Monday Musings

I'll start off with a disclaimer: I know that TV isn't real life. And cartoons...are really REALLY not real life. Let me back up.

When you're home alone with a flighty 20 month old and your husband is on a business trip in Europe, survival law kicks in. So maybe you eat frozen pizzas and watch more TV than you normally would. So sue me.

We've been watching a lot of My Little Pony, via Netflix. It's unoffensive and cute, and one of the ponies is a seamstress, of all things.

This is where I repeat that I know TV isn't real life.

More than one episode focuses on this poor seamstress pony and her life as a fashion designer. There was a time when all her friends were her (terrible) clients, when she worked tirelessly but had her fabric ruined by baby ponies, and one where the pony modeling her clothes became more famous than her.

Maybe it's because I can't get the theme song out of my head, or because of Project Runway ending, but I keep mulling over these episodes and feeling sad. Because they're true! 

The life of a fashion designer or seamstress has so much potential to be unfulfilling. I remember a few years back, I saw Christian Siriano on some reality TV show, and he looked so depressed. Like he knew his talent for design was being evaporated into costing meetings and celebrity chasing. 

If you couldn't tell, I'm still musing over this whole sewing-as-business thing I mentioned here. I suppose all work is a bit torturous at times, whether you're a designer or a doctor or a mom. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I admire people who work in a creative field. Not only is it difficult to BE creative, but you also have to be willing to take great risks.

If you have a creative business, more power to you! I admire you, and respect your hard work. Maybe someday I'll have the courage to join you! Until then, I'll be watching My Little Pony if anyone needs me...

Sewing for Money

This might be a little deep for a Monday. But hang with me, because if you have expertise on this subject, I want to hear your comments!

Most of the bloggers I follow are sewing for fun (as am I). It's relaxing, it's practical (sometimes!) and it's a great hobby. But sewing can also be a career. I'm a stay-at-home mom, but someday I'll need to return to the workforce. I've often wondered if I should try to make a career of sewing (alterations? design? factory work?).

Last week this article from The New York Times was floating around Facebook. Did you see it? It's about sewing jobs returning to the US from overseas factories, and about the lack of a properly trained workforce. Good news for people like me who MIGHT want that as a career.

I say MIGHT because I just. don't. know. A few weeks ago, I went through a sort of "audition" process with a local business to do some part-time, from-home, seasonal sewing work. After sewing up a few samples for them, I heard those comforting words "we'll call you" and guess what, no call (shocker). Okay, no big deal, my family doesn't need the extra income to put dinner on the table and maybe someday else did. And frankly, maybe (probably) my work wasn't up to snuff. Okay fine, but why was that? Was it possibly because my heart wasn't 100% in it?

I LOVE to sew. But what if I HAD to sew? Would I still love it? It terrifies me to think that something I adore so much could turn into a chore. Work. A drag. And if it were my job, isn't that what it would be? Would I sew in my free time if I had to sew in my work time? What if the opposite became true, what if I could sew, make money, and have fun?

I've obviously over-thought myself into a puddle of confusion. I may not know the answers to these questions unless I go out and try. Unless someone wants to chime in with their experience and advice?? What do you think, does sewing for money cheapen the experience? Ruin it? Take out the fun? Let me know in the comments!