Wonk

The other day, for reasons that will remain unexplained and enigmatic, I had a long day, child-free with little else to do all day other than surf the net.

So, what’s a girl to do? I surfed the net!

And I found this great blog, called Ginger Hendrix, or maybe Weiner Dog Tricks, I’m not sure, by an incredibly funny lady called Ginger Hendrix. And I LOVE it!
In her own words, Ginger is “a writer; sewer (the people who use the thread and the machine, not the pipe); thrifter; gluer; maker of things. Huge fan of the word Maker.” And did I mention she is incredibly funny?

I often find lots of the ‘lifestyle’ type blogs incredibly a little bit depressing. They photos are always brilliantly lit and composed, the children always smiling and beautiful and the house is always neat and tidy and decorated with impeccable taste. Much like my very own blog and my very own life. NOT.

So this blog is a breath of fresh air to me. Yes, the photos are pretty amazing, and about a million times better than anything I ever manage to snap, but she talks with refreshing honesty and brilliant humour, about living with a husband and 3 children, and trying to MAKE.

AND all the lovely things she makes are from reclaimed fabric. That’s right, from the ‘thrift store’ (that’s American for charity shop-sounds way cooler). With a particular penchant for polyester. What this woman hasn’t made with polyester, can’t be made with polyester. I think I too am starting to fall in love with polyester, and feel the need for a charity shop/car boot rummage to find some polyester.

There are a series of ‘pep talks’ on the blog, and they are all wonderful. I implore you to go and read them all. Very slowly and very thoroughly. And to inwardly digest.

Ginger implores us to “Grow a Pair” when it comes to making things and just give it a go.
I relate to this. I don’t know what scares me sometimes about sewing, or attempting to sew, but I often am a more than a little cautious about making a start. I have no idea why-what’s the worst that can happen? I mess it up, and have to unpick and start again? That’s not the end of the world. It’s annoying, and frustrating, but not the end of the world. And as long as you’re not using £40 a metre antique fabric, it shouldn’t really be a big deal.

And then my favourite Pep-talk is about embracing Wonk.
Wonk is…you know, when you make something and it’s a bit wonky and not quite perfect. That’s Wonk.

Here are some examples on things I have made (actually, these are ALL just on ONE thing-that’s how much Wonk there is in my sewing….)

Very ‘un-neat’ finishing…

A VERY wibbly wobbly hem line…

A nice bit of fraying at the top where I failed to fold it all under properly…

I am always uber critical when I make things, and think that if it’s not perfect and shop quality then it’s not really good enough.

But surely that is the point. You’ve made something. Not bought something from a shop or a catalogue and it is not going to be perfect. And it is that bit of wonk that means that you have made it and that you have put love and thought and time into making it. And that really, it is the process of making, rather than the end product that is the point.
So from now on, I am embracing Wonk. I am actively celebrating Wonk.

And I think you should all join me..!