The Sew-and- Sews

A couple of years ago, I was invited to speak about gardening at Emanuel Baptist Church in Ruston. When my presentation was finished, I received a 'thank you' gift from a group of ladies in the church who call themselves the Sew-and-Sews.

They sewed for charity and for fun, enjoying fellowship all the while and getting away from their husbands (which probably goes without saying to all of you girls who are reading this right now).

 I love the name of their group! I use that phrase often at this time in my life when someone's name just won't come to mind and many people I'm talking about are forced to become

so-and-sos.

I am a Sew-and-Sew. I enjoy needlework of any kind, especially embroidery. I've talked before about the Chagall inspired pillow I made for Katherine for her wedding.....

well, now I enjoy sewing for Olive.

I made her this little Halloween top with a spider that admittedly looked like a crab,

I was trying to match the spiders on the ribbon I purchased.

Hobby Lobby carries  plain dresses and shirts ready for embellishment. I thought Olive might have occasion to wear some fall leaves in the coming weeks. I painted on the leaves and acorn with  watered down craft paint and then embroidered.

I include this picture for encouragement!! That chain stitch around the hem is terrible! The stitches aren't even close to being the same size. The real Sew-and-Sews would probably kick me out of their group, but here's the point, don't let the idea of perfection stop you from doing anything. If it was perfect it would be machine made. 

Did you know that every bird watcher keeps what they call a 'Life Book'? It is a little journal where they record each species of bird they have ever seen with the date and location of the sighting. Well embroiderers are supposed to keep a 'Life Cloth' if you will- a cloth where they practice every new stitch they learn. In the end, they have a fabulous tapestry of beautiful stitches; a lifetime's work.

I love that idea but have never taken the time to start one because I am so project driven that I considered it a waste of time to stitch on anything other than the finished product. I am still that way, but have hit upon a compromise- my Life Cloth will be a shirt.(I actually had an embroidered jean shirt when I was in middle school. I had embroidered the collar and cuffs, as well as down the placket. It was very hippy dippy; wish I still had it!) With my Life Cloth being a shirt, I can throw it on and wear it from time to time. I know my sisters would say, "Nothing screams old lady like an embroidered shirt", but we saw some fantastic needlework when we were in NYC recently.

Here's my start. The requirement for embroidering on this shirt is that the design must:
          1. include a new stitch I've never tried before
          or
          2. be really, really cool

Pinterest is a wealth of ideas and YouTube a wealth of tutorials and with the winter months headed our way, it is the perfect time to be a Sew-and-Sew with plenty of handwork to be enjoyed in front of the fire on cold winter days!!

Love ya'll,

Shelli

A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault. ~John Henry Newman

To escape criticism — do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.

~Elbert Hubbard

Once you accept the fact that you're not perfect, then you develop some confidence. ~Rosalynn Carter

When nobody around you seems to measure up, it's time to check your yardstick.

~Bill Lemley