You're looking at a photo of my birthday gift from Josiah this year. Six years ago, when we were newly married, living in a little apartment with one car, I informed him I was bored and was going to make a quilt. Being a kind, supportive husband, he readily agreed, went with me to flip through quilt magazines, and then on a trip to JoAnn Fabrics to pick out the fabric.
Then, for a few weeks {maybe months, it seems like it was quick in retrospect} got out my Kenmore machine and I sewed and sewed, and then quilted and quilted until I had a finished queen sized quilt {yes, I quilted a queen size quilt on my little old Kenmore sewing machine}. When I was finially finished he was quite impressed. It was only then that he admitted a bit of skepticism that I was going to just go out and make a quilt.
Four quilts and several years later, my mom and I decided to look into pursuing sewing and quilting as a small business. This time, my sweet, supportive husband went with me to shop for a new machine, and ended up encouraging me to get one beyond what I had ever planned or dreamed.
Now, when my birthday or Christmas rolls around, he knows what kinds of things really melt my heart. Contrary to his coworkers' opinions {who thought they'd do him a favor and advise him that jewelry or electronics would be a better choice}, a quilting table is a perfect gift!
Now, I will even admit to you that I rarely find a friend who also loves to spend so much time quilting {even more reason I'm lucky to have my mom!}, or that I'd rather buy fabric than clothes or shoes. In fact, a good majority of my real life friends don't even know this blog exists... Maybe that's why I love all of you {and the internet} so much. You don't think I'm {very} crazy...
Do you find that your other real life friends think you're crazy for spending so much time in the sewing room?
I absolutely agree! None of my real friends understand totally my sewing obsession let alone know about my blog!!! That's also what I love about blogland!
ReplyDeleteThat last 2 paragraphs could have been me writing it! Actually the whole lot sounds pretty familiar LOL So true about buying fabric instead of clothes and shoes...and real life friends not knowing about blogs because they already think we are crazy for sewing so much! We must be kindred spirits!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree completely. As a matter of fact, I have one good friend (who live 500 miles away) that knows what to buy me. The others just don't "get it". As far as my blog/podcast. No one besides DH knows I do them. They tend to roll their eyes if quilty blogs are mentioned so I have learned to keep some things to myself. Easier that way.
ReplyDeleteI def. spend a lot of time and all my personal money on quilting and crafts. My friends don't think its strange and they like my blog and creations, but I still don't have people to craft with in person. That is why I love bloggyland as well... so many new friends to share ideas and inspiration with and so much knowledge to be found!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! Isn't that why we all are so involved in blogland? Because no one we know in real life "gets" it.... but the Modern Quilt Guild has helped me meet friends locally!
ReplyDeleteI received the same for my birthday in April - LOVE sewing with it!
Yeah, when I pass up a trip to the beach or another bbq, I get funny looks. But time in front of my machine making cute stuff is just as fun for me. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL - For my bday my CH got me a soft carrying case for my featherweight and I was giddy over it!
ReplyDeleteYou are SO right about all of this Jennie - I would totally rather buy fabric than clothes or shoes - would prefer a sewing machine or sewing accessories for a birthday gift - and very few family or friends know about my blog!!
ReplyDeleteNo one but YOU GUYS get it!
Thanks Jennie for saying what a lot of us feel!
This is so familiar! I have an amazing husband, who is your dad and he is very supportive of this sewing obsession. I loved every and I mean every minute of the time I was able to spend with you and with Silas. It is comforting to me now that you are on your way to CA, knowing that it was well spent time and I will sew alone again. Thank goodness for cell phones and computers and BLOGS! I will miss you!
ReplyDeleteSo awesome...what a great gift...and a sweet hubby!
ReplyDeleteYes, fabric shopping is so much fun. Actually, when I'm shopping for clothes, I have the tendency to think of the fabric in a bag or something else..."Oh, that'd make a great...." So much for buying it to wear. =)
Blog world is great for encouragement, that's for sure! =)
Oh yes, I have a real life friend who loves fabric and sewing as much as I do. What a sweet hubby. My own sweet hubby surprised me one Christmas and gave me a Bernina!!!! I was so shocked!! Yep, definitely keepers :-)
ReplyDeleteYES, YES, YES!!! I absolutely agree that my friends don't understand or 'get it.' Most don't even sew. It not so much that they don't appreciate my quilting but they don't share in my interest. I love my quilting blogging friends!
ReplyDeleteWhen I REALLY started sewing a lot {about 5 of 6 years ago} my husband said he didn't know I was so "nutty" about sewing. Think of his shock when he discovered other people like to quilt too. He really was shocked! But, no, my friends don't quilt like me either and YES, thank goodness for the internet. And quilt market.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! My friends don't know my blog exists and they always give me that look when I tell them that I can't go shopping for clothes because I want to spend that money on new fabric :)
ReplyDeleteThey do like getting handmade presents for their birthdays though!
That husband of yours is a keeper!! Come to think of it, so is mine. :D Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteI felt I was reading my own story!!!lol My real friends can not understand why on earth I have a VERY ridiculous cel phone - can't even take pics-but own a great sewing machine with touch screen!!!They think is too wierd!
