Going Crazy

I'm having a hard time being the jack of all trades and master of none.  It's starting to wear on me.

Obviously, working full-time and raising two young kids is no easy feat.  Waking up at 6 a.m., getting ready for work, working nine hours, picking up the kids, making dinner, getting them ready for bed and trying to get some housework done is beyond exhausting.  My oldest, Xander, is even starting to use the word 'Exhausted'.  I suppose I say this too much to him, because, yes, his nearly 3-year-old energy (on top of everything else) is exhausting. 

And it's almost his birthday, so I have to clean my house (that's going to take a week), make his birthday presents, and figure out some fun games to play.  Oh, and the dinosaur cake!  That's going to be awesome!  Last year, I made cow and pig cupcakes and a huge farm complete with barn and silo.  This year will be stegosaurus and T-Rex.  I have to figure out some dinosaur cupcakes.  Any ideas?

To add to everything, my business is actually doing pretty well.  At the end of January, I started  my own on-line business SewChem on Etsy.  It's awesome and I get to do everything that I love, but holy Jesus.  I have a hard time keeping up with the orders, messages, and custom requests that my customers want.  I made a nearly impossible deadline for each blanket, three to seven days, especially if I have more than two orders. 

My husband also believes that I'm not selling my blankets for enough.  The hours and care that I put into each item is considerably more than what I sell it for. The materials aren't inferior, the skills aren't inferior, it's just what I think people will agree with and buy from me.  I agree with him, but everytime I try and change the prices, I give myself sticker shock.  My mind reels when I come up with these numbers and I say to myself, "There is no way I would buy this blanket for this price! If I wouldn't, who else would?"

In all reality, someone else would.  It's just finding those people and marketing to them.  But, if I market to them, I feel like I'm leaving out the people that just want something really nice for a reasonable price.  People like me. 

I take three hours out of my day to size, embroider, hem, and sew the perfect blanket.  And I sell it like I'm some Asian sweat-shop child (although my new hair cut makes me look like a 12-year-old and it's not exactly cool in my sewing studio).  I did analyze my motivations behind my prices and it wasn't that difficult to figure out, although I'll never tell my husband - I think I sell for what I do because I want to keep sewing.  I don't want to have to stop and clean my house constantly, like before.  I want to have a hobby that is all mine and know that I can contribute to the baby shower which happens frequently in my large Catholic family. 

So, the prices are staying where they are.  I like what I'm doing even if it only brings in enough money to pay for the electricity to run my four sewing machines.  (I know, I know.  But I use each one!)

It's difficult finding a balance between an affordable price and the RIGHT price.  Just like it's difficult balancing work, kids, husband, and sleep. 

Whoa!  Sleep?  What is that?

My Etsy

For those of you out there that are unaware of the crafty side of the world, there is a website called ETSY.  Etsy is a terrific place to sell or buy handmade or vintage items.  If you have something unique to share to the world, put it on etsy.  They have nearly everything crafty and old.  Some of the people are frickin' creative.  Someone recently told me about a sperm necklace that they found on there...different, but creative.  Can't find what you're looking for?  You can post a listing on Alchemy and people will bid on your listing to make it for you.  Most of the shops, like mine, do lots of custom work.  You want pink minky instead of orange to go with that ivory satin?  Done.  Lime green with black?  Giraffe and Zebra?  Done, Done, Done.

Anyway, I started a shop on etsy called SewChem.  I can pretty much make anything that involves some type of needle and thread.  Note: I also knit.  I know!  Watch out, World! 

Let me start off by being honest with you. I am not a professional seamstress.  I love making things and spending time on doing this.  If no money is to be made in this shop, I could care less.  I LOVE sewing.  I want to make people happy and I want people to see that behind my uber nerdy persona, my lab coat, and safety glasses, I have a fun-flowing creative streak that makes me the happiest person in the world. 

How did this all start?  Let me explain...

My mom was a 4-H agent for agriculture.  We live in Kentucky, people.  We like agriculture.  It's what we do.  Right, so in 4-H, you learn to do everything.  Farm, raise sheep (we did), sew, draw, paint, cook...typical day to day stuff that was awesome.  If there was a workshop being held, you better believe I was there doing it.  Mom was super supportive of us.  Especially when it came to sewing. 

Momma told me about a new workshop that her office was holding about sewing clothes. During this workshop, they would, of course, promote other workshops, summer camps, etc.  But near the end of the hour, they said something about 'fashion show' and 'limousine'.  What?! My little ears were at full attention.  A limo?  Hell, yeah!  After listening in rapture, I found out that I would have to sew three ensembles of clothing for myself and  model them.  We would compete in a district, county and then state competition depending on how well we did at the previous show. And we would get to ride in a limo to the state competition!


After about a week, with the huge help of my mom, we had everything done.  The first piece was a mid-calf dress, A-line, broad tank top style.  It zipped up the back (my first zipper experience!) and the fabric...oh my GAWD!  Let my 4th grade words explain this to you (exactly as I wrote them down and had them announced as I pranced up and down the runway):

"Megan's first piece is a long dress without sleeves. She chose a light cotton fabric.  She describes the color as a purple lightning storm with flecks of blue...a storm across her body."

Seriously? I fucking wrote that. Hilarious!

My next piece was even better.  It was a shorts and halter top outfit with matching head band.  The shorts were elastic waist.  The shirt (gorgeous!) tied twice in the back.  Imagine two sideways letters V's (kinda like this <>) with the touching pieces tied together.  My back was exposed and I felt like the sexiest fourth grader on the planet.  The fabric, another weird choice by my young self, was a tan background littered with pictures of needles, bobbins, thread, and other assorted sewing things. 

My last outfit was pretty normal.  It was pink shorts, a white shirt and a pink vest with a matching head band.  The buttons were pretty cool (green and yellow and blue) on the vest and my mom bought me some special pink shoes to match everything.  My sisters wore that outfit after I grew out of it.  (My youngest sister would be wearing it now, too, if she wasn't a size 16*.)

I was in my height of glory walking the catwalk.  I won first place (against teenagers, people!) and went on to the district competition, where I got second place.  First and second place went to state!  I still got to ride in a fucking limo!  Awesome!

Before the state competition, we had Glamour Shots taken in all of our outfits.  They fed us McDonalds and then rode us in the limo to the competition.  I stuck my head out of the roof over the Ohio River.  I got yelled at, but I was the youngest person there, so I didn't get in too much trouble.  (Suckers!)

Again, I pranced around and did my walking, but by now, the excitement was over.  I got my limo ride and I was happy. I got an honorable mention, and my mom was beyond proud.  She still is.  She keeps those Glamour Shots of me on her sewing table and we love to talk about those outfits. 

Obviously, I'm still riding that high from my first sewing experience. My more recent experiences with sewing have never been detrimental enough to keep me from trudging on.  I sincerely enjoy sewing, the goods and the bads.  Although that whole poking-the-shit-out-of-my-fingers-with-a-needle thing does suck.

If only I could like my kids that much.

Just kidding! Etsy Shop HERE!


*Side note: I do not hate heavy people.  I've been there. I understand.  I'm just saying that she's TEN YEARS OLD and she can't fit in my maternity clothes.  She's the sweetest and smartest girl ever, but she can't fit in my maternity clothes.  Did I say she can't fit in my maternity clothes? 'Cause she can't.