My family and I went hiking and camping this past weekend. We decided to visit, for the first time, Brandywine Falls, then drive south and camp at Mohican state park. I’ve camped and hiked in Ohio many times. After so many hikes, I sometimes wonder if there really is something new to see here where I live. We were delighted with the beauty of the hike, campground and the surrounding area. It was good to get away and have a new experience.

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I was thinking about our camping trip and comparing it to making pincushions. There is joy in the familiar as well as excitement in the new and undiscovered. In hiking, that can be an interesting bridge, a scenic view of a river, or a waterfall.

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When making pincushions, I use a lot of clear salts because they are so common. I’ve made hundreds of pincushions “walking down this familiar path” and enjoy it each time I do.

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Looking for the unexpected in making pincushions can come with an unusual or rare piece of glass or vessel, paired with beautiful fabric and finished with a pretty button and pin.

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Learning to enjoy all parts of the journey is important to me. If sweeping river views or waterfalls were commonplace, I would then be seeking something different and new. Additionally, all of the practice making pincushions in smaller salt cellars has given me confidence and experience to stretch and make pincushions in other vessels.

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These thoughts all came to me in the quiet morning while waking up in woods in my tent. We took our chances and left the rainfly off of the tent believing in the 1% chance of overnight rain. When I woke up in the morning, I could look up and see the sky. As I was lying in the cocoon of my sleeping bag with the damp air around me, I thought about so many things in my life that I’m grateful for as well as enjoy. It can be a challenge to learn to appreciate all parts of our life experiences. Finding context for growth can be helpful.

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Happy quilting, crafting, hiking and camping! ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