It’s the dawning of a new year at our little retreat in the woods, and time to think of what 2011 might have in store for me. You may ask….why year of the Lion? Well, take a look at my first FO of the new year:
Charming fellow, isn’t he? Why did I decide to suddenly crochet a little lion? Well….Mr. Tiger is an elementary music teacher (a very good one), and there’s a little song they do in one of the grades. “If you search for lions with a wary eye, you will find that lions are easier to spy.” The lion is hidden, and the students sing the song to play a ‘hot – cold’ game….louder near the lion, softer as the seeker moves away, the point of the lesson is to teach dynamics. We did some store searching and the lions we found were either too small or too large. So I did what any self-respecting crafter would do…..I made one.
You may ask what pattern I used, and I will tell you that I did indeed look for a free crochet pattern. I started it three times, and gave up. I’m hopeless at patterns, I could tell that the pattern was going to be way too large. So, I made a chain of 20, and started spiraling, then did some decreases for a neck, some increases for a head, put on a snout and ears, and made some appendages. Basically, I crocheted until it looked like a lion. Check out that rock star mane!
I really love that this project came first this year. I used to make things like this all the time when I was a kid/teen….get an idea and just make it happen. It is freeing, and the most fun creatively. It also reminded me of this song:
Let The Lion Run Free by 4Him
The dreamer lives inside of me
It’s just that way
And I can only reach
What I believe ‘cause I can’t reach
Beyond my faith
No, I’m not limited
By what has always been
It’s time to break this status quo
And take a leap and jump out of my skinCHORUS
Break these chains
Open this cage
Let the lion run free
Destiny awaits
Beyond these gates
Let the lion run free
Let the lion run free
Oh, to face the jungle
Of impossibilities
And have no doubt
To trust what I can’t see
And know the lion that’s in me
will lead me out
Oh I’ll take the challenge
go into the great unknown
It’s time to wake this giant that’s in me
let my inhibitions go
REPEAT CHORUS
So for 2011, I plan to break the chains of expectations and inhibitions. I’m going to make stuff, and bravely do it the way I want to. I will stop procrastinating on things that look complicated (like that 8 shaft loom). I will ignore the voices in my head that say ‘this has that dorky homemade look’ and enjoy what I make for what it is, and for the journey toward mastery of a new craft.
I hope you will join me in the Year of the Lion!
