I've had neither the head- nor the heart-space to get into my #needlework these past weeks: we've been navigating the extreme temperatures and the dishevilled state of our land and buildings; bumbling along - sometimes merrily, occasionally less so - from one task to another, improvising and attempting to solve the basics....
We move at a snail's pace for the most part, the days being too full of myriad problems - which are all major priorities! - and our upwelling enthusiasm needing to be anchored.
There is a quiet moment usually, after lunch, the traditional siesta hours, in which - IF we were not in (literal) survival mode, we'd now be taking up our crayons or paintbrush or needles... But it feels more than frivolous, to not be striving towards a safer roof, a food garden, a more-functioning kitchen and bathroom, water-saving systems, a rocket stove, etc, etc, etc; a proper home! So as soon as we've regained a minimal ounce of energy, it's straight back to DIY activities!
At least I've 'kept my hand in' as it were, with a sewing job (woohoo!) that occupied a good percentage of working hours this past month. I was contacted by a friend, asking if she might pass my contacts on to an acquaintance, who was looking for help with an influx of orders on orgonite blankets.
I was intrigued, though I am most assuredly not any kind of professional sarta !
Either way, Vincent and I were in dire need of income, and sitting at a sewing machine for a few hours per day seemed like as good a way as any to earn some.
So off I toddled every day: rising at 5 am, before the heat renders concentrating impossible, to make the 6 km or so car ride to Francesco's studio, with my sewing basket and a flask of refreshing fountain water to keep me hydrated.
It took me a few days to get familiar with the machines - and it was nice to work with someone else's equipment for a change.
The covers were in beautiful colours, in natural cotton, and so quite a satisfying task to be occupied with. And the orgonite therapy is also rather interesting - Francesco gifted me his book that he wrote on the subject; looking forward to reading it.
The whole project felt rather therapeutic, in fact. A wee break from the hard-core fixing-up of the homestead: time spent on monotonous activity that didn't require the usual resolving of complex issues for which I am not qualified! Just sewing lovely, long straight lines. Ahhhhhhhhh. 😊🙏
The quiet spaciousness that this work afforded me, it also gave me time to reflect on my own atelier and longer-term plans for getting back to sewing. It has been at the side of my mind, as we've been knee-deep in hay, or wrestling with plastic sheets in storms, or writing up our new Patreon tiers; what do I really dream of reinventing, now?
Life on the land, and in a very rural setting, brings a wholly different perspective on clothing: we are focussed temporarily on the most base level of comfort and utility. And this imspires me into new realms of possibility.
Watch this space! I might be cooking up some new styles for working outside in; myself, I'm running out of practical, durable garments that are able to function in rough terrain...
And I'm overdue a photoshoot of the finished red dress - it did get completed, and just needs a moment of organised mind, to get it on, brush my hair, and call 
Until the next time, happy sewing indeed to you all, dear needlework community 🌺🪷🌟
With Love!