Last night I felt an internalized shift that went something like this: what if I stop preoccupying myself with essentially meaningless questions about whether I'm adventurous and avant garde enough to be part of Jude's CQR project? Outwardly I was participating in a discussion on the merits and pitfalls of memoir writing but inwardly I was wondering what if I simply pick up a needle and some floss and start embroidering? What if it's OKAY to do this even if I don't have the whole block parsed yet?
Today I have begun answering those questions in stitches as well as thoughts. Last night right before I fell asleep I decided to do a simple overcast/satin stitch outline around the patched patch from a treasured gardening shirt. Aside from a red velvet party dress embellished with little white reindeer that I had in kindergarten, I can never remember having an article of clothing that made me so happy. A few years back I felt greatly let down when the chambray started to shred too much for me to continue wearing it. The embroidered motif from the back was still quite sturdy, so I cut it free with intentions (still unrealized) of creating a suitable border and then making a wall hanging from the personal relic.
I don't know the person who embroidered the shirt although I have
carefully saved their stitched initials and a single embroidered strawberry from the front pocket
of the shirt. I found it about fifteen years ago in a dingy corner of the Allston Food
Co-op's freecycle room. The vibe of this motif has always cheered me and I must say I have never "found" a new piece of clothing that thrilled me half as much as this second-hand treasure...
a nice lighthearted approach. i rarely have a plan. i am finding that more and more.
Posted by: jude | September 19, 2008 at 05:41 PM
Love embroidered clothing!!!
Kathy V in NM
Posted by: Kathy V in NM | September 20, 2008 at 10:32 PM
How delightful. Is it from Eastern Europe ?
Posted by: Helene H | September 22, 2008 at 04:49 AM