When asked about the hand embroidery process, these words always come to mind: slow, meditative, fun, tedious, enjoyable, calming, tiring, invigorating. Clearly, it can be a study in opposites! Hand embroidery is also a test of my patience. A piece doesn't just take form in a matter of minutes or even hours. It happens over weeks and months. I don't really plan out most pieces ahead of time, so I never really know how long something is going to take. I sometimes track my time from the first stitch to the last stitch, but this can get a bit laborious.

Hand embroidery has also taught me a lot about listening to my own body. The process can actually be quite physically grueling - there is a lot of leaning, neck strain, and an intense use of both hands and arms (one hand for stitching, one hand for firmly holding the hoop still). At the same time, I'm focusing my eyes on the exact point of stitching. I've become better about taking breaks, stretching, noticing and correcting my posture, and switching tasks, plus I see an acupuncturist, chiropractor, and a massage therapist regularly (it takes a village!).

The only way to express your appreciation to an artist is to buy his painting. - Pierre-Auguste Renoir