After 50+ years, it suddenly dawns on me: I love stories. Reading stories. Listening to stories. And telling stories. So obvious, yet (oddly enough) I’ve never put that sentiment into words.
Our stories bind us together. Whether it’s the story of a personal journey, shared family stories, or stories that tie us to our larger community.
My love of sewing and fabrics moved from the personal to the professional a few years ago. And it’s been great fun (and often a great challenge) making new bags/aprons/quilts/pillows and honing my technique. Yet, I’ve struggled with defining my work. What is the over-arching thread (!) that ties it all together? Now I know. Stories.
For me, every fabric tells a story.
My t-shirt and memory quilts are pure narrative. I love the process of working with clients to narrow down their collection to tell their story. Sometimes we work with a pile of t-shirts, no longer worn but too precious to toss; or baby clothes filled with small memories; or special garments left behind by a loved one. Finding the story in that fabric and transforming it into a tangible object is a delight. I now hereby dub them Story Quilts!
So many of our stories are shared at the table. I first printed tea towels with my grandmother’s hand-written cookie recipe and it’s been a lovely connection to a shared family history. I’ve since added others to my collection, and as gifts for others, and each one tells a story.
Pet pillows started as way for my college-bound daughter to take her kitten with her to school. And with each new pillow request, I’ve gathered another story.
Then there are the fabric stories to come: luggage tags and bags for the new adventures, aprons and tableware for the stories brought home.
Stories. Who knew?!