Homespun E16 | Ashlee Elle

hi everyone welcome to Homespun where creativity and Community come together I am your host Misty D and today I'm joined by Ashley L of the dream crochet Ashley is such an incredible artist and she encourages others to create what they want to see in the world and to find joy in the process all right Ashley thank you so much for being with me today we have had to you know record this twice so we'll just be honest and upfront with everybody that we had some technical difficulties our first go around yes but um that's okay we're gonna we're gonna make this happen so I appreciate you being here with me oh thank you so much for having me again and you know that's that's what crafting too is all about sometimes you make sometimes things happen but you know what you can always go back and fix it right up that's right just got to be able to Pivot and try again pivot is the key absolutely well I would love it if you would let everyone know a little bit about how you got started because I know you shared the first time we talked about your family craft night and so can you talk a bit about that oh yes I would have a a many years ago right before College we would have a family craft night where we'd have pizza watch movies and then you know you know one person would bring in a certain craft and we'd all get into it so one night they brought in yarn and I was very intrigued because I love the idea IDE of being able to create because prior to crocheting I love to sew I love to bead so once I came across crocheting I you know became hooked instantly and was immediately into the idea of being able to create my own scars and hats so that's how I was first introduced and you know after much practice I you know was able to learn the craft even more still to the day I'm learning as a student student always and I just immediately fell in love with you know all things yarn and creating I love that and so that was your first introduction then into crochet was during those craft nights yes and that was like face to face this is before YouTube so it's definitely like you have to learn from in person or going to the library and picking up books and yeah it was just very Page by Page stitch by Stitch that's so fun so was it a member of your family that taught you yes um a lot of my family they know how to knit and they know how to crochet well some people know how to knit and some people know how to crochet so they introduced me into crocheting because knitting I was just you know let me get with the the the hook first okay yeah that's how I was introduced oh that's so fun I just have to say like I'm so intrigued by the idea of a family craft night I feel like every family should have that and what a fun way to kind of cultivate those creative interests entirely it was such I love coming to those moments and having those memories especially it's so kind of away from everything technology it's just kind of a such a peaceful moment that you get to share and you know you might not get it at first but the whole point is to have those kind of like the laughs and the memories and the pizza yeah absolutely well and like you said too the opportunity to learn Hands-On with people that you love and care about where you feel safe um that's the perfect learning environment you know yeah something that we share forever it's beautiful yeah absolutely so kudos to your family I mean what an incredible thing that's really cool very very thankful oh that's awesome and so you you fell in love with crochet and uh so how old were you at that time you said right before college is that right right I just got out of high school so I putting into college that fall and so I was about you know 17 so handful of years ago but and you you've been uh crocheting ever since right oh yes I went to college and I would you know crochet I you know went to college and was going to work at the same time so I was doing everything full-time so at the you know end of my day I would pick up a crochet my crochet hook and yarn and at least get a few stitches in to kind of allow the Tranquility that you know crocheting and that peace of mind brought and it was very on and off until you know I picked it up several years ago and I can't stop crushing now you're quite literally hooked right very much so yeah I love that so when did you decide you know what I want to share this um on the internet I want to I want to share what I'm doing well I've had been crocheting in uh as I said prior before YouTube and the internet and social media I'd just been crocheting for myself and you know show my friends and family and then they were just like you know you should share it online and I'm you know being a bit of an introvert I'm just like I don't know and then you know I love photography and videography so you know I thought why not present it and kind of share off my crafts and seeing how beautiful the craft world is and how large it is it's it's very you know overwhelming to see that we share all this this beautiful passion of creating and making and I just you know kind of put it all out there and shared it and realized like there's a huge beautiful Community out there H I love that so much and I you know it's one of those things you you touched on that you are a bit of an introvert I by Nature am as well I've kind of forced myself to be an extrovert because I used to be I'd get like crippling anxiety when I had to speak in front of people or or share with people