It's not about sewing

When people see or hear about my kids sewing, most think it's pretty great, everyone comments on their creativity and no one says, out right, that it's a waste of time.

L's first dress, designed and sewn herself

They don't point out any obvious flaws and seem genuinely impressed with the finished product. They want to be supportive and encouraging. And, for the most part they are. I love the feedback my kids get and they grow immeasurably in the light that the wonderful people in our lives shine on their hard work. Most of our friends and family, this is what they give, in endless waves, building and encouraging.

 K and her cousin made a playmat for a teacher's first baby

Inevitably, though, there's that one person who, as the kids walk away, or occasionally just before, turns the conversation to the usefulness of such a skill. There is almost always someone who, in essence, says sure it's a neat thing to know how to do, but it's so much more costly to sew your own clothes nowadays. You can buy stuff so cheap and fabric is pricey. Or maybe they imply, there aren't many good jobs in the field of fashion design, seamstresses aren't paid high wages. Oh, but maybe they could work in costume design for movies! In fact, maybe, there have been times when that person was me.

C's first time solo at the machine, a gift for a cousin's birthday

 But, here's the thing...It's not about the sewing. Sure, if my kids choose a job in the fashion, sewing, fabric, or textile fields (of which I am quite sure there are opportunities) they may have a leg up being exposed so young, but maybe not and, really now, they're kids, we're not planning career paths just yet.

B's first sewing project a tree decoration we still use every winter solstice.

No it's not about the sewing. They sew because I sew and it's accessible.

What it's really about is taking that thing in their mind and making it real. It's about seeing an idea, turning it over, looking at it from every angle and figuring out how to share it with the world.

They do this in other ways too. They do it with their drawings, their stories, their Minecraft worlds, the small businesses they start, the skits they perform for us, the movies they write, direct, film and edit, the dances they choreograph for family get togethers, and the video game designs and animations they dabble in.

K designed and sewed herself a medieval costume

So while I'd be proud if any of them chose to pursue a career that put the sewing skills to good use, it's not about the sewing. Instead, lets talk about the research, the trial and error the figuring out when to ask for help and when to plow through. Or about setting deadlines and falling short, all the times it goes wrong . The tears and tantrums and try it agains.

Lets talk about that feeling you get when you add that small detail or find the perfect ribbon that makes all the hard work so worth it because the finished product is even better than you ever could have imagined it would be.

L attaching her first zipper, an invisible zipper. A squeal worthy accomplishment.

Yes, I'd much rather, after we build my kids up, filling their buckets with our beautiful comments, if we could then talk about learning how to learn, learning we are capable, learning we'll mess up and it'll still be fine because that right there, the process, that's what it's really about.

The Pirate Quilt

Ah the pirate quilt. Took me about 9 years from dreaming it up to finished. It's taken me over a year to blog about it. It's like my ultimate procrastination triumph. Never give up! 

I started this quilt with a fair amount of confidence, 3 years sewing experience in my pocket, but not a whole lot of real skill beyond the basics. This quilt was all about pushing my limits. Every piece I dreamed up required techniques I hadn't mastered.

I do this a lot with sewing, rarely using a pattern or changing it drastically when I do, adding details I have no idea how to work with. I think we all need these things in our lives. Something to show us that when we push our skills we grow. Something that maybe we don't have to take too seriously, that gives us the courage to test our limits.

Goodness, this pirate quilt is so loaded for me. There are many different directions I can go with its story. This is my 3rd attempt in a week and if I hadn't given myself this deadline, done today or move on, I'd still be working on it. 

We can talk about the growth in my sewing skills, the late nights after finally putting babies to bed working a little here and there while trying to stay awake long enough to make it through a movie with my husband. 

Or, how much I learned about fabric. When you spend that much time with a piece of fabric, you get to know it intimately. Bottom line, don't skimp on the big projects and PJs are perfect trial runs for anything.

I could tell you how each piece reminds me of the growing boy who waited so patiently for his quilt, piping in with ideas of his own. How while I was working on the palm tree, one of my most favorite, skill stretching pieces, my boy had fallen in love with Franz Ferdinand and would request his song then bop along to the fun beat while I maneuvered each leaf through the machine, sketching with my needle

I could go on about work spaces. The kitchen table set up I had, with a wall plug just a hair too far away, which caused an innocent hop over a stretched out cord to send my machine crashing to the floor bending metal bits in impossible places at impossible angles, and how that led to a basement studio near to the playroom that sounded like a good idea but, out of sight out of mind, my sewing frequency slowed. 

