see below for the story behind this photo

A funny thing happened this morning,: as I pulled put my epic sweatercoat project in a bar in a nearby city to our land - looking very much forward to finishing this lengthy kind of patchwork lining of it...

I saw.. it was already finished!!

😮

This was totally unexpected, as I'd been handsewing it here and there quite absent-mindedly, but thought I had at least another few pieces to complete - it was kind of fabulous to find it done..... though I did not have the zip or the buttons with me to complete the whole coat - doh!

Hehe - just goes to show how unfocussed I've been lately, on my sewing practise and in terms of being organised in general. When we come to the city, I really love to have something to do with my hands, rather than being distracted by TVs, chiacchiera, traffic, perfumes, etcetera. 🤗🥰

Sewing is also such a brilliant conversation starter, as I (and @vincentnijman ) have discussed in the past: almost as soon as I put a needle into a piece of fabric, someone (often older women, but occasionally men also) leans in to ask 50 questions about 'what are you making?' 'where are you from?' 'what are you doing here??' and so on.

We often end up chatting warmly, at length, about our respective experiences with needlework, about being an artist, about our working on the land and in nature, about ecology, politics, freedom, the future...

our women's circle - a friend sewing menstral pads 😍

We've met myriad folks on our travels together, Vincent and I, and it has been really lovely connecting (threads!) with the locals in our area - the nearest borgo and surrounding mountain-top villages. Such a beautiful interweaving of stories and memories, which leave us all brighter, jollier, more connessi - it is a Gift indeed.

our women's circle: a friend darning her son's football trousers

Meeting folks through my sewing was extra special this week... The women's circle that I attend every month voted for my choice of topic to focus on: and I had proposed needlework 💝🧵🪡💥

So we sewed together last Sunday - AND! - also arranged to do a extra session this coming Sunday 😍🥰🤗

sewing menstrual pads in the women's circle

This was super special for me: being part of a circle of international creative women, weaving cultures, skills, stories and heartfelt connection...

the football trouser kneepad darning, and me helping another friend with adjusting a waistband

It makes me think how nice it will be in the future, to set up a sewing circle on our land: in our tent, or in a specifically purpose-built building 🥳⭐🌟 I love holding space, helping others to solve problems in their sewing challenges, and especially inspiring those who are just starting, or are a bit stuck.

sharing skills and sewing baskets!

It helps a lot in grounding me in purpose and direction, in our new life in Molise. We are still in this very early phase where everything is quite uncomfortable and a bit ungrounded. Getting immersed in warm chat around our creativity is very nourishing and stabilising for me.

fixing the waistband meant my friend didn't have to also adjust the hems after all! the trousers were lifted up by the new waist elastic that i gifted her 💝

So (getting back to my recycled wool coat) I only have to get zip & buttons done, then I'll be doing a photoshoot on our land, possibly showing off our impressive olive pruning and hedging work 🤭☺️🤩

the inside of my jacket, with the patchworked pieces of old wool jumpers, pinned in place

Until then, sending shedloads of love to you all at @needleworkmonday - and looking forward to seeing what you're all working on today!

closer view of the inside of the pinned lining of said sweatercoat