I think my mojo has gone because I'm nervous. Normally I could care less about what people think, I have always had the curse/blessing of beating to my own little drum and very rarely caring if that rhythm marched along with anyone else's. Now though I'm starting to feel like my gypsy wares will be inadequate and not as beautiful as others. I guess I never wanted anyone to buy anything of mine before, so now I guess others opinions matter? My normal behavior would be to just be happy about what I made and be proud of it, and if people didn't like it, screw them....but I don't think that would go over well with costumers.....ha ha or my sister wouldn't be happy with me telling people to shove it and scaring patrons and buyers away. This whole selling thing is an adjustment, I dislike criticism because I feel like sometimes what people want from you, there's no earthly way you can achieve it, and if I'm happy what should it matter what others think....this is uncomfortable terrain for me, needing people to like my stuff so I can in fact turn a profit.
Anyway, something funny happened. I made this library print skirt, of the easy peasy skirt pattern variety, I have mentioned it before. Well I got this fabric from spoonflower and its super comfy and durable, I have worn that skirt so many times, just because it washes so well. I was walking around shopping at the MCX (Marine Corps Exchange....for anyone who doesn't know its like a big department store here on the Marine Corps base we live on, I'm addicted to it, if you do your research you can get some great things for way cheap) in my library skirt, minding my own business and I caught someone staring at me...and I'm from northern NJ, I immediately went on the defensive, walking the other direction. Unfortunately this same girl was blocking my path back out of that section and I had to back track right past her, I attempted to ignore her by looking at a rack of clearly not my style short shorts, my ruse did not work. She stopped me, very politely, and apologized for staring for so long, and that it seemed like she was staring at my butt, but she wasn't....she was only staring because she wanted to tell me how lovely my skirt was! She wanted to know where she could buy one, called over her friend to look, they gushed.....color me flattered! And I felt ridiculously silly for how NJ I acted. I keep forgetting people are friendly down here (especially on base)...not everyone is out to steal your wallet. I spoke to her for a little while she wanted to know about the fabric because of how different it was and complimented me on how I didn't mind wearing bold colors, saying she wasn't that brave. The skirt is bright bold colors and I paired it with an orange tank and matching blue 3/4 length sleeve cardigan, it looked pretty cute, if you don't mind wearing loud colors. I told her about spoonflower and how this skirt was super easy to make if she knew how to sew, which she did! It made my week. It definitely amped me up for my Oct-Oct Garment Challenge (side note I need to think of a better name for that challenge...any ideas?) I have put on myself. I guess that's slightly self indulgent reason to be happy about a garment challenge, prospective compliments, but what a kick ass feeling to have someone really like what you made! Clearly I don't go out fishing for compliments, I don't deal so well with people staring at me, but I guess if I start making and wearing my own clothes I will have to adjust.
I had another run in, with a person following me in JoAnn's. I was waiting on line to get my Pets Alive fabric cut for the fundraiser Gertie is doing, I have so far made 9 bandannas, I have cut out about 6 more to do the Adopt Me ones on, and then I'll be shipping them off...but I may keep one for Libby and Iceman...they came out super cute.
Here is Iceman reluctantly posing with one on, I clearly interrupted something because he has about 6 different toys on the bed right now:
Anyway, I am standing looking up differences between "stretch thread" and "nylon thread" so I could figure out which I needed for a knit project I have ready, I was looking it up on my iPad while I was waiting to have my number called, I always use my iPad at JoAnn's because I keep my list and coupons on it. You know when you can just sense people staring a hole through you, I was tapping through pages and couldn't take that feeling any more so I casually turned to look around and there was this tiny little woman staring at my iPad. Then she came up after we locked eyes and tapped me on the shoulder, a complete personal space violation and I was not happy. Again, its the deep routed northern NJ in me I was ready to make some snide remark, as my mouth was opening to say something not nice her husband jumped in and apologized. It was so bizarre, so I let her speak. She actually really liked my iPad Speck case that I had. Its from the interwebs and I did tons of research on it because I have hated every case I got for my iPad except this one. I loved it so much I got the same case for my Kindle. I told her this, she wanted to touch the case and wanted the website I got it from, and basically I got the witness stand interrogation about this case. Her husband kept apologizing, I eventually found the whole thing so funny. I indulged her since I actually did do quite a bit of research before buying I had known all the cases she mentioned that she bought and didn't like. She thanked me and as she was walking away I heard her telling her husband that they needed to get on a computer to get one, and how "see she has a Kindle and an iPad, its not crazy". Props to that man for being in JoAnn's in the middle of the afternoon, and then putting up with his seriously quirky wife, he wins the husband gold star award for that. After they left the lady waiting in front of me for fabric cutting, who was on her lunch break and just needed a yard of fabric so I let her go in front of me, commented on how odd that was that the woman came up to me. And I felt like saying well you told me just a few minutes ago about how you come here at lunch and all about the quilts you are making, even though I didn't ask. I have decided I am not going to JoAnn's alone anymore, but I don't think that will last very long...Halloween is coming and I don't think I can keep myself out, so I will have to suck it up and be nice.
Lastly I FINALLY purchased this fabric because my best friend liked it just as much as I did and wanted a little zipper up pencil case for her to use at work...I of course obliged because I have been dying to have an excuse to buy it...thanks Dawn! I can't wait for it to come in....I think I may make a skirt out of it too, because you know I didn't just buy the fat quarter I needed to make the zip pouch...how could I resist?!
Alright perhaps today I can make a couple things...I have to run some errands before work and then hopefully have a decent Monday night in the ER....although Mondays are always crazy, which really I don't mind, one day I will collect up all the stories I hear and make a book. As long as I can look back and laugh at it, I know I'm doing the job I love. After tonight I have a 3 day sew a thon planned. I plan to get everything I need to get done for the craft-fair done now so that I'm not scrambling to get it ready the night before. In 10 days we start a two week vacation and I'm super excited about going! Part of the trip is just back home to hang out with family and friends....the other half is to Disney for the Food and Wine Festival and Not So Scary...this is my absolute favorite time of year to go to Disney, seriously. I am excited!
Hope you all have a good Monday....Lets hope my mojo comes back for the next 3 days and I kill all the projects i have very neatly lined up to begin.
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| Where the magic happens...lol! Notice my Owl Cork board....thanks mom :) And I switched it up and turned the peg board length wise, its working out better this direction. |
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| My table from amazon....It collapses down to night stand size so it's perfect when there are guests. Now its up halfway holding all my projects to complete and a cutting board. Also my Tardis fabric swatches that I got on spoonflower so I know what each fabric feels like....and as I try to think of what I could possibly use Tardis fabric for....I'm thinking a skirt for comic con next year..... |
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| the view from the door, it's much smaller than the basement but much more functional, and not nearly as many temperature swings. |
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| That's Bula, with my dress on her that I made last Christmas, that I LOVE. The red sticking out the bottom is the hem that fell out :( I have to fix that up so I can wear it again this winter. That's my new ironing board and iron (not 100% happy with it, so I will continue to research a much better sewing iron) and my newly acquired ham roll, or whatever its called....and my bookcase filled with notions and patterns. In the corner is my little vintage sewing box I painted my favorite color teal and houses some of the non-essential for daily sewing things I don't use that much. |
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| And the best sign ever! :) |
