– COMMON THREADS –
share the journey
Over the next few weeks I wanted to follow a few people who build their business or blog around community; get them to share a little of their journey and their heart for what they do.
These gals are all local so show them some Irish love!!
I’m so excited to have Alex from Bluebird Fabrics guest posting today…I’ll let her share a bit about her business and then make sure you head to the bottom of the post to enter the giveaway to win a metre length of any fabric from her shop!
What was the vision behind Bluebird Fabrics and how did you get it started?
I think I’ve always dreamed of creating something- an entity beyond me but which was an extension of me. I decided to act on a few ideas back in 2013, when I was studying for a Masters degree in Theology. I was reading about 8-10 hours a day at the time and the nature of my work that year was very theoretical, so I thought I needed a project in order to feel like I was balancing and applying my bookwork with real life.
As it stands, Bluebird Fabrics is above all an extension of my personality, and it’s the realisation of an idea. The ongoing act of being the creator and perpetuator of Bluebird Fabrics is a learning process for me. I’ve learnt lots about people, about sewing and about myself. I began thinking that Bluebird would be a business- numbers and progress and growth. But it’s become something more complicated than that. It’s become an expression of who I am and my relationship to the community around me. I love the idea of Bluebird Fabrics becoming my full-time job- and, in that sense, becoming a ‘successful’ business- but I think it’s purpose is more profound than that.
How does community play a part in the journey of Bluebird Fabrics and why is it so important?
Well. It’s funny you should ask about the relationship between Bluebird and my community. At the last sewing group session I led, my heart was totally warmed and it’s precisely because of the relationship between Bluebird and my community. One of our sewing group ladies (Louise) told me that she bumped into a friend ahead of our sewing group. Louise and her friend (Alice- who is also my friend) got talking, and somehow the fabric we’d chosen for our new project came into the conversation. It turns out that both of them possess the fabric because I’d sold my fabric to Alice’s neighbour who in turn made her a baby gift with it. That’s a bit of a complicated story but the bottom line is that in that instant I was connected to Louise, to Alice and to Alice’s neighbour. I’ve gotten to know each of those lovely ladies in different capacities, but in that moment at sewing group I felt deeply connected to my community, and I’m kind of in awe of Bluebird because how it has deepened connections like that. I felt at home in that moment- despite the fact that I am, in fact, a blow in from County Armagh. So I think the relationship between Bluebird Fabrics and my community is quite profound.
Be sure to check Alex out
Love this chance