17 November 2008

Confession Time

Okay, I have obviously been lax with my blogging the last few months. I have been busy with work and life's little ups and downs, but that is not the main reason I have ignored my blogging duties. So, it's time to come clean.

I really like blogging. It provides me the opportunity to share my creative side with people. I also take pleasure in creating tutorials and sharing my knowledge with others. I hope that the small efforts I make on HZC help inspire people and occasionally teach them something new.

These were the main reasons I started this blog, but over time, I came to find writing here was cathartic, much like writing in a diary or a journal. A blog, although accessible by many millions of people can still be deeply personal and a measure of anonymity can be maintained. In much the same way I would never allow a close friend or relative to read my diary, I never wanted this blog to be read by people from my "real life." I wanted this blog to be completely distinct from my day to day life - an escape where I could nurture my artistic side and for the most part leave my teacher/scientist/wife/daughter/friend sides out of it. For that reason, I have never invited any of the people from my real life to visit my blog (heck, my best friend doesn't even know I have a blog).

Unfortunately, some of the people from my real life have stumbled upon this blog it makes me uncomfortable (to the point of not posting) to know that they read it. If they had found the blog and never said a word to me about it, I would have been okay with that. However, some of them feel the need to bring it up every time I post (despite my obvious discomfort when they do so) and some even go so far as critiquing my posts.

So, to those of you that know me in real life, I am humbly asking for the following considerations. If you must read my blog, don't tell me about it, don't make suggestions or corrections and don't send the address to other people that I know in real life. Please allow me to go back to blissful ignorance of your reading habits, so I can start posting regularly again. Thank you.

26 comments:

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

Oh Shannon - I'm so sorry that your ability to share your joy and love of sewing has been intruded upon. So I'm adding my voice to your plea because I've missed you terribly and need your inspiration and outlook to continue to inspire me!

Unknown said...

I agree with Carolyn - I've missed you terribly and need your inspiration.

It is rather strange to run into someone in your real life and have them say something that they had no way of knowing. g

Jessica said...

I've been missing your posts too. However I totally understand your reasons for not posting. They are the same reasons that keep me hesitating on starting my own blog.

Anonymous said...

I've enjoyed reading your blog and miss your posts as well.

If I might make a few suggestions about blogs... I too like to blog, and I like to keep things totally anonymous so that readers don't know who I am. To keep things very vague, I don't use my name or mention friends or family by name (at best, I'll use a first initial), I don't post pictures with identifiable faces (mine or anyone else I know), and I don't put details about my life (which city or state or country I live in, what I do for a living, where I've gone to school, etc).

Anyway, just some thoughts on ways to keep anonymous. :) (Or to keep people you know from knowing it's you!)

Naptime Seamstress said...

I've missed your blog also! But, I understand - I too wanted anonymity when blogging. And then, I used vague descriptors (South Central PA) and a friend recognized my kitchen sink!!!!! I've come to terms with it now and I've decided that I'm still going to try to blog. But, it took some thinking time!

Be encouraged!

Anonymous said...

I've missed your posts too. My mum reads my blog (as do a few other friends and family) and it does affect what I post. Like you, I prefer it when they don't mention the blog (is that a bit like "don't mention the war"). But most people I know don't read it - it's about sewing and crochet after all! - and I find overall that I really like to blog. Please keep it up - you're one of the best sewing bloggers there is!

Vicki said...

I agree it does feel strange when real life people read your blog. It was strange when my DD left a comment on my blog. I knew she knew I had one and I even show her comments when it relates to her but somehow it was still weird when she commented. Luckily she did not critique!

Anonymous said...

I have missed your posts; as I have worked on my winter coat, I have wondered about those coat plans you mentioned. The Coat Sew Along Closed before I could sign up. I know I would have learned something from your approach! I echo the comments of others and hope you are able to comfortably resume you blogging at some point; if I were in the same position, I know I would feel quite self conscious. In the meantime, happy sewing and happy stashing! Linda

poppy said...

I feel the same way, I regretted immediately after telling co-workers about my blog,
may you always have the anonymity you desire!

CraftRage said...

I'm so sorry you lost your privacy!

I really missed your posts, and hope the people who were indelicate enough to share their opinions of your blog with you can find a way to be a little less critical, so that you can feel comfortable in returning to us!

