tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61404620380399533642024-03-05T15:48:51.231-07:00Hip StitchA quilt shop owner's musings about creativity, contemplation and making the world a better place one stitch at a time.Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.comBlogger380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-44447744513691154352024-01-13T09:38:00.001-07:002024-01-13T09:38:17.979-07:00Let's talk about failure and comparison<p>In the last few years in my sewing journey, I've thought more about failure and what to do about it. Let's face it, we all have projects that just don't turn out the way we planned. We seam rip, we change out blocks, we alter our end goal, but sometimes, it's time to throw in the towel.</p><p>What to do then? Full confession: I've thrown 2 quilt projects directly into the trash. For me, it was more an emotional purge. I had to see them be disposed of - see that they came to and end. It's not my 1st choice. I recycle as much as I humanly can. I hate to think about growing landfills. But I also know that I can't single-handedly take on the earth's trash. I sort my daily trash into what can be recycled.</p><p>But for those 2 quilts, I did what I did and needed to move on.</p><p>I've also had 2 sweaters that I've knit that I needed to let go. One was never a good fit. I put it on and found myself tugging it down all day as it bunched and pulled.</p><p>The other, the fit was perfect yet the color was a bad choice (it looked great on the model!) But I found myself only wearing it only in the house to keep me warm. And feeling guilty that I put all that labor, and money, into making it, and not loving it.</p><p>What to do with these? The wrong color, I offered my daughter, who now lives in Denver where it's MUCH colder than Albuquerque. She said yes, and yay for that!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8xIa3gSCknFwksDlJPrlOdgTo006Sij25AatrEb50I_ute0hojRsgE599Se7O8EQDKgaVBEiQKu2q7a9GhlT8z2MSfCZFRq7OKmseuuGtsQU3zDbhHSXOXzBi7_26cqcGhnSlnRJ0MULNRBzLvgoftgopF9VP9s96LCKxCmlgFrzTL0es4qKziFUBHM/s3089/claire%20sweater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3089" data-original-width="1559" height="565" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8xIa3gSCknFwksDlJPrlOdgTo006Sij25AatrEb50I_ute0hojRsgE599Se7O8EQDKgaVBEiQKu2q7a9GhlT8z2MSfCZFRq7OKmseuuGtsQU3zDbhHSXOXzBi7_26cqcGhnSlnRJ0MULNRBzLvgoftgopF9VP9s96LCKxCmlgFrzTL0es4qKziFUBHM/w286-h565/claire%20sweater.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>The not-so-great fitting one? Time to just pass it on, give it away.</p><p>So, back to failure. I don't necessarily think of it in the negative. It's an attempt at something that didn't work, and so it's time to move on, having learned some lessons. Failure gives me strength, wisdom, lessons in humility. Failure makes me a better human being.</p><p>I've also been thinking about how our self esteem is tied into this whole picture. When we create, in a perfect world, we should be the judge of our work. It's art - it's personal, right?</p><p>I've had 2 conversations recently that were interesting in their own right: </p><p>*With 5 year old Nola, who, with her 8 year old brother Jude, were spending an afternoon crafting with me. We were each making collages: fabric, scissors, glue, paper and colored pencils and markers. With a stack of scraps in front of us, we'd take one, fussy cut an image, glue it to paper, and so on and so on. At one point Nola asks me "do you like mine?" followed by "yours is prettier than mine." Gulp. How do I address this? Of course mine wasn't prettier. That's nonsense. But to a 5 year old, life is about better, prettier, bigger, smaller. It's absolutes. So I thought about my response before just blurting out "yours is beautiful" and "no, mine isn't prettier". I kept it short, but told her that art is personal. It doesn't matter what other people think, nor do you need their approval. The goal is that it's pleasing to yourself. That it makes you happy. To which Jude said, "The world is art and the world never stops creating." When my eyes could focus again because they were tearing up, I wrote down that quote to remember it.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv55k5163MKWOkIduvtAA-oJYgMR3YtnoTWN0i11dAbkorhrelenE0lFdSoE0aqptcI8NNN16Km2otySalxS4FfU5iW7Vz_MvJhaAtSbxFHLRFyx9utwE2pGRPF_Mg5n539ExwbbfeETMan7k8yAQkP_g-mIqZRpwVjL4wD2cyS4_Fv9263lbfK5gW1KA/s4000/20240108_175209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv55k5163MKWOkIduvtAA-oJYgMR3YtnoTWN0i11dAbkorhrelenE0lFdSoE0aqptcI8NNN16Km2otySalxS4FfU5iW7Vz_MvJhaAtSbxFHLRFyx9utwE2pGRPF_Mg5n539ExwbbfeETMan7k8yAQkP_g-mIqZRpwVjL4wD2cyS4_Fv9263lbfK5gW1KA/s320/20240108_175209.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>*With customer Jean, who about a decade older than me, so in her 60s. As she shopped, she shared with me a picture of a quilt she was making, and asking "is this right?" and "I don't know if this would look good", and our conversation went in the same direction as with Nola. I shared with her that if it's pleasing to your eye, (and doesn't have glaring holes/mistakes), it's right. It's good. It's the way it should be. She told me she's from a generation that was taught with sewing, that it's right or wrong. I get that, I do. It's hard to undo. I told her about the quote from Picasso: "learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist". Learn your basics. Learn to sew a straight seam. Learn to press. Learn to cut. Learn to read a pattern. Then go in your own direction and make art that you love.</p><p>I told Jean I have no intention of entering any of my work in any contest/judged show. (Maybe that will change in my lifetime). I create from my emotions, my ideas. They're mine to own and I don't need, nor desire, to have approval of others as to whether it's worthy or not. I'm enough of my own critic, after all!</p><p>You? If you're reading this, I'd love to hear your thoughts.</p>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-20991347772489671492023-12-26T20:57:00.004-07:002023-12-26T20:57:45.880-07:00Where the cool kids hang out: Part. 2<p> I was fortunate enough to join the Bear Canyon hand quilters a few more times before they wrapped up their group for 2023. In December, John brought bread pudding bars, which were delicious (this man can do it all, I tell you!)</p><p>I met Theresa, who had just come back from Portugal, where she did a pilgrimage walk.</p><p>There was Barbara, who came to New Mexico in the early 2000s from Massachusetts, and lived a time in Florida before she returned to NM. We talked about finding your people in quilting, be it a guild, group, or just a few close friends. Some groups are clique-ish, some are too big and impersonal. Find your people.</p><p>Janet brought one of her "Encouragement Quilts" - I learned about these when I interviewed her in July of 2022 (see blog post) She continues to make small quilts and hand them out to those in need. How do you know who to give to? I asked her. She puts her hand on her heart and says "God tells me.". </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcX_5oCbqeyA0IZVRlPf-ASws0MEKmQuJZyLYGDIKzx6P2xx2yRNkgEF3vMK4GdjF2EoXw3TKbHNK9UecGyxy9IU4B1BSJMMWSDNfJ1OLH42_9kzB2A_g2E31XOvhPUAZqr9Xz8PcAaoYnj6q7uCUUIQCMXs3Znz89DJi0wFdGvD5n0KCmTq9LcV2IJs/s4000/20231212_104210%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcX_5oCbqeyA0IZVRlPf-ASws0MEKmQuJZyLYGDIKzx6P2xx2yRNkgEF3vMK4GdjF2EoXw3TKbHNK9UecGyxy9IU4B1BSJMMWSDNfJ1OLH42_9kzB2A_g2E31XOvhPUAZqr9Xz8PcAaoYnj6q7uCUUIQCMXs3Znz89DJi0wFdGvD5n0KCmTq9LcV2IJs/w326-h435/20231212_104210%20(1).jpg" width="326" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_bjXuSPfkkyDtupPZJlCbSt5np0BE82OO89Azt5Gpn1ktKpmffapqWOVToiRJHTUKaUgo2grV6CDEQ2xf_KylEDPSOYLIir8b_cg5b-iuIxtN9CZh4B4_jgA2KKbSsyEmNdCxV8UGRueA_waa0idNA9saXuaWb1iYcmWG_GVOEkJ0axGpehcwqos2_4/s4000/20231212_101155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_bjXuSPfkkyDtupPZJlCbSt5np0BE82OO89Azt5Gpn1ktKpmffapqWOVToiRJHTUKaUgo2grV6CDEQ2xf_KylEDPSOYLIir8b_cg5b-iuIxtN9CZh4B4_jgA2KKbSsyEmNdCxV8UGRueA_waa0idNA9saXuaWb1iYcmWG_GVOEkJ0axGpehcwqos2_4/w306-h407/20231212_101155.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John sharing his bread pudding bars</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnrECb_rmNqeZtBlIH_WhnKNpHQ6D0hKmUqf5x6QNRYU_jpl3fIxso8U9hjvirsnjjrH2tCjyI59CCJXtVk9rPo_ZCWI7NOlloHne0EEcjs1lvWxsYKAcUN2psUOUuwOfhUYHJcUWtdTDegyKlO8EJMaSlCBV4FtcBVPs4GjgMJ5E7jjZa0Hzbrr-Sws/s4000/20231205_090827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnrECb_rmNqeZtBlIH_WhnKNpHQ6D0hKmUqf5x6QNRYU_jpl3fIxso8U9hjvirsnjjrH2tCjyI59CCJXtVk9rPo_ZCWI7NOlloHne0EEcjs1lvWxsYKAcUN2psUOUuwOfhUYHJcUWtdTDegyKlO8EJMaSlCBV4FtcBVPs4GjgMJ5E7jjZa0Hzbrr-Sws/s320/20231205_090827.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unrolling a quilt</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PNSPgwPQvtH2nmLxheQrHprLTiVKSIYsXML9Out68i09PzFuvVzZkQjkVt18Ae7dvlQEhyphenhyphenFFp2C038g5N05ZZ8EkQFgEp2Tk-QyAGjV-Svr1-CDRVLg7OEUxWbVkk8gIiUHlsSwbDixZN8dyMYxGzTJIaGBmhAi6eVgKM-hhc2JC94f8U9aYSHzOK10/s4000/20231205_091622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PNSPgwPQvtH2nmLxheQrHprLTiVKSIYsXML9Out68i09PzFuvVzZkQjkVt18Ae7dvlQEhyphenhyphenFFp2C038g5N05ZZ8EkQFgEp2Tk-QyAGjV-Svr1-CDRVLg7OEUxWbVkk8gIiUHlsSwbDixZN8dyMYxGzTJIaGBmhAi6eVgKM-hhc2JC94f8U9aYSHzOK10/s320/20231205_091622.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncwxESeHstqU7x_UczX37rzZo3GV-gH5I8FItiJU2xma43oRkcvvHjMhiADN44u_oD2J0nGciTihTTjocX_heUY4fvg-KlMboFurCX2pMGKpg8IiWd894drWi141ljYJ-fjZpqyXWgsJewttiVlHFk3q-Rjv06ENNKQGJiYsMLLKKVly04ffB1QY2XDY/s4000/20231205_092822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncwxESeHstqU7x_UczX37rzZo3GV-gH5I8FItiJU2xma43oRkcvvHjMhiADN44u_oD2J0nGciTihTTjocX_heUY4fvg-KlMboFurCX2pMGKpg8IiWd894drWi141ljYJ-fjZpqyXWgsJewttiVlHFk3q-Rjv06ENNKQGJiYsMLLKKVly04ffB1QY2XDY/s320/20231205_092822.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evelyn's table runner</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGk5nsSn4OdOM1CF0cWbpK4rHj98jQ-NFy2R8XGpTadV21mUB_aZ2H-oudg3kGuL41DW40yI41v7MNFGmcz43K3nhuQbQFNnfq4_TMzk6OnmbrRT6Z12qaJPdNud7Zu5V9DDjS3OkfQ3xnClhglpN6kFB6pbKdDm8_gvZrjJHnOTVRMS6RaQzqOAAnis/s4000/20231205_102248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGk5nsSn4OdOM1CF0cWbpK4rHj98jQ-NFy2R8XGpTadV21mUB_aZ2H-oudg3kGuL41DW40yI41v7MNFGmcz43K3nhuQbQFNnfq4_TMzk6OnmbrRT6Z12qaJPdNud7Zu5V9DDjS3OkfQ3xnClhglpN6kFB6pbKdDm8_gvZrjJHnOTVRMS6RaQzqOAAnis/s320/20231205_102248.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I look forward to seeing more of the 'cool kids' in 2024, and am grateful they let me </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hang out with them.</div><p></p>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-68876498133648996272023-12-10T18:24:00.001-07:002023-12-10T18:43:17.273-07:00Where the cool kids hang out: Part. 1<p>I took myself to the <a href="https://www.cabq.gov/seniors/senior-multigenerational-centers/bear-canyon-senior-center">Bear Canyon Senior Center</a> on a Tuesday morning to visit the weekly group of hand quilters. A few regular Hip Stitchers participate and it's been on my radar for quite a while to pay them a visit and see what it's all about. It was well-worth it and I can't wait to go back (hence, the 'Part 1' in the title of this post)</p><p>First of all, I love to be in a room with folks wiser than me. Don't get me wrong, I love the energy and knowledge that comes from being around younger folks too, but wisdom and life experience have their own attributes in this world, and when I'm with elders, I want to soak up every bit of the lessons from the lives they've lived. They've been through the angsts of life that we all have to trudge through. They've seen it and done it and witnessed it - the drama, the history, the losses and wars. They GET it. (see previous blog post on Janet, who is part of this group)</p><p>Now? Just a weekly Tuesday morning of hand quilting. A bit of community, a bit of meditative time spent in the quiet company of others.</p><p>There was <b>John</b>, the lone male in the group.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3p7MLIP6BSe4Uih-WWVDdoINaycM9b4Ny-z6zYfSSfODjfehZjx8uf4bnTIQfatQJe0tKJ5el2u6tZCwCbftOJygCspgQLVluKO5AW8eVBie55ipcR13TM579cdcMZsYkns-sVdVOAo-n3SThr9nVLpbL4AQ6FIIwoaVnFR4d2sh5bWqaskaQTKW21E/s3000/20231205_102300%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1674" data-original-width="3000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3p7MLIP6BSe4Uih-WWVDdoINaycM9b4Ny-z6zYfSSfODjfehZjx8uf4bnTIQfatQJe0tKJ5el2u6tZCwCbftOJygCspgQLVluKO5AW8eVBie55ipcR13TM579cdcMZsYkns-sVdVOAo-n3SThr9nVLpbL4AQ6FIIwoaVnFR4d2sh5bWqaskaQTKW21E/w476-h266/20231205_102300%20(1).jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>As I chatted with him, he went for his phone and started showing me pictures of his creative endeavors, of which there are many. He served in the Air Force, and now has the time to explore:<p></p><p>*<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%A5lebinding">Nålebinding</a>: heard of it? Neither have I. Incredible!</span></p><p><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;">*Clothing for Para Dolls/Japanese Anime dolls. </span></p><p><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;">*Cosplay costuming</span></p><p>*SCA costuming</p><p>*<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnshoe">Turnshoes</a> (this will blow you away)</p><p>*Quilting</p><p>And I'm sure there was more, but I had to re<span style="font-family: times;">st m</span>y brain after taking in the enormity of his talents, which seemed to just come naturally to him through curiosity. He's quite the Renaissance man.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxiczdPASLa9cuzBn5J13Q5zmzJDh8VWgdrGH16bBkPcOX7B3iGkAFy47qMyO3gNu1KsrvECbZWK1o1Ki2Jaw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p>Then there's Evelyn:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SrYOF9dD0zBMcgCy29DCjHpJSaPFPSTPeAGjSbEw4_NEeK2DjwHVy5cQu6EXBxUS9MyyzMzxRB7uSEZ4IsPlIwuH6EbRa7l_1BWv-3z3zB7PRhJlOrJAg-_aBawXqvenJlwWM95GIm71TBJBNHwiDy1CZ2SpsbAnHmu05or4hl5mQCy44Vi0lQeBcPw/s1073/evelyn.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1027" data-original-width="1073" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SrYOF9dD0zBMcgCy29DCjHpJSaPFPSTPeAGjSbEw4_NEeK2DjwHVy5cQu6EXBxUS9MyyzMzxRB7uSEZ4IsPlIwuH6EbRa7l_1BWv-3z3zB7PRhJlOrJAg-_aBawXqvenJlwWM95GIm71TBJBNHwiDy1CZ2SpsbAnHmu05or4hl5mQCy44Vi0lQeBcPw/s320/evelyn.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: times;">While living in Washington DC she became involved with Quilters SOS - <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">the largest oral history collection about quiltmakers in the world. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><b>READ THAT LAST PART AGAIN.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Did you know about this organization? Read all about it <a href="https://quiltalliance.org/projects/qsos/">HERE</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Evelyn interviewed quilters with Daughters (& Sons) of Dorcus in D.C. - the oldest group of African American quilters. Read more about them, and Evelyn, <a href="https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7cdm0dc6b8v">HERE</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">(Evelyn told me she made her 1st quilt in 1968, by the way - the year I was born.)</span></p><p>In the above picture, she's hand binding Hanukkah table runners she's making for gifts for family this year. We talked about the joy of making gifts that are appreciated by the recipient. I've talked with numerous customers over the years about this. What a difference it makes to give to someone who knows what went into the making of a gift.</p><p>Also in this group were Janet, Jane, Doris, Lois, Carol & Barbara. </p><p>I'm grateful for the time they gave me, sharing and answering my many questions and taking pictures and video.</p><p>And I'll be back to visit more - I'm quite enamored by them all.</p>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-67935153110882827802023-11-22T20:55:00.002-07:002023-11-22T20:55:56.339-07:00Gratitude<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s that time of year - sharing what we’re thankful for, blah blah blah. (sorry, that's the cynic in me)</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6ca7221d-7fff-78ed-5c69-10db4cd0c3e5"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For me, I go inward even more than my usual introverted self does. I try to dig deeper into my gratitude. Yes, all the wonderful customers/friends…..those 2 flow into each other. Yes, I’m thankful for the roof over my head, and food in my kitchen, and a quilt under which I sleep. Every single day I’m thankful for those things.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But I need to go deeper, and draw out:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gratitude for those who challenge me - those folks I come across and we have an encounter that’s difficult, and leaves us each feeling uncomfortable and each wanting to be right and vindicated. Those folks, those encounters, remind me to be humble, and feel humility, and apologize if I have done wrong, and also to kindly assert myself if I need to in order to grow.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gratitude for my achy back, my stiff bones, the arthritis in my hand. Grateful for THAT? Well, yes. That pain is telling me that I’ve lived many years, and now it’s time to slow down just a bit and pay attention to the pain and take the time to stretch and do some yoga and take my vitamins and be more mindful of my health. This isn’t an admission of old age, or throwing in the towel. But I am the age that I am and my body speaks to me in the pain, and I listen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gratitude for the heavy grief I’ve felt for months in the aftermath of my aunt’s passing. The pain and sadness is hard. Really hard. But in that pain is a pure love for her, and my mom - the 2 women who raised me, who shaped and molded me, who passed down so many of my traits, and who are now gone from this world but are still with me in many ways.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwv7iTPGIL12HlolAzRJwDM2I7ahKj6H8SNLKKiVSQqCE1YHJp3JH9m3E_FVWY33rmyx6dF_404PrFl3eTXLjNb2SA5nd7r3lq7kiJpSD1JDtwClWHqus_F2nCjAteg-1kDzDPHYF4dwpgQ-Qg_fIMu5JbhzRXqiHPSF_hMTYeSwB0wp5PPVff-puGn4/s1230/mom%20and%20aunt%20sue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="915" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwv7iTPGIL12HlolAzRJwDM2I7ahKj6H8SNLKKiVSQqCE1YHJp3JH9m3E_FVWY33rmyx6dF_404PrFl3eTXLjNb2SA5nd7r3lq7kiJpSD1JDtwClWHqus_F2nCjAteg-1kDzDPHYF4dwpgQ-Qg_fIMu5JbhzRXqiHPSF_hMTYeSwB0wp5PPVff-puGn4/s320/mom%20and%20aunt%20sue.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gratitude for depression. Whoa, that’s a hard one. Without the depression there wouldn’t be the joy that I hold onto each day. I wouldn’t feel so deeply the good and the bad. We simply can’t have one without the other. And I wouldn’t listen, really listen, to others, whether that’s a customer complimenting Hip Stitch or one who says he/she will never shop here again. I learn from both.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, I wish you a season of contemplation, calm, deep breaths, moments of pure quiet, and much, much creativity!</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-44747590535756939292023-10-28T17:41:00.000-06:002023-10-28T17:41:17.499-06:00Hefty Hems and Letters<p> A day spent in my sewing room started with a simple project: a shower curtain, made from Blaze Ori. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91PjoxTtdoDsrQeVqXAMBJ9QhyphenhyphenjmK7YmIOZRabc6eNmGN1XhW_M5s3xW-lXaasA5rVR09Q3dQzDOBAorIzOyCgaA26QUcCJDg_TbnmhA9YiLvCg3fYgB3PwOaAVjkhhh8slxCrB56HEp7skS5T1YgZee5lAoFAsNaJc07Zp4EWDETrhudA_dx5WBh7WM/s4000/20231001_123302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91PjoxTtdoDsrQeVqXAMBJ9QhyphenhyphenjmK7YmIOZRabc6eNmGN1XhW_M5s3xW-lXaasA5rVR09Q3dQzDOBAorIzOyCgaA26QUcCJDg_TbnmhA9YiLvCg3fYgB3PwOaAVjkhhh8slxCrB56HEp7skS5T1YgZee5lAoFAsNaJc07Zp4EWDETrhudA_dx5WBh7WM/s320/20231001_123302.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunlKg05eFbjnHWMVyueDdknGpiX8KNfp4QKv3I9PAw7m8cNY1oRa0lddFgoQxrnA26HSEounQzCRfUj9bBmc99ixx6ut4c27w0ZDCPI8H42zduJqcRVJlLxrk0x8EkKpc8czK8OeMKh0LkEYqYL74wwBLplTYvXDdVlGvLs03FZuCW-r5slx6iKuM8i8/s4000/20231001_123240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunlKg05eFbjnHWMVyueDdknGpiX8KNfp4QKv3I9PAw7m8cNY1oRa0lddFgoQxrnA26HSEounQzCRfUj9bBmc99ixx6ut4c27w0ZDCPI8H42zduJqcRVJlLxrk0x8EkKpc8czK8OeMKh0LkEYqYL74wwBLplTYvXDdVlGvLs03FZuCW-r5slx6iKuM8i8/s320/20231001_123240.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I call the bottom a hefty hem. I made it 2.5" in height. A bigger piece needs a bigger hem. A skirt, top, casual dress doesn't need as hefty a hem. One inch will do. Curtains? Hefty!</div><p></p><p>And then I moved over to my desk, that was my mom's. And write a few letters to friends.