I wasn't quite sure what I was going to blog about, but I knew that there were a lot of things that I wanted to try and I felt that blogging about them would give me the motivation not to chicken out.
Then about a year and a half ago, I dusted off my sewing machine and made my first faltering steps into sewing. I found online tutorials and learnt as I went along. I shared my successes and my failures as well as links to the tutorials that I had used.
I strongly believe that if I can teach myself to do all these things, you can too! The important things are:
Don't be scared to make mistakes.
If you do make mistakes, don't dwell on them- learn from them and move on.
The more that you try new things, the more that you will want to stretch yourself. Get out of your comfort zone, you won't regret it!
Remember that others are generally not nearly as critical of your work as you are yourself!
A slightly wonky handmade gift means more than a perfect shop bought item.
If you can, I really recommend finding a small corner of the house where you can leave your sewing machine set up. Its so much easier to grab a few minutes of sewing here and there if you don't have to get your sewing machine down from the top shelf; get it out of the box; put it together; thread it etc...
A very close friend of mine recently said that "Learning is one of the best things I have found to keep me fresh, whether it’s classes or just on the internet or from books, it’s good for your mind." I think that this has certainly been true for me in my time as a Stay at Home Mum. At a time of life when its easy to feel that you haven't achieved much in a day- sewing and learning new creative techniques leaves me with something tangible to show for my day.
As I said the other day, things are about to change fairly drastically in the Tartankiwi household. I have a new job at The Make Cafe. Its a sewing cafe consisting of a cafe (where you can hire a sewing machine while you sip on your latte), a fabric shop and a workshop running loads of cool crafting classes. I can't wait to work with the team of creative people that Kirsty has put together and to meet and encourage people who come in. If you're in Christchurch and you drop into the Make Cafe, please say hello, I'd love to meet you!
I am going to try my hardest to keep this wee blog going, but posting may become a bit more sporadic especially in the early days as we all adapt to our new regime. I'm really excited to see where I will take my sewing over the next year- any suggestions of things I should try? Requests for things you'd like to see or learn? I am open to suggestions.
Anyway, thanks for sticking around and all your encouragement over the last two years. I really do appreciate the fact that you regularly drop by and leave kind comments, encouragement and feedback.
You guys are the best!
*Things are a bit mad around here so I haven't managed to getting around to all your kind comments about my return to work. Thank you so much, your support was really really heart warming! *
*Things are a bit mad around here so I haven't managed to getting around to all your kind comments about my return to work. Thank you so much, your support was really really heart warming! *
Exciting! Now we can come to YOU when we have a bloggy coffee! heehee
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sounds like a fantastic job, I so want to come to the Make Cafe one day! it's awesome isn't it looking back and realising how much you've done when you have a blog, I too like the challenge of making new things and working out how to do it (via a few mishaps on the way!) x
ReplyDeleteParabéns e VÁ EM FRENTE!!!Estou com Sofhie...BoaSorte!
ReplyDeleteAwesome stuff!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnother good reason to get back to Chch soon!
ReplyDeleteAWESOME job!! I'd love to work in a fabric store!
ReplyDeleteSounds like your perfect job - congratulations! I love seeing what you've been making, and think you're an amazing seamstress, especially seeing you've only been doing it for a short while :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea for a crafting place! All the best in your new job..no wonder you said it was a good fit.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, congrats on two years of blogging!
ReplyDeleteI know you'll find new challenges because that is the kind of person you are xx
ReplyDeleteGreat read and I'm sure you'll do well in your new job! Congratulations on your 2nd blog anniversary too. =)
ReplyDeleteHard to believe that you haven't been sewing for a lot longer! See you at the Make Cafe :)
ReplyDeleteExactly why we ♥ you! Never scared to try something new - a great approach to craft & life!
ReplyDeleteOh, Juliet, that sounds like the perfect job! Good luck in your new ventures. Sounds like a wonderful place. Congrats on two years, I'm so glad you started your blog so that I could find and *meet* you. I hope you'll find a few little bits of time here and there to blog once and a while after you settle into your new routine, so we can read about what you're up to. :)
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Congrats on the new job, Juliet!!! It sounds great... being surrounded by fabric all day. You'll have to resist the temptation to spend all your money on fabric.
ReplyDeleteYeah for the perfect crafting blogging job xxx
ReplyDeleteLove the sound of that job and love all the challenges you've accomplished. What a rock star! x
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a dream job to me!! Heaven.... exciting times :) xx
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