Wonderful Wednesday #60: Sarah K. Benning

This Wonderful Wednesday, I want to share this marvelous pattern by Sarah K. Benning, called We're All Human.

Sarah is generously donating 100% of the proceeds of the sales of this pattern to the RAICES Texas group, which is helping immigrant families that were separated at the Texas border, you can find more about their mission here: https://www.raicestexas.org/

There are so many things in the news today that claim our attention, fuel our rage, enhance our separation, and make us feel utterly helpless. So, on this day that celebrates the birth of our nation, I want to celebrate someone who uses their voice (and their embroidery) to show us that connection we all share as human beings.

I'm sure you all know there was a time in our history when women were expected to mind their needlework, and not have a voice and opinion of their own. I find it so inspiring that now we use our needlework to speak up about what we see in the world around us. I feel so hopeful and inspired when I see people speak up, in hope, showing us the connection we share as human beings, as neighbors, as families, as immigrants and descendants of immigrants, as Americans.

Sarah, you are truly wonderful, and I thank you for your wonderful work!

Craft With Conscience Series by Sarah K. Benning

I am blown away by the latest interview of Michelle Kingdom on Sarah K. Benning's site - her work is so consistently innovative and breathtakingly beautiful and daring. I also had the honor of interviewing Michelle for our blog - here is that post.

The interview with Michelle is part of a larger series called Craft With Conscience - in Sarah's own words:

"This series arose out of my own frustrations related to seeing my work constantly copied stitch-for-stitch, sold without permission, and credited to other people. Rather than wallowing in unproductive negative emotions, I wanted to find a way to bring this common issue to light in a positive way. My solution was to share the work of artists, crafters, designers, and makers who I greatly admire for their originality and dedication."

I love the idea of using a negative experience as inspiration to share something positive and inspiring with the world. Definitely an idea I come back to, again and again, and my main source of inspiration as I write my posts for Feeling Stitchy.

I highly recommend a visit to Sarah K. Benning's site, and the Michelle Kingdom interview!

Wonderful Wednesday #30: February Flowers

How lovely are these February Flowers - the monthly PDF pattern by Sarah K. Benning, available in her Etsy shop? And even lovelier still, Sarah has pledged to donate from her pattern sales this month to the ACLU - bravo Sarah!

Wonderful Wednesday #1: Sarah K. Benning

May Flowers PDF Pattern by Sarah K. Benning

Hello all! Today, I thought I'd start a new series called Wonderful Wednesday, that features wonderful patterns and kits I find on Etsy and the web.

First up is talented artist Sarah K. Benning, who just listed a lovely May Flowers PDF Pattern in her Etsy shop. In addition to her talented stitching, I love her unique embroidered style and her beautiful choice of botanical colors.