My 2 cents...

Over this Easter break i have had some more time to do some of the things I Love. Spend time with family and friends, to cook, to sew, and to 'read' blogs...
I read Jennifer's blog post and Rachel's about being real, followed by this post then this one ....and then a discussion going on over at whip stitch.... YOU. CAN. SEW.  I felt compelled to add my 2 cents.


I tend to live in a bubble in my house. We don't watch the news, read the papers..As far as the world going on around me??? I only over hear bits and pieces of conversations.. just enough to make me glad i don't hear the news constantly. It effects me. There is enough heart ache and sadness amongst our friends and families that who can cope with the added burden of world problems.

So reading about the discussions going... I felt compelled to add to the discussion and write my thoughts.

Whats so hard about being nice??

 Whats so hard about being supportive, happy for someone else?

Jennifer's post was all about Dumbing down Quilting... Traditional vs Modern... Can anyone really be bothered causing a fuss? Don't we have enough on our plates to worry about if Modern Quilting is wrecking the tradition? It wasn't the fact that i was offended by the topic I was moved to write because it was just another time when someone is being critical of someone else... Who has enough energy at the end of the day to complain and cause trouble...??

I think we forget that we are all women. Were all the same. WE all have the same worries and fears. We worry if we are measuring up. If were doing a good job raising our children, If were spending enough time teaching them, loving them, to raise them into well rounded human beings.. We juggle the daily chores of cleaning a house, washing clothes, some of us working full time. We juggle the school run, the afternoon activities, taking the kids to their sporting practise, the dinner and bed time routines and barely make it through the day to wake up and do it all again the next day.  We worry about if we look good in our clothes, should we exercise more, or eat less. Should we go help that person who is in need, should we lend a listening ear to our friend who is upset. Should we invite the new neighbours over for dinner? Do we do enough for our husbands and work on our marriages. Do we sew/blog too much? Do we need more/less time for ourselves? Did we make the best Easter hat this year and what about our kids reading.. Are they learning their words for school? What about our bills? We stress over Financial trouble. Are we giving to the children, but not giving too much... Are we good mothers, wives, friends? The list really is endless... I could sit here and write for hours.. the things women think about constantly throughout the day..

On top of all these worries and fears... WE also have 'REAL'  problems that we face daily. Are we suffering with depressions? Anxiety? Troubles in our marriage? Are we grieving? Are we struggling financially? Are we searching for happiness?


So, the timeless question is......

Why cant we just band together as women??

Why cant we love and support each other? Is it really that hard?

We ALL have the same problems....the SAME fears, the SAME worries, the SAME heartaches.

Why cant we be happy for our neighbour or friend when something good happens in their life instead of trying to compete to be one better? Why are we in a society of competition? To be the BEST the better wife, the better mother, the better friend. Why cant we be genuine? Why cant we let others see the REAL us. I think things would just be so much easier if we all let our guards down and were genuine and actually contributing to the conversation by explaining the REAL you. I think we could offer support and love for each other. I think we could really learn from each other. We could really help each other. Offer genuine love, guidance, support.

I have kept this blog a little out of reality so to speak.. Not because I didn't want each of you to see the 'real me' but because i needed something not associated with the 'real me' to keep me going. I needed a place that i could think about something other than families, children, being a mother. I needed a part of my day to escape the 'real life' something to keep me busy so that i didn't have time to think.

I found that in sewing, In designing quilts, writing patterns, about the next new fabric line, reading blogs and sharing in something someone is making.

Real life for me is hard. It is a struggle. Its hard to get up each day, Its hard being surrounded by everyone pregnant and having babies.  Its hard leaving the house and its hard being home. Its hard having tons of spare time when i should be busy holding a baby. Its hard smiling and talking to friends who talk about pregnancy, babies and children. It's hard being happy when I'm dying inside. Its hard counting my blessing when i cant forget what i have lost.

Life is hard... It is really really hard. But sewing has helped. It has given me something fun to think about. Something totally unrelated to real life. I have found a happiness and joy from sewing. I started a blog to keep me busy, to be able to share what i love to do. To sell my quilt patterns, to be apart of an online community. And now, to teach.. To help others find joy and happiness in sewing...

So many people email me and ask why i am not charging for these quilt classes. And the reason is.... I cant. I don't want to. Its more than that... These Quilt Classes is my way of giving back... what blogs and sewing and quilting has given me. I want to be able to teach women and mothers like me... Who need something to help them get through the day.  Something to give them a little joy and happiness. Something they can do to escape. Something they can do for their own sanity. Maybe sewing isn't you things.. Maybe its painting, drawing, cooking, making,... Whatever it is....?? I just have a skill that i can share. I have learnt how to sew.. and its so so easy I want to be able to share it with others. Teach what i know. I'm not a qualified quilter, teacher, seamstress... but i just love sewing. And in helping and teaching... its helping me.

In regards to the discussions HERE... Anyone can sew. Who cares what it looks like, if its not technically perfect, if the colours or fabrics aren't right. Who cares if you change a pattern or its a simple block.. If you love it and it brings you happiness... then that's all that matters.

This blog post is a little scary for me..Its a little 'real' and I'm usually the quiet type who just smiles and then goes home and has a massive debrief with my hubby! But i really felt compelled to write and voice my 2 cents... which is probably more like 75 cents worth!! That we just need to remember, that we are all women. We have ALL the same dramas, problems, concerns... that we should be that better friend that helps and loves.. and is genuine. Wouldn't life be so much easier if we could all just be genuine and real.

And i just want to say Thank you to all of you. For all of your lovely comments and emails. I don't get to thank you enough.. I probably wouldn't blog if i didn't have anyone reading. I try and reply to all of you.. Sometimes life gets in the way... But i love each and every comment and it really helps me... helps me to have the strength to keep going.  xxx I hope you had a wonderful Easter with your family and friends, Love Bec  xxx