Crafting My Way To Wellness

Hello, my name is Yvette Roberts-Muhammad, and I am a survivor of life's challenges. My life growing up was a series of challenges, but I learned to make the challenges my steppingstones to growth and development, even though I did not realize it at the time. At the age of 10 I experienced a very traumatic family event that left me terrified, full of anxiety and uncertain about life, love, and family. I went through many years of emotional and mental struggle trying to make sense of it all. At times, I could not sleep, eat, or even breathe. My downward spiral lasted for five years which, to me, felt like an eternity. It felt like I was literally dying inside until one day I found an outlet that allowed me to slowly re-emerge back into life. I began crafting, which allowed me to escape from the constant barrage of thoughts and visual images of the event. It allowed me to feel comforted, safe, and whole again. It also allowed me to forgive myself for what I thought was my fault. Though it was not really my fault, when traumatic events happen, it can make you think that had you done something different, the outcome might have been different. My outlet was expressing my creativity through writing and crafting. I found that as I began writing or crafting, I would feel a tidal wave of emotions come over me, build to a crescendo and then release into a sea of calm. Everything from deep sadness to fear and anxiety would flow through me and be released with every word I wrote. Afterwards, I would feel free and light. I felt the weight of a thousand years being lifted off my mental and physical bodies. Writing led me to inspirational words that lifted my spirit. I immediately knew they would help others as well, so I began incorporating them into my crafting projects. I felt such a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. It also gave me an opportunity to take a "time out" from all the pressing thoughts and visual images of the traumatic event I had experienced. Soon, the thoughts and visual replays started to have less and less airtime in my mind. I was able to sleep better, eat regularly and breathe with ease. I felt I was moving into a whole new life, a whole new me!

I recently invested in a new crafting machine, a Cricut! It is a fabulous addition to my crafting space. I also finally invested in some, much needed, new cutting tools. I recently bought a pair of Fiskars scissors and a Fiskars paper cutter. I really like the new scissors because they have a non-stick coating on the blades, which I can fully appreciate, as I work with various types of adhesive vinyl. The paper cutter’s cutting surface allows me to adjust the cutting measurements, both vertically and horizontally, which is perfect for the sheets I use for my crafting projects. I have always been a fan of Fiskars, and I believe I always will be. They were the scissors my grandmothers used when they sewed clothes for me as a child. Crafting has now become my way of connecting to others and creating joy in my life, as well as those I craft for. It not only keeps me focused and fully present in the moment on the project I am currently working on; it also allows me to help others enjoy the therapeutic release they get from discovering their creative side. I love seeing the joy and sense of accomplishment they feel upon completing a project. It increases their sense of self-worth and self-esteem. Creativity replenishes, uplifts, and sustains us. We are all blessed with this gift, and I love to assist in bringing it to the forefront for all who venture into my crafting world.