We can share frustrations, the times it was put aside and sat until the guilt of not working on it for ages became unbearable, or a burst of excited inspiration caused it to be picked back up. And how the stories that fill those moments in between, when it was set aside, they are here too. Little reminders in each stitch of all the life happening along the way.

We could talk about how much I learned about learning and how infrequently I applied that knowledge when we first started homeschooling, even though I really wanted to and knew it was the best way, for me and my kids. 

Or, how about the nuts and bolts of it all? How I did the appliques, each piece has it's own method. And the hand quilting I opted for. Having burned through two sewing machines by then, I was left with only my daughter's, too small to handle a twin size quilt, Hello Kitty Janome. which is actually much nicer than either of my other machines ever were. I loved laying the quilt down on the carpeted living room floor, a book under the spot I planned to quilt next, to sketch the swirls in the water, the ropes of the ship, the fish hidden throughout. Then sitting with needle and thread on winter evenings, cozy under it, many times my boy snuggled next to me his patience wearing as the finishing seemed so close. It was already getting regular use even before it was done.

See loaded. I've already rambled on and on and I've just scratched the surface of all I see and feel when I look at this quilt, at these nine years of my life, at the time I've had with my boy who is quickly becoming a young man. (he has assured me he will cherish it forever, will never be too old for its childish appliques and embroidery, and plans to pass it on to his own children one day)

I could go on for days. I haven't started another quilt since finishing this one, but my youngest and I have started planning hers. Actually we started planning long before the pirate quilt was done, and she and her brother still shared a room, and so Mermaids and sea creatures it is. We've started buying the fabric. She's much older than her brother was when I started his quilt, but I'm faster and have learned to dedicate more time to my sewing so I'm confident we'll have it finished up before she's 9...maybe...we can dream. And even if it takes another nine years to finish it, we will have another nine years of learning and growing and memories wrapped up in the finished quilt. I think I can handle that.

A Farewell to Steve (our paper--mâché friend)

I feel like this is a strange post to come back here with after such a long absence, but the kids insisted that Steve get the farewell he deserves.

For those who never met Steve, he was an accident, he was never supposed to be. But a goofed attempt at a piñata led to the creation of Steve, and a brother and cousin refusing to take part in the girls' big movie brought Steve to life in his first role as "the groom" in their inaugural film.

After that he became a part of our everyday lives. Steve helped us out in a moment of need, playing the part of scarecrow when a crazed bird was relentlessly bashing itself into our window trying to get to the trees reflected in it. He loved playing the creepy silhouette on the porch to scare tick-or-treaters on Halloween. But, most of the time he could be found modeling the gowns and capes L or I designed and sewed. He wore them well, and always with a little extra flare.

Yesterday Steve was unceremoniously laid to rest. Too many late nights spent in a damp basement led to a soggy noggin and after holding on for the past month or so with a misshapen, flattened form he finally began to fall apart. We started finding a piece of stiff paper here, a pile of floury dust there. When he lost an eye we finally accepted his fate and said our good-byes with a promise to never forget our Steve and the wonderful acting, haunting, and general support he showed for all of our projects.

There are plans in the works for attempting a reincarnation, alas we all know the second Steve can never be the same as the first, but his legacy will live on in the paper-mâché heads of tomorrow. Steve you were loved, you will be missed, you will live on in our hearts and projects evermore.

Finding Comfort

I actually wrote this a few months ago, while my niece was having her surgery. It felt too real to share at the time, but I want to remember these feeling, this moment in time. I don't want it to be lost in a list of drafted, never published posts, so here it is.

My heart is so tired lately. All the worry, sadness, and truly amazing things happening around me everyday are exhausting.

I am finding some comfort in meditative stitching, working on a quilt that has been in the making for 9 years now, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

And in appreciating how truly blessed I am by spending more time really watching and listening to my kids during the times I have them all to myself.

And in the fun and engaging distractions my Adobe Generation Pro courses give me when I need to quiet my mind.

And, in the kindness and generosity of friends who send meals for my sister's family, while they travel an impossibly rough road.

