Giveaway Week, Day 4: Sew Liberated

by Sister-Diane on December 31, 2009

in Craft Books

Update: Congratulations to kkimberly, the winner of this book!

Updated to add: A bunch of early entries seem to have misunderstood today’s question, so I’ve rephrased it. I want to know what you’re letting go of, okay?

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So, your entries in yesterday’s giveaway were really interesting. I was surprised at the number of people whose “what I want to do less of” wishes involved worries and stresses from 2009.

2009 was a pretty challenging year for me, too. It’s comforting in a way to know that many of you were going through challenges, too. Here’s wishing us all smoother roads in 2010, eh?

“Enough talk,” you’re saying. “Give something away!” Alrighty, then…

Today, we have up for grabs a copy of Meg McElwee’s Sew Liberated, which I reviewed a couple weeks back.

To enter this drawing, leave a comment here that answers this question:

What’s one thing you feel you “should” do in 2010 that you’re going to let go of?

Most of us have a few “shoulds” too many. I have so many, I have to store them in an offsite garage.

You have until Sunday, January 3 to enter. International friends are welcome. Good Luck and Happy New Year!

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  • I feel like I always have to work around other people's schedules so miss out on things I want to do such as exercise classes, etc. This year I will not feel like I should accommodate others' wishes first.
  • Lisa
    This year will be unusal for me because I will be away from my family for 6 months so I will try to let go of my guilt of being away. I'll stay as close as I can via calls, emails and personal letters and will pray time goes by quickly.
  • RoseFineCraftGuilddotcom
    I'm letting go off baggage, of weight in any way shape or form: physically, mentally, emotionally, in my house, in my handbag, in my body, everywhere... and yes, I'm starting to feel LIGHT!
  • siu
    Procrastination.........letting go of the infamous..."i will do it later"!!!!!!...
    This year i will try a bit of running shoes advice: "JUST DO IT"....who knew sneakers were sages. ha!!!!!!
    :)
  • Linda in WI
    I always say yes to everyone, especially volunteering for things at my children's school. In 2010, it's time to finally learn to say no and not feel guilty about it. Time to let go of trying to be a super mom and not being happy that I don't have time to do the things I really want to do!
  • "I should do more, be more, have more"... That is what I am going to let go of. I am going to be happy with what I am and where I am in life.
  • Chrissy
    Hoping to start a crafty business this year and I know I SHOULD spend more time on social networking sites...but, I just don't think it's gonna happen. I'm trying to let go of the notion that you have to promote your business through Facebook and Twitter to be successful. I have a hard time viewing them as anything other than huge time-sucks. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say about it on your next podcast. :)
  • I am going to LET GO of the self-imposed feeling that it is my job to make sure everyone around me is happy. It is something I have recognized in myself lately...duh! (I am 43, so you think I would have realized this problem a long time ago.) Being selfless and concerned for others is one thing, but running yourself to the ground trying to please everyone else and never just taking time for yourself is exhausting!
  • Annette_in_UK
    I need to let go of the belief that everything I create should have a successful outcome. Wanting to do it 'right' too often stops me doing it at all. I need to embrace the mistakes, wrong turnings and improvisations which will allow the truly individual creations.
    Thank you for making me sit and think about this.
  • Wen
    Let the past mistakes go and embrace the future...
  • I have to let go of my procrastination habit!
  • Donna C
    I've been taking an online course for two years - have put lots of money and time into it - but, I'm just not happy. It's for a field I thought I wanted to enter, but now I'm not sure. So I'm trying to make a decision about whether to quit or not. Tough one, though!
  • Clare
    I'm going to let go of my fear of having children and becoming a parent. I need to be brave and not afraid of change.
  • I always feel like I "should" be a better student. I'm a grad student and I actually do pretty well in all of my courses, but I always feel like I should be doing better or be doing less of the things I love and more studying. This is something that I'm really going to try and let go of. I do well, and there's no reason why I should give up some of the time I devote to the things I love just so that I can be at the head of the class. It's just not worth it!
  • vickivictoria26
