As the year draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on the past year and ideas that have woven themselves into our hearts and minds. Alongside my authoring world, another craft has my significant attention: fiber art. These two creative realms, seemingly distinct, share a common thread: the art of creation, whether expressed through words or fibers.

Literary Weaves:
It has been a year filled with thought-provoking words and engaging narratives. From gripping novels to profound non-fiction, the literary scene has offered an array of amazing insights. One standout is the fact I haven’t published a single book this year. When I decided to rebrand, I was disappointed because it was unlikely that I would publish this year. Redoing every graphic from 2019, along with the book covers and inside formatting, took a ton of time. I took this opportunity to enroll editing classes offered by the Jerry Jenkin within his writers’ guild and delved into editing with abandon. Once I felt I had a grasp on the concepts, I went to work editing and rewriting my first book, Something Comes.

In November, I realized that even though I’d not been working toward publishing a book; I had still done a lot of writing. I’ve finished the first book of The Click Series and my first paranormal romance. Book three of The Chronicles of Discovery is over 50% complete and I’m actively working on a first draft idea for a new series, which is yet unnamed.

Fiber Masterpieces:
During my classes, I found it good to keep my hands busy with an easy crochet or knitting project. Of course, my productivity plummeted after I’d completed the courses. But I’mshappy with all the projects I’ve completed this year. Here are a few projects that I’ve finished before the end of the year.

Christmas table runner: I took old Christmas yarn from my stash to create a runner for my downstairs table.

Christmas Tunisian afghan stitch washcloths and drying towels. Some are Christmas gifts and others are for my use. I found I loved this stitch so much that I started other household items like a throw pillow cover.

A Common Thread:
Despite their apparent differences, literature, and fiber art share a common thread: the power of storytelling. Both mediums allow artists to express their ideas, emotions, and experiences in unique and captivating ways. Whether through crafted sentences or woven textures, creators immerse their audiences into worlds of their own making, drawing them into narratives that evoke introspection, reflection, and sometimes even inspiration.

Both literary and fibery endeavors often serve as therapy and healing. Many authors and fiber artists have found solace in their creative pursuits, using them to cope with personal struggles or societal issues. The act of creation becomes a refuge, allowing for self-expression and self-discovery.

I learned that I don’t need to publish three books a year to be happy with my productivity which is really a huge relief because I enjoy taking classes and learning new things. I look forward to rediscovering a discarded hobby I had when I was young, but I’ll share more about that in the upcoming months.