At Christmas, my wonderful, amazing husband gave me a sewing machine. For many people, they don't understand the significance of this gift, But, oh my gosh, I was so excited!! This could not have been more a perfect thing for me to receive!
I have loved sewing since I learned in high school, and spent years loving this hobby and creating all kinds of things. Then, several years ago, I entered into a new "relationship" with a sewing machine I bought from a very nice sewing store. Needless to say, the pricetag was more than I had ever spent on a machine before, so I assumed my experience would be a great one! What I learned is that the fancier model was not a good match for me, and I spent years agonizing over my inability to "communicate" with this sewing machine. We took lessons, I sent it in to be repaired, I brought it back to the store where it was purchased, all to no avail. The sales lady and repairman repeatedly (and yes, gently) gave me the message that the actual machine was fine, but the problem was user error.
User error? I have years of experience with other sewing machines! I can tell the difference between a bobbin and a needle! I know the best times to use a zig-zag stitch, or when a straight stitch is more suitable! What do you mean? User error?? So, I brought my sewing machine back home, and we continued to not get along. I finally even tried to sell it at a garage sale, but nobody wanted it. Looking back, I can't blame them--my sales pitch was probably not the most convincing when they asked if it worked! ("Well, it didn't work for me, but the repairman says it was all user error!") In the end, I quit sewing. I put the machine in the box, stuck it in the basemenet, and cringed every time I saw it when I went down there. And sadly, I quit sewing...... I decided to break off that relationship and just give up on sewing. I just couldn't bring myself to part with another chunk of money to find another machine that would hopefully work for me.
The more the years went by, the more I missed sewing. When I was near fabric in a store, I looked at it longingly, thinking of all the things I could make. My mom asked me to come with her to a fancy sewing store so she could buy herself a new machine, and I felt envious. She wanted to re-learn how to sew and begin quilting like her mother--my grandma--used to do when she was alive. I missed the thrill of seeing a project come together--figuring out how all these random pieces can come together to create something beautiful! These random, edgy, peculiar, odd-shaped pieces that look like nothing all have a very specific purpose when you understand how they fit into the bigger picture.
So, now that I have a new sewing machine, I have now begun to sew again, and I am making up for lost time! I have begun to sew bags--tote bags, book bags, netbook (small computer) bags, etc. I am taking patterns and making bags, and creating my own bags without a pattern. I am having so much fun! I am again feeling very fulfilled from seeing projects come together to create something beautiful!
I have now created so many bags, though, that I need to sell some. I will be featuring my bags in a store in Des Moines, IA called Ephemera Designs at 505 E. Locust, Street, which is located about 2 blocks from the state capitol in a renovated area of town. I will also be looking into some local craft fairs. (http://www.ephemeradesign.com/)
I have also begun spotting fabric in unusual locations to create bags that are more creative and less likely to be re-created: I shop mostly in thrift stores and purchase items to recycle fabric. I do find fabric remnants in those stores, but also use men's shirts or women's skirts, belts, and men's ties to fun bags.
And, while this post may sound like a metaphor for human relationships, it certainly can be. While I have a wonderful husband and family, and amazing friends, sometimes I have had friends who I have had to end relationships because they were not healthy for me. I have started friendships with friends who seem more exciting than my old friends, only to find out they were not a good fit for me. I have been a little envious that some people seem to have the coolest friends, but those people don't seem to think I am cool enough to hang around with. And, I have found, after many years, some women who are truly the epitomy of the word best friends. I would not trade my best friends for anybody! They are perfect, caring, perceptive, and thoughtful. Yet, they are not too mushy, too "organic", or too doting. They are a perfect fit for what I need in friends. And, I feel so fortunate!
It is OK to end relationships, put some in storage (and interact less frequently), and start new ones with others that fit you. If somebody causes you agony, you don't have to stay with them. If somebody makes you cringe each time you see her behavior, you don't have to hang around with them. We all just need to continue to remain open to the possibility of having people in our lives, and not close ourselves off of developing new friendships. It is important to realize when it is "user error", when it is the other person's personality/behavior that doesn't jive with your values, or when it is something that can be work through with some "repairs" or communication. Sometimes, it just takes a new start, ending something that pains you to begin weaving the pieces of relationships together to create something beautiful!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Making a Diffference
As I posted a couple weeks ago, I had been preparing to go on a mission trip with my church youth group from June 22 - 28. Our Youth Group leader had been called to active duty and was doubtful he would return in time to go with us, so several of us adults stepped up to the plate to organize the rest of the trip. Luckily, the Youth Group leader was able to return in time to go with us, and he didn't have any planning left to do by the time he got back to town.