</p><p>I have 3 women in my life who exchange regular notes/letters with me. This is a great joy in my life. Especially as over the summer, I've acquired love letters from my grandfather Fred to my grandmother Julia, in 1928. And have read, and read, and read them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmC0qAIo6yQZ33pfUtSbocEr9oAYaHBi6s6uglrqM29jld2if4pRatYdLqyGK0dp0nItFDS4eZNCmqlTz7nWlB3HpGX7q0U_Z4VWjHpCN4cF0UHoeHzkcV_C_RZKDKwfoL3gJtE2nFKBlidlVsOrq9qoTB27_xyZVD8HeHcjsWPYrzT6BK_jVMH3AU-4E/s2799/letter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1948" data-original-width="2799" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmC0qAIo6yQZ33pfUtSbocEr9oAYaHBi6s6uglrqM29jld2if4pRatYdLqyGK0dp0nItFDS4eZNCmqlTz7nWlB3HpGX7q0U_Z4VWjHpCN4cF0UHoeHzkcV_C_RZKDKwfoL3gJtE2nFKBlidlVsOrq9qoTB27_xyZVD8HeHcjsWPYrzT6BK_jVMH3AU-4E/s320/letter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And although my correspondence with these 3 women, whom I each admire in different ways and they make be a better person, is not as frequent as a text or email could be, I love the slowness and deliberateness of our words to each other. We don't have to blurt things that pop into our heads, like we can do with social media. </p><p>So, I sit at this desk and write, and think of my mom, and find great joy in this moment. And think about creativity, and that it's not just in one art. Sewing, writing, reflecting - all embrace the creative soul:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChoMEKa7JJLV3QyUsjG5cSyJ592Q7QfFefm7CIzmYAXTNoFpZTncWZh4FfzARgLNBAFjvxIEB1zwBtJiTB7Tc3-KKS6RixVSN2tCCwHX9q-lLY7m33xgj5_J-M2cm3EfiMtXXw_ZLwWkrDXYjsqFvACwfoMmKLWyO_fwGC6za_6G02DK4yCE6Hsv2vvM/s4000/20231001_123158.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChoMEKa7JJLV3QyUsjG5cSyJ592Q7QfFefm7CIzmYAXTNoFpZTncWZh4FfzARgLNBAFjvxIEB1zwBtJiTB7Tc3-KKS6RixVSN2tCCwHX9q-lLY7m33xgj5_J-M2cm3EfiMtXXw_ZLwWkrDXYjsqFvACwfoMmKLWyO_fwGC6za_6G02DK4yCE6Hsv2vvM/s320/20231001_123158.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos of ones I love. Pincushions. Notecards<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDnzqtsVcVUOZ8WzjqTABbZhE3gpliR_Po8_pYku7mFkyE5U32nG0o-0cmnqoqh-vWPn2dFSIRl2Pas59fvg3M9HnqgVxW-KGI-M6bzWuEqVLT7KMTYiDC7Rz24DaMEkzUOlaWIU-YXZfMYHRMqJF-tKHDkw-Na3KFaV9aQf2lRGojOFvdaEPa6_i1D8/s4000/20231001_123117.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDnzqtsVcVUOZ8WzjqTABbZhE3gpliR_Po8_pYku7mFkyE5U32nG0o-0cmnqoqh-vWPn2dFSIRl2Pas59fvg3M9HnqgVxW-KGI-M6bzWuEqVLT7KMTYiDC7Rz24DaMEkzUOlaWIU-YXZfMYHRMqJF-tKHDkw-Na3KFaV9aQf2lRGojOFvdaEPa6_i1D8/s320/20231001_123117.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Journals, notebooks....can't have too many!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzqEIlV9V-x3RyzZHuGFW74r5ThF5sFxLTU5xospM6HtEkEijFsE0fRX19ldplW7PvbDZEH4ey9adIe6mEuX8ZIa4SX2P61ndt__NbFf-YI_sltoFTwp2OyMm3_flYMkp6oF_Kx34W_I9u64v3zXeDy1vlWuOXTZM9Xb6l5g46hLfi4oDEidQ-GK9TXM/s4000/20231001_123045.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzqEIlV9V-x3RyzZHuGFW74r5ThF5sFxLTU5xospM6HtEkEijFsE0fRX19ldplW7PvbDZEH4ey9adIe6mEuX8ZIa4SX2P61ndt__NbFf-YI_sltoFTwp2OyMm3_flYMkp6oF_Kx34W_I9u64v3zXeDy1vlWuOXTZM9Xb6l5g46hLfi4oDEidQ-GK9TXM/s320/20231001_123045.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This desk where I sit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv1NiT0yRYDa_RHDwg0Ov9pnLm3S69F9HCEOkTpnAtDosGHfb_1JVUgd0EEXoGo6uSKbTAMx8dk9K05IlSs2FvrxXrk4gyG0KjwgV1sFRKjGYJqUoapI5dum88wXvPxDhxyj3CfRlwVUGLwzIKEZdZp8ArQqVUAvhF8OHW9dvRP3S7S3jpkcBMnVnPF4/s4000/20231001_123053.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv1NiT0yRYDa_RHDwg0Ov9pnLm3S69F9HCEOkTpnAtDosGHfb_1JVUgd0EEXoGo6uSKbTAMx8dk9K05IlSs2FvrxXrk4gyG0KjwgV1sFRKjGYJqUoapI5dum88wXvPxDhxyj3CfRlwVUGLwzIKEZdZp8ArQqVUAvhF8OHW9dvRP3S7S3jpkcBMnVnPF4/s320/20231001_123053.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Letters and notecards written to me. <br />Blank paper waiting to be filled.</td></tr></tbody></table>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-30635560816890258212023-09-21T05:41:00.000-06:002023-09-21T05:41:10.320-06:00From this life to the next<p><b>Written in May, 2023:</b></p><p>I've flown to Las Vegas 3 times in the last 2 months, all to sit by the bedside of my 92 year old Aunt Sue as she moves closer to death. The 1st time was a last-minute flight after a fall and a broken hip, when death seemed imminent. When I said goodbye, I cried and she cried and we thought it was our last time together.</p><p>The next 2 times, death was still imminent, but I've grown to love this time with her. I enter into a bubble, in the assisted living home. It's a place where everyone who lives there has lived their lives: worked in their careers, raised their children, gone through the hustle and bustle and worry and stress of life. They're now just, well, waiting, for the next chapter. If they're strong enough, they wheel, or slowly walk, and see their neighbors, or go outside to sit and listen to the birds, or sit for a meal in the dining room. If they're not, it's a bed and sleep and some tv or some music or just lost in decades of memories of life. If it's the worst, there are no memories.</p><p>I met 91 year old Norma, who is a Cherokee Indian, from Oklahoma. She told me when she was young she went to the Pow Wow in Albuquerque, in full regalia. Now, she doesn't see too well, and her daughter visits her when she's not traveling for work.</p><p>I met a man who worked in accounting in Boston. Our visit was brief and I didn't get his name.</p><p>I met Ken, who lived across the hall from Aunt Sue, and would check on her as he went down to the dining room for dinner.</p><p>And my Aunt Sue, who was an elementary school librarian and a lifelong athlete. Because of her, I love to read, and have a mean tennis backhand and swim like a fish. Because of her, I love to travel and see new places. Because of her, I am lost in a good book.</p><p>She had a hard time, the last decade, as her body started to give out. She rarely rested in her life. Walk, swim, golf, tennis. Becoming elderly and full of pain and her body weakening made her afraid, and thus, angry. It was a hard time for all of us 4 niece and nephews, who were her family. Hard to love her sometimes.</p><p>And then, the fall. The broken hip. The acceptance. This is the last chapter. She's ready to go. There's no fight left. And what remains is just peace. And gratitude. And lots of sleep. And an occasional smile or chuckle. (especially when I took my diary from when I was 9 years old and read it out loud to her)</p><p>I take knitting. I've made 3 washcloths. Given 2 to her, just because they're bright and a small square to hold, a pop of color. A quilt may be brought next. Something small in size and bright in color.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1yKFmlToME29lshRG4nFVwwSpcGWrCuAww_iYEIGrzHFxoDW3Z5YWMq5IavRC107CvO7vmMj385A8Uk4GMdKkUNbkM6KlD3sCCDw_mS_D3TmF9m7at0kK4U_TsUmwU4hO3Sb-_DFCiiikj9QaxCuyiMWwOu091FKOZj6E3_Fd_2SX5Wczf36o7JM/s1362/washcloth%20in%20hospital.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="1090" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1yKFmlToME29lshRG4nFVwwSpcGWrCuAww_iYEIGrzHFxoDW3Z5YWMq5IavRC107CvO7vmMj385A8Uk4GMdKkUNbkM6KlD3sCCDw_mS_D3TmF9m7at0kK4U_TsUmwU4hO3Sb-_DFCiiikj9QaxCuyiMWwOu091FKOZj6E3_Fd_2SX5Wczf36o7JM/w230-h287/washcloth%20in%20hospital.PNG" width="230" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0R4BDiF4e2Uavp6AT4ixo5xmafPfiLBjYn8erY1mWN3L9RMhpoOkc0IryIvl9Z8Bh4sePvR-Yyf50hwN7qIuknS22fKoL01hz7kgQt7m-1Pd9h8nRFfzKniBy4zlivNpW0sJ5JQaQM9uL6tZ0FALx2XlnZki8VxKl0tOW_H2fLvs3FIPpHd4ixAG/s1403/knitting%20in%20hospital.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1080" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0R4BDiF4e2Uavp6AT4ixo5xmafPfiLBjYn8erY1mWN3L9RMhpoOkc0IryIvl9Z8Bh4sePvR-Yyf50hwN7qIuknS22fKoL01hz7kgQt7m-1Pd9h8nRFfzKniBy4zlivNpW0sJ5JQaQM9uL6tZ0FALx2XlnZki8VxKl0tOW_H2fLvs3FIPpHd4ixAG/w217-h282/knitting%20in%20hospital.PNG" width="217" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am her namesake. One of the stories she told me frequently over the phone in the last few years was that she was the 1st to hold me when I was born. She helped my mom, her sister, raise us 4 kids. (I joke that I'm her favorite, but secretly I want that to be true)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She is between 2 worlds now. She sometimes knows I'm there and sometimes thinks I'm my mom. She asks me where someone is, and I remind her they've passed away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that's alright. I have the honor of spending time with her while she prepares for the next world, in peace, with memories, with love. She is dearly loved. It's important that she knows that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Update/July 2023</b>: She passed away June 8, 2023. My brother was by her side. I asked him if I could FaceTime when he said it was near. I cried and told her I loved her and my last words to her were "I'm your namesake.....I'm your namesake." She passed from this world 20 minutes later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made a bag to hold the box that holds her remains. We will gather in September in Alabama, where she retired and lived for 30 years. In the deep South, she was known as "Miss Sue". My siblings and I will spend a weekend together with her remains - celebrate her at a mass, visit the bay, eat at her favorite places and be together there one last time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bag is made from fabrics that reflect her time on earth: playing tennis, golf, books, travel. It started with the dimensions my brother sent me of the box containing her remains:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDZ4L2Va135ckoaVz3Om5EMFxPLnhi-gvUcjx2q1EpdayXRLrlc11dqmZuVlLMNhPIOkLsWfflpJBLRFqdaNpWVnIW-DkdUj6CYoXEj95NkkP3N0qwubBOPelw7Bkl995Da_Yl_C0YfkGkee3sdeNCQOiEuQ5ie_lyYWut60Evn__jMGCxvOxetOIs7Q/s1213/dimensions%20of%20box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="949" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDZ4L2Va135ckoaVz3Om5EMFxPLnhi-gvUcjx2q1EpdayXRLrlc11dqmZuVlLMNhPIOkLsWfflpJBLRFqdaNpWVnIW-DkdUj6CYoXEj95NkkP3N0qwubBOPelw7Bkl995Da_Yl_C0YfkGkee3sdeNCQOiEuQ5ie_lyYWut60Evn__jMGCxvOxetOIs7Q/s320/dimensions%20of%20box.JPG" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1rxckIjxmPa9I85bPxn8fNiDn7MVH6Iv7h_xD8cEaMHl2bWPQ4MN6VdUvqO7XD7U2bF2X8IlKUcSLA63M-K23ioYT5LdVRevo_C_92h0swna6Yi0t8yH8WOEXBLg1jwDSDcWfwVzhft-NeySatT4-32cGmLpDWlDUEKN0Z14kmuC2_OqpGmyQpFinO4/s1403/bag%20in%20progress.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1rxckIjxmPa9I85bPxn8fNiDn7MVH6Iv7h_xD8cEaMHl2bWPQ4MN6VdUvqO7XD7U2bF2X8IlKUcSLA63M-K23ioYT5LdVRevo_C_92h0swna6Yi0t8yH8WOEXBLg1jwDSDcWfwVzhft-NeySatT4-32cGmLpDWlDUEKN0Z14kmuC2_OqpGmyQpFinO4/s320/bag%20in%20progress.JPG" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I choose some of Reut's hand echo printed fabric for the lining:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-BKcBow_EGDE00dE_Q0wXy3lQtkxt7QRueV7uTUg6tewh9bjRImyU6L6zw6mK7RGBd9TjPstZ2kJQNbRWVThCgoS08_eRUJ0LTUG_NY_GnXt5E60FiM7rGAPe-jpVrON1fRDPPe9RNxmL7SCcWw53CAaeatT79XMtEC2RPZQmazKVQOd196Lh1PU68U/s1440/bag%20and%20lining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1440" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-BKcBow_EGDE00dE_Q0wXy3lQtkxt7QRueV7uTUg6tewh9bjRImyU6L6zw6mK7RGBd9TjPstZ2kJQNbRWVThCgoS08_eRUJ0LTUG_NY_GnXt5E60FiM7rGAPe-jpVrON1fRDPPe9RNxmL7SCcWw53CAaeatT79XMtEC2RPZQmazKVQOd196Lh1PU68U/s320/bag%20and%20lining.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Update/September 2023:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then we 4 all met in Alabama for one last time with Aunt Sue:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOimD5NAVW6KdAy3vwBUsQl8GpQJdsOecFn70pSl2Vipv89dV5DxQ1vpECyAk3MOE6ZpNE06lsp9i-DAZ5ny3tJUmn3APq3c_x5IIo91UamM2UBnPk-2OQWO9aMTFnXth3bXFFQg5-aAa6R7RUX9ODRG2UVfw8u3g2ZPgJqhQSOOkHHSZH8PC82v_LshE/s1296/sue%20at%20library.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOimD5NAVW6KdAy3vwBUsQl8GpQJdsOecFn70pSl2Vipv89dV5DxQ1vpECyAk3MOE6ZpNE06lsp9i-DAZ5ny3tJUmn3APq3c_x5IIo91UamM2UBnPk-2OQWO9aMTFnXth3bXFFQg5-aAa6R7RUX9ODRG2UVfw8u3g2ZPgJqhQSOOkHHSZH8PC82v_LshE/s320/sue%20at%20library.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the Fairhope Library</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYfRO1OaNExFkv9AWAf8xxtSb1OmQHxmmsQvF218dKyvLPRsf7cd_TNVKqbzTBAtXck_ojERPgIdo3qCWJZJ6i2wGfdHwAVbLpeNGEgaEWslBSK-eUHy64m1xdTwDItq9A8mvI2KZx3tDGA5sStBogS-ByYNtm2_k53SC8g6rUK4he_F66ZacH-LEpok/s1334/Sue%20in%20rocking%20chair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="1082" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYfRO1OaNExFkv9AWAf8xxtSb1OmQHxmmsQvF218dKyvLPRsf7cd_TNVKqbzTBAtXck_ojERPgIdo3qCWJZJ6i2wGfdHwAVbLpeNGEgaEWslBSK-eUHy64m1xdTwDItq9A8mvI2KZx3tDGA5sStBogS-ByYNtm2_k53SC8g6rUK4he_F66ZacH-LEpok/s320/Sue%20in%20rocking%20chair.JPG" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In a rocking chair in her last assisted living home in Fairhope. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(There were 2 ladies rocking in the other chairs. One said to me "I knew Miss Sue")</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BhntkpvmZ6i5suz6dj6d0plreCoscpsm8Oebl6BIZgNzMpHHFz20_5ssn2NgsuwU8KE-P5RJyf2fJwLKpHTqZwgKwWh49TpPFxk7-98luSg6DpFL5qFLPOpEvcS8TuDFHnrls6iXiDE7VjMGK1AUPjNAUN5-R34NolbUZnkAqOBxwNMc3ZG6LjbZ3V4/s1072/sue%20with%20Bucky.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1072" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BhntkpvmZ6i5suz6dj6d0plreCoscpsm8Oebl6BIZgNzMpHHFz20_5ssn2NgsuwU8KE-P5RJyf2fJwLKpHTqZwgKwWh49TpPFxk7-98luSg6DpFL5qFLPOpEvcS8TuDFHnrls6iXiDE7VjMGK1AUPjNAUN5-R34NolbUZnkAqOBxwNMc3ZG6LjbZ3V4/s320/sue%20with%20Bucky.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With Bucky, the renowned bartender at the Mobile Bay Grand Hotel, where she worked</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJh3KIv6DCX62XNzUXfkkCKHAfhhD387WBTQtZhxL19kiutOLgT5BRCa76ToCE10Wa9l6INwtTH5VY1s43B5FhpPn9w6--U2Wvm_CZ0f7bYqSSwiXpidz8mOs7sxS0KtnwR5D57fLPJiC7IbHOd5w5EhFJiw-QkTKgSKieLvhE2IqVCgaKEft87w9Yqk/s956/all%20of%20us%20with%20Sue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="956" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJh3KIv6DCX62XNzUXfkkCKHAfhhD387WBTQtZhxL19kiutOLgT5BRCa76ToCE10Wa9l6INwtTH5VY1s43B5FhpPn9w6--U2Wvm_CZ0f7bYqSSwiXpidz8mOs7sxS0KtnwR5D57fLPJiC7IbHOd5w5EhFJiw-QkTKgSKieLvhE2IqVCgaKEft87w9Yqk/s320/all%20of%20us%20with%20Sue.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the Sunset Grill in Fairhope, where she was with us all at the center of the table and we bought her a beer and toasted her and shared memories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then we packed her in my brother's suitcase, where he took her to Pittsburgh and laid her to rest with her parents at the cemetery where they're buried. <span style="text-align: left;">I'll visit that place one day. And I have the bag, stitched with fabric and thread and lots of love, and a memory of our final goodbye to our dear Aunt Sue.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXpwJ6Z6iNymfB7S_QTLjFNNrALuKhpuMqM-hBRrzK5iHZ96KKpbSmxNFv69uma_74D_5cvP9oidrhskUURzFf7yaXZqW2KaTYEHEUfR5pfVSCv7UzWP585xD_UcAhMbD7xjEjBk4YvW2KxDHZ2yQfk5t29hQPy4uG2GpVOERWoEHO7NYIePEzH_PsXU/s1357/transfer%20into%20suitcase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="1081" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXpwJ6Z6iNymfB7S_QTLjFNNrALuKhpuMqM-hBRrzK5iHZ96KKpbSmxNFv69uma_74D_5cvP9oidrhskUURzFf7yaXZqW2KaTYEHEUfR5pfVSCv7UzWP585xD_UcAhMbD7xjEjBk4YvW2KxDHZ2yQfk5t29hQPy4uG2GpVOERWoEHO7NYIePEzH_PsXU/s320/transfer%20into%20suitcase.JPG" width="255" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaGrTE0QP8QKZF3f4yg5NOaGbCYHi2UdmnmG5G0mNrPKPMrffzYEqUkmNID20EQVoegiAaSRLSJ6WNjJgGqvQzzOnkYDCCsFfzhGtPishgs2LcYb8DWs0uVn1P5J6o_94zQGf-kTmr4qdBcRF-pHudXFuaKhXD5Tx7mLN7EsUmqShqCFKqQYRuG3gnC4/s1370/timmy%20and%20me%20with%20bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1069" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaGrTE0QP8QKZF3f4yg5NOaGbCYHi2UdmnmG5G0mNrPKPMrffzYEqUkmNID20EQVoegiAaSRLSJ6WNjJgGqvQzzOnkYDCCsFfzhGtPishgs2LcYb8DWs0uVn1P5J6o_94zQGf-kTmr4qdBcRF-pHudXFuaKhXD5Tx7mLN7EsUmqShqCFKqQYRuG3gnC4/s320/timmy%20and%20me%20with%20bag.JPG" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And we 4 scrappy Kauffman kids will always be thankful for her presence in our lives:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrHknW_J7FXtL6RBRmcVEpg9Y22DLL5pWCWda5YGolv3IILQCy-Q1dKMAwUTDgwjTpYst7PaRecEVfamVESsyYCZHJLfi0tdBTkXVFVYZwfowzcxvVm3jXJ9ZobOY0wJfRUYC96QVwFsQlYm3BbZogcgPATrH9-GdYucyVbgxk8ke9pIB2pubI8EC9kw/s2010/4%20of%20us%20with%20Aunt%20Sue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1417" data-original-width="2010" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrHknW_J7FXtL6RBRmcVEpg9Y22DLL5pWCWda5YGolv3IILQCy-Q1dKMAwUTDgwjTpYst7PaRecEVfamVESsyYCZHJLfi0tdBTkXVFVYZwfowzcxvVm3jXJ9ZobOY0wJfRUYC96QVwFsQlYm3BbZogcgPATrH9-GdYucyVbgxk8ke9pIB2pubI8EC9kw/w406-h287/4%20of%20us%20with%20Aunt%20Sue.JPG" width="406" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-30595362753618775402023-07-02T20:14:00.001-06:002023-07-02T20:50:13.452-06:00Binah Waite Williams - The Fabric Journey<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Why her? Why her work/this artist? I’ve known Binah for about 8 years - seeing her at a mutual friend’s gatherings. I was both drawn in and intimidated by her. Drawn in to her rich storytelling voice - it lulls and hooks me. Beyond the voice, though, are the stories. Many stories. What I admire most about her is her curiosity about anything and everything. She just dives in to learn more about something that intrigues her.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-95709be9-7fff-082a-b4d4-b4838b8a4a51"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Intimidated? A bit - her wisdom, her wealth of knowledge. Her knowledge about Black history. Intimidated as a white woman - will she look down on me? (no) Will she think less of me? (no)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I haven’t lived her life, nor she mine, but what I respect about her is that there are no pre judgments. No pretentiousness. She is a gifted, inquisitive artist and her art flows from the world around her, both present and past. Goddesses, rivers, slavery, West Africa, Black history in New Mexico.. - the stories of the history pour out of her through her art and her voice (literally, that voice. It will draw you in). I was compelled to bring those stories, that art, to Hip Stitch, so you, too, can know Binah, and hear her voice.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We began our journey from art to fabric at a Mother’s Day brunch hosted by our mutual friend Dagmar, in 2022. A conversation, followed by a text or phone call every few weeks. I visited her at the home she shares with her husband Gordon, in early November 2022 to see her artwork in person and narrow down what pieces we’d put onto fabric. On that chilly day, she made me hot chocolate and told me stories, and I took copious notes and took a few photographs but knew then I wouldn’t be able to re-tell in any way what she had in her to share. Stories of Black history, stories of her life growing up in New York.. Those are her stories to tell, so I won’t try to retell them here. Though here are a few highlights of her words to me:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPC4AJVwTL3_Ayy4uCSY9sExqMAuVdUaEe1kLcF-niA7BpeHRNqLPryy3TvI3HBCytjimB8U5AdHkV7ZO55hcKO1Td-z2tU2yAXIGwzrH3LlI_Fv5VH6bDVXeiaNHAUhh5QuFzD5UGdEAOHJf7IhS_-bB3I6lkFKXj49PEor359agOMbGV--5_lQJ_ew/s1409/binah%20talking.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="1013" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPC4AJVwTL3_Ayy4uCSY9sExqMAuVdUaEe1kLcF-niA7BpeHRNqLPryy3TvI3HBCytjimB8U5AdHkV7ZO55hcKO1Td-z2tU2yAXIGwzrH3LlI_Fv5VH6bDVXeiaNHAUhh5QuFzD5UGdEAOHJf7IhS_-bB3I6lkFKXj49PEor359agOMbGV--5_lQJ_ew/s320/binah%20talking.JPG" width="230" /></a></div><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Cloth is sacred, the symbols, the making of it. It conveys a message.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“We are in a time of great light”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Are you connected to your world?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The process is more important than the outcome.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">People don’t think of the process in this culture.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pieces of art, hers and Gordon’s individually and together. Here is “Coyote Medicine” that they made together during the pandemic:</span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49-3Lr1veE4e8JFq5oUQ5pEstgBUjB42Q8zBXPKGiXYIOhxBp_gvpNlKS0mh6V0sgW8iC4E5EQ18W5YTjrrB5eLaA4H_zDnUZw0zb8utl8u72I2kkIIdXfw0dvEwGzTwnY2kY7QLpoCjmjX10LcUX8UnQravpR-IVAWooLsBQVmzw9JtzP3pMX0jiF6g/s1419/coyote%20medicine.