This post is a part of the Exploring Creativity series. You can read all about it HERE. And HERE is the post sharing the pattern for this month, 70's Geese.
Well... I haven't done very good about keeping up with posting on my blog this month. oops. I will admit, I have PTSD (and I'll add social anxiety while I'm going to be sharing this), and I came across some bad triggers early in the month. If you get bad anxiety, you'll know what I'm talking about. But I'm feeling better and am glad that's past!
If you haven't experienced PTSD or severe anxiety, to say it's overwhelming and debilitating is probably an understatement. At it's worst, I think I would compare it to being engulfed in flames and wanting to run out into the street screaming for anyone to come put the fire out. Not that you feel like you're on fire, but the sense of panic is equivalent. At least that's how I felt at times earlier this month. Is that how it is for anyone else?
I don't share this to be all "woe is me" because even though I go through it and it's about the worst thing in the world, I've come to recognize it for what it is, and when it comes on I can mentally separate myself from it. It's still scary and I constantly ask my husband for blessings and prayers and wake him up in the middle of the night so I know I'm not alone. But even then, I know it'll end and I'll be ok. I have found my strength in Jesus Christ, and He truly has become my rock and my companion that helps me get through it. Despite the overwhelming emotions, I still have peace. Nothing short of a miracle.
The reason why I did want to share this is because I know I'm not the only one that goes through this. And, at least for me, anxiety is 1,000 times worse when I feel like I'm alone! So here I am letting you know, those of you who may be going through this, or have gone through this, or might in the future, that you are not alone!! (I wish I could type that on comforting clouds that would wisp peace into your soul!)
I love this quote I found the other day...
Obviously you don't have to have anxiety or PTSD to feel like the path you are on is dark, we all experience that at some point or another. But this is one thing that throughout my life has made all of the difference, and really it's the
only thing that's made a difference! If it's not for you, that's fine. I hope we can still be friends. But if you're unsure, I want to invite you to pray and ask Him to show you how He can help you. Because that's what He's there for! For each and every one of us! And I'm just so completely grateful for that and overwhelmed by that fact, that I just have to share! (insert heart emoji here)
I also want to share this because I think it's a topic that has been taboo for way too long!! I often feel embarrassed about it, I feel like if people know they'll think less of me - like I'm suddenly below them. or that I'm not normal. I feel ashamed, like it determines my value and self worth. It makes me jealous of people who don't struggle with it - leaving me wishing that I could be normal and high functioning all the time. I often find myself making comments that I never post because I don't know if it's a dumb comment or not, so I never get in on the conversation. Basically it's like I'm on the outside looking in on all the fun. I don't know how you feel about it - whether you struggle with it or not, but I know that the feelings I have about it are all lies! And I think it's about time that we debunk these lies and open and share our struggles and go through this together! Because you're awesome! and I'm awesome! And we should all be awesome together! (It's way more fun that way!!) :D
Anyway, I feel like sometimes I have to put up the facade that I have it all together and that I can be all professional and organized - especially on my blog, but now you all know. I'm really just a pile of crumbling bricks trying to use elmer's glue to hold myself together! lol. And because I really do want to get back into blogging regularly, maybe just putting this out there will make it easier for me to not feel like I have to get it right all the time, right?! Does anyone else feel like that sometimes??? or all the time? (I'll raise my hand to that!) So starting right now you all know that I'm going to fail at the goals that I set for myself, so now I'm free to just do what I can when I can. No more self-imposed expectations! hooray! That feels better. Thanks for letting me share! ;)
So, now that that's out of the way, let's move on to the cool stuff!!
While I was updating the
70's Geese pattern I caught myself playing around with the design and before I new it I came up with this variation of the pattern and a whole bunch of design options for it! I couldn't resist turning it into a pattern!!!
Meet 80's Geese!!!
This really is so much like the 70's Geese pattern, with the exception of the center and the construction of it. You can see how it is broken up in the diagram above. Compare with the 70's Geese below.
The
70's Geese pattern is very versatile in and of itself, as you can see in this post
HERE. But as I was playing around with the 80's Geese pattern, a whole new level of possibilities emerged, and that's when I knew I had to make it!!
To make it even more
confusing, er, versatile, there are two different sets of pattern templates you can use to create twice as many different designs. Here are just a few that I show you how to make in the pattern!
The pattern includes coloring pages for both options so you can have fun exploring the possibilities!!
I have some REALLY awesome testers helping me out with this pattern, and I'll share their blocks and projects over the next few weeks. I'm REALLY excited about what is going on in the tester group!! (Do you want to be a tester?? You can sign up
here and I'll add you to the group.)
You can find the 80's Geese pattern in my shop!!
I also want to share some of my progress with my 70's Geese pattern this month. Exploring this pattern this month has been awesome! And SO much fun! I am really loving all the possibilities and definitely need more time in the day.
How do you like this mini?? I made this with the 6 inch block and will turn it into a mug rug! (Did I mention that my favorite mug rug size is 6 inches square?! It's large enough to hold my drink and snack, but not too big that it takes up too much space on my desk or next to my sewing machine.) ;)
This is one of the designs that I shared in my last post. Can you figure out which one? I love how it turned out! I'll be giving this one away, so I hope the recipient likes it to!
If you haven't picked up the 70's Geese pattern yet, but want to, you can find it by clicking the shop now button below
Thanks for reading!!
and DON'T forget to link up any of your 70's Geese projects! (No one has linked up yet, so if you end up being the only one, you're guaranteed to win! I'd say the odds are pretty good! ;)) If you share your project on Instagram, don't forget to use the hashtags: #fbp70sGeese and #fbpExploreCreativity!
Have a wonderful weekend!!
