Where's This Blog Going Anyway
1:02 PM
**I wrote this post way last week, but the baby came early so it's context is before the baby is born, and she's here now, so just to indugle myself--here's another picture of chubba cheeks and her brother (who is adjusting to the new baby amazingly well and exceeding all my expectations I had for him).***
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As I get closer to having my baby, and thinking of the many ways my life will change, I've also been thinking about this blog and how it might change.
I've been posting my projects on here for 4 years now. It started with just showing my mom what I've been working on, and in many ways is still has the same purpose.
This last year it has grown a lot, and it's been so rewarding interacting with other crafty people who share my interests and hobbies, and hopefully giving others an idea they'd like to try themselves. Having the blog has also improved my skills a lot. I've been sewing since I was a kid, but these last few years I feel like I've not only improved, but gained a lot of confidence in myself. I am so impressed with people that start sewing on their own, just figuring it out all by themselves.
I definitely needed my sewing mentors of my mom and little sister before I've tried to branch out. Just having access to their suggestions/ help/ encouragement really pushed me try new things. For example, I would never have dreamt of making myself a swimming suit, but my little sister let me use her pattern and told me I could totally do it. So I gave it a try, it wasn't perfect, but I really liked it.
Then to have motivation to share the stuff I make has helped, and overall, I think sewing is like anything else, it takes a lot of practice to get comfortable and confident. So if you look back, you'll probably notice how crappy my sewing and projects were, and many still are. There's always new things to learn and you get better the more you sew/ create.
It's been interesting to see the craft blog world completely explode in the last 18 months or so. It's great to have so much creativity, ideas, and sharing going on, the vast majority all for free with one another.
It's also interesting to see how many crafty bloggers make it financially profitable.
I don't think my blog is big enough to warrant any sponsorship or financial reimbursement, but I've thought a lot about the direction I'd like to go with it, or what this blog is really about, especially as I approach a pretty major life change with having a baby.
I've been reading and thought about how people make blogs profitable.
But in the end, I think this would end up feeling like a job for me. I hate required work. It seems like I'd feel pressure to post every day, to have projects done just to have something to blog about. Or a lot of financially successful bloggers don't necessarily create, but just run the blog showcasing lots of awesome ideas. But my passion is the creating, not blogging. This is probably why my actual blogging isn't that great. I love to drool over bloggers who have incredible photoshoots at cool locations, and the total presentation is just amazing. But I have too many things I want to make and not enough time, so I just plop the dress on my back fence, snap some photos and move on to the next project.
Plus, I see myself as someone who could try really hard, but in the end doesn't have the talent and entrepreneur skills to really make a blog profitable.
So far, everything I've made is because I want/ need it. I've felt like whether I had a blog or not, I'd still be making all this crap, and it's just fun to be able to share it with people and in return, get tons of ideas from other bloggers out there.
So in the end, I think it will stay as it began. Just my little corner of the blogosphere to share what projects I'm making for my own personal documentation, my mom, and anyone else who would like to look at it.
I have really enjoyed it, and I don't want it to become an advertisement or a job. For me, that would defeat the purpose for having it and smother my creativity.
If I have a busy week or go out of town, I don't worry about having posts ready for my break, I just live my life so there are some weeks where there's nothing new. I guess that's my whole point that's taken me forever here to explain.
My life is what's important, and this blog is just an aspect of my hobby I get to share with other people. I don't think I could really ever make much money from my little ideas to make it worth living my life around a blog I guess, or that I would want to do that...even though I am cheap and money can be a big motivator for me. I'd hate to look back and regret missing moments in my kids life (because I'm a stay at home mom and should be blessed to be there for a large portion) and realize I spent too much time blogging. So the personal fulfillment I now enjoy from the blog gives me balance. I think I could easily allow a drive to be a better, bigger blog take away the freedom I now enjoy with it, and I see mainly my family being the ones to suffer the consequences.
Anyway, you'll probably see a lapse in projects as this baby is going to require a lot of time I used to spend creating projects. Hopefully if you follow this blog you'll feel that's where I should be too and hopefully you'll keep checking in as I'm sure I'll still still feel the need to make something here and there to have some sanity and balance. Some women jog, shop, get a massage, I make things for "me time". So I'll still be here, just wanted to explain where I stood on this blog and what I see its purpose to be...and maybe no one really cares and this was all unnecessary, so at the very least, just so you know mom.
Thanks for all the comments, encouragement, and motivation all you readers have given me to create. I don't thank the people who take the time to look at my projects often enough. I appreciate it.
28 comments
i think that's a great philosophy for your blog- your blog works for you, you don't work for it- and i appreciate that about you, and it :O)
ReplyDeleteenjoy that sweeeeet baby girl and congrats on big brother's excitement and great adjustment!!
darling pictures :O)
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ReplyDeleteAwesome, awesome post Jess!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, and I love that you do it for you!
