Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Jack of all trades

...master of none

Lately I have been feeling self-conscious about the extent to which I am a dabbler. Even as people have said very nice things about some of the crafty projects I’ve posted about, discussing them publicly reminds me the extent to which I am able to SORT of do a lot of things. I am not great at any of them. I can put a felt elephant together, but it is always going to look a bit wonky. I take a lot of photos and once in a while they are presentable, but mostly I just slap up whatever crap I have snapped, despite the fact that I then cruise over to another A’s mom's and see what happens when one carefully documents one’s work. I mean, it does help that she’s got a photographer husband and some impressive equipment. And how beautiful; the work, the documentation, all of it is lovely. But oy, is it a reminder of my slap-dashiness.

And so it goes. I can write a little, but not like others. I can sew a tiny bit, but only when Stephanie holds my hand through the whole process. I do a lot of things, but none of them really well. (Ok, I am a really good editor, but given that this is neither my profession nor something I get asked to do socially a lot, it doesn't help much.)

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This was originally going to be a post about how I am ok at a bunch of things, but not great at anything. But then I lay on the floor of Ellen's house, talking to her about blogging, why I didn't like how my stylist dried my hair, and my idea for a "jack of all trades" post. And Ellen, my biggest booster and cheerleader, talked about some of the ways she thinks I am amazing and together (and threw in that she'd like me to help her run a program, should it find grant funding) and left me feeling pumped up about myself. Because there are a lot of things I am pretty fucking amazing at. Things that I often see as flaws (Am I compulsive, or detail oriented? Messy, or just relaxed?) are also strengths.

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And now weeks after that conversation, I am hard pressed to remember what I am so good at. (Except that editing thing. I did some kick-ass editing for a colleague yesterday.) I am trying not to worry about it too much. I mean, it is ok not to be fantastic at everything I try. If that was my requirement, I'd never try anything. (Such as the insane idea I had to make a braided rag rug from some old t-shirts. What exactly was I thinking?)

In the spirit of appreciating the effort, even if the result is not everything I want it to be, I offer a couple of things I have been working on lately:

Onesies for some babies-on-the-way



Here's my first attempt at a bag. It was a lot easier that I thought it would be, but at the rate that I sew (and rip out seams, and re-sew) it took over a week to finish. The pattern is from Amy Butler. I highly recommend her patterns, especially for the novice seamstress. The directions were very details and clear. I didn't want to tear my hair out at all over this.

Inside the bag - POCKETS!

15 comments:

  1. you know I think that's stunning, right? I mean, dude, you made a bag with pockets.

    gorgeous.

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  2. Are you wondering whether choosing to focus on one thing vs. being involved in a lot of things is a "better" way to live?

    Or are you actually questioning whether you will ever be widely recognized individually for something, make a big impressive mark in the world? (Which can happen even if you have diverse interests.)

    I occasionally worry about the latter, realizing that some (younger) people have already distinguished themselves and that I may have already passed my peak.

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  3. Becky - I have a tendency to see the thing each person does well, and compare myself to that. I don't notice the places where that they don't excel.

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  4. Great bag. (covet covet covet!)

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  5. I love the bag. And those onesies are fantastic! Are you planning on making them to sell? I'd love to get my hands on one for the little guy, they are great.

    And you know, even if you are just ok at a few things, that's more than I could ever claim to be. I don't even have time/energy/craftiness to even attempt anything. I think you just need to dabble before you can find what you truely like and go from there.

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  6. Andy - I haven't thought much about selling them (except when people ask me about it). We could work something out if you'd like.

    I'm sure you are great at several things I suck at. It isn't just about craftiness - the grass is always greener, right?

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  7. I'd love one, shoot me an email when you have some extras :)

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  8. I'd like to point out that there was zero hand-holding on that bag, and it's totally awesome. Really.

    Did Ellen list that you saute some great tofu? Because yum.

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  9. Gorgeous work!! You *do* rock! The fabrics for the bag, the designs for the tees... pure genius, all of it. And, oh, speaking of "I have a tendency to see the thing each person does well, and compare myself to that." you might want to read this blog entry. I found it very enlightening! Thanks for sharing your fantastic crafting skillz :D

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  10. ewps -- wrong link -- I meant this one instead. sorry!

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  11. ACK! Another Amy Butler bag. I'm too frugal (errr... unemployed and broke?) to buy the pattern so I keep hoping in about a month or two someone will tired of theirs and send it my way. :)

    LOVE IT.

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  12. hmm patterns and pockets - delicious!

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  13. How funny to read your post - I was just telling my hubby how much I admire you for your projects. I have the best intentions to craft, or garden, or photograph, or journal, and never get beyond the idea. You not only think of doing stuff, but it actually gets done. I think there are people who have plans and hopes but mostly just get by (me), and those who are leapers on opportunities - the doers. Oh to be a doer!

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  14. Sometimes reading your posts is like looking at the text inside my own head (I think in words.)

    Seriously, the life of a dilettante is not...unfulfilling? I don't think? It just, at least to me, I FEEL so unimpressive from the outside. It's not that I don't enjoy myself, there's just some restless "should" lurking about that I got from who-knows-where that says I should be more/better/focused/accomplished. I haven't done anything as lovely as those crafts since my kid was born and I'm not sure I'll ever get back to it; you do the things you do exquisitely and with more grace than you give yourself credit for.

    As for the things at which you excel, being a warm and delightful friend is definitely among them. I am glad to know you.

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  15. congratulations! you did a excellent job on that bag. oh and everything else. great work.

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