Always Let Them See You Sweat
gorilla_me
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.
frolicking_me
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.
me_and_h
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.
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My admiration and appreciation of the people I know and love went up exponentially today. I've been putting off taking a photo of myself in my latest sewing creations because I knew it would be painful at best. We don't have a full-length mirror, so I was expecting a rude awakening. Well, let me tell you, it was a RUDE AWAKENING. I had to call up Bethany immediately afterwards for some talking down and to tell her how awesome her photos are. If my sister was home I would have called her, too — again, awesome photos. I guess all my years of letting myself go —not caring what people think, expecting the world to love me as-is or not at all — have caught up. The Spandau Ballet hair cut that I gave myself isn't helping any. Note to self: Don't cut your hair when in a bad mood surrounded by screaming, annoying children.
Now what we have here are the best of the photoshoot, the silliest of the silly. Believe it, or not, these are not the photos that highlighted my ham-sized arms, or the ones that showed what could be, but isn't, an eight-months-pregnant belly. While taking the photos I followed Bethany's suggestion: to think something silly. Alicia P. had a similar idea. I took it further by doing something silly, too — this helped, I think. Then, the best trick of them all, I hid behind something cute — smoke and mirrors, right?
Apparently I'm OK with showing my silly side, or my sweaty unshaven underarm side, as it were. This is, in part, a direct response to one blogger's idea about good marketing being something where you hide all the work that goes into something well done — the never-let-them-see-you-sweat method. Of course, this unnamed blogger is hugely popular and will probably be the next Martha, so I guess she's right, if financial success is your goal. I just don't have "good marketing" goals. I've been in that industry and it's something I'd like to avoid as much as possible. Bleh.
The love part of this post comes in with the appreciation of all the nice things my husband says to me. That man is a saint, I tell ya. I can be my stinkiest no-bath-having sweat-pants-or-baggy-overalls-wearing self and he will tell me I'm beautiful, that I look cute. His son is learning well by him, a future good mate for sure. As I got dressed for the photoshoot my son said, "That looks nice, mama." That's the best full-length mirror there is.
Labels: deep thoughts TM, sewing
28 Comments:
you are a brave and beautiful woman. i could learn a lot from you! although, am opting for someone else to cut my hair tomorrow... it is the best thing going for me, i don't want to f*** that up too....
"Ah, ah, ah, aaaaaah, ah. I know this much is true." I always think you look great. You have perfect skin, and beautiful eyes, and you are strong, which I admire immensely. And the pictures turned out silly, just like you wanted. That does look nice, mama.
I love these photos :D Your great grandchildren will love them, too. You've revealed something of who you are in these shots and you are GREAT!
You crack me up! I took some photos of my own self and had a rude awakening. They were closeups and i thought I was presenting a neutral happy face, thinking happy thoughts, but in the photos I looked angry, really angry. Next time I'll try to go gorilla.
Love your sewing and the Spandau hair.
Oh my - love it, love it ,love it on all so many levels. You are my heroine Michelle! I hope to see you on Saturday at the Maker Faire so I can give you a bog hug with my ham-sized arms. Never let them see you sweat - is that the trick? Oh I have so tripped up on that tenet.
And I predict that The Green Kitchen Gorilla Pose will be the new thing sweeping the blog world. Mark my word.
You are the bomb, Michelle! That skirt is freaking fabulous and you look awesome. I think so much of a person's 'umph' is how they present themselves. You've got great 'umph.'
You picked an awesome fabric combination for the skirt. The bird fabric is amazing, and I love the interfacing fabric at the waist.
Your tutorial is great. I hope I get a chance to use it ... soon! :)
It's so nice to have a little one tell you you look nice, especially after all the screaming they go through. I have one of those too and it just makes up for all the whining when he throws a compliment my way. I Love the frolicking fun photos too.
