Syllabus
"For me the only things of interest are those linked to the heart" - Audrey Hepburn ✨
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Preface: I do not consider myself a creative person.
Yet here we are as I welcome you through the thresholds of my small slice of creativity in this world, The Finishing School. I am so very grateful you have taken the time to visit and hope that you enjoy your stay -needlepoint enthusiast or not (yet).
Make yourself comfortable on my virtual couch in my sea of throw pillows (you’re welcome), while I fetch you a warm drink. We have so much to catch up on.
Like many others, I found needlepoint - the critically acclaimed “Sport of Queens” during the heart of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. I kept seeing needlepoint sprinkled throughout my Instagram feed and immediately did a swan dive right down the rabbit hole, after seeing a “Needlepoint 101” post by one of my favorite bloggers, Carly.
As an expectant, first time mother, however, I quickly simmered my peaking curiosity - ruling that this would be “too much to pursue now”. As I type those words today, I literally laugh out loud.
Fast forward several months after the birth of my first child. I had very unexpectedly become a stay-at-home Mom, my (absolutely incredible) husband was still furloughed as a result of the pandemic and (the cherry on top) I had roughly 40lbs. of “baby weight” that was doing anything but “falling off”. All of this atop the stressors that come with parenting an infant, let alone for the first time.
I found myself looking in the mirror every day at a person I barely recognized. How was it possible to feel so happy with our sweet little baby girl and, at the same time, absolutely crippled by anxiety, mourning a part of me that was somehow lost? Was this what it was really supposed to be like? Was it just me? How did I get here and who the hell is driving this vehicle?!
Guided by the infinite support and unwavering love from my husband, family and closest friends, I was able to look much more inward. When I did, one of the resounding themes I found was that I desperately needed to prioritize myself and the things that made me happy (and no, the pursuit of a clean kitchen did not count…although it does spark joy).
I immediately went to the needlepoint bookmark in my mind and decided to give it a try. A family friend, whom my mother had done finishing for, was the first call I made after purchasing my first kitted canvas. When I called to ask her if she would teach me how to needlepoint, she agreed wholeheartedly and without reservation.
Debbie, if you are reading this, please know that I will never not pick up a needle and thread without thinking of you. You have given me such an incredible gift, one whose fruits will outlive us both. You were such a bright and beautiful beacon for me throughout a very deep and dark fog, and for this I will be forever grateful. You will always be the queen of this sport in my book.
Once I got the hang of it (spoiler alert - it was much easier than I had anticipated), I was hooked. I loved the meditative rhythm of stitching and as a result, having something to show for my time instead of “doom scrolling” it away. I prioritized something that made me happy and it was an absolute game changer.
The idea of this blog was born shortly before the birth of our second daughter in early 2022. I had started to chronicle each piece I had stitched thus far and showed it to my (non-needlepointing) sister. Without hesitation, she told me I absolutely needed to turn this “diary” into a blog. True to form, I quickly determined that I had zero time to birth a blog and a second baby consecutively. But it was too late- the idea seed had already been planted and was starting to take some serious root as the following months unfolded.
I desperately tried giving myself a litany of reasons why not to start a blog like this. “You don’t have the time to commit to this”; “There are already so many fabulous social media accounts like this”; ”Who will read it?”; “I am really not that good at making Instagram stories or Reels” and the list went on and on. Totally ridiculous, right?
And so fellow reader, here we stand. As cliché as it is, life is far too short. It is too short to not search for the things that bring us pure joy, and it is definitely too short to not share the gift of that joy with others. I will be damned if I am not a living in a way that embodies both.
So here’s to the greatest lessons in life that we have already learned, and those we have yet to uncover. Thank you for joining me on this journey.
xo,
Emily 🎀
"I found myself looking in the mirror every day at a person I barely recognized. How was it possible to feel so happy with our sweet little baby girl and, at the same time, absolutely crippled by anxiety, mourning a part of me that was somehow lost? Was this what it was really supposed to be like? Was it just me? How did I get here and who the hell is driving this vehicle?!"
WHEWWWWWW! I am still very much in this season, desperately searching for myself under layers of new roles wrapped in a totally new life. But as you said, life really is too short! And taking the time for ourselves isn't a luxury - it's a necessity! Emily, this is a BEAUTIFUL post and reminder to DO THE THING! I can't wait to read more of your writing and come along on this journey!