Originally uploaded by jowynnjohns
I’ve made myself sicker, working too hard to get this blog started. Mental exertion is even worse than physical activity for me. I’ll have to try to restrain myself.
Those who are participating in TAST
know that the stitch this week is shisha. Working on this blog means not much stitching has been going on here for the past few days. But two years ago, when I had been wanting to work with shisha for some time, my 9-year-old granddaughter Katie presented me with the perfect opportunity. She asked me to make her a book, and I thought she would love shiny, sparkly shisha. I had seen this design in Betty Luke’s book, Sadi and Shisha Embroidery. As always, I didn’t follow her stitch instructions, but interpreted it in my own way.
For those interested in the details, I’ve added the journal I kept of this project to my Essays about Stitching page. There you can also see a scan of the book cover that shows the stitching more clearly.
Last year Katie and her dad came from Colorado for a visit. Of course Katie wanted to stitch with me.
Here’s the pillow she designed and stitched with a little help from Gram.
And here’s the proud stitcher.
Hi Jowynn, finally arrived here. Thank you for your kind comments on my TAST pieces. I have added your blog to my bloglines so that I don’t miss any of your posts.
[...] reading her excellent essays as well as seeing her beautiful embroidery. She has done a lovely tree using various stitches to attach the shishas. Annie at Annies Crazy World has some wonderful and [...]
I love your Shisha fairy tree, I never knew there were so many different ways to do it. Magical!
I was wondering if a lot of mental exertion was a trigger for your CFS symptoms…it sounds like it is. What a challenging twist of fate….hope you feel better soon…
I read your essay, “My Disease is Healing Me”, and found it profoundly moving. Your descriptions of your solitary and deliberate life remind me of the brahmachariya ideal of renunciation..and the inner joys that come from such simple living must surely be the same, too.
“Isolation is the price of greatness”…so says a great Indian saint….
And that Katie is a doll…..
Hi Jonwyn I have just been looking at the pictures of your work…..what sweet inspiration they have been. Thank you!
Welcome to the world of blogging. I’ve enjoyed all your Flickr photos so I’m glad to see your blog. If you are uncertain about how much you want to do, I suggest checking out Blogging Without Obligation
http://www.tartx.com/blog/?page_id=233
Good luck,
Margaret