Stop Slacking and Start Sewing!

For someone who is constantly advising people to "go for it" because "you only live once", I sure do slack off. A lot. Which isn't to say that I'm lazy. I like to bunch up so many thoughts, ideas, and tasks that the only deeds that are actually accomplished are the really nagging thoughts, ideas, and tasks. I always do what I have to do and rarely do what I want to do. Lately I've tasked myself with the simple idea of focus. Focus on my goals, focus on what I want next in life, focus on doing something that will be fulfilling, enjoyable, and can make life easier in the long run. 

Whenever I look at life this way, only one task fits the bill - sewing. Sewing brings out my suppressed creative side. It's fun. It's meditative. Yes, meditative. I exercise. A lot. I have plenty of opportunity for alone time. But my brain doesn't stop. This is why I can not do yoga. My brain does not shut up. Not ever. Not even when I'm supposed to be asleep. When I sew, I have to concentrate. I have to use my brain and my body to carefully coordinate around my makeshift sewing area in my bedroom often with two boys wrestling around on my bed vying for my attention. Some of the time it all comes together and the rest of the time I end up with battle scars from my iron like this one:

I didn't even mind the battle scar that I received while I was distracted by two boys performing feats of strength in the background because in the midst of all of it, I accomplished something. I finished a project! 

I know other people finish things all of the time. I can't touch those people. I don't even want to try because it will suck the fun right out of my hobby. I just want to enjoy myself and focus on my goal which is now 20 projects before January 1st. This blog is for accountability. I need it more for sewing than I do for running or lifting or for any other of my 1,000 goals. Sewing takes talent and thus makes me feel talented. It's time to force myself to recognize that I have skill and stop blocking my creativity. 

Time for Project #1: The Daphne Tote pattern by Artsy-Crafty Babe 

Project #1 was a prototype to get me used to sewing again and to get comfortable using interfacing. It is definitely not perfect but it isn't too far off either. I was happy with it. I was pleasantly surprised by my friends' reactions to it and as soon as one of them said they wanted it, I told them they could have it. I was so excited that someone might actually want something I made that I didn't think twice. 

I was worried that because I have vowed to make 20 items first before selling or giving anything away that my partner would be disappointed. I should have known better to think someone who would give the shirt off his back to a stranger (and often has) would be disappointed. So maybe come January 1st I will have 19 items and a sense of satisfaction that an old friend of mine carries this bag that I made around with her occasionally as she goes through her own hectic schedule. Even if for some reason out of my control Project #1 ends up being Project Only 1, it will be alright because for one day my brain was satisfied taking a backseat to creativity.