why blog?

I have been asking myself this question lately.

I'm not trying to gather 1000 followers (although I have to admit that it would feel pretty incredible to have 1000 people around the world looking at my little quilts and toddler dresses.  I'm almost to 100 followers, which is pretty mind-blowing in itself!).  I'm not hoping to turn my sewing and quilting into a source of income.  I have no patterns to sell and don't aspire to have blog sponsors.

Before I started this blog (about 18 months ago) I found enormous inspiration and started to have some meaningful social connections through flickr (I'm really interested in how flickr works for quilters, and would love to hear about your own experiences...but more on that in a future post). 

I started this blog impulsively, without any kind of vision of what I was hoping to accomplish or achieve. 

I have a very, very full career and family life (UNDERSTATEMENT!!!!!), and although I initially had a vague notion that I would draw on both my professional and creative interests here, in fact this blog doesn't even scratch the surface of those really important parts of my life. 

And it's pretty nice to keep the sewing separate. 

The creative corner of my life, in which I sew, provides me with an alternative space -- not exactly an escape since, in fact, I work out a lot of ideas and problems while I'm sewing.  My sewing-quilting self is, however, somehow distinct -- not Professor, not Mommy.

...and not quite this sophisticated seamstress, either, but this post really needs some visuals!

So why am I doing this?  (And have I bored the pants off you yet????  I hope not.  Thanks for indulging me!)

I think it boils down to something social -- the sense of connecting with interested people and also the possibility of learning from and being inspired by the ideas and work of others.  The prospect of sewing all-by-my-lonely, and getting feedback only from people who don't sew themselves (as wonderful and generous and well-meaning as they may be) isn't very appealing.  I have been a closet crafter before (I knit without knitting friends for decades).  I don't want to go back!

I like to talk about this stuff. I love to see what other people are making. I'll happily throw in my two cents (when it's wanted!). And it's wonderful, helpful, gratfying to get feedback and suggestions from all of you!

Aha! It's YOU!  You're the reason I'm doing this.  That's a happy thought.

 But I want to make sure I'm giving something back (something beyond the pure pleasure of viewing my projects or my daughter dressed as Batgirl!).  And no, this isn't an elaborate preamble to a giveaway :)


If there's one thing I'm good at, it's research.  Whatever task is in front of me, whether it's cloth diapering or mortgage renewal or a quilting project, I'm pretty good at gathering all the available info and knowing my options.  As a result of this character trait, I have a lot -- a LOT -- of sewing and quilting notions, books, and general retail knowledge. So I'm thinking of working a little product or pattern review into each of my posts...is that appealing to you?  We'll see how it goes, I suppose. 

So stay tuned for my scintillating review of....

Heat Press Batting Together tape!  If that doesn't have you on the edge of your seat, I don't know what will.

Happy Sunday.