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49-3Lr1veE4e8JFq5oUQ5pEstgBUjB42Q8zBXPKGiXYIOhxBp_gvpNlKS0mh6V0sgW8iC4E5EQ18W5YTjrrB5eLaA4H_zDnUZw0zb8utl8u72I2kkIIdXfw0dvEwGzTwnY2kY7QLpoCjmjX10LcUX8UnQravpR-IVAWooLsBQVmzw9JtzP3pMX0jiF6g/s320/coyote%20medicine.JPG" width="203" /></a></div><span><br /></span></div><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And Gordon? He, an artist himself. Next time you’re in our store, admire the shelves running along the length of the store that hold our color way - yep, he made them. Here he is working on a pair of shoes they created together:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kDtA-k9TkaIRGSjpWtHFMPmn0vTRoE7zTWu-eQ8tfEnUXF8PFzQFibgp65HpPkvgvTVrwAUzImZQhYuzldMcEIow2M3wdRpsG76vG3cizHXyl4NgAw3tJ9V8W_s6PQoo2U-egAXYc6p0Z8OLcsnGJEoxuCy7ysaUL_g5HM0c92LZYegOz9qzzlb4-ss/s1404/gordon%20making%20shoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="1086" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kDtA-k9TkaIRGSjpWtHFMPmn0vTRoE7zTWu-eQ8tfEnUXF8PFzQFibgp65HpPkvgvTVrwAUzImZQhYuzldMcEIow2M3wdRpsG76vG3cizHXyl4NgAw3tJ9V8W_s6PQoo2U-egAXYc6p0Z8OLcsnGJEoxuCy7ysaUL_g5HM0c92LZYegOz9qzzlb4-ss/s320/gordon%20making%20shoes.JPG" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We parted ways that day, hoping maybe the fabric could be ready to go by the new year. Not yet. Maybe February? Not yet. Strike-offs, color adjustments, communication with the printing company, resizing images - on and on. And here we are, ready to go. And I think Binah would agree with me that the journey til now has been worth the wait.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9iqSlicVFJVuA44CLyjZU5Tsn5OFGVTyBFLqP8MC6RfSHjqKP2hU0SOnm1o7EElDnLTyWAiOFSoWZrbZwP_ghg7-EalkyHQljEsDYeLztRcVM6bMgmp6qMIPc6fFc9H9_jRF64UQ2NsMAzb-LHkKWjlD1cAK6Tze-kcqVOcBZ71h5tqF9mWbosusNuA/s1400/outside%20on%20bench.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="1400" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9iqSlicVFJVuA44CLyjZU5Tsn5OFGVTyBFLqP8MC6RfSHjqKP2hU0SOnm1o7EElDnLTyWAiOFSoWZrbZwP_ghg7-EalkyHQljEsDYeLztRcVM6bMgmp6qMIPc6fFc9H9_jRF64UQ2NsMAzb-LHkKWjlD1cAK6Tze-kcqVOcBZ71h5tqF9mWbosusNuA/s320/outside%20on%20bench.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span><br />Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-78663631323321497272023-04-16T17:10:00.000-06:002023-04-16T17:10:22.208-06:00The F bomb and other thoughts.<p><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Written this past winter:</span></i></b></p><p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Upon slicing my finger with a rotary cutter, JUST as I was embarking on some sewing time as my creativity was calling, a few expletives came out of my mouth: Fuck. FUCK. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">(The f-word, in my opinion, is one to be used somewhat sparingly, to make it stick. Not, as many use it today, in every other sentence. It’s a strong, forceful word. Used when it’s used, it conveys its strength. Anger. Hurt. Rage. Frustration. Or, as customer Julie said “I swear like a well-educated sailor")</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-124eb7f1-7fff-fd4e-32a1-d65d6c869c5d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyhow, my creativity retreated and the next 30 minutes were spent rinsing, applying pressure, taking the pressure off and realizing more pressure was needed, then finally, wrapping and bandaging and settling in for some much needed sleep.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI0BR5sL-L5c2ekY8HB05DI1SLkb7nSeqeNfkcsI458iCpTdnfHT59aOY0bzUy_rZIoEkYhm4tHEId8O5uqEIYD7aNDN2j8bf8xG5EZl_GRUyuL1OYmaCESWuCKSiD-AF6xmZT2NQhF2f8_BQXFz-55lH51FKOz97Jpy2KbA70O9Ai2fdK-Y-sZyT/s1390/me%20with%20bandaged%20finger.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="1037" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI0BR5sL-L5c2ekY8HB05DI1SLkb7nSeqeNfkcsI458iCpTdnfHT59aOY0bzUy_rZIoEkYhm4tHEId8O5uqEIYD7aNDN2j8bf8xG5EZl_GRUyuL1OYmaCESWuCKSiD-AF6xmZT2NQhF2f8_BQXFz-55lH51FKOz97Jpy2KbA70O9Ai2fdK-Y-sZyT/w216-h290/me%20with%20bandaged%20finger.PNG" width="216" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I sought urgent care the next day, as our sewing technician Jeremy recommended after changing my bandage and seeing it. After an hour and a ½ and 3 tries at places, I gave up and said the word again: Fuck it. (And contemplated asking my niece, who’s a vet tech and has given many animals stitches, to do the job on me.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, with the help of my husband that night, liquid bandage was applied by him as I sat on the edge of the tub taking deep breaths so as not to faint as I held the cut together while he glued. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Why am I sharing the following gruesome picture? Because LOOK at the afghan behind my hand and then LOOK at the same afghan about 40 years ago behind me Christmas morning as I excitedly open my new record player! My grandma crocheted it and it still is like new - that's how our quilts will be in 40 years, right?!)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiM5cRWvcEGAB8X9mE_tb_VNm34nhc8750vpRlXvKEKSuRQEalFgUaS_-FyQgBsLaHbT7QQoNbgssejX8s2wHpDSYY3io9TTs7ltLzvsmuEuLdSQePoi7LxophGS_yX4Sf64V4VaIF-9r7JSrUAE9aXa8U5nsBgzIhScA7aEH50xzLEwv229Yj6B6/s1442/my%20cut%20finger.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="1095" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiM5cRWvcEGAB8X9mE_tb_VNm34nhc8750vpRlXvKEKSuRQEalFgUaS_-FyQgBsLaHbT7QQoNbgssejX8s2wHpDSYY3io9TTs7ltLzvsmuEuLdSQePoi7LxophGS_yX4Sf64V4VaIF-9r7JSrUAE9aXa8U5nsBgzIhScA7aEH50xzLEwv229Yj6B6/s320/my%20cut%20finger.PNG" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQlEynZNA5GiWk0S5Lk6z9Mj8NmARzzcReObn45KFAq75t7eig5PyakJbfz0iPM4L8DaHTGyoIGxWZ8ZFY8Z08VCX91arsGebIBxQtYLPWft__90ekSrNhNm4LuQ6F0Fvckb8DSoLvwTBy83uBuwAz8IPGPzGuh-IqYcOwccH4Q2-E0cYbTw2b8mP/s1380/suzanne%20with%20record%20player.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="1380" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQlEynZNA5GiWk0S5Lk6z9Mj8NmARzzcReObn45KFAq75t7eig5PyakJbfz0iPM4L8DaHTGyoIGxWZ8ZFY8Z08VCX91arsGebIBxQtYLPWft__90ekSrNhNm4LuQ6F0Fvckb8DSoLvwTBy83uBuwAz8IPGPzGuh-IqYcOwccH4Q2-E0cYbTw2b8mP/s320/suzanne%20with%20record%20player.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All is well now - the cut is on the mend, antibiotic ointment and washing and bandaging continues.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While at work 2 days later, though, I’m grimacing with occasional pain from the cut, my limited use of that finger, my arthritis in the base of my thumb, and then a damn PAPER CUT while putting a customer’s fabric in her bag (damn bag). Winter is taking its toll on me.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I realized this happens to me every year at this time. My skin is dry and I slather on cream all day and it doesn’t seem to help, my hand aches, I’m pushing through many days until I can snuggle up under layers of blankets and one homemade quilt and sleep. November and December, and most of January, are fine. I love getting out my hand-knit sweaters and wearing them, sitting by the fire and reading under a warm blanket, drinking hot tea and hot cocoa. But by February, the cold has seeped into me. My joints, my skin, my emotional endurance.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m grateful for creativity. It gets me through. Whether I pick up knitting needles, hand embroidery, or my rotary cutter, I’m soothed by the work of creating. And then, in one moment, probably feeling rushed to create, I’m out of commission for a few days.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, the bandage came off, the liquid adhesive is doing its job, and I pick up a sewing needle and work on birds - <a href="https://www.hipstitchabq.com/shop/c/p/Sweet-Little-Bird-Kit-x48445092.htm">Sweet Little Birds.</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODsRYr129k872xVcDjLmc8SaIb9p19ulDaCp8FZFSrFnDcp0ygHZufmCEH6552UzULVhGsgJKbsj_o16ZUffsgGLyie9WQ1uuzMFRnYdLVgcEhEX_PYXyp77VG2XF_UCpTcfPx30yGqqvCbsrTUNZDRJoVdCXF7YRXrmyuRGMW_9ZGMQatsDVkD6R/s1422/finger%20healing.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="1099" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODsRYr129k872xVcDjLmc8SaIb9p19ulDaCp8FZFSrFnDcp0ygHZufmCEH6552UzULVhGsgJKbsj_o16ZUffsgGLyie9WQ1uuzMFRnYdLVgcEhEX_PYXyp77VG2XF_UCpTcfPx30yGqqvCbsrTUNZDRJoVdCXF7YRXrmyuRGMW_9ZGMQatsDVkD6R/s320/finger%20healing.PNG" width="247" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, folks, slow down in your sewing - be patient, use your rotary cutter slowly and deliberately. Wounds heal, but they can knock you off your creative streak for a bit.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And use the F-bomb sparingly, so when it's delivered, it packs a punch.</span></div></span>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-68061017692363016492023-03-09T13:07:00.003-07:002023-03-09T13:09:07.255-07:00Survey says....!<p> Just like Richard Dawson, (for us older folks), or Steve Harvey (for you younger folks), we've surveyed our customers and it's time to share the answers!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Cd3H_uaohnRX2mGivi1oGD648OdD31n8cK1tttiF2WHwnf_Owj7qFO9KB47HY-_nlOSaSa4YBtbG3aiD_cQ-lg-8EGqlTX4uNuiqLyDqjC7zoclWnI8UJyjdOXmW_gloLJ7WKOYHyb7SeF4HzpmxulIN3YQFBZodfhnedc128TECIfPG2JYqiuug/s781/richard%20dawson.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="781" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Cd3H_uaohnRX2mGivi1oGD648OdD31n8cK1tttiF2WHwnf_Owj7qFO9KB47HY-_nlOSaSa4YBtbG3aiD_cQ-lg-8EGqlTX4uNuiqLyDqjC7zoclWnI8UJyjdOXmW_gloLJ7WKOYHyb7SeF4HzpmxulIN3YQFBZodfhnedc128TECIfPG2JYqiuug/s320/richard%20dawson.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>What skills do you hope to develop this year?</b> The top 5 answers were:</p><p>Paper Piecing</p><p>Time Management</p><p>Garment Sewing</p><p>Free-motion quilting</p><p>Applique</p><p>With runner ups being: color theory, curves, machine embroidery, binding & art quilting</p><p>We're happy to see this and know we either already have classes in place to meet your needs or are working on helping you develop some new skills! (time management is something we ALL are in the same boat together)</p><p><b>What would compel you to recommend a store to a friend?</b></p><p>The overwhelming response was "customer service", with runner ups being variety of fabric, fast shipping, good lighting, and help with your project from staff.</p><p><b>Why do you shop at Hip Stitch vs. other stores?</b></p><p>Our 'vibe' was a common answer. You love the modern/unique fabric. Great selection of grunge. Friendly, approachable staff. Now THAT we do have!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixW9voIurMlPxr5sfKzC0unmMkvF5sXh_tutVegJdojhp7vbRKI5mYZMFXtG1AC1cCGgHqcrQnIKuVFlJ3D3DCiJLqdoQM8xGqV5ipfCi5Yrp1tsRVmIeSZu1JkS8pgLDlGPGmpaEs1drRd-b-BZMS-fS9344v9AxAOzG5NRxycBVO5AiFY34YddIw/s4680/Class%20Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="4680" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixW9voIurMlPxr5sfKzC0unmMkvF5sXh_tutVegJdojhp7vbRKI5mYZMFXtG1AC1cCGgHqcrQnIKuVFlJ3D3DCiJLqdoQM8xGqV5ipfCi5Yrp1tsRVmIeSZu1JkS8pgLDlGPGmpaEs1drRd-b-BZMS-fS9344v9AxAOzG5NRxycBVO5AiFY34YddIw/w489-h286/Class%20Photo.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(and the absent student on the day of class pictures: Ellen:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiZhSG5e-ZX-AIIDgtKkm1zx-sV2Q_M_LFQ_9Jr43TTutn6-ZjmbxhwOoGUJ8MwBKopajYKVZLFfiOSZSx_Yw4q5_MXJdnPTvA0IafVusEY9nYFBm6BgRy-BSK9RNoizo1_9ircK467MeWRHRf8GIRajjW_xp9RoDoAkFgu21YRhCjqgYANilhBPD/s1694/ellen%20pic.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="1694" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiZhSG5e-ZX-AIIDgtKkm1zx-sV2Q_M_LFQ_9Jr43TTutn6-ZjmbxhwOoGUJ8MwBKopajYKVZLFfiOSZSx_Yw4q5_MXJdnPTvA0IafVusEY9nYFBm6BgRy-BSK9RNoizo1_9ircK467MeWRHRf8GIRajjW_xp9RoDoAkFgu21YRhCjqgYANilhBPD/w211-h181/ellen%20pic.PNG" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly, thanks so very much for taking time out of your busy lives to respond. It's important to all of here that this is YOUR store. All of our staff see their time here as a service to you - that's what makes your/our store special.</div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-11402664887746920282023-02-22T08:29:00.001-07:002023-02-22T08:30:26.138-07:00Healing after death - healing from creativity<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Today is the 9 year mark since my friend Ellen died, much too young. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">She was a beautiful human being, both inside and out.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">I became friends with her through Hip Stitch - I taught her sewing and she taught me </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">to be a better person.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">She left 3 small children, who are now teenagers & preteens, and I think about them, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">and Walt, her husband. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a0fe8538-7fff-bb55-649f-7d01bf5cd2ab"></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-JYltorAzoVrFLZHJPXwzGz450Q2nd_0Dc0Re4kfpYJv4LbGIFgDbb3UIY8R26eEcmoCzb4r1YxNz5vuNksc3iNyrmvCh4cL5IYrWN1cLnUl964aGDCuwhPwHWGRHseJAWuDDOSRJq6scwlMWrBLTerv3eb9U9ASDXeK5CNO5fLYw3b3LJlw7gt_/s400/kjphotoportraitlogo%20Ellen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="286" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-JYltorAzoVrFLZHJPXwzGz450Q2nd_0Dc0Re4kfpYJv4LbGIFgDbb3UIY8R26eEcmoCzb4r1YxNz5vuNksc3iNyrmvCh4cL5IYrWN1cLnUl964aGDCuwhPwHWGRHseJAWuDDOSRJq6scwlMWrBLTerv3eb9U9ASDXeK5CNO5fLYw3b3LJlw7gt_/s320/kjphotoportraitlogo%20Ellen.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few months after she passed, Walt came by Hip Stitch and gave me many of Ellen's fabrics. I held onto them dearly as a memory of my friend. Lisa, a friend who worked at the store, made me this quilt some time later from those scraps:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WDGm3X0rBzrk5kS0gpEnDnnve-HNH0Gfy5dQyz4CHdZe375AoHajLwRFvgqYJ35SuVJCqhVX5DkNpsCCgh-WTVq_Zr_yumlmOiXqTQ0UHefSDiGpgQ1_HqRhjpHDY_qpL9uVIJLf9XA6Q1B30WhVKzsAnYQ6nIhVy6m3-SPpc2Y9qCyqFcx24D1l/s1452/ellens%20quilt.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1119" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WDGm3X0rBzrk5kS0gpEnDnnve-HNH0Gfy5dQyz4CHdZe375AoHajLwRFvgqYJ35SuVJCqhVX5DkNpsCCgh-WTVq_Zr_yumlmOiXqTQ0UHefSDiGpgQ1_HqRhjpHDY_qpL9uVIJLf9XA6Q1B30WhVKzsAnYQ6nIhVy6m3-SPpc2Y9qCyqFcx24D1l/w318-h412/ellens%20quilt.PNG" width="318" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I cherish it to this day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's Ellen with Rosanne and Claudia at the 'old' Hip Stitch:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUtWnvPe5iP9Do5lVd1YqYIQrrHYul6myrjoojZIhCozFeluIc3Uy9UjUS0h0EmiNroxIaxsnH6vWthLiF76fWYRfG6uVkAczDWrmu_UhpuA9ptc5Wn2Hnv84xL21_OdRXxP3RgKs2jRuQT3mku2mchk5E0XqaNE2qUlRzv-eVT6u1TFOsKop3bzJ/s1600/Ellen%20in%20rain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1179" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUtWnvPe5iP9Do5lVd1YqYIQrrHYul6myrjoojZIhCozFeluIc3Uy9UjUS0h0EmiNroxIaxsnH6vWthLiF76fWYRfG6uVkAczDWrmu_UhpuA9ptc5Wn2Hnv84xL21_OdRXxP3RgKs2jRuQT3mku2mchk5E0XqaNE2qUlRzv-eVT6u1TFOsKop3bzJ/s320/Ellen%20in%20rain.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I met Helen this week, who came to Hip Stitch for the 1st time with her 1st quilt. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As we talked, I teared up. She worked on the quilt while she was caretaking her father, who was dying. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">She would come to his home and sew the blocks together, and it made him happy. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">She told me he passed away almost 20 years ago, but she couldn’t until recently take out the quilt top </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to finish it </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">without crying and grieving her father. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And then one day she could work on it. And she finished it. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And she felt a bit the joy her father felt about the quilt.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8WeD7zgEQON0MN0KK3rs2JT7GeJHSowABVD0mPTHM5H6kGWs8TQQVc-b74ejw_PmPCuNtXlk4Mld9uoUMXDLT7wF90UdNLRnX0N69ocmQYVyehqHfiRgN7UaL18_9ZEAwy5Ry6Y1gownw5ewEZ16aBoOd_Qnv7SQFPkJPNLFZCsC0PIMacjH1O8S/s4032/helen%20with%20quilt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8WeD7zgEQON0MN0KK3rs2JT7GeJHSowABVD0mPTHM5H6kGWs8TQQVc-b74ejw_PmPCuNtXlk4Mld9uoUMXDLT7wF90UdNLRnX0N69ocmQYVyehqHfiRgN7UaL18_9ZEAwy5Ry6Y1gownw5ewEZ16aBoOd_Qnv7SQFPkJPNLFZCsC0PIMacjH1O8S/w293-h391/helen%20with%20quilt.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b58e8dad-7fff-f0cf-061f-722c1cae79dc"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I teared up because memories of the summer of 2016 came flooding back - when I was my mom’s caretaker as she was dying of ovarian cancer. How I’d travel from home to her apartment to work, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. I had my mom’s train case to carry all my toiletries, and the zipper finally wore out. So that summer, as she slept more and more and I was there just to be in the room with her, I got out her sewing machine and sewed a new train case. And every time I use it, I think of that summer. And the grieving becomes less and less - it never goes away, mind you, but the joy and the good memories become stronger and the tears aren't as frequent.</span></p></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauLMYtml_fsoUjWpUFUwtkHnmejh_7Q1lZiAhF2yeT1oz8qtfm1oYxEkSS3PDNohIUU352nDZqy1MFlL1r3i3ah9RCwSHDxv1B7OLOv-2f1eLeE5rx-pH_eY8lGiw3KVshxEgOZsqMcvIGFB1APfNhQlkg8HS5JCS4ocIqd-xVJrf2SpBeHPFgAva/s1600/train%20case.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1600" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauLMYtml_fsoUjWpUFUwtkHnmejh_7Q1lZiAhF2yeT1oz8qtfm1oYxEkSS3PDNohIUU352nDZqy1MFlL1r3i3ah9RCwSHDxv1B7OLOv-2f1eLeE5rx-pH_eY8lGiw3KVshxEgOZsqMcvIGFB1APfNhQlkg8HS5JCS4ocIqd-xVJrf2SpBeHPFgAva/s320/train%20case.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvovBDW6eNLAlo-0kTgdziwSj5GyrW8BkF_DHUdD7pW8OSThoEO3c7rxrFDIvO8OCEcDd9VR52AXUAh-rq09ZyWa17WKXDfYmysmWWKCJKSofj4bhIrCdRYAb8OkkAwFzW2RJIEtaVrxz2xmVJZXGB6rrB1fmGHm2dSN2HkgdOtQwpamx65B92B2nG/s2048/train%20case%20closed%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvovBDW6eNLAlo-0kTgdziwSj5GyrW8BkF_DHUdD7pW8OSThoEO3c7rxrFDIvO8OCEcDd9VR52AXUAh-rq09ZyWa17WKXDfYmysmWWKCJKSofj4bhIrCdRYAb8OkkAwFzW2RJIEtaVrxz2xmVJZXGB6rrB1fmGHm2dSN2HkgdOtQwpamx65B92B2nG/s320/train%20case%20closed%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Why do we create? <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We create to heal, to make memories, to tell someone we love them, to share our talents and ourselves with others. We create to remember.</span>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-826706720616347162023-01-14T20:46:00.001-07:002023-01-25T19:16:26.344-07:00Reflections on 2022<p> 2022 ended for me with art on doors. My daughter Claire, who creates like there's a fire that can't be extinguished in her soul, painted some of our interior doors. They're just doors - inexpensive, old, inside doors. I figured, if/when the house is sold someday, that's an easy swap out, right?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4GkjUcWQY_kJNPBSSsM4QXMhxqUgZr-NPbwmWDCUGpOg972iwaq8oyCcDTJsKoPClTSKtZL2ZCyiMQsRhJSaITUaTe491tgJ6fEiebC6D0JnC9F2iLDsdWWEdXQR9fnzDVHdOzhe7uVwGCZFoiJzrIM1TpZI7yXVFpRjf0TWRx2Gvinvbrj5YqrL/s1200/door%20collage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4GkjUcWQY_kJNPBSSsM4QXMhxqUgZr-NPbwmWDCUGpOg972iwaq8oyCcDTJsKoPClTSKtZL2ZCyiMQsRhJSaITUaTe491tgJ6fEiebC6D0JnC9F2iLDsdWWEdXQR9fnzDVHdOzhe7uVwGCZFoiJzrIM1TpZI7yXVFpRjf0TWRx2Gvinvbrj5YqrL/s320/door%20collage.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><p>So 2023 begins and new doors open. We at Hip Stitch made the decision to close for a 2nd day each week, for a number of reasons, but time to rest, plan, create were a few of them.</p><p>The last few years have been a roller coaster of running a business. It's time to calm the waters, right the ship, and sail on with calmer weather.</p><p>Part of that goal for me as the co-owner of this business is finding my footing of what IS Hip Stitch. </p><p>*A huge, carry everything fabric store? <i>Definitely not.</i></p><p>*A take a number, ignore you when you come in because we don't have time for you? <i>Nope.</i></p><p>*A club where you'll only get niceties if you know us and we know you? <i>Gad no.</i></p><p>*A place where you'll feel embarrassed to ask questions because you feel you'll be judged? <i>Definite NO.</i></p><p>It's been almost 15 years that I've been at the helm of this ship. I've grown, I've learned, I've been put in my place and humbled and learned humility and laughed until I peed my pants and made lifelong friends and had help for my depression from the community that supports and lifts me up by shopping at Hip Stitch and asking me how I'm doing. I'm a very lucky girl.</p><p>So, at the risk of making those dreaded 'resolutions' that we've all done at one time or another in our lives and then been disappointed in ourselves when we've failed at them:</p><p>In 2023, I plan to teach more. </p><p>In 2023, I plan to listen more. </p><p>In 2023, I plan to work just a bit more on my passion for social justice and how Hip Stitch can be a vehicle for that. </p><p>In 2023, I plan to nurture friendships more. </p><p>The word <i>more</i> doesn't have a timeline to it, or a concrete set of objectives. I'm going to be more gentle with myself, and forgiving, and continue to begin each day by saying out loud, "It's a new day"....which if you ask my daughters, they occasionally get a text from me in the morning with that message.