The Bellabee Apron Pattern

I finally did it. I have finally listed the Bellabee Apron Pattern for sale in the 6Berries Etsy shop. Yay!

I really am this excited to finally have this project complete. You can head on over to Etsy to check out all the info.

I'm going to show you the out takes from my photo shoot with my youngest here, because, well, it's fun and they're simply adorable pictures. If I do say so myself. Although I could have done better with the lighting.

She was very excited about getting to model the apron. She loves hers and couldn't wait to play the mad scientist. Which really is how she uses hers. Sitting at the kitchen table mixing different ingredients to make strange concoctions and calling it science.

And, she insisted on wearing her goggles. You're just not a scientist, mad or otherwise, without proper eye protection.

I think a sibling dropped the lid to the cooler holding the dry ice just as I snapped this. We all got a good laugh from this picture. My silly girl. Shy as can be in person, but always goofing off for the camera. I just love her to bits.

OK, so even she get tired of the camera eventually. Enough with the pictures mom, can't I just play with the colored liquid in the test tubes already.

Well, now that I've made this post feel completely self indulgent with pictures of my cutie pie wearing the apron pattern I'm hoping to sell, I might as well add one last plug. Go check out my shop. :)

With Chilly Cheeks and Warm Bellies

I just tucked in my two youngest. Their cheeks chilly, and their bellies warm. The winter storm has caused quite a bit of excitement around here. We're downing hot cocoa and soup like they're going out of style and my entryway is in a constant state of soppy, snowy, mess. I just can't keep up. And, I don't care. I am so in love with right now. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm just going with it. Don't get me wrong, things are far from perfect. I was grumpy a bit today too, but the overall feeling I have of contentment is wonderful. I thought I might sit and write and work something out here, but you know what? I'm just going to take the opportunity to make note of it, to help me remember this feeling, while it's abundant.

Wintery Pics

Is it bad form to post Christmas pics so long after the holiday? Probably, but I love this picture so much. I snapped it in my early morning fog, from my viewing spot on the sofa, just seconds before dragging my sleepy butt back to bed. The kids were up early this year. 4:30 to be exact.

Yeah, so Christmas morning nap, was not optional this year.

We had a wonderful holiday with family and friends, and fun and food. We've totally obliterated any semblance of routine or schedule with endless hours of video games and new books and puzzles and a little bit of fun in the snow when the sun was shining. There is just something about the combination of snow and sunshine that is irresistible.

The Kindle Fires Santa delivered have us all in a trance, my husband and myself included. Why did no one ever tell me about Temple Run? Oh, yeah, because I can become extremely obsessed with those silly, pointless games. (There is a span of a few months, shortly after my husband and I started dating, that is sort of a big Tetris blur for me.) Every morning. This is how I find them every morning.

These early days of the new year always have a hang over feel to them. We've started to loose the holiday buzz, and the lazy days lacking our normal routines are wearing on us. So, as we groggily emerge from our junk food comas, I am trying to nudge us back to normal.

It's difficult, though, because we can't just return to the pre-holiday routine. You never can go back, you know. Just a few short weeks, but already we're all so different. And, with new toys and tools needing our attention and time, a new schedule must be forged.

This was not at all my intended direction for this post. I kinda love when that happens. It's like I'm telling myself, no no no, that's not what's really on your mind. Here let me show you what you've been working through while running that little animated character through the treacherous temple run. Let me clue you in on what happens when you ignore your original inspiration to write, putting off blog post after blog post. Much like those routines you can never really return to those original thoughts.

Which had something to do with challenging myself to take wintery photos every day to help get through this dark and cold season. A little push to get myself outside more often and remind myself of all that I truly love about Michigan winters, because I really do, I love all the snow and the crisp air, I just forget sometimes.

I'll leave you with a quick update on my niece. I know some of you have been wondering and hoping all is well, and it is. As well as we can hope for under the circumstances. Her surgery went better than expected, she recovered quickly and was home for Thanksgiving dinner with the family. Radiation is done, and although it took a toll on her poor little body, she did well. She is back to her chemo schedule, with a break for the holidays and has reached the halfway point. She spends as much time as she can playing in the snow and enjoying every minute of those good days, surrounded by the people who love her.

Hoping your holidays were filled with good food, loving family and fun. And, may the new year live up to your every wish.