ReplyDeleteLove that sewing table! What a sweet hubby....mine thought quilting would be a passing trend like everything else I've done, but boy was he wrong. He's finally starting to get it now!
ReplyDeleteReal life friends that hoard fabric and spend all weekend sewing - love 'em!! Found at your local quilt guild :)
So sweet. My husband just gave up his desk in our bedroom so I could leave my sewing machine out instead of hauling it back and forth to the kitchen table. That is true love!
ReplyDeleteFirst sweetie..congrats on the table...like that a lot..and going to my ROOM, certainly has diff't meaning today as an adult...I wish I go more often and be alone with my stitches. NONE of my personal friends quilt..NONE OF THEM. They find it odd, I never want to go out anymore, spending time with them...well I would rather be alone...they don't want to hear about blogs, quilts and GOD forbid more fabric. At last like you, I have a gazillion quilters who get it...
ReplyDeletesew let's celebrate together...chip chip cheerio...mdm samm
Haha, absolutely my real life friends are in the dark when it comes to sewing. Most responses are 'really, there's people who write about quilting on the internet??!?', or 'do you make any money doing that?'. That's okay, I'm very happy doing my thing with all of my other real friends - the ones on the internet!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift!! My mom follows my blog, but anyone else in real life probably thinks I'm crazy with all this sewing. I do have Networked Blog posts up on Facebook, but I doubt anyone but my online sewing friends bother to look, lol!!
ReplyDeleteLol yep I totally agree!
ReplyDeleteI still sew on a little Kenmore (when it's not in the shop like it is now!). Yes, I was just telling a friend today that I now blog. She was initially interested until I told her it was about quilting. She actually rolled her eyes at me. Nice. Anyway, I am really jealous of your little quilting table.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I forgot. I got my goodies in the mail yesterday! I am so excited for your Embroidery 101 to start! I still need to post my picture to your flickr! thanks again for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteClothes.... who needs them! Shoes... I've got a pair! Fabric.... can't get enough! Shame everyone dosen't know how great the quilting world is... they are missing out big time.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a great husband.. what a treasure not to mention a keeper!
How fun to read your post and all the comments! I originally entered blogland about a year ago to connect with other moms but I've recently discovered the crafty bloggers as well and am feeling so inspired! I've sewn fir as long as I can remember but just learning and discovering on my own, things can get a bit stagnant. So now there are these virtual sewing/crafting tables to join and I'm looking forward to meeting many if you. Most of my friends think I'm creative and quaint for doing what I do. My husband, well he knows that if I'm stressed, sewing will help relax me! He could use some tips for gifts though. We should start some kind of email list that sends an email to the husband on his wife's birthday with sewing gift suggestions!
ReplyDeleteNice table!
Jennie, Great story! I know what you mean about friends not knowing or really caring about my blog and what I do. What a great hubby.
ReplyDeletecongratulations & happy birthday! What a wonderful gift--I bought one for myself last year and you'll be shocked at how fabulous the "tie and cut off" feature is! Oh ho more having to re-thread the machine to wind a bobbin. It's loooove. And yes, very few people know about my blog. My family does but they never visit. I have one friend at work who quilts and will look if I ask her to. Other than that, it's cyber friends galore! And that suits me just fine♥
ReplyDeleteMy real friends tease me about my sewing/fabric obsession. However, I too am lucky to have my mom to share it with.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely in the same boat. My friends call it an obsession because they don't get it. Granted, I do spend some time every day in my studio, so I can understand where they are coming from. I wish that I had friends closer that were as into creating as I am. Oh, and I do know of a co-worker who would have told Josiah that an extension table is the perfect birthday gift!
ReplyDeleteNot one of my girlfrends quilts, or even sews! I love to spend as much spare time as I can in my sewing room, and I have a great husband who understands (and golfs). Only my friends who live in another province know about my blog- anyone here does not. That's OK because they just wouldn't be interested.
ReplyDeleteoh, Jennie this really makes me wish we lived close to each other. We would be quilting all the time together. I have actually taught 3 of my good friends up her in AK how to quilt, but they still don't love it as much as I do. We are moving to NC soon and I am afraid I will be a lone quilter for awhile in a new town. I find quilting relaxing and it always makes for a perfect day when quilting. My husband is a trooper 'cause there is always a quilt in progress in my house :)
ReplyDeleteSo, fun to reconnect with you here after so many years, you're blog is great!
I agree with you... when I look back it's true I have nil real life friends that share same interest....sewing,crocheting,crafting.... That is why I blog alot and follow most of the sewing/crafts blog that inspired me.
ReplyDeleteI have a very diverse selection of hobbies, and very few of my friends in each hobby knows about any of the other ones - on the rare occasions they find out, it's more of a 'you do WHAT else?!' reaction.
ReplyDeletePersonally I don't get it, you mean there aren't hundreds of teddy bear makers that make clothes, go climbing, row, umpire (although I've recently retired from the last 2 at the grand old age of 32 lol), cycle, camp, cook, read and do photography? Shocker! :oD