</p><p>(Won't you join me on this journey?)</p><p><b>Some of the highlights from 2022: </b></p><p><i>(also known as a photo dump)</i></p><p>Having 2 local artists jump on board with my co-owner Steve and I and our dream to produce fabrics unique to Hip Stitch while showcasing artists & their work to our customers. Victoria and Tammy took this plunge with us and it was quite fun - we hope to continue with them and having one more artist we're on the verge of having her fabric printed! </p><p>(lesson learned: everything takes 3 times longer than we expect)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEido9L-vSzj6ZmmwKIu3YmCdpSgZVCY6qIm_E1xI2_scnSaCzN3nZeukVmXpcwEjp1zZZIcsHw6n7Zfi2NEMgx41ClEI9i93_eNH7-hKhTdkDoDx-lu0bxBHpSTEEEYWtiXB-PtHzJGllanh0y3elgPF4g-z2r16chosRGEmKi3I5lN6MoXoBETX7D7/s1200/collage%20of%20tammy%20and%20victoria.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEido9L-vSzj6ZmmwKIu3YmCdpSgZVCY6qIm_E1xI2_scnSaCzN3nZeukVmXpcwEjp1zZZIcsHw6n7Zfi2NEMgx41ClEI9i93_eNH7-hKhTdkDoDx-lu0bxBHpSTEEEYWtiXB-PtHzJGllanh0y3elgPF4g-z2r16chosRGEmKi3I5lN6MoXoBETX7D7/w280-h280/collage%20of%20tammy%20and%20victoria.png" width="280" /></a></div><p>A once-in-a-lifetime trip to Mexico on behalf of Hip Stitch w/Reut & Ginny:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTVqrdz_L5TTRN1tXf_d3BSXLqCOnrkl6EE-GYwApcU29l0GkJSGNfNCrMEMJUo32OZRR5sMH3Kmfm8cM9YuV7fLv5tYXTGR1BwE_W6goKPu3yvkHzoZx1NlprBA-uZ1c_D_ky9ECRMthWQyn9eJ9c6iYSNBfEAoXg2bQ34gUGZ7gEDd33LE_9I6h/s1200/collage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTVqrdz_L5TTRN1tXf_d3BSXLqCOnrkl6EE-GYwApcU29l0GkJSGNfNCrMEMJUo32OZRR5sMH3Kmfm8cM9YuV7fLv5tYXTGR1BwE_W6goKPu3yvkHzoZx1NlprBA-uZ1c_D_ky9ECRMthWQyn9eJ9c6iYSNBfEAoXg2bQ34gUGZ7gEDd33LE_9I6h/w416-h416/collage.png" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A once in a lifetime trip to Gees Bend, Alabama:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm52TkzsHaZHGlWRfruEJrNIFdDzakqk_fTG5R2I63VUp4Sr4e45DUsai1myzrX7SjPSdXgpXdoAB0AetrdlvNhzCDmg2tgVle9Pjt7F0L43Or55UJEtUcLR5cDHiLyrF-odc3UQ7cTXykKGTpnf3Mj9aL4_Y9KEo6H8YVJJMswrYSn6MttdrKPMdp/s1293/mary%20ann%20pettway.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1293" data-original-width="1119" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm52TkzsHaZHGlWRfruEJrNIFdDzakqk_fTG5R2I63VUp4Sr4e45DUsai1myzrX7SjPSdXgpXdoAB0AetrdlvNhzCDmg2tgVle9Pjt7F0L43Or55UJEtUcLR5cDHiLyrF-odc3UQ7cTXykKGTpnf3Mj9aL4_Y9KEo6H8YVJJMswrYSn6MttdrKPMdp/s320/mary%20ann%20pettway.PNG" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4_RWM3mIufawcP9HRfdwUA2BHIHrPfqyAlf9kjPUQrTRBWqH98p7L45X1xhX6a9Hl-AU_Ct04cnsh4OPG2oc1W189MzlS2XmeE6rCQaxBn9BAI_6Nyq6jzMpmuac_Xqy0HUGRfA1WfouX7CgmcGrf5HWLYSvcSZKCwmgzQsT11K8qD4Bm-5CWObT/s1346/Claire%20running%20in%20cherry%20blossoms.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="1127" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4_RWM3mIufawcP9HRfdwUA2BHIHrPfqyAlf9kjPUQrTRBWqH98p7L45X1xhX6a9Hl-AU_Ct04cnsh4OPG2oc1W189MzlS2XmeE6rCQaxBn9BAI_6Nyq6jzMpmuac_Xqy0HUGRfA1WfouX7CgmcGrf5HWLYSvcSZKCwmgzQsT11K8qD4Bm-5CWObT/w326-h389/Claire%20running%20in%20cherry%20blossoms.PNG" width="326" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A daughter who had her heart broken and went on a <br />solo backpacking trip to Europe. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdyJ49lG8TkUClQk1_TN2CDa_srelh2JJ0CtrkR9B86NYR5WyYi3XokogoOHhfxp04jIykAqlQ4HCUaNPA6ek6B-NCpuMkvnTiM47SzCj5Sr9Mu77XvhdQH4HZm8htvUIXhIxhvf2_0LRcaYBWagIWXoSqlql9ujz1sthJmoUyx1NOP8U2yAINqTZ/s1881/ethics%20award.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1391" data-original-width="1881" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdyJ49lG8TkUClQk1_TN2CDa_srelh2JJ0CtrkR9B86NYR5WyYi3XokogoOHhfxp04jIykAqlQ4HCUaNPA6ek6B-NCpuMkvnTiM47SzCj5Sr9Mu77XvhdQH4HZm8htvUIXhIxhvf2_0LRcaYBWagIWXoSqlql9ujz1sthJmoUyx1NOP8U2yAINqTZ/s320/ethics%20award.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve & I accepting the NM Business in Ethics Award.<br /><i>(I didn't pass out from public speaking - win-win!)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9p_AauB2usHza3R46bbwGVt7thdwPi6by3jyFCUzENHYK0kbAh4VQqlDyhk-Lm6hMlUyGfDzKSQSj_-CEMCftO8yR6amT-tjhIUAFXSzi3pu-YFBrQvAVJjzJKjuGWRSMtAB6cGLBz-j6FWxyPLJegCqiLPZFVXAUJJbLeGp7ZBgnwS5HHRGMTeS/s1600/J%20and%20G%20walking%20down%20the%20aisle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9p_AauB2usHza3R46bbwGVt7thdwPi6by3jyFCUzENHYK0kbAh4VQqlDyhk-Lm6hMlUyGfDzKSQSj_-CEMCftO8yR6amT-tjhIUAFXSzi3pu-YFBrQvAVJjzJKjuGWRSMtAB6cGLBz-j6FWxyPLJegCqiLPZFVXAUJJbLeGp7ZBgnwS5HHRGMTeS/w421-h280/J%20and%20G%20walking%20down%20the%20aisle.jpg" width="421" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new son-in-law! They are simply beautiful, these 2.<br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(neckties made with Hip Stitch fabric....just sayin')</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPaVH3b1XqurjdezxTib4nIEOuMgHO_rpZIySzaVt7dRbQWgCictkDFcoSwepDpXVNsY_PpVJyzzMSMkyrwLiK46tPkSYWaZsIlmdqhwPcj6kDLLQqN73QXhyWZR0TwlOQX7MWP9sm10ZmIA5jLjdAKXWTNOmG5EvLXVcBKR5t71_buxAycsQSPp3/s1792/IMG_4231.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="828" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPaVH3b1XqurjdezxTib4nIEOuMgHO_rpZIySzaVt7dRbQWgCictkDFcoSwepDpXVNsY_PpVJyzzMSMkyrwLiK46tPkSYWaZsIlmdqhwPcj6kDLLQqN73QXhyWZR0TwlOQX7MWP9sm10ZmIA5jLjdAKXWTNOmG5EvLXVcBKR5t71_buxAycsQSPp3/w171-h369/IMG_4231.PNG" width="171" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new son-in-law who quilts!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_chgVNwxw3lME8I8HxfWj25WY4cqNPe780StBJcn2RhSq55ye_eExZ-fL6EsEtOT-o2CVfCjvv4otdKQ604lU_j0L0UypeclIGvl2cuiWAWEkkzCUFhiJoNKezDGIAkCuV_TYVTngT1RQEjqGNJ1wYMhZZMkS-rKU6EmfrCcI76c_Cj36XSHc3Re7/s1600/Jane%20and%20Nola.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_chgVNwxw3lME8I8HxfWj25WY4cqNPe780StBJcn2RhSq55ye_eExZ-fL6EsEtOT-o2CVfCjvv4otdKQ604lU_j0L0UypeclIGvl2cuiWAWEkkzCUFhiJoNKezDGIAkCuV_TYVTngT1RQEjqGNJ1wYMhZZMkS-rKU6EmfrCcI76c_Cj36XSHc3Re7/w392-h261/Jane%20and%20Nola.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sweet flower girl whose dress I loved making, almost as much as I love these girls.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpebc_KXSWIRO2d09ctOjzK98nS3Nca71NjiKgLdoh0f8KCYtMl2pek8G45v9cudBtu6rhNeDsrAxP2oMH8pGqYmHaSThtS815MRijj-WQmIpiyoEkeyYPYKV1i1JriBdBMqDG4sB88KiXnZsNXLzyAraw9eJR7PIQm1Ssh5aaQU1uoxBVxZuFtPR1/s1600/Our%20family%20of%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpebc_KXSWIRO2d09ctOjzK98nS3Nca71NjiKgLdoh0f8KCYtMl2pek8G45v9cudBtu6rhNeDsrAxP2oMH8pGqYmHaSThtS815MRijj-WQmIpiyoEkeyYPYKV1i1JriBdBMqDG4sB88KiXnZsNXLzyAraw9eJR7PIQm1Ssh5aaQU1uoxBVxZuFtPR1/w253-h381/Our%20family%20of%204.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 4 of us, on the day that we <br />became the 5 of us.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="1104" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-UV72Gr93khFH0OG-zbBUVECKkBmAughAWwFi1zZNAP5wS_lKKSCM-UDyKOQMK8QMBHVLpDAAIz3XRY5herzGpmJ5sK4t8BZOHLnOyl6VY04v40s1lTO9v294wNKubboJVDP948R4I8gcqH0sojK1dcE1Cge3yR5_b46JWWWrxIKSVYnYVjmNjy5/s320/kids%20sewing.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="271" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crafting with children = happiness.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarm-3tMTuTA4RP3-J7hP-CLqR0LDhvjHHrGUgbcrxc76FNDtQ5j7TB3qGFVMT_KsFhZJvFJChBOJaHivmcumvMCFS_2uNrHVoZs7rNnLKNQLD9vIqo7XritRrZ5kKgs7rHlferMFbG3VU0pkzeFll0Nr0RMUvclhx2Nz8Q-Uy1Uo_XUie8QUCY2A5/s1600/me%20and%20Heather.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarm-3tMTuTA4RP3-J7hP-CLqR0LDhvjHHrGUgbcrxc76FNDtQ5j7TB3qGFVMT_KsFhZJvFJChBOJaHivmcumvMCFS_2uNrHVoZs7rNnLKNQLD9vIqo7XritRrZ5kKgs7rHlferMFbG3VU0pkzeFll0Nr0RMUvclhx2Nz8Q-Uy1Uo_XUie8QUCY2A5/s320/me%20and%20Heather.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Heather and I seeing<br />each other after too long, at the wedding.<br />Heather co-founded Hip Stitch with me. <br />I am so very lucky to have her in my life.<br /><br />So, let's fling open a new door and get going through it, shall we? </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-75908005176112405872022-10-19T17:54:00.005-06:002022-10-19T17:54:58.473-06:00A tale of 2 sisters<p> I am the baby; she is the oldest. We have 2 brothers in between. She is 6 years older than me, so naturally, she looked after me.</p><p>Here she is, wiping my drool, <i>(or so I thought for all these years, until I looked more closely and I think she was probably reaching out to the cat in my lap):</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuptf74D5Kk5Vva6WMtqmmmfzQq-YNCZ9aIALn-skcbLOTBovfgShTmFZEF4uZcKjEdBWnyQOU4j1v28Lc1PZBG_29hhrM5EWPI_Ntq0wRwVGH2u51906sLLHZXUcVBLolthbNtvMYoLP5aAjJqI-qsvhG3gKszSqrZa-iRc5e5P_-WQMFJWOV3IXe/s1469/gretchen%20wiping%20my%20drool.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1372" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuptf74D5Kk5Vva6WMtqmmmfzQq-YNCZ9aIALn-skcbLOTBovfgShTmFZEF4uZcKjEdBWnyQOU4j1v28Lc1PZBG_29hhrM5EWPI_Ntq0wRwVGH2u51906sLLHZXUcVBLolthbNtvMYoLP5aAjJqI-qsvhG3gKszSqrZa-iRc5e5P_-WQMFJWOV3IXe/w340-h364/gretchen%20wiping%20my%20drool.PNG" width="340" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here we are in the glory of the 70s:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoNQxa90-aZk5cZDApX7gPAbbGnuOjzxfKpQMELesgnONZFwf37WIsE3kUbtOdHfI7Hpfjx5H9RLjB10SqT6Rjpvga87WDYh-7RNWeczuT0n6K7P-63doNxHeemVsYVPCorU6nb1C4qx08EIUQZlP_THzEW0NtXWycJGdJYSYI85kS56vza0eBmiS/s1368/Gretchen%20and%20me%20hippies.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1290" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoNQxa90-aZk5cZDApX7gPAbbGnuOjzxfKpQMELesgnONZFwf37WIsE3kUbtOdHfI7Hpfjx5H9RLjB10SqT6Rjpvga87WDYh-7RNWeczuT0n6K7P-63doNxHeemVsYVPCorU6nb1C4qx08EIUQZlP_THzEW0NtXWycJGdJYSYI85kS56vza0eBmiS/w327-h346/Gretchen%20and%20me%20hippies.PNG" width="327" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And at her high school graduation:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTU3KP9HIuw27MWCPQjDkjA4cg7ZBLHCisU3JVVOd6V4oHlU7L9WA9NaYds4aUz4SFTrvn45h0tyV844jPuHjYiqqDi_ca09q76rmsSZDVJa71VKy4queroazJgVUMEQ2nyyVH3RADswOpkOxl8reIG4V277Zzqn_bltX-C9kwTOFPxdBYPoAXd0hx/s1914/Gretchen%20high%20school%20graduation.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1914" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTU3KP9HIuw27MWCPQjDkjA4cg7ZBLHCisU3JVVOd6V4oHlU7L9WA9NaYds4aUz4SFTrvn45h0tyV844jPuHjYiqqDi_ca09q76rmsSZDVJa71VKy4queroazJgVUMEQ2nyyVH3RADswOpkOxl8reIG4V277Zzqn_bltX-C9kwTOFPxdBYPoAXd0hx/w370-h283/Gretchen%20high%20school%20graduation.PNG" width="370" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then we entered adulthood and marriage and jobs and raising children and came together and fell apart and came together again. One thing has remained constant: she is my protector, my cheerleader, my guide in so many ways. She's the smart one. She's the bossy one. She's the wise one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And so for her 60th birthday this summer, she threw a party, and all 4 of us siblings were together for it. The 1st time we were all together since our mom died. So it was extra special, given that the last 2 years were ones of uncertainty about anything.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had bought the <a href="https://www.stitchonline.net/shop/c/p/Mountain-High-Quilt-Kit-x57253637.htm">Mountain High quilt kit</a> from Stitch in Durango, CO - LeeAnn, the owner, is a friend of mine and her shop received the Top Shop Award for Quilt Sampler:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.stitchonline.net/shop/c/p/Mountain-High-Quilt-Kit-x57253637.htm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="440" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwegk37SaxWeRWXpuG7LEcqbvZXfqoqyBMTMx9E2uBYZg6UC1wLQVA6__9zuuhXKvm7raSG3EHN1WQQUioY9H660JTkXf-ylTlek4q34IpgAcgCCaQl63l_BB-F1Dfk48m2-T5eOv0w85JLwO-C2Iuz4hpm4V4Ua-ah4Xtha8Alzc6LlnSppQN-2cW/w303-h399/mountain%20high%20quilt%20kit.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> LeeAnn's quilt made the cover of the magazine, and it made me swoon. I bought the kit (this was April 2021), and started to chip away at it. It was still an immensely busy and stressful time for me at Hip Stitch, but working on this project soothed my stressful days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It wasn't intended for Gretchen from the start. I didn't know who or where it was going.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>(If you know me, my gift giving and remembering special days are hit and miss. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It's not one of my prouder characteristics.</i>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But as it evolved in the making, the clarity in the recipient came into focus. Gretchen has lived in Denver for 30 years, but for a stint in Seattle. She is a mountain girl - she's fit, and healthy, and hikes and skis and does so many more outdoorsey things than I do <i>(not jealous, not at all)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mountain High came together, and of COURSE it was for Gretchen. That's a no-brainer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Birthday, big sister. I love you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDx1A3baqZ5RSiJj1wTYpTwlurKVqwnOnAp1AQRzjRNcUNgqelGlo5SY6t-vzBG8BtV0AhOiERf70PHcvZsX-3l4fhsSX5j593x8Tcy9sXiIpvGmk8amGsXgnKCMcw_geDyDMNNIgXEa4ThvCvTUs8D-xmP6Na_oB2m3VR91oKGIdPX294nN7FLLa/s1998/4%20of%20us%20together%20as%20adults.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="1998" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDx1A3baqZ5RSiJj1wTYpTwlurKVqwnOnAp1AQRzjRNcUNgqelGlo5SY6t-vzBG8BtV0AhOiERf70PHcvZsX-3l4fhsSX5j593x8Tcy9sXiIpvGmk8amGsXgnKCMcw_geDyDMNNIgXEa4ThvCvTUs8D-xmP6Na_oB2m3VR91oKGIdPX294nN7FLLa/w448-h297/4%20of%20us%20together%20as%20adults.PNG" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She sent me a picture of it in her house, with the red leaves on the maple tree right outside the window:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbM1Up0US6XYqxxLf_td8CtBwnQKSfs7ssyxoa9d_ZWWi3mB9Zx3hhOupT3-6qAJUq2SZIlkFxmGAJgiP0-9lB6s6iI7cb6J1cWBWlZPGjFZaTDz5JIfa0-qDK41fQtExfO5NA0qdgio-FWH3ZoaklRvOF4bu9acUv5hBsv8dJP5CmdUBRsAsu2fRb/s1482/front%20and%20back%20of%20quilt.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbM1Up0US6XYqxxLf_td8CtBwnQKSfs7ssyxoa9d_ZWWi3mB9Zx3hhOupT3-6qAJUq2SZIlkFxmGAJgiP0-9lB6s6iI7cb6J1cWBWlZPGjFZaTDz5JIfa0-qDK41fQtExfO5NA0qdgio-FWH3ZoaklRvOF4bu9acUv5hBsv8dJP5CmdUBRsAsu2fRb/s1482/front%20and%20back%20of%20quilt.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8KqRTXfrXWafk7Zw1McJZSy4Yh1k-YaFv3F8_phMo9gqvcErBR1NhkN1Xn9JlzC-aktEK4A1GDQplDXLoWiR007G0IQA2vAGkni0cK6Qw-9m2hYW0dlKfz8WKB-QPuwpUIwZ9xAAamO6T12TLsvliiw7no47SfNjiCr1TzUWv3kAURVZxL_mkoU9/s1090/mountain%20high%20at%20Gretchens%20house.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="981" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8KqRTXfrXWafk7Zw1McJZSy4Yh1k-YaFv3F8_phMo9gqvcErBR1NhkN1Xn9JlzC-aktEK4A1GDQplDXLoWiR007G0IQA2vAGkni0cK6Qw-9m2hYW0dlKfz8WKB-QPuwpUIwZ9xAAamO6T12TLsvliiw7no47SfNjiCr1TzUWv3kAURVZxL_mkoU9/w346-h384/mountain%20high%20at%20Gretchens%20house.PNG" width="346" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="1482" data-original-width="1010" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbM1Up0US6XYqxxLf_td8CtBwnQKSfs7ssyxoa9d_ZWWi3mB9Zx3hhOupT3-6qAJUq2SZIlkFxmGAJgiP0-9lB6s6iI7cb6J1cWBWlZPGjFZaTDz5JIfa0-qDK41fQtExfO5NA0qdgio-FWH3ZoaklRvOF4bu9acUv5hBsv8dJP5CmdUBRsAsu2fRb/w268-h393/front%20and%20back%20of%20quilt.PNG" width="268" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtR5mssVY6SuwUbzzXYz0P1CFJCmiNQBxjRLuuRFdx0_LLz5gHUz4R5vHWcLHkggw4yGZhJPg-jgUv81kSevDZvlqAdgsK46orBxj5NjQNPl0Qk6b8SGBX3_JO8pk8AW7ZsyiJtRNm7rDtlCdGwzV6o5lsnxMKF2pfEz2txOyGFuc0KiA0Sgn3yQp/s1088/label%20on%20Gretchens%20quilt.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1088" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtR5mssVY6SuwUbzzXYz0P1CFJCmiNQBxjRLuuRFdx0_LLz5gHUz4R5vHWcLHkggw4yGZhJPg-jgUv81kSevDZvlqAdgsK46orBxj5NjQNPl0Qk6b8SGBX3_JO8pk8AW7ZsyiJtRNm7rDtlCdGwzV6o5lsnxMKF2pfEz2txOyGFuc0KiA0Sgn3yQp/w376-h333/label%20on%20Gretchens%20quilt.PNG" width="376" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-49688404649084590172022-09-05T17:25:00.003-06:002022-09-12T17:50:53.421-06:00Hip Stitch goes to Mexico<p> Reut, Ginny & I returned to New Mexico after a trip to Chihuahua Ciudad and Creel, Chihuahua, Mexico.</p><p>I have 5 main takeaways after this trip:</p><p>1. Those who have little in the way of material things, give the most.</p><p>2. Both motherhood and sewing are universal languages. <b>Motherhood</b>: when we discovered another has children, the questions were: nina or nino? Cuantos años? And then the pictures were asked for, and the smiles. <b>Sewing</b>: they had learned and knew their basics; I had learned and knew my basics. We didn't need to necessarily teach one another - just sew together!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fFUFu_a-oHZUaMl0aSlOHpzWMthaVRI1sb__WsZq4rUjaADHKbL5BM4Ol6yeqFU_3yAJ7fgM8W3G-Vq0locfbba1S5CAixR5RBiZnq4RbN70sfZ250etOgJqL12SciaQy4xF4VuIOAwdNcY4mLavFu3alUT7Em1Q1JbUF3GyiWtXEUPwoE9Le_oS/s1240/paula%20and%20daughters.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="1240" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fFUFu_a-oHZUaMl0aSlOHpzWMthaVRI1sb__WsZq4rUjaADHKbL5BM4Ol6yeqFU_3yAJ7fgM8W3G-Vq0locfbba1S5CAixR5RBiZnq4RbN70sfZ250etOgJqL12SciaQy4xF4VuIOAwdNcY4mLavFu3alUT7Em1Q1JbUF3GyiWtXEUPwoE9Le_oS/w455-h361/paula%20and%20daughters.PNG" width="455" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGECW3SkkN96Ycz3gK2OrP68rqPhSPFZSZOu4kxOwBn81qVdDeLLatUnk1Kp8KAmnYqSXN5N2tfhG3yQ8hC3EWkKAwjkcRfcVC1Eh4vxYcCJ2UBli1Lxu-vW2AqkHxjBooNuJO4cw6dyafRaghgdiyKtmtRle_KmHpd5gcqDgIMBcQZeKRbRq__Bf/s1114/Auricelia%20in%20apron.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1114" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGECW3SkkN96Ycz3gK2OrP68rqPhSPFZSZOu4kxOwBn81qVdDeLLatUnk1Kp8KAmnYqSXN5N2tfhG3yQ8hC3EWkKAwjkcRfcVC1Eh4vxYcCJ2UBli1Lxu-vW2AqkHxjBooNuJO4cw6dyafRaghgdiyKtmtRle_KmHpd5gcqDgIMBcQZeKRbRq__Bf/w379-h373/Auricelia%20in%20apron.PNG" width="379" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL94riHRQlhOLo1_MQTWixKE84IoFrS0CPKOUNr4HPDapeWvlZ7S0mMAj6Ud3X6DkhoenXlF8Bp7N6fy6cnrHs_DoYS0Jj-CcGNWv3nMwdgJaA1gt2v_74y986IeSOwfucqZJT_NAEd0uJWc3zB4JhhYoNyv2HD4YIzWKCHx3T77idBPXkaRRxFcQ/s1197/Ginny%20and%202%20ladies%20sewing.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1113" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL94riHRQlhOLo1_MQTWixKE84IoFrS0CPKOUNr4HPDapeWvlZ7S0mMAj6Ud3X6DkhoenXlF8Bp7N6fy6cnrHs_DoYS0Jj-CcGNWv3nMwdgJaA1gt2v_74y986IeSOwfucqZJT_NAEd0uJWc3zB4JhhYoNyv2HD4YIzWKCHx3T77idBPXkaRRxFcQ/w388-h417/Ginny%20and%202%20ladies%20sewing.PNG" width="388" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYWJwXYYX01yDUQRCLTajL3El_8uaBNKYUaWiE71G0YM462awy4A6CPZ-0bFy5Lbh1-qqNBfRS_rjItrKO4hyk2rtL0haXpliUZex6eID-ub4wo7Y8aGOqjOOwKyGTQyAbX_PYM4nO_lkIj6mp4G7Ew3eTgxpZA4Mrfl9A6YeTYhfdKud0KttWSur/s1377/reut%20and%20Paula's%20daughter.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="1195" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYWJwXYYX01yDUQRCLTajL3El_8uaBNKYUaWiE71G0YM462awy4A6CPZ-0bFy5Lbh1-qqNBfRS_rjItrKO4hyk2rtL0haXpliUZex6eID-ub4wo7Y8aGOqjOOwKyGTQyAbX_PYM4nO_lkIj6mp4G7Ew3eTgxpZA4Mrfl9A6YeTYhfdKud0KttWSur/w357-h411/reut%20and%20Paula's%20daughter.PNG" width="357" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>3. It's ok to not have to explain/interpret every feature on a sewing machine. They had their work-arounds, and that was ok.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgAQSToSZ9085TMYLLjfiXKWjginG2N2g57kbYDqelWxuiuZRPMcaZsLJOzoO-bRgx3YkSlG1JpMkF-1VoN6fVBoNWGyaeARhpTK7xD6No2i9kff-3v_voTgtknzLPYBZyXkf8mdDi9BbyXWyY4fOCGuHNJbf1ly9EeUrjJ3h9TAPBWfTu5wvKT3Q/s1233/scissors%20with%20hand%20sewing.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1113" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgAQSToSZ9085TMYLLjfiXKWjginG2N2g57kbYDqelWxuiuZRPMcaZsLJOzoO-bRgx3YkSlG1JpMkF-1VoN6fVBoNWGyaeARhpTK7xD6No2i9kff-3v_voTgtknzLPYBZyXkf8mdDi9BbyXWyY4fOCGuHNJbf1ly9EeUrjJ3h9TAPBWfTu5wvKT3Q/w365-h404/scissors%20with%20hand%20sewing.PNG" width="365" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inexpensive not-so-sharp snips? Yep, that's just fine.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>4. It is really really challenging on my brain to communicate for an entire week with the 'poquito' Spanish I know. Especially with sewing. How to explain how the bobbin is to go into the bobbin case? How to explain how to change a needle? How to explain how and why to use a zipper foot? Lots of gestures, lots of sheepish smiles, but that was ok.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoyLP7s3QA8VbtBDPfwGCYaVEwu9CtQ8-QSvbXEWjry1jDwUrbIlr7Xm7hCI3X32R6WGEjmCVtnullrE7nWagYao7buD7YlDHxKETMYBk1xELEoplib8t41nvTnQ2j2WVePyMnIO9ifzAABs7lUhmLwmmOJ1Up8zUL8qqz7R8Hz_p7YyZqZE_5x-q/s1307/me%20and%20little%20girl%20at%20waterfall.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1307" data-original-width="1125" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoyLP7s3QA8VbtBDPfwGCYaVEwu9CtQ8-QSvbXEWjry1jDwUrbIlr7Xm7hCI3X32R6WGEjmCVtnullrE7nWagYao7buD7YlDHxKETMYBk1xELEoplib8t41nvTnQ2j2WVePyMnIO9ifzAABs7lUhmLwmmOJ1Up8zUL8qqz7R8Hz_p7YyZqZE_5x-q/w353-h411/me%20and%20little%20girl%20at%20waterfall.PNG" width="353" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(I was probably saying "por favor, une photo?", my mix of English/Spanish/French.)