Debra -- In Stitches

I'm from the South. We love to turn out polished young women adept in all the important skills. Certainly my mother, a working mom, assumed my sister and I would both go to college and have fabulous careers. But just in case...just in case we had to fall back on our looks and lure a husband to survive, she made sure we had some skills to seal the deal.

By the age of ten, I could cook, knit, crochet, crewel embroider, cross-stitch, hook-latch and set a table for a multi-course dinner party and whip up the party frock to go with that meal. My poor suffering relatives could attest to this. While I was learning these skills, they'd received any number of knitted toboggans, crocheted slippers, embroidered kitchen towels, wall hangings, tiny bathroom rugs and fruitcakes.

I can't believe my mother had the patience and the time to give us those skills. I can't believe she kept a straight face when she looked at those early slipper attempts and said, "Good job, honey. Uncle Mike will love this." The thing is...she meant it and her reverence for handwork stuck with me. Over the years I've knitted sweaters, scarves, shawls and socks (apparently I can only knit things beginning with the letter s), made my maternity clothes, outfitted my son's nursery, made Halloween costumes, Miss Piggy and Kermit stockings, crocheted baby afghans, big afghans, and who knows what else.

What I've realized is that I love making things. I love giving gifts I've made with my own two hands. Over the years the gifts have gotten better. I know this because I have a waiting list now. People put their "orders" in and politely but anxiously inquire as to where they are on the list. Unless it's a quilt. When I began quilting about six years ago, the veneer of politeness disappeared. If I jump anyone ahead on the list there will be open warfare.

I enjoy the fuss and the appreciation, but I do this for me. I'm always happy when I'm settled in my quilt studio or have a needle in my hand. It's a different pleasure from reading but just as necessary to me. I love sorting the fabric collection, planning new quilts, sewing the top, the quilting. All of those things will actually lower my blood pressure.

What's necessary to you? What activity levels you out and perks you up all at the same time? Do you get a charge out of making things? (Boy, do I wish I could make furniture!)