Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

As a fashionista, I've walked out of a movie theater or closed my laptop with a sense of wonder brimming with my own reverie: "That dress was so unique!" or "I wonder how they made that blouse?" For many years, I've had a habit of indulging in these musings through crocheting (needlework consisting of interlocking looped stitches formed with a single thread and a hooked needle). I would incorporate personal messages through my work and share stories about those messages. Sometimes I splattered my thoughts and feelings through crocheting by using funky colors and patterns to express my jumbled up emotions. Conjuring and fleshing out all of my thoughts, stories, and love became an escape from stress or boredom. Pacing around while crocheting became a common sight in my household. Adding new intricate patterns and creating blank spots in my work added suspense to the stories I would remind myself with and share with my family. This let me jumpstart my brain and allowed me to come back to my work feeling refreshed and ready to tackle my tasks. My favorite item I made was for Neveah, a 10-year-old girl battling Leukemia. Her love for mosaics was the inspiration for the beautiful intricate quilt with criss crossing shapes I was able to create. The vibrancy of the blues, reds, greens, oranges and yellows pulled the quilt together. I even crocheted a heart shaped balloon on the bottom right corner of the quilt with a "Get well soon!" quote. As the relationship I have with Neveah improved, so did the relationship with myself. I began to be more open with myself and express my emotions through crocheting. Additionally, I became much more adept at elaborating and illustrating my ideas, which helped me in the classroom. Crocheting gave me practice in painting a picture through patterns and designs, which also gave me an opportunity to share my work at BAPS Kids Diwali Fair and share the meaning and message behind some pieces. I believe that the joy and love I find in crocheting can help others find love in artistic representation.