I found this quote my friend used in a book which she has written - the question is asked "when is the best time to plant a tree?" - the reply is "the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago - the second best time is NOW."
I thought that was a great quote and one that made me reflect. How many time over the last few months have I wished that I had started something earlier in my life - and I guess a lot of it has been since I started stitching - I have looked at other people's work and agonised why I can't do what they do. A small comfort was drawn from the fact that most of these people have been doing it for many, many years. Then I have questioned what is the point at starting at my age I 'll never reach the level of expertise that they have. Reflecting on why I started stitching many years a go I thought - probably selfishly -(i) that I wanted to leave something behind (ii) that I really enjoyed doing the little bit that I did and being a practical person (Virgo here) - I needed a reason for doing it...
Those two reasons were probably the foundation to why I begun stitching - that and the fact that everyone in the family did something, but no one stitched - or so I thought. I remember way back 30 odd years ago when I was just ready to be married, I had seen a little saying for the kitchen - "Bless this Mess". I liked it but I thought it would look better hand done... So really without thinking about it I bought a piece of tapestry canvas, some wools, a very old fashioned lettering book and made my own. Now while it never quite got to the finished and 'hung on the wall' stage the memory of it made me realise that all those years ago 'a tree was planted' and maybe because at the time it wasn't nutured it died off - but a seed had been harvested and now that the conditions are becoming more favorable -that tree has a chance to 'grow'...
I thought that was a great quote and one that made me reflect. How many time over the last few months have I wished that I had started something earlier in my life - and I guess a lot of it has been since I started stitching - I have looked at other people's work and agonised why I can't do what they do. A small comfort was drawn from the fact that most of these people have been doing it for many, many years. Then I have questioned what is the point at starting at my age I 'll never reach the level of expertise that they have. Reflecting on why I started stitching many years a go I thought - probably selfishly -(i) that I wanted to leave something behind (ii) that I really enjoyed doing the little bit that I did and being a practical person (Virgo here) - I needed a reason for doing it...
Those two reasons were probably the foundation to why I begun stitching - that and the fact that everyone in the family did something, but no one stitched - or so I thought. I remember way back 30 odd years ago when I was just ready to be married, I had seen a little saying for the kitchen - "Bless this Mess". I liked it but I thought it would look better hand done... So really without thinking about it I bought a piece of tapestry canvas, some wools, a very old fashioned lettering book and made my own. Now while it never quite got to the finished and 'hung on the wall' stage the memory of it made me realise that all those years ago 'a tree was planted' and maybe because at the time it wasn't nutured it died off - but a seed had been harvested and now that the conditions are becoming more favorable -that tree has a chance to 'grow'...
1 comment:
Good food for thought, Sharlee. Remember us discussing the subject of starting things later in life? I am glad you have found that quotation and were able to broaden your horizons on reflection. It is what I was trying to say to you in my usual clumsy way!
By the way, I saw your post on Chloe's Place about Buttons & Bows closing down. WAAAAAAAGHH! I can't believe it! I only drove past there a few weeks ago, and even though I didn't stop to go in, I glanced at the window frontage, and didn't notice any signs that might have given me a clue to their closure.
Post a Comment