About Me

 

Hello friends! I’m Olivia, the busy bee behind Hopeful Honey where I love to design and share unique crochet patterns inspired by nature and the beauty around me. This little blog is simply an excuse to combine my three biggest passions of crochet, design & writing.

Growing up, I was a quiet and somewhat shy child, and enjoyed spending multiple hours nestled in a tree, working on my latest craft, soaking up the sun and

admiring the world below… Creativity has just been my way of life since birth; I’d be lost without it. Born and raised in South Africa, it wasn’t until I reached the young age of six when my family decided to pack up all our belongings and move all the way to Australia, where we settled in a small, cosy town on the sunny south coast.

Another six years passed before I turned the page to the hardest chapter in my life story. I was only twelve when my life went spinning out of control. Within a short few months, I had spent weeks in the hospital, undergone more procedures and tests than I can count and lost all sense of normality.

Fast forward to three years later, and not much had changed. Overcome with the loss of my health, I lost every ounce of hope I had clung onto until that moment, gradually giving way to the fear and pain, I slipped into a dark depression. But along this journey, God held me and gave me signs that He was there. Looking back now I realise that the kind nurse who made me smile, the friends that brought flowers and hugs, and even the woman who recommended I see a new doctor never knew how much they changed my life. How God planted small seeds of hope along my painful journey, which eventually budded into small seedlings of joy and grew into a beautiful life full of faith and love. If it wasn’t for that woman, I don’t want to know where I’d be this very minute. The specialist she had recommended squeezed me in, and within a few months of treatment I had regained a life I thought lost to me forever. I still experience flareups with my health to this day, which frustrating as it may be when I’m excited to work on a new design or travel, it is manageable and I’m so thankful for the way in which God transformed my life

It was during these months of healing that I discovered Pinterest for the very first time. I was drawn to the creativity in every post, and without even realising, it awoke within me a new passion to create and design. A few weeks and hundred pins later, I sat down in front of my laptop and popped onto Blogger… A turn of events that would change my life forever. A new sense of purpose instantly came over me, so when it came to the difficult decision of naming my blog, it wasn’t really that difficult at all. The name represents hopefulness, spirituality, inspiration, creativity and healing.

Other than the granny square I gave up on crocheting when I was nine, I’ve been crocheting since 2012 when I taught myself via various YouTube videos. This has heavily influenced my love for teaching others, and helping them onto the right path as they start on their own journey to a beautiful life full of yarn, hooks, stitches and all the happiness that crochet brings! I’m finding such joy in helping others achieve this same feeling of fulfilment, and a chance to feel proud of themselves by creating. I strongly encourage anyone and everyone I meet to join in the magic and mindfulness of crocheting and knitting – A healthy addiction for the mind and soul.

Despite the dark and low times, I also had moments of love and light. Today though, my life has never been so bright and beautiful… God pulled me out of the dark and has given me such a love for others and for making. I’ve found confidence in who I am as a person, what I’m here to do and don’t mind the challenges that may present themselves on this new path… Remember, keep your face towards the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you, and know that each of you being on this beautiful journey with me makes this day even more special than the one before.

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little bit about me and the Hopeful Honey blog… And never forget, you are enough.

 

Hopeful Honey

Hopeful Honey has been a lot of different things since it began back in 2012. Today it is a thriving hive of activity, where makers gather to expand their creative horizons. Our mission consists of two things, to make crochet cool again and to change the world one stitch at a time. As a crochet-wear company with a modern approach to a timeless art form, we’re big advocates of the slow fashion movement, as we believe fashion should be made with love and in a sustainable way. By igniting a sense of self worth in herself, Olivia loves allowing other crocheters, knitters and everyone a chance to feel proud of themselves by unleashing their creativity to create something beautiful.

From the meditative and cognitive benefits that crochet offers, you’ll not only reduce your stress and anxiety levels, but also have the incrediable oppurtunity to teach your children, your friends and your family about this wonderful craft… In a generation of fast-paced lifestyles, we can’t lose sight of making with our hands… A simple way to brighten every single day.

The focus of Hopeful Honey is sophisticated pieces made with simple stitches and techniques, whilst drawing inspiration from the world around us in the form of nature, yarn, textures and colours!  Every design and pattern is meticulously created by Olivia, and has been thoughtfully written with the maker in mind.

Since launching, Hopeful Honey has grown into a wonderful community of makers. Olivia’s designs have been featured in I Like Crochet and Inside Crochet magazines, Buzzfeed, Skip To My Lou and numerous other crochet blogs and websites. She often collaborates with the wonderful team over at LoveCrochet on instructional video tutorials, the creative people behind Lion Brand on unique crochet designs and the makers over at Wool And The Gang, We Are Knitters, Sirdar and Furls Crochet on exciting product reviews/launches.

 

Design Philosophy

Designing is what I am most passionate about, and I strive to design unique pieces with simple but unexpected details. My style is chic but playful, which is distinctively reflected in my work, resulting in timeless pieces with hints of quirky touches inspired by the beauty of natural landscapes all around us. I always aim for comfort, warmth and versatility whilst closely paying attention to detail. My design process starts with a moment of gentle inspiration, whether it be from a distant memory, the tranquility of the ocean or the wind quietly weaving it’s way through the lush, rolling hills, I always want to capture those special moments and feelings that life exudes and channel them into every piece I make.