Sew, Sew, Sew, & Don't Give Up!
Happy New Year!! I pray everyone has had a very prosperous and blessed NEW YEAR thus far! I wanted to share with you all a piece I made for New Year's 2015 and 2014. Also, give you some inspirational thoughts on what sewing taught me.
So I started sewing when I was younger. I'm sure everyone has taken a home ec. class and sewed pillows. Well I did! I was interested in sewing but never really took it seriously. I purchased my first sewing machine in 2005. At the time I knew it was something I wanted to try.
Well I tried it and I was attempting to make my then boyfriend some scrubs. He was in nursing school and it's something I set out to do! Well it was hard, back then I knew nothing about reading patterns, notions, and fabric. I was completely lost with sewing and I gave up.
Now fast forward to 2014, I have free weekends, no longer working 3 jobs! I can afford to take sewing classes. So I did just that! I was super excited, you all! I even changed my blog name from "Fashioned for Him" to Fashioned for Hem (word play).
Through all my excitement I set out to make a name for myself. I sewed dresses for me but I had several people ask me to sew items for them. So I did. Was it my best work? No, I still needed to learn a lot about sewing.
I created a pleated skirt for a client and I thought I did it in a great amount of time. But looking back on it, I rushed it. The client wasn't happy and neither was I. I gave the client their money back plus extra to cover the cost of the fabric and other items. Also, I referred her to another sewing sister in the area. As I knew I wasn't where I needed to be with sewing.
Did this frustrate me? Yes! You may be wandering why? Well, I don't like failure. Especially failing at something I needed to be more honest with myself about. I wasn't ready to sew garments for others yet.
It's one thing when you sew for yourself. I can make any adjustments for me as I know my body and at any moment I can try on the item I am sewing to see if it is a good fit. Yet, when creating an item for a customer you have to get the measurements correct or the garment will not fit properly.
Since I was frustrate, in my feelings, and I didn't like that I failed. I stop sewing for about 3 months. Yep, my sewing machine started collecting dust. I would have family and friends ask me about it and my excuse was I have a lot going on, I don't have the time.
I was lying. I could've made time but I choose not too. God wasn't going to allow me to sweep sewing under the rug as I did with other talents. I started dreaming about it. I would run into people daily who would ask me about it. Also, during this time I couldn't sleep past 4am. God wanted to talk about me BELIEVING in myself. Not what others thought or believed I should do or sew. Yet, his plans for me, the word says:
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT
I knew I could quote Jeremiah 29:11 easily, but yet I dispelled the following verses. Pray and he will listen. Seek him wholeheartedly and I would find him. I did give up on sewing and my prayer life was lacking. Yet, I set out to listen and ensure I heard God within the 3 months I stopped sewing.
Since he woke me up at 4am I started praying more. I sewed seriously for the first time when I created my New Years Eve (NYE) midi dress. It was great! Very therapeutic and I actually was able to sew the dress in no time. I surprised myself!
I am sharing all of this with you all because whatever goal, business, dream, God has placed in your heart. Give it to God. Allow him to lead and guide you. You can do it!!
The most important lesson I learned is that EVERYTHING is possible with God, if I set it before him. If I BELIEVE in the gifts he has bestowed upon me, it's possible.
Be encouraged, NEVER GIVE UP, and BELIEVE!
I'm believing in you!! "Embrace God, Love You, & Be Fashioned for Hem!"
Here is the dress I sewed for NYE 2015, it's an Aztec Print midi dress:
Below: Last year NYE 2014 I wore this dress, made by me! I call it the "Cruella,"
It seems that black & white has become my trend for my New Year's Eve sewing! I hope you like the looks! Leave a comment, share, and subscribe!
