Nothing like a worn in leather thimble!
Hello dearest readers. I’m wondering how you are feeling. I’ve been so angry since last Friday’s SCOTUS decisions! And 4th of July celebrations added to my upset…not sure there’s much to celebrate. I’ve fumed. I wrote a blog post yesterday and quickly took it down, because I had not brought my best self to this space.
So. How about redirecting my/our energies…
I’m returning to devotion, the word I’ve been trying to build my days around. And mending. Because when I mend things with my hands, my heart often follows suit. And when my heart feels stronger, I find energy to mend broken pieces out in the world.
I have a favorite needle case that I’ve used for years. You can find it here. It usually sits next to my sewing machine. I decided I wanted another one to keep with my mending basket. I used homegrown, hand dyed fabric for this newest one. The front is dyed with tansy, grown here in VT in 2019. I used clothespins to create the “resist” design. The inside was made with fabric I tie dyed with indigo that we grew here at our “bit of earth”. The leather tie was made from scraps left on the factory floor at Vermont Glove (formerly Green Mountain Glove), a local business producing gloves for over 100 years. I took a field trip there, you can read about it here.
So now I’m devoting myself to doing more that feeds my creative spirit and refocuses me on hope and lightness.
Here’s a quote I saw the other day, author unknown.
Remember, being happy doesn’t mean you have it all.
It simply means you’re thankful for all you have.
Here are a few sweet little things to watch that may bring you a smile or two.
I just ordered this pattern (I’m going to make a bunch of them!) and got a lovely follow up email from the founder and designer of Sew Liberated. She highlighted this little video. I know it’s part of a marketing scheme…but it resonated with me.
I’ve long admired the work of Emily Louise Howard, and she has a fun YouTube channel where you can see her English sketchbook. This one is especially lovely.
Carry on, friends. Let me know in the comments where you are finding comfort, inspiration, calm.
xo