    ummm... going to let go of trying for perfection and just head towards better.
  • kkimberly
    Letting go of getting angry at work - not worth it!
  • Alissa
    I feel like I *should* take on projects at work that I can do more quickly and effectively than other people, but I know it is driving me crazy and is perpetuating the cycle. I am going to stop volunteering for projects for which I have no room on my plate.
  • I am going to have to quit letting myself be the "caretaker" for others. I can't keep up with my own family & home & Myself & I need to bring the focus back to us & not "them".
  • clairevoskuhl
    I 'should' make everyone in my quilt group a holiday gift for next year. I've been wanting to do this for several years now, but this one I may end up letting go, again. It keeps falling further down my want to do ('should do') list because there are so many things on the list.
  • I'm letting go of unattainable new years resolutions that include the words "every day". In the past, I've made resolutions like "work out every day" or "read every day" or "keep the house clean every day" and I've come to realize that it's better to resolve to do things that are actually going to be satisfying in the end. How about just plain and simple "Enjoy life a little more"
  • mia
    I am letting go of thinking I am going to maintain the perfect home and be the perfect parent (I am due in February).
  • Dawn
    Letting go of guilt over weight loss...or rather, NO weight loss! I'm going to fit and sew great clothes for my shape NOW.
  • h.
    I am going to let go of the school's book fair. I've run it for 3 years, and now it can be someone else's baby. I want to let go of a lot of the volunteering I do because I feel someone should do it. My time is valuable, and I should treat it that way.
  • reginac
    I am letting go of the idea that I will ever be organized enough to live in our "small" house. I am organized enough, and long ago gave up the guilt of it. I will continue to find the contentment in the here and now.
  • Lavina
    Defending our family choices. I am SO done with it.
  • kcampbell
    I want to let go of past failures, what happened in the past is there....in the past. Take the lessons I have learned from these events and make better choices!
  • I'm going to give up the idea that I am super mom. I can't do everything right, end of story! Tough question! Oh & I had to comment on the diet coke reply. Love it! I get the same thing w/ drinking coke & sweat tea. I don't drink, smoke or do drugs. I'm going to enjoy my pop & sugary tea, lol.
  • Hello!
    I want to let go of worrying about what other people think of me and being so sensitive to criticism and conflict.
    Happy New Year!
    Katie
  • hopee_carberry
    I am no longer being the person other people perceive me to be. I am now going to be true to myself. I am no longer keeping contact with people that I "should", particularly on facebook. From now on, I am being me.
  • Ali
    I'm trying to let go of the idea that I have to do everything perfectly.
  • KAmerica
    I am letting go of the need to be perfect... in everything...my work, my relationships, my creativity. I am letting go of this false idea of what things should be and like and dare to BE MYSELF.
  • Page
    OK, I am letting go of getting impatient with my children over the little things that do not matter in light of eternity (like spilled milk). God bless you. Thanks for the giveaway!
  • I'm letting go of the things others think I should do, and only do the things I know to be best for myself and my family. Other people's "shoulds" shouldn't burden me, and I've really got to let that go!
  • morganewilson
    I should probably do the resolutions everyone does of "lose weight/get in shape/get organized' but...I'm not going to do any resolutions because I feel it's setting myself up for failure.
  • noveltea
    I'm going to let go of always being so image conscious. I like to think that I'm happy with myself, but have my own moments of doubt where I think I should be someone I'm not. I'd like to let go of that, be myself and have a lot of fun in the process.
  • After this baby, I'm going to try and let go of this weight again this year. I lost a chunk of it this year and then gained some more back then I planned. Thanks for the giveaway! God Bless, and Happy New Year. :)
  • mygirlthursday
    I'd like to let go of the guilt I feel when I think that I should be crafting. How about crafting out of creativity and inspiration, rather than obligation?
  • I'm thinking about letting go of the guilty feeling I get when eating too much. I already go to the gym so that should be enough to let me enjoy a meal. I'll be sweating it off the next day anyway.
    Oh, and drinking Coke. I've tried to give it up permanently and that just doesn't work, so I'll have some once in a while.
  • MelodyJ
    I want to let go of past issues that have held me back.

    melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
  • holy cow - love your banner. i have been away too long! i am letting go of using the word 'should' altogether. that and perhaps my credit rating. you know, perfection. : P or at least i will try. our 2010 mantra = prosperity, creativity, levity. keep up the inspirational work, diane!
  • raederle
    I'm going to let go of excuses and just do what I need to do.
  • Helen
    I'm letting go of the guilt I feel when I try to be Superwoman, and can't manage it.This is most of the time, so ther's a lot of guilt to be letting go!!!
  • This is a really difficult question, because every time I think about it I get a 'But you *should* really have a go at that / start that / be doing that' thought... I'm pretty unrealistic about how much stuff I can cram into my life without comprimising on sleep / relationships / sanity!! I think I'll let go of learning to crochet. I bought a load of hooks about a month ago with the intention of mastering the art, but if I think about it properly I really don't have enough time for a new skill, and I should focus on developing my sewing and knitting.
    Thanks for that bit of therapy! Oooh, and I am loving all these giveaways :)
  • Mari
    Trying to be completely "ready" for everything. Organizationally (is that a word?), but mostly emotionally. It took me a while to figure this out but I recently realized that "ready" really just means "more ready than not". You're never really ready for anything...
  • wrongtree09
    I'm going to let go of the idea that I have to do everything.
  • geekxnerd
    I'm going to let go of the idea that 2010 will be the year that I squeeze back into my old size 6's. I should burn them and do a pow-wow dance around them in celebration.
  • Liz
    I'm going to (try to!) let go of the idea that I have to whip my house and yard into shape as quickly as possible...b/c it takes over my life. Particularly the yard. Things just GROW so fast in Oregon, I have a hard time keeping up. And then I get stressed. And don't do things I should, like running and hiking and swimming in a lake and spending time with friends and family...and I want to do those things instead, so I will let go of the idea that I have to perfect my house and yard, and just let it happen in the flow of my life!
  • I am letting go of my mother and her issues. I will still be in her life, but I will no longer let her control mine.
  • I am going to let go of my guilt about whether I go to the gym or not. I don't feel guilty about having arthritis in my hip, so if that's the reason I don't go to the gym, I don't have to feel guilty about not going.
  • What am I letting of of? Three stone in weight! I joined Slimming World three months ago & I've lost a stone so far - I'm aiming to be down to at least 12 stone by the end of 2010. I'm totally committed and I know I can do it. I've already let go of years of guilt about food and my weight and unusually, losing weight feels like a hugely healthy and positive thing to be doing. It doesn't even feel like a diet, it just feels like eating better.
  • Kirstin Juul
    Sometimes a B is just as good as an A. Right? Arrgg maybe I should have finished college when I was 20 and not 40! I want to let go of perfectionism!
  • emarci
    I am going to let go of the idea that I should give up Diet Coke! People nag me about it all of the time-I don't drink alcohol or coffee. What's the big deal? :)
  • caednkat
    I still feel like I should be the mom who has the super clean tv house that I love cleaning. I'm letting go of that guilt this year. I'm going to enjoy life and have a semi clean house and move on with it. ;)
    (What a great book to give away, by the way. It's tops on my list of books to buy. :) )
  • mollylee
    I'm letting go of the idea that my etsy shop has to make a dozen sales a week for me to feel successful! I'm just going to do what makes me feel happy, no matter what the sales are!

