Preparing for open studios and the winter

These days seem full of relentlessly difficult realities, decisions, situations, and choices… but I won’t dwell here on those things. I will dwell here on a new practice I have begun. I recently noticed that I was deep into over-using my phone. I found myself wondering what I had missed or what I needed to check and I could feel it was sucking me of my creativity and causing me added anxiety (and who needs more?!?). So I have been working on NOT picking up my phone and instead sitting and just thinking.

And in my minutes of thinking, I am excited to find that my mind goes to the joys and possibilities of what I can do with fabric; how I can improve the experience of the sewists in my workshops each week; how I might grow Grove House so I can help more people fall in love with sewing; what kinds of new fruit butters and jams to make; how and when to see and collaborate with friends; and how to prepare for the Arts and Industry Building’s Open Studios.

I am excited for the plans on the horizon and that excitement is helping counter the darkness and division in our country and our world.

So with a burst of energy and a desire to do some hand sewing, I made a wall sign for outside the studio to welcome people into the space and signal all that is possible within. Next week I will be making pear butter with pear varieties from Clarkdale Farm, and will also be doing some pants-pattern alterations to fix the rise on a new pattern my daughter and I have come to love. We shall see.