Thank you to all those wonderfully honest hearts who responded by comment and email to
THIS blog post last week.
At times I wept as I read, prayed and responded...I wept for the burdens so many of you have carried through unrealistic, and unneeded, expectations.
I wept because it was all with hearts to do good; yet it had stolen from you precious time, joy in your craft, and a peaceful spirit.
I heard your regrets, and I understood because I have been there too.
You gave me a lot to ponder, on top of the sentiments I had already shared.
In fact, you helped open my eyes even further.
The truth is we love to sew and craft. Making lovely things should bring joy, and when that joy is disabled by the weight of expectation we put on ourselves to complete project after project, and purchase fabric line upon fabric line, love for this craft turns into guilt, and even competition.
Today I want to take it one step further.
Today I ask that you walk into your craft storage area and take a good long look at the fabric and supplies you already own, and then ask yourself...
How far back does your stash go?
Can you identify fabrics you bought three years ago?
Five years ago?
Ten??
I've only been sewing since 2005, and I didn't start on my 'stash build' till 2007, but I still have some of those fabrics - unused and fading away.
With each passing year since, I've acquired more 'must-have' fabric lines, and used some of them with joy!
But I also possess fabrics I 'had to have' when I bought them, yet have never cut into.
So today, it was on those old and lonely, forgotten lengths of cotton print I let my eyes rest.
And a plan formed.
A plan to consciously give them their *Moment to Shine*.
This fabric line is Woodland Bloom from Lila Tueller (2008)...
I'm remaking a few of my favourite Jenny of Elefantz originals from the first two years I was designing, and I've decided to give my Woodland Bloom stash a moment to shine in the "Hearts & Flowers" cushion cover (which will feature in something special January 2014)...
Is your fabric - the fabric already on your shelves, waiting for it's moment to shine too?
Let's make a difference, and use what we have.
A bit like the English war slogan, "Make Do & Mend", but we'll "Make Do & Shine".
Imagine the fun of planning projects for our home or loved ones from what we have on hand, ready and waiting to shine!?
Plus, think of all the $$ you will be saving in the process. Money that could be used to help your budget, reduce debt, or to bless those in need.
And if you find fabrics that just don't tickle your fancy the way they used to, give them away. I speak from experience when I tell you that is an amazingly freeing thing to do.
Will you join me in this challenge over the next year?
Let me know if you will in the comments.
And why not share the idea with your friends? To do this with a buddy or two would be even more fun!
Perhaps you have some Christmas fabrics from seasons past in your stash?
Kerryanne will be featuring all sorts of things you can do and make for a truly Handmade Christmas in your home.
There are many different contributors sharing their ideas and designs, and I happen to be one of them; but you'll have to be patient to see what pretty thing I have for you at Simply Christmas around the middle of November.
Here's a little teaser peek...
To read all about *Simply Christmas" go
HERE, and then visit Kerryanne's blog
HERE to follow along with the weekly fun!
She even has a free Christmas planner ready for you to download.
So, shall we start our *Moment to Shine* adventure together?
Feel free to share this photo on your blog, and link back to this blog post to explain what its about.
hugs
jenny
