I’m busy as a bee making plans for my new workshop that’s happening on July 25th. It’s the Fabulous Flowers Needlepoint Workshop and it’s gonna be oodles of F-U-N!!!

Grab yourself a nice frosty glass of lemonade and I’ll tell you all about it…

Ellen Johnson

I’m in de-stashing mode. Full on, no holds barred, get ‘er done destashing mode! So, what does that look like? Well, for me, it began with re-reading Marie Kondo‘s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. (You really should read it if you haven’t already. It’s a game-changer!)

The gist of the book is that you should only keep things that bring you joy. It kinda’ reminds me of that famous William Morris quote, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”  Wise words to live by, if you ask me. 😉

So, how does one go about de-stashing?

Well, for starters you need to organize what you have. Yes, it’s gonna take some time, but since we’re all staying home more these days, I can’t think of a better project to tackle right now – or one with a more positive outcome. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned stitcher, organizing your stash will help you know what you have, make it easier to find what you need, and inspire you to make projects you love. Ready to dive in? Terrific!

Ellen Johnson

It’s terrific to be back here with you this week. I missed you! We had a fantabulous time at the Girlfriends’ Getaway Virtual Retreat the first week in June. And last week, I took a few days off to get my duckies in a row for the rest of the summer. I have lots of fun things planned for the next few months and I can hardly wait to share them with you. I’d be remiss if I didn’t address the current state of affairs we’re muddling through right now, though.

Admittedly, I’m still trying to wrap my head around all that’s happening in our world.

COVID 19 is raging here in Alabama as our state opens back up from weeks of sheltering in place. Hospitals are reaching their capacities, yet I see people all over town not wearing masks. I’m bumfuzzled by their apparent lack of concern – and consideration – for their fellow citizens. And the protests and riots bring forth a multitude of questions for which I have no answers. So I find myself looking within…

What can I, just one human being on this great big planet, do?

That seems like a simple enough question, right? There are lots of things we can do. We can wear masks when we go out. We can help elderly family members, friends, and neighbors by doing their grocery shopping. We can check in every day or two with those who live alone. We can donate to the local food bank. We can listen to those who are marginalized.

We can… you fill in the blank.

Those are, indeed, all steps in the right direction. But I think we’re at the threshold of definitive change and that requires us to examine our beliefs. Now, if you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know that my faith is the essence of who I am. And every time I find myself facing a new challenge, I rely on my faith to guide me. So that’s what I’m doing right now. Here’s what I know…

Love conquers hate.

And when we live in the way of love, we can accomplish far more than we dare to dream. So, what does living in the way of love mean? It means being kind to everyone. It means being generous with everyone. It means being inclusive of everyone. It means putting others before yourself.

It’s not easy to live in the way of love. I try to do it every day. And I fall down almost every single day, too. But I get back up, dust myself off, give myself some grace, and try again. Because I also know…

We’re better together.

And I sincerely believe that we can make the world a better place, one stitch at a time.

Three years ago, I created a manifesto for Serendipity Needleworks. It conveys how I want to show up in the world, as a business.

It also includes values that are important to me on a personal level.

I’ve been in this industry for 29 years and I’ve found stitchers to be a remarkable group. I’m so very grateful to be part of the needlework community and I thank you for being part of the Serendipity Needleworks family.

Sending you lots of love and a great big hug!

Now, let’s go make something wonderful…

XOXO!!

PS: Please understand… I’m not implying that you have to be a Christian to be a good person. I know lots of wonderful people who don’t practice Christianity. And there are plenty of really good folks who don’t practice any kind of religion at all. I respect your right to believe whatever you choose.

Ellen Johnson