Back Home and Full of Ideas

It’s blog time again… and I’ve just realized it’s been about a month since my last post. That doesn’t sit very well with me, but the truth is, the past few weeks have been full – really full.

In the lead-up to Paducah, my days stretched into 14–16 hour marathons of preparing kits, refining instructions, stitching step-outs, and packing everything together. It was intense, as it always is, but also deeply satisfying to see it all come together.

Now that I’m back home, I’ve had a bit of time to reflect. The show itself was good – maybe not quite what I had hoped for – but there were so many moments that mattered far more. I’m incredibly grateful for every person who stopped at my booth, took the time to look closely, and especially those who came back to purchase something to support my work. That never goes unnoticed.

What truly stayed with me were the conversations – the kind words, the thoughtful observations, and hearing that my work felt unique and different from what people usually see at shows. That, more than anything, made my heart sing. Here are a few photos of my booth.

I’ll admit that Paducah was made a little more challenging by a rather unwelcome head cold – or perhaps allergies, though I’m still not entirely convinced. Whatever it was, it arrived with a stuffy head, a constantly running nose, and a persistent cough, making for a less-than-ideal traveling companion. So this week, I’ve been taking things a little more gently, focusing on rest, recovery, and finding my way back to feeling like myself again.

Even so, I’ve kept up with my stitching practice, and I’m happy to say I’ve completed my daily stitching for April. I also counted (twice, just to be sure!) and realized I’ve finished all 20… actually 21 pages for my stitch book. I’m really excited to start putting it all together – my way. I am working on the covers right now.

Of course, coming home also sparked new ideas. I’ve already started experimenting with a fresh approach for another set of pages to see if it works the way I’m imagining. It’s still early days, but I’m looking forward to sharing more about that soon.

Next up: preparing for upcoming classes in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. There’s always something on the horizon, and right now, it feels good to be back in the studio, gathering energy and inspiration for what’s next.

Thank you, as always, for being here and following along. Until I write again, enjoy the sunny, warm days,

Ana

PS: One interesting conversation I had in Paducah with a customer … about doing work and rework, as she commented on my display and the different ways I treat the same subject matter – all the possibilities to develop work that is cohesive. It reminded me of a blog I wrote a few years back, called “Stay on the Bus”. I invite you to read it and share your thoughts in the comments. I have enjoyed staying on the bus …

Stay on the bus