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I thought that the first thing I should do is introduce myself!
Some of you have already said hi as you have been sent to me by my other half @stuartcturnbull , which was really kind and I look forward to getting to know you all.
My name is Liz, I answer to Liz, Lizza, Mum, honey, wench etc - However, I don't answer to Betty, SweatyBetty or any variation thereof.
I am an avid crafter, knitting and sewing being my favourites. Unfortunately, I also suffer from chronic illness. I have a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which is a connective tissue disorder, it particularly affects collagen production causing me to not produce enough and the collagen that I do manage to make is faulty. Due to the fact that every single bit of your body is made up of these, I am basically held together with gaffer tape and prayer! 🫠
Stuart and I have been married for over 26 years and have brought up our 3 awesome kids together. Our son, the eldest has Autism and Epilepsy, our first daughter has ADHD, and the youngest has Autism, Triple X chromosome Developmental Delays and learning difficulties. Oh, and I passed on my genetic condition to all of them. (I wasn't diagnosed until after they were all born, otherwise, who knows, perhaps other choices would have been made. 🤷♀️)
As you can imagine, over the years our household has been very interesting, regularly stressful, but always filled with love and laughter.
Throughout everything, crafting has always been vital for my mental health and stress levels. I have learned how to do all the things I enjoy while still trying to live within my abilities. Using Christine Miserandino's Spoon Theory I have managed to budget my energy and time and that's something that I hope to share here.
When it comes to the actual knitting and sewing - I have been doing these things for so long that I actually don't remember learning! In conversation with my Mum recently, she said that she began teaching me before I was school age. It was just something that we all did. Mum, my aunt, my cousins and both grandmothers all sewed, knitted, chrocheted etc.
I have two very vivid memories from my school years with regard to this. The first was when I was 5yrs old, the teacher had us all sat in story corner and she was going to do a knitting lesson. She turned to me and said "Elizabeth, you just get on with your knitting that you brought in"
The second was from about age 9, we were going to be sewing aprons in class but the teacher felt I would be bored as it was too easy so she gave me a choice of what to make. I made a fully fitted pencil skirt with darts, zip, waistband etc. which I then wore with a bright yellow batwing jumper I had knitted - ah, the 80's. This was so normal to my family that I don't think they even bothered to take photos! 😂
So, although I don't have any formal qualification in textiles or fashion design - I do have loads of experience, which I'm very excited to share with you all in the future .
Thanks for being welcoming!