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOrhdtEEy1YKkeBfNqhSKMD5if-SfoGDb3CbdiQtTMHdfiyWFDWgRk0NwL12blWPTDbYPUgBO2qZBPuPlqcDIFomcqUrAKaFWAhaHfgr0StGWax6uxWL8XmVxlLodWmC5ROMsOQIGeWJdymToqZfwo3UfvxCgkg0j6vxlX94ccIwXfEv-_fzevCfH/s1368/me%20and%20little%20girl%20looking%20at%20camera.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1121" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOrhdtEEy1YKkeBfNqhSKMD5if-SfoGDb3CbdiQtTMHdfiyWFDWgRk0NwL12blWPTDbYPUgBO2qZBPuPlqcDIFomcqUrAKaFWAhaHfgr0StGWax6uxWL8XmVxlLodWmC5ROMsOQIGeWJdymToqZfwo3UfvxCgkg0j6vxlX94ccIwXfEv-_fzevCfH/w361-h441/me%20and%20little%20girl%20looking%20at%20camera.PNG" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(And she politely and shyly posing for a picture with me.)</div><br /> </td></tr></tbody></table>5. I realized quickly that I needed to relax and open myself up to be taught as well. Their sewing skills and tricks. Their style of sewing. We had much to learn.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U03rg5Jn468D1CreGL0906r4gqiVEQF2vn01ZPvlMPMQL8gUonSbwbSLeVr0DezTuDSUxbkuMbnu1bs3oY7DsU4QQ63ynVgqgmPlrqJ4etKa227lSmJjZjBc12lF956jWvqGOwWvXGi43jazF3iErhAsAjGrgh_PVZE7x0QHc1jTzJSAEePdc-zG/s1461/me%20sewing.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="1122" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U03rg5Jn468D1CreGL0906r4gqiVEQF2vn01ZPvlMPMQL8gUonSbwbSLeVr0DezTuDSUxbkuMbnu1bs3oY7DsU4QQ63ynVgqgmPlrqJ4etKa227lSmJjZjBc12lF956jWvqGOwWvXGi43jazF3iErhAsAjGrgh_PVZE7x0QHc1jTzJSAEePdc-zG/w320-h416/me%20sewing.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnedPYRLEYiuyyia22gsx7lfr9mheNdGIiy6yIkgXkzyNpL97epU_3RMtTkiIwbKKAbCCsiDjy40nv3iYB5ayFZPeDoN3IIfp9ecsNh4_eSoHvWfecisFDHBgbrDylDox4kEkpoFDSQrC5sFVrAWAmnKLS4ryN04OjZi-0007w51VWCRroe1ABeT9O/s1979/Reut%20and%20Ana.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1445" data-original-width="1979" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnedPYRLEYiuyyia22gsx7lfr9mheNdGIiy6yIkgXkzyNpL97epU_3RMtTkiIwbKKAbCCsiDjy40nv3iYB5ayFZPeDoN3IIfp9ecsNh4_eSoHvWfecisFDHBgbrDylDox4kEkpoFDSQrC5sFVrAWAmnKLS4ryN04OjZi-0007w51VWCRroe1ABeT9O/w382-h279/Reut%20and%20Ana.PNG" width="382" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFa9iUFFR_IQ39HJIeqWQdy_eMrnT4J00dkgrXgc6h-8yZCL17wSKH7XtqPOhN62_iNdpGd6ABs0WfnxmJFDjSchcz2Rhul9tAQx8a62-GxFpHkZYff2e-RbSVym9FWG9IVwuGHpXLjmCY3fKfm08JEv_MIbs8E9UZMidPgpQIUZJE5bUsMzQNGrm/s1425/making%20triangles%20in%20strip.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1113" height="447" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFa9iUFFR_IQ39HJIeqWQdy_eMrnT4J00dkgrXgc6h-8yZCL17wSKH7XtqPOhN62_iNdpGd6ABs0WfnxmJFDjSchcz2Rhul9tAQx8a62-GxFpHkZYff2e-RbSVym9FWG9IVwuGHpXLjmCY3fKfm08JEv_MIbs8E9UZMidPgpQIUZJE5bUsMzQNGrm/w349-h447/making%20triangles%20in%20strip.PNG" width="349" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQRJTLriEa2fiaXq-6rCo9Jqw5qttc-DxIWUx60cyVL1tukCnHz0xov3rc04Oza81eWzm850lULZgWQVq9mqlzYYoyTgh5oui3JY97V3eeYY_pkZ3f7MPumlcuT0RIV_feDXLJukSZBZXcfpx_mz66CB2MVDvz13BalbeExn5BG1KmMcZaDne3J7U/s1397/me%20helping%20with%20ties.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1121" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQRJTLriEa2fiaXq-6rCo9Jqw5qttc-DxIWUx60cyVL1tukCnHz0xov3rc04Oza81eWzm850lULZgWQVq9mqlzYYoyTgh5oui3JY97V3eeYY_pkZ3f7MPumlcuT0RIV_feDXLJukSZBZXcfpx_mz66CB2MVDvz13BalbeExn5BG1KmMcZaDne3J7U/w315-h393/me%20helping%20with%20ties.PNG" width="315" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMzf5EQz32c87FMGDBBAEIOEFndWFdXm0bORMh9mqPl1jsgVEBl9QXUEPYgSMkZUAG1Bkhn8UeXY62insGCHNlq_RIOWrCxMUfe6wIfW58QVz_VkT3slznuqGLVQ2bqIshyk57Ilzym0smlVPmwrg7wBNWUfLKpSGBaRZsVceM00lk7h0oy93qmNC/s1362/me%20and%202%20ladies%20with%20bags.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="1126" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMzf5EQz32c87FMGDBBAEIOEFndWFdXm0bORMh9mqPl1jsgVEBl9QXUEPYgSMkZUAG1Bkhn8UeXY62insGCHNlq_RIOWrCxMUfe6wIfW58QVz_VkT3slznuqGLVQ2bqIshyk57Ilzym0smlVPmwrg7wBNWUfLKpSGBaRZsVceM00lk7h0oy93qmNC/w346-h417/me%20and%202%20ladies%20with%20bags.PNG" width="346" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The 3 of us travelers have been communicating this week; exchanging emails with photo and memories. This one, we all agreed, was the most impactful:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcfWeiFYVJBxVLmaOLyRYLDSWmy1_xITuc2Tds2zLwKbwuj0obui-phfCtR-JU4nZRRjNhNjPyN9gO-gkI8wkODuaPaImxuUbk4BJkMKT4N1GhxVlH0u21rk_Py8rXNiHs6sOCGsCVl0Bez9hynbVaVF-iQaeNhaXAhrqql_tlzhRpNo3fULPFQtB/s1338/sewing%20machine%20rural%20delivery.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="1127" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcfWeiFYVJBxVLmaOLyRYLDSWmy1_xITuc2Tds2zLwKbwuj0obui-phfCtR-JU4nZRRjNhNjPyN9gO-gkI8wkODuaPaImxuUbk4BJkMKT4N1GhxVlH0u21rk_Py8rXNiHs6sOCGsCVl0Bez9hynbVaVF-iQaeNhaXAhrqql_tlzhRpNo3fULPFQtB/w337-h399/sewing%20machine%20rural%20delivery.PNG" width="337" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Conchita with her new machine!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(see that house way behind her? That's where she lives.)</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here was an adventure when we had some car trouble and 2 were trying to figure out what was wrong with the car while 2 were on the hill, trying to get phone reception:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TgQAoU96DB_B9vZLZDadJa4J8mTmB3dVeIqoxLXuiuNdDMQVN7fjvSq9oImeZ1JKIeNwU2tBpmLL_N0TNNjCZTCj2ZLmGenBT64zohY6A4NoRA9o9fwty3leCYqI0gF_-AORetVBolxnQOp-H28KuzKzmzxWc0t9Vv84Ec0dscPB0IwsQT9OkcUJ/s1388/car%20trouble.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="1112" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TgQAoU96DB_B9vZLZDadJa4J8mTmB3dVeIqoxLXuiuNdDMQVN7fjvSq9oImeZ1JKIeNwU2tBpmLL_N0TNNjCZTCj2ZLmGenBT64zohY6A4NoRA9o9fwty3leCYqI0gF_-AORetVBolxnQOp-H28KuzKzmzxWc0t9Vv84Ec0dscPB0IwsQT9OkcUJ/w345-h431/car%20trouble.PNG" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Climb into the back of the pickup truck to get a lift to the party? No problem!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(the car was easily fixed - a rock got jammed in the wheel axle)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiVYJVR8EBZn7pxO-FJ6oYrnpSGSCksXdiV6W4a8zsjS6jNIETJkFG1bZKpdZv2W6MPjO-VpARNg-tsMiBUJhBrcjw_ujeMRD9oq2fRAjMEvBygLiwZLwTn_0nxcSUGlndQsowZOsO_mBDx3bK8CsPudLz3fjEVyCeriASx-B9fLmNfM6Kut6M9vJ/s1303/us%20in%20truck.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="1110" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiVYJVR8EBZn7pxO-FJ6oYrnpSGSCksXdiV6W4a8zsjS6jNIETJkFG1bZKpdZv2W6MPjO-VpARNg-tsMiBUJhBrcjw_ujeMRD9oq2fRAjMEvBygLiwZLwTn_0nxcSUGlndQsowZOsO_mBDx3bK8CsPudLz3fjEVyCeriASx-B9fLmNfM6Kut6M9vJ/w346-h406/us%20in%20truck.PNG" width="346" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And what a party it was!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCniOWU28BZY9rkx51cfNa3dKuBaXMBcsREPWZT1GVSoy94qz-Id8--YQEL9sXFwJcNa5du9OrQujK_EpJRLCbbdauIJ5b1PbJLL_uuJ_lF8ailP-Pi5zzxyAy4xgT0P7Dpi-iMKpd7whwdmFeU5UBbhmcz6jKOPGr3hN7b1wLdE6yhVX00NOf72BB/s1976/gift%20receiving%202%20at%20party.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1976" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCniOWU28BZY9rkx51cfNa3dKuBaXMBcsREPWZT1GVSoy94qz-Id8--YQEL9sXFwJcNa5du9OrQujK_EpJRLCbbdauIJ5b1PbJLL_uuJ_lF8ailP-Pi5zzxyAy4xgT0P7Dpi-iMKpd7whwdmFeU5UBbhmcz6jKOPGr3hN7b1wLdE6yhVX00NOf72BB/w422-h298/gift%20receiving%202%20at%20party.PNG" width="422" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD311laXsayml2Ysy0gPlO39AAWQr_0b7HW0hZ3BZvIc7chukpUAPsavfxZt8ObkOBx1rXNMYxM7AUWNUX4l2VLcn_klOu5VtNSUnH8H5BIAPBh6YvAQxohTcWo0AYH1B21AZKYz3onaf4Pq8HV9EMBr4SPS2TsaHUlFO2IUI5uo2Qep0lhW4AsxNB/s1976/gift%20receiving%20at%20party.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1976" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD311laXsayml2Ysy0gPlO39AAWQr_0b7HW0hZ3BZvIc7chukpUAPsavfxZt8ObkOBx1rXNMYxM7AUWNUX4l2VLcn_klOu5VtNSUnH8H5BIAPBh6YvAQxohTcWo0AYH1B21AZKYz3onaf4Pq8HV9EMBr4SPS2TsaHUlFO2IUI5uo2Qep0lhW4AsxNB/w423-h291/gift%20receiving%20at%20party.PNG" width="423" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91ziEkpYcxD6Yv4VDEbpO93wW1Fk5Kz7Ew8fAUB5EWTsMI3VvKrKB9nSIp9DyfPTKD4AEr89wyd0QEviJVlBQmnGV2gnVpn2Fq8n3HnSbtFClwWYr8mQq1GmUZ646mLQDztJbeSm4h1a9wStf1BENs1Ku-4Cu9LlQ-0sMmekwZDC8TeBTyBtRwUP4/s1986/gifts%20at%20corn%20party.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="1986" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91ziEkpYcxD6Yv4VDEbpO93wW1Fk5Kz7Ew8fAUB5EWTsMI3VvKrKB9nSIp9DyfPTKD4AEr89wyd0QEviJVlBQmnGV2gnVpn2Fq8n3HnSbtFClwWYr8mQq1GmUZ646mLQDztJbeSm4h1a9wStf1BENs1Ku-4Cu9LlQ-0sMmekwZDC8TeBTyBtRwUP4/w420-h295/gifts%20at%20corn%20party.PNG" width="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1w39T6dvjtfAUAyz1hMuLU1qLw4IKfbFm-OQjzAiIcbEVp3_XtRbL4YJN6VPYQNGpt8wiH3Mz8vD45pvuoS8r1qjaHORSi-WRZt12vVjW6Vklg9JhXeAbxEwaao6ZC3iykdH6wp42cbXfhmZkeH0n6FPray8Z0fxYB9xJy8vZkS37e-9EtCLuOlgz/s1975/ginny%20at%20party.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1485" data-original-width="1975" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1w39T6dvjtfAUAyz1hMuLU1qLw4IKfbFm-OQjzAiIcbEVp3_XtRbL4YJN6VPYQNGpt8wiH3Mz8vD45pvuoS8r1qjaHORSi-WRZt12vVjW6Vklg9JhXeAbxEwaao6ZC3iykdH6wp42cbXfhmZkeH0n6FPray8Z0fxYB9xJy8vZkS37e-9EtCLuOlgz/w429-h323/ginny%20at%20party.PNG" width="429" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vBN2_HgsRdR0R-m5oTiyUnJU-Uzpf3Kkkxc3BtUhFFrg8MQ3qFrjLOPj-5lBBbe5qpJYKzerr8eER0nNXJoyu-OUqp28H_TmKCypfPA7cMdh-aIBNkjAe2p-DACriD0hdM1sOEIOtSxxgQpF72Gb2aASD80UCNZcuJjsMRK75ngDA6c2YgsldZOQ/s1996/group%20at%20corn%20party.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1996" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vBN2_HgsRdR0R-m5oTiyUnJU-Uzpf3Kkkxc3BtUhFFrg8MQ3qFrjLOPj-5lBBbe5qpJYKzerr8eER0nNXJoyu-OUqp28H_TmKCypfPA7cMdh-aIBNkjAe2p-DACriD0hdM1sOEIOtSxxgQpF72Gb2aASD80UCNZcuJjsMRK75ngDA6c2YgsldZOQ/w491-h293/group%20at%20corn%20party.PNG" width="491" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-82524732395573319112022-08-14T20:50:00.000-06:002022-08-14T20:54:06.048-06:00Children + Art = Happiness<p> I am filled up - with joy, with serenity, with hope.</p><p>I spent a day with 2 adorable, bright, sweet children, in my sewing room. They are brother and sister, 4 and 7. By the end of our time, my studio would have made a neatnik shudder. But it made me so simply happy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdS7chU0GgdfaCW274K3Tz90JnoyvwGYaKxUCxff0zbkqV0UGw6KKKgzmeCICH20EFqgUhVfxPDjHo4fRxZtWggaLJuRPcgefjYd-a0W4pXQRjH2fc0fg9FYh0-hlhonYike9i4YBdLnNdD3NzlRHFUARh5LfSVjNkCKvwJy-dfFl3I0H0A9HCjMY/s1288/Nola%20crafting.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="1114" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdS7chU0GgdfaCW274K3Tz90JnoyvwGYaKxUCxff0zbkqV0UGw6KKKgzmeCICH20EFqgUhVfxPDjHo4fRxZtWggaLJuRPcgefjYd-a0W4pXQRjH2fc0fg9FYh0-hlhonYike9i4YBdLnNdD3NzlRHFUARh5LfSVjNkCKvwJy-dfFl3I0H0A9HCjMY/w394-h455/Nola%20crafting.PNG" width="394" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEX9ilNYxngnQgrrDq3ftb6I7hhphMaI5GgiKCgIgbrC_ckRKVV6CyDedhkT8mIitk7_fqJusRRhN0O5f_z5IHHIXR0ebtGIRhrb3j0W90MxihzFfEz-SEsbkhwixG9PPuNanNGJI2QsqSj6O-1xu4USWc27DqmCFQOB0eWoviD9I6SRlo6esUktch/s1303/kids%20sewing.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="1104" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEX9ilNYxngnQgrrDq3ftb6I7hhphMaI5GgiKCgIgbrC_ckRKVV6CyDedhkT8mIitk7_fqJusRRhN0O5f_z5IHHIXR0ebtGIRhrb3j0W90MxihzFfEz-SEsbkhwixG9PPuNanNGJI2QsqSj6O-1xu4USWc27DqmCFQOB0eWoviD9I6SRlo6esUktch/w348-h411/kids%20sewing.PNG" width="348" /></a></div><p>(Now, just in case you're wondering, I DID have them help me clean up at the end of the day - the teacher and mother in me couldn't have them leave their mess behind - what kind of life lesson would that be?)</p><p>But oh, the joyous mess! There were no rules - scissors were used, glue was covering a paper plate and also little hands and a floor that was easily washable. Fabric scraps were shared with abandonment - why do I need to keep this 5" square pristine and unused? Why?</p><p>YES - dump out that can of buttons! Use whatever ones you want to glue onto that fabric! These are not for decoration, you know. Why save a can of vintage buttons? WHY? Make art please.</p><p>He said, "I want to make a snake." I said, "well, draw it out and let's get going." He drew and designed, I sewed. He stuffed it. Together we made a snake:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pByXBOAUwyC3beUa816ZKYt44lcENIBqDWhk2eHe7PL1rOUkCeNrU27j-P0MW4iO8awm6DBNzoUFs3XdqI0rJX4VsP-70fkhUZL_OzRYgaiQNjWLRrVjRx5G6COtLKrvut_DKGxzNWEANiXS070D5Wjd4i3OA3IcahJPrr_xVxWyV4wLuPL6cIdB/s1244/jude%20with%20projects.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1084" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pByXBOAUwyC3beUa816ZKYt44lcENIBqDWhk2eHe7PL1rOUkCeNrU27j-P0MW4iO8awm6DBNzoUFs3XdqI0rJX4VsP-70fkhUZL_OzRYgaiQNjWLRrVjRx5G6COtLKrvut_DKGxzNWEANiXS070D5Wjd4i3OA3IcahJPrr_xVxWyV4wLuPL6cIdB/w337-h386/jude%20with%20projects.PNG" width="337" /></a></div><p>Everything was beautiful. Every single piece of precious artwork they created. Nurturing a child's inner artist is a vital part of their growth. Just as important as teaching them manners, and social skills, and life skills.</p><p>And at the end of my day, my pins were all organized - well, SOME sort of organization is going on here:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBeXRC1HiLXbTrk7X46NjwiGasgNBL8XDmSpk5MKMcn7MqB1DXvgl0a4iotSZEpJGKP-tvRAZ4j1ZVDtp9FoDSGmilhwNbuwO1kiWI_NUUbqPrfVVWY_jrp9QF93KYhw8NpQjOHfw2T_adYrYmyLkajYvfktDXXRqggPiz8wbB8oQ_EoX5C-fa1Sn/s1312/pincushions.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="1123" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBeXRC1HiLXbTrk7X46NjwiGasgNBL8XDmSpk5MKMcn7MqB1DXvgl0a4iotSZEpJGKP-tvRAZ4j1ZVDtp9FoDSGmilhwNbuwO1kiWI_NUUbqPrfVVWY_jrp9QF93KYhw8NpQjOHfw2T_adYrYmyLkajYvfktDXXRqggPiz8wbB8oQ_EoX5C-fa1Sn/w341-h398/pincushions.PNG" width="341" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB4eru57cgGktIKMFTfFDtTeQxmUY6UkO26PlzAa0zyjk1AKqZnog9sh2ofzCRuRKjoUYGXsaO9JMDZGBB6rGiwQRvYZpzgqQkXlutIu3LMinUZYMJrFjB-hTlcwzCLp9a8E_LJ-3r-J8iAk1dwINDgfuw4XextbUBLuULdZp4EGZhlw4zhDe4fei/s1106/pins%20in%20cushion.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1095" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB4eru57cgGktIKMFTfFDtTeQxmUY6UkO26PlzAa0zyjk1AKqZnog9sh2ofzCRuRKjoUYGXsaO9JMDZGBB6rGiwQRvYZpzgqQkXlutIu3LMinUZYMJrFjB-hTlcwzCLp9a8E_LJ-3r-J8iAk1dwINDgfuw4XextbUBLuULdZp4EGZhlw4zhDe4fei/w390-h394/pins%20in%20cushion.PNG" width="390" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-15540311918696920602022-07-21T20:51:00.003-06:002022-07-31T15:57:25.968-06:00Meeting Janet<p>When Janet told me the story of her daughter Christine Emily, who died at age 3 (almost 4) of leukemia, I was sitting with her in her apartment, and I began weeping. She stopped at one point and asked, "would you like a tissue?" before continuing on after handing me one. Janet is 90 years old, and Christine was born in 1960, so she's had a lifetime of grieving. As a mother myself, I was hearing it for the first time, so, I let my tears flow.</p><p>I met Janet at Hip Stitch when she came in one day almost 2 months ago with her friend Evelyn, and as I cut her fabric, I asked what she was sewing. She told me she makes quilts for the Ronald McDonald House, and I asked her more about this endeavor of hers. That was when I learned about Christine.</p><p>I asked her if I could visit her sometime and hear more about her story, as well as see her sewing space.</p><p>Fast forward to my visit, which was a gift to me. Janet is kind, and humble, and faith filled, and has lived a rich life full of memories, and to this day, at age 91, she quilts and gives to others. She is a light in this world, in my humble opinion.</p><p>My daughter Claire and I paid her a visit on a hot summer afternoon - Evelyn, her friend and fellow quilter, joined us on the tour. We began in her bedroom, where this graced her bed:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKCRMYcRVUcdRkULyC94B5R3pVQL0zU-J8bcwuQUpGTGeC8UNfO0Edsq9vLBS9K_rsw-9uwh02UF0uv8fMv369U4jYi3E5p_Rabb8VQ4mb_7aSlObac9J1AMsjfg-hL3BLKoOUyZdD11R5EviYtkzlgdiZe_fsT8_57WmuS7ljI6QUCoz8CFwrMfo/s1460/grandma's%20garden.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKCRMYcRVUcdRkULyC94B5R3pVQL0zU-J8bcwuQUpGTGeC8UNfO0Edsq9vLBS9K_rsw-9uwh02UF0uv8fMv369U4jYi3E5p_Rabb8VQ4mb_7aSlObac9J1AMsjfg-hL3BLKoOUyZdD11R5EviYtkzlgdiZe_fsT8_57WmuS7ljI6QUCoz8CFwrMfo/w426-h320/grandma's%20garden.PNG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let me take this moment to tell you that the majority of the quilts she showed us were</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">HAND QUILTED. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then, she opened her cedar chest and began taking out quilt after quilt after quilt, all HAND QUILTED.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IsIS66OfgM60MQQLnNnjymVFOj-RpJmtuRqXNvupfj37AVD7cjsZSdja7HsiWp4n2ArNEAE06xFjCL-PWY_jExbk3UQtcDMT461PaWHa91xBMdfPuM2EYOWrGOF4sEz-Ii_wqSTlNvITL0ty782f43fWGvC34G11uuBnP9YHEWv9GhSq7J_dREur/s1463/whole%20cloth%20quilting.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="1121" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IsIS66OfgM60MQQLnNnjymVFOj-RpJmtuRqXNvupfj37AVD7cjsZSdja7HsiWp4n2ArNEAE06xFjCL-PWY_jExbk3UQtcDMT461PaWHa91xBMdfPuM2EYOWrGOF4sEz-Ii_wqSTlNvITL0ty782f43fWGvC34G11uuBnP9YHEWv9GhSq7J_dREur/w334-h436/whole%20cloth%20quilting.PNG" width="334" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L8OQkDHftyRBVdENzz5ONC4zkRpqwIwgkhiga_IEAd_R9Lg6eoDvoBXciAbArbst2r5ax9NfVt3CrbhSIDQgSMI1NLxVWJ8uJNZRvjbASlUU8QE6EQhMPb8GVNXEMBQ9N8xBBx8jDyxwvs4Y8CIwvtZTtBCH9ElN-bFHBvXu2i7e3FBSOTVBqXXt/s1075/whole%20cloth%20close%20up.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="977" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L8OQkDHftyRBVdENzz5ONC4zkRpqwIwgkhiga_IEAd_R9Lg6eoDvoBXciAbArbst2r5ax9NfVt3CrbhSIDQgSMI1NLxVWJ8uJNZRvjbASlUU8QE6EQhMPb8GVNXEMBQ9N8xBBx8jDyxwvs4Y8CIwvtZTtBCH9ElN-bFHBvXu2i7e3FBSOTVBqXXt/w378-h416/whole%20cloth%20close%20up.PNG" width="378" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(HAND QUILTED)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fCRgXsYNhTFYMt1T_iqme-FUAkIgdxwdAClMeVq0QoBnucfxL2yY8P1Nyf6HeGYBHMWZsmLwyaP9jF9DKwoYpWBb4C1mymLNJtztG8k3zKnecHOIwGrBp376WKnxc2FNWvmGepE0mJj8fxt93izRgMgIy9mf5VrsRQhhKHYOyPpjJrhs_HcFcnO8/s1461/grandsons%20quilt.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="1118" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fCRgXsYNhTFYMt1T_iqme-FUAkIgdxwdAClMeVq0QoBnucfxL2yY8P1Nyf6HeGYBHMWZsmLwyaP9jF9DKwoYpWBb4C1mymLNJtztG8k3zKnecHOIwGrBp376WKnxc2FNWvmGepE0mJj8fxt93izRgMgIy9mf5VrsRQhhKHYOyPpjJrhs_HcFcnO8/w360-h470/grandsons%20quilt.PNG" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one, above, is for her grandson, when he gets married. I asked her how she can choose the colors/design/fabric before knowing his future wife, and what they might like, and she answered that it all just speaks to her in the process.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9zChBPXF_PlUtvq7Dka6t2YzyftjW8Dkx-30VVRIbxlBjkwtiT3dZkN6ahSMTyB5K6NvOjla5ztxeeW3Eh5-O2Tr5EBEPipCeaUYJx-W9_vATXAgq16YMWU7rN6xJ5oseArZ9klrQr2jyWeOW1_AzYcX0ToRw8D8dy11b_nDdBNCCahYAAi13w51/s1489/coin%20quilt.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="1106" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9zChBPXF_PlUtvq7Dka6t2YzyftjW8Dkx-30VVRIbxlBjkwtiT3dZkN6ahSMTyB5K6NvOjla5ztxeeW3Eh5-O2Tr5EBEPipCeaUYJx-W9_vATXAgq16YMWU7rN6xJ5oseArZ9klrQr2jyWeOW1_AzYcX0ToRw8D8dy11b_nDdBNCCahYAAi13w51/w323-h434/coin%20quilt.PNG" width="323" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XLIZGteegRNlJwmFYFUngKObrGCgTOzlm8GFZHO2KbOOXsq_b7C8vkX8RmrsdcTqLKuQseABxn62fYSVd4tFJ6ALP8-tzhf4jc9vWDyu412H81vttqMUt_fxXz6NRv2RQp9_lXZTH09WN7By5-ixqJycayltQxlzas2sJTjoBzWauq9HcRovP0_3/s1450/looking%20at%20snowflake%20quilt.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1112" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XLIZGteegRNlJwmFYFUngKObrGCgTOzlm8GFZHO2KbOOXsq_b7C8vkX8RmrsdcTqLKuQseABxn62fYSVd4tFJ6ALP8-tzhf4jc9vWDyu412H81vttqMUt_fxXz6NRv2RQp9_lXZTH09WN7By5-ixqJycayltQxlzas2sJTjoBzWauq9HcRovP0_3/w361-h472/looking%20at%20snowflake%20quilt.PNG" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Many of these quilts will be given as "Encouragement Quilts" - she's known in her community and folks reach out to her if another resident is in need of encouragement: an illness, a hospital stay. She just gives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6RknMltqzxZEQUoUOoWgpxH3Ql738e1gSXL6mRvA5lIdyypBoPGOZ9scQgqb_WLzsp5JelD4pRMwS86DPV0BJlObiOkRkkT-3v0sM70k_j0mI4m4-JyWUiOmrKZeKLIw4WKBparYo9pcgcopPQ-mrfiCQ3-v912fwh7cVi1ruq2hyJ-CwvEqO2BZ/s1474/her%20sewing%20room.