A bit frayed at the edges...

Our little clan is doing it a bit tough at the moment, thanks to two talented Sleep Saboteurs.
And I find that, the tougher it gets, the more ambitious I get with my crafting. The act of creating something can be so nurturing and pacifying, and the feeling of accomplishment so gratifying, amidst the chaos. There IS the danger of compounding my stress, however, by trying to do large projects in small time frames. A bad plan when one is short on time, energy, space and skill!

From clutterpunk

And so to coasters. All Hail the Coaster - the perfect small-scale project. The ideal size for fabric scraps; a cute, functional gift; and a perfect canvas for trying new things. My new thing here was the hand-embroidered letters. You may notice by the...ahem...rustic nature of the stitching that I'm not a seasoned embroiderer! But I was so inspired by pigeon-pair's skillful stitches that I just had to try it.

The other inspiration for these coasters came from this wonderful project in my favourite new book, Meet Me At Mikes: 26 crafty projects and things to make. I love the freestyle stitching in Tiel's coasters. So I did some rough-and-ready top-stitching of my own. Still a bit too neat and square perhaps! I like the aesthetic, the texture it adds to the raw edges of the linen applique. But I also enjoyed the freedom that a certain measured lack of precision can bring. More representative of our chaotic existence than something neat, anyway.

These two coasters are heading off to a dear friend under duress, and her mother who is looking after her. If I can't be much practical help, I can at least be there in spirit when they have a cup of tea. I thought about them and prayed for healing while I stitched...