My Stitched Narrative

Getting started was a bit difficult. Finding a story I wanted to embroider was also tricky.

I thought I wanted to stitch the one camisole I had brought to the workshop, and at the beginning I was quite stubborn in trying to keep the camisole intact. By the middle of the week, I just cut the whole thing up, and fortunately didn't feel an ounce of regret. The back part of the camisole is what you see.

This is the story of my grandfather (symbolically of course),  and how very important he was to me. The birds, "la garza," poem and handkerchief in the back are all because of him. I didn't discuss this with the group at all, as any talk involving my grandfather involves a tear or two, and I really didn't feel like crying.

The poem I stitched was found through serendipity, which is how I like to find most things. Thank you Mary for the poem.

The poem "I thank you God for most this amazing" is by E.E Cummings. I loved this poem, (I love poetry a lot), and this one spoke to me that day, which is what I love most about poetry, it finds you, and it speaks to you at the right moment.

I also tried to stitch it in the form of a letter, as if it was coming out from the inside of that little envelope.

And I do thank God for everything in my life, I've always have, so this poem seemed like a perfect fit.

And my 3 guys that are always in my heart.

So this is what I did when I was actually doing something. I also talked a lot, got distracted by this or that, went to the pool a couple of times, and learned a stitch or two (but those are somewhere else).

It is much easier to show someone else's work, admire it and compliment it. When it comes to our own work, all of sudden our judging wand goes bonkers. Why, oh why, are we so tough on ourselves??

I hope you have a wonderful day.
Giova.

Stitched Narratives with Jessie Chorley

I'm slowly, slowly showing you my week in France. I still want to reminisce about it and I don't want it to be over so quickly, even though it feels like a long time ago.

Today I'm introducing you, to our wonderful teacher Jessie Chorley and some of her work. To be able to learn from her was really a dream come true. She was an inspiration and a very helpful teacher (and quite patient I might add).

What I learned from her; was to be able to see things differently. To add a little piece of fabric here and there or that tiny little seed stitches do make a world of a difference.

 The beautiful sewing set she gave us.

Her bags of fabric pieces were like Mary Poppin's bag. What a delight to be able to rummage through her bags, everything was soooo beautiful.

 Here she is, showing us her work on the first day.

 The inside of the sewing set, I know you'd be curious to see the inside.

A fragment of one of her works.

What I realized from the workshop was that I love (LOVE) words, (as if I didn't know this before). During the workshop week, it just got reinforced that stitched words is what I love doing the most, now I just have to figure the best way to go about this love. Not an easy thing.

I'll show you next time what I did.

Have a super wonderful monday.
Giova

Les Soeurs Anglaises

Last week I showed you a bit of "the best present ever." Today I want to start by showing you around  Les Soeurs Anglaises. It was the magical place in the south west of France where the workshop took place. I wish I could come up with an entire paragraph to describe this place to you. All that comes up are adjectives like; amazing, enchanting, out of this world, I want to go back (sorry not an adjective). I'll just show you, so that you can more or less understand what I'm trying to say.

The food was sublime. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were included with the workshop. Oh my! That orange, ginger and carrot soup was out of this world!

Every where you look there is something that will take your breath away. Something that will mesmerize you, and prevent you from doing what you were meant to be doing! And I don't mean the piles of amazing magazines, I mean the view.

It looks beautiful even when it's cloudy.

 The space where the workshop takes place. Where all the mess, laughter and creativity happen!!

Can I move in?? I promise I'll be quiet.

This is my first time in a workshop of this kind, so I don't have anything to compare it too. After this experience, where everything was just perfect, I don't want to try other places. I just want to go back to this one! Did I mention I would really like to go back?

Have a wonderful day!
Giova

The Most Perfect Gift

Last Christmas my husband asked me what I wanted as a gift. I replied; "I would actually like to go for a week in France to do a workshop, and as it is a "big gift" it can count as Mother's day and 40th birthday too." He hesitated for a few seconds and then agreed to it. He was not only paying for it, he was also staying by himself with the kids. I think he really didn't know what he was getting himself into, and I know this is the last time he'll ever ask what I want for a gift.

I had to wait 9 months for my present to become a reality, and since time just flies I suddenly found myself in the most idyllic and perfect place. It was an amazing week that exceeded all of my expectations. Here are some images of the most wonderful week.

I mean, really? In my dreams it didn't look as good as this (the house you see, is where I stayed). Les Souers Anglaises was the spot for the workshop I had chosen, but I'll tell you more about that very soon, I'm still trying to organize my thoughts and pictures.

 Then it was the food, and the amazing setting and view we had everyday.

My first time at a "brocante" in France.  I didn't last too long in there, as it was a sort of cave very humid, dark and with a strong damp smell (not my favorite kind). But I did manage to get a few things (wink, wink).

And the amazing people I spent my week with. The most creative, inspiring and kind women I've had the pleasure of knowing.

Seriously, yes, very, very seriously, this was one hell of a present. I can't even describe how incredible this week was for me. All the things that I learned, saw and experienced would fill a bunch of notebooks. In the meantime I leave you with this few images, and I promise I'll show lots more in the following days.

Have a most wonderful day.
Giova.