Hey Sewists!
If you’ve been following along you’ll know that I’ve had a literal (in more ways than one) break from sewing recently. Four weeks and counting with a broken wrist. I’m starting to go a little stir crazy to be honest with you. Now, I’m not crying for a pity party here, I am fully aware that there are many other people, way less fortunate than me, with way bigger crosses to bear, for way more extended periods of time. But I would say that as a generally creative person, who’s (pretty much) always doing something with their hands (… sewist… hairdresser… sign language, anyone…?) … It’s still pretty tough going.
This last week I’ve also bought a proper laptop. I haven’t used a pc since ‘Windows 98’ believe it or not. Yes, that’s pre ‘Y2K’ – so after being mollycoddled for years by iPhones and iPads with interfaces that a baby can use, you can imagine that it’s a bit of a learning curve for me. Now that I finally have a full qwerty keyboard to write my blog posts on, it smarts a bit to only be able to type with one hand at the moment… slower than I am with one thumb on my phone! But I’m using what I guess would have been sewing time as getting to know my laptop time.
A while back in This Post I mentioned that I’d had to upgrade my wordpress account (as I’d used all my storage allowance up with blurry and unnecessary photos of amateur sewing techniques…) with this upgrade came a free domain name – even though I have now claimed this, I am still unsure of what it actually is and what it means. Maybe it means I lose all my followers and no one will ever find my blog online again…? Maybe it means something else. I guess only time will tell. (… or perhaps a short course at the local adult learning centre…?) But what I do know is that it gave me a chance to change the name of all this. Well, truth be told, my hand was forced as it seems that mensew.com has already been taken by someone (although I cannot find any content under the title as yet) so I couldnt have that anyway. Also, the more I thought about it, the less I thought it represented me and my sewing… It was meant to represent men who sew and anyone interested in sewing (or reading about sewing) menswear. But I’m not sure that’s a clear message.
On a seperate (but also related…!) note; when I first started on Instagram I was a social media virgin, unschooled and green. Nervous of having any kind of online presence I didn’t use my real name, and in lieu of any decent sewing puns I simply stated my new hobby and my childhood nickname (a bit like when you make your porn-star name from your first pet and the street you grew up on…) thus ‘BusterSew’ was born.
So, to bring these last two paragraphs together: I needed a new name, and I’m taking the opportunity to streamline my digital output under one title. Again, in lieu of a decent sewing pun I have decided to take my favourite past-time and my actual name…
Hello, I’m SewAndrew!
(Cool, self-designed, totally professional and grown-up looking logo to be inserted here…)
Moving forward I have no idea what this means, but I can assure you, you’ll be among the first to hear about it! If however, you never hear from me again, please have a little search for SewAndrew as I may be hiding over there!
There’s not much sewing to tell you about I’m afraid. But I have finally updated my post about The Mystery Blogger Award (click the link and scroll down to the update!) to include my answers to the great questions posed by Sarah at Wanderstitch.
The threat of that needle-case tutorial is still looming over all of our heads. But I have designed a new bag. Two variations which I’m very much looking forward to making and sharing with you. Especially as the smaller one will be my first foray into sewing with leather. Well, pig skin to be precise. Well, pig suede to be exact… I know, the thought sends shudders through me too, but I was given a pig skin, tossed out by the fashion trade, and I’ll be damned if I’ll see that poor little hide go to waste. He will not have died for nothing… I’m making a bag… Probably a few wallets and purses too.
Happy Sewing! … and please don’t break any limbs.
Notes to self;
- Having a big wide screen makes me write much longer paragraphs.
- A laptop screen is much less forgiving than a tiny little phone screen.
- I must stand further away from the camera!
Nice to meet you, Andrew! 😀 I understand the need for a nickname. I wouldn’t disclose my full name on my website either as I’m terrified someone will google my name and really old stuff I posted 10 years ago comes up… Also, I can’t imagine blogging on a phone! I’d buy a small keyboard to plug in to if I didn’t have my laptop, I guess!
Hi 👋 thankfully I wasn’t blogging anything 10 years ago! Ask me again in 10 years and it might be a different story 🤣
I never really got on with an external keyboard, but I’m loving my laptop 💻😄👍
Well… SewAndrew, I’ll be watching for you! I had the same thing happen to me, too many bad photos and an upgrade, lucky though my name was not taken… my son says that is because, as he keeps telling me, it is too long. Critics everywhere! 😂😂. Get well soon!
Haha 😂 … a 10 year old once said to me (with an irony beyond his years…) “huh, everyone’s a critic!” (With an eye roll at his 7yr old twin sisters! … ) 🤣
To quote one of my favourites… ‘don’t nobody got time for that s**t’ 🤣🤣
… I LOVE your ig name, it’s one of the best if you’re asking me!
I’ve ordered some Knitbone (TM!) from eBay so I have high hopes for recovery! Thank you 😊🙏🤞
😂👍 thanks for the support! I’ll be watching for your next sewing project!
Hi Andrew
I love the name change. I love your sewing and your blog posts. I can’t wait for this longer paragraphs. I’m also glad that I now learned how to make a pornstar name. 🤣🤣
Wishing you a quick return to sewing!
Wis xxx
🤣🤣 thank you Wis 👍🙏 you see, when I’m not sewing all this other random information comes out! 🤣😂🙏
Great name change. Hope you can get back to your sewing soon, missing seeing all your makes on Instagram ☺
I’m hoping that some gentle sewing will be the best physio for me!! 👍 thank you 🙏
How neat! My link still works. Sewandrew is a great name.
Phew! Thank you!
I love your new name change and I’m really looking forward to seeing what you make from your rescued hide, it’ll be amazing Andrew! 👍
Thanks Josie, hopefully it won’t be too long! 👍🤞😊🙏
I so totally understand this. As bizarre as having an online presence is, I felt that I was all over the map….To the point where nothing really made sense or really represented what I was / am doing. So I made the kind of changes you’re making.
Trust me, somehow people will find you because your work is brilliant.
Kind words 🙏 thank you very much! 😊👍
Hello SewAndrew …great name change. I know exactly what you mean about hiding. I was originally handmadebagsandbits…what a mouthful. Then I came out and Fionahandmade arrived😁
Haha 😂 I might have to put some Diana Ross on! 👍👏😂👯♂️
Ahh, it’s a rabbit hole I tell ya, delving into the world of hosting and domains 🤣 in short – a domain name is what you type into your browser to go to a site, and it must be unique (which is why you couldn’t have mensew.com). So when you want to do a google search you head to google.com.
If you want to get really techy, you can have your old domain name divert to your new one (much like having your post redirected when you move house) so that if people go to your old web address, they’ll wind up here.
If you get stuck with anything, holla, and I’ll do my best to help 😊
Love the new site name, can’t wait to see the logo, and I’m now off to read your updated Mystery Blogger post!
I hope I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew 😂 if the broken arm didn’t make me feel old , this new laptop is 🤣