One of our lovely Made Unique Makers is brilliant at crochet and she's previously encouraged me to have a go. Several years ago she bought me some yarn and I got a crochet hook...  but I have to say I still haven't mastered it! To be honest I haven't spent enough time practising but also I've been distracted by a simpler version... macrame. There are only a few basic knots to master and then you can choose a project that is lovely and straightforward like plant hangers, or coasters. As you get your confidence up you can make projects more intricate and most are fairly easy to adapt as you go along. Aside from useful items, like carrier bags, you can also make purely beautiful ones, like wall hangings, and you can introduce colour through your yarn choices or by dip dying.

But the main problem I've come across is that macrame uses a lot of yarn and if you buy the proper stuff it's really expensive! So I've been having a play with alternatives - for smaller projects like keyrings or candle holders some plain old string can work well and garden twine is great for outside use or a more rustic style. But if you don't have any of these to hand, don't despair - there are a number of ways you can make your own yarn! Old t-shirts are brilliant due to the stretchy fabric (this is known as tarn), old jeans can also be cut up for chunkier projects, and even plastic carrier bags can be transformed.

And the great thing is that if macrame isn't your style, these can also be used for other crochet or weaving projects like baskets or rugs, and the 'tarn' can be used just as you'd use wool so your old t-shirts could be repurposed into cosy knitted gifts or wardrobe additions!

(Just to add that if you do like the macrame style but would like someone else to make an item for your home or as a gift please do get in touch)

The other day I was just tidying up a few bits in the garden when I noticed a butterfly sitting on the edge of a pallet. I quietly went over and was able to sit on the pallet and take a photo without disturbing it, then to sneak a bit closer and take more. Then I just sat and watched it... Suddenly I was hit by a wave of nostalgia as I remembered back to my twenties and hours and hours of stalking butterflies and bees, hunting out the most striking flowers, and wandering around for the most epic views,  loving the challenge of getting the best photo I could.

It's been quite a while since I really spent time watching, looking from different angles, waiting... all those ways of seeing that can lead to a great photo and an enjoyment of what's in front of me. I think partly the ease of taking a few quick images on my phone has changed my habits, but also the general busyness of life. So I'm trying to take time to really see some of the lovely things around me, to stop, to enjoy, maybe to take a photo, maybe not. Sunlight making patterns as it comes in through windows and blinds has been a favourite this week...

It might be that photos are a fun tool for you too, or they could be a distraction, but why not take some time to be still and to watch, even for a few minutes. We're all having to see life differently these days and maybe the habit of looking at our physical surroundings in a new way could help us see other situations in our lives in a fresh way too.

Growing up, my brothers could turn anything into a competition… still can. And there's something really fun about finding challenges in amongst our everyday routines. In a previous newsletter I mentioned the value of purpose for all of us and in a friend's brilliant vlog the other day I was struck by her link between our ability to persevere and our sense of having achieved. It's led me to explore new ways of creating activities that provide this journey of challenge to achievement. If we are able to do these in person then it's brilliant for grown ups to get involved either working together or for a bit of healthy competition - kids will enjoy this so much more, will stick at it for longer and you might even get a sense of accomplishment yourself! (It should be noted that all activities below are also appropriate for grown ups wanting a competition and a laugh even when there are no kids about!)

This family's video would be one I'd recommend for some quick inspiration and there's a further collection on our Pinterest Family Challenge Activities board.  We're especially loving a good obstacle course as a way of combining a series of activities using different skills but I’ve come to the conclusion that the best obstacle courses are not copied from a Pinterest post, but ‘made unique’ with what we have available. So below are some (definitely not exhaustive) lists that I hope will get your imagination going…
Actions to perform: jumping, crawling, dancing, stopping & starting, climbing, imitating, dodging, skipping, sliding, balancing, hopping, stretching, spinning, rolling, zigzagging, singing, tunnelling, stepping over/onto, running...
Objects to use: balls, sheets, cushions, buckets/pots, soft toys, steps, rice/pasta, towels, washing baskets, scarves, chairs/stools, boxes, cars/trucks, water, slides/ramps, balloons, bags...
What to do with things: filling, sticking, hiding, rolling, balancing, transferring, fetching, catching, matching, stacking, throwing, finding, floating, lifting, sorting, carrying, sinking, popping, collecting...

You can see some of the ideas that have been enjoyed by us on Pinterest, but what I’d most encourage you to do is have a think about what each person finds fun and is good at so you can include achievable goals, and which tasks might be a challenge so you can provide support when necessary and encourage growth. As my wise husband said, 'it’s an opportunity to learn more about your child and to help your child learn more’!

The example of Captain Tom Moore, raising nearly £33 million for the NHS by walking round his garden 100 times, has inspired so many. At a time when we can feel trapped, powerless, and overwhelmed, he set himself a challenge and used it to raise funds for a cause he believed in and the results were not only a staggering amount of money raised but also a huge impact on the mood of all those watching his story unfold. 
 

We're unlikely to have a similar story (although who knows!) but there is so much we can do to make a difference for good in this crisis. Supporting charities is a way of helping those most at need with the benefits of the charity workers' expert skills and knowledge, so why not follow Captain Tom's example and see how even a small step from you can have a big impact. Here are a few ideas to get you started…

If like Tom you'd like a physical challenge then Tearfund's The Climb could be for you… choose a mountain and Tearfund will let you know how many times to climb your stairs in order to have reached the top! The money you raise will help to provide food for those in quarantine, build handwashing stations and promote hygiene practices in some of the world's poorest communities.

And if you're struck by the idea that some people don't even have a place to wash their hands then the brilliant organisation that offers Toilet Twinning now also offers Tap Twinning – you can pair your tap with one that will be built in one of 45 countries across the developing world.

To help kids learn about the realities for children across the world, you might want to sign up for Unicef's Postcards from Paddington initiative. Children might not be those most affected physically by Covid-19 but vulnerable children in all countries will be more at risk due to the wider and ongoing impact of the virus. And offering advice for parents and children, as well as support that you can donate towards is the excellent Bernardos Coronavirus Hub.

Those experiencing domestic abuse are also much more vulnerable right now and you can help a woman or child escaping domestic violence with the Buy a Refuge Parcel scheme. Or to be part of a wider change, you could support Action Aid's Coronavirus Appeal, helping to empower women's groups across the world to lead the response in their own communities.