Sewing is a lot like life...sure, there are patterns for just about everything, but in order to love what you do, or love what you make, you have to change the pattern to make it your own regardless if the change is a fraction of an inch or the length of a yard. And more often that not, those choices you make to change the pattern do not work out exactly the way you hope. It can be frustrating and challenging, and sometimes you have have to rip it all apart at the seams and start completely over. Which requires patience. A lot of patience. But in doing so, you create something that is far more rewarding, and far more beautiful, then what you started with.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

My Top 5 Sewing Resoluations for the New Year (and a confession) ((and a new project!))

Towards the end of 2010, I honestly started to feel like I was sewing without purpose....or, I guess if I am being honest, I was sewing for the wrong purpose....that is, I found that I was sewing more to "produce" and keep up with weekly link parties, then sewing because I loved it. And honestly, it just felt wrong, so I took a break. There was almost a month that I didn't even go in my sewing room.

But after reading my Top 10 posts of the year, it helped me remember all the projects that I loved finishing for the first time. And so I have decided to put out here my Sewing Resolutions for 2011:

1. Sew because I love the project.
2. Try new projects requiring new skills....like sewing zippers.
3. Try new projects for my home....like throw pillows and table runners. Why shouldn't my home be on the receiving end?
4. Visit more brick & mortar quilt shops using my Quilter's Travel Companion. I love the convenience of ordering online, but I am never 100% satisfied with my choices because maybe the coloring or pattern was hard to see online. I also love to see and feel the fabric in person.
5. Not be afraid to use my pretty fabric out of fear of using it all...why should it sit on the shelf? I am always happier after I use it anyways.
6. Bookmark more of my favorite posts...the blogging community is so supportive and so creative, I want to be able to both refer back and feature those ideas and projects I love more often.

After I read through my Top 10 posts, I walked into my sewing room and picked up this pattern

and picked up these fabrics off the shelf


and I started cutting. And I am once again feeling the joy of sewing. It feels good again.

5 comments:

  1. Suzy MyersJanuary 2, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    You know, I probably wouldn't have paired those colors myself. But seeing them together, I think they will make that bag just awesome! I can't wait to see it!

    Stop by my UFO Challenge and link up if you think you might want to take on the challenge. Bet you have some UFO's lying around too!

    suzy

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  2. BeverlyJanuary 2, 2011 at 2:16 PM

    Awesome resolutions! #3 and #5 are on my list as well. I'm going to sew for me and use my pretty fabrics. I'm sure the anxiety of cutting into those will subside over time. =)

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  3. JenniferJanuary 2, 2011 at 10:00 PM

    I think I might be stealing some of your resolutions :) Great list...

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  4. janimalJanuary 3, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    I am SO with you on #5.
    I read something recently that has changed how I look at my fabric stash. I forget where it was from. "There will always be more pretty fabric"

    I thnk of that every time I look at some pretty fabric in my stash -- it can be replaced by something else I love! It is SO freeing!

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  5. jmtJanuary 7, 2011 at 8:40 PM

    It's very good that you realized WHY you were sewing and why you SHOULD be sewing early on, instead of say...3 years later!

    ReplyDelete

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