Tuesday, March 1, 2011

overcoming fear

It taunts me from the black card table where it's perched, haughty whitish gray and blue, sneering. I approach cautiously, cozy flannel gripped as a comfort blanket in my hand.

"Just dig in," I repeat to myself as I venture close and sit on the matching, padded card table chair. Before I lose my new-found ambition, I fill a gleaming bobbin with royal blue strand, thread the machine, and push the pedal lightly at first, harder as my confidence grows.

I remember techniques my mom uses to make clean edges, keeping the needle down and turning the fabric mid-stitch. I learn my favorite hand positions, calculate how to make consistent top stitches, and find solace in the whirring as my fear bleeds out and stains the fabric blue.

Action is my best remedy for inaction.

Recent Projects:
Above
: brown baby blanket with blue trim


Left
: red blanket with brown trim; 4 burp cloths with green, orange, blue & red trim


Note: I've met lots of baby boys lately!