and so how did you kind of overcome some of those rovert Tendencies and and be brave enough to put yourself out there oh yes I well actually I started with self-portrait photography so I love being behind the camera so I use self-portraits as a way to express myself artistically and kind of Express what I not able to so sure I love that yes so and I decided to take crochet and merge them together with being able to share my art you know with photographs and videography and be able to express myself and now I can't I don't even really see myself I see more of the art and the things that I'm creating and what I want to express so you know I'm very thankful for you know trying to push myself out there and do things that you know would give me the little Shivers but yeah absolutely but it it's helped a lot and you know I feel like the confidence in it it's just you know this is my art I'm excited to share it and and you know let's just get past all that anxiety and just kind of like you know a lot of other people have the same thing and they have this passion too so it's just you know just yeah just jump you're good I love that just jump oh it's such good advice well and and I've always felt what is that saying where it's like the the next big thing you're going to do is just on the other side of your comfort zone you know and so if you're not willing to stretch yourself beyond that then you're missing out on those opportunities to grow and learn and you know it's it's I like that you said you no longer really see yourself in it you see your art because I've never noticed that before but even when I'm teaching and sharing you know my designs and patterns I feel the same way it's just I'm I'm really proud of this thing that I've made and I just want to share it with people and and I'm just kind I'm just a mouthpiece and the rest is just doesn't matter you know entirely look at this yes yeah that's so fascinating I had never considered that before entirely I love that that happened and it was just kind of like oh this yeah and now you've created this beautiful um you know your Instagram is so vibrant and colorful and just joyful through through sharing what you you create and uh what a gift to so many people because you were willing to take that leap you know oh thank you so much yeah and I look back at you know C in you know she could be like come on it's you'll like yeah you'll see you know what it can create just you know how I started off just making scarves the idea of being able to make a sweater was just so I was so apprehensive about it but now I can so it's just you know let go of that that fear and just go for it because there's exciting things on the next Horizon I love that it's interesting because I've always considered myself a naturally crafty person like most crafts I can I can pick up and and at least be adequate but I must admit crochet is the one that has always evaded me so uh but you know I also haven't given up hope entirely like you know I know that all things are learned skills and so you know hearing hearing your St story it encourages me to give it another shot and not just completely decide it's not for me same that's how I feel with knitting I'm like i' I've I've got the cast on part I'm later I like I I have it's bookmarked in my craft mine so I'm I'm gonna learn it you're like I'll I'll get back to it get back to it I love that yeah a friend of mine tried to teach me crochet because she's like it's it's so simple you can do it and then once you know how you can do so many things and I'm like well teach me I'd love to learn and she tried so hard bless her she was so patient with me but by the end I had the most pathe little chain stitch you've ever seen and it was just too tight and I couldn't get myself to relax and just enjoy it I guess um and she she finally said you know maybe we'll have to come back to this another time but you know it is what it is and um so I guess the point of sharing that story is is there something that you would say to encourage people who are like me who have tried before and not had much success uh what would you what would you tell them oh yes like a i started the same way my scarves were winding robs they were not like I like to think they were abstract they were you know they had character so sure I love that so like after much practice with it I just you know it's all about practice and that's a very key ingredient and also it's you know you don't have to get everything now I always believe rest is a part of creative ingredient so you know I love the idea of if I'm not getting a project guess what it sits down I have projects that I haven't picked up in over a year but guess what I'm picking them up now and coming back to them there's no time limit on creativity and learning you're learning every single day so I'd say you know continue on with it and you know I had in my mind like I said I thought I'd never be able to make a sweater but one day I was just like you know what I'm G to sit down I'm G to figure it out and I know I'm not going to figure it out right now might not figure it out tomorrow or next year but I'm going to keep on practicing at it and eventually that'll become one hurdle that I've jumped over but and now you know looking back I'm like oh well that wasn't so you know I put this big mountain in front of me thinking that I couldn't climb it but you know it's step by step stitch by Stitch you learn every day and you'll get it I you know