I am blessed beyond measure to have turned this sewing-blogging hobby of mine into a little business. I never would have dreamed that it would be possible when I committed to learning 7 years ago. However, Wednesday I was struck with a fear that maybe I just didn’t enjoy sewing anymore. Every attempt was interrupted , and the pants sewing has been frustrating, and I felt dragged down by expectations of what I “should” do as a blogger. (get sponsors! make patterns! post regularly! join blog tours! blah de blah de blah de blah!) Sewing was becoming all stress and no fun, and that is a scary place to be when you have invested so many hours into learning a craft.
Yesterday, stuck at home, car-less, with three kids at school, and an extra long day ahead of me, I decided to toss out all responsibilities and to-do lists and just have fun.
And fun was had. Oh, glorious fun. Vinny and Gladys pulled my sewing room to pieces and rubbed crushed crackers into the carpeting, and I sewed on. Cereal boxes and bowls still covered the kitchen table at 5pm, and I sewed on. We had peanut butter and jelly for dinner, and I sewed on. By the end of the day, I was dancing around the kitchen, joking with my kids, and grinning ear-to-ear.
This is why I sew – for the pleasure of the vision coming to life in my hands, for the butterflies of excitement, and for the feeling of completion when my efforts result in something, a tangible something.
I am still going to Tackle The Pants, but now I can do it with a renewed sense of excitement. I am still blogging, but I can do it with a renewed sense of Who I Am.
Thank you, Toby The Dinosaurus, as you have been already named, for helping me find my way back again.
Does sewing ever get stressful for you? What kind of projects bring you joy?
The pattern for this dinosaur is from Abby Glassenberg’s book “Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction”. As one of her pattern testers, I received a complimentary copy. For more information on her amazing book, check out the original book review post.
Recommended Reading: “Joyful Sewing: 12 Tips for Enjoying a Stress-free Hobby” at Sew, Mama, Sew
Yes yes YES.
I love your blog and have to say that we all probably have those ups and downs. Keep on sewing and enjoying. Don’t feel guilty either. Look how much happier you were! I’ve been there and am one of your cheerleaders. You go, girl!
I am thankful to have such great cheerleaders!, Thank you, Cheri!
Cutest little Dino! And I know what you mean. It’s easy to put these expectations on ourselves and I was just feeling a bit down about the whole blogging thing as well. But I decided that I love to sew more than I love to blog about sewing. So I’ll continue to sew and if I can, I will blog. Not to become the most popular but just to share my creations and my love of sewing.
YES! I am so glad you renewed your joy yesterday and let the expectations go! I know no matter stressful my day is and how much I have to do, when I sit at my machine I instantly smile.
I totally feel you! Between projects for me, for friends, for money, and for family, some times sewing feels more like work. But when I can work on something for me and it’s for pure enjoyment, I remember why I have the sanctuary and love to spend the time. Good for you in finding the joy again. Sometimes after Xmas it takes me weeks to want to do anything! I have to remind myself that it’s a hobby, even though it can be a full time job.
Yay! So glad you’ve found your mojo again. I totally feel ya on the ups and downs. But it’s so nice when a rock solid day of sewing can re-spark your creativity and passion and excitement. And that dino is fabulous!!
This post makes me so incredibly happy. Getting back to that joy that sewing can bring is incredibly important, especially once you start to sew professionally. I totally identify with that thrill, the butterflies in your stomach, when you get close to finishing something and you just feel so great! I’m so flattered that it was the dinosaur in my book that got you there this time. Thank you!
Love Toby the dinosaur, and your renewed sense of purpose!
This is so cute ! I love toby and i think i wanna have one for myself. Thanks for the idea…and i have to go for the book !
Sewing has felt like work for me too lately. I really need to work on a fun project, something I want to do rather than HAVE to do! I love your dino! He is just so freakin cute!! Glad you’ve got your mojo back.
That dino is way cute… and it looks like I’m going to by buying that book in the near future, since my almost four-year-old is now begging for a similar dinosaur in green. =)
Those projects that remind me of the joy of sewing are often greatly outnumbered by the things I feel like I need to sew…. it’s wonderful when something is enjoyable all the way through. =)
Adorable dinosaur! He looks great in red. 🙂
I love, love, LOVE sewing stuffed animals. I have also made the dinosaur from Abby’s book! I enjoy making bags, quilts, and clothes for my kids, but I always come back to stuffed animals. Making stuffed animals is definitely my happy place. 🙂
Your post reminds me why I don’t sew for profit. I teach sewing, and I sew for ME. I make gifts, but at the end of the day I only sew what I want to sew with no pressure. And every time I think I’ll sew for profit I’m reminded of why I don’t. Thank you for the reminder….and this isn’t a dig on those that DO sew for profit. I think it’s AMAZING that people can and DO make money sewing. I’m thankful for the patterns and the tutorials and the pictures. It’s just not.for.me! 🙂
Now….I desperately need to jump into the whole clothing realm. *le sigh*
sewing clothes?!?! dooo iiiiiiit.
Your blog has been of great encouragement to me. I love to make things for people and see there smile. I get discouraged when what I have planned in my head is not what the outcome is or there are unforeseen complications to overcome to get the project done. My favorite sewing projects are those that show off my x-stitching.
The dinosaur is great!!
what types of projects do you make with your x-stitching?
The dinosaur looks great!
Like to have the dino’s pattern.
How can I get?
Thank you and congratulations!
It’s from “stuffed animals” by Abby Glassenberg.