    Molly
    http://mollylee.etsy.com/
    http://mollyleecards.blogspot.com/
  • egdirb
    I'm going to try and let go of the future, stop feeing that I've got to plan for everything and enjoy my life as it happens
  • Melia
    I'm letting go of the idea that I will ever be perfectly tidy and organized, and embracing the idea of using up my craft stash instead of acquiring more.
  • mjb
    I like the idea of letting go of other people's expectations.
  • You know, I'm really not sure. I'm in a rather transitory period right now and don't know where I'll be in 2010, much less what I should and should not do or can and can not afford to let go of. Maybe I'll let go of worrying about what I should be doing. :)
  • Kristin
    For 2010, I am giving up the idea that I will ever feel like my finances are completely organized. I have a master's degree in finance, so it shouldn't be that difficult, but I have to accept that I will never be perfect.
  • karrenhiskey
    I feel I should have a cleaner house...oh well that one I can let go, it's is still home to all of us and people are more important than things.
  • I'm not planning on having a "job" this year and I am working on not feeling guilty about that!
  • Kristy
    I'm letting go of recycling juice pouches in classrooms this year, even though I should do it to help the environment. I did it for the last 3 years for up to 5 classrooms at a time. It is just to much for me to keep up with right now. Instead I'm showing people how they can recycle them in their own home.
  • I'm letting go of the idea that I will ever enjoy doing exercise. I tried it, many times. It's not my cup of tea.
  • Losing weight and stressing myself out over it. I'm going to try doing Yoga to improve my health.
  • What is this "letting go" of which you speak? :)

    Excellent question. I honestly don't have an answer to it, but thank you for planting the "letting go" seed in my mind. Options! I have options!
  • Darcy
    I should lose these last 5 lbs. of baby weight so I can fit back into my old "nice" clothes. But I'll let go of that idea, and just love myself, my husband, and my baby.
  • Tiffany Rosson
    I am going to let go of the idea that I have to be SUPERWOMAN. I am a single mother with two daughters. For years, I have worked, raised kids, been a school volunteer, led a brownie troop, joined scrapbooking groups, etc. Every holiday I made homemade sweets (never bought at the store!!!) and lots of homemade crafts and gift. Even when anyone volunteered to give me a hand, I felt the need to do things myself due to my idea that I can do things perfectly...why? Why do I have to do it all!

    I am going to take more time for myself and let others do things, even if it isn't perfect!
  • moreymom
    I'm letting go of other people's "shoulds"... when someone says to you "You know, you really should..." and pile *their* expectations all over me, I am under no obligation to accept those "shoulds"
  • wintu nancy
    I am going to try to talk myself into letting go one of my volunteer jobs. I enjoy it sometimes, but it can be stressful and that isn't good for my health.
  • Carrie
    I should probably try to be more organized, but the thought of it stresses me out so I'll probably let it go!
  • Crystal Colburn
    I really should organize and sell all my son's toys (he is now 16 1/2 and has no use for power rangers, dinosaurs, tonka toys) that are cluttering up the basement but instead I am going to let them go and give them away to those that are less fortunate and let them have a new life. My husband was killed suddenly when my son was 6 years old and I know I hold of to things like that in order to feel I have some control or that this is something (all the toys) that will stay the same. Well, now that I am remarried (will be 3 years in June 2011) and my life is moving forward, my son is growing older and turning into a wonderful young man, I have an opportunity and joy to enjoy the next phase of my life so in moving forward I need to let those cluttered, piled, unused for about 6 years, toys go and bless others!
  • meg
    assuming I can fix it (umm, like the toliet). sometimes you should just pay someone and have it done with.
  • michaelhawkins
    I "should" lose 20 pounds. But..instead of looking at it that way, I'm going to start making better food choices and the pounds will come off by themselves. Gee, let's hope! I guess it's all about perspective. But...that's a whole other subject. And I'm not going there today. :-)
  • Tish
    I should give up Red Bull, but since I despise coffee and still need a morning caffeine fix, I think I will let that resolution slide right on by.
  • Barb S
    I should be a better housekeeper. I'm hiring a cleaning team instead!
  • Pattij
    That looks like a GREAT BOOK! I'm going to try and lose the quilt about not helping do all my grown kids birthday celebrations and let their spouses take over!
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