"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." William Shakespeare
Even though the truth of this quote is so compelling I find myself often unable to navigate the murky waters of my own self doubt.
l want my blog posts to be clever (see Ode To The Great Dr Seuss - Upcycled Gift Box)
and funny (see One New Shoe (upcycled paper mache shoe tutorial)
and interesting (see Upcycled Bleach T-shirt - DIY Tutorial 2 - Favorite Music Quotes)
and informative (see Upcycled Junk Mail Seed Bouquets Tutorial)
. Sometimes I believe I have hit those marks. But lately my doubts seem to lurk everywhere ready to sabotage my efforts before I even begin. l don't feel clever, funny, interesting or informative. However, it occurred to me that there is one more thing I want my posts to be and that is honest. This is what I have to offer today. A simple project and the humble truth about making things and sometimes hiding from making things.
So what do I do with my self doubt? Sometimes I let it get me down, beat me up. I hide from it by sleeping more than I need to by distracting myself with unimportant tasks by watching too much TV or eating when I am not really hungry. I allow it to keep me from making decisions and therefore I don't move forward in any direction. I just stay stuck, immobilized by its tight grasp.
All the while I know that getting out of bed is inevitable and the sooner I do it, the more positive I will feel about my potential for the day. I am actually able to identify when I am doing unimportant things or if I am really hungry. I know that there isn't just one right decision, so the sooner I get to work on anything the better.
I know that I feel better and not only better, but often blissful when I am working on a project. There are moments when I feel doubt about whether or not my little creation will turn out ok. But mostly as I stitch or glue or paint or write, I feel peaceful, content, and happy. I know that my creative life is one of my very important lifelines. It is only when I stop working and start thinking that my doubts creep in. The voice in my head that say "That isn't any good. Why did you make that? Who would want such a thing? You Amateur, you Wanna Be, you Hack!"
Sometimes my inner voice is quite ugly and mean and even if she is correct I know that I will continue. I make things. I like to make things. I need to make things. We all create, all of the time. So I will try to make the choice to create purposefully when I can. To make things that I can be proud of, and in those times when I am creating my doubtful critical voice I will try to remember that it is me and not the outside world telling me I am not good enough. I have control of that voice if I want to take it. I can change the channel and find the voice that encourages, cheerleads and fosters what ever talent, skill or creativity I have to offer the world.
George Matheson said "We conquer by continuing." I don't believe I will ever completely conquer my self doubt but I do believe I can win some, if not most of the small battles. Of course, the only way to do so, is to still the voice of doubt and continue.
So without further blathering here is today's project.
Embroidery Cover Up - Upcycled Jacket
I am never really ready for the football season to start. It's not that I don't like football. It's just I like to hold on to the summer as long as possible. And football means the beginning of Fall. Of course it is always better to flow with things that you can not change and so in an effort to be in harmony with nature I am embracing the football season in my new unofficial Steelers Jacket.
I bought this jacket for $1.95. It is a nice technical jacket but the embroidery was not applicable.
Originally I thought that I might just purchase a patch to cover the existing embroidery but I was unable to find the right size. So I had to improvise and make my own.
You will need:
A computer with a graphics program
T-shirt transfer paper
Iron and ironing board
Small piece of light colored fabric
Small piece of heat n bond fabric
Needle
Thread
Scissors
Step 1 - Design artwork in computer graphics program (I use Adobe Illustrator but I am sure there are many other options) I recommend having a border around the edge of your design to make it appear like a regular embroidered patch.
Step 2 - Print a test page to double check size and color.
Step 3 - Flip design into a mirror image.
Step 4 - Print image on to t-shirt transfer paper .
Step 5 - Cut out design. I didn't do this but you can leave a white edge around the design at this point.
Step 6 - Follow instructions on t-shirt transfer paper to adhere design to the fabric.
Step 7 - Optional if you want to add some additional thickness to the patch use a small piece of heat n bond to adhere a second layer of fabric to the back of the patch. Note if you do this do not remove the transfer paper from the screen print until after the pieces of fabric are ironed together.
Step 8 - Remove transfer paper from screen print.
Step 9 - Carefully cut out design.
Step 10 - Determine which parts of the design you want to be embroidered. Use matching thread to stitch the design on top of the patch.
Step 11 - Continue hand embroidery to complete design.
Step 12 - Use either the heat n bond or hand stitch to apply the patch.
One more of my favorite quotes.
"Move faster than the speed of doubt" Ken Gallacher
I am having a little difficulty with this one right now as moving fast is not currently in my repertoire. See crafting on one foot. :-)
Do you ever feel doubtful about your creations? Do you have any tricks for battling it? If so. Do share.
Happy Upcycling,
