Cupcake fetish

Long time readers of this blog will probably know by now that I am a woman that periodically gets obsessed with certain things. I see an idea somewhere and I just have to try it or make it. I then fixate on it (kind of obsessively) and when the enthusiasm has run its course I stop. Sometimes I completely stop. So much so that I never want to make that thing again! It's a sort of 'been there, done that' thing. Ocassionally the idea might retain a very mild interest so that I will visit it again.

You may recall some of my obsessions: there was the plant dyeing, the owls, the knitted fruit, the tie dye T shirts, the brooches, the bags (made from felted jumpers) and many others (you can click on each link if you wish).

Some years ago I met an older waldorf teacher who happened to remark that this behaviour was quite sanguine (one of Steiner's four personality types). Basically sanguines love change and flit from one thing to another. When something new comes along their enthusiasm knows no bounds and they are real 'jack of all things and masters at none' types. When I was told this you cannot believe the relief I felt. I had berated myself for years for not sticking to things and now I knew why I didn't. It was just the way I was.

Anyway, I'm digressing because I really wanted to show you my latest obsession. Last week I got fixated on making a cupcake - not the edible type (I make far too many of those already). So I did some googling and I found this pattern and proceeded to make this cupcake:

However, I didn't like the look of this one at all and when I pulled at the base it looked better as an ice cream:

Then I saw this on flickr and after researching a new crochet stitch for the surround bit I came up with this:

Even worse than the first one! At least the first one looked like a cake - this one looked like a splodge. I learned a new crochet stich though (it's called front post something or other). Then I found this pattern and this is what I got:

more like a bakewell tart don't you think?

So I changed the wool I was using and made the pattern a bit bigger and out came this:

much more like a cupcake and much more to my liking. (My family and visitors meanwhile were beginning to think that I had finally lost it. I don't know how many times I was asked "er, what's it for?"). Maybe I should have just kept saying 'shut up I'm sanguine' or something!

So at last I was happy. I had made a cupcake. I could tick that off my list.

I'm sure you're all thinking that I could have bought a pattern off Little Cotton Rabbit for one of her cupcakes (which are absolute perfection by the way). But do you know what - that was just a little too easy. I had to go through a process. And now that I've been through it I probably will buy her pattern and make some for pressies.

I do envy people who commit to one thing and master it. I have a friend at school who needlefelts and she makes the most exquisite things. But I'm just not like that. There are too many things out there for me to try. Now that I know what I'm like I do make myself finish things off before I move on. I used to firmly believe that I would go back to the thing another time. So unfinished things would pile up. But not anymore.

Can anyone relate to this? I'd love to hear your views whether you're a flitter or a sticker at?

Meanwhile I'm going to leave you with a pic of our rather busy nature table and wish you all a Happy Easter. We have three lovely weeks off.

Comments

[louise]

i flit too and thank you - that was a relief to hear that it was sanguine behaviour and not fickle!! there is also a great little knitted cupcake pattern in that book - one skein. i don't mind the first one you did either - i might have to have a wee go myself!

happy easter to you and yours x

[Pip]

I flit as well, this is a great relief to me as I too thought there was something wrong. I find that it makes a nice break to try something new and then go back and finish off a larger project.
take care
Pip

[Sarah]

Fun cupcakes. We have a crazy amount of Easter decorations too and we're about to make some more today! Happy Spring!

[Pam]

So glad there is a name for people like us.
I hardly ever finish anything but when I do get my teeth into something I have to have all the books/ball of wool/beads/
fabric/... etc..so much so my workroom is fit to burst. Wonder if this is a form of OCD
Going to put up a sign saying I am not a flitter just sanguine!!!!.. Do you think that will work. Current obsession crochet/knitting.
Wonder what the next will be ? thinking of taking a spinning class......

[shelle]

I love starting new things and want to learn everything. My problem is my planning stage is l-o-n-g and sometimes I don't even bother trying because of everything that might go wrong. Neurotic, isn't it?
I think I have a tendency towards being melancholic..
Happy Easter! off to bake hot cross buns

[Pat]

Happy Easter,
I love the cupcakes and the "wanna be" cupcakes as well. I am a flitter as well. I have vowed no new crafts! Maybe a class here or there but no more stuff, until I empty the basement. So I flitter within knitting and card making. I have more ideas than time, energy, and skill.
Happy Easter!!!
Pat (Ypsilanti,Michigan, USA)

[Linda]

I have just found your blog for the first time and it is beautiful....

[star trek voyager]

I love your blog so much, and there are just some differences with others'. Hope there will be more wonderful things in your blog. Happy every day! http://www.star-trek-dvd.com/star_trek/Voyager/index.html

[Jo Windmill]

I share your enthusiasm for knitted cupcakes. And lovely lovely blog!

[dottyspots]

LOL! Let's hear it for strong sanguine tendencies - I love starting new things and although I've stuck with knitting, I go through phases of what I make and usually stick to smaller, easily finished items because I'm always wanting to get on to making the next thing :)

[UK lass in US]

Here's a free knitted cupcake pattern that I made and liked: http://ax174.blogspot.com/2006/02/my-own-pattern-iv-cupcake.html

Just in case, um, you want to make another one...