We were told to plan on dry-walling in a house that was destroyed by Hurrican Rita, but when we arrived, we learned our work assignment was to build a handicap ramp, install a water heater, repair window, and other miscellaneous work to finalize a house for move-in. The man we were helping had been living in a FEMA trailer for nearly three years. Now, when I say trailer, don't make the mistake I did and assume it was a trailer like you see in a mobile home neighborhood. Oh, no. These trailers are about 16 - 17 feet in length, and basically a scaled down travel trailer. The travel trailers you see on the road are deluxe models compared to this man's "home", provided courtesy of our national government. The man's house had its front porch ripped off and was laying on its side, displacing the rafters in his attic, breaking window, and creating lots of areas for wind and water to get in and ruin much of the inside of his house. His water heater was broken, and the house's siding was torn off in many polaces. The work on his house started around May 12, so we were about the 5th group that spent a week of volunteer hours putting his house back together.
The contractor who met with the homeowner told us that when he first told him that the mission organization would be back May 12 to start working on his house, the homeowner didn't believe him. Evidently, there are lots of people who come by, talk with the homeowners to see what they can do about fixing the houses, and then never return. So, when the Methodist missionary ministry actually followed through on their word, the man was very excited.
The four high school freshmen that went with us all had fantastic attitudes, and worked hard all week to do whatever was needed to make this man's home liveable. Their work ethic was one that would surprise many adults. Anybody who believes that today's youth are only interested in things that benefit them, and aren't interested in working hard on behalf of somebody else needs to go on one of these mission trips. They would be pleasantly surprised at how dedicated these kids can be toward the service toward others. As us Rotarians say it, Service Above Self.
I don't normally wear a hat, but if I did, my hat would go off to those youth who were so incredible toward making sure the project we were assigned was not only finished, but that the work was done above expectations. Three of the four youth are higher ranking Boy Scouts, and they definitely proved that they are devoted toward their mission of making things better than they found them.
We were told to plan on dry-walling in a house that was destroyed by Hurrican Rita, but when we arrived, we learned our work assignment was to build a handicap ramp, install a water heater, repair window, and other miscellaneous work to finalize a house for move-in. The man we were helping had been living in a FEMA trailer for nearly three years. Now, when I say trailer, don't make the mistake I did and assume it was a trailer like you see in a mobile home neighborhood. Oh, no. These trailers are about 16 - 17 feet in length, and basically a scaled down travel trailer. The travel trailers you see on the road are deluxe models compared to this man's "home", provided courtesy of our national government. The man's house had its front porch ripped off and was laying on its side, displacing the rafters in his attic, breaking window, and creating lots of areas for wind and water to get in and ruin much of the inside of his house. His water heater was broken, and the house's siding was torn off in many polaces. The work on his house started around May 12, so we were about the 5th group that spent a week of volunteer hours putting his house back together.
The contractor who met with the homeowner told us that when he first told him that the mission organization would be back May 12 to start working on his house, the homeowner didn't believe him. Evidently, there are lots of people who come by, talk with the homeowners to see what they can do about fixing the houses, and then never return. So, when the Methodist missionary ministry actually followed through on their word, the man was very excited.
The four high school freshmen that went with us all had fantastic attitudes, and worked hard all week to do whatever was needed to make this man's home liveable. Their work ethic was one that would surprise many adults. Anybody who believes that today's youth are only interested in things that benefit them, and aren't interested in working hard on behalf of somebody else needs to go on one of these mission trips. They would be pleasantly surprised at how dedicated these kids can be toward the service toward others. As us Rotarians say it, Service Above Self.
I don't normally wear a hat, but if I did, my hat would go off to those youth who were so incredible toward making sure the project we were assigned was not only finished, but that the work was done above expectations. Three of the four youth are higher ranking Boy Scouts, and they definitely proved that they are devoted toward their mission of making things better than they found them.
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