I am materialistic. Not in the way that first comes to mind, no. Not in that I value material wealth above all else.
By materialistic I mean I value objects made of quality materials. The items I own are few but important. The items I make I try to craft of quality materials.
I truly appreciate the ability to share my crafts digitally here, the most important things I do in life surround the actual crafts, the materials of which they are made and how the materials and I co-create useful (hopefully beautiful) objects.
So much of what I love now I find the seeds of in my childhood. I loved books about the past when people spent the evening hand sewing by firelight. I loved candles, nature inspired patterns, and old books. Not much has changed.
There is one particular memory that stands out. I was going through an old, mysterious trunk that sat at the foot of my mother's bed. It was full of odd items from "long ago." Plaid skirts from my mom's catholic school days, a scrapbook of all the cats she had ever called pets, and this floral-print wallet. It had belonged to my grandmother and my mom said I could have it!
All these years later I keep this wallet safe and use it only on rare occasions. Despite my efforts it has worn a bit but, my mom says grandma would be honored that it has traveled so much and seen the world. For now, I want to give it a rest and keep it in my mini-museum of artifacts from the past. So, I decided to make a vintage inspired wallet, to the best of my abilities and with the materials I have available right now.
Inspired by the dual floral prints I used a scrap of tropical-themed fabric for the inner lining and a more woodland print on the outside. The original wallet has element of leather for structure which and I used denim to mimic that form.
Certain aspects I sewed on a machine while the visible details I did by hand with crimson embroidery thread. I love the little details, the fact that you can see the stitches and the contrasting colors of the lining and the outer fabric.
My version of the wallet is much larger than the original. I of course will be using it to store cash but also wanted room for other tradable items like the floral stickers I make. No doubt some emergency sewing supplies will find their way into the wallet as well.
After a bit of a break from sewing the inspiration to make this wallet got me back into the practice and really got me thinking.
As I gaze into my vintage suitcase full of sewing to-do's I thought of how I want to live. I want to be like those girls and ladies in old books who spend most of their time making, mending, creating rather than consuming celebrity gossip and streaming services.
It is a funny thing because as a content creator I depend on the attention, "likes" and votes of others. When taking these photos and writing these words I hope to gain the attention and admiration of readers. So, of course, reading and viewing the work of others as well as sharing is all part of the process and a balance can be found between the two.
Because of course, the March girls weren't sewing in silence.
Very often Jo was reading a story aloud, Beth playing a tune on the piano, or Amy recounting some interesting gossip she had heard or invented.
And so it is decided. Whether I am Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy or some combination of the four I do know that I feel a renewed inspiration in the power of creating and will soon be tackling the rest of the projects filling my sewing suitcase.
So I wonder, are you a fan of Little Women? and which part of the story, or which March girl do you relate with most?