Ship to Canada
Ship to USA
by guest blogger, Elmer Prather
Did you know that September is National Sewing Month established by US President, Ronald Reagan back in 1982? As we kick off the first day of fall, we want to share Mr. Prather's "Sewing Notions" write up below. Our hope for you in the fall season is that you'll hold on to that sunny disposition of summer. There can be many obstacles in life in which we have to thread our way through whether it be a physical crowd, financial issues, emotional drain, physical pain, or other hindrances. It's not always easy to get that thread through the needle, and sometimes we need a little help from a needle threader or thimble. We hope in this fall season, you'll always know when to take time for yourself or lean on that threader and thimble. In reading through Mr. Prather's story, the word "community" came to mind. And we love how he said, "...she would allow me to..." - you'll see what we're talking about when you read it. But it just delighted us to no end that a young boy could see the value in sitting with an older group of women who were sewing up something beautiful. May you enter the fall season feeling encouraged. With that, we hope you enjoy reading Mr. Prather's story and leave believing that you can sew or mend anything in your life. Enjoy!
The puzzle pictured below is a 1000-piece puzzle titled, Sewing Notions by Shelley Davies. This is the third Shelly Davies puzzle I have put together. The other two were Shelley’s ABC and Timepieces.
 |
| Sewing Notions assembled & photographed by Elmer Prather |
I must have a connection with a puzzle before I spend the time putting it together. My connection to this puzzle is related to the sewing box my mother used when I was growing up. Her sewing box had an array of sewing items like the ones displayed in the puzzle. She could get that box out and find anything she needed for the mending or sewing task she had at hand. The puzzle displays sewing related items that range from several type thimbles, different colored sewing thread, several different type scissors, many assorted color and size buttons, sewing needles, measuring tapes, and pieces of cloth.
 |
| A small portion showing needle, needle threader, thimble, thread, buttons, counter, ribbon... |
My mother raised seven children and I was the second oldest. I watched her many times with her sewing box open mending our clothes. As I watched her do this I learned how to sew and mend clothing.
When we were growing up, we lived in an old farmhouse. Mother had a quilting frame hanging from the ceiling in our living room. Mother made many quilts for all of us to stay warm on those chilly winter nights. When she got ready to make quilts, she would get all her material together, lower the quilting frame and enlist her mother, one or more of her sisters and a few of her friends to help her make quilts. The quilting frame would have plenty of room for eight people to sew at the same time.
When I was in my early teens, if one of the ladies was not able to help her with the quilts on any given day, she would allow me to sit in their chair and help sew those quilts. I learned a lot about life, sitting at that quilting frame listening to those women talk and tell stories of things that happened to them when they were growing up during the depression as well as all the current, local gossip.
This puzzle brought back many great memories of the times I helped my mother make quilts. This is a beautiful puzzle full of bright colors and interesting sewing paraphernalia. If someone had all the sewing items pictured in this puzzle, they could sew or mend anything.
Elmer Prather
Canton, Georgia
U S A
BUNDLES & DEALS
 |
| Sewing Notions 1000pc by Shelley Davies |
Fall kicks off in the northern hemisphere on 09.22.2022, so for the remainder of September, "Sewing Notions" and any Cobble Hill puzzle on our website is 22% off. Be sure to shop in Canada or the USA depending on your location and use this coupon code at checkout: SEWLIFE
