Sunday 21 July 2013

Happy Blogiversary to Me!



I'm astonished to find that I've been blogging for a year today - that's a sign of getting older isn't it, that the years just race by!

It's a funny old business, this blogging lark.  It's been much harder than I thought ... I started off talking to myself and trying to motivate my crafty progress.  I was a bit wobbly this time last year, I'd had a period of sickness and my self-confidence had taken a knock.  Learning to sew really helped.

It was a bit odd when I realised there were people out there actually reading what I'd written.  I know this is ridiculous, I get that it is actually 'the point', but I then started to worry about whether I actually had anything to say.  Please tell me I'm not alone?  I don't really talk about my blog - only immediate family even know about it, it's not linked to my Facebook or anything.  This is just about me, crafting and all the brilliant bloggers out there I guess, who I feel connected to in some way.

I mean there are Sewing Wonder Women out there - making incredible things, producing tutorials and patterns like whirlwinds.  I got a bit intimidated.  But then I realised, it's me (and people like me) that they're talking to - that's my place and I love being in the audience, joining in the class, taking part. 

So now I just write what I think, it's honest, I guess that's not terribly exciting but it's real.  Veronica Darling wrote a really interesting post on this very topic the other day - and she's a Sewing Goddess!

And I sat with a pen and notebook, just like Veronica, and I have nearly a dozen unblogged garments or topics I need to get to - now I just need to find the time to do it!

Anyway, what I really want to say is ...

Thank you very much x

 

for your encouragement, for taking the time to comment, for being just all round marvellous actually.  I wrote about the generosity of sewing bloggers and I really mean it.

Thanks to sewing bloggers out there I have
  • made my first steps into refashioning
  • become open to the wonderful possibilities of charity shops as sources for sewing materials
  • am a total whizz with bias binding (sewing with it and making it myself - go me!)
  • I am the master of the French seam
  • I can draft my own facings and ignore pattern instructions and 'wing it'
  • I am working through my stash like a whirlwind - encouraged by a great group of people
  • I'm just more open to the possibilities of what I can do and will be able to make if I commit myself to it
  • I have a box of 150 hessian bags that were going to go in the rubbish bin because the logo on them is out of date.  Actually, I don't know how grateful I am about that, Paul's face was a picture when I came home with that lot.  I kind of blamed Zoe and I've never even met her!  My argument was pretty much along the lines of 'What would Zoe say about that lot going to landfill?  I'll think of something marvellous to make from them.'  If you're got any suggestions I'd be glad to hear them!

I don't have a grand giveaway for you, I planned one thought about it some weeks ago and then today kind of snuck up on me - how does that happen?  I will get to it I promise, I'll add it to my To Do List because I have some fab patterns I'm going to release into the world - let's face it, I cannot possibly make all the patterns I own!

I decided that as I know you're all generous already I'm going to tell you what I'm planning to do instead, to give back some of the kindness that I've felt come my way this year.


This is my first effort for Dress A Girl Around The World - I know this charity has opportunities to join in wherever you are in the world.  Here in the UK it is co-ordinated by Louise at Sew Scrumptious.  I used this pattern that I found at Nancy's Notions (there are lots of others out there).

I'm ridiculously busy a little bit pushed at the moment but these are not complicated patterns, so I'm committing to make 12 by the end of this year. 

This cost me nothing but my time - the fabric is from a dress I tried to make last year, total fail not a complete success; I had great fun decorating it with some of the fab stitches I have on my new machine; the bias binding was left over from another project.


I have someone close to me that I don't get to see very often (that is a whole other story!).  She is going to sew along with me, a joint project.  I can't even tell you how much that means to me :)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend
x

19 comments:

  1. Happy blogiversary, Jacq!

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  2. Congratulations Jacq! It's great to recognise what we get from blogging, and all that wonderful inspiration out there! Love it! Cool way to celebrate too.

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  3. Happy anniversary Jacq! As I mentioned on Facebook I'd love to join you in making one of these dresses (or more). I'm not sure I've time for 12 though!

    I'm the same with my blog - the only person in the "real world" that knows I have one is my husband.

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    1. That's great Sam, I'm going to work in batches I think, the cutting out is fine but I get bored hemming - I'm going to plan stints at the ironing board to get that bit out of the way! I'm glad I'm not the only secret blogger - funnily enough my boss knows but that's because we have to be careful about that kind of thing given our work :)

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  4. Happy Blogiversary!!! :)

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  5. Happy Blog Anniversary.. It is such a wonderful place to be and to make such wonderful blogging/sewing friends..
    I love your little dress, I too sew for kids around the world that are in need.. I love it..

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    1. Thank you. I mentioned the dress pattern at work and 6 other people are making them too - isn't that wonderful :)

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  6. Happy blogiversary. I don't really know what to write about most days either. I haven't really linked it to my facebook or anything either. I guess deep down there is the thought that I am not good at it yet so I don't really want to put it out there for everyone to see. It's silly I know, but there you go :-)

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    1. Well I'm very glad you blog, I love seeing the things you make and your recipes :)

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  7. Happy Anniversary. Well done for keeping going. Like sewing it's a great outlet for creativity. love from Christine x

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  8. Happy blogiversary! I can totally relate to some of your insecurities about your blog. I'm naturally inclined to compare myself to others, and there are SO many talented, prolific sewers and bloggers out there, which makes things kinda scary. But we just need to go at our own pace and not worry about what others are doing. Everyone has their own set of circumstances at home (and therefore different amounts of time to dedicate) and their own motives and reasons for sewing and blogging. And so do we!!!

    Well done on a great year. Just look at all the things you've done! :)

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    1. Thank you so much for the encouragement :)

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  9. Happy blogiversary and I agree with your assessment of the benefits in writing a blog. I'm in the audience also and love the sharing.

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    1. Thank you Mary, the support of sewing/crafting bloggers is amazing :)

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  10. Happy anniversary, lovely lady! It's been an epic year and I've enjoyed reading your posts :D

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    1. Thank you Amanda, you are very kind - and hilarious! I look forward to all your posts :)

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment :)