9 Comments

I have Stone Blind at home. I haven't started it yet. I just finished Project Hail Mary, which really made me smile 😊

Expand full comment
author

Project Hail Mary looks really interesting. I love alone-in-space stories. I would be curious what you think of Stone Blind when you read it!

Expand full comment

I am also doing embroidery right now to wind down from a busy summer of gardening and travel. I am just about to start a new project: a tarot reading cloth for my sister with various symbolic imagery stitched on it.

Expand full comment
author

I love the idea of an embroidered altar cloth. How did you draw the symbols onto the cloth before embroidering them? How did you decide on the images?

Expand full comment

Hi, Allyson! I’m using heat erase pens to draw the rectangles where each card will go. My sister prefers a three-card spread so there will be three rectangles to lay the cards in.

For the plants and other symbols I’ll be stitching, I’m using adhesive wash away stabilizer and tracing my patterns on to that.

I have an herb garden and was inspired to include sage, rosemary, and mugwort. I’ve also been drawn to Carl Jung and Alchemical symbology lately and certain archetypes like the ouroboros have been resonating with me, which I’ll be including. The moon will be stitched on there too. My sister works with the moon a lot. I chose all the symbols based on what I know will have meaning for her so it’s a very intuitive and personal cloth in that way.

I’m really loving the book Mystical Stitches by Christi Johnson. It’s been inspiring me to work with symbols to stitch things like talismans and pieces for my alters.

:-) 🌜

Expand full comment
founding
Sep 24Liked by Allyson Shaw

Stitching is my meditation.

Expand full comment
Sep 24Liked by Allyson Shaw

I love a waning moon, my reminder to slow down. I, too, stitch and embroider, using my own designs. Right now I'm stitching a herbal pouch, one to wear like a shoulder strap purse. For my long rambles...

Expand full comment
author

I remember you mentioned on your IG that you had a needlecraft blog? Am I remembering correctly? I love the idea of an herbal pouch! Just in time for mushroom season, too. I second Amy's comment--I'd love to see it when it's done!

Expand full comment

That sounds amazing. I'd love to see that for inspiration when you are done with it.

Expand full comment