The Social Porcupine

I found this linen apron on Revivall's fb resale page last year, 2021. I began the embroidery sitting in court for the sentencing of a young woman who'd killed her husband. I continued working on the apron visiting other churches, and it came with me on all of my last road trips. I learned a new stitch, the little yellow roses, from an Instagram video. Children and other women interested in learning to embroider added a few practice lines to my wildflower scheme. Nearly a year later, end of April 2022, I went shopping with friends... feeling grumpy and antsy, I brought this apron and put all my frustration into the final few stitches. This apron saw a lot of hard times. All hand projects, but embroider especially, help me to hold onto patience and remember forbearance. You sow what you reap. You love what you touch. You wait and work for all good things in faith and good will.

  I knitted my first sweater. A client told me it smelled of nautical colors. I did much reading while knitting. Also watched many films with friends. Sometimes I took it to the top of a mountain. Or I'd just sit on my couch after work.  I found a pile of thick shell buttons in an old sewing machine drawer. There were just enough.  I spent a lot of time reading Anna Karenina while knitting. A large knitting project and an epic classic really do belong together.  One of my most relaxing projects. I gave myself a hard deadline, with nearly plenty of time to finish it. Had to take out several days of work once because it came out too large. So goes knitting.  Blocking it was the hardest: The merino wool is stretchy and wanted to come out much larger than I'd knitted it. Because of that I sized the pattern down four sizes, then sewed in some hidden darts.  I inspired my coworker to knit a sw...

I haven't worked on my quilt a whole lot this last year. Last year  I'd nearly finished the quilt top. I finished it not long after sitting in a cozy cabin as men and women worshipped God all about me. What joy! Having it all as one piece at last was a great feeling.  But then I didn't work on it for a few months. A house fire, a busy summer of work, personal writings, barefoot wanderings... a busy summer, too full to for my quilt.  A lovely woman gave me a quilting rack. And one free summer day I asked my brothers to help me repair it and set it up across my couches.  I ironed the top, they brought over some extra bits of wood and their drills, and we had a party. Montana Wool Barn  began their operation a few years ago. We used to attend church together, so when she heard I was searching for a wool batting... she gave me one!  It was in many pieces. I whipstitched it together and made it fit over my white muslin, then p...

I am really excited to share about a project I just finished. Also, keep in mind that I do custom orders. About five years ago I saw the most gorgeous scarf in our local co-op. It was 100% Rayon, covered with beautiful embroidery. But the price was far above what I was willing to pay. So, I went to Joann's and bought some nice looking off white rayon. I bought enough to make two scarfs. One for me, and one for my mom. I hemmed them both up, and unraveled the ends creating the tassel. And then I forgot about them ;D Until this last August. After being home awhile, and finally rested from traveling so much, I decided to take up my hand work again. I went through my sewing, knitting, and embroidery things, organizing all my projects. And found the unfinished scarves. And, so, I started embroidering the one for my mom. It took several months of constant work. I just finished it mid-November. Oh, and I used 100% rayon satin floss... so this w...