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="1106" height="517" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6RknMltqzxZEQUoUOoWgpxH3Ql738e1gSXL6mRvA5lIdyypBoPGOZ9scQgqb_WLzsp5JelD4pRMwS86DPV0BJlObiOkRkkT-3v0sM70k_j0mI4m4-JyWUiOmrKZeKLIw4WKBparYo9pcgcopPQ-mrfiCQ3-v912fwh7cVi1ruq2hyJ-CwvEqO2BZ/w388-h517/her%20sewing%20room.PNG" width="388" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's her sewing room, and a project laid out to piece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We then went on a walk through her building, where we came across a little art show called</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> "Nature's Palette":</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lfxdeeMngRpHLdFDUya_G3y-vGf8lj_NuefwwFQRimTHkr8nyrAp0ttl5ZpBm3RsVP9OMpYA4ki8GtCdwUKIaktJrX5r2QtngAO2dup7WvfUGkMjA5wTK7M8pUTyeeaiSfG6XR5INbf2xGd_R7hI9aFPFPH_-B4VnzOaWRH2EPkffs-raudelc5-/s1465/sign%20for%20nature%20art%20show.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1066" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lfxdeeMngRpHLdFDUya_G3y-vGf8lj_NuefwwFQRimTHkr8nyrAp0ttl5ZpBm3RsVP9OMpYA4ki8GtCdwUKIaktJrX5r2QtngAO2dup7WvfUGkMjA5wTK7M8pUTyeeaiSfG6XR5INbf2xGd_R7hI9aFPFPH_-B4VnzOaWRH2EPkffs-raudelc5-/w305-h419/sign%20for%20nature%20art%20show.PNG" width="305" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJbfu693D43Z_PeJHqtGx8g6fLOQWjXqzPcsXPab_1wB1Q_SSRVON1ayUU9ivpx-xKLXRV-nlkZvjOil9i1ebMZ2eEXhERytzmZMpsNOzNBBMjdXDGwTZrZVlkTi1icJTp779VVgm7zM-4Tcja-YCIahMja2m3W4HVPEX5vISJcRPuzk3z59SGhB2/s1513/under%20the%20sea.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="1513" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJbfu693D43Z_PeJHqtGx8g6fLOQWjXqzPcsXPab_1wB1Q_SSRVON1ayUU9ivpx-xKLXRV-nlkZvjOil9i1ebMZ2eEXhERytzmZMpsNOzNBBMjdXDGwTZrZVlkTi1icJTp779VVgm7zM-4Tcja-YCIahMja2m3W4HVPEX5vISJcRPuzk3z59SGhB2/s320/under%20the%20sea.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Janet's piece in the show, called "Under the Sea", and she cites the artist as "God."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As she told me the story of Christine, she said that after Christine passed away, in a hospital in Boston, she was asked for permission to use her cells for research, which she gave. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And that Christine's cells are still alive today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I left wanting to know more. I hope to visit her again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know that her husband Bill was in Normandy on Day 2 of the invasion. She met him on a blind date when she was in nursing school in Boston and he was at MIT, getting his doctorate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know that she is rich in children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know that she has a busy and fulfilling life at age 90, and is sharp and creative and humble.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I know that I just like to be around her - maybe selfishly hoping I'll absorb some of that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsLDSSgXeY1V01Bk2KEvuVOIqWlAa9c2z-pEZEBba05foq7luTqQkTjrBM6vXqU6X6lmNAqWmO2bs-C0Rg5e-62LYd90F9oZD9tQ3B_uBGofmOViVLM-gQMyQhDjLfrgfGp5DnEgDg46aS23nEXPf2rFOZKBhAYBbdCA447qEfV7hAWy2u6c68dQW/s1450/janet%20at%20hip%20stitch.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1099" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsLDSSgXeY1V01Bk2KEvuVOIqWlAa9c2z-pEZEBba05foq7luTqQkTjrBM6vXqU6X6lmNAqWmO2bs-C0Rg5e-62LYd90F9oZD9tQ3B_uBGofmOViVLM-gQMyQhDjLfrgfGp5DnEgDg46aS23nEXPf2rFOZKBhAYBbdCA447qEfV7hAWy2u6c68dQW/w389-h513/janet%20at%20hip%20stitch.PNG" width="389" /></a></div></div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-61569270667821618962022-06-19T13:18:00.000-06:002022-06-19T13:18:09.871-06:00Cherished friends Chavah & Ralph<p> Chavah came into my life as a customer of Hip Stitch. She continues to be that, but to my great joy, has become a cherished friend. Thanks to the Hip Stitch Zoom group that I started during the pandemic, we now see each other weekly online (a bit more sporadic as camping and other travels take us away). She loaned me the book <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27s_Search_for_Meaning">Man's Search for Meaning</a> by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Frankl">Victor Frankl</a> which was life changing, we've spent time together with our spouses, she's been a friend to share creative struggles and personal struggles, we've camped together, and a few weeks ago, I spent a lovely, peaceful morning with her and her husband Ralph having coffee and touring their garden:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ukP3MUH15V0-5pJUr7n50cSfzBcZ1TNH9iIFSFm9DfJ44p2zMUaLnvw5pAbmyc8xUSh5YwIujPLdrqBsVgiQ4AEYlH6fErdpG7d1ljrjLNWdZyb1R6jnZSzlS_R9pvvqmQGudKzIFH0wZ1Qqgq4QsojGQFipUl2jzIQa9zb8NRbjMSGD17YKt9oM/s1353/chavah%20and%20ralph.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1353" data-original-width="1109" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ukP3MUH15V0-5pJUr7n50cSfzBcZ1TNH9iIFSFm9DfJ44p2zMUaLnvw5pAbmyc8xUSh5YwIujPLdrqBsVgiQ4AEYlH6fErdpG7d1ljrjLNWdZyb1R6jnZSzlS_R9pvvqmQGudKzIFH0wZ1Qqgq4QsojGQFipUl2jzIQa9zb8NRbjMSGD17YKt9oM/w301-h367/chavah%20and%20ralph.PNG" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And WHAT a garden - it's truly a retreat from the world to be there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVwI5fKg2NKt305SsWDZU5TEh4-ykdohNuqW31rZHlSX5aiIgX_ouH4BLwHfyIqCFR9GR68_BW4RLoseAGUwpDkL6ecmkcdWlw7HspLflS_xaWUX0_R3EH5tY4IyQhemgl2cdO67Es9L2lgLxxYUND67-FeWH7Af2ay2qAic3htNGaORiV38oR4D7/s1964/Chavah%20garden%20butterfly.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="1964" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVwI5fKg2NKt305SsWDZU5TEh4-ykdohNuqW31rZHlSX5aiIgX_ouH4BLwHfyIqCFR9GR68_BW4RLoseAGUwpDkL6ecmkcdWlw7HspLflS_xaWUX0_R3EH5tY4IyQhemgl2cdO67Es9L2lgLxxYUND67-FeWH7Af2ay2qAic3htNGaORiV38oR4D7/w424-h311/Chavah%20garden%20butterfly.PNG" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A text came from Chavah, asking if I was at the store - Ralph and she wanted to come by to show me a quilt he received. I met them that day, and was honored to have them share the story of this quilt:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzTYBGscKOpgOfh-1UG9avfgxLnJFs1X4sTPM06ksj_gOIjrrfjX_t6zF1NWvnBMa_5AvEbUPXaBfXYKB9q1dxYQOf2JfHXiIl4icISoFFcZlv4guBfkT5h8WUmJBjXa2bqfp4H_fMxi1KgSkGqPs1T92bVxrc76HDKUiGcziOg7ZhHfLRfhxWwBW/s1227/ralph%20with%20quilt%201.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="1116" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzTYBGscKOpgOfh-1UG9avfgxLnJFs1X4sTPM06ksj_gOIjrrfjX_t6zF1NWvnBMa_5AvEbUPXaBfXYKB9q1dxYQOf2JfHXiIl4icISoFFcZlv4guBfkT5h8WUmJBjXa2bqfp4H_fMxi1KgSkGqPs1T92bVxrc76HDKUiGcziOg7ZhHfLRfhxWwBW/w364-h400/ralph%20with%20quilt%201.PNG" width="364" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It came in the mail from his cousin - Chavah knew it was coming but kept it a complete surprise to him. It's a quilt, all hand sewn, made by his mother, who passed away when he was 19. As he told me, he has nothing of hers but photographs, and to receive this - a surprise to boot - was emotional.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few of us were in the office at the store, and we all knew we were witness to something very special and reverent. Ralph doesn't remember her being a quilter, but this must have taken a very very long time to hand stitch, and the story of how it came to be will probably never be told or known (did she work on it in the cold Chicago winters while he was growing up?), but he now has something that's priceless - this quilt, this part of his mother, Alice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPtTaJcyabXaqbwylR4wabye98x8Aja1J-Tr_IrQGUtywB_mktmp2Jn96Z04G8gSichT1oucy1jrPgp7H35CCnEUD7doFae_qp8JL8y5yyGch5_zJBqMTyhbsVXw2oFjlH6eZsu3u298wt3Qdtu_pril8iqAl-2F6mMqtdrsaA4nmJCwJn7wg31qz/s1447/ralph%20with%20quilt%202.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="1107" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPtTaJcyabXaqbwylR4wabye98x8Aja1J-Tr_IrQGUtywB_mktmp2Jn96Z04G8gSichT1oucy1jrPgp7H35CCnEUD7doFae_qp8JL8y5yyGch5_zJBqMTyhbsVXw2oFjlH6eZsu3u298wt3Qdtu_pril8iqAl-2F6mMqtdrsaA4nmJCwJn7wg31qz/s320/ralph%20with%20quilt%202.PNG" width="245" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnLOSKX6l2d4Q91Ad-kDLWqN2T09upJuwrjRslLJxV6UzYwo39abyLbACLmEQQrUd8WtvsjQBu4_U84UfsvO1gtHjROD4n98G3Mq-34uF01x19wIDIHeabX2TYceppxTY3x0q5wcgXgliIqX5LjLrA4lHPIRiJhlSXhFFoKU0dg7M_e2rO9rN2DVW/s1472/ralph%20with%20quilt%203.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="1120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnLOSKX6l2d4Q91Ad-kDLWqN2T09upJuwrjRslLJxV6UzYwo39abyLbACLmEQQrUd8WtvsjQBu4_U84UfsvO1gtHjROD4n98G3Mq-34uF01x19wIDIHeabX2TYceppxTY3x0q5wcgXgliIqX5LjLrA4lHPIRiJhlSXhFFoKU0dg7M_e2rO9rN2DVW/s320/ralph%20with%20quilt%203.PNG" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I wonder.....did Alice make any more quilts? Did she make this with a purpose, a recipient? Did she learn from her mother? Did she want to quilt more but raising a family took her time?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love to see and meet the many sewists, quilters, makers who visit Hip Stitch. They all have different paths in life - in today's world, we don't sew for necessity so much anymore. We sew because we love, NEED to create, because we are generous with our time and talent.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am honored every time someone shares their story with me. </div><br />Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-63558981016539387712022-05-22T07:49:00.003-06:002022-05-23T13:18:28.661-06:00Community<p>The definition of community is : '<span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px;">a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.'</span></p><p>Hip Stitch has been struggling for a few months, and we've been reluctant to share this publically. Why?</p><p><span> "No one wants to hear our woes."</span><br /></p><p><span><span> "We're known as the happy, fun quilt store. Let's keep that persona."</span><br /></span></p><p><span><span><span> "It's hard to show vulnerability. Folks will think the store is failing."</span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span> "It'll just give fodder for some people to gleefully spread rumors,"</span></span></span></span></p><p>Yes, those are all things that have been ruminating about in our heads, and discussed, as we decided how to proceed. Not for the 1st time, the thought of "it's time to close" went through my head. As a small business owner, and one who is coming out of the pandemic, I know I'm not alone.</p><p>Prices have, and continue to go up: shipping and fabric being the biggest. When things will arrive is still not predictable & smoothed out. I just cancelled an order for fabric that was supposed to ship in Feb. Then it was pushed to March, then April, then May. This has resulted in our budget being unpredictable and trying to weekly keep up w/the phone calls to manufacturers to get ship dates, but they're only an estimate.</p><p>Sales have slowed - we guess it's the uncertainty of the economy and the future.</p><p>Then the HVAC unit in the Hip Stitch classroom was vandalized - in an attempt to steal the copper pipes. That was just about the last straw that broke us.</p><p>So we discussed and debated and Steve and I decided to proceed with honesty in our newsletter. At the end of the day, we know in our hearts that the majority of our customers shop at Hip Stitch because they support our store. They stand with us in our values, they understand that when prices go up, it's not because of personal greed. They support the same social justice causes we support. They shop here because of our commitment to positive customer service. And they would be hurt if we just decided to close Hip Stitch and didn't give them (you) the truth, and the opportunity to help.</p><p>So we sent out our weekly newsletter this past Friday and told the story. We were truthful, and shared that we're vulnerable. (def: capable of being physically or emotionally wounded)</p><p>The response was heartwarming: kindess, love, support came in the forms of words to us and purchases. You have told us that Hip Stich brought you back to sewing. That it's your happy place. And so much more.</p><p>We're continuing the SALE on Kaffe Fassett and Alexander Henry fabrics through this Friday, May 27. Two of our most popular lines. Use the code "<b>copper</b>" when you check out.</p><p>And thank you. From the very bottom of our hearts. Thank you.</p><p>And here are just a few of the hundreds and hundreds of photo memories from over the past 14 years of the joy created at Hip Stitch. The Hip Stitch community:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRUcXa8n5tN660oqfb_NvbI4j14Y9R3bvV7TKmLrfePsj_aH6xI1f-ZQx9_AAJ-irdPO4MUoZ_vpwr76IspGEw54fdC_hrh569vJUYnifQPucvk4ZitpdSKmlA6tSWcXxsAIc7gAL0NiXqraesUAM1rUAADkk5KkhCgTz_Wk9ziQlsNiIaAq6dWRJ/s1475/Anna.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1076" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRUcXa8n5tN660oqfb_NvbI4j14Y9R3bvV7TKmLrfePsj_aH6xI1f-ZQx9_AAJ-irdPO4MUoZ_vpwr76IspGEw54fdC_hrh569vJUYnifQPucvk4ZitpdSKmlA6tSWcXxsAIc7gAL0NiXqraesUAM1rUAADkk5KkhCgTz_Wk9ziQlsNiIaAq6dWRJ/s320/Anna.PNG" width="233" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7VtVO5ehxURCzQ-pYip4voYk9KLKo_qNkj_GfZO2q36rbp7QE3rWdlxF-E_4rpDArjI4K0pjAIwoIHK4r68STKxm61xbG4htM_vvXjqE_XXgssclTt_rREmprs88VMhIhug82MEDonSrbveP-9NiTvqmkYwE6Cm5vckY0Y0b_Lr_XTFSo-4rdI_k/s1430/Claire.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1430" data-original-width="1093" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7VtVO5ehxURCzQ-pYip4voYk9KLKo_qNkj_GfZO2q36rbp7QE3rWdlxF-E_4rpDArjI4K0pjAIwoIHK4r68STKxm61xbG4htM_vvXjqE_XXgssclTt_rREmprs88VMhIhug82MEDonSrbveP-9NiTvqmkYwE6Cm5vckY0Y0b_Lr_XTFSo-4rdI_k/s320/Claire.PNG" width="245" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTtNj5EMhN_uRZMiRL4FwdNHlDRH7t7Po--NG0SVcPdsWdZR33Q7q9mte9YKOukUYG3dgHwEtrHrpUytIInVuidfyPFkQWr-TV-XoLtrsVhzroomTwgZqE89x_fzdhAC4OmX8uLLFoENTiEXmlzEW_CbhBu2OA5pahbb9RLY95hs2OHzlaJYldKIT/s1414/Jane%20sewing.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="882" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTtNj5EMhN_uRZMiRL4FwdNHlDRH7t7Po--NG0SVcPdsWdZR33Q7q9mte9YKOukUYG3dgHwEtrHrpUytIInVuidfyPFkQWr-TV-XoLtrsVhzroomTwgZqE89x_fzdhAC4OmX8uLLFoENTiEXmlzEW_CbhBu2OA5pahbb9RLY95hs2OHzlaJYldKIT/s320/Jane%20sewing.PNG" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM68v2rFQ5KTa8IkyjoyBCD1sgw9yqWMlhUkeOxIMEA-1V-MdPci4c8dXxjbf32uxSnprfNlyu4Ql2E0DMyp1Utd6Dk8TSOviWVPLkEROYJeQGYIqHBNmBdPtVJDun1P-Tgn84ZvghDveH3DzqMO6Lvjinuz0TaEVUZesVnwja58MdK7AAtqDXiMlJ/s1474/Mali.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="1106" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM68v2rFQ5KTa8IkyjoyBCD1sgw9yqWMlhUkeOxIMEA-1V-MdPci4c8dXxjbf32uxSnprfNlyu4Ql2E0DMyp1Utd6Dk8TSOviWVPLkEROYJeQGYIqHBNmBdPtVJDun1P-Tgn84ZvghDveH3DzqMO6Lvjinuz0TaEVUZesVnwja58MdK7AAtqDXiMlJ/s320/Mali.PNG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV9QotfiIh1mB8-Amff1GQBvG7fv2M00WQm1MyM4RA_Nm88ByPIaDTV5yoqzfx8Yo5wy-R3zGWGEz_bCfG1kpkSQQSTRHV3SV4cAxFexwEatNCvK_rhFQCptNGRAa8-R5ldwg2kCCftxY4q0U16AdkFqHIoYwxERwWkM1p5O7cOxK6EarmIjiLsXd/s1480/mom.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1480" data-original-width="1115" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV9QotfiIh1mB8-Amff1GQBvG7fv2M00WQm1MyM4RA_Nm88ByPIaDTV5yoqzfx8Yo5wy-R3zGWGEz_bCfG1kpkSQQSTRHV3SV4cAxFexwEatNCvK_rhFQCptNGRAa8-R5ldwg2kCCftxY4q0U16AdkFqHIoYwxERwWkM1p5O7cOxK6EarmIjiLsXd/s320/mom.PNG" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrmXD80bs4-uzIeSyWNBq6cQcB3kwFN7RzECn-iPX5KQ4maknBY-z0el-pNYVsY9Iq0ueDDgT8hYDq-USzgC5ITO6keaGBsNAFTRxyOtw1-HNgIfA27G7ntziaCdDUNqB3Qi5e__5KIgml-cqaBmTEFZ__TPrgjYcf7TpmHlJr9cOu3Dp-kyYiFkp/s1610/sewing%20camp%20girls.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="1610" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrmXD80bs4-uzIeSyWNBq6cQcB3kwFN7RzECn-iPX5KQ4maknBY-z0el-pNYVsY9Iq0ueDDgT8hYDq-USzgC5ITO6keaGBsNAFTRxyOtw1-HNgIfA27G7ntziaCdDUNqB3Qi5e__5KIgml-cqaBmTEFZ__TPrgjYcf7TpmHlJr9cOu3Dp-kyYiFkp/s320/sewing%20camp%20girls.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWFkEKDb5wIcMOjoa6r9w8rp3M5G6KA-Pp4qIv1oumFl_71ZMvmWMq2WJdj-wApVxOP12kqIBLpwsXsk-XCis51KlE817wy42uERhEWwwfkwwgZzd8FnvagTgov01oYkyO817atWoy6LW7Sp5eVicLxNJSrikjbji3Ac7uzeUlkjq06PYyDZQpMM9/s1475/the%20sewing%20fairy.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1457" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWFkEKDb5wIcMOjoa6r9w8rp3M5G6KA-Pp4qIv1oumFl_71ZMvmWMq2WJdj-wApVxOP12kqIBLpwsXsk-XCis51KlE817wy42uERhEWwwfkwwgZzd8FnvagTgov01oYkyO817atWoy6LW7Sp5eVicLxNJSrikjbji3Ac7uzeUlkjq06PYyDZQpMM9/s320/the%20sewing%20fairy.PNG" width="316" /></a></div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-889116826406598612022-04-24T08:56:00.004-06:002022-04-24T08:56:52.452-06:00Earth Day in Action in ABQ<p>I met Bridget by the recycling bins. Our connection happened over empty bolts of fabric. (my car was loaded down, thanks to all the customers who shopped our clearance sale!) We had an instant rapport, visited, and then emailed some follow ups. Our encounter happened 2 days before Earth Day, and I wanted to get her story out!</p><p>I asked her if I could 'interview' her via email, and here's the result: (my questions in italic)</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: large;"><i>You and I met at the recycling bins. I was there with all the Hip Stitch cardboard. Why were you there?</i> </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: large;">I run the bins every other day or so to see if there's anything repairable or reusable, or to pull out things that don't belong like used automotive oil or scrap metal and get them where they belong.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: large;"><i>What motivates you to do this?</i> </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: large;">Growing up, this is how my family operated. My parents always were looking for ways to extend the life of objects that other people didn't want, rescuing things from the curb, repairing instead of replacing. My dad would rescue window fans from the garbage, make a simple and easy repair, and donate them to our Church's sister Parish in a very economically disadvantaged part of town where they never had air conditioning... And this is in Ohio where it's not only hot but humid.</span></p><div style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Tell me a bit about your background (grew up, career, interests) and anything else you want folks to know about you.</i></div><p><span class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: large;">I grew up in Ohio, Cincinnati and Columbus. Although I currently work in physical therapy, my first career was working in professional restaurant kitchens and bake shops like the Hyatt Regency. I moved to New Mexico in 2003, following my sister who had come out on a speaking engagement and absolutely fell in love with the environment, the culture, and of course the food.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: large;">Here's Bridget and her friend Sallie:</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tAzhGqoywa3FWRnQVfALotB9ov1hU3pd-Nm10Ri20-TJY_6jrvoatViRzhy9GOCItHdVyYLqgR-6ccyekpHTU_QE0gyB9qFsdlKTXKbWM9hl566SAEddDsP8PRvSfMld1tYgU66eY_Xg0m7UmCo3df8ZiUaXBnAq0ySrUEsErtyzTMA0zH_fVWYg/s4000/bridget%20and%20friend%20at%20recycling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tAzhGqoywa3FWRnQVfALotB9ov1hU3pd-Nm10Ri20-TJY_6jrvoatViRzhy9GOCItHdVyYLqgR-6ccyekpHTU_QE0gyB9qFsdlKTXKbWM9hl566SAEddDsP8PRvSfMld1tYgU66eY_Xg0m7UmCo3df8ZiUaXBnAq0ySrUEsErtyzTMA0zH_fVWYg/w415-h553/bridget%20and%20friend%20at%20recycling.jpg" width="415" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Also, Bridget is an incredible artist! She'll be showing and selling her mandala artwork here:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Los Ranchos: <span style="color: #202124;">6718 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Los Ranchos De Albuquerque, NM 87107</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Every Sat from 8-12 starting May 7, on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">And finally, she shared with me about the Facebook group(s) by neighborhood called "Buy Nothing":</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #202124;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDVhyneWLYojE88B1CyGNl3uKVv4Vx4o2qYVWfSVXwfzpXJZ5B8RhqiwBHGcxF-sZ_8Lv24-JnfTJVMeylNXzZvBcqbXmZN375_fbW3LOdzj2LsnDrLwQPlwT4cvNOTX913SWFyOOmyjCu-Ral_JgEyhLkd7dEPSNhGIjRYKUvut0OdbSvFxa8_z7/s960/buy%20nothing%20image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDVhyneWLYojE88B1CyGNl3uKVv4Vx4o2qYVWfSVXwfzpXJZ5B8RhqiwBHGcxF-sZ_8Lv24-JnfTJVMeylNXzZvBcqbXmZN375_fbW3LOdzj2LsnDrLwQPlwT4cvNOTX913SWFyOOmyjCu-Ral_JgEyhLkd7dEPSNhGIjRYKUvut0OdbSvFxa8_z7/w457-h240/buy%20nothing%20image.jpg" width="457" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">She stressed the importance that everything will find a home, a use, a project for someone if it's put out there for someone to claim! Putting an old chair, or mattress, or anything else that should NOT go in the recycling bin, will be claimed if it's just put outside the bin, or on the curb nearby, with a FREE sign. Put it up on the Buy Nothing page on Facebook.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (I confess I don't know the city guidelines about putting things out on the curb, but my point is bigger than that: don't put stuff in the recycling bin that's NOT recyclable. It defeats the purpose. It makes the job harder for those who work on the other end of recycling)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And FINALLY, try practicing "buy nothing", except for FABRIC. At Hip Stitch. Of course.