Blogging and sewing choices and organization

 Last week, I was able to do some pattern testing and I chose to use some older Free Spirit fabrics from my stash: Nicey Jane, Cocoon, and Novella. If someone (ahem, hint hint) ever finishes this pattern and puts it up for sale, you are going to LOVE it. In the meantime, this is all I am allowed to tell and show you. Nope, can't even tell you what this thing is!!  

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I've had the pleasure of joining a lovely little group on Facebook for craft bloggers. Through that group, I have been able to sign up for some guest blogging spots and been asked to do more pattern testing.  I love keeping busy and being creative, so this makes me happy.  But, when I thought about how much I had signed up to do, added in summer vacation with my kids, and thought about trying to blog for money, I knew something had to give. My personal schedule was too full for comfort. For the last two weeks, I have not blogged much because I have been mulling this problem over quite a bit.  I ended up thinking about what is most important to me and what I enjoy doing and decided that the kids come first, of course, but the sewing and creativity comes next. That means the blogging has got to give a little.  

Further, after much reading online, I've decided I just don't have the mentality to make blogging a business. I am just not interested in business at all. I will run ads and be an affiliate for this and that and such but I am not going to push myself beyond my limits.  If a few bucks comes in, that will just be a great extra. And, I cannot give more than a few hours a day, at most, to this blog so that is just not enough time to try to turn this into a money-making venture. 

I have tremendous respect for mothers who do turn their blogs into financial gain, but I am really more a Lloyd Dobler.  I can't sell myself. I am just not that type of person. 

Lloyd Dobler: I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that. 

(source)

So, this blog is going to continue but more at my own pace, slow and steady. And if money happens, it will be icing on the cake. If I need money, I will go back to teaching. That is the Lloyd Dobler-influenced career choice I made early in my life and it fits with my personality and the way I think.

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Here is my to do list for the first part of summer. As you can see, I  am busy!

So, to keep organized, I made a spreadsheet template on Excel.  I love Excel because I can format the cells to be whatever size I want and I place the file right on my desktop. My computer desktop, not my actual desktop.  On my computer desktop, I won't lose it.  This way, I can open and edit it daily as need be and keep on top of my planning. 

Do you know how to format spreadsheets to suit your needs? It is so simple! Check out youtube for excel how-to videos.  There are a ton of them.

I need to get in touch with Lisa from Maybe she made it about what to blog about! I want to use the pink peacock fabric below, regardless of what I make.  And, this week, I am prepping for a sewalong to be on Tie Dye Diva patterns for next week.  That is not even on the to do list! Ack! I forgot to write that one in but it is okay because I am actually in process now.  Nothing to do but finish and take pics.  I am doing two posts about SisBoom Jenny pattern and making it from the green Beauty Queen fabric below but I need to make a muslin first!  And then I have a Sew Liberated Clara dress planned with the Tula Pink fabric below but I have to make a muslin for that, too!  So much to do!! 

 

 More about the other projects coming soon! I gotta go sew!!!