Here I am. Week 2 and creating another post. Ramping up my sewing efforts is a big deal and probably even more so is taking the time to write blog posts about it. This week should have been the settling in week for my household. We are on the third week of school for the kids and my partner is on his fourth week of working at a new job. Plus soccer for the kids. Plus new undergraduate and graduate courses for the adults. But we are not by any means settled into our schedule yet.
I write that and there are probably a hundred thousand nodding heads out there somewhere thinking the same types of things about their own crazy schedules. Fact is, I never let life settle in long enough to consider a regular schedule. It seems like just when things get to that point, I shake things up and find myself in a strange new wonderland. Something always seems to be changing and I like that. I embrace change. It's times of stability that drive me to do odd things. I am most comfortable among the chaos.
Even with the craziness that is, I managed to get sewing time in and finished project #2. I had better post the pictures before I run out of time again!
Project #2: Ruby Bag pattern by Artsy-Crafty Babe.
This fabric has been sitting in my stash for quite some time and I thought it would be a fun one to use in trying out this pattern. It was easy to use and quick to put together - even for me. The bag is bold and I think it would take the right bold person to pull it off but it will definitely draw some attention. As I expected, I didn't get as much of a reaction out of people on this one but all-in-all it is a more well constructed bag than #1 was.
Still not perfect but I'm getting more comfortable with the skills I have and more knowledgeable about the areas where I need help. I'm hoping that through this I can build confidence in sewing and can master a few tricks along the way. Next project is a market bag - two really - and I've already made headway on it so stay tuned...
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.