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful! The family first and keep the blog fun. Your work is wonderful and repeats are totally awesome. Your baby is so adorable and I like That polka dot dress. I don't remember seeing it the items you made for her did you make that?
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for the post. I have gone through some of the same thoughts myself over the past couple of months and it is refreshing to know that there are other bloggers like me, not out there for popularity or money, but just because its fun to show what we've done.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy all the time with your baby girl!
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ReplyDeleteI just joined the "blogging community" a few months ago and I have to tell you how much I have really enjoyed your blog. Although I will miss seeing your posts, enjoy your little girl and all of those precious little moments that go by so fast!
ReplyDelete~ Mrs. Mc
And that is why I follow your blog. Thank you for being a mom first. I"ll miss your projects (I mean you'll still have them, I'll miss seeing them daily) but I totally agree... Do what's most important and keep the blogging realistic. That's why I love this blog. thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't tell you enough how much you are appreciated for your inspiration and work. Great post and I feel the same about my blog
ReplyDeleteJess, you are an inspiration to me. Such an amazing person, incredibly talented. I love you and I miss you. xx
ReplyDeleteIvana
You have your priorities and heart right. You just created one of the best things ever, another darling child. Enjoy Ellaria and Rhett, and the rest will come in it's own time.
ReplyDeleteI just want to thank you for your blog:) I am new to the sewing world, a new grandmother , and your blog is a great, great help. I have used many of your tutorials. So thank you:) Enjoy your babies, they grow up so fast as you know! I still have a lot of sewing projects on my to do list and I am sure I will check out your tutorials for help:)
ReplyDeleteThat big brother photo is so sweet. Enjoy your new little addition. Your blog and blogland will be here when you "need" them.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your post, and your insights. I'm pregnant with baby number two, and being in my current state, I've had to slow down, and take a look at what's most important. I think that you are right on track. Thanks for your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteYour heart is in the right place. You have two precious babies that will and should always remain first in your life. The payback is priceless. I look forward to your posts whenever time permits.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your blog and love the fact that it's not bombarded with ads that have nothing to do with what you're about. You're an amazing sewer and I learn so much from you each time I visit. I was so nervous reading this that you were going to say you were leaving the blog. I am relieved that you are staying on because I love reading your blog! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDo you know that your blog is one of my favorites for the reasons you have listed. I love to look at your projects and know that you are doing because you love it and that everything (i.e. photoshoots) doesn't have to be "magazine cover" ready. There are some awesome blogs out there, but yours is not consumed with being commercial. I only read a handful of blogs and yours is one of them!Thanks for your inspiration and for staying true to yourself!
ReplyDeleteI love you blog and think you're really good at it! I'm totally ok with not as many projects as long as you fill us full of cute baby cheeks! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're so sweet to share your creations and tutorials with us. Way to keep the blog something you enjoy. Enjoy spending time with your sweet baby and family.
ReplyDeleteI am the least crafty person out there, and probably will never create much, but I LOVE checking out your blog just to see what you've come up with next:) So you enjoy that sweet family of yours and I'll keep checking in:)
ReplyDeleteOOp,s this is Rebecca Lutter, but I'm logged in as Keith:)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have said it better! Thanks for sharing what you create I love seeing how crafty you are.
ReplyDeleteThis has been inspiring to me, who is facing the same question about what to do with my blog...
I think I am in agreement with you.
Just Another Day in Paradise
I think you are so right to do it your way. Time flys by so fast that you really need to take time for family first. I wish that I had been as smart as you when I was a young mother-but now I make up for it with being an awesome grandmother-not really hard to do as most grandmothers would agree. Thankfully I have a very forgiving daughter who appreciates everything I do-unconditional love. My last days/years/hopefully decades are going to be my best. Enjoy those chubby cheeks and such an amazing little boy-they are your legacy!
ReplyDeleteVery well said. Your second child brings just as much joy as it does "schedule rearranging". Nap Time is no longer "free time" because there's another little one to love on and spend alone time with. You will never regret being able to recognize boundries with your time and spending it with your family. Good for you!!!!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading your blog, and was so excited to see you post so soon after your baby was born. I am not new to crafting and sewing, but I am new to blogging; so it's so refreshing to read your thoughts on blogging. I too have thoughts of taking my crafts to a new level, but as a working mom of 5 kids I don't think I can do it. It's nice see someone who is so 'together' talking about the same insecurities that I have. I look forward to each post even if they will be more sporadic for awhile. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing more important than the family! I was a much better crafter before I had 12 kids. Now I'm lucky if we can just manage to do some fun easy stuff together. But having well-adjusted, happy kids is more important than having things to hang on the wall or the Christmas tree or wherever. I also discovered that eventually you come to a point where you run out of places to hang things! Then it's the memories that are important.
ReplyDeleteSandy
www.twelvemakesadozen.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for your post. I don't have kiddos yet, but I can relate to everything else you wrote about. I think it's awesome that you don't have sponsors, and your blog is not commercialized like some of the other blogs out there.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, we love to hear from you!