Friday, July 11, 2014

Thoughts on Blogging, Poor Fits, and a New Start

I love blogging.  I love getting inspired by other people's projects, reading about their progress and setbacks, and solutions to overcome those set backs.  I love seeing you all showing off the clothes you've created and your proud smiles.  I love inspiring others with my own projects, sharing the disasters and getting feedback on how to fix them.  I love sharing in this wonderful online community, making contacts and friends, and just being a part of this creative world.

Blogging keeps me going on projects that I sometimes would abandon, because I know that there are people out there curious to see how it turns out, and that makes me curious and excited to see a project to the end.  Even if they get put on hold until I can stand looking at them (I'm looking at you, pants).

I'm sure a lot of you have noticed, but I'm just not blogging as much anymore.  It's not that I'm not creating.  There's barely a day that goes by where I'm not knitting or sewing or planning a new project or doing something creative with my hands.  It makes me sad that I'm not sharing some of these fun projects.


I've been doing a lot of thinking about this, trying to work out what it is that keeps me from opening up this New Post window and excitedly sharing all of these projects, and I think I've worked out why. 

Sewing on Pins was created when I was in grad school, doing a very technical and somewhat dry project.  I loved it, but needed a creative outlet, and I happened to pick up sewing.  The focus of the blog was to chronical my adventure through learning how to sew clothing, and it was a fantastic creative outlet and resource.  I fell in love with sewing, the online sewing community, and all of the fantastically creative people in it.

But I'm no longer that Grad Student, focussed entirely on sewing or thesising.  As I've moved on to a job I love, a new home, and a great relationship, I find that this blog just doesn't...fit anymore. 

While I still sew, I also knit and crochet, I'm starting to embroider and garden, I love canning, I have plans to refinish furniture, and we're starting to do renovations on the house.  These are all creative things I'd love to share on my blog, but Sewing on Pins doesn't feel like the right place for all that.

I know, I know, it's my blog and I can post what I want to (*sings* POST WHAT I WANT TO, POST WHAT I WANT TO!  Haha sorry, couldn't help myself), but I can't help but feel off about it.  This is blatently a Sewing Blog, and I can't help but feel guilty when I post on other topics. 

So I think I'm going to start fresh.  I don't have a new blog home set up yet, still working out some details (like what to call it) and whether to stick with blogger.  When I do, I'll post a link to the new blog.  I hope you'll be willing to follow me over there!

I know this is the right decision, because as soon as I made it, I suddenly had a flood of post ideas and the excitement to post that I've been missing the last couple years.  Funny how a new start can bring inspiration all on it's own.

Oh, and I hope you've enjoyed pictures of my canoe garden!  It's one of those projects I've been wanting to share, and I think it'll be one of the first posts at my new blog home!  WOOO LOOK AT ME I'M GARDENING!!


12 comments:

  1. That garden is totally awesome!

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  2. Once you find a new outlet for your creativity, make sure you post a link! I've followed your sewing and loved it. I also have just moved over to more knitting, and setting up the vege patch as well. Personally I think it is healthy to have many interests that can come and go as different times in our lives demand. Keep in touch ... J

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    1. Will do! It's in the works now, just trying to get her the way I want it. :)

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  3. You are allowed to have more than one blog; I have three and I'm not a 'serious' blogger. If it feel traitorous to post 'house' stuff on the sewing blog, then just use the other one. All three of my blogs see spates of activity, but I like to keep various activities separate. I will, of course, follow what ever you decide to do b/c I enjoying reading your posts.
    As long as you are having fun, that is all that matters

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    1. Eh, I don't think multiple blogs on different subjects works for me. I'm trying to simplify my life, and that seems overly complicated for the way my own brain works. Having everything in one place is the best thing for me. Thanks for the suggestion though! I had considered that early on in my musings.

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  4. I know hte feeling - I changed the name of my blog, which you can totally do and not have to set up a new one, then I set up a one post one with my old url in case anyone followed a link to it, with a redirect to my NEW one. ARGH!! It was a total faff but ended up being simples. Maybe you could do that - and btw I for one am more than happy to see posts about a bunch of stuff. Increasingly I am dropping pure sewing blogs for ones about a wider life experience. And I am a terror for going off topic myself!

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    1. I sort of wish I'd done that instead, but originally I was planning on switching to wordpress. Set up the new account and everything, then got totally lost with their system.

      I'm glad to hear you're interested in different topics! I've dabbled with it here, but I noticed that any knitting posts would get about 25% of the viewings any sewing post would normally get, so it was a bit hint that maybe this wasn't the place for it. But these other things are, more and more, taking over my sewing time and desire, and they're important to me, that I thought a fresh start was in order.

      And here I am, blathering again in the comments. AHA yeah. Lots of thought time has been put into this subject. lol

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  5. Love your canoe garden. Look forward to seeing your new blog.

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    1. I'm one of those who posts other stuff so it's clearly somethng I like reading on your blog and on those of others. I figure anyone can skip and pick as they like. Personally I enjoy getting to "know" someone a little better because after all we are usually sewing for our own lives so I do see other life details as relevant. And as a gardener I am in awe of that canoe garden. Had to show my husband and he just rolls his eyes when I consider another backyard project.

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  6. I think lots of us crafters have found we're exploring more areas than we when we first started our blogs. Mine was mostly a photo project a few years ago and more personal than it's been lately. Now it seems mostly knitting focused, and I'm sure that will change.
    I like seeing the whole person behind a blog, even if it's mainly about one subject. I can understand you wanting to change things up for yourself, though. I'll be following you wherever you go :)

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