the many versions of bliss
2010
I pause, still my hands and my mind, and notice that Bliss has settled alongside me. She is many things. Warm and cosy, cool and fresh, spicy and fragrant. Sometimes she is busy and focussed. Other times dreamy and relaxed. She may have a needle in hand, a book on her lap, or a dear child curled up and loving. Right now, despite tired bones and sore feet, she has a hot cup of raspberry tea by her side, a freshly baked oat and chocolate biscuit in her tummy and warm felty slippers on her feet. And it is a lovely version of bliss :-)
Thank you so much, dear folk, for your well wishes last week. My first week of work was wonderful! The bookshop is a lovely place to work – the owners delightful, colleagues very nice company, customers friendly and funny, and the books. Ah all those lovely books! My first morning saw the arrival and unpacking of the latest Skulduggery Pleasant novel – Abby was beside herself with glee when she called in after school. She’d been waiting for this treat for over six months and declared the bookshop the PERFECT place for her muma to work.
Now, here we are, a week later and we have settled so well into this new routine that it is as if it has always been. And there’s been time for stitching too! Abby attended her first birthday sleepover on the weekend, so, naturally, a handmade present was in order. The birthday girl especially wanted a bag and look what came with this month’s Country Style …
A plain grey felt tote. “But muma! It says Country Style!” Not for long dear. Rip, rip with the unpicker. Then six hours of another version of Bliss. Abby drew the picture. Julian scanned it into his computer, smoothed its edges and turned it into the perfect sized pattern. Abby chose the fabrics and I stitched. And stitched. And stitched. And then I stitched some more. I couldn’t stop!
I love every element of this applique – there’s nothing I would change :-) There’s beautiful Brown Sheep worsted wool couched around her face.
A sweet little embroidered pocket.
A tree that only stopped growing when I ran out of bag!
Some whimsical grass.
So many wee stitches. Hours of bliss. Many, many more pictures in my head, slowly making their way into felt and wool and onto hoops and bags and pillows and scarfs …
The bag is loved. Abby had a marvellous time. And all that I love – my child, my husband, my cooking, my stitching, my reading … it’s all fitting in around my new job just right. Yet another version of Bliss.
21 comments
Trackback e pingback
No trackback or pingback available for this article
That is the cutest bag! I am sure that it is extremely well loved!!!
I knew you’d love working at the bookstore! Glad it “fits”! This bag, hmmmmmmm, it’s pretty incredible. You are amazing! I want to be just like you when I grow up – clever, creative, motivated!! At 55, it better happen fast cuz I’m running out of time:)!! Thanks for sharing and for the inspiration. ~karen
I was blissed out just reading about it all! I am so happy for you and once again your talent has taken my breath away! Abby is such a lucky girl!
Delightful! Thank you for telling us that you couched around the sweet face because I was thinking you had pleated it in some way because you are known for feats of magic with the needle. And the bag shows many feats of magic. So glad the bookstore is fitting — it sounds fantastic!
What a lovely bag!!!! I think you could design some bags for the bookstore to carry books home! You are so talented!
You are truly a master stitcher. That is just wonderful. I love all of the stitching around the face – how you got it to puff and wrinkle just perfectly.
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoy the new job. And that Bliss has caucht up with you again. Her travelling time was probably just a bit longer than yours…
The bag is lovely, and even more so from having been created by the combined talents of the three of you. No wonder it is loved!
Wow Lily! That bag is beautiful. You certainly have a great gift. I too have worked in a bookstore and loved every minute of it. (Well maybe not the holiday season with cranky customers but you know what I mean.)
what a delightful update!!! i *knew* you’d love the bookstore!!!
~erin
What a fantastic bag. All of the colors and textures. She did an incredible job. It’s not a surprise, however, after watching you all of these years. I’m so glad your job is going well. I use to work in a bookstore and it was bliss for me as well. Have a great week. Be well.
Bliss spills over into everything, doesn’t it? Congratulations on being blissful. The bag is so wonderful—I can’t imagine receiving a treasure like that! The birthday girl must be thrilled. You and Abby did a lovely job.
Happy birthday my darling girl!!
Just beautiful, I can’t believe you gave it away, I don’t think I could have.
But on the other hand, if I was the receiver, I would be mighty pleased!
How happy to hear from you! I’m very glad your job is a good fit. And how lovely your bag turned out. Did you dye it too? Looks like it changed from a grey flannel to a beautiful blue flannel. What a lovely present!
Happy Birthday to you dear Lily!
Wow just dropped by from England via Farmama’s blog and to say Hi. what a wonderful blog and so inspirational. I have been busy making tote bags from recycleable fabric, but yours is just awesone.
thanks for sharing and I willdrop by again.
That’s such a cute bag!! I love everything on it! You’re very talented!
So incredibly cute. I love it. So much personality.
How lovely! What a lucky, lucky little girl!
What an adorable bag! Her expression is so sweet :)
lily, i just love seeing your embroideries. the yarn embroidery is totally blowing my mind – i’ve never seen this technique! lovely lovely lovely!