some suitable stones.

I quickly found out that there are also crochet bottles (gonna make those, too) and they are lovely.

Now imagine my delight when I stumbled upon this website where this blogger (a woman after my own heart) combines DIY, recycling, and crochet!  Bliss!

Here's Filth Wizardry's crochet tote container thingies:

(Image and extra cool design copyright Filth Wizardry - Go!  Learn how to do these!)

I am totally starting one of these today!

OMG, I so totally need a "rah-rah" right now.

Last Thursday was the last day of school, so all the kids, my hubby, and I, are all off (have been since then).   Well, I have a hard time just being still.  This is exacerbated by my anxiety disorder.  If i can just submerge my brain into something  - crochet, reading, watching a film - then I'm golden ... for a while.

Reading a good book is best.  If I have muh cuz, Joe Hill, (or Kathy Reichs, or Tess Gerritsen, or Stephen King ...) or my newest obsession, George RR Martin's Game of Thrones series (highly recommended.  I've never seen the show and the book, though it starts off very slow, gets better and better!) I can stay still and peaceful for about 10-15 minutes at a time.

But no matter what I try that's about it.  After that time I just gotta move. My mind flies around inside my head like a bird in a small room, battering itself against the walls.  I obsess.  Latest example: cleaning the house.

See, I'm a hoarder.  I scavenge whatever I see and keep everything.

I know what I am and try very very hard to throw stuff away.  I much prefer donating it or repurposing it.   my problem is time. i never seem to have time for the 987 projects milling uneasily around in my head like cattle in a stockyard.  subsequently I seem never to get to anything, get to use the cool stuff I've acquired, and my house is ... well, "cluttered" is being polite.

ANYway, my obsession of the moment is getting my house clean.  The last few weeks of school I tried to work every day I could and - true to my nature - also tried to scavenge everything I could get from the teachers trying to tidy up their rooms.

The horrific result is that my house and my car are full of STUFF. Cluttered with stuff.  Not only the stuff that was there before but the accumulated flotsam and jetsam of my scavenging AND the result of my not being there to clean.

Bleh!

Any other hoarders out there?  Is it possible to ever get ones house clean?  Any advice i can get would be much appreciated!