Hello all you lovely people in the Sewcialist Land, I've had this thing on my mind lately. Its a thing about sew-a-longs, themes, and pledges that have proliferated of late. I mean, I'm totally happy that they do, and I'm fully aware that I'm an enabler and instigator.But for myself personally I feel like I can't keep up with the pace of sew-a-longs, et al. I'm totally a rules breaker and usually a non-conformist. Which is a polite way of saying I'm contrary. Sorry, not contrite at all.
To be honest, I love making plans but rarely follow them. Its kind of like that saying "Life is what happens while your busy making other plans", except I do it to myself.
SQUIRREL!
What was I saying? Oh right, inability to keep up with the pace. You know, I figure I'm probably not the only person that feels that way, and I thought I would share. Because seriously, don't let yourself be distracted. Or go along with things as you like, its all good.
And something else, too. I discovered I sew the way I think. To use crankysysadmin terminology, I've got a quad core brain and its multi-threading processes (projects) all the time. I like to cut a lot of things out at once, then sew them up as I like. I'm not very "one project at a time". Sometimes a process gets stuck and I have to reboot, or sometimes the file gets corrupted and we got to scrap it and re-install. And sometimes I just need to power down and chill out.
Can you believe its taking me over a week to write this much? I've been overcome with a great amount of lethargy and I'm going to blame it on the weather. In the 22 years of living in Atlanta I have NEVER experienced such a cold, wet, and miserable winter. Ok, its not totally miserable, there was some beautiful moments. But the problem with climate change is we don't know what to expect anymore, ya know, other than volatility. But any way, its been a major contributor to my lethargy. There's promise of high 60's low 70's next week, and that's good.
Also I can finally share another bit of great news because its official. We are going on an 8 day Caribbean cruise with our dear friend Dreama and her family, which includes me being her Matron of Honor. I have to make something to wear for that and will do double duty as a dress for the formal dinners. Along with some sun dresses and other cruising attire. This will be happening in May and the kids are beside themselves with anticipation.
And last but not least, February is BLUE! I will say I love the color themed months the best because it leaves style and pattern up to the person.
What a good post! I feel the same way - things are getting overloaded! I mean, there are a million different pledges for using up stash, not buying RTW, etc... all of which are great, but man so I wish they could all be consolidated! Last year I felt like I turned a corner and suddenly had the confidence to invent new challenges etc, like the Sewcial Bee or Sewing Dares. It was so fun to get people excited! This year though, I'm still interested in those thing but kinda feel like I'll just overwhelm people. I"m backing off, at least for a while!
ReplyDeleteAs for breaking the rules... I've always been shocked at just how seriously some of us take the arbitrary rules set by our peers! I say break them, bend them, make them work for you... because dammit, it's our hobby! :) Let's have fun.
"Its a hobby, lets have fun" should totally go on a wall plaque.
DeleteI don't know if it's that there's too much stuff out there, but I definitely don't have the concentration/focus for sewalongs and group-themed-projects right now. It's all I can do to get from one project to the next. I miss being part of a bigger thing, but that's just where I am right now.
ReplyDeleteENJOY that cruise! You sure deserve it. :D
We all have our moments of participation and moments of introversion. Its all good. And thank you! For once I actually feel like its OK to do something nice for myself.
DeleteI'm with you 100% on sewalongs. I love the idea of having buddies to sew with, but know I can't keep up the pace. I also don't want to necessarily follow the rules. I get time to sew maybe one project a month so I am definitely going to make it the way I want, color or otherwise.
ReplyDeleteIs there such a thing as a sewalong where we make whatever the heck we want?? :) I would be TOTALLY in for that! :D
My comment got eaten by my tech fail. Cheers to you!
DeleteI like the challenge of combining sew alongside sometimes (sew blue February tween jeans sew monthly pants from my stash--maybe) but, I agree that it can get overwhelming and that I must show restraint in choosing what to join and when.
ReplyDeleteIts all about knowing what you like and find fun.
Deletei know what you mean. i used to try and do everything, but that tends to mean that i end up with things in my wardrobe i don't really wear. so now, i will sew along if it fits the plans (like blue february - i have blue things i would be sewing anyway) but i won't join in with things like jungle january or green december. i don't sew costumes (so shieldmaiden march is not for me!) and won't sew things that i won't wear (like the georgia dress or a chanel style jacket). the mad men challenge i am totally there with though!
ReplyDeletei hear you on the weather (except here it's not going to be warm for about 4 months!). have a fabulous time on the cruise! can't wait to see your dress plans!
Oh, I hadn't seen the Chanel style jacket one. HA! And thank you, I plan to have tons of fun just relaxing and taking in the scenery. Oh, and finding a fabric store SOMEWHERE on the island.
DeleteGreat post! I think learning to pick and choose is just another one of those life management skills one picks up - for me it's been as I get older and more comfortable with myself, I'm able to take on some but not others, without feeling constricted either way. Also, some sewalongs have led me sew things I NEVER would have made had I not got carried away and joined in, sometimes almost despite myself - and in fact these have turned out to be some of my most successful makes! I sometimes wonder if my creativity is rather extroverted - it sparks off other people.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, really great that you posted this - I reckon we all need a reminder sometimes that we don't HAVE to join in or do anything in particular :-)
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I totally copy people too.
DeleteYes, the last 4 or 5 months, I've had to really restrict, pick and chose what I follow and join. Sewing has really taken over, the blogs and sewalongs I've been adding, I can't POSSIBLY read them all, there are literally thousands with many cropping up just in the last few months! I think it's terrific, but does leave the job up to the individual to know when to say 'no' and streamline things so that they are fun and achievable. And, for Blue February, I have SO much blue fabric, I don't know where to begin. Apparently, it must be a favourite colour.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I totally agree. It's something I have to remind myself of though - I have a tendency to want to join all the things, get overwhelmed and/or make things that aren't very "me", then loose my mojo and disappear for a time. I think I really struggle because I remember one of the rules of a particular challenge (or rather set of) was that the entry should *not* be something you were planning to do anyway because then it wouldn't be a "challenge". I've had a hard time getting past that. The color challenges are great though because they're so flexible.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, how exciting about the cruise! The Caribbean is just beautiful. It should be a wonderful, relaxing time for all of you. :-)
Yeah, this year I pretty much decided not to participate in any challenges. But I didn't really think I could do a post about that! I was wrong! ;) I feel pretty good if I can get anything done at all and sometimes the pressure/encouragement is useful, but not in 2014. I am filtering in some of the ideas from the colette wardrobe architect thingy though.
ReplyDeleteYou post thought-provoking posts! I like challenges (biking ,sewing, sustainability, reading far too many P&P rewrites, etc.) when they motivate me to do something I was meaning to do anyway, but I only participate in the sewing ones if I can work within my current plans. I don't consider it cheating -- my true challenge is always starting and then actually finishing anyway. I figure anyone who wants to police my participation can go ... rip out a seam or something.
ReplyDeleteOf course, right now I'm behind on three sewing challenges already. Oh well.
I feel so much the same! I feel like I've disappointed people lately- the weather and such has bogged me down and I've lost my sewcializing momentum! 5 inches of snow in SC- it was just wrong!
ReplyDelete