Just don't look too closely

Something very momentous happened for me just recently: I sewed something! Stockings, to be exact.

And...besides my neighbor having to come over and teach me how to thread the machine (she writes sheepishly), and Spencer (yeah, he's a man of many random talents) giving me a few pointers and advice here and there, I did it all by myself. :) Honestly, this is big for me! I feel so...accomplished--in the Jane Austen sense of the word, of course.

See, I haven't touched a sewing machine since my junior year of high school. And even then, if I remember right, I got stuck all the time and spent most of class time waiting with my hand waving pathetically in the air for the instructor. I was pretty helpless. Bobbins still intimidate me a bit.

Let's just be honest; I'm not creatively endowed. I've always wanted to be, but I just can't seem to do it. It secretly appeals to me, and I think there might be a latent artist hiding underneath my bookish exterior, but I just haven't found her yet. I've dabbled in scrap-booking, but I get too frustrated by what a mess it makes and how long it takes. I don't draw, paint, cross-stitch, quilt, make bread, knit, or sculpt at all, and let's not even get started on my pathetic wood-working skills. I'm not a very detail oriented or patient person, which I think creativity and artsiness requires. Though I very much enjoy enjoying other people's talents. :)

Sigh. I think I'm less of a joy-in-the-journey person and more of a joy-in-checking-it-off-the-to-do-list sort of person. I like things to be clear and defined. I got a little frustrated when the stockings took longer than expected. And, sadly, they only got worse as I continued. My ability to pay attention to the details and patiently make them look nice only deteriorated with time. I just like to "finish" things. Sigh again.

But...I really did have fun. It's such a wonderful feeling to know that I've created something, however imperfect that something may be. These materials didn't exist in their current form until I shaped them. :) That makes me feel very powerful.

So, without further ado, (and keeping in mind that my motto with these stockings is "just don't look too closely"), here are my Anna-made stocking originals:

I don't know; I think they're kind of cute. :)

"Their stockings were hung by the chimney with care..."

And now put into context. :)

All in all, I'm pretty darn proud of them. And myself. :)