“Americans, at our best, stand up to bullies and fight those who seek to demean and degrade others.”

— Cory Booker

This month's #virginiacreates calendar reflects my renewed interest in embroidery. During these unnerving times in our country I have felt a strong pull to my needles and thread. I feel there are many reasons why I feel this need to stitch. Sewing suggests mending, pulling pieces together that have been torn apart. I feel that our country is being torn apart.

“The act of sewing is a process of emotional repair. ”

— Louise Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois used sewing in much of her work. She has eloquently explained what sewing meant to her and her work. Many of her words speak to my current obsession with sewing so I have sprinkled some of her quotes throughout this post.

“I always had the fear of being separated and abandoned. The sewing is my attempt to keep things together and make things whole. ”

— Louise Bourgeois

These past months I have found myself embroidering on both fabric and paper.

I have been embroidering affirmations onto a vintage slip as part of my 'slip' series.

collage from Italy ..

**And while** **I was on retreat in San Gimignano I created a series of mixed media collages that all contained some sewn/embroidered element**.

“When I was growing up all the women in my house used needles. I have always had a fascination with the magic power of the needle. The needle is used to repair the damage. ”

— Louise Bourgeois

**And in my current series, a protest to what I feel is censorship**
**by the current**
**administration, I am embroidering on vintage photos words that are being removed and discouraged by the government.**

There are around 196 words on that list. Unfortunately as I do more researching there seems to be more removed words in different government agencies, so I am not sure how many photos I will be embroidering.

The initial list that I am working from is from an article reposted by the New York Times, March 7, 2025.

These Words Are Disappearing

in the New Trump Administration

"As President Trump seeks to purge the federal government of “woke” initiatives, agencies have flagged hundreds of words to limit or avoid, according to a compilation of government documents."

““Great things are done by a series
of small things brought together.”

Vincent Van Gogh”

During all the craziness of this time/year i feel blessed to be able to contribute my art to auctions that are raising money for causes near & dear to me - @theattleboroartsmuseum & the @gofundme for a natick couple who were victims of a hit and run ...

I encourage you to peruse both auctions as there are lovely offerings.