there's nothing that you can't get as you know put your mind to it you got it ah I love that I love that so much step by step it's so true and you know it's interesting because I can relate very much in what you just shared in the fact that I was terrified to teach my first tutorial to finally put myself out there and be like look at this thing that I made and you could make it too so can you talk a bit about that because now you design your own crochet projects you share them with the world um and so how how how do you encourage others to kind of follow your lead oh yes I just say you know my whole motto is like create what you want to see create what you feel you know and whatever you like you can make the most out of that you can create it over and over again if that's what you love so I would say you know I like to sit down with tons of journals and write down ideas and then how to go about those ideas and you know some things I you know put to the Future so future we can work on that but you know just kind of do and learn every single day what I want to create right now and what I how I want to express myself through this creativity and also realize that you know where I'm at is where I'm supposed to be at and you know where I'll be next is where I'm supposed to be next so it's all about being in the moment of creating because we so often kind of like look well I want to be right there I want to learn how to make that I want to do that but you know learning where your space in learning where you are in your space creatively you know you'll learn and you'll grow grow and it'll be even more beautiful when you make your next make so I would say you know keep at it and learn the uh the environment where you are and then you know take on that next step when whenever you're ready and you know you'll know when you're ready yeah yeah that's so true so when you're designing do you start with an idea in mind or you inspired by the yarn like where does that process begin oh yes I love to leave all the doors of inspiration open so you know sometimes I'll you know read a poem or listen to music or I'll see yarn and I'm instantly you know inspired so I kind of I love to leave that door open of possibilities because you never know you know what you're going to create next I'll be working on one project and then something will pop in my head and I'm like okay well let's sit this one down and I need to work on this one immediately and I also like I said I have Journal where I just write down a ton of ideas that come to mind or sometimes I go to the craft store and I peruse and look through I even go outside of the yarn section and just kind of look at different you know Notions and items and just see what kind of draws the inspiration and you know I make a note of it and then I go to the drawing board I love that I love that do you ever like feel like you're in a yarn store and and something just jumps at you and is like this needs to be this sweater right now yes I've had lots of yarn screaming at me at they can be so loud can't they and I'm just like I want to be good here yeah oh that's so funny it's so true but yes love when that happens yeah okay that's awesome so very similar to fabric in that way um you know I think I think it's exactly the same honestly cuz sometimes you know I'll be out walking my dog and it's like I see this beautiful flower and I'm like could I make that out of fabric or you know sometimes I'm just walking in one of our Shops and and it's like oh my gosh that fabric is so beautiful and it inspires the project and so it's interesting how those those patterns can kind of overlap with the different mediums and and we can connect through that process you know of of just embracing the creativity entirely like right now I Pi up a ton of fall fabric because I'm just like in that I'm so so do you still sew because you said that you sewed initially oh yes I started with sewing and I continue to sew right now I actually picked up a whole bunch of autum inspired Fabric and I'm just like in that mindset and right now I love kind of creating like a dream Duos where I mix crochet with my fabric so oh how fun I'm like I sew every day too so it's I love and I love merging them together I love that so how do you make time for your creative practice in your life what does that look like oh yes like I time is part of the ingredient too so I kind of like to balance it all out you know if I'm not able to get to something one day it's okay I like I always tell myself you know what there's Tomorrow there's the next day we can we'll get to it so I kind of like to balance it and also I work on how I'm feeling the energy of that day and if I'm kind of like in the to sew I'll sew or if I'm to move to crochet I crochet or if it's just like a a rest day where I just you know think of ideas or just kind of let it flow it just from day to day I let the creativity and the energy kind of move me towards what I'm supposed to be creating in the moment try to keep it as natural as possible yeah absolutely um so is there something like maybe you're having a creative block because I think that happens to all of us where all of a sudden you're like I'm never gonna have another good idea at least that happens to me so how do you kind of help yourself out of that uh Funk that you're in oh yeah I entirely allow it to happen that's one of the things so many times where we want to fight against it and think oh I need to create something I need