Machine Embroidery: A Joy for Life

Disappointed. That’s such a disappointing word, isn’t it? Or, maybe mine is just so great that I see it much deeper tha
I normally would. Unlike so many words that the younger generation these days tries to change the meaning of, in a world where cool and hot can mean the same thing, this one leaves no room for misunderstanding.

We had been in the process of moving to a bigger house with a pool. This is something I hadn’t realized, until recently, that I really wanted. I allowed myself to get my hopes up, excitedly planning home décor and parties and, well, everything. Then, my husband’s career got in the way, with the opportunity for a great promotion that will take us away from Greece and back to Califo
ia. We rented our previous house there, so it’s not like we will be returning “home”. Califo
ia IS home, but Greece is where we have hung our hearts for now.

While the promotion may not happen, we cannot move to the pool house knowing that we may be making an around-the-world move just a couple of months later. We have to wait on the promotion news before we do anything which means, more than likely, we will lose the opportunity of the pool house if the promotion doesn’t come through. Even without the consideration of pool houses and promotions, I’m just not quite ready to return home; my adventure is Greece is still too exciting.

Knowing that the next couple of months will be very hectic, no matter what happens, I decided to spend a lovely day in the sewing room yesterday. I began by sorting through my embroidery supplies to see what I could see. I rediscovered that I have way too many shades of green machine embroidery thread and am in dire need of some new needles! I also realized that I have a couple of unfinished projects that I had started in order to decorate this sewing room done in shades to suggest the Tuscan style.

After making sure that I had the correct machine embroidery designs on hand, I began the process to complete these projects. What a joy it was to see these designs take shape and how happy I am to know that my choice to bring machine embroidery into my life was a good one. It’s so easy to create gorgeous projects for every use or need!

As the embroidery designs stitched out, I busied myself in reminding myself of the final construction that would be needed to complete the projects. This didn’t take long, so I began daydreaming about other embroidery patterns I have and would like to work on. These are so many and varied that I began making a list.

I had collected a series of free embroidery designs specifically to create a wall-quilt for my husband’s office at work. This was supposed to be his birthday present last year but, if I hurry, can be his anniversary present this year … just 12 days from now! And, I need to remember to take pictures for the generous designer who provided the designs for my embroidery fun!

Then, there’s the laundry bag that my son asked for. He’s a musician, so I want to stitch it all over with notes and instruments. The bag will have to be lined to protect the embroidery designs, but it will be so much more than just a utility bag. Best of all: he actually might even use it!

I ended up with about a dozen embroidery-related projects on my list and most of them were for our home or for my two wonderful men. Yesterday began on a bad note, but as I finished up my embroidery for the day, I felt much calmer. More at ease. http://www.oregonpatchworks.com

Today, with the beautiful Greek sunlight streaming through the windows, I realized something that I tend to forget often. It doesn’t matter where we are as long as we are together!

While machine embroidery is my own personal hobby it has, once again, shown me the way in my family life!