Saturday, February 5, 2011

Sewing Blogs(or things I look up when I can't sleep)

It's 2:37am, I'm wide awake and unlike most nights that I'm awake at this hour I haven't yet slept at all. It's very common for me to be woken from a deep sleep in the wee hours by one of my children, aches and pains from TMJ or by my own worry that I have or will forget to take care of some important task. Most nights I will sneak out of bed rather than toss and turn at the risk of waking my sleeping husband and tip toe down the hall to my sewing room, my very favorite room in the house. I may sort through patterns looking for my next project, pin or cut a pattern or organize the many rubbermaid tubs overflowing with  fabric I have stacked up in the dormers on either side of the room. Rarely do I actually sew, I'm far too afraid the sound of my machines will wake someone and I will lose the peace and solitude I find only in the middle of the night when everyone is sleeping.

Tonight(or this morning depending on how you look at it) I am parked on the comfy sofa that sits against a large window at the far end of my creative sanctuary surfing sewing sites and blogs. I am always on the lookout for people who share my passion for sewing and places to shop for fabrics and supplies online(oh the shopping I do when I should be sleeping!)  not to mention my slight obsession with sewing tutorials! During this late night session I happened upon several that were fantastic and had some of everything, day to day life, projects, patterns, tutorials and info on where to find fabulous fabrics and supplies.  Many of the blogs I read and follow make me wonder why I blog at all. They are just incredible and leave me wondering how the heck these women can not only find the time to make all these gorgeous things but then to also blog about  their projects in such a way that makes you feel you can do it too!
  • Made is one of the best out there. I can't figure out how Rae, the blogger, does it! She has a fabulous eye and natural sense of style. Modern and fun nothing fussy or over done.
  • fashioned by meg is similar to Made By Rae, a blog created by a mom. You are somehow able to be a bit in awe but still relate to her like one of your girlfriends. Great pattern reviews!
  • Little Big Girl Studio lots of fun and easy tutorials for girls and accessories.
  • Fabric Shopper Online A-MA-ZING a blog all about fabrics, what's new, what's on sale, where to find it EVERYTHING you need or want to know!
  • Sew Liberated A blog so detailed, beautiful, and full of knowledge, expertise and talent that it nearly made me want to just stop trying because I'll never reach that level.....................BUT,
Then I remembered one of the things I love most about sewing and creating things in general, there is ALWAYS room to grow and learn and that progress is what keeps me coming back to my machine over and over again.  There's nothing quite like taking on a project you're unsure of, you don't  know if you can do it. It looks too difficult, it requires skills or techniques you haven't yet mastered or maybe haven't even tried. Then you get started and while it may be challenging, even hard at times you find if you just relax, take it slow and keep at it you CAN  do it. It might not be perfect that first time but you learned so much and next time youll be that much more confident.

3:47am time to try the sleep thing again!