Lizzy put it very succinctly when she quoted Malcom Forbes:
“Too many people undervalue what they are and overvalue what they aren’t”
She was writing in response to Rochelle’s post about yearly reviews and the unfavourable comparisons that some of us draw when comparing ourselves to any one else. This is something I’ve been guilty of; I look at the productivity of others and think that I should be achieving similar numbers of garments. I need to remember that I have a lot going on ‘behind the scenes’ as well as my sewing and blogging. I’ve got Boy and Husband, a job, Husband’s business, and a house that somehow needs to be vaguely tidy, clean and stocked with food. Everyone’s life is different and I’m just setting myself up to feel like a failure if I compare myself to others, and I’m not a failure. I’m liked and loved the way I am.
And, quite honestly, sometimes I’m tired and I don’t want to sew or blog. I want to sit on the sofa and watch a movie or another episode or two of Arrow or Elementary. That’s OK too. I’m not superwoman and quite frankly, don’t want to be. I am going to be more realistic in my expectations though. I’m going to try not to put so much pressure on myself.
I’ve surprised myself by making 26 garments this year plus a few other bits and bobs (PJ monsters and a veil to name them). I didn’t think I’d been that productive as at the beginning of the year I’d planned a quite frankly ridiculous number of garments. I’ve actually achieved a finished item every couple of weeks and that isn’t bad at all when I consider how cray-cray things get around here.
I sew for fun. I sew for the creativity and the mental stillness it brings and the continual learning. I have a wardrobe like no one else’s and its personalised to me, my tastes and my body. That’s pretty damn awesome. I also value and take care of all our clothes far better as a result as I know and understand the effort that goes into making them. I’ve also become aware of how easily distracted I can be. Shiny pattern! Pretty fabric! I purchase far more than I sew and that has got to stop! I’m not going to be unrealistic and put a ban on new fabric – tried that, epic fail. I’m going into 2014 with a better idea of what will work and what is completely unrealistic.
I also need to keep front and centre that the reason I blog is because I enjoy it! I love being part of our online sewing community, it’s not a method to pay bills. I’m not dependent on stats or followers or referrals to earn money. I’ve lost sight of the reason I started to write this thing during 2013. I hope to correct that in 2014. Through this blog and Twitter I have met some amazing people, some of whom have become friends I trust implicitly, some I’ve met and some I hope to meet. Every single one of them has enriched my life though. All because I write about thread, fabric and pretty dresses when I get a chance.
My two main things to remember, looking back on 2013, is not to beat myself up and remember why I blog and sew. I enjoy reading your adventures and simply want to share mine and occasionally yell “This dress is amazeballs!” (Hah, that’s going to be a blog post at some point…)
As for inspiration – that’s everyone who shares what they do. Blogs, twitter, instagram. Anyone who sticks their head above the parapet and shares what they do. I love your passion, your excitement, your willingness to share.
See you later 2013; 2014 is going to be a good year…
Vicki Kate Makes 