to think of something right now but I think it happens for a reason and it's kind of it's I feel like it's more of like the mind and the the brain taking a rest and being like okay this is the part just you know give it a moment because an idea will pop up you just kind of have to it's okay to be in that space where it's just I'm not really sure but I kind of use that as an ingredient towards creating creating because you know that moment allows you to kind of it it brings about some really great ideas because I've had moments where I'm just like what do I want to create next what do I want to create next and then it pops up and I'm like oh well hello there I you know was in this space where I had this block but you know that door open and then all these ideas came rushing in and I'm like oh no that's what I really wanted and it's it's an exciting part of the process but it's also a learning part too that rest is definitely involved so something that I found at least in my creative practice is that when I am constantly under the pressure of a deadline which is a very real thing for me because my creative hobby is also my job you know my full-time career um that I lose the joy in the creativity and so I've had to learn to manage my time in a way that allows that Crea creative like energy to flourish you know when I'm when it feels too much like a work then I find that I I'm not doing my best work I'm not excited about it I'm not proud of it but when I give myself space and I actually block out days on the calendar that it's like you know what I'm just going to go um I'm going to go to a museum today I'm going to do this something that might just fill me with other people's creativity and just fill my bucket up because then I know I'll be able to find that inspiration when it's necessary but finding that balance can be really difficult so is there something you do in your life to maintain that as much as possible oh yes entirely I love writing poetry I love writing songs songs and the same thing I love looking at art and just kind of being inspired by others as well and just listening to their stories reading and all all that music just to kind of get myself out of that place because I completely understand with deadlines it just when work becomes when your your art becomes work that's it does kind of start to take that away and not I'm learning the balance as well as I go to kind of maintain like this is so a treat like a life treat that you're able to create and also you know with it becoming also work so it's definitely a moment where it doesn't become too overwhelming where it takes the joy out of it because I have you know we' read stories where people are just like I don't find the love in it and I'm like always maintain that love and I think if you you know recognize it as well and realize like hey you know I need to get some throw some Joy up in this so that I'm motivated and still have that love even though it is I have a deadline have need to get to so it's like that kind of part of it but it's definitely a balance that you know I kind of try to be mindful and remind myself and kind of be like you know what think about you know you years ago that would have loved this opportunity so absolutely so I just kind of like kind of be my own cheerleader in a way it's just like let's go like get through it I love that a thought just came to me in the you know I'm a mom and so I'm constantly trying to like nurture those relationships with my children and my husband and it takes work to maintain a a you know a beautiful loving relationship and I think creativity is a lot the same in a weird way even though it's not another person it's still this this relationship you have with your art that you have to kind of treat with care yes and I think a lot of people it's easy to kind of disregard it especially when we consider it oh it's just a hobby you know and so sometimes we're not willing to to give it the the space and the attention that it really deserves because it's it's such a crucial part at least you know for me and I think you would agree with me of the human experience as a whole to be able to have that creative expression um it just really requires that special attention and care it it TR really does it's you do have to kind of treat it like a garden you have to nurture it and it is a relationship because you know whenever you create something that is you know something you know that you're you're putting out into the world that it's a part of you yes and we're all art too so it's just all of it's like definitely a steady balance of nurturing and caring and realizing that there is a lot of love and adoration that goes into it that also gives us so much tranquility and joyfulness that it it is definitely like a relationship that you kind of have to make sure it's like are are we doing okay yeah exactly let me check in here ex check in like how we doing today we're doing great you know got this new project I'm ready to go or if you need to take a moment take your moment and you know have that space But you know it's the return to it too and always sure that there's that you know that steadiness with it yeah I love that well we touched on earlier just a little bit about your Instagram and the incredible like joyfill community that you've kind of created there and I you know I'm also on the internet and while it can be a wonderful place it can also be really hard so can you talk a little bit about you know kind