You CAN do something NEW.

  – Knot Sew Perfect Designs – BLOG

Explanation: Knot = wood knot, crochet knot etc. Sew = I sew just enough to get by; sow- seeds for gardening either flower or veggie. Perfect = absolutely exquisitely done but KNOT by me (sometimes). What I do sometimes I have never done before so the results are Knot Perfect! 

Design = Could be most anything. A crocheted rug, a kitchen makeover, a patio, garden, a new recipe or decorating something - maybe even some awesome pictures. 

So – you are likely to see and read about most anything here. Dreams, schemes and basic things.

A little background...I grew up around people that did it themselves and being able to do most anything. My father was a cabinet maker, carpenter, fixer of anything that needed fixing. I was always in his shop “building” something out of the scraps he left behind. So, I learned a lot.

My mother could make a meal for 5 out of nothing...I learned a lot here as well.

Then, when I got married, my husband was a contractor and in the beginning, I helped whenever there was a need. Our house seemed to have some sort of construction project going on all the time.

After divorce, I kept doing things myself, mainly because I couldn't afford to hire someone or buy it already made. No one ever offered to pay my bills and even today – I have not been able to win the lottery. So - Lots of trial and error but things got better. I got better. I was not afraid to tackle a new project, even hanging a ceiling fan involving electricity (now I hire an electrician – or date one – ha ha). I do not do plumbing – at all. I know how to turn the water on and off...that is the extent of my plumbing skills!

Keep in mind that I do not claim to know how to do everything or a master of any of it but I do have a creative side and a very big imagination which sometimes gets me in trouble!!

I now have a shop most men would die for. I do lack some of the bigger power tools, table saws (which I want) lathe, etc. but I get by with what I have.

I wanted to be a physical education teacher or a CPA but my career ended me in the trucking industry; starting as a clerk and working my way to a management position of an 89 door terminal and 50 drivers/dockworkers. I had a good mentor in the beginning that set much of everything else I did. I studied logistics to better my career which I also applied to my everyday life.  At times this was difficult as I am a true to form Aries. Act first, read directions later. 

 Over the years I learned to LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE and this applies to whatever you do; baking a cake, doing a kitchen makeover or even planting a garden. Take a minute to plan, look at what you are trying to create and what you want the end result to be. You can accomplish this end result even if the project is beyond your ability or knowledge. There are many people with this knowledge. Home Depot, Lowes and Ace Hardware employees have a wealth of information and will help you just so you buy your materials at their store. Or, check out the internet. There is always someone that has made a “how to” video on just about anything you want to do. You will delvelop your own process but as long as you get to your end result, that's good.

So do not be afraid to try something new, no matter what it is. You might fail at perfection – this time, so what. Next time you WILL do better. At least you tried and for that: GOOD FOR YOU. You should be proud of yourself. YOU did it even if it looks hideous. And, you can ask for help, ask for advice, ask for opinions so you will get better. Like I said, I have a big imagination that gets me in trouble and I think I can do something which ends up being way over my ability – so YES, I DO ask for help sometimes.

I have had so many “OMG what the heck is that” projects you just can't imagine. Lots of laughing and embarrassment when I showed others, but that did not bother me enough Knot to try again at some other idea/project I wanted. You all know the saying - “You'll never know if you don't try”...or something like that. Or, “the more you do it the better you get”. I have gotten better at doing things but I've had lots of practice. I think most has been total determination because I WANT THAT!!! I have always told my kids, “You can have (or be) whatever you want as long as you are willing to work for it.”

As with my father, I am a person that can look at something and pretty much make it...sometimes with a pattern but mostly without an actual pattern. Like below – a crocheted halter top (a skirt too) and a beach cover up all done for my daughter without a pattern. I also crocheted my daughter-in-laws wedding dress (for an outside wedding). No pattern so thanks Dad for that ability to see things and make it from there.

I did that often to my Dad. I'd see a piece of furniture I liked (any catalog or store flyer) and say, “Dad, would you make this for me?” And he would!

This is the first piece of furniture my Dad made ME...a corner cabinet...1973. Lots of history here. First – no pattern, just a picture. Second, the wood is an old wooden pipe organ from the First Baptist Church, Bennington, VT (1906) which was replaced in 1972 I think. He planed the wood to remove the color then built the cabinet. I love it still. Even “way back then” we re-cycled, re-purposed and re-used many items.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO TRY NEW THINGS.

RE-CYCLE, RE-USE, RE-PURPOSE.

TRY AGAIN – YOU WILL GET BETTER..

***Don't have a cheese slicer? Use a vegetable or potato peeler. Works great and gives consistent pieces of cheese for your crackers or apples.