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq47wttfZE4gRMV5OtHSSLo4eFM42kBH2SPDfU_qQaykxEau537jk0abPTuIya89eIaxiuYyGHIRQ8AZaoAPelzwgk69SFl3SneHoPzpoMewp3qKdzLAnA1VZCp4vPC3nTe0Qn5WDbVTLJrLjhWu_wvae_kv0cutTZAdhXv8tPYOTz5hlxaC-7MAe/s1280/thumbs-up-4007573_1280.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1280" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq47wttfZE4gRMV5OtHSSLo4eFM42kBH2SPDfU_qQaykxEau537jk0abPTuIya89eIaxiuYyGHIRQ8AZaoAPelzwgk69SFl3SneHoPzpoMewp3qKdzLAnA1VZCp4vPC3nTe0Qn5WDbVTLJrLjhWu_wvae_kv0cutTZAdhXv8tPYOTz5hlxaC-7MAe/s320/thumbs-up-4007573_1280.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div></div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-69189153380790700772022-03-26T20:43:00.002-06:002022-03-26T20:43:54.210-06:00That feeling we're feeling.....JOY<p>This past Friday afternoon all those who purchased the pdf pattern from Tatiana Popova, <a href="https://www.hipstitchabq.com/module/class/444588/slow-stitching---tree-of-happiness">Tree of Happiness</a>, were invited to Hip Stitch for a meet and greet with Juan Carlos, who begin this wonderful journey of community support for a Ukranian artist and refugee.</p><p>We gathered, noshed on food and drink, visited, and were further inspired by seeing Juan Carlos' work on the pattern:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKHvn0Lgufx5fdbWd0L_bns6vyvrNWm2j2ov7eTtg_6athbldys06mdkiu-mQlvCEh3dgHnN2roWVUpQkoHm38O5ObEovjPUpXAxqMP2g6wO2lmWxIsjPKRAoPyM6W6u4N8phJDmsjCixMqVVUcGBnj2ZAVKZLBil-LLVXrteUgYjd6soC9wEN5Fy/s1260/pic%205.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="1094" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKHvn0Lgufx5fdbWd0L_bns6vyvrNWm2j2ov7eTtg_6athbldys06mdkiu-mQlvCEh3dgHnN2roWVUpQkoHm38O5ObEovjPUpXAxqMP2g6wO2lmWxIsjPKRAoPyM6W6u4N8phJDmsjCixMqVVUcGBnj2ZAVKZLBil-LLVXrteUgYjd6soC9wEN5Fy/w363-h418/pic%205.PNG" width="363" /></a></div><br /><p>Catherine and Diana, who have been so very instrumental in leading the effort to help folks with their pattern, from choosing floss to setting up the light box for tracing, were there to answer questions. I simply could NOT have pulled this off without them!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8roMNW8HChWW9cXuWydSWlaWaCfi_3ImJ5l6QLzFkAGDbS1zPEd5gqgss6bzHwdjl6eLoIHw7zw9nQlZexPxW9XrsROVk-Xej8Ud59SLtL-zYog8YQM0iDWHQUu1y0vS1J5QO0ixij95tMNkCKs8pJ_KbMqkbxGh2oC1Rtcjq3JKlJQSjeOyEIp-/s1411/pic%201.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1107" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8roMNW8HChWW9cXuWydSWlaWaCfi_3ImJ5l6QLzFkAGDbS1zPEd5gqgss6bzHwdjl6eLoIHw7zw9nQlZexPxW9XrsROVk-Xej8Ud59SLtL-zYog8YQM0iDWHQUu1y0vS1J5QO0ixij95tMNkCKs8pJ_KbMqkbxGh2oC1Rtcjq3JKlJQSjeOyEIp-/w319-h406/pic%201.PNG" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2TmGKfY3kYRE7dJ_YHxcehOImhvKLBIIgoPGgIHBgc0s7cjwe4HgeHWF1y0uVBrVakDrXe2cu0OlkNQMmprXnr__hf0qJGUfRUKpJXTykjaBI2N4GH3nG1rf6HxkyFq3EUFcfi6M4ULJoRFC6LhG1v1wm2hRZ-Vq3jP1Z3CYDOR0mBrn3wBlVoyv/s1195/pic%203.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1127" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2TmGKfY3kYRE7dJ_YHxcehOImhvKLBIIgoPGgIHBgc0s7cjwe4HgeHWF1y0uVBrVakDrXe2cu0OlkNQMmprXnr__hf0qJGUfRUKpJXTykjaBI2N4GH3nG1rf6HxkyFq3EUFcfi6M4ULJoRFC6LhG1v1wm2hRZ-Vq3jP1Z3CYDOR0mBrn3wBlVoyv/w384-h407/pic%203.PNG" width="384" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QMGqpZW8gie6wXggbt7rDHB3UDWbH3x3kEj7ok0OEgyMBPGIqCUGRrYY192wlI-Kh43bXosoTKmnjKySgwvkZdNVJ_Rmv2nRzDfBWan75w9sGS3Vo63VF7fyliQ6GbsjCdJ58NynWpw8ED_XoZCfmNG32WEEnMqce4LxT_77LAg56tsZexhY5Vsj/s1131/pic%204.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1131" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QMGqpZW8gie6wXggbt7rDHB3UDWbH3x3kEj7ok0OEgyMBPGIqCUGRrYY192wlI-Kh43bXosoTKmnjKySgwvkZdNVJ_Rmv2nRzDfBWan75w9sGS3Vo63VF7fyliQ6GbsjCdJ58NynWpw8ED_XoZCfmNG32WEEnMqce4LxT_77LAg56tsZexhY5Vsj/w409-h331/pic%204.PNG" width="409" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was chatting with customer Karen, and found myself laughing and smiling and </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">finally put my finger on this feeling I was feeling: JOY.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were gathering again. We were catching up and laughing til the tears were forming (at least for me)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even us introverts, of which I'm one, were....joyful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And we relunctantly parted ways, with a "see you Wednesday" for those who are coming to <a href="https://www.hipstitchabq.com/module/class/444588/slow-stitching---tree-of-happiness">Slow Stitching</a> to work on our patterns. And I'm so glad to say that joy is still with me, one day later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The world is still kind of hard, and still has much sadness, as I've felt with my correspondance with Tatiana in Ukraine, but I'm thankful we human beings have the range of emotions we have, to feel joy and laughter in spite of what's around us.</div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-26208216540335661512022-03-19T13:00:00.001-06:002022-03-19T13:00:17.298-06:00Trip to the North Part 2: Make Do & MendTraveling north was to see our daughter, in her senior recital of grad school at Bowling Green State University. A text/picture arrived a few weeks before the trip....the dress was purchased for the performance, but needed alterations:<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRX3qcN8QVHQwig1rB44VlbQN_9-ZE52OSHIPdvO-KGmUDHQRubQGDk4U5UVl88iskIlE2_mydya5BBwv3TEo8WrLtE4w2uYdGwyu07VOOW0-hAiqdyhXVj9PfAfeQ0wF2EHW9ATiala11SWJNDesocek694YSvASu-uwhtvwturK2QfTY3VSQ_kBS=s1479" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="896" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRX3qcN8QVHQwig1rB44VlbQN_9-ZE52OSHIPdvO-KGmUDHQRubQGDk4U5UVl88iskIlE2_mydya5BBwv3TEo8WrLtE4w2uYdGwyu07VOOW0-hAiqdyhXVj9PfAfeQ0wF2EHW9ATiala11SWJNDesocek694YSvASu-uwhtvwturK2QfTY3VSQ_kBS=w275-h454" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Easy, right? A quick hem!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time was put aside one afternoon, went went to the local quilt shop and picked up some thread, and got home to her apartment where I started by cleaning out her sewing machine. Yikes. (yes, that's lint)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt3PlN3pgAqxImI-gUJjQ0IL-4tF0dDC-cWuV4gl8-DLyGQsDDcr7AQlpv2WlgMpR-gxrGc58rKChKT_iNDCAfcNu33V6-PxGyI3Roh1mcp4r4q3Fo3k9OcCma1H1HBCr47IaqgUcF7jvvcLNBPnRyVcAE2hFawR92n8ksAYeNHXiGvXo1PHOO9jdW=s1328" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="1118" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt3PlN3pgAqxImI-gUJjQ0IL-4tF0dDC-cWuV4gl8-DLyGQsDDcr7AQlpv2WlgMpR-gxrGc58rKChKT_iNDCAfcNu33V6-PxGyI3Roh1mcp4r4q3Fo3k9OcCma1H1HBCr47IaqgUcF7jvvcLNBPnRyVcAE2hFawR92n8ksAYeNHXiGvXo1PHOO9jdW=w361-h430" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Got that all cleaned out, put the bobbin case in, then the bobbin, and did a test sew. Needle broke. Took everything out again, re-inserted everything, needle changed. Sewed - needle broke. Did this ONCE more before it was time for a drastic switch to plan B. (I can only troubleshoot so far.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back to the quilt shop for some <a href="https://www.hipstitchabq.com/shop/c/p/Stitch-Witchery-Fusible-Bonding-Web-58-x14918186.htm">Stitch Witchery</a>. Came back to her apartment, and got going:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Enkhsn9j83pCHsEkwIdP5SoqincyczzcuopNmsjZVGu3jBcNFtQGBLmRJQXz2Bq3dSDMmiGRLtbhJPhYTAiPVWl-LOSRyW7kIDF2fpHSLOAwrovWYml3GVfpF4LcY7j-4mqOmQgMPlvdIR9yT7eQ0sKDhOtTa37CrWiR2Rwr0588JSVCt6bh6oPc=s2458" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2458" data-original-width="1363" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Enkhsn9j83pCHsEkwIdP5SoqincyczzcuopNmsjZVGu3jBcNFtQGBLmRJQXz2Bq3dSDMmiGRLtbhJPhYTAiPVWl-LOSRyW7kIDF2fpHSLOAwrovWYml3GVfpF4LcY7j-4mqOmQgMPlvdIR9yT7eQ0sKDhOtTa37CrWiR2Rwr0588JSVCt6bh6oPc=w226-h408" width="226" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlmy19c1fTSCttytXN1Bx1oTQPdo8QL6mfGDiHlxpQrjKb97WCyxlEaEoGmBkJH93uJwkcgMEca1zUvYKWejRjwETcev0e9v7doWXLlaKbviZTwPETNowN5HOVqs2mC92qXDTq8E8JMn36kI_eKJnu6uyzkOJlCxFS3hUAqO0bsIkUm552VLfrJWpo=s1948" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlmy19c1fTSCttytXN1Bx1oTQPdo8QL6mfGDiHlxpQrjKb97WCyxlEaEoGmBkJH93uJwkcgMEca1zUvYKWejRjwETcev0e9v7doWXLlaKbviZTwPETNowN5HOVqs2mC92qXDTq8E8JMn36kI_eKJnu6uyzkOJlCxFS3hUAqO0bsIkUm552VLfrJWpo=s1948" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYIr7ZozBOAmrYu_KdHq_lmlUvvhbmGu3PTzUYVTbS_syjFGLYykHsLSZRCttr8yISveRPmm6jtpxgPGWsLv7Af-b2yy_3znPUvZAIa_7Qnj_YF7458YYB1z56lcQ3pn2G6M_RkBDMrfzgKWVLqwrtwpV5mOasi_tgzjPRRpmqpMJoBS14mJ2sr8eb=s1398" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="1105" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYIr7ZozBOAmrYu_KdHq_lmlUvvhbmGu3PTzUYVTbS_syjFGLYykHsLSZRCttr8yISveRPmm6jtpxgPGWsLv7Af-b2yy_3znPUvZAIa_7Qnj_YF7458YYB1z56lcQ3pn2G6M_RkBDMrfzgKWVLqwrtwpV5mOasi_tgzjPRRpmqpMJoBS14mJ2sr8eb=w364-h460" width="364" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="1948" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlmy19c1fTSCttytXN1Bx1oTQPdo8QL6mfGDiHlxpQrjKb97WCyxlEaEoGmBkJH93uJwkcgMEca1zUvYKWejRjwETcev0e9v7doWXLlaKbviZTwPETNowN5HOVqs2mC92qXDTq8E8JMn36kI_eKJnu6uyzkOJlCxFS3hUAqO0bsIkUm552VLfrJWpo=w420-h315" width="420" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the floor, using a portable ironing mat. Because that's what you do when you're in a tiny one bedroom apartment!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYbU5MtnCtalobnjT9r5M8hy_HGkFTdNNH1DJS9udD3UIb3wr2EeJxDlLKilQuUzGuthE3s4TT7ZVEb1JhV7XlLl-3No_UJ375vQ26x3-AENZ6Yn6o5nN94s89CQjm_8GN2NhkADNaq8agjG4zuiIBzuO2KDXmJmlkinwU9euokxajgNGl6f3YgxTP=s1447" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="1090" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYbU5MtnCtalobnjT9r5M8hy_HGkFTdNNH1DJS9udD3UIb3wr2EeJxDlLKilQuUzGuthE3s4TT7ZVEb1JhV7XlLl-3No_UJ375vQ26x3-AENZ6Yn6o5nN94s89CQjm_8GN2NhkADNaq8agjG4zuiIBzuO2KDXmJmlkinwU9euokxajgNGl6f3YgxTP=w339-h450" width="339" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(taking the straps up - this looks messier than the final look: I intentionally hand stitched a 'satin stitch' kind of look to hold the cut pieces together.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And well, voila:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggfJl4ddSVg4XYWveVv4Ju1rZLis8I20KLApqzOIO7Rv9ACdxtWySMxJU5Hl-W2hBzBeuxRXOJSwgZ3KyMM9wgbsiXzrHTqQa_IoEfJYfb_nD0MHdwCy5YyaC63-V15B8-N3kOYnazeQiyZgQOUPeADRp-jPRvfoMKz0zdzpI5fo1zu7_B3scqqbwt=s1444" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="873" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggfJl4ddSVg4XYWveVv4Ju1rZLis8I20KLApqzOIO7Rv9ACdxtWySMxJU5Hl-W2hBzBeuxRXOJSwgZ3KyMM9wgbsiXzrHTqQa_IoEfJYfb_nD0MHdwCy5YyaC63-V15B8-N3kOYnazeQiyZgQOUPeADRp-jPRvfoMKz0zdzpI5fo1zu7_B3scqqbwt=w295-h489" width="295" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And what comes to mind is that line from Ratatouille, where Chef Gusteau says, "Anyone can cook!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>"Anyone can sew!"</i></b></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-2941567787212420492022-02-27T13:11:00.001-07:002022-02-27T13:16:00.678-07:00Trip to the North Part 1: Gees Bend<p>What?? Less than 2 weeks after visiting Gees Bend, Alabama, IN PERSON, I stumble upon an exhibit at the Art Musuem of Toledo Art Museum called <a href="https://www.toledomuseum.org/art/exhibitions/living-legacies-art-african-american-south">"Living Legacies: Art of the African American South."</a></p><p>I was there to attend a concert of the <a href="https://www.canadianbrass.com/">Canadian Brass </a> playing with the <a href="https://www.toledosymphony.com/">Toledo Symphony</a>. (what can I say? I have a musician daughter who makes me into a more classy human being)</p><p>So I'm there at the museum, 1 1/2 hours before the concert, and my husband, daughter, her boyfriend and I agreed to each go off and wander the musuem and meet in time to go into the concert hall.</p><p>I'm torn between wanting to move slowly and <i><b>absorb</b></i> everything, and hasten my pace to <b><i>see</i></b> everything. Then then there it was....a room off a room: a QUILT. (moth to a flame) I'm there - reading about art in the south. Reading about Gees Bend. Looking at quilts. Holy shit, how can this be a coincidence??</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbaKUXI2VSIMdi9phPMqaW0hqJ8CjSD_Bka5WpnlGclFVoiB3WBGyNDfPo94wyd9Fq1GVCIZQPvmCfkyWdIlW-EPTofe-GLrlepLOWdHA0EfYEdDH_KzXW_0FmS90RdiEROU8iO_LtoevUwCyyyB6mNx0p0wvD-UpaqTUB3-MqGm61lDuPyHfi-Ucn=s1444" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1068" height="547" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbaKUXI2VSIMdi9phPMqaW0hqJ8CjSD_Bka5WpnlGclFVoiB3WBGyNDfPo94wyd9Fq1GVCIZQPvmCfkyWdIlW-EPTofe-GLrlepLOWdHA0EfYEdDH_KzXW_0FmS90RdiEROU8iO_LtoevUwCyyyB6mNx0p0wvD-UpaqTUB3-MqGm61lDuPyHfi-Ucn=w405-h547" width="405" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijXVxPcQIN_WghDgrnqjqWw2Lk1nzy_xbB6DNei8kSFQKmo8_zD0Mq2dRNHV3_KkkadIY9FxV74nfGQUjNpOKawqKuI0pE3be1rzDVmamRPCi_IJeaUOgTgukvdJGoGYW_QHN4fh_AdJqebYOBV6cSDeM6nwQG3MiQHe-sxivmGi9KV_rZTCVm-Bgk=s1350" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1116" height="437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijXVxPcQIN_WghDgrnqjqWw2Lk1nzy_xbB6DNei8kSFQKmo8_zD0Mq2dRNHV3_KkkadIY9FxV74nfGQUjNpOKawqKuI0pE3be1rzDVmamRPCi_IJeaUOgTgukvdJGoGYW_QHN4fh_AdJqebYOBV6cSDeM6nwQG3MiQHe-sxivmGi9KV_rZTCVm-Bgk=w362-h437" width="362" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAhBcpl0gnbfT74rK9mqnuHndY9RffFr_6wuF6bjFKlJa5iveKnsAMspWYOTkn5gwJvZQoJm3CjWMSY9STzRw6fYZ6tzVBbK1fZg-QAUEno2Vqfmw2M95kILLoDffdYqwC91MGN4LlVjCxQjqfkwuDRHKlvV42XI36jR16b8SFFgie64-to6Da1pxe=s1128" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1128" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAhBcpl0gnbfT74rK9mqnuHndY9RffFr_6wuF6bjFKlJa5iveKnsAMspWYOTkn5gwJvZQoJm3CjWMSY9STzRw6fYZ6tzVBbK1fZg-QAUEno2Vqfmw2M95kILLoDffdYqwC91MGN4LlVjCxQjqfkwuDRHKlvV42XI36jR16b8SFFgie64-to6Da1pxe=w404-h388" width="404" /></a></div><p>This is not the end of the story, my friend. The next morning, I'm attending a service at the Glenwood Lutheran Church in Toledo, which is located right next door to the museum. My daughter's beau is the choir director/organist at this very historic, beautiful, sacred place of worship. I found myself transfixed, listening to a talk on Black History Month, and black inventors, like Sarah Boone, a 19th century dressmaker who was awarded a patent for the modern day ironing board in 1892. The speaker talked of the meditativeness of ironing, which spoke to my soul. <i>(not everyone feels this way, I get it)</i>. There was also talk of the recent drive-by shooting of 10 year old <a href="https://www.13abc.com/2022/02/12/man-9-year-old-injured-shooting-toledo/">Damia Ezell</a>, in the neighborhood, and how can this church offer support to the community, as it is a <i>part </i>of that community?</p><p>And then, at the end of the service, Rev. Christopher announced that those interested are invited to attend a private docent tour at the museum next door of above-mentioned exhibit that drew the moth to the flame. Wait.....what?!?</p><p>So that was how I found myself back at the Musuem of Art with about 15 church members, heart racing <i>(in a good way)</i>, about to have a private tour. I shared with the docent about my excitment because, well, I had just been to Gees Bend. She asked if I'd share a little about my visit when we got to that part, and GULP, I did. To this beautiful group of folks, who shared with the docent about how spirituality played a huge part in the artists' work. I am incredibly grateful to have been a part of this church for in Toledo, Ohio, on a cold February Sunday morning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4IpYwSxEmRjQMOnGYLoLWlz7LFY7oqTmzUWFFbvtlZFSfYr6iCWVhHE8uab2oZ2_qS1y9_95Hl9ss1Fzumx5GwPnqkIs-Xj3H2XILw7kaO2XRl2fumfy8eVOQzaiimlbZAsoYXsFNte-rkOVTtP0RcDkpRibTQT8zpR_HngsP4i7VVPCj9Zux3TMS=s960" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4IpYwSxEmRjQMOnGYLoLWlz7LFY7oqTmzUWFFbvtlZFSfYr6iCWVhHE8uab2oZ2_qS1y9_95Hl9ss1Fzumx5GwPnqkIs-Xj3H2XILw7kaO2XRl2fumfy8eVOQzaiimlbZAsoYXsFNte-rkOVTtP0RcDkpRibTQT8zpR_HngsP4i7VVPCj9Zux3TMS=w464-h348" width="464" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht5q9JS2ask13Ljh_AsOflEOHA3fULDH5BO6BhzFTNbDWnPk4MIP1gGxaxXr5Xaou0mDXk84WQgafLb4pU4WkmFUpXeD10AIF-o9-QUbu2WeCo1wqJtb6e78NYjyoBBzCSNrfq-BnCTWcL_qYfeCR2cmdtbf5AzGZVK9Mvb0hIijh_cFvZyoT09ikh=s960" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht5q9JS2ask13Ljh_AsOflEOHA3fULDH5BO6BhzFTNbDWnPk4MIP1gGxaxXr5Xaou0mDXk84WQgafLb4pU4WkmFUpXeD10AIF-o9-QUbu2WeCo1wqJtb6e78NYjyoBBzCSNrfq-BnCTWcL_qYfeCR2cmdtbf5AzGZVK9Mvb0hIijh_cFvZyoT09ikh=w387-h516" width="387" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Toledo, OH in February, in case you're wondering:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9ZfIvhL5zN3arhbYjcLAGtia7lDMOmoeoU-hBAehYFc5x54hGmMd5Gmq84S0fyBYb4tI9XVj0X72hWS1TSxTYfj6V742hW-4r_ODg4dKfN4G_H4SlTMv-jqqrF_9hqWPvN-YTYVvrQN-TYZv1VrL5IqIaqcW8FjsifZJ5CI_FHgPHjVtgCs_iXL2T=s1728" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1728" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9ZfIvhL5zN3arhbYjcLAGtia7lDMOmoeoU-hBAehYFc5x54hGmMd5Gmq84S0fyBYb4tI9XVj0X72hWS1TSxTYfj6V742hW-4r_ODg4dKfN4G_H4SlTMv-jqqrF_9hqWPvN-YTYVvrQN-TYZv1VrL5IqIaqcW8FjsifZJ5CI_FHgPHjVtgCs_iXL2T=w478-h281" width="478" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Next on the blog: Part 2: Sewing for Dummies</p>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-2132389130103636782022-02-13T19:54:00.000-07:002022-02-13T19:54:48.989-07:00Bucket List - Checked Off!<p> I decided to take a trip to Alabama to visit my 90 year old aunt. My daughter Claire had just graduated from college, wasn't yet settled into the next chapter in her life, was itching to travel, and so we decided to road trip it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg43dT8XcxzV9q2YWrpHVZJmrJ51_9OoZIaw6b7J_ylVZnzK0qTMSncCGgRpIx5Bs2frlHUxLaekwg8c8bab1xGcofImnR2iVZmJNW55k2YQqDGwNMsBtRJD3pUvyTXPnKWj0zkH_0--C7prOwTe-o2qPh8oGxmuTlb0_h7YaWT6dfXKAMaUQLy8qfr=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg43dT8XcxzV9q2YWrpHVZJmrJ51_9OoZIaw6b7J_ylVZnzK0qTMSncCGgRpIx5Bs2frlHUxLaekwg8c8bab1xGcofImnR2iVZmJNW55k2YQqDGwNMsBtRJD3pUvyTXPnKWj0zkH_0--C7prOwTe-o2qPh8oGxmuTlb0_h7YaWT6dfXKAMaUQLy8qfr=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here we are after a big breakfast at the Waffle House, which is like Starbucks of the south - there's one on every corner!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After making the decision to do this trip, I also decided to visit Gees Bend, home of the Gees Bend Collective, which is just 3 hours north of Fairhope, where Aunt Sue lives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Claire & I set our alarm and started the trip early in the morning. I had called the week before and spoke to Mary Ann Pettway, who knew we were coming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We spent a magical hour and a half there, chatting with Mary Ann and wandering around the small building where the sewing and quilting takes place - taking in the quilts in progress (Mary Ann does a number of commissioned quilts and makes others ready to sell), reading about the history, looking at the photo gallery on the wall. She was working on a quilt that was similar in colors/style to one that was made for President Obama. She talked about her upbringing, her daughter and grandchildren, her love of singing, her travels with other quilters, the retreats where she teaches, and we agreed that there's too much hate in the world and things would be so much better if more folks would just love each other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I bought a small piece she made and a framed block by another quilter in the collective. They'll be housed at Hip Stitch if you come by!