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. 馃槉馃檹
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 馃尯馃馃専
With Love!