Anonymous said...

So glad you are back! I really missed your inspiring posts.

Nancy K said...

I am so glad you're back, but I do understand your feelings. My dd started a blog and she's mentioned me in several posts. Family and friends read it and it is a really weird feeling. She doesn't say anything bad, but sometimes her take on things is different from mine.

Sharon Sews said...

I too have missed your posts and am glad you're back. I know exactly what you mean though. When I write in my blog, I'm writing for my virtual sewing friends, not for my friends and family. It was really weird the first time someone at work mentioned a dress I had written about and I realized she could only know about it through my blog. While it has changed how freely I share some things, most of the time I'm okay with it. But I'm like you - if they read it I'd rather they didn't tell me. Let me pretend that they don't *LOL*

Maryissewfast said...

I am glad you are again writing and I totally relate to your feelings. A co-worker asked for a link to my blog so she could read it. I have not sent it to her because I may inadvertently say something about work from time to time and don't want to start an international incident, if you know what I mean. I hope your friends respect your wishes and don't comment anymore. Mary

Janene said...

I can so relate to how you feel about friends reading your blog. Thanks for rising above what "they" have to say and sharing as usual because you are missed when you are silent.

Summerset said...

That's sad! I'm glad you're back, and I hope this all works out.

Sigrid said...
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Anonymous said...

I am so glad your back. I've been dropping by every few days hoping for something, anything sewing related. I really appreciate your blog. I've learned so much here. Thank you, and I hope you are able to continue blogging.
Jan

Karen said...

I know how you feel. I posted yesterday about some events from my weekend and posted a (credited) photo taken by a friend. Who apparently obsessively googles himself and found my sewing blog and sent it to all our mutual friends. Glad I didn't say anything snarky about him when I used the photo but since he had sent it to me (and it was taken in my house), I felt entitled to use it - though perhaps without attracting the attention of almost everyone I know. Sorry this happened to you, and I hope your "real life" people take your words to heart and keep their thoughts and comments to themselves. You're missed when you don't post.

H

LauraLo said...

It's good to have you back, Shannon! And sorry for your friends reading your blog "behind your back" and making all sorts of comments. I can relate to that. Nobody knows of my blog and I'd rather keep it that way.

June said...

It's so weird to feel "outed," isn't it? My friends and family know about my site, but I don't talk about anything there that I wouldn't talk about with them or with coworkers or anything else. No politics, no religion, and no comments about work (other than how much I love my job, which is true).

What has made it extra-weird in real life is that my friends have kept up with me for years via the 'blog but rarely write and tell me what they're up to - it's made conversations a little bit unbalanced!

Anyway, I hope you do keep blogging - I find your work inspirational.

Christina said...

Wow, at least now I know that I'm not the only one who doesn't mention my blog to friends! I've only told a couple of my local sewing/crafty friends who I connect with on that level. I was so annoyed when I found out my husband was telling his friends about my blog and showing it to them on his iphone! Now I have a few male readers :) But really, I'd rather people discover my blog through "natural means", an interest in sewing that is being explored online.

Emily said...

OMG! I TOTALLY feel the same way and am so glad to hear that someone else feels the way that I do about blogging!!! I thought I was the only one!

laura said...

I use mapworld to show me what cities are reading my blog. So far no one local has shown up! I've only given my blog info to my boyfriend and his brothers and only one of my friend's (who has sworn to keep my secret). Some of my posts are work and family related and I wouldn't want to hurt any feelings. Plus it really is very personal and if I felt the need to 'curb' my posts it just wouldn't be any fun. Glad I'm not the only one.

amy said...

I blogged a lot the last time I was pregnant--four years ago--but stopped when my husband's friend sent me an email telling me that my graphic description of bodily functions and their relation to being pregnant (which he had linked to on his blog) had offended his grandmother and so he was removing my link. I totally feel your pain and am glad to see that you're not letting them stop you. Maybe some day I'll begin writing regularly again--I really do miss the catharsis. :(

katherine h said...

My best friends don't know about my blog either, and I was annoyed when my partner told some work colleages about it...thank goodness that he hasn't told his family. My family does know though, and it is nice to share it with my sisters. It is a bit strange that we blog and then are embarrassed about it though...I thought that I was the only one who experienced this dilemna.