Your Opinion Matters

Anyone else find this blogging lark hard sometimes, or is it just me?

I've been blogging for getting on for 5 years now and have had periods when I've had blog posts coming out of my ears and other periods when it's been a month or more between posts.  During my first (obviously eager) six months of blogging I posted more than I did in the whole of last year. 

My original blog name and header!

The main reason for my lack of posts during the first half of last year was struggles with my mental health. It was too hard to get excited about making anything sometimes, let alone getting dressed up in it and taking photos once I'd made it and then writing about it and sharing the photos.  Things got better around the end of summer though and I started to get enthusiastic about blogging again.


My first Stitched Up by Samantha header.
 
I made myself a plan; I gave the look of the blog a little makeover, I was going to post every Friday, and I'd have a different topic every week, so people knew what to expect when.  I wanted to try and make things appear more professional as my aim was to build up a business teaching sewing that I could hopefully turn into my main source of income over the next few years.  The dream was to give up the day job! 

One of my favourite free motion embroideries.
 
Things went well for a while, I posted regularly and I was busy teaching sewing at weekends and taking on additional projects.  I got too busy though, and at the beginning of December had a major anxiety meltdown, wanted to cancel class I was due to teach, every project I'd committed to, I even debated not going on the workshop I'd booked with Alison Smith, which would have meant the loss of the several hundred pounds I'd paid for it.   I didn't though, I did everything I'd already committed to, although I did cancel a few projects that were just in the discussion stages.  People were really nice about it, which made me feel better, however it seemed - and still does - like my dream of turning this little corner of the internet into my livelihood is just a dream.  Apparently my brain needs downtime; it can't cope with working all week and weekends as well. 

Since Christmas I've actively pencilled in "me time" and am not committing to anything like the number of projects and classes I was towards the end of last year.  In fact the thought of doing as much as I was scares me now because I know how awful it made me feel, even though I thought I was doing something I loved and wanted to do. 

Students amazing free motion embroidery pieces.

All this makes me wonder where to go from here, with this blog.  As I said at the start, I find this blogging lark hard.  I do enjoy it, but it's difficult as well.  I hate taking photos for the posts.  I envy those bloggers who's photos look like they've been pulled from the pages of a high fashion magazine, when mine are taken in the corner of the spare bedroom against a woodchip wall on a camera with a self timer. 

What I'm really getting to is a favour.  I'd love your opinion on what I do, what I write, what I share and so I'm asking you - ever so nicely I hope - if you have a couple of minutes to spare taking this survey

If you'd rather not do the survey, I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment below telling me what you'd like to see more of here... 

Thank you ever so much.  As the post title says, your opinion is important!

20 comments

  1. Best of luck - it sounds like you took on a lot by working the weekends! and love that girl in a dress embroidery.

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    1. Thank you Eimear. I love that girl embroidery too, it's one of my favourites.

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  2. Hi Sam! I really like your blog and your sewing and embroidery and I'm really sorry to hear about the problems you've been having but if the thing we love becomes a source of anxiety then you are right, it's much better to take a step back, relax and start enjoying yourself again

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    1. Thank you Sasha, that's so true! At the end of the day I'm supposed to be doing this for fun!

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  3. In my opinion it's very hard if not impossible to succesfully build a new career while still working full time in the old one. Could you perhaps take a sabbatical to find out if there is a possibility to live your dream? Good luck!

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    1. Thanks Marianne. Sadly I'm not in a position financially to be able to do that.

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  4. You know what... I'm very much on the same page as you. This year I've taken a new approach to my sewing/blog and am only sewing when I want to, and only blogging when I want to... never because I HAVE to or feel like I SHOULD do. And so far it's been so much better for my mental health this way! I love reading your blog so maybe you should try something similar - bring it back to a hobby rather than a 'must do' :) (also, I love the 'amateur photos taken at home' look - it makes a blog much more personal and much less glossy, y'know? your blog is a documentation of you and needs to be real.) Much love!

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    1. Thank you so much. Yes, I started it as a hobby so I need to remember that. So glad you like the amateur photos! :-)

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  5. You know what... I'm very much on the same page as you. This year I've taken a new approach to my sewing/blog and am only sewing when I want to, and only blogging when I want to... never because I HAVE to or feel like I SHOULD do. And so far it's been so much better for my mental health this way! I love reading your blog so maybe you should try something similar - bring it back to a hobby rather than a 'must do' :) (also, I love the 'amateur photos taken at home' look - it makes a blog much more personal and much less glossy, y'know? your blog is a documentation of you and needs to be real.) Much love!

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  6. I agree with what Sasha said. If the blogging/ photographing thing is too much don't put pressure on yourself. What about switching to Instagram for a while or just photographing on a dress form? No one is going to judge you for it.

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    1. Thanks Manju. Photographing on a dress form I can do! I'm going to try and sort out a little area where I can have a nicer backdrop if possible.

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  7. I agree with the other comments. Do what works for you. Life is not a race to the finish line. Just take on what you can handle. I hope you do well whatever you choose to do.

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  8. Social media can be a source of comfort and inspiration as well as anxiety. I found this out a few years ago. Use it carefully - I regularly unfollow all the people that make me feel like I'm not coming up to scratch.
    Also - I'm into the 6th year of running my business and have to say I spend more time on it than ever! It's very rare that I take a whole weekend off and still teach 2 evenings a week getting home at 9pm. Add to that no holiday pay, sick pay or pension it's certainly not utopia!
    Focus on what you enjoy rather than what you think you ought to do and see where it takes you.
    As for pics - daylight is always the best option - try and find a nice brick wall to use as a backdrop outside.

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    1. Hi Wendy, I totally agree about social media being a source of comfort and a source of anxiety! I've recently unfollowed a few people that made me feel inadequate, and I do actually feel better for it.
      I didn't mean to give the impression that I think working for myself would be easy - I totally realise that most people in the type of job I'd love work far harder than I do! It's not utopia by any means I know.

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  9. You are absolutely right, blogging takes a lot of work, more than most people realize! And while it's a great idea to turn into a pro blogger, but I think that is especially hard in the craft world, when many companies don't want to pay the sort of rates that the fashion and lifestyle blogs get paid. It's tough! I'm about to do your survey...

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    1. Thanks Julie. I agree about the payment aspect, I've done one project for a magazine and while it paid a nice bit of pocket money, it definitely wouldn't be enough to live on. Another magazine that approached me wanted me to make a tweed and lace skirt, take photos and write a tutorial all for free, not even providing materials. When I found out their terms, and the fact that the finished piece would only be half a page I promptly declined!

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  10. I'm very new to your blog! just landed here this morning and I do really like that girl you made with the free hand embroidery! :)

    I'm all about taking a break from anything that causes too much pressure to assess what's causing the pressure and remove the pressure inducing components.

    Your dream can still materialize - eat that elephant in bite sized pieces - just one piece at a time.

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    1. Thanks Kay. That free motion embroidered girl is one of my favourites. And yes, I can tackle my dream in smaller chunks if necessary.

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  11. Also keep a day in the weekend where you don't do anything about your regular full time job or your teaching sewing 'job'. Keep it a 'me' day for you. You don't have to blog that day as well. Just a relaxing day where you do whatever you want - whether it's personal fun sewing or absolutely no sewing of any kind. It's an absolute no-commitment no-pressure day.

    As for your blog, if you want to post at a certain schedule, you can set the posts up way ahead and let them publish on certain day of the week or bi-monthly or monthly.

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Thank you so much for your comment, every one is read and appreciated. It means a lot to me that you take the time to read and comment on my posts.