Last spring I wrote an article about Penny Gold’s quilt, “Self-Portrait, Year 2” for GenerationQ magazine. I continue to be so struck by this quilt and the story behind it that I’m republishing the piece here with the magazine’s and Penny’s permission. “Self-Portrait, Year 2: Beneath the Surface” was one of the most memorable quilts…
Craft as Escape and Affirmation
Shotgun shacks in Greenwood, Mississippi. In 1997 I moved from my college apartment in Baltimore to Itta Bena, Mississippi, a town of just over 2,000 people in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. I was there to teach French and social studies at Threadgill Junior High in Greenwood, twenty minutes down the highway. If you’re…
Art and Craft and a Handmade Spoon
Roxanne made me a spoon. In sixth grade here in Wellesley you take Industrial Technology (don’t call it “wood shop” or you’ll be sternly corrected, trust me). The culmination of the class is carving a spoon from a block of wood. I put the spoon to use immediately. The day it came home I stirred…
Why I Teach Sewing
On Monday evening I was teaching a class at a local sewing studio. My students were all local moms and they’d come to learn to use their sewing machines. I’ve taught this class twice a month for four years now and I always begin by asking each person to tell the story of their sewing…
Crafty Subscriptions for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is May 10. That’s just two weeks away! Over the past year or so I’ve become a big fan of subscription boxes as gifts. I received a subscription to BirchBox for the holidays which was lovely and for my birthday last summer I got a gift certificate for StitchFix, which I love! A…
How to Keep Blogging When You Really Don’t Feel Like It
It’s pretty easy to start a blog, especially when you’re excited about it. Brainstorming names is fun! Deciding on a platform takes some work, but it’s still pretty neat. Making a banner? Fun. Before too long your blog is set up and you’re ready to write your first post. The whole thing might take a…
Why “Where’s Your Inspiration?” Isn’t a Good Question
I snapped this photo on Wednesday night. It was 8:24 pm. I’d just finished wiping down the kitchen counters and sweeping the floor. Josephine was tucked into bed. Simon was in her pajamas and Roxanne had just headed upstairs to take a shower. I had put down my laptop and my many legal pads and…
Tackling Tedious Sewing Room Tasks While You’re Traveling
I think this might look familiar. I’m betting you might have a tangled mess of embroidery floss in your sewing room, too. We should probably untangle that sometime, huh. And what about this? A bag full of assorted buttons given to me by my brother-in-law’s grandmother. Might be a good idea to sort those by…
Summertime Hand-Stitching Projects
I think summer is the ideal time to begin new hand-stitching projects. It’s too beautiful outside to be sitting at the sewing machine all day. Instead it’s time to sit on the porch, or in the grass, and soak up the sun. If you’re like me, though, you also need something creative to work on…
Why You Shouldn’t Ask an Artist, “Where Do You Find Your Inspiration?”
“Where do you find your inspiration?” I’ve been asked this question dozens of times and if you’re an artist I’m sure you have, too. Almost anytime an artist is interviewed this question comes up. But it shouldn’t. Asking an artist, “Where do you find your inspiration?” is a not a good question. It frames art…