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Life handed him a lemon,
As Life sometimes will do.
His friends looked on in pity,
Assuming he was through.
They came upon him later,
Reclining in the shade
In calm contentment, drinking
A glass of lemonade.— The Optimist, 1940
My world is spinning right now. It has been easy to merely hope for survival. Even when I push myself beyond that I have been turning to work for distraction. It’s high time I choose something that will help me to find rest and refreshment.
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Jeremiah (aka "newmarkstudios" on Snapchat)
bought the {classic wrap skirt} book for his wife and daughters.
He decided to take a look inside before sharing it with them,
and ended up losing track of time while reading it.
He isn't the only one who has told me
that although they don't have plans to sew a skirt
they have found value in this sewing book I've written
because of the story it contains.
This really is my passion -
using poetic imagery
to express and share
a beautiful story.
I'm glad to hear from my readers
that I am doing just that with my book.
That I'm not simply teaching people to make a skirt,
but spreading beauty into their lives.
I want to write things that will bring beauty into your life.
I want to write what you want to read.
If I were to write on any topic, just for you,
what would you have me write?
In this book I have included the instructions to make a skirt, yes.
But more than that, these instructions will teach you
how to use this skirt to make yourself an artisan!
to understand the “big picture”
of how you will make your skirt.
to learn everything you need to know in order to
actually create a hand-crafted skirt that you will love.
to see the process I used as I made
five classic wrap skirts with different details.
to learn the basics if you have never sewn before
or if you simply need to review the fundamentals of hand-stitching.
This hand-crafted skirt
does not compare
with something mass-produced.
It has been made-to-measure
and stitched with your own two hands
from start to finish.
It is the only one of its kind,
a piece of art that carries
the essence of its creator.
You have carefully selected the fabric,
using the type, color, and quality
that is perfect for this design.
Beyond that, every step of the way,
you have made careful decisions,
from cutting to stitching to pressing.
Every detail
has been considered
and carefully executed.
You have invested hours into this skirt.
Invested, not spent, and certainly not wasted!
Think on this time carefully…
If you have chosen to enjoy the time,
using it as an opportunity to slow down
and consider the process of creation,
then this time cannot be considered wasted,
nor even compared to time spent working.
This is time you have spent in enjoyment.
How much money
are you willing to spend doing something fun?
Watching a movie, eating dinner out, drinking specialty coffee…
These are consumption, and rather passive, at that,
yet you’re willing to spend money, because they bring you enjoyment.
These are not comparable to the process of making a skirt.
The making of your skirt was an investment into yourself.
You did not only spend time doing something that brought you enjoyment,
you were also learning and growing.
How much money
are you willing to invest in educational endeavors,
whether formal, like university classes, or informal , like community center workshops?
The making of this skirt is like a class or a workshop.
As you read the book and stitch the skirt,
you will learn valuable skills.
More than that, you will have the book to refer to again
should you want to review or even expand your skills.
You will not absorb everything in one go.
The educational aspect
doesn’t stop once you’ve learned
the skills outlined in this book.
Maybe after making yourself a skirt,
you can teach your daughter or a young friend
how to sew a skirt for herself.
You can use the book
as a resource to teach others,
whether they be friends or family.
What do you and your girl friends
like to do when you spend time together?
Do you go on coffee dates, perhaps?
What if instead of chatting over coffee and muffins,
you converse over fabric and needles?
What if you get together to sew?
If you do,
you have the opportunity
to encourage each other in the creation process.
Any one of you
who has unique skills
may share them with the others.
You can learn
both from the book
and from each other.
And at the same time,
you are investing
in your friendship.
Then there is the value you receive
every time you put on
this beautiful skirt.
It goes beyond the simple fact
that it has been made specifically for you
according to your preferences and measurements.
Because you created it yourself
and because you found so much joy in creating it,
this skirt carries positive associations.
Every time you wear it,
you can feel a healthy sense of pride
knowing that you created something beautiful and useful.
You will think of the moments you spent carefully placing each stitch
as you listened to music, a podcast or audiobook,
or the simple sound of making.
The feeling you have wearing your own creation
is different from the experience of putting on
anything else you’ve ever worn before.
Because of the classic nature of this skirt,
it has the potential to help you
simplify your wardrobe.
The skirt makes getting dressed easy;
all you have to do is grab a favorite top
in order to have a neat and tidy outfit.
Even a simple T-shirt
appears less casual when paired with such a classy skirt.
Add an accessory like a scarf or necklace for something extra special!
The versatility of the skirt
makes it wearable for a variety of events,
so you will have no trouble getting plenty of use out of it!
If you already have a minimalistic wardrobe,
this skirt fits in nicely with your other
classic investment pieces.
And if you regularly waste precious time
staring into your closet wondering what to wear,
this skirt will start you on a journey toward simplicity.
The value is the sum of all of these:
the hand-crafted artisanal skirt itself,
the time spent enjoying the creation process,
the time invested in the educational process,
the time invested in community,
the time you will spend enjoying the skirt as you wear it,
and the time saved with a well-rounded, minimalist wardrobe!
You can’t find extra minutes like you can find spare change in your couch cushions;
everyone has the same 24 hours every day.
You can’t really make time, either,
for the same reason.
Any time that you simply let pass…
any minute empty of purpose…
this is wasted time.
sleep
daydreams
amusements
hanging out with friends
listening to music
social media
doodling
sewing
Yes, I included “sewing” in the list of time-wasters.
See, anything can be a time-waster.
Wasted time is time empty of purpose,
so if these things simply fill the void,
they are time-wasters.
But if there is a purpose mixed in,
then you haven’t wasted time,
you’ve spent it.
Filling your time with any of these things
may be spending time purposefully.
Sleep re-charges and refreshes.
Daydreams may lead to epiphanies.
Amusements can bring joy and relaxation.
Hanging out with friends is important for community.
Listening to music is invigorating and life-giving.
Social media can be a great way to connect.
Doodling may help bring clarity.
Sewing is a creative outlet.
The important factor is knowing
why you are spending your time
on any given thing.
Filling your time with any of these things
may even be investing time wisely!
If you are not simply being purposeful with the present moment,
but also considering how it will affect the future for good,
then you are investing your time.
Consider how the way you are spending your moments
will affect and fit into the bigger picture
of how you are spending your life.
Invest wisely;
build something bigger
than your present.
Think of the people your life touches
and invest in them
as well as yourself.
Mostly, be aware,
be mindful,
and be wise.
In order to purposefully spend and wisely invest time
in the things that matter,
you have to learn to say “no” to the things that don’t.
Learning to say “no” to wasting time is hard enough,
but saying “no” to spending time
in order to better invest time is even harder.
The fact that you only have so many hours in a day
means that you have to say “no” to many things.
Will you be purposeful and wise about what you say “no” to?
Or will you simply let your time slip by?
Be purposeful, and decide what is worth saying “no” for.
If you want to spend time sewing,
you have to spend that time not doing other things.
You spend your time doing what is important to you;
Decide what is important to you, and do it.
Say no to other things.
That’s the only way to find time for anything.