HAPPY SPRING EVE! Last weekend I was standing at my back door, enjoying my coffee, when I saw my first robin of the season. It was a beautiful sight. Spring is popping up all around us!
With the start of the new season, I’ve felt a renewed energy to sew again. The last time I made something was at Christmas, and I’ve missed working on my creative projects. I’d bought some new material after the holidays that I’d yet to use, so I decided to make a pouch. Everything was going great until I grabbed the wrong pen to mark the fabric. I keep all of my fabric pens for sewing in a particular cup, but somehow a beautiful turquoise gel pen ended up in the same cup and that’s the one I pulled out. Assuming it was a fabric pen–the markings of which disappear with the touch of a hot iron or damp cloth–I didn’t bother to look at the label. And so the pocket of my pouch with all of its perfect stitches and straight lines measured just right was marked with permanent ink. Now you should know that I’m the queen of stain removal (just ask my children!), but all of my skills and tricks didn’t remove the gel pen.
I was so disappointed and disheartened.
Now what? I could cut out new pattern pieces and start again, if I had enough leftover fabric. I could put it aside and forget about it. I could chalk it up as ruined and use the unmarked fabric for something else.
But I didn’t want to do any of those things. I really liked the way the pouch was coming together. So I got out my seam ripper (my best friend) and started gently removing my perfect stitches. After they were removed, I tried the stain remover one more time, but it still didn’t work. Instead, I turned the pocket to its opposite side (I’d lined it with the same fabric), restitched it, and it looks beautiful. I’m so happy that I didn’t give up!
What did I learn from my experience?
- DON’T GIVE UP! There is always a solution to a challenge. Sometimes you need to walk away to get a new perspective.
- HAVE PATIENCE! With myself and the project. There was no deadline for the project to be completed. It was okay to take a break and rethink how I could do it differently.
- LEARN FROM THE CHALLENGE: Challenges are inevitable; it’s how I choose to handle them. What do I want to learn from this particular challenge?
- KNOW MY WHY: Why was I sewing? I was doing it for me–for my pleasure and my enjoyment.
- RESIST PERFECTION: Life isn’t perfect, and my project didn’t have to be perfect.
- ENJOY THE PROCESS! Rather than only focusing on end results.
- CELEBRATE MY SUCCESS! I didn’t give up, and I found an innovative way to correct my mistake.
- READ ALL LABELS! 🙂
How do you handle disappointment when you’ve put so much love and effort into a project, and it didn’t work out the way you expected? What lessons have you learned from a project? Please share in the comments section.
I look forward to reading your comments every week. I learn more about you, and I also pray for each of you.
I really liked your sewing journey story. It was so cool how you were able to figure out a solution and learn from the whole experience.
I hope I can do the same with my Hebrew course…I’m sick of missing class and I wish I were doing the homework. There’s got to be some way to catch up and engage fully with learning the language to understand the Bible more.
Thank you for your words of encouragement.
Hebrew is a lot harder than sewing. I know you will catch up on your homework and move forward because you have a desire to learn the language.
I only wish I could sew. Sewing class was a nightmare in high school but I did well in ceramics. My creativity in my older years only involves a glue gun. I have some upcoming projects and will try to remember your great advice. Really enjoy your blogs, Marie. Happy Spring 😊.
I never tried to do ceramics but it looks like fun. Love my glue gun too. Our creativity can change as we get “younger” but the most important thing, is we keep being creative. Enjoy your projects.
Thank you for reading my blog. Happy Spring
Marie, you’re always such an inspiration! You seem too come up with a solution and make it look like it was meant to be that way or find a solution that is a total fix. You’re an extraordinary woman and what makes you so special is you’re always finding ways to helpothers.
Love all you do! Thank you for sharing.
😊🙏❤
Thank you for reading my blog. I am so blessed by your kind and encouraging words.
I loved to sew, I first started just before my first daughter was born. I purchased my sewing machine and matching table with my severance pay from my job, which begins women’s lib. I was laid off because of my pregnancy. Anyway my disappointment over losing my job was gone with the hours of sewing baby clothes and maternity things. So my disappointment turned into hours of enjoyment. That machine served me for 40 years
Thank you for sharing your story. I love it. Sewing offers us so much enjoyment. My sewing room is my santuary.
I am so happy for you and Kim. I wore the earrings you made the other day. I love them. It would be nice if you were closer. I miss you.
That’s some creative problem solving. When I run into an issue, I usually walk away from or and while walking, doing something else or while sleeping a solution will come into my mind! If not, running it by my husband can also help to figure it out!
Once I figured out the solution, I went to bed. Sleep came easy.
Thank you Marie. I knit and make a lot of mistakes that I have to take out rows or start over again. Some days I’m good with that some days I’m frustrated over it. I keep practicing.
I understand the frustration. If I didn’t have seam ripper I would be up the creek.
I was imagining myself sitting in your sewing room and just spending time with you. I remember the first time I came to your house when I shared my testimony at celebrate recovery. How I treasure those times my friend. Kim and I are renting a new home together. It is around the corner but it’s very large and has a saltwater pool in the yard. Lots of room to feed people. God is walking out a dream just as he has walked out your dream. I’m going to send you a text because I have some questions about your Beautiful projects.