one happy mama...

it's been a while

since

i've shared...

 

 

...a post about

 my favorite

daughter

it's good

 i suppose

that i have

 just one

that way she

can always be

number one

there was a time

that i questioned

whether we

would ever

share a

love of sewing

not just

because

she would need

to discover the

same infatuation

with fabric

that i have 

 

rather because her

diagnosis

of down syndrome

lead me to believe

she would have

greater challenges

than some

including

 her manual dexterity

for years and years she

had some wonderful

therapists who worked

diligently with her

hour after hour

day after day

 her fingers now work

with the greatest

of precision

her seams are near perfect

her patience

extraordinare

 

today

not only does

she share my love

for quilting

she is also

learning

the fundamentals

of running

a business

it has taken a

very large village to

get us to this
stage in life

for which i am so

 very grateful

for everyone

who has had a place
on this journey

with us
thank you

 

justsew to tellsew...

a tiny little thing

perhaps

or maybe not...

.

 

i rarely go to bed

before checking

on my friend polly

i love her family so much

her kristen has been

the force behind

so much of what

 sarah and i have created

tonight

as i read how her sweet

daughter kim

had taken kristen's coat to the hospital

to wrap up in while she labored

in the birthing room

i could not help but think

that kristen was there

making sure everything

was just perfect

for the delivery of her little niece nora

and so i left a comment

to let polly know that i

truly believe that kristen was there

as i hit the enter tab

my security word was

tellsew

that is just what we do

we tell people about kristen while we sew

and last week

sarah all of a sudden decided

our new car should have

a special license plate

that reads

justsew

because that is what we do

just sew to tell others about

kristen and her light

that always shines

dream a little...

dream

and it just might come

true...

.

this is happening

today

in the sewcial lounge

the one named after

my girl

in our store

the one bearing

 my creative name

in memory of

polly's sweet gal

two moms

on different journeys

working together

for one mission

to carry forth kristen's light

for all the world to see

truly humbled and honored

that we have been chosen

to help with that endeavor

even more grateful that

jennifer has lead

the way with her pillow case mission

and that she is coming

to share in our

little corner

of the earth

update...

.

 

an amazing day

we had

a total of 219 pillowcases

were completed

lots of friendships

were developed

and new skills shared

with many

more than a dream come true

thank you to all who participated

a rare sighting...

i just turned

the page of

the photo album...

.

...the one from ten years ago

and look what i found

miss sarah

 hanging out with me

in my sewing studio

it did not happen often

only when she wanted

 a new twirly

from my ribbon drawer

never, ever and

i mean absolutely never

did i think back then that

the two of us

would be working

side by side

in a fabric store

or a sewcial lounge

happiness does come

 to those who wait

the good news...

just keeps coming

i am overjoyed

and humbled...

.

...to arrive at the store today

and see the signs

installed

it has been a lengthy

process

yet in the end to see

JEllen's

larger than I've ever seen it

in print

a name i've used

 in my creative world

since i was nine or so

followed

by my daughter's name

a miracle of a child

truly brought tears to my eyes

and how fitting to

be supported

on the bottom

by my husband

sarah's father

our human rock and anchor

it's publicly now

a family affair

friends first

we are just days

away

from the official...

.

opening of

sarah's sewcial lounge

a room upstairs

that has evolved

over the years

it has had

a few different occupants

until we decided to take

over the lease

more to prevent anyone else

from moving in

or perhaps it was

divine intervention

all those years back

knowing that one day

we would use the space

for something greater

teaching the next generation

to sew

and including sarah

in the effort

it was only fitting that

today

the first brunch

a private party

my united way friends

we've been together now

for almost three decades

i am so thankful for their

friendship and

nod of approval

black friday...

i'm so excited

about my

shopping...

.

...experience

never will you find me

 standing in long lines

winding around a big box store

i let my fingers

do the shopping

on my favorite creative site

etsy

this little quilted beauty is by

tresa in molalla oregon

it will soon be hanging in

sarah's sewcial lounge

won't you consider

supporting artists

throughout the land

this holiday season