dorisL

Two stitch meditation squares featuring shades of green and turquoise. I see warm Caribbean waters, palm trees and miles of sandy beaches! Wishing I could escape the cold, dark days.

The current situation in the world has made relaxing and stitching thoughtfully even more important. But, also more difficult. Your mind has difficulty focusing. I find that focusing by listening to a podcast can help. Two of the podcasts I’ve been listening to deal with art, artists and the business of creating and selling art. They are conversations between friends and interviews with other creatives. What are you listening to?

Stitch Resources

• Podcast: Laura Horn Art Podcast – Helping artist to build their skills, confidence and creative style.
• Podcast: Art Juice – The podcast for artists, aspiring creatives and art lovers

Listening for focus – One stitch at a time!

Two stitch meditation squares featuring shades of green and turquoise. I see warm Caribbean waters, palm trees and miles of sandy beaches! Wishing I could escape the cold, dark days.

Stitch Resources

• Article: Wax, Melinda. Meditation on a Simple Stitch. (2013)

Creating with the light on – One stitch at a time!

Why does time move more quickly as you get older. I find myself running out of time to do the things I really enjoy. But, I am finding time to work on other (unnecessary) projects and daily housework more and more. So, I spend less time on the 100 Day Stitch Meditation Project than I had expected when I first started. It certainly hasn’t become a focus of my down time! Read about the 2 Argentinian artists who have made their entire life about hand embroidery and sharing everything in their lives together. The projects they hand embroider take years to complete!

The other article I read from Selvedge Magazine is about an exhibition of work: “of seven pioneering women who went against all established norms to create some of the richest, most diverse and international public collections of textiles in the UK today.” So many beautiful pieces of hand work!

Stitch Resources

• Blogpost: Hewitt, Bonnie Burstein. Argentinian Artists Stitch Their World Together at Lux. Encinitas Advocate. 27 Jan. 2020
• Blogpost: Unbound Visionary Women. Selvedge Magazine. 25 Jan. 2020.

Simply creating – One stitch at a time!

Traditional meditations are not easy to explain or learn. It’s a process of bringing your mind back to noticing your breath when it wanders. This is one explanation that I can understand. I know my mind wanders – did I lock the door, what should I make for dinner, do I need groceries …. on and on until I’ve planned the entire meal and cleaned up too!

So too, I’ve let my time and energy for stitch meditations wander away from me. There are things out of our control that impact our lives. It’s important not to give up though, to stop wandering and settle down – back to noticing each stitch. Again and again!

Stitch Resources

• Blogpost: Grinnell, Kate. (October 09, 2019) Meditative Stitching and Storytelling Retrieved from Selvedge Magazine.

Quietly sitting and reflecting – One stitch at a time!

Stitch Resources

• Article: Vercillo, Kathryn. 5 Craft Therapy Books to Learn About Handmade Healing
• Bibliography: Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who also has a Masters in Psychological Studies. Her expertise is writing at the intersection of crafts and mental health. Kathryn is the author of several books on this topic including Crochet Saved My Life.

Creating for health – One stitch at a time!