I’ve been quiet here, largely because I am on my annual teaching break. While I’ve taken time away from teaching each term the last many years, this is the first time in four years that teaching has been my only full-time job. And so during this fall 2 term I’m staying connected as needed for my MBA students and a few essentials tasks, but intentionally taking a break to renew my own energy and spirit, spend time on scholarship without the demands of grading, and – very importantly – to play my role as sister of the bride.
Earlier this fall, we bought a vintage pop-up camper and we’ve been working on slowly restoring it, nearly all of that work ourselves. A few weeks ago I finished my work of sewing 15 curtains. Yes, fifteen! Last week I finished cutting, sewing, and installing fabric panels on the pop-up ends’ interiors to pretty up the walls and cover the functional (but ugly) insulation installed by the previous owner. And this week I hope to create bench cushion covers as if I’m some sort of professional.
I’m far from a professional but I’ve gained confidence in my skills this year from taking courses and practicing and seeing what happens. And it has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done in a really long time. I mean I made my own tote bag a few months ago and just a couple weeks ago made a shirt. That I can wear!In public!
I’ve been thinking a lot about how this effort and confidence have really shifted something in my spirit the last several months. It’s not unlike how I encourage my students to focus on excellence and their best work rather than perfection or a 4.0. For high achieving MBA students who often struggle with perfectionism, that can be really tough. It was a really tough path for me, too as a graduate student.
But I find when I focus more on my best and on excellence rather than being perfect, I’m more willing to learn, more willing to explore, more willing to see what happens.
And that’s a huge reason this sewing journey has been so incredibly fulfilling. Spending so much time at my sewing machine has also offered many other benefits, like:
feeling connected to my momma who was a talented seamstress and maker of many dance recital costumes,
having a chance to listen to audiobooks or catch up on podcasts while sewing,
fulfilling my love of creativity and seeing my skills advance,
finding confidence in a new area and believing I can create new things,
doing something that is not just fun but truly helpful to my family,
finding a frugal way to achieve a camper restoration so we can spend more money on things that we truly need to leave to pros (like replacing the axle!),
helping me feel more like my best self as a I prepare for the classroom again in the spring, and
creating space to think about a million things whilst sewing away!
I’ve always been a person with many interests and hobbies and I hope I’ll always have that option. Finding another form of enjoyment and satisfaction with thread, needle, and fabric has been truly delightful and a great way to find some rejuvenation of spirit and clarity of mind during this break. Now off to measure for a bench cushion and see what happens!
