Somehow Sew Grateful Week snuck up on me. So, I've decided to do just one post, since it took me all week to decide what to say. I'm not usually sentimental, so please bear with my lack of eloquence.
On Tuesday, I had dinner with Puu and Oona after a seminar on working with leather that was lead by Kenneth D King at Mood Fabrics. (We'll circle back to the multilayered awesomeness of this statement in a minute). And we were talking about how - unlike some other on-line communities - we've all found the sewing blogosphere to be overwhelmingly accepting and supportive, with very few exceptions.
The first person to follow my blog who I didn't know in real life was about as different from me as another woman could be, separated by geography, age, race, religion, cultural context, preferred hair color ;-)... but I've always felt that there is a mutual sense of respect, encouragement and appreciation between us. I feel this across the wider sewing blogosphere: that we are all living the lives that we've either chosen or have been dealt, but that our shared experience - sewing - cuts across the differences and judgements that might otherwise separate us. There are people in my virtual life who I would never encounter IRL, but that I feel a kinship with. And I am immeasurably grateful for that.
A few months ago a friend said to me about herself "I'm an odd duck. Not everyone likes my quack." I've often felt the same way. I quack too loud, say the wrong things, am prone to dropping/breaking/slamming/spilling/tangling, and I have two left feet. I'm prone to loneliness but have a hard time reaching out to others. I am terrified of heights and flight, but I brave both. Sometimes I can't decide what to wear and I don't know if that's because I'm feeling insecure or if I'm feeling insecure because I don't know what to wear. I have an alter ego. I crack myself up on a regular basis. I am not cool. The landscape of my imagination is populated with dragons and monsters and zombies, purple haired super heroes with magical powers and a tiny herd of knit elephants that trumpet and trample and trip over their own trunks. Blogging and sewing have helped me explore and embrace all of these parts of myself, and that has spilled over in a tangible way into how I feel about myself in the real world. I like my odd quack. And I am grateful for this - that I've found this shared space that we've carved out on the internet where I can quack my quack with duckling glee.
I love that others of you also quack your own quacks on your blogs or in comments. Not only am I constantly inspired by what you sew, but I'm inspired by your journey and how you choose to share your creative life with me and others. I know what it's like to take a deep breath and click "publish", which is so much less safe than clicking "save". And I'm grateful for you - that you click "publish", too.
So, back to the awesomeness of my first statement. New York is an amazing place to be a sewist. Not only do we have classes with people like Kenneth King and Susan Khaljie, and stores like Mood and Paron Fabrics, but we seem to have a growing community. In the last year, I've had opportunities to meet other sewing bloggers in person, thanks both to living here and traveling as part of my work life. And so, in a very unexpected way the sewing blogosphere has changed my life. In a city of 8 million and a world of nearly 7 billion, I've found people - people who I really like - who understand what drives me to constantly make things. And since they seem to keep inviting me, I guess it's mutual. And I'm grateful for this.
Lastly - and here is the segue - I'm glad to be part of a generous community. It's a rare day when there isn't a giveaway, a tutorial or even a helpful comment floating around in the sewing blogosphere. This week I received a very generous gift of fabric, yarn and patterns from another blogger, simply because we were talking about it. It made my day. And I'm grateful.
So, my giveaway, as I continue on my frosting diet is what I'm calling the Layer Cake Giveaway - four "cake" patterns that could be mixed and matched for multiple wardrobe options. I will probably never sew them up myself. They are all Simplicity Amazing Fit patterns - a skirt, 2 dresses and a jacket.
The give away is open to all, regardless of where you live. Just shout "Pass the Cake!" in the comments by midnight (EST) on Wednesday (Feb 13) and make sure that I have an email where I can reach you. If you'd like, you can tell me what your favorite kind of cake (including frosting!) is to double your chances.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! We're expecting a blizzard in NY and my office is shutting early. So I will be hunkered down at my sewing machine.
 |
| Thank you, Debi! |
On Tuesday, I had dinner with Puu and Oona after a seminar on working with leather that was lead by Kenneth D King at Mood Fabrics. (We'll circle back to the multilayered awesomeness of this statement in a minute). And we were talking about how - unlike some other on-line communities - we've all found the sewing blogosphere to be overwhelmingly accepting and supportive, with very few exceptions.
The first person to follow my blog who I didn't know in real life was about as different from me as another woman could be, separated by geography, age, race, religion, cultural context, preferred hair color ;-)... but I've always felt that there is a mutual sense of respect, encouragement and appreciation between us. I feel this across the wider sewing blogosphere: that we are all living the lives that we've either chosen or have been dealt, but that our shared experience - sewing - cuts across the differences and judgements that might otherwise separate us. There are people in my virtual life who I would never encounter IRL, but that I feel a kinship with. And I am immeasurably grateful for that.
 |
| Odd Duck |
A few months ago a friend said to me about herself "I'm an odd duck. Not everyone likes my quack." I've often felt the same way. I quack too loud, say the wrong things, am prone to dropping/breaking/slamming/spilling/tangling, and I have two left feet. I'm prone to loneliness but have a hard time reaching out to others. I am terrified of heights and flight, but I brave both. Sometimes I can't decide what to wear and I don't know if that's because I'm feeling insecure or if I'm feeling insecure because I don't know what to wear. I have an alter ego. I crack myself up on a regular basis. I am not cool. The landscape of my imagination is populated with dragons and monsters and zombies, purple haired super heroes with magical powers and a tiny herd of knit elephants that trumpet and trample and trip over their own trunks. Blogging and sewing have helped me explore and embrace all of these parts of myself, and that has spilled over in a tangible way into how I feel about myself in the real world. I like my odd quack. And I am grateful for this - that I've found this shared space that we've carved out on the internet where I can quack my quack with duckling glee.
I love that others of you also quack your own quacks on your blogs or in comments. Not only am I constantly inspired by what you sew, but I'm inspired by your journey and how you choose to share your creative life with me and others. I know what it's like to take a deep breath and click "publish", which is so much less safe than clicking "save". And I'm grateful for you - that you click "publish", too.
So, back to the awesomeness of my first statement. New York is an amazing place to be a sewist. Not only do we have classes with people like Kenneth King and Susan Khaljie, and stores like Mood and Paron Fabrics, but we seem to have a growing community. In the last year, I've had opportunities to meet other sewing bloggers in person, thanks both to living here and traveling as part of my work life. And so, in a very unexpected way the sewing blogosphere has changed my life. In a city of 8 million and a world of nearly 7 billion, I've found people - people who I really like - who understand what drives me to constantly make things. And since they seem to keep inviting me, I guess it's mutual. And I'm grateful for this.
Lastly - and here is the segue - I'm glad to be part of a generous community. It's a rare day when there isn't a giveaway, a tutorial or even a helpful comment floating around in the sewing blogosphere. This week I received a very generous gift of fabric, yarn and patterns from another blogger, simply because we were talking about it. It made my day. And I'm grateful.
 |
| Thank you, Peter! |
So, my giveaway, as I continue on my frosting diet is what I'm calling the Layer Cake Giveaway - four "cake" patterns that could be mixed and matched for multiple wardrobe options. I will probably never sew them up myself. They are all Simplicity Amazing Fit patterns - a skirt, 2 dresses and a jacket.
The give away is open to all, regardless of where you live. Just shout "Pass the Cake!" in the comments by midnight (EST) on Wednesday (Feb 13) and make sure that I have an email where I can reach you. If you'd like, you can tell me what your favorite kind of cake (including frosting!) is to double your chances.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! We're expecting a blizzard in NY and my office is shutting early. So I will be hunkered down at my sewing machine.
