Blissed out : Scary bag

I think I'm pretty proficient at the old bag making these days. I've got a few that I rotate on a regular basis when I go out and about, along with those I've made for friends - I think I've got them pretty down pat.

But then I was asked, repeatedly, to make one on commission. Actually, a few people have asked me along the way and I've always been hugely flattered but managed to side step the question. But one lady I know from a course I'm doing (NLP practitioner certificate - which I can't recommend highly enough because it's so fantastic) kept asking me to make her one and I was feeling all super confident one day so agreed.

I asked her what fabric she'd like and then brought her some so she could choose. And then the weirdest thing happened - I got such major stage fright about making it! I kept putting it off and off (it probably didn't help that I had to fight to get to the table to get my sewing machine out because of the remodeling going on!) and even when I did eventually get round to doing it I spent so long agonising over what it would look like, whether I thought the colors went together, if I could pull it off and generally make it 'perfect.'

Fortunately the lady loved it and was really happy to pay me for it (I honestly wondered when I was making it - oh the pressure!) but I decided that it was going to be the first and last time I make something on commission - there's too much pressure! I love making stuff and then offering it in my etsy shop or giving it as a gift but making on commission took all of the fun and creativity out of it for me. To all those people out there who do work that way I take my hat well and truly off to you!

This weekend has marked a bit of a watershed for us - it's the first one in about 3 months that we've not been cleaning brick dust or decorating of some sort. It was lovely! We potterred, cooked (Cole is getting really good and thanks to Jamie's Ministry of Food is happily cooking and eating things like fish pie and beef in ale casserole), we did a bit of crafting together and read the papers - bliss! I could really have done with getting some Uni work done but instead I was naughty and just enjoyed the luxury of nothing ness!

Obviously the general weekend housework had to be done like the cleaning and ironing - but I didn't mind that nearly as much because I have a super new iron. Now, I'm very aware of just how utterly sad that makes me sound! But I am embracing my domestic un rock n roll-ness and saying it loud and proud - I love my iron!
Not so long ago I joined something called Bzzagent where you sign up to try products and services. I got an email from them shortly afterwards asking if I wanted to be part of a trial of the Philips GC7220 Steam Generator so I thought I've nothing to lose but did wonder if it was for real. But low and behold a few days later it arrived - great big box with this massive thing and a booklet telling me all about it. The thing that really caught my eye though was how it can cut the ironing time in half. Well, as someone who can't really stand ironing, that sounded worth a try.

Anyway, I'm a total convert - telling any poor soul who'll listen just how good my new iron is. It really is fantastic - the steam means that you only have to iron one side of the garment - it decreases the underside too meaning...you really can get through it all in half the time. I know I now probably sound like a stepford wife and I swear I'm not paid anything, or even required to promote the product - I really do just like it (a lot!)

I was round at my friends a couple of weeks ago and she was showing off her new Dyson Vacuum cleaner she'd found in a charity shop. We were laughing at just how different our lives are now to when we were in our 20's - when it was clubbing and dancing that was on our minds. Now it's irons and new hoovers! I'm under no illusions that I'm still young and hip anymore!

5 Comments

I think the bag looks wonderful. You did such a good job.

But, I have the same stage fright when I try to follow a sewing pattern - certain that I will mess something up. I work better and more at ease when there is no pattern, so there is nothing I can do wrong.

Glad you have your house back in order.

Posted by: Marie | November 04, 2008 at 01:26 PM

Jamie's Ministry of food cook book is great. We too have tried the beef and ale casserole and it was a success even with my daughter and my Dad who supposedly dosen't like tomatoes!!

Your bag looks great, but I knpw what you mean about making anything for a commission I keep agonising if they will like it as much as I do.

Posted by: jo | November 05, 2008 at 11:12 AM