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbkhph28sGXoSvLqiIoEnAcKqC9WATNo9wGJV_-FZ5R01RLvaIENn-J27ZO81-fRQO9GS1S3WY17_ON09gg1IldLkubJEeI7zHCxBWmLT6y4Q5D2zT_5WaXKeqTcDYAQhMz4bGyb4VgpE50y6mgQGgzKnCt0RlCmOZiEfkhPP06t3pTHCF29LRK3I7=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbkhph28sGXoSvLqiIoEnAcKqC9WATNo9wGJV_-FZ5R01RLvaIENn-J27ZO81-fRQO9GS1S3WY17_ON09gg1IldLkubJEeI7zHCxBWmLT6y4Q5D2zT_5WaXKeqTcDYAQhMz4bGyb4VgpE50y6mgQGgzKnCt0RlCmOZiEfkhPP06t3pTHCF29LRK3I7=w321-h428" width="321" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRxTtPzAbppfZhN-W1kLIHtBepU5qlwIo9ckgQPTWJMhHv07dU6nUbTsHsM_NULN2L-zkgUJEI2wVaY61Z5_F5ZlIvAC66IYHPXc42kaBhZdi-7Vm_hz05ZkiREvQXOjuYRwqWQpfE0Zwe5YjBtdaUH2rlf_DWwAn1MhekP3sYm6S1esM_oLCJrJBv=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRxTtPzAbppfZhN-W1kLIHtBepU5qlwIo9ckgQPTWJMhHv07dU6nUbTsHsM_NULN2L-zkgUJEI2wVaY61Z5_F5ZlIvAC66IYHPXc42kaBhZdi-7Vm_hz05ZkiREvQXOjuYRwqWQpfE0Zwe5YjBtdaUH2rlf_DWwAn1MhekP3sYm6S1esM_oLCJrJBv=w340-h453" width="340" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo4FoT-Vp1RCMUxyno7wfH3lLYfNAth1mix4kqS5xgBoOKXcNG1roehCcQMI1S5xshoucz8pga7hLZZizthoGR1MjXXi2ENbiihv9hZx36djTc5DgYWowQZTI0XzOMvYRbhwdGhuj1EgR0BQqiqK9rBxx1ft5fbiiIgFvUJlEateVnk1lkbcS3HpGJ=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo4FoT-Vp1RCMUxyno7wfH3lLYfNAth1mix4kqS5xgBoOKXcNG1roehCcQMI1S5xshoucz8pga7hLZZizthoGR1MjXXi2ENbiihv9hZx36djTc5DgYWowQZTI0XzOMvYRbhwdGhuj1EgR0BQqiqK9rBxx1ft5fbiiIgFvUJlEateVnk1lkbcS3HpGJ=w344-h459" width="344" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGV6YfgHrFS3OjimWZ2bHgd-5iiYmgwic6eJhifAdC-j1fKMzrfXDhHsOVCxpAVbMn5RCcGJkNkKQDT8hJRd7d1oc8ngVmSxcykV-V8jvdk9S0vhTJh9dvQ2GSHMDXe90CIcYkt_4ZobmmLP_4FRiesZzQEEkvvVMOc1vmgJd4OXDuy6y4w_rSc9vR=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGV6YfgHrFS3OjimWZ2bHgd-5iiYmgwic6eJhifAdC-j1fKMzrfXDhHsOVCxpAVbMn5RCcGJkNkKQDT8hJRd7d1oc8ngVmSxcykV-V8jvdk9S0vhTJh9dvQ2GSHMDXe90CIcYkt_4ZobmmLP_4FRiesZzQEEkvvVMOc1vmgJd4OXDuy6y4w_rSc9vR=w340-h453" width="340" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW5W1sqUf3kSsMNTvCUR9TqCqXREHG9siPq0u9MyXofqoANoasRIpygyXJ0f6g6XojwkM_E6nadfYD6nexzYCF0aHejyfZUnBmjktCvXAjkfqanjKMRdwdSfZmJ4lwgg80q6N-3W8gnPzdupm62obK4xAzD2glEknUCAM6EpxFBNfY2pJykd_DxnZL=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW5W1sqUf3kSsMNTvCUR9TqCqXREHG9siPq0u9MyXofqoANoasRIpygyXJ0f6g6XojwkM_E6nadfYD6nexzYCF0aHejyfZUnBmjktCvXAjkfqanjKMRdwdSfZmJ4lwgg80q6N-3W8gnPzdupm62obK4xAzD2glEknUCAM6EpxFBNfY2pJykd_DxnZL=w332-h443" width="332" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVLBX8cjlIKe2Bs3h0GWvi-Uz06XixFsuJdjIdPfu_Gh6WRwYlEYTGlAmZWNdOhhT3QcibGMLBOxWjZ10V2yeJCFC9hplVzN7pPe_xXfTOjo5hfq0uBYJawXd0euzP4VOM-IbSc7NFLTOSE4izlzOpKt-nZMZcXw6KTig6syrJNqrrgf4XzahiWxoU=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVLBX8cjlIKe2Bs3h0GWvi-Uz06XixFsuJdjIdPfu_Gh6WRwYlEYTGlAmZWNdOhhT3QcibGMLBOxWjZ10V2yeJCFC9hplVzN7pPe_xXfTOjo5hfq0uBYJawXd0euzP4VOM-IbSc7NFLTOSE4izlzOpKt-nZMZcXw6KTig6syrJNqrrgf4XzahiWxoU=w351-h468" width="351" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGrinythaG0S2__Fgeyh-QzVuA9K9JfVI0gNG9QpNTTlDc073GwmimAkx_za7ks4ftwVTYdIuWYRDdz5Vr16CyETIdWjX5I_C4n8gqhKq-cE444eu3elXy0eSoSreGm1MjPtUzzcJOO7leAHbbj3l1Xcpk_tJtt3D6F-qbqjtb-Tl93cjKZP9Uzmy8=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGrinythaG0S2__Fgeyh-QzVuA9K9JfVI0gNG9QpNTTlDc073GwmimAkx_za7ks4ftwVTYdIuWYRDdz5Vr16CyETIdWjX5I_C4n8gqhKq-cE444eu3elXy0eSoSreGm1MjPtUzzcJOO7leAHbbj3l1Xcpk_tJtt3D6F-qbqjtb-Tl93cjKZP9Uzmy8=w535-h401" width="535" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOErfJT3BMQ37k56aY5rwiFaRT13J0OOqZlN5bnhC24AX0Y6sqFHh8HNFH_oyV-r4-9ThViPZLNzFyYn7WX1qkoUwkcnMpe9MECmiMoxc-hTJp36TvuSmVitv92ontCaKSIIgW2Pq-diNu_rIrCM-cKuLXSXqMydh6XxDLcBjt3qmUQOUItMYvIMU3=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOErfJT3BMQ37k56aY5rwiFaRT13J0OOqZlN5bnhC24AX0Y6sqFHh8HNFH_oyV-r4-9ThViPZLNzFyYn7WX1qkoUwkcnMpe9MECmiMoxc-hTJp36TvuSmVitv92ontCaKSIIgW2Pq-diNu_rIrCM-cKuLXSXqMydh6XxDLcBjt3qmUQOUItMYvIMU3=w338-h451" width="338" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Goodbye, Gees Bend - thanks for the wonderful memory!</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-63785433215902295712021-12-27T19:41:00.003-07:002022-01-02T17:53:39.360-07:00Silver Linings in a Pandemic<p><b>At Hip Stitch:</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This last week wasn't one where I was on the store floor much.....the holidays, catching up w/office work after being away for a bit, and my daughters home had me occupied! And as many folks do this time of year, I've done my fair share of reflecting....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A little over a year ago, I offered to any customers interested in meeting weekly in a Zoom group for crafting & companionship. The world was shut down, we were all in our homes, and I wanted to offer a creative connection. One year later, we have a steady group of 7-8 of us - now good friends who meet weekly over Zoom (we've changed to name from Craft Hour to Happy Hour, as we moreso just catch up on our lives) Here's a snip I took when the group just started - most in this pic are still w/the group; a few moved on:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlxjyTJuKV-ei4m8su5aNlO4vctrYmXO6k40lLRMXX589cURMoPDPky4TJ5h7jPBPEpEQgm7Ydd2OZff8VnMwCH9950Ht6WQfvKJhG61EojqabPu_mVFPxvlVJdZCTwqqiMdo871_eSn9Ey45xjhfgJu4WjymA5WOyAQD4-pkHqLVDl48YK7ZxxcWQ=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlxjyTJuKV-ei4m8su5aNlO4vctrYmXO6k40lLRMXX589cURMoPDPky4TJ5h7jPBPEpEQgm7Ydd2OZff8VnMwCH9950Ht6WQfvKJhG61EojqabPu_mVFPxvlVJdZCTwqqiMdo871_eSn9Ey45xjhfgJu4WjymA5WOyAQD4-pkHqLVDl48YK7ZxxcWQ=w485-h273" width="485" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(boy did I need a haircut!) </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm so grateful for the group of women I've connected with weekly for a year. We've collectively laughed, and grieved, and celebrated, and lamented. We're still crafting, we're reading, we're starting to travel again, and getting together with our families again, and still getting through this pandemic, some days better than others - with the friendship of each other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Making this week:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some fun Valentines placemats:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglaIGf_Ify7EQeXRLgenNZ9j7WXDmfYU8TTlillICU5W00Rs8FLJZKd1NbtS-XhDdJfB16BlZi34vRlj5AwGpiyBckBqx24hkezqvmIIwQVhDaUSAvl1rKMWkcg6MvLiDLTR6hF9_xkAeEbHeecywBA2oh2AVMDeQ1cREIGgo-6SUaA4sFwoRhjelq=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglaIGf_Ify7EQeXRLgenNZ9j7WXDmfYU8TTlillICU5W00Rs8FLJZKd1NbtS-XhDdJfB16BlZi34vRlj5AwGpiyBckBqx24hkezqvmIIwQVhDaUSAvl1rKMWkcg6MvLiDLTR6hF9_xkAeEbHeecywBA2oh2AVMDeQ1cREIGgo-6SUaA4sFwoRhjelq=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwKQShcGJCt_Qek7fPbvr6IUSKAVJDHLgxcs20K2NtwxyR9FrhaJetwBxnKv534rCIeibPsZg8S39AvGPEtSHx6oenKkeXReF4bZOsQ3NMc31uD4TjU97HzjnnNA7-hyxsBpllb4UhnWshyWlRj9_-N8kAbnLTdHhCfazMWPZZPuxjdL0Wf_qGkC6H=s3005" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2701" data-original-width="3005" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwKQShcGJCt_Qek7fPbvr6IUSKAVJDHLgxcs20K2NtwxyR9FrhaJetwBxnKv534rCIeibPsZg8S39AvGPEtSHx6oenKkeXReF4bZOsQ3NMc31uD4TjU97HzjnnNA7-hyxsBpllb4UhnWshyWlRj9_-N8kAbnLTdHhCfazMWPZZPuxjdL0Wf_qGkC6H=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><b>Learned:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>How about this lovely piece, shared by my friend Mary. Reminders for us all:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje2_nTjuEToWSWE6Px_y1KAJrr_8wsc0pSN4bucXNVBUhy4ojcmFwkHPmO7WuVot-o3xBr527i2omGX0Tp6GYvs0CVKxxRo2wY_BhPpoOEpWOfHLcHPh3PXf6H5a1So-skCzvEFReoL5L4TI07Pl_a4sKSGVLkJ-KpBpxpl17J802gklimO7ClFGMK=s1380" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1329" data-original-width="1380" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje2_nTjuEToWSWE6Px_y1KAJrr_8wsc0pSN4bucXNVBUhy4ojcmFwkHPmO7WuVot-o3xBr527i2omGX0Tp6GYvs0CVKxxRo2wY_BhPpoOEpWOfHLcHPh3PXf6H5a1So-skCzvEFReoL5L4TI07Pl_a4sKSGVLkJ-KpBpxpl17J802gklimO7ClFGMK=w467-h450" width="467" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-75279674801520013652021-12-09T21:07:00.000-07:002021-12-09T21:07:58.471-07:00Update on Melissa<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfv_qHpu8ciQ0o2Hy4VMZK85AGkYuqtvnFGxifgvozqjVtN1-7-VFoHCXa-6sykLf0SC3aXAncUTvVkH2LlIe0JhRwYuBr5cEjZshDVmKlfGMh_YDHj-Dy9I18nZ82aoE_vj3wtI-8EwnpkkG3jBMngB0_2kXPECRiWmcF6_yHqFFWrl5pVWT3QOTV=s619" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfv_qHpu8ciQ0o2Hy4VMZK85AGkYuqtvnFGxifgvozqjVtN1-7-VFoHCXa-6sykLf0SC3aXAncUTvVkH2LlIe0JhRwYuBr5cEjZshDVmKlfGMh_YDHj-Dy9I18nZ82aoE_vj3wtI-8EwnpkkG3jBMngB0_2kXPECRiWmcF6_yHqFFWrl5pVWT3QOTV=s320" width="248" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I sat down with Melissa (Mel to us) recently to ask her/talk about this past year. This has been on my radar for several months, since she’s returned to work at Hip Stitch, but there’s always something pulling us away. Our wonderful customers have asked about her again and again, so we just had to make the time to chat.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-da4d0c10-7fff-23f7-b428-0aab6bcc22cf"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Needless to say, our 'interview' was emotional. She summed up the past (almost) 2 years as "I just put her head down and powered through." Now, though, that it’s over, the emotions and the weight of this journey are still present and strong.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s her story, medically speaking:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In February 2020, she had just returned from Quilt Con, laid down to go to sleep, and felt a lump in her breast. This was out of the blue, as she was 38 years old and had zero family history of breast cancer.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, the whirlwind:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite (or because of) Covid19, everything happened very quickly, which was a blessing: biopsy, diagnosis of stage 2 breast cancer, port put in, and started chemo within a month.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Six weeks after her last chemo treatment, she had a bi-lateral mastectomy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Margins were clear, the surgery was successful, & she went on to have 17 herceptin infusions, the last one being July 2021.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her final step - the removal of the port, was Sept. 2, 2021.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now for the emotional/mental journey:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All throughout our chat, she used the word ‘gratitude’ - and it’s no doubt she embodies it. She’s so very grateful for life, for the UNM Cancer Center (“phenomenal”) and everyone who helped her along the way - all the health care workers. She had to go to every one of her infusion treatments alone, but she had nurses there to hold her hand. She’s grateful for her friends, many of whom are Hip Stitch customers, who reached out to her, sent notes, even a care package. She’s grateful for her family, she’s grateful for having health insurance (yep, thanks Obama!) She’s grateful to be back at work, amongst friends and her work family. (we’re so very grateful too)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She’s grateful that her breast tissue when she had her mastectomy was immediately sent to UNM Research to be able to help others in the future with their diagnosis and treatment.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I asked her what else helped her through, and here were a few things:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Listening to a mediation app for anxiety, especially at night, when the mind spirals down the rabbit hole.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Doing guided image therapy.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, some wisdom from her:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*ladies, get your regular mammograms!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*The only way to overcome fear is to walk through it over and over and over again.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*A silver lining of the pandemic was getting fast treatment from the start.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*A lousy attitude can make a miserable situation more miserable. A positive attitude can make a miserable situation not just bearable, but filled with gratitude.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*This past 1.5 years have felt like a marathon - powering through, but once it’s done, the soreness (loss) catches up to you. She feels the weight of the past year now at times unexpected.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Finally, if anyone wants to reach out to her, please do! Questions, just to chat, she’d love that:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="mailto:mel.hipstitchabq@gmail.com" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mel.hipstitchabq@gmail.com</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her instagram handle is @clutteredcurator.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And all of us at Hip Stitch are so very grateful for her, our sister in this journey of life. She’s now back at work full time - we’re all trying to make sure she doesn’t work TOO much, and have a good balance of work/home.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here she is with port still in, without her strawberry blond hair, yet her beauty shines brightly:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgih56PaBxhpdOfwjhnch0TT9lQXeZBB1tmoqTxxlTg8UUlMm1FVuMemOls56DouqSzPhXZxtSl8jyqfEe2UGaznoebPlnmmZQ1qT4yvGhb_5PTNzDlDoBxtMPLJv-D90jPmqeyrz84jbgZEzQdRE0cXFRglVu7keXt_HEbaRtF4g8NJPDIjvT9CeeK=s632" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="465" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgih56PaBxhpdOfwjhnch0TT9lQXeZBB1tmoqTxxlTg8UUlMm1FVuMemOls56DouqSzPhXZxtSl8jyqfEe2UGaznoebPlnmmZQ1qT4yvGhb_5PTNzDlDoBxtMPLJv-D90jPmqeyrz84jbgZEzQdRE0cXFRglVu7keXt_HEbaRtF4g8NJPDIjvT9CeeK=w261-h355" width="261" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">She’s a shining star in this world.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6140462038039953364.post-15831261087405289362021-12-05T14:39:00.002-07:002021-12-06T21:20:53.460-07:00Silver Linings in a Pandemic<p> <b>At Hip Stitch: </b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gosh darnnit, I forget her name! (Pandemic brain, I plead)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A sweet customer was in and we ended up chatting more than usual, because, well, it just flowed.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">She's retiring at the end of this year from a big local company. She's pretty much counting down the days, and I asked if she's retiring because it's just time, or another reason. She shared that she's retiring because of poor managment, and we dove into a great discussion of what makes a good leader/manager, and why it's important, and by the time we said goodbye, we agreed that we really should get together and write a book. (but in course it's real life, so we'll just see each other now and then and have a lively talk when we do)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That made my week. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b>Making this week:</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A sample of the <a href="https://www.hipstitchabq.com/shop/c/p/Ruby-Apron-Pattern-x60317490.htm">Ruby Apron</a> - a fairly new pattern in the store. I love love love making samples!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It took about 2 hours (cutting out the pieces not included). I decided to make it 2 sided/reversible, and here's a little documentation/review.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The assembly has begun - I decided to do the contast fabric as pockets:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDJxQwNgyDTR0X3LJCpDPaTMLY4H6DIyQ3dbsmDHZY0ZDKts9VLvf42u71Ns6dqbQqePm7XIWpwJ0-IgkjgRT9gZZtk_MZsu7M9tCXqiyEw1RMVuz7JEoA_Ava-u_XXCs1oP30HFH0os/s1397/ruby+cut+out.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1298" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDJxQwNgyDTR0X3LJCpDPaTMLY4H6DIyQ3dbsmDHZY0ZDKts9VLvf42u71Ns6dqbQqePm7XIWpwJ0-IgkjgRT9gZZtk_MZsu7M9tCXqiyEw1RMVuz7JEoA_Ava-u_XXCs1oP30HFH0os/w367-h395/ruby+cut+out.PNG" width="367" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The directions came together easily to make, and then there's the important clipping curves and corners to make everything lay nicely. (lie or lay?) <span style="font-size: x-small;">Moments such as these that I miss my mom and her impeccable grammar.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVqimk8YACrHO7kTefrrUXpAOTvI22sXHYZVnNEe59ZiMJT6SOxcQ11DELFXW70twwRBUrU2XLqcwTpx00z8xz_jsQQyrjrOxRusCnUyWFeXI8hE2nVIiKaIS3kw4pRqeMxaizjatfNo/s1079/clip+corners.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1079" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVqimk8YACrHO7kTefrrUXpAOTvI22sXHYZVnNEe59ZiMJT6SOxcQ11DELFXW70twwRBUrU2XLqcwTpx00z8xz_jsQQyrjrOxRusCnUyWFeXI8hE2nVIiKaIS3kw4pRqeMxaizjatfNo/s320/clip+corners.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi759HwsF8rd15Ond54nflEwEqPRW4v2QN2YDQBgc15pFfTM94IQP3w3CBM9qcNuDZkJPcUfxda2vRs9ApMBE-s1285-Uz344Rz0y8gcIBJ7F-UkrOe93HJTyo23mfYx87_PPIazo_tbGI/s1094/clipping+curves.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="1094" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi759HwsF8rd15Ond54nflEwEqPRW4v2QN2YDQBgc15pFfTM94IQP3w3CBM9qcNuDZkJPcUfxda2vRs9ApMBE-s1285-Uz344Rz0y8gcIBJ7F-UkrOe93HJTyo23mfYx87_PPIazo_tbGI/s320/clipping+curves.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was a little confusion in the directions as this point, when it was time to attach the strap at the back, for the reversible version. But it was easy enough to work around this; I just seam ripped an opening to slip the end of the strap inside and then topstitch all around:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1061" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5rZ1vwx_IJCvX09Ec3r0h12M_Dn7RYlIusa8WWCt2gedrUk90gVNwux-MUvQPiVqCgQ7mD3R_Sm3UpDWIyX-Of9U4bqe6OFI2HkxXp0iU3iKHG_ah_71x6stKdp49di2bJkAaDpVtSU/s320/strap+placement.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="318" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Measuring placement and length of strap</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkw9ak0WhP612dTsKQLOER64gu4yBHDmK_DY7MFsze5wGMi1PbtNIXiLHKtUeUYhDsN0hbX2ZJhHKVuWJKJfTTwfVsCe5l-TQkC59rOI1mZycdgslLIG9ca7iXJjjIMAXSNQUw-qII4b8/s1461/ruby+strap+insertion.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="1374" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkw9ak0WhP612dTsKQLOER64gu4yBHDmK_DY7MFsze5wGMi1PbtNIXiLHKtUeUYhDsN0hbX2ZJhHKVuWJKJfTTwfVsCe5l-TQkC59rOI1mZycdgslLIG9ca7iXJjjIMAXSNQUw-qII4b8/s320/ruby+strap+insertion.PNG" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inserting the end of the strap into seam ripped opening</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSFSRSRhkHjnM-f6cFtTJIUMQfWpd11uDaqO4kHSCbXT4AmFH3LskXLEaW4xi4UmYOLDX5lZUwhsR72g-GG2IztN-On-36VfL31e_yV_xzIOr7iOW5dw0Fio5yafgLTWb9Z1rs2hot-U/s1328/ruby+sewing+strap+in.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="1028" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSFSRSRhkHjnM-f6cFtTJIUMQfWpd11uDaqO4kHSCbXT4AmFH3LskXLEaW4xi4UmYOLDX5lZUwhsR72g-GG2IztN-On-36VfL31e_yV_xzIOr7iOW5dw0Fio5yafgLTWb9Z1rs2hot-U/s320/ruby+sewing+strap+in.PNG" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Topstitching and sewing strap in all at once.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>And done!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixIG8QzyEncuVddqorHFRf4gT4BnAR3MLu8TvFvcCRWfTMy3uzdyHNpdgofZpkr4P-NFQ0ygP6DUfLGFt9egpoqnMkAJ1n95GgZUw3rpIxIIYjzBi1BqazUw1-85fsEaW6WlrmO2QJxM/s1371/apron+side+2.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="628" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixIG8QzyEncuVddqorHFRf4gT4BnAR3MLu8TvFvcCRWfTMy3uzdyHNpdgofZpkr4P-NFQ0ygP6DUfLGFt9egpoqnMkAJ1n95GgZUw3rpIxIIYjzBi1BqazUw1-85fsEaW6WlrmO2QJxM/w260-h566/apron+side+2.PNG" width="260" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDVXQx53MBJClu9zgkgGOISnaQa34DGy-y52WbTLTqktEGlNSmhQuaiBccpQ9JCNJRLckLuwuVK9OWHW35FkTXOhA9exhwRpMNs0M_voFd4mTvmKHK1ABByeSY2oAXnQVouWbKJckDvQ/s1049/apron+back.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="710" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDVXQx53MBJClu9zgkgGOISnaQa34DGy-y52WbTLTqktEGlNSmhQuaiBccpQ9JCNJRLckLuwuVK9OWHW35FkTXOhA9exhwRpMNs0M_voFd4mTvmKHK1ABByeSY2oAXnQVouWbKJckDvQ/w286-h421/apron+back.PNG" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I opted to not add a back closure strap.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqBbYkvMGLlLoD__Xf6VeJyJW-CCkhfHWve6Vk-qoE-V68hvJ4V-j3xDkAPeEDWmrE5BdUVbV1nzVG6zv8pjUinqsXyXuDfuRtP9aLPvLm3vDZFWr7nZiYlSFnfkKzJlekUSjL6g1RY8/s1411/ruby+side+2.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="915" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqBbYkvMGLlLoD__Xf6VeJyJW-CCkhfHWve6Vk-qoE-V68hvJ4V-j3xDkAPeEDWmrE5BdUVbV1nzVG6zv8pjUinqsXyXuDfuRtP9aLPvLm3vDZFWr7nZiYlSFnfkKzJlekUSjL6g1RY8/w279-h430/ruby+side+2.PNG" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The act of putting one's hands in one's pockets.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This'll be one I'll wear at work, it so adorable!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Learned this week:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I listened to a great podcast on Spotify: <a href="https://brenebrown.com/podcast/atomic-habits-part-1-of-2/">Brene Brown of Dare to Lead interviewing writer James Clear on habits. </a> (atomic habits, he calls them)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He talks of consistency over intensity when striving to form a habit. I'm developing that in my work life, my personal life, my creative life. Whether it's exercise or sewing/quilting a project or routines around the house, the mission isn't to go big, race to the finish, set huge goals. A little at a time is just perfectly fine, and I learn that I much more enjoy the journey.</div>Hip Stitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642044201254344012noreply@blogger.com1