shades of blue November 04 2023
i find that when i feel overwhelmed with grief and sadness about the state of the world, my stitching focus turns inward to small, intimate, meaningful projects.
i sew little treasures for people i love, i’m pulled to work with fabrics dyed with plants grown in my garden...shrinking my focus to a tiny part of the world that i can control. (while also supporting organizations who are truly helping people in crisis). blue amulets have been my favorite thing to stitch lately. originally featured in taproot magazine issue 57:BLUE, this project first stemmed from a towering pile of indigo-dyed linen that sits on the table next to my writing desk. the subtle shades of blues and greens are mesmerizing to me, a whole spectrum of sky and sea tones pulled from the leaves of one humble plant.
i have been making these for friends and for this enchanting shop in port townsend, and have now made a small collection for my website. they are a treasure to wear or to display as a decoration... hang one from a wall, from your rear-view mirror, over your bed, in a shrine. they make a very special gift and are truly handmade with love.
want to stitch your own? you can also find the DIY kit here.
i have also made a small collection combining my two latest obsessions: wool felt hand dyed with plants from my garden and stitching with mohair yarn. you can find a small batch of thick wool felt coasters and trivets in time for holiday entertaining and an assortment of hanging bud vases on my website (i received many requests for these after posting the tutorial). both are also available as free sewing tutorials.
if you have plans for holiday crafting and homemade gift giving, don’t forget that i have over 40 free sewing tutorials on my website. the newest project, thick wool felt coasters and trivets, are quick to sew and make a lovely gift. you will find plenty of crafting inspiration for the cool, dark days ahead.
as always, thank you for supporting small makers and shopping handmade. i feel so lucky to be able to do this work.
