Sewing v. Writing

Summer. Hot as Hades. Humid as a wet blanket. All cliches about the South, and every one of the true. I hate to say it’s been keeping me away from the keyboard, but it’s true. Plus (and here’s the real scoop), I discovered a site that sells the most beautiful colors of linen and went wild. Watermelon pink, deep sea blue, pale cornflower blue, white as a wedding dress. Yep, my fabric stash floweth over. And I can stay inside in the AC and not feel guilty as the garden clogs with weeds.

I discovered that I really like sewing on this fabric and heaven knows, my family loves what’s coming out of the Viking. I keep thinking I’ll make one more top, one more pair of slacks, then put the darned stuff away so I won’t be tempted. I have always loved to sew - it’s a way to disappear into the white noise of a running sewing machine and think. Not about edging, not about French seams, not about facings. I’ve already pinned or basted by that point. Nope, my mind wanders into story land. Why can’t my heroine in Catered Crimes admit she wants to inflict severe damage on them that dun her wrong? Why can’t her best friend pull her back from the brink? And what about my small town thrift store owner who likes to remake old clothes into modern creations? Why can’t she admit she loves her best friend’s widower? Then I forget to pull out a pin before the sewing machine runs over it, and wham! Broken needle. Always takes me too long to change it out for a new one. Story in my head disappears for the next few minutes, and it’s hard to pick up the mental thread once again. But I do.

Still, that’s how I work. Stew around a bit in total isolation, letting out a few dribbles and drabs to the fam to test their reactions. I hadn’t planned on working on two books at once, and maybe I”d better cut it out if I ever want to finish the books.

I’d thought sewing was an out-of-fashion activity, but I was wrong. A woman in town posted that she would love to sew with others, and was anyone out there who felt the same way? She’s had over 700 responses! People, especially women, love to connect over our creative projects. A few men have joined, beginners who want to learn to sew, and they’re more than welcome. It’s a racially diverse group with all levels of expertise, and it’s fun. Old-fashioned flat-out fun. I know I need to limit my time so I can get these books completed, but writing is a lonely business. These few months of sewing frenzy have felt like a holiday from that isolation.

Now back to winding another bobbin.