The Jacket That Came from a Turning Point
Day 10 – Made to Matter: 13 Soulful Stories from the Studio
It began as a quiet piece in my closet—a soft pink denim jacket. For a while, it hung there, worn only on occasion, waiting. One day, I saw it with new eyes. I felt a nudge to transform it—to honor the pieces of me that were shifting and expanding.
What started as a simple refresh became a creative revelation. I pulled out remnants from past sewing and crochet projects—little leftover treasures that had waited for a new story. With my hands moving almost intuitively, I added soft tulle with florals, delicate crystal and pearl beads, and slowly stitched new life into her. I thought she was complete, but felt she was still missing something. I pulled out my embroidery threads and found an array of vintage pinks. I pulled all that I thought would pull this together, and give it the final touch. I embroidered an ombré of pinks into the front panels and riser, and with every thread, it felt like I was making space for something new to bloom.
Though this was not the jacket I wore to the Madison, Indiana retreat, its transformation was deeply inspired by that experience. Dionne Woods’ velvet fabric, printed with her artwork Pink Impression, had stirred something in me. I used it to create a flowing kimono for that retreat—one that Dionne herself admired and had photographed. That moment of being seen creatively—of showing up fully in something I made—was a spark that changed my direction. It reminded me that our creativity deserves a stage, even if that stage is as simple as a gathering of women, a borrowed camera, or a tiny post shared online.
So when I looked at the jacket again, I wasn’t just seeing fabric—I was seeing possibility. I finished it with a soft lining, stitched memories into every thread, and gave her a name in my heart. She represented my return to making for the sheer joy of it.
She was no longer just a jacket. She was a reflection of new beginnings, a wearable turning point that whispered back to me: you’re ready.
Thought to Carry
You don’t always need a full plan—sometimes you just need a thread to pull. Follow what delights you, and you may find yourself stitched back together in unexpected ways.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anaïs Nin
“Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—
rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is very precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:3–4 (NKJV)
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