Teaching Future Stitchers

This past weekend our four youngest grandchildren were here for an 'overnight' with Nana and Papa.
Since there are three boys and just one girl, Elli and I  often bake or do other projects while the boys are being ' just silly'.   She asked me if we could 'sew' together , and of course I was delighted.
We were up in my studio so I showed her my latest design and we found her special sewing supplies.  We sat side by side while she continued a previous project and I was available to help her if the fibers slipped off her needle, or if things became a little tangled.

Sometimes we forget how diligent small children can be when they are concentrating on learning to do something they truly enjoy.  She is so proud of her work and I am so pleased that perhaps she will carry on my stitching passion.  We've decided that I will make her little design into a small pillow for her bed.

A few years ago I was interviewed for a blog post about the Affectionately Yours book. The writer
asked what I was doing to help  ensure that future generations would continue to learn to stitch. This question really made me stop and think, as my answer at the time was that I was doing nothing.

So I designed a small booklet called Learning To Cross Stitch, which is a guide to all of the beginning elements of stitching.  Several shops have had some very innovative ideas on how they could promote cross stitching for children.  One shop in PA had a several day event that involved making aprons for American Girl dolls.  One day was just an introduction, followed up with stitching borders, and then stitching the doll's  or little girl's name onto the apron.

The future of cross stitch will depend upon each one of us sharing our passion with others - no matter whether they are six, twenty six or forty six years old.  And we understand how it brings such a sense of peace and calmness to our very busy lives.

Share your suggestions and I will post them in future JBW blogs.  Thank you!

A Trip to the East Coast

A few weeks ago my husband and I took a vacation to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.  I've always wanted to visit the island and we were fortunate to have sunny warm days while we were there.

We stayed with friends on the 'Vineyard' who were great tour guides.  Each day we'd pass homes with picket fences and beautiful gardens which were so charming that I'd have to say "Stop- let's get a picture of this!"  My favorite was a stunning Cape Cod - with  grey cedar shingles, a pitched roof, French doors, windows boxes overflowing with flowers and lovely gardens.  Oh if only I could build one like that!

My other favorite home was in Edgartown - where we could see a collection of cobalt blue glassware mounted in the upper windows of the cottage.  It was just captivating.  We kept trying to figure out how the owner mounted each piece into the display.  Hmm - I wonder if I should think about this for displaying my collection of blue and white ware in my office windows.  But then who would ever see it - since we live at the top of a hill in the woods!?  It would be my own private joy to contemplate every day.

The trip was short but a much needed get-away and we'd highly recommend it as a destination.
But now it's time to concentrate on designing once again  and working on the next collection.
Stay tuned and stay in touch.