This month let's stand up to bullies, and sew ...

Feel free to print and enjoy!!

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.  

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. 

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."

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.  

This story will bring you hope . . . .

“We’re not just sending dresses, we’re sending HOPE!” Little Dresses for Africa's website

Today I learned the inspiring story of Lillian Weber, a 99 year old woman who spends her days sewing beautiful dresses for little girls in Africa.  And once again I think to myself, 'the power of a dress'.

I have attached a video of her and the article from Station WQUAD8 , as well as the link to the charity "Little Dresses for Africa" AND the link to the pillowcase dress pattern they recommend as a dress to make, so you too can join Lillian.

I find this entire story so uplifting and hopeful at this time when news from around the world and home is so grim.  And for those who might scoff at the effects that little girl dresses can have on world matters  . . .

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

Girls are the future mothers of our society, and it is important that we focus on their well-being. Miriam Makeba

Research shows the presence of women raise the standards of ethical behavior and lowers corruption. Hillary Clinton 

In fact I was so moved that I m going to make a pillowcase dress (or more) and send it off, and/or host a dress making party!!  But for now cheer, cheer to Lillian Weber!!




or Click here to see the video

& here is the article from  WQUAD8's website :

Lillian Weber is on a mission.

Every day she makes another dress for a small child she’ll never meet.

“I could probably make two a day, but I only make one,” she says.

The dresses are collected and sent overseas to little girls in Africa by a Christian outreach group called “Little Dresses for Africa”.

“I have to be busy,” says Lillian.

And she’s been very busy.

In the past two years she’s made more than 840 dresses and she plans to make 150 more by May 6th of next year.

You see, by next May, Lillian will turn 100 years old and it will be her one thousandth dress.

“It’s just one of those things you learn how to do and enjoy,” she says.

In Lillian’s Scott County farm house are completed dresses for little girls, made from a pattern, but each with extra stitching and individual details, designed to give each child a little extra pride.

“She personalizes them all,” says Lillian’s daughter, Linda Purcell. “It’s not like good enough that she makes the dresses, she has to put something on the front to make it look special, to give it her touch.”

What started as a hobby has become a daily labor of love.

Lillian says she starts work on a dress in the morning, takes a break during the midday, and puts finishing touches in the afternoon.

“I just think she’s somebody to look up to, somebody whose not just sitting around and frittering her life away,” says Tonya Urbatsch, who nominated Lillian for the “Pay It Forward” award.

“I’m amazed at her every day,” adds Linda. “I’m very, very proud of my mother.”

Family and friends will continue to be proud of Lillian, well after her 1000th dress. After all, 1000 is just a number.

“When I get to that thousand, if I’m able to. I won’t quit. I’ll go at it again because there’s no reason to not do nothing.”

When Lillian is finished with her dresses, her daughters deliver them to a Davenport senior living apartment complex where a group of residents have a weekly sewing appointment to make dresses for the charitable organization.

“Little Dresses for Africa” is a Christian charitable organization founded in 2008 in Michigan.

Its founder, Rachel O’Neill, says 2.5 million dresses have been distributed.

The simple dresses are distributed to orphanages, churches, and schools in Africa.

Rachel says she’s traveling to Africa again in September 2014 and February 2015 and hopes to be able to present to a child one of the dresses personally made by Lillian.