Me-Made-May 2020!

Well, if it was a ‘normal’ year I would have announced the approaching Me-Made-May challenge on the 1st April. I would have written a post explaining what the challenge is, why you might want to take part, and how you can customise it to your own specifications and desires to make it truly useful and enjoyable for YOU. Well this year has most certainly failed to present itself as a ‘normal’ year, eh?! I think it’s safe to say that 2020 so far has been collectively the weirdest and most terrifying few months in most people’s memories. When the 1st April rolled around two weeks ago, my emotions were everywhere, and the last thing I felt like adding to my life was an additional challenge, and I felt that most people would probably feel the same so I didn't mention MMM. 

But since then I've been thinking about it some more. There are a number of elements that Me-Made-May annually brings that people might actually appreciate, and benefit from perhaps now more than ever. Much of the world is currently on lock down (/sheltering in place/self isolating/practising social distancing/whatever it's called where you live). Many of us who are lucky enough to not have to go outside very much and risk infection, are spending so much more time at home in our pjs or lounge wear, feeling lonely and miserable and not at all ourselves. Maybe a gentle, 'light' version of the Me-Made-May challenge IS what some of us may feel we need right now?


What IS Me-Made-May?

• MMM is a personal challenge to wear your handmade items more often, or in different ways somehow, to help you improve your relationship with your handmade wardrobe. 
• It is entirely personal: you can set the specifications of your challenge as you wish so that it will help YOU. Think about what you would like to improve and/or learn. 
• You do your challenge for the duration of May.
• It's entirely up to you whether you wish to keep your challenge entirely to yourself, or share some or all of it with others. If you wish to share the odd (or daily!) photo or comment on social media, please use the hashtag #memademay2020 so other participants can find you and cheer you along.

But the whole world has flipped upside down, should I take part?

Totally up to you. I wouldn't blame you if you took one look at the title of this blog post and screamed "NO WAY!" and slammed down the lid of your laptop. However, if you do fancy challenging yourself this year, PLEASE DO SO GENTLY. The last thing any of us needs right now is an additional challenge to complicate our lives.

But what might I gain by taking part?

You know what I need right now? I need a reason to wear something other than leggings every day. I need a reason to pull out my favourite handmade garments that I know will make me feel more like myself. I need something fun to think about each morning, rather than dwelling on the news headlines. I need to feel more connected with a community (of makers) and have a reason to celebrate each other and our achievements. Oh, and I want be nosy and see what you've made and how you wear it!

Ok, I want some of that too, what do I do now?

You need to think about the specifics of your (GENTLE) challenge. Think about what you'd like to achieve/improve/learn by the end of the month, and what you can do throughout the month to make that happen. Normally, I ask participants to fill out a pledge and post it in the comments of this post. If you would like to do that, awesome. If you'd like to share it on Instagram or anywhere else, then also awesome:

'I, (insert name or username here), pledge to (insert specifics of your challenge here) throughout May 2020'

So as an example, here's mine:

'I, Zoe aka @sozoblog, pledge to wear only handmade garments in unique combinations as much as possible throughout May 2020'.

If you have any questions or queries, please email me at sozoblog (at) g mail dotcom, or message me on IG @sozoblog. Please remember, if you do want to take part, be as gentle and kind to yourself as possible, and DO NOT beat yourself up if you wake up on 1st May and think, 'actually, no I can't be arsed'!. This is meant to be fun and useful and affirming! Please take care of yourselves, lots of love xxx