A Sun Day Post

Stitching a Life by Hand.

I know it’s the Sunday Stitch, but it's also the Summer Solstice, Litha, Father's Day and our Silver Wedding Anniversary! So much wrapped up in one day 😊

The sun did its thing today. Many times the clouds have got in the way and those rays of light have not touched the ground. The mist has hidden the moment but not today! 🥳

I can't help but consider our ancestors witnessing the same event thousands of years ago. What it meant in the minds of those that built the enigmatic monuments, the stone ones still standing testament to their efforts, the wooden only now leaving shadows in the earth.

We chose to get married on the Solstice. I think we were offered a couple of dates and we knew we would, or at least I would remember our anniversaries if they were on the Solstice. It was a small affair in the old Quaker meeting house in Cork. Just a couple of friends Bruce, Freya & their kids as witnesses.

They were late so I asked my friend Conn to come at the last minute. He was a headmaster at a school in Cork and kindly agreed. Bruce & Freya did manage to make it after all, so Conn agreed to become our official photographer.

No fuss, no bother and we all went across the road for a pizza afterwards.

We had been together for 10 years at this stage and had Mair & James with us. Two more kids & 25 years later we are still here and I know I'm a lucky man.

I don't remember Father's Day as a kid, it wasn't a thing in my childhood home and it hasn't been a thing in our house either. I've nothing against it and it does make me think of my dad. He died around 35 years ago and he has still remained a bit of an enigma to me.

We spent plenty of time together but he was from a different world and kept himself & his feelings pretty much to himself. I often wonder what he would have made of the world today?

We can't help think of Chris, Kate's dad today. He died earlier this year. The emotions are still there swirling about. His impact on our lives and that of his grandchildren were so positive and he is sorely missed.

So what has any of this to do with my stitching? It is after all my regular "Sunday Stitch" post. Probably not a lot, I just wanted to write about the people I love and my life.

I've had a few people over the years tell me I should just stick to showing my stitching & keeping my opinions out of it, but I don't really separate my life & my work that way. One is a reflection of the other.

I could just stitch pretty flowers, birds and such like. A lot of people consider that to be the extent of embroidery and I'm not one to argue that, but for me I like to have a narrative, an expression of emotion and for that I draw on my own life, emotions and experiences.

For me thread and cloth is the medium by which I communicate and I like to do that with narrative, symbolism and meaning. These can get pretty abstract, hidden in plain sight and I don't expect everyone to see what I see or mean. Some look and may just enjoy the colours, some respond instinctively and emotionally without needing to unravel meaning and to some, well they just get it.

That's enough of that for today. I feel we've come along way and thank you for taking the time to come along with me, I really appreciate it.

If you feel like sharing, liking, restacking, commenting it's all good and I love getting feedback it makes me feel nore connected.

I do hope you have a lovely Solstice, I think it's a good opportunity to give thanks for all those simple things that bring you joy.

A final note to all those fellow fathers out there 👋🤠 hey dudes, don't be afraid to tell your kids just how much you love them.