Flower Power (aka "but what does it DO?")

Those of you who know me well are already aware that I'm obsessive, I never met a craft I didn't see value in, and I can't walk past a bargain. Meet the culmination of all three - crocheted flowers.How did this happen? Well, I went to a discount designer goods store, you know the kind of place - overstock and miscalculations from retailers that go into an 'everything under one roof' type of store, everything you don't need but will probably take home with you, I came in here for one specific thing and I'm leaving with a bag full of stuff that doesn't even remotely resemble what I came in here for, that kind of place. The kind of place I should NOT be allowed near. So, I went in for something very reasonable (can't even recall what that was ...) and came out with this charming book, bargain priced at $4.99, and a couple of balls of funky yarn/fibers that were practically thrown in free.Well, I'm so determined lately to USE what I own, not just collect. Believe it or not I'm actually clearing out the accumulated clutter from 20+ years of living in the same home (I know, you don't believe me, but it's true). So, if you own a crochet book and some funky yarn, you will need some crochet hooks, correct? I searched through my grandmothers legacy of crafting goodness left to me, but found no hooks (she had lots, but they must have gone to another home for crafty goodness). A stop at the craft store after work yielded the necessary crochet hooks (oh yes, plural, you can't buy just one), one more ball of yarn (which has turned out to be my favourite, and yes, it was on sale, how did you guess??), and a growing enthusiasm for this insane project. I should mention at this point that I have not touched crochet in decades , since a particularly awkward attempt when I was a Girl Guide, seriously, DECADES ago!!

Thursday was Thanksgiving, devoted to food prep and massive feasting, which I dutifully did (both). The Friday after Thanksgiving is full of traditions, some go shopping, camping outside the stores all night - so NOT for me, thank you; some go walking to work off that feasting - not this time, thanks; some clean house and put up Christmas decorations - I did some light household tasks, but I'm absolutely not putting up Christmas decorations this early; what's left? I made bubble and squeak with the roastie leftovers, that's a given around here, what next? How about a PJ crafty arty day, hot cups of tea and nibbling on holiday leftovers while the shoppers are out beating each other to bargains, fighting for parking space and elbowing their fellow human beings out of the way? Sounds perfect, what shall I do? Why, make crocheted flowers of course!

Do you remember that ancient Star Trek episode where Captain Kirk ends up covered in Tribbles? That's pretty much what happened around here - one flower turned into several, then many. They are mutliplying rapidly, I'm in love!! Double flowers, single flowers, large petals, lacy petals, stacked flowers one atop the next. After quite a few flowers had appeared the question was asked by another member of the household - "what do you DO with them?". Um, I'm just wondering about that myself.

Stacked flowers

Clearly they have no function, they are decorative, whimsical, embellishments, frosting on the cake of life. William Morris is quoted as saying "have nothing in your home that you do not believe to be functional or beautiful" - I'm working on that, but these will still be in the picture as they fall into the 'beautiful' category. I'm thinking they will make pretty brooches, possibly with vintage pins or buttons in the center, great additions to journal covers, good embellishments on purchased scarves and hats or even tea cosies, the book shows them on tank tops and towels, I picture them on upcycled clothing and hand made totes ... they are quite possibly the flowers that will take over the world. What would you do with them, any suggestions?