of making that leap and putting yourself out there was there anything any haters or any challenges that you had to overcome within uh you know kind of the social media world oh yes entirely it it's jumping into the whole social media it's like you're you feel like an open book especially with something like how you're talking about with your art you like you feel so like protective over it where it's just you know you feel kind of like you know oh no and that's how I felt going into it but I believe with every learning curve with it it's I like to balance it out I like to ensure that I'm spending a certain amount of time online but like also allowing myself to not be online and get away from it because you know the craft that we do is away from it so it's just having that balance of being able to you know not overdo one or the other and have a good balance to and also realizing that you know whatever that you do there's going to be positive and negative that's a part of life too so it's all being once again very Mindful and being like okay well take whatever energy that you're receiving and turn it into something positive and you know place it into your craft and go back and return to you know the things that you love and remember that we're here to share this beautiful beautiful beautiful opportunity to create and make and share it and that right there is just such a special opportunity to be able to Showcase what we all do and we all love so much so it's definitely a balance and also you know every day being very kind of mindful realizing that you know what you're doing is something positive is something you know beautiful and you know you might have you know when you walk sometimes you might trip it is what it is the I love that get back up walking and you might trip again it happens so it's just yeah it's it's all about yeah if you're like me it happens more than it should for an adult woman but walking that's that's me yeah exactly oh it's so so true oh I just love that Ashley that that is just really incredible is is there anything else that um you're looking forward to I guess creatively something maybe new and different that you're uh excited to try well I have this one idea on the horizon that I'm really excited for it's actually mixed in with quilting oh you know I love that have this idea that I really want to mix with uh quilted Fabric and crochet so it's a really project in my head I'm like I can sew this I know I can do this and I can crochet this so that's a project that I have that you know once again it popped into my head wow it's just kind of H well that'll be a great idea and then so that's one of those I like to set a very Grand project for myself and if I don't get to it that's okay that's always next year or the next year but I'm really excited to challenge myself because I think you know being creative challenging yourself is always such a fun you know growth uh lesson for yourself absolutely I love that well and I'm I'm absolutely intrigued so if you need any help or tips along the way you just reach out to me you know how to get a hold of me so I'd be happy to help and maybe you can finally help me master that crochet we'll just you know help each other make make this project happen there that's right exactly I would love that so much well I have just thoroughly enjoyed our conversation I'm I am so grateful that you have taken the time to to talk with me and to share more about your story and so I just wondered if there's any kind of final message that you would want to share with people to just lift them up or um to encourage them on their Journey oh yes and thank you so much for having me as well I truly appreciate it I would like to say that I believe that with creating remember the joy of it and kind of create your own beautiful space of it and you know create what you want to see and always kind of remember the love in it and the joy of just creating just to create even if it's just for yourself it brings so much Serenity and tranquility and so much joy and it's one of the things that I say I wish I could bottle up especially when you finish a project that feeling is like no other you cannot buy it in stores so true it's something that it's just like I I wish everyone could feel that that feeling of you know you have an idea then you make it and then it's done and then you you know have the beautiful opportunity to showcase it to others it's just it's such a great feeling and I you know want everyone to always remember that joy and the fact that we just we all share it and it's such a wonderful thing and you know I very very thankful to have come across creating and making crocheting sewing all of it I I'm just thankful to be able to you know create and make and and I always say you know keep that joy in it always I love that thank you thank you for sharing all of that and thank you for sharing your art with the world because it is is a beautiful bright spot on Instagram and so can you let everyone know uh where to follow along and see what you're up to oh yes you can follow me um on Instagram on the dream crochet also have my own website as well the dream crochet.com or you can you know type it in Google the dream Crochet shop and you'll find you know all the places where I'm making fun stuff awesome well thank you so much Ashley I hope I'll get to t uh chat with you again soon so have a great day and I will talk to you later thank you so much truly appreciate it you bet bye bye bye