Middle age has hit me like a truck and i look like a little barrel- in fact we kid around that my super hero name would be: Barrel Girl!!! You look beautiful to me and I love the gorilla pose and the playful happy person that you are comes shining through. That's all that matters. Who you are inside- and that is beautiful as far as I can tell from here! You rocked that skirt and the blouse is awesome! I wanna be just like you so - turn that frown, upside down!! :) kim
You rock girl!
I am glad you always speak your mind - that is brave and so refreshing.
Love your tutorial!
Well said !
You look lovely and fun too.
: )
Your sentiments about being photographed echo mine exactly and I avoid having my picture taken with the clothes I've been making with great zeal. Having said that, I think your photos are fun and that you look wonderful.
I read your tutorial about installing zippers and think it was very well done.
Shall we form the ham-armed sisterhood? :) The motto can be: "The Better To give Hugs With, My Dear! :)
You crazy thing, you really do look look great! Not nearly so hammy and Spandau Ballet-esque as you say (And anyway, Spandau Ballet were super cool, so....you know this much it true!:)
Frankly, i think the silly pictures are SO much more fun, and the outfit is just great. Your tutorial is wonderful and inspiring. You have a great skill and making your own stuff is SO empowering in this world of bad ill-fitting and unflattering fashion! Forget marketing. You are doing great stuff. Who the heck wants to be Martha anyway...i bet we would NEVER see her having fun with awesome gorilla poses. More's the pity! :D
a spandau ballet hair cut is better than a flock of seagulls haircut and that's all the details i'm willing to give.
Thank you lovely women for your nice comments. I'm sure I scared away any young readers I had. Watch out, next up, you might find me donning a purple and red hat.
They are great! I looked in the mirror just the other day and thought, "oh, so this is how it happens". You have motivated me to contemplate a picture..not there yet! Pretty fabric too!
First top and skirt are great. Second, yep have done the rude awaking photos myself. I am at the point now where I love when people say"Really, you don't look that old." Or the ever favorite "You can still wear the same thing as your 20 year old (I just smile and look at the sales person like they are nuts)." Thank you for the well written post....
hi!
read you everyday and love your posts and this one made me laugh especially because of the pictures! love them... now, I want to ask you how you post more than 1 picture from flickr in your blog. I tried doing the same but it doesn't come out like yours. please answer.
thank you,
manela
macati.blogspot.com
Your metaphor about the best full length mirror is the best thing I've read all week. Thanks for that.
I love Spandau Ballet and I see nothing wrong with your hair.
This is a great post that I'm going to bookmark to re-read when I'm angry that the thread keeps breaking or can't figure out why the wire won't wrap right. Don't get me wrong--I love the online craft community and am so gratful for the inspiration I've found in these parts. But very few people give away the amount of work that sometimes goes into making things.
This is my favorite post you've done ever. First of all, that outfit is fantastic! I love this photo session. Also, although I should certainly be following good marketing rules so I can pay my bills, I prefer to let them all see me sweat. I do it all the time on my own blog.
I want to look like you. (I actually like the way your hair looks in this shoot.) I will have to check flickr to find out which skirt and top pattern you used. I've got that 8 month belly thing going on but this outfit you made doesn't show that little detail off on you, so maybe it would look good on me too.
I am certain I belong in the ham-armed sisterhood. I'm there.
You have made me feel uplifted and happier. I'm going to go look for a new outfit to make.
I'm going with option a -- love you as-is. Especially 'cause look at how happy this post is making all of us readers. And I just plain old like the inversion of the dumb-ass "in it to win it" saying. WHO aren't you going to let see you sweat? And is that gonna make you feel good later somehow? Not me.
Great outfit and I can't wait to try out that gluestick business.
Your arms are from lifting- C and H, be proud of them as you have a workout daily....fun to see your projects. You make me smile...so do your kids.
This post answers my haircut question from your Birthday post.
You did a great job on your hair.
These photos are too much fun.
Stop playing around and having so much fun. (Just kidding. Ha!)
Does this sound like something Katie would say? I almost picture her saying this.
you are the BEST. Thank you.
you're so cool.
just thought you should know.
You are adorable, in a thousand different ways.
